Restaurants:
Go, Consider, Stop
Edible enlightenment from our eatery experts and colleagues Richard Nalley, Monie Begley and Randall Lane, as well as brothers Bob, Kip and Tim.
The Drunken Munkey
338 East 92nd St. (Tel.: 646-998-4600) Delightful bistro serving delicious Indian fare based on interpretations of authentic recipes from the British Raj, Indian aristocracy and local village specialties of the 1910s to the 1940s. Chandeliers with red-coated monkeys surround the dark-wood bar and candlelit tables. Begin with aloo-tikki, a crisp potato pancake stuffed with spinach and spices; or the spicy dahi puri, a puff pastry of potato and chickpea topped with yogurt. Biryani, the royal rice made with lamb, is rich, juicy and spice-filled. Two signature dishes are butter chicken tikka masala, cooked tandoori-style and served in a creamy tomato sauce; and masala Bombay lamb chops, which are marinated in five spices and served with tamarind-mango chutney. Finish the meal with sinfully delicious toffee pudding.
Chinese Tuxedo
5 Doyers St., between Pell St. & the Bowery (Tel.: 646-895-9301)
Exotic, grand and romantic, like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, this is the swankiest restaurant in Chinatown. The food may not be as ethereal as the space, a former opera house, but there are enough high notes and flourishes mixed in, such as king prawn spring rolls and hot-and-sour steak tartare, to justify the trip—and the bill.
The Loyal
289 Bleecker St., between Barrow & Jones streets (Tel.: 212-488-5800)
Chef John Fraser’s first brasserie is a winner, from the dark, retro vibe to the whimsical cocktails (the Willy Wonka, for example, adds pecan demerara and dark chocolate bitters to bourbon) to the classic menu offering a raw bar, steaks, pastas and salads. Other places present fireworks; this one delivers comfort and competence.
The LCL: Bar & Kitchen
The Westin Hotel New York Grand Central 212 East 42nd St. (Tel.: 212-405-4399)
The service is fine, but the food is merely mediocre. So-so ravioli and chilly chicken paillard do not make this a must-go-to place, especially when there’s an almost 30-minute wait for them. However, end your meal on a high note with either the pistachio gelato with strawberry jam or the brownie à la mode.
Don Angie
103 Greenwich Avenue, between Jane & 12th streets (Tel.: 212-889-8884) Husband-and-wife team Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli have opened this hot spot for Italian cooking. The stuffed garlic flatbread is warm and filled with creamy cheese. The chrysanthemum salad is their crisp, plentiful take on a Caesar; the prosciutto and melon is refreshing and lightly tossed with sheep cheese and hazelnuts. Lasagna for two is a signature dish that’s rich, creamy and so divine it will keep you returning for more. The tiramisu is original, rich and filled with caramel.