Location: Solow Building, 9 West 57th Street
Cuisine: French American
Best Dish: Mac and Cheese with truffle butter must we really elaborate on that. It was the epitome of comfort food decadence.
Price: $$$$
Overall: An opulent yet casual space worthy of your next celebration, special night out, or holiday meal.
On March 16th, we had the rewarding experience of attending the DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS – Cocktails by Design Preview Party at Pier 92 on the Hudson River in New York City. This is the 20th Anniversary of Dining by Design, the largest event on the DIFFA calendar. DIFFA invited local and international designers to transform a raw space into a showcase of over-the-top dining environments. Designers adorn walls tents, lighting wires, and more showcase the unique dining visions this is so much more setting a pretty table. Co-located with the Architectural Digest Design Show at Pier 94, DIFFA’s signature event gathers industry insiders, design enthusiasts, and active donors to Pier 92 in New York City to fundraise for a very worthy cause. It is a 5-day exhibition held from March 16-20, and more than 2,000 attendees are expected.
Location: 1 West 67th Street
Cuisine: Italian
Best Dish: We are torn between the “Gnudi” with its delectable buttery sauce and the Paccheri tender bits of pork and expertly prepared pasta. Both dishes were sublime. The Gnudi was smooth and buttery and the Paccherri hearty and comforting. We highly recommend adding both to your foodie bucket list.
Overall: The Leopard at des Artistes is an elegant space framed by a series of artful murals. Its aestetic appeal is evenly matched by it impeccable service and delicious menu. The venue is a grand space for your next special event, an important date night or a treat for your favorite foodie.
Location: 236 East 77th Street
Cuisine: Italian
Best Dish: The homemade crab meat ravioli was tasty.
Overall: A reasonably priced interpretation of classic Italian cuisine, but nothing special.
Location: 145 Avenue C
Cuisine: Latin/Brazilian
Best Dish: The best dish was the baked mussels. We didn’t need to think it over or debate it, the baked mussels are hands down one the best mussel dishes we’ve had so far.
Overall: A charming lively space with rustic decor, delectable eats, and an energetic performance space.
Location: 1662 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cuisine: Greek
Best Dish: The lamb shank was absolutely delicious. The meat was fork tender and well seasoned
Overall: A superb bistro with excellent service and great food.
The space adds to the authenticity of the concept with design by Yianni Skordas of Skordas Design Studio (Avra Estiatorio and Anassa Taverna) to evoke the breezy, white-covered Greek Island of Mykonos with white brick walls and bamboo design work on the airy high ceilings, complemented by Greek stone archways.
Location: 132 Montague Street, Brooklyn
Cuisine: Argentinean
Best Dish: Though we would happily eat our way through a swimming pool of their decadent wild mushroom sauce, the star of the evening was the bone in short rib, a carnivore’s dream come true.
Overall: A quaint casual eatery with warmth and charm to spare. Add it to your date night roster or weekly happy hour rotation.
Location: 519 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY
Cuisine: Northern Italian
Best Dish: The lamb chops were outstanding and the spaghetti is divine but our favorite dish of the evening was the oven roasted salmon. It is not easy to achieve crisp skin and maintain tender flesh with salmon and yet that is exactly how it was presented and enjoyed.
Overall: The posh decor is reason enough to visit but you will fall in love with the food. If you love Italian cuisines, this restaurant is a must. The venue is also an ideal space for an impressive first date or special occasion. The setting and cuisine are enhanced by a resplendent entertainment experience that features musicians and students from nearby Juilliard and Lincoln Center performing live music nightly and during brunch, and occasional opera.
