Top Ten: Dishes for Two

What is better than sharing a delicious, hearty meal when dishes are meant for sharing? Dishes for two tend to bring you closer together with the ones you love. The "mmmms" and "yummsss" will be hummed in unison as you try these ten delectable dishes all around Manhattan.
by Sarah Mintz, Contributing Writer


10. Calle Ocho 45 W 81st Street  nr. Columbus Avenue

Dinner: Traditional Costa Rican Soft Tacos with Grilled Beef, Salsa Verde Shrimp & Chipotle Chicken $26 -OR-

Breakfast: Traditional Costa Rican Soft Tacos with Scrambled Eggs, Guacamole, Salsa, Sour Cream, Chorizo and Home Fries $28

Dishes for two at breakfast and dinner - how can you go wrong?

9. Ciano 45 East 22nd Street nr. Park Avenue
Giannone Chicken for Two Baked in a Clay Pot with Castelluccio Lentils and a Mushroom Ragu $55

Extremely moist, tender, and juicy chicken encased with its accompaniments and enclosed by a dough topping makes for one of the season's most comforting dishes.

8. Maialino  2 Lexington Avenue nr. 21st Street

Spigola Salt Baked Sea Bass for Two & Mushrooms $72

Sure, the description sounds simple but the taste is far from it. We can't deny that pork and pasta are crowd favorites here, but the Spigola is hands down Maialino's unsung hero.

7. The Breslin  16 W. 29th Street nr. Broadway

Pig Foot for Two with Winter Vegetables and Shallow Crème Fraiche $48

Stuffed with sausage, deep fried, and underneath a creamy sauce - this dish adds up to the most well-worth it heart attack you'll ever have.

6. Craft 43 East 19th Street nr. Park Avenue

30-Day Dry-Aged Rib Eye Bone Marrow & Bordelaise $125

The rib eye is cooked to perfection but the bordelaise reduction alone is worth the trip to Craft.

5. Commerce 50 Commerce Street nr. Bedford Street

Whole Roasted Chicken for Two with Winter Vegetables and Truffled Potato Puree $58

Foie gras stuffing? Enough said!

4.   The Modern 9 West 53rd Street nr. 5th Avenue

Squab and Foie Gras Croustillant for Two with Caramelized Ginger Jus and Farm Vegetables (included in price of $98 prix fixe dinner)

The buttery and flaky crust of the croustillant encaptures the most decadently smooth foie gras and perfectly tender squab, keeping all flavors tightly sealed until each bite hits your mouth. Oh and don't forget the truffle sauce hiding underneath it all!

3. Babbo 110 Waverly Place nr. Washington Square West

Deconstructed Osso Buco for Two with Saffron Orzo, Cavolo Nero and Chestnut Gremolata $75

Come hungry as the Osso Bucco for two can easily feed a family of four. Regardless, it will be hard for you to put your fork and knife (potentially a butter knife this meat is so tender!) down- the dish packs in so many dynamic flavors, you might forget it comes with a fantastic side of saffron-laced orzo.

2. Nuela 43 West 24th Street nr. 6th Avenue

Arroz con Pato with Roasted Duck Breast, Confit Thighs under Crispy Skin & Gizzards Seared Foie Gras, Verde Rice, and a Soft Duck Egg $64

Although "duck with rice" doesn’t sound pretty, this Arroz con Pato sure is! This is Nuela's signature dish and was named one of the New York Times best dishes in 2010. Think paella, but expect five parts of duck and delicious combinations of savory and sweet mixed among the crispy rice. Hands down a crowd pleaser! 

1. Locanda Verde 377 Greenwich Street nr. North Moore Street

Fire-Roasted Garlic Chicken for Two Served with Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Vegetables  $48

I know. I hate ordering the ubiquitous chicken when I'm out to dinner too, but trust me when I tell you that Andrew Carmellini has perfected this dish. Moist and simple, but this chicken is just so perfect.