I’m going to make a broad and blanketed statement when I say this: Out of all the neighborhoods of New York, the East Village is the most consistent place to find good food on any level, on any night.
No, ethnic food is better in other places (boroughs even), and fine dining still exists in Midtown, but the East Village has the shabby chicness of Soho without looking like you died and woke up in Anthropologie - it’s also on the East side, which is a more generally accessible side of the city. Sorry West Village.
What’s great about the vibe in this part of the city is that its young. And cheap. Well, cheapER. Students, starving dancers … I mean artists … actors, models, musicians, and chefs. So on this week’s “city girl” dinner we ventured to The Smith, the sister restaurant of Jane on West Houston.
In addition to your hereditary family, I really believe you make your own family through a smattering of people you meet in life. Different stages of life call for different types of people. The people I hung out with when I was five, are probably not the same ones I’m going to happy-hours with these days. If you’re lucky, yes. True friends survive the trial of life, and I have those. But I also think you’re lucky when you get to meet new people and form new circles. I love it! Isn’t that what life’s all about?
So my “city girls” have become a steadfast weekly routine. They’re blonde, fun, and beautiful, isn’t that what matters most? I’M JOKING! But in all reality they’re fabulous, enjoy going out and exploring this wonderful (new) city, and have helped me meet and do some wonderful things.
The Smith, this week’s dinner spot, introduced me to the other half of Jane. The decor reminds me of a 1920′s speakeasy with white tiled flours and dark wood finishings. Inexpensive, delicious, and a little naughty …
For cocktails, I’d try something a little different. The Aviation, a drink concocted of gin, white maraschino, lemon and cherry is unique and surprisingly interesting. For dinner, the gnocchi is the same at Jane, but larger, and the same price as its Soho sister, so well worth it. In fact, its Danny Boome’s FAVORITE of all time. It is quite good, but then again anything with truffle oil is. Skip dessert, I know a shocker for me but not worth it, instead go downstairs and take a look into the peep hole. Yes, peep hole, very Porky’s style. Seriously, you’ll be shocked.
More East Villages haunts will be coming your way. A super secret French bistro tip I got from a random foodie saying, “It’s what Baltazar should be” …
