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Take a delicious bite out of the Big Apple in neighbourhood eateries co-owned by Toronto native Jason Soloway. In the East Village, The Eddy is an intimate 30 seat restaurant with the charm of a homey cottage. Partner Chef Brendan McHale’s menu is brilliant — and the five-course tasting menu a steal at $75. The pappardelle pasta with bone marrow and pecorino is scrumptious, the seared octopus tasty tender and the juicy grass-fed dry-aged rib-eye flavour-packed. The wine by the glass list has well-picked surprises. The service is super welcoming: “no dick heads allowed,” said Soloway. It’s no wonder it’s NYC critics’ pick. theeddynyc.com. His other restaurant, The Wallflower in West Village, is barely bigger. His partner here, Xavier Herit, served as the head bartender at Daniel for seven years. Wallflower has a Cheers-esque vibe and the cocktails are knee-weakeningly good. In the teeny open kitchen, tall Texan Chef Derrick Paez produces French driven five-course tasting menus for $68. Foie gras mousse that melts in your mouth, chèvre on breakfast radish to awaken the palate, tuna tartare with an earthy hit of truffle vinaigrette, tender roasted Poussin and delicate cheesecake on gingerbread for example. After dinner the place becomes a cocktail lounge staying open to the wee hours. wallflowernyc.com