Finding great restaurants to try in New York is one of my favourite things to do; now I’ve learned not to walk myself into the ground all day and save energy to go out at night! I’ve been to so many good places, but there are still plenty more on the list. Here are five downtown restaurants I highly recommend:
1. Clinton Street Baking Co. and Restaurant, Lower East Side
This small and homely neighbourhood haunt serving up unpretentious and unfussy comfort food is probably best known for its brunch line-up – I’ll have the signature blueberry pancakes and buttermilk biscuit sandwich please! – but is also open for lunch and dinner. Yes, the pancakes are available all day long. Thanks for recommending it, Marissa!
Find the Clinton Street Baking Co at 4 Clinton Street
2. The Butcher’s Daughter, Nolita
It’s hard to find a good lunch spot in Soho that isn’t rammed, so I’m glad a friend told me about this cool juice bar and café – perfect for a healthy boost mid-shopping session. I love its fresh and earthy looking interior and wholesome menu – Butcher’s grilled cheese sandwich: melted Cheddar, heirloom tomato, avocado, adzuki bacon, wilted basil on grilled sourdough? Yes please.
Find The Butcher’s Daughter at 16 Kenmare Street
3. Hudson Clearwater, West Village
This is described as the West Village’s secret restaurant, but only because it looks like a boarded-up shopfront; not because it’s trying to keep a low profile. What you have to do is walk around the corner to find a green door. Go through it and you’ll discover this pretty restaurant just through a lovely courtyard garden.
Find Hudson Clearwater at 447 Hudson Street
4. Babbo
Apart from pizza, Italian food is never my top choice. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because I already make a good spaghetti Bolognese, but something’s making me want to find out what the fuss is about at this Mario Batali restaurant. Plus, it looks so inviting inside and, er, Beyonce and Jay-Z go here.
Find Babbo at 110 Waverly Place
5. The Smile, Nolita
I first read about this Nolita coffee house and restaurant in an interview with actress Naomi Watts in UK Elle which took place here. Seeing it for the first time, I could see exactly why. Set in a dark basement with lots of tables in darkened corners. Nowadays, it exists as a takeout place in Soho called Smile To Go featuring a similar rustic Mediterranean menu as the former restaurant. Think: sandwiches stuffed with gruyere and ham with cornichons and chicken salad with cranberries, Greek salads and Moroccan lamb meatballs. Baked goods like hibiscus glaze olive oil loaf and banana quinoa muffins taste as good as they sound.
Find The Smile at 22 Howard Street and inside the Freehand Hotel
Have you tried any of these? Thoughts please!
5 Comments
Not having visited New York yet I do enjoy reading about those places I have yet to visit – and After reading your post on the restaurants, The Smile sounds just the place I need to go when I do. Just sounds utterly delightful
Hi Linda – thanks for reading and I’m glad you found something useful in the post. I too can’t wait for a trip to The Smile – although am intrigued by the hidden Hudson Clearwater restaurant. I’ll be reviewing both very soon. Do you think you’ll make it to the city soon?
Thanks so much for recommending Hudson Clearwater. We’ve just been for the first time and had an amazing dinner! The food is divine. We had a selection – green pea salad, red quinoa, asparagus salad, pan-seared gnocchi, lovely white fish… we highly recommend it too!
That’s it. The Butcher’s Daughter will be my spot for tomorrow’s lunch! I really like your posts that list various restaurants in NYC. Even though I live here, I often have trouble deciding on a spot because there’s just so many . (not a bad problem to have I guess… lol) and I forget them quickly. Thanks for sharing!
How exciting. Let me know what you think. I found the menu quirky and didn’t know what to choose, but what I had was delicious and I felt really healthy after it. Again, thanks so much for your lovely comments. I’m quite jealous you have NY as your playground. Although Brighton and London are not so bad. But I think when you live somewhere, you can go to these places anytime, so take things for granted. On holiday, you have one shot to get it right so choosing well is important 🙂