Peter’s Downtown NYC Restaurant Guide
I have to say, there’s nothing I Iove more than cooking great meal in my kitchen for friends. But ya know what else I love? Dining out. Sitting down at a set table, being served a crisp glass of wine and looking at the menu for whatever strikes my fancy. What makes a restaurant special? The food, the room, the service? Yes, for sure. But with a great restaurant, there’s a touch of magic in the air. Having lived in downtown New York City (the West Village, to be precise) since day one, I’ve always loved vibrancy and variety of restaurant downtown offers— from casual brunch bistros to iconic heritage boîtes. From Soho to Chinatown to Chelsea, there’s something for everyone and for every mood. So, here are my favorite 20 (ok, there’s one extra, so 21) downtown dining spots.
1. Cafe Cluny
Part dependable (and chic) neighborhood go-to and part downtown destination, Cafe Cluny’s modern casual French-inspired food is both delicious, elevated and approachable? How is that possible? Perhaps it’s the friendly staff in their signature striped shirts, or the elegantly laid-back dining room, or perhaps the picture-perfect West Village cobblestoned street corner it resides on. Who can really say? But what I can say is that it’s the place I go every week for the perfect brunch (I’m a fan of their omelettes) or dinner (the roast chicken!), and I’m not gonna stop.
Photo Courtesy of Cafe Cluny
2. Omai
3. Peking Duck House
4. abcV
5. Momoya
6. Empire Diner
7. Loring Place
8. Nami Nori
Imagine the most luscious uni perched on top of a knob of lobster tempura, atop perfect sushi rice and all wrapped in a shatteringly crisp seaweed (nori) shell. Well, imagine no further. Nami Nori’s known for their impeccably crafted temaki hand rolls and they don’t play— their Signature Set includes such boldly delicious flavor combinations like coconut shrimp with green curry and x.o. scallop with tobiko. The blonde wood paneled room is light and airy— and do request a seat at the bar and watch the chef’s make their temaki magic.
Photo Courtesy of Nami Nori
9. Claudette
10. Pearl Oyster Bar
11. Chinese Tuxedo
12. Nom Wah Tea Parlor
13. Don Angie
14. Balaboosta
15. Dim Sum Go Go
Chinatown’s Dim Sum Go Go is all about that perfect bite. Fresh and made to order, they use the best ingredients for both the classics like har gow and siu mai, but also for their own special creations like roast duck dumplings or their signature pink-hued Three Star dumpling filled with lotus root, jicama and cabbage. So they don’t have the carts, trust me you won’t care –you’ll be too busy marveling over those bright nuanced flavors. But don’t forget to save room for their Tapioca pearl dumplings with custard filling— so unctuous and luxurious— they’re truly the perfect last bite.
Photo Courtesy of Dim Sum Go Go
21. Bottino
Long-time Chelsea gallery district classic, Bottino’s rustic Tuscan cooking have long attracted not only the art crowd, but cool locals too. It might be the bright and airy lounge-like front bar area, where the long banquette beckons you to sit for a martini and some crispy fried artichokes and chickpea bruschetta, or perhaps it’s the well-appointed dining room where you can feast on one of their perfect pastas (the Cavatelli Alla Norma with charred eggplant and smoked ricotta is a favorite). It could also be the tranquil back garden where you can sip on your brunch Aperol Spritz and forget your troubles. Well, it’s all of the above, ‘cause that’s the Bottino way.
Photo Courtesy of Bottino
