Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
great find - nearby) is this Thai-inspired joint. Curry pastes are crushed in-house - a test-
ament to the from-scratch methods used to craft every item on the colorful menu.
Soccarat Paella Bar
SPANISH$$$
( 212-462-1000;
www.soccaratpaellabar.com
; 259 W 19th St, near Eighth Ave; mains $22;
noon-11pm, to 4pm Sun; ; 1 to 18th St)
A cozy, narrow room dominated by a glass-
topped communal table, Soccarat is famous for its heavenly, saffron-scented paellas
filled with veggies, seafood and/or meat. Tapas are served too, but nothing compares to
the rice.
Babbo
ITALIAN$$$
$$$
( 212-777-0303;
www.babbonyc.com
;
110 Waverly Pl; mains $19-29; 11:30am-11:15pm, from
5pm Sun; C/E, B/D/F to W 4th St; 1 to Christopher St-Sheridan Sq)
This two-level split town-
house might be the best in celebrity chef Mario Batali's empire. Whether you order mint
love letters, lamb's brain
francobolli
(small, stuffed ravioli) or pig's foot
milanese,
you'll
find Batali at the top of his innovative, eclectic game. Reservations are in order.
Union Square & Flatiron District & Gramercy Park
Shake Shack
BURGERS$
( 212-989-6600;
www.shakeshack.com
;
cnr 23rd St & Madison Ave; hamburger from $4.50;
11am-11pm; R/W to 23rd St)
Tourists line up in droves for the hamburgers and shakes at
this Madison Square Park counter-window-serving institution.
Eataly
ITALIAN$$$
(
www.eatalyny.com
;
200 Fifth Ave at 23rd St; hours vary; F, N/R, 6 to 23rd St)
The Macy's
of food courts, celebrity-chef Mario Batali's NYC empire now has a footprint to match
his ambitions. A number of specialty dining halls, all with a different focus (pizza, fish,
vegetables, meat, pasta) and the
pièce de résistance,
a rooftop beer garden, not to men-
tion a coffee shop, gelateria and grocery, would overwhelm even a blogging gourmand.
Breslin
MODERN AMERICAN$$$
