There are very few elegant eateries in the vicinity of Times Square that aren’t teeming with tourists. If you’re a New Yorker looking for some vino and a meal (or if you’re a tourist that hates the traps), then check out Divine Bar (236 West 54th St.). Also brother to an east side location, Divine Bar specializes in a great wine list and tapas.
The atmosphere is very hip – with dim lighting, leather seating, and a large bar on the lower level showcasing their extensive wine selections. If you’re looking for something other than pubs or sports bars in midtown west, this is the place. At my most recent outing to Divine, my friend and I each had a flight of merlot to start off the evening – a great selection of four wines for only $9.50. Since tapas are their specialty, we also shared an artichoke dip ($10.50), a brie pastry with nuts and dates ($10.50), as well as a delicious spinach salad ($10.50). The tapas are very generous and we could have easily filled up on two.
For a Friday night at 8 p.m. we were able to have a quiet meal upstairs (while a large crowd was at the bar below) but were still able to hear each other and enjoy our meal. The waiter was knowledgeable and pleasant – and gave us the thumbs up when we ordered the brie. Divine also has "vinoversity" - where you can sign up for wine tasting classes that are apparently quite popular. One thing to note: not a great place to go with a large group unless you call ahead – most tables seem to be suited for groups no larger than four. Either way, I felt the experience overall was simply…divine.
It's not often that I feel that I've stepped into the presence of something really, really cool. A Friday night at Asia de Cuba (237 Madison Ave.), however, made me feel just that. Under the management of the people that brought you China Grill, Asia de Cuba is a place to be seen.
The frosted door being guarded by guys with headsets intimidates you right off the bat, but once you're ushered in, it's as if the "cool police" has accepted you and you're treated like stars. In the middle of the main dining hall is a long table that seats about 36 with a tall photograph of a waterfall at the end of the room and white curtains flowing throughout. If you're seated at this table you're probably seated next to strangers, but you're also in the center of it all, being able to take in the fashionably hip at the tables around you and seated upstairs.
Our waitress was extremely pleasant with a great opinion of what to order and how to really enjoy the meal. Our appetizer was the calamari salad – an Asia de Cuba favorite. It was large enough to accommodate four of us (including two rather hungry males) and left us anxious for our entrees. Though this food isn't cheap (the rack of lamb was $64), everything is made to be eaten "family style" – so you can easily split an entrée and side with another person. Bottles of wine start at $30 and mixed drinks are pretty pricey.
By the end of the night, however, none of us flinched at the bill. A couple seated next to us had to wait a long time for their entrees and were personally spoken to by the manager, who then sent them complimentary drinks and dessert. I have a feeling the kind of slow service didn't deter them at all. The wait staff was excellent, the food was superb, and the overall ambiance was something you've got to try at least once. Sometimes it pays to be the cool kid for a night.
Sometimes all you need is comfort food and kitsch, but in NYC, that's often asking for a lot. If it's baked macaroni and cheese in a teal booth you crave, check out Vynl Restaurant (754 9th Avenue). The theme of this eatery is music – menus are made of old record albums and the overall décor is dedicated to favorite singers and bands.
If you take a seat at the bar, definitely try their signature Vynl cocktail ($8) – mixed with lemonade, vodka, and something that makes it pink and delicious. You'll get to check out lots of old school music memorabilia like Run DMC dolls or Beatles action figures but alas, these aren't for sale. The menu is packed with things you'd find at a diner (hamburgers, quesadillas, wraps) but with some Thai infused dishes too.
Though I've eaten here day and night, Vynl really comes to life in the evening. Music starts blasting at happy hour and as the lights go dim, the disco ball comes on. It's almost like Happy Days meets the O.C. with the restaurant's kitschy feel but retro modern vibe. Don't expect first class service here or delicious dishes. Go to Vynl for the experience – not for the food.
It's only fair to admit the real reason I go to Vynl when I'm on the west side is for the bathrooms. First time customers will be confused by the doors that read "Elvis", "Dolly", or "Nelly" and probably won't know what to expect. Though each bathroom is gender neutral (meaning the "Elvis" isn't just for guys), you might want to step inside whichever artist you prefer, since each bathroom is an homage to that particular songbird (wall-size mosaic portrait and all). If you're lucky enough (or, er, I guess unlucky) to stay inside the bathroom long enough, you'll catch on that the tune blasting from the ceiling are always only sung by the singer whose bathroom you're visiting. Sound confusing? Go check out Vynl for yourself…even if it's only for a drink and a brief bathroom break.
Have you ever had a slice of true Neapolitan pizza? If you're shaking your head yes, you've probably been lied to. But at L'Asso (192 Mott St.), pie makers pride themselves on making a real Pizza "DOC". A "DOC" is actually a very strict set of rules that must be followed for a pizza to be deemed a true Margherita. For example, the tomatoes must be San Marzano, the mozzarella must be made of buffalo-milk, the oil must be olive oil – along with a lot of other things that were too complicated for me to understand.
So for a genuine pizza – or just an easy casual Italian meal – head to L'Asso in Nolita. Though mostly known for their pies, all of their dishes are unpretentious and satisfying. On my most recent outing there, I tried the Fusilli al Pesto Fatto in Casa ($12), a creamy pesto with asparagus and pistachios blended in. I was happy to receive an average heap of pasta instead of a ½ pound dish that certainly would have disrupted the comfort of my skinny jeans. A decent bottle of Cabernet cost us only $28 and a nice selection of olives and flatbreads came out with it.
The owners boast that L'Asso's most popular pies are the Pizza al Tartufo (Portobello mushroom pesto, cheese, fresh rosemary, and truffle oil) and Pizza San Daniele (prosciutto san daniele, mozzarella, arugula, parmigiano, and olive oil) – two great combinations that might not rival a famed slice from Lombardi's down the street, but are mouthwatering nonetheless.
One of the biggest downsides to eating casual in New York usually means you won't have a quiet meal. L'Asso was filled with a few families and a large group of NYU kids that clearly couldn't handle their wine. Other than that, service here is great, your meal comes out fast, and you won't empty your wallet on overpriced dishes. The intimate lighting and close seating makes this place great for a gabfest with friends, but should definitely be a place you'd skip for a date.
On a recent Saturday night, my friends and I decided to visit what many New Yorkers refer to as "Clubland" a.k.a the strip of trendy clubs along Tenth Avenue in Chelsea. As we approached Marquis, the endless line seemed less than thrilling and had us wishing we had never left Queens. Next door, however, we came across a frosted door, a guy with a clipboard, and no line. Score. The promise of drinks without a wait was reason enough for us to give Glass (287 Tenth Avenue) a try.
Glass was designed by architect Thomas Leeser and it's futuristic bar area opens into a bamboo garden that is more reminiscent of an airy Asian tea garden instead of the west side of Manhattan. The line to the bar was never long and the drinks were never too expensive (a ketel and cran cost me $10). I was also pleasantly surprised at how friendly the staff was. At one point several of my friends could not get a drink at the bar and the manager quickly sent a waitress to our table to take personal drink orders… making us feel like VIPs though in reality, we were very far from it.
Though there isn't an actual dance floor, the outdoor area serves as one with seating lining the perimeters. The DJ was spinning lots of old school Madonna and some new Kanye – a perfect blend if you're looking to dance the night away. The weirdest – and most well-known – aspect of Glass are the bathrooms. The co-ed bathrooms boast only three stalls for men and women so the lines tend to get painfully long. The bathroom mirror is two-way, so if a line does start to fill outside of Glass, everyone can watch you wash your hands though you can’t see them. Though the bathroom left me feeling like I was hanging out in a fishbowl, I'll definitely revisit Glass…as long as there’s still no line.
There are very few elegant eateries in the vicinity of Times Square that aren’t teeming with tourists. If you’re a New Yorker looking for some vino and a meal (or if you’re a tourist that hates the traps), then check out Divine Bar (236 West 54th St.). Also brother to an east side location, Divine Bar specializes in a great wine list and tapas.
Sometimes all you need is comfort food and kitsch, but in NYC, that's often asking for a lot. If it's baked macaroni and cheese in a teal booth you crave, check out Vynl Restaurant (754 9th Avenue). The theme of this eatery is music – menus are made of old record albums and the overall décor is dedicated to favorite singers and bands.