New York food & Drink Exploration

the entrance through the jewelry shop door

Beauty & Essex --> Thank you Jess!  You took me exactly to where my passions lay!  Entering through an estate Jewelry store, a huge (and by huge I mean ginormous) bouncer opens a false wall into a massive bar and restaurant with bar and VIP area up a grand curved staircase and decadent powder rooms below.  This is just my style!  Gaudy, ’70’s glam crystal light fixtures,  a wonderful glowing light design, embroidered raw-silk lined walls, and rustic oak table tops to bring you back to reality.  

 

pure white hides cover the walls of the grand curved staircase to the upper lounge

glorious embroidered thai silk panels line the walls and the lighting was impeccable!

the main dining was PACKED when i was there at 10pm

Jess and I drinking Pink Champagne in the ladies lounge from their hosted bar

Freemans -->  a re:generation restaurant of reclaimed wood, throw back drinks, small taxidermied game, a sneaky entrance through an alley, seriously delicious and hearty dishes.

Eataly -->  A european market at is finest.  From the Butchers case to the Patisserie, anything of European quality and price!  I posted up at the Crudo bar for the most wonderful and expensive brunch of oysters, vino and sashimi-like crudo plate.  The service and the taste knocked my socks off!  To add to the Euro vibe was the buzz of the shoppers and the openness of the patrons to chat and discuss their lives abroad or world travels.  

A referal from some awesome Jerseys Mom’s I met at Eataly’s Crudo Bar suggested that I not miss  La Birreria -->  on the rooftop was an open air tapas gastropub.  It has a casual beer-centric design, great bartenders, a cool sliver of a view of the Empire state building and great beer!   

The Breslin at the Ace Hotel --> Yet another hunker-down, extreme english pub with taxidermied animals, old drinks and farm to table amazing food.  I had the lamb burger as suggested by Chef David Lefevre.  To make it all even more hip, it is located at the Ace Hotel which, at any location is on the Indie Scene cutting edge!