Exciting New Culinary and Imbibing Horizons

I currently work in the restaurant industry, but often feel like an outsider when I am caught unaware when asked about a trendy new eatery. I LOVE to eat and really enjoy eating out, but hobnobbing at the hottest spots in New York City comes at a price. I'm a firm believer that you can still enjoy unique and delicious fare, and not have to dine at said hottest spots, so I usually find myself eating at establishments that fall both under the radar and in my budget. With that being said, it is really exciting when you do find yourself at the pulse of New York City, eating at restaurants that have been reviewed by The New York Times and are revered by industry honchos.


Stanton Social

On Monday, my girlfriends and I began a tradition that we've dubbed GNO (Girls Night Out). We all lead busy, and at times, stressful lives, so it's really important to set aside nights when we'll get together, treat ourselves to an indulgent meal, unwind and revel in the fact that we have each other to lean on. Lindsey made reservations at Stanton Social, an uber trendy hotspot on the Lower East Side at the corner of Stanton and Ludlow Streets. The LES is one of my favorite neighborhoods, so that sweetened the deal even more. We were seated in a u-shaped booth and immediately ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. The premise behind Stanton Social is tapas style menu offerings. We ordered about five small plates, which included Potato and Goat Cheese Pierogies and French Onion Soup Dumplings. Our meal was really good, but with all of the hype considered, didn't blow me away. Maybe it's just my oversized appetite, but small plates alway leave me wanting more. The overall atmosphere was incredibly fun and swanky, so I would definitely go back. (Especially to try their sliders, one of the only items on the menu that don't come tapas style.) GNO was off to an impressive start.


Dumpling Man

On Friday, my sister Kerry met me at my Union Square office around 7:30pm, and from there we made our way to the East Village's Dumpling Man. My sister had been talking about Dumpling Man for a while, so I was really happy to finally sink my teeth into some authentic Chinese dumplings. The restaurant is long and lean, although after eating here a few times, I think it would be hard to maintain that sort of figure! The dumplings are offered steamed or seared, and we both opted for seared. I ordered pork, while Kerry ordered veggie, and then we both split a second veggie because they were that good. It really is a simple dining experience; tender, piping hot dumplings come in portions of 6 or 10, and are presented in a cardboard container, which are then eaten with a pair of chopsticks. Nothing fancy, but classically satisfying all the same.


Tribeca Grill

My weekend of dining excursions continued on Saturday night, when I accompanied Lindsey and the wonderful DiCola family to Tribeca Grill, co-owned by Robert De Niro. I really love this part of town; quaint cobblestone streets and classic townhouses, juxtaposed with extremely high end dining and even higher rising waterfront condos. The neighborhood oozes a sophisticated vibe, but lacks the stuffiness of an area like the Upper East Side (spoken by a resident Upper East Sider). Grand is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Tribeca Grill. The place is massive, with high ceilings, exposed pipe and bricks walls, giving it an almost loft-like feel. We especially liked the larger than life stained glass light fixtures, which resembled upside down sombreros. Lindsey and I split the Bleu Cheese Endive Salad to start. The savory bleu cheese and crisp apples was a refreshing appetizer. We both ordered the Sweet Potato Gnocchi, which was superb. The soft texture of the gnocchis was complimented by the crunchiness of the dish's squash. We all split dessert, a medley of cherry sorbet and warm apple pie. You talkin' to me ... fantastic!


Auction House

After Tribeca Grill, Lins' dad drove us back uptown. Here, I was introduced to a diamond-in-the-rough of the Upper East Side bar scene. I've lived in this neighborhood for over a year now, but the bars still don't do it for me. With the exception of American Trash, Biddy's Pub (a bar we are determined to become townies at) and Dylan Murphy's, most of the bars up here have a fratty atmosphere that I have found myself weaning off of. However, there is a bar on the corner of 89th and 2nd, which Lindsey found with a friend, and the aid of a map. It has no signage, and resembles no other bar on the UES that I have ever been to. At Auction House, you are greeted by exceptionally dim lighting, red velvet couches and murals of 18th century nudes. The relaxed ambiance and old world surroundings were a breath of fresh air and while I only had wine, I will definitely be back to explore the rest of the options on tap. Good find, even if a map was required to find it.


And with that, my weekend tale comes to a close. Stay tuned, as upcoming GNOs will surely be recounted in this blog - who knows where we will end up!