Flatiron District, Gramercy, and Union Square

Back to Table of Contents

Blue Smoke [116 E. 27th St. (bet. Lexington and Park Aves.) 212-447-7733]
Linked with an excellent jazz club, the Jazz Standard, but also a self-contained restaurant, the popular Blue Smoke serves up some tasty barbeque. Eating while listening to some jazz, I went for the Rib Sampler, featuring three different types of ribs with three different sauces. I probably liked the Kansas City ribs the best. If I had to do it over again, however, I might have chosen the Rhapsody in 'Cue due to its wider variety of cuts of meat.

Da' Giulio [176 Lexington Ave. (bet. 30th and 31st Sts.) 212-889-2939]
If you order correctly, Da' Giulio is a good choice for dinner. If you don't, you might feel a little bit ripped off. I recommend both the Fried Calamari and the Beef Carpaccio as appetizers and the Scialiatelli (pasta with shrimp and lobster sauce) as a main dish. Each of these dishes is flavorful, albeit somewhat conventional. Avoid the Rigatoni Da Giulio because it's too creamy and avoid the Lamb Chops because you just don't get enough food.

Eleven Madison Park [11 Madison Ave. (at 24th St.) 212-889-0905]
A beautiful restaurant with excellent food to match the stunning setting. Things are high class all the way here in lobby of a bank building. I may be calling this an American restaurant, but the food is heavily influenced by French cuisine and is extremely rich and flavorful. I recommend starting with the White Asparagus Veloute and both the Lamb 'Navarin' and the Poularde make for excellent main dishes. In addition I was impressed by the "amuse-bouche" between courses. All in all, a fantastic restaurant, well worth the high prices. My only caveat is that the portions are not that big.

Hamachi [34 E. 20th St. (bet. Park Ave. S. and Broadway) 212-420-8608]
Perhaps overshadowed by its neighbors like Mizu Sushi, this is somewhat of a hidden gem. High-quality sushi and surprisingly easy to reserve for large parties (think dinner for 10-12 people). The specialty rolls are where it's at, even if they are a little pricey. The Deep Impact Roll was particularly good and the Blue Monkey Roll was also delicious. Beware of the fried, rather than steamed, Gyoza.

i Trulli [122 E. 27th St. (bet. Park Ave. S. and Lexington Aves.) 212-481-7372]
A terrific Italian treat. This massive restaurant offers top-notch food in an equally nice atmosphere. I had the Panzerotti to start and the Orecchiette as my main course. Both were delicious. For wine lovers, there is an extensive wine list and even a separate wine bar. Not for the light of wallet.

Lamarca [161 E. 22nd St. (at 3rd Ave.) 212-674-6363]
Moderate prices and solid pasta make this a good choice for dinner. Each pasta also comes with a salad and of course a big piece of bread, so you will probably leave stuffed.

Masala Bollywood [108 Lexington Ave. (bet. 27th and 28th Sts.) 212-679-1284]
The walls are adorned with pictures of Bollywood stars past and present and the flat-screen TV shows Bollywood movies on loop. This is not your typical Curry Hill Indian restaurant. But the food brings you back and makes you realize where you are (in a place with some pretty good Indian food). One surprisingly good appetizer is the Cauliflower with Manchurian Sauce, a seemingly Chinese-inspired dish that doesn't quite fit in, but is worth ordering anyway. As for main dishes, the Lamb Pasanda and Chicken Tikka Masala both offer tender meat and flavorful, creamy curries. You should end the meal pleasantly full.

Mishima [164 Lexington Ave. (bet. 30th and 31st Sts.) 212-532-9596]
A solid sushi option, this restaurant serves up all the standard Japanese specialties. With fresh fish and reasonable prices, you should certainly enjoy any meal here. I greatly enjoyed the Spicy Tuna roll that was a little different and went well with my Sushi special dinner.

Mizu Sushi [29 E. 20th St. (bet. Broadway and Park Ave. S.) 212-505-6688]
This hip sushi joint serves up solid sushi at expensive, but not outrageous, prices. They offer a great Maki Combo (Spicy Tuna, Shrimp Tempura, and Eel Avocado). Ask them to ring the gong when you do sake bombs.

Mumbles [179 Third Ave. (at 17th St.) 212-477-6066]
No, this is not a Dick Tracy theme restaurant. But it is an excellent family restaurant, or a nice place to go for a dinner with friends before a night out in the Union Square area. Prices are very affordable and the portions are generally HUGE. I tried the Maryland Crab Cake appetizer with the Penne a la Vodka and I was happily stuffed. The menu is fairly diverse with all sorts of options for meat, fish, pasta, and other dishes. And you shouldn't have too much trouble snagging a table, even on a weekend night.

New York Burger Co. [303 Park Ave. South (bet. 23rd and 24th Sts.) 212-254-2727]
Maybe I'm missing something, but these are NOT the best burgers in the city, as once voted by AOL Citysearch. They are certainly good and worth your time if you are in the area, but I wouldn't recommend a special pilgrimmage. I did think the french fries were much better than most though.

Shake Shack [Madison Square Park (at 23rd St. and Madison Ave.) 212-889-6600]
Your arteries will not thank you for going here, but your taste buds will. I would try the double Shack burger with that special Shack sauce (similar to every other delicious special sauce it is Russian dressing-y). Make sure to ask for your burgers rare or medium rare, because medium is the default. Also go for a milkshake.

Tabla [11 Madison Ave. (at 25th St.) 212-889-0667]
Not your cab driver's Indian food, this high class fusion establishment will leave you wanting to come back for more. As with its sister restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, the setting is spectacularly designed and includes beautiful views of Madison Square Park. As for the food, dinner upstairs requires you to order from a Prix Fixe menu, but that still leaves you with plenty of mouth-watering options (although it will set you back a pretty penny). The Tabla Crab Cake is fantastic, with the avocado giving it a nice flavor and the papadum "bowl" making for a clever presentation. As for main courses, I found my Baby Pig to be extremely tasty and the Elysian Fields Lamb and Black Sea Bass were also delicious. No dish was an Indian standard, but each one certainly had Indian influence and flavoring. I highly recommend a visit, and for a more Indian (and cheaper) menu, check out the Tabla Bread Bar downstairs.

'wichcraft [49 E. 19th St. (bet. Broadway and Park Ave. S.) 212-780-0577]
For those New Yorkers from New Haven who miss Gourmet Heaven. 'wichcraft allows to create your own sandwich from an array of delicious ingredients. But it comes at a price, an expensive one. The sandwiches are good enough, however, to merit a visit anyway.