west village

Wallflower

in

Wallflower has become one of my favorite new spots. The food and drinks are surprisingly very well made. The small, hidden and intimate space resembles a speakeasy. It's not too hyped yet, let's hope it remains a hidden gem!

Food

Everything is served tapas style, except the entrees. Everything on the menu is well prepared, fresh and tasty. I can't name a single item I didn't enjoy. My personal favorites include:

1) Wagyu beef tartare with a quail egg—the flavors are really well seasoned. One of the best I've had in the city so far!

2) Chevre with radish and basil—light and well balanced. It's such a refreshing appetizer and an excellent way to begin the meal. 

3) Mushroom risotto —I went back and they didn't have this anymore, instead, they were serving cuttlefish risotto which was also good. But I prefer the mushroom, if they ever have the mushroom risotto, I recommend. It is very good and well made. I typically avoid risotto because of its heaviness, but this risotto did not give off that vibe.

*Note: the menu changes regularly so some of the items above may no longer exist!

Hamachi tartare

Ambiance

As previously mentioned the ambiance is very petite and intimate. Similar to many of the small boutique restaurants in West Village. Xavier Herbit, creator of Wallflower, personally takes calls for reservations and takes guests to their seats. His exuberant and bubbly attitude makes the experience that much more personable and enjoyable.

Quality

Very fresh and seasonal. The menu changes periodically to accommodate the freshest ingredients. 

Price

I'd expect to pay about $70 per person after tax and tip. However, if you do the tasting menu, then I'd expect to pay almost $100 per person after tax and tip (including a drink). I personally would recommend a la carte as the wagyu beef is not included on the tasting menu.

Reservations

Definitely, make a reservation a week in advance. It can get very packed on the weekends.

Black sea bass

Cuttlefish risotto

Short ribs

Wagyu beef tartare, chevre

Mushroom Risotto

Brioche with pear and vanilla ice cream

 

Dell'anima

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Dell'anima is located in the heart of West Village and serves great Italian food. They are actually under the same management as L'artusi—one of my favorite spots! 

Food

The food was great the first time I went. Given that they are under the same umbrella as L'artusi, I didn't expect anything less. We began the meal with an all-time favorite, the quail. It was perfectly cooked with the skin crispy and interior tender as fuck. It was actually very similar to the quail at L'artusi. This particular quail was served with a sour accent, complemented by caramelized onions, pickled peppers and fennel.

Quail

The pappardelle integrale, served with mushrooms, shallots and thyme, was delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked, lathered in mushrooms. My favorite was the tajarin alla carbonara with a poached egg. I typically avoid carbonara because it is such a difficult dish to perfect. Often times, restaurants make it extremely creamy and heavy. But Dell'anima has done it well. It is not heavy at all. The accents of cured meat in addition to the egg were just so tasty. I highly recommend.

We also ordered the lamb shank that was tasty and well seasoned. However, the lamb was a little dry. I'm very particular. Lamb shank should be perfectly cooked with no inch of dryness. Dell'anima should take notes from Bar Bolonat.

For dessert, we had the lemon poppy seed panna cotta, and let me tell you, it was SO GOOD. I absolutely loved it. With every bite, you can taste the poppy seeds burst with accents of lemon. 

*Note: The food changes regularly so some of the items above no longer exist. I also went back a second time and it wasn't as good. The lack of consistency was a little dissapointing. 

Ambiance

This place is very similar to L'artusi, but much smaller. It is very very dark and intimate. A great date spot!

Quality

The food was definitely excellent quality.

Pappardelle integrale

Price

The price is very similar to other counterparts such as L'artusi and Osteria Morini with pasta ranging from $18-22. I'd expect to pay about $65-75 per person after tax & tip for a full meal with drinks.

Reservation

I definitely recommend reservations 2 weeks in advance to snatch a desired time on the weekend. They also have an open bar seating that is up for grabs.

Papparadelle Integrale and Carbonara

Lamb shank & brocoli rabe

Lemony poppy seed panna cotta

 

Joseph Leonard

in

Is it just me or do most brunch spots in Manhattan taste the same and remain relatively unimpressive? Eggs Benedict or French toast are basically the same anywhere you go, whether you're paying $10 or $20. But let's talk more about a little spot I tried this morning because a solid brunch spot is tough to find in the city or even worth the effort to blog about. Although I did not actually try their eggs benedict, I'm sure it's comparable to most places. But everything else I tried was tasty and creative. This little gem is located in the West Village on Waverly street.

Food

Let's begin by talking about their famous bloody caesar with an oyster and a brussels sprout wrapped in bacon. What an imaginative recipe. The oyster is an excellent way to start the day and get your sex drive going. It's fresh and delicious. I love brussels sprout and I love bacon, and together they are the perfect combination of healthy and a mild heart attack. Who would've thought to pair these two with the classic Caesar? It is well spiced at Joseph Leonard. The vodka is not the dominate player but rather a slight modifier that enhances the spices.

The fried chicken sandwich is one of their signature dishes. The chicken is tender and crunchy with a glaze of light honey. By default, it comes with chips, but I recommend substituting for brussels sprout with Siracha sauce—it is delicious, and a good balance.

Lastly, my favorite dish was the dessert, the monkey cake. It was literally an entire cake. Order it after you finish eating your entrees because they serve it fresh. It may look a bit intimidating at first, but I assure you, it is not OVERLY sweet. Thank god. The only part that's sweet is the coated white chocolate sauce, but the inside is left untouched, so you can control the sweetness level. The fresh strawberries and toasted almonds are an excellent complement to the cake. I highly recommend it.

Ambiance

The restaurant is very small and has a classic west village hipster ambiance. Before going, I always thought it was a very high-end brunch spot, but it's actually very chill and casual. The crowd is full of locals, yuppies, and chic grungy socialites. A spot that caters to foodies across the social spectrum.

Price

Joseph Leonard is comparable to any other brunch spot in the city. Roughly $14-$20 for an entree. Sides range between $4-$8. Drinks vary, but the bloody caesar is $16. It is on par with most places (by most places I mean good places of this caliber). I would expect to spend about $30-$40 (after tax & tip) per person depending on how hungry you are. But $40 is plenty, if not excessive.

Wait

When isn't there a wait in NYC? If it's any good, there's a line. Luckily this place is not yet overly commercialized on yelp or other mainstream media sites. The wait is reasonable for New York, about 45 minutes to an hour during peak times. I recommend going an hour before your desired eating time. There's plenty to do around the area. They will call you when your table is ready. So no need to stick around.

Overall, I think this is a great brunch spot that justifies its prices with solid food that is slightly differentiated from hot brunch spots. The charm of this location gives it the authentic West Village feel. One of my go to spots with really great food.