Thursday May 20th

3pm

84 Stanton Street

After sending a few places from my “must try list” to The Wandering Foodie we decided on the recently open Meatball Shop in the Lower East Side for a late lunch. I read about it when it first opened, and the idea of being able to order meatballs at 4am was intriguing (the kitchen is open until 4am Thursday – Saturday, until 2am Sunday – Wednesday). If you didn’t guess from the name, meatballs are the specialty of the house. The space itself is small—a large communal table fills most of the dining room with a few tables running along the side wall and about a dozen seats at the bar. During warm weather there’s a few tables available outside as well. Fresh flowers are neatly arranged at each table, a chalkboard announces the specials of the day (featuring a daily meatball, sauce, side, salad and ice-cream) and black and white vintage family portraits line the red wall.

When you sit down you’re handed a laminated menu and a dry erase marker to make your selections. The menu is divided into 3 sections: Ala Carte Balls, Sandwiches – hero (served on a baugette) or sliders, and a meatball smash (served on a brioche bun).

How it works:

Step 1. Select ala carte, slider, hero or smash

Step 2. Select your meatball – chicken, beef, pork, vegetarian (made with lentils and walnuts) or special

Step 3. Choose a sauce – classic tomato, spicy beef, parmasean cream, mushroom or special

Step 4. Mozzarella or provolone

I love the idea of taking one food – the meatball – and creating an endless choice of options, but I guess this is why you get the dry erase marker in case you start to second guess. If you’re at a loss the wait staff will gladly offer up their recommendations and favorite combinations. These aren’t Mom’s meatballs (my Sicilian Mother and Grandmother used a mix of pork, veal and beef and simmered them in a tomato sauce with neck bones for flavor), but they were tender and delicious. I recommend trying the basil pesto (if available as the special) with a chicken meatball or the spicy beef with a beef meatball (beef on beef seems so gluttonous but tasted so good).

Tip: Don’t forget to save room for dessert! The ice-cream is made in-house and you can create a “custom” ice-cream sandwich from a choice of four types of cookies or a brownie.

Lunch

(I had a taste of each)

• Sliders – beef with spicy beef, special jambalaya with shrimp, andouille and rice with basil pesto (the only miss, was too salty and fishy), pork with mushroom, chicken with classic tomato
• Smash – chicken with basil pesto and mozzarella (my favorite)
• Side of white beans
• Special salad – arugula with asparagus and a creamy lemon vinagarette
• Market salad – arugula with apples
• House made tangerine, caramel and mint ice-cream with a ginger snap cookie on the side (We couldn’t come to a decision on a sandwich combination so ordered ala carte)

Good for: Meatballs, Endless Choices of Meatballs, Late Night Meatballs, Customizable Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Wednesday May 5th

12:30am
9 9th Avenue

After spending the evening across the street at the rooftop of the Gansevoort for a French Tuesdays party the group decided to grab one more drink before heading home. Pastis is not only a spot for classic French Bistro dining and brunch – it’s also got a great late night bar scene and the kitchen is open until 1am (2am on Thursday and Friday, 230 am on Saturday) featuring a paired down supper menu. The late night scene is dark and candle lit with a very laid back vibe. You can grab a seat at the bar if you’re looking to make new friends, or get a table if you’re looking to enjoy an order of Moules Frites or an omlette with fresh herbs. Owned by restaurateur Keith McNally chances are you’ve been to one of his other locations which include: Pravda, Balthazar, Schiller’s Liquor Bar (my personal favorite), Morandi and most recently Minetta Tavern. Pastis also offers outdoor seating, which in the Meatpacking District guarantees good people watching.

Cocktail

• Mojito – served in a tall glass over crushed ice with fresh mint, possibly the best one I’ve had in NYC

Good for: Late Night, Mojitos, Dine at the Bar, Outdoor Seating, Brunch, Dinner, Business Lunch, People Watching

Saturday May 1st

11pm
10 Little West 12th Street

A friend was visiting NYC for the weekend and wanted to meet up for drinks at a bar with a terrace or patio. My first thought was the Biergarten at The Standard, but judging from the line wrapped around the block clearly it wasn’t an original idea. I suggested Revel a block away – it’s always a nice oasis in the chaos of the Meat Packing District. It’s a dark, candle-lit, sexy little bar that’s not as pretentious as some of its neighbors. The long bar takes up most of the space making it easy to order a drink and grab a seat. The narrow space in the front opens out to a back courtyard with a retractable roof, creating a nice airy feeling while still being indoors. The crowd is usually a good mix and the bartenders pour a strong drink.

Cocktail

• Kettle One and Soda

Good for: Late Night, Groups, Singles, Low-Key in Meat Packing, Garden Seating

Saturday April 3rd, 2010
10:45pm
293 East 10th Street

Every now and again I love to smoke a good hookah, so when the mood strikes Horus Café is usually my go-to spot . On this particular night there was a wait and the bouncer told my group we had to wait outside. There was an early Spring chill in the air, and I was starting to second guess the decision, but I guess we proved we were serious about getting a table and were let inside after a few minutes. The space isn’t large, and the size of the hookahs along with the servers carrying glowing charcoal overhead make it seem even smaller. But once seated you can settle in and enjoy the scene—and even the occasional belly dancing show or live music act. There’s over 20 hookah flavors to choose from, and if you’re looking for a late night bite or dinner there’s a fairly extensive food menu featuring mostly Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.

Note: Horus has two other locations – The Café and Kebab House on East 9th and the Lounge at Laguardia Place

Hookah

• Egyptian Pharaohs – with citrus infused water

Drinks

• Moroccan tea with fresh mint (served in a sterling silver and glass tea pot)
• Sahlab tea – a traditional Egyptian drink made from salep (a white flour-like powder made from wild orchid) mixed with milk and coconut and topped with cinnamon and nuts , served hot (a must try – it’s heavy so get one for the table and share)

GOOD FOR: Hookah, late night, groups, outdoor seating, entertaining out of town guests

Saturday March 6, 2010
1:00am
111 Reade Street

I began to make my way back downtown to Ward III for a birthday party. Since it’s opening last June it’s become my go-to bar – it’s perfect for everything from a date to late night drinks to a large group . It’s dark, candle lit and has a sexy downtown vibe with plenty of seating at the bar or a table. There’s a great cocktail list but the bartenders will also create a “bespoke cocktail” made to order based off a list of various flavor profiles. The kitchen serves what I like to call upscale bar food until about 3am – the sliders (pork and beef blend) and mac and cheese are my favorites.

Cocktail:

• Baby Eveline - vodka, fresh lemon, muddled strawberries, bitters, sparkling burgandy

Good for: Cocktails, Date Night, Large Groups, Late Night, Light Bites

Friday March 5, 2010
1:15pm
29 Cornelia Street

I set up a networking lunch and needed to find a location along the A/C line. My first thought was the Cornelia Street Café located just around the corner of the West 4th Street station. Cornelia Street is one of those quintessential New York streets, lined with trees and small cafes in the heart of the West Village. While they accept reservations, you can generally just walk in for lunch on weekdays. The menu is a mix of American Nouveau with French bistro classics. A brunch menu is available in addition to lunch every day of the week, just  in case you need a mid-week egg bennies fix. The extensive wine list is also a draw. The front dining room is a little tight, but once seated you can enjoy a good meal and conversation in a leisurely setting.

Lunch:

• Sesame-crusted salmon over warm asian vegetables with a ginger wasabi vinaigrette (served medium)

Wine pairing:

• Torrontes (Argentina, a nice alternative to Sauvignon Blanc)

Good for: wine list, business lunch, casual meal, sidewalk seating, West Village charm, brunch, late-night, prix-fixe

Thursday March 4, 2010
9pm
432 East 13th Street

Attempting to stay in and finish up some work I was lured by a group of friends at Key Bar and hopped in a taxi to join them. Key Bar is located on an unassuming block in the East Village, tucked away between Avenue A and 1^st Avenue. The main draw is one of the best happy hour specials in the city – 2 for 1 drinks until 10pm nightly (and now until close on Sunday and Monday nights). There’s a great selection of specialty martinis and shots to choose from, along with draft and bottle beers. The space is small, so arrive early to grab a seat.

Cocktail of choice:

• Belvedere and soda

Shots: (courtesty of the owner Attila)

• Passionfruit vodka

Good for: Happy hour, groups, dancing (late night)

Halal Truck
1:30am
Water Street at Wall Street

There’s nothing better than ending happy hour with a late night trip to the street cart. The Halal truck popped up about a year ago and is open 24/7, a much needed addition to the Financial District. The prices are reasonable and the food is made to order while you wait.

Late night bite:

• Falafel sandwich with the works (lettuce, tomato, white sauce, red sauce)