When a man sidles up to you at a bakery and tells you to squeeze the babka, there might be a couple of things going on. Either he’s flirting with you in the universal language of carbs, or he’s pretty damned excited about finding the freshest cinnamon babka. We selected the most pliant loaf (none, he said, were more than a few hours old), and when I tried it I knew it was worth the exploratory squeezing. Read more…
East Village pizza fans, meet your new go-to pizzera. Famous Joe’s on Carmine Street has opened a location on 14th Street and Third Avenue, marking the first time the family-run business has expanded in its 37 years. The Carmine Street pizzera is legendary, and I’ve been a fan for many years. It serves one of the best no-bullshit, high-quality New York style slices out there, something that’s been missing from the neighborhood. Read more…
I have a bone to pick with Animals, the newly opened sandwich pop-up that’s attached to The Wayland in the East Village. But first, let me tell you about their pulled bacon sandwich. (Priorities!) It starts with slab bacon, slow braised and pulled to tender, smoky pieces, which are layered with refried beans, avocado, pickled jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, red slaw, and a generous dollop of chili mayo, then tucked inside a fresh, crusty baguette. Read more…
Strangely Masonic bear is watching you.
There is a sign tacked to the ceiling of a certain bar in the East Village that reads “We’re all here because we’re not all there.” It’s a phrase that’s been used a number of ways, but it’ll always remind me of what makes a great dive bar. Read more…
Apparently it’s National Pizza Week. If you’re thinking “huh?” you’re not alone, because I didn’t know about it either. I might ignore all other obscure food holidays, but I’ll never waste an opportunity to celebrate pizza. I guess that’s why I leaped off the L train at First Avenue, well before my stop, with a spontaneous need to forage. Read more…
If the lines at Smorgasburg this year were any indication, Mighty Quinn’s makes some mighty good barbecue. I ended up with my worst sunburn of the summer while waiting in the infamous line for their smoked brisket, resulting in a few freckly mementos that are only now fading. The sole fault I found with the brisket was the long wait in the sun, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opening of pitmaster Hugh Mangum‘s restaurant in the East Village for some time. Read more…
Mile End Sandwich’s Noho storefront looks like the kind of chic converted garage that should be peddling $500 motorcycle boots and deconstructed jackets instead of Jewish soul food. This arm of the popular Boerum Hill deli is located on a stretch of Bond Street so posh that you might even think the neon “Sandwich” sign denotes a new gallery devoted to postmodern food art. Read more…
The Yardbird
I’ve stopped wondering how many artisanal cocktail bars the East Village can sustain, because the answer, judging by the thirsty crowds, always seems to be “more, of course!” Evelyn Drinkery, which opened two months ago on ever-fancier Avenue C (right up the street from Summit Bar and a craft beer store) is a refreshingly laid-back spot in an often riotous neighborhood. Read more…
Costumed dogs promenaded through Tompkins Square Park once again this past Saturday in the 22nd Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. This year’s hot costume themes were the presidential race—including a vengeful Seamus Romney and an unemployed Big Bird—as well as space exploration and bondage bestseller 50 Shades of Gray. Read more…
Reading the New York Times‘ review of Nicoletta was a little like watching a particularly nasty football tackle. I mean, the guy had it coming, since he was all mandexed out, helmeted, and running into a wall of eleven other guys. But—ouch! It still hurt to watch. Read more…
