The Best of the West: Guide to the West Village

The West Village is known for it's vibrant community, expensive real estate and of course, the bevvy of dining options that are not only strong in quantity, but quality.Whether you are looking for some late night eats, a place to impress a first date or your significant other or birthday party spot, here you go. by Lauren Saiger

Squid Ink Paella, Alta
Photo: Jennee Wong

1.  Alta 64 West 10th Street nr. Sixth Ave. Great for LARGE PARTIES.
Their small plates, strong sangria and private room is absolutely the perfect venue for a party.  

2.  Anfora 34 Eighth Avenue nr. Jane St. Great for FIRST DATES. Their cozy banquettes, wine selection and impressive cocktail menu will give your date a sense of your impeccable taste right off the bat.

3.  Annisa 13 Barrow Street nr. 4th St. Great for SPECIAL OCCASION DINNER. It's modern, elegant and the food is perfect.  Opt for the tasting menu. It's worth it!
  
4.  Bar Pitti 268 Avenue nr. Bleecker St. (no website) Great for PASTA and PEOPLE WATCHING. Not only is Bar Pitti a great place for celeb spotting and al fresco dining, but the food is out of this world. Grab your favorite friends, ask for a round table and chow down on their famous Rigatoni Pitti (turkey sausage, peas, cream, tomato, parmagiano).

Barbuto

5.  Barbuto 775 Washington Street nr. 12th St. Great for SUMMER DINING. Their garage doors open in the warmer months so every seat feels like you're sitting outsideThey've got a full bar, delicious food and it's the perfect spot for any occasion. They've also got a Chef's Table for up to 14 guests in the kitchen.
 
6.  Buvette 42 Grove Street nr. Bleecker St. Great for LATE NIGHT DINING. A perfect spot for a delicious midnight snack meant for the most epicurious Francophile. They're open until 2am and serve the most delicious croques monsieur.  Perfect ending to a night out!

 7.  Cafe Asean 117 W. 10th St. nr. Greenwich Ave.

Fresh breakfast pastries, Cafe Cluny
Photo: Cafe Cluny

Great for CASUAL DINNER. Our favorite Pan-Asian restaurant in town. Make sure to try one of their noodle dishes like the Mee Udang - shrimp, egg, water spinach, pork belly, and noodles in a spicy broth. You will surely be back for more. 
 
8.  Cafe Cluny 284 W. 12th Street nr. West 4th St. 
Great for BREAKFAST MEETINGS. They open at 8am sharp in time for an early morning meeting or a hearty breakfast after the gym.  It's charming and the perfect venue to start off your day.

9.  Commerce 50 Commerce St. nr. Bedford St.
Great for DOUBLE DATES. It's located at the end of Commerce Street on a charming tree lined street.  The food is delicious and perfect for sharing whether it be their chicken, porterhouse or stuffed branzini.
 

Cubano sandwich, Coppelia
Photo: Coppelia 

10.  Coppelia 207 West 14th St. nr. Seventh Ave. Great for 24 HOUR EATS. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night or early AM when the bars close and you just need a grilled cheese. We're a huge fan of Chef Julian Medina.  Everything on the menu is great, but the fish tacos are extraordinary. No matter what you do, make sure to order them. Oh, and don't forgot to try one of their Pisco cocktails - one more drink won't hurt you at 4am.

Corner Bistro's burger

11.  Corner Bistro 331 West 4th St. nr. Jane St. 
Great for BURGERS AND FRIES This place is no frills and that's what makes it so special.  The juicy burger, melted cheese and a slab of bacon served on a paper plate is one of my favorite dishes in New York. Always bustling with a great crowd - it's a sure thing. 

12. 11th St. Cafe 327 West 11th Street nr. Greenwich St. Great for HEALTHY BREAKFASTS. Located in the heart of the West Village, it's probably one of my favorite spots for breakfast. The scrambled egg bowl is not only healthy, but filling and delicious. You can pick your ingredients and add a antioxidant-filled smoothie for the perfect balance and the best way to start of your day.

Black Tea Rose Latte, Grounded
Photo: Blog by Grounded

13.  Grounded 28 Jane Street nr. 4th St. 
Great for COFFEE AND WI-FI. It's a great place to grab a cup of joe, one of their jumbo peanut butter cups and check your Facebook to see who's poked you recently. It's almost like a really trendy library - very quiet and the perfect place to be productive and stay caffeinated in a perfect Village enclave. Make sure to try their specialty coffee and tea beverages, like their Black Tea Rose Latte! 


14.  Hudson Clearwater 447 Hudson Street nr. Morton St. Great for DINNER AND A MOVIE. It's hidden so make sure you know where you are going!  Once you find their hidden door, you'll be greeted by rustic decor, great food and strong drinks. After you are satiated, head to the IFC Center to catch a great indie flick.

Negroni, I Sodi
Photo: I Sodi 

15.  I Sodi 105 Christopher Street nr. Bleecker St. Great for COZY ITALIAN DINNERS. Chef and owner Rita Sodi knows exactly how to make her customers happy. It's small with only about 15 tables and a great bar that extends the entire length of the restaurant. They serve four different types of negronis which are all equally amazing - the classic being the best in the city in my opinion. The best part of I Sodi is it feels like a place for the neighbors, through and through. Regulars and newcomers are treated with a great warmth felt through the energy and the food. What's not to love about that? 

16. Perilla 9 Jones Street nr. West 4th St. Great for DINNER WITH THE FAMILY. Top Chef Season 1 winner Harold Dieterle has created this perfect neighborhood spot that is perfect for dining with your loved ones - it's not too loud, the food is diverse and expertly executed, and Make sure you start with the spicy duck meatballs. They are perhaps some of the best meatballs in the Village.

 17.  Morandi 211 Waverly Place nr. Charles St.
Great for AL FRESCO LUNCH. It's hard to pinpoint Morandi for being good for one thing, but the best time to come without a wait is for lunch. In the warmer months, pull up a chair at one of their patio tables and waste the day away over their paninis made with fresh focaccia bread and lamb-filled ravioli. Lunch just got a bit more delicious in every sense of the word. 

Lobster rolls, Pearl Oyster Bar
Photo: Pearl Oyster Bar 

18.  Pearl Oyster Bar 18 Cornelia Street nr. Bleecker St. 
Great for SEAFOOD. They've got the best seafood around including my favorite - the lobster roll.  Hearty and delicious lobster salad on a buttered roll topped with chives. They don't take reservations but trust us, it's worth the wait.

19.  Perla 24 Minetta Lane nr. Sixth Ave. Great for PRIVATE DINING. Perla's downstairs cellar is the perfect venue for a special occasion where you just can't dine with the masses. Everything from the cocktails to the and holds up to the 56-day dry aged ribeye for two ($95) will be memorable. The room seats up to 10 people, so choose your friends wisely.

Dinner at Red Farm
Photo: Evan Sung 

20.  Red Farm 529 Hudson Street nr. Charles St. Great for CHINESE. Not only do they serve the best Chinese, it's cooked with the freshest ingredients and the owner Ed is classic New York. Must-try dishes: 'Pac Man' shrimp dumplings, Kowloon Filet Mignon Tarts, soft and crunchy vegetable fried rice and the three chili chicken. 
 
21.  Rosemary's Enoteca and Trattoria 18 Greenwich Street nr. 10th St. Great for LOCAVORES. Pick, prepare and serve. That's what they do here. They've got a rooftop garden where they grow and then prepare their scrumptious Italian dishes. The chopped salad "siciliana" features some of the best picks from the garden, including cherry tomatoes off the vine, escarole, artichokes and raisins.

Falafel sandwich, Taïm Photo: Dhale Bautista

22. Taim 222 Waverly Place nr. Seventh Ave.
Great for FALAFEL. I don't know how they do it, but they make some of the best tasting falafels I've ever tasted. A must-try is their mixed falafel platter to get a taste of their salads and assortment of sauces - the harissa is pure addiction! Such a bargain for the quality and quantity! 

23.  Tartine 253 W. 11th Street nr. 4th St. (no website)
Great for BYOB This place defines the West Village. It's low key, friendly and delicious. Their French food is perfectly cooked and everything on the menu is scrumptious and perfectly priced.

24. Tertulia 359 Sixth Avenue nr. Washington Place Great for SPANISH TAPAS. Chef Seamus Mullen has proven to the West Village and beyond that he knows how to craft and execute tapas. This small-plates restaurant is authentic and every dish screams España in the most delicious way possible. Whether you're in the mood for a small, delicious light bite or a full meal, Tertulia will deliver the goods.

25.  Wilfie & Nell 228 West 4th Street nr. Seventh Ave.
Great for GASTROPUB GRUB Meat pies, pigs in a blanket wrapped in bacon and Berkshire pork sliders accompanied by one of their cocktails or beers makes a perfect, casual evening with friends. It doesn't get better than this. This is what The Spotted Pig used to be - friendly, inviting and filled with the neighborhood that just wants to sit back and relax. 

Chefs wEE Love: How do you Cool Off, Chef?

New York - it's hot. When we're not dodging Miami-like afternoon thunderstorms and wiping our brow on the subway platforms, we're itching to cool off with something delicious, and we don't mean air conditioning. We're talking something thirst-quenching or mouth-watering. Some of our favorite restauranteurs, chefs and bartenders shared their favorite ways to cool off in the warm summer months - we'll give it a whirl. by Joleen Zanuzoski

Andy Ricker, Pok Pok Wing
137 Rivington Street nr. Suffolk St. 
This cool cat from Portland has brought his knowledge of Thailand to us and boy - how delicious it is! How 'bout those wings, New York? When we asked Andy Ricker how he likes to cool off in the warm summer months when he's not traveling to Southeast Asia and back and living a bi-coastal existence, his response was classic - "I like to fill my underwear with ice and watch March of the Penguins." While he luxuriates in his chilly panties, he enjoys snacking on Creamsicles. Brrrrr!

Scott James Teague, Demi Monde 

90 Broad Street nr. Stone St. 

This former Pegu Club barkeep is shaking things up in the Financial District, creating delicious cocktails and libations at the recently opened speakeasy/lounge/den of vice, Demi Monde. Close friends and patrons call him "Scotch" which is wildly apropos considering on the summer weekends, he can be found on the water in Connecticut "drinking iced cold beer and warm whiskey. The beer keeps me hydrated and the whiskey keeps me drunk." Spoken like a true man of his craft and another reason to trust anything he mixes up for us. 

Photo: Evan Sung    

Ed Schoenfeld, Red Farm
529 Hudson Street nr. 10th St. 
This Chinese food aficionado and successful restauranteur can be seen gracefully turning down hundreds of foodie hopefuls every night that are trying to snag one of Red Farm's coveted forty seats. What he does to cool off between turning tables and organizing his seating chart on his high-powered iPad? "On hot summer evenings after getting home from work I like to sit on my screened-in porch and enjoy a rose-flavored jasmine iced tea." 

Jehangir Mehta, Mehtaphor 
130 Duane Street nr. Church St. 
Chef Mehta, known for his South Asian fusion cooking at East Village's Graffiti and TriBeCa's Mehtaphor, there is usually nothing mild about his cooking - it's always robust in flavor and playful in nature. With the exotic spices and herbs, French technique and whimsical surroundings, Mehta brings it every time. When he's not heating up the kitchen (and our palates), he loves "slashing open a fresh coconut and gulping it down then scrapping the tender flesh." Even his cool-down method sounds enchanting - another reason we love him.

Julian Medina, Coppelia 
207 West 14th Street nr. Seventh Ave. 
Medina has taken over sophisticated Latin cuisine in NYC with his Midtown staple Toloache, downtown Yerba Buena and Yerba Buena Perry and the new Upper East Side Toloache 82. When he's not overseeing his restaurant empire, he likes to "cool off with a nice Michelada - Dos XX beer, lime juice and hot sauce over ice - and a simple, cold shrimp ceviche." Another reason to love Medina - he's spicy even when he's not in the kitchen - Ole!

Brian Bartels, Fedora
239 West 4th Street nr. Charles St.  
If I could pick anywhere in the West Village to cool off, it would be in the cozy confines of Fedora. The perfect haunt for early evening or late night cocktails, you can usually find head barman and libation aficionado Brian Bartels sipping on a refreshing gin and tonic. "I never used to drink them but I went to Spain with Chef Mehdi [Brunet-Benkritly] and Gabriel [Stulman], the way they prepared gin and tonics brought a new found appreciation. In Spain, they use tongs to grab the ice and serve serve them in big Burgundy goblets. So badass." You can find Bartels mixing up the finest G&Ts around with Fever Tree gin, but he loves experimenting and "playing around" with different gins all the time. Love it! 

Carmen Quagliata, Union Square Cafe
21 East 16th Street nr. Broadway

Chef Quagliata is an expert of Italian cuisine that has built a name for himself as executive chef and partner at one of the most well-respected restaurants in New York. If you've savored one of his insanely delicious seasonal pasta dishes, you know it's a true culinary experience. When he's not dishing out lobster ravioli, roasted pork pappardelle and fried veal brains, he likes to cool off with one of nature's most refreshing treats. "I always have a watermelon halved and I scoop it out with a spoon like sorbet, right out of the fridge, standing with the door open.” 

Oliver Gift, Lowcountry

142 West 10th Street nr. Greenwich Ave. 

With an amazing pedigree as the former sous chef of Commerce and learning from Dan Barber at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, this chef is one to keep your eye on especially with the hearty Southern comfort food he is creating at Lowcountry in the West Village. He's created a menu filled with sophisticated Southern fare with a focus on seafood. When he's not throwing one of Lowcountry's summer lobster boils on Sunday and Monday, he likes to cool off at the driving range at Chelsea Piers while drinking home made sun tea lemonade. How does Chef Gift cool off when he gets out of the kitchen? "I hop on my bike after work and head to Chinatown for my favorite late night snack - beef chow fun & black bean sauce. I bring it back to my place and enjoy it from my fire escape, [watching] what the East Village has to offer at 3am." Sounds like a plan to us!