BUDDAKAN

Buddakan 

The next restaurant I will be covering is Buddakan! Buddakan is a huge, lavishly decorated restaurant offering a menu of Asian dishes & cocktails. Buddakan is located in Chelsea, at the cross streets of 9th Avenue and 16th Street. Buddakan earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.


The Restaurant Atmosphere


Often compared to TAO, Buddakan has a very spacious, dark, and exotic atmosphere. With an almost-hidden entrance, Buddakan provides a sense secrecy. It seems like... if you don't know it's there, you won't see it. Just wait until you step inside what used to be a Nabisco cookie factory.

With more than 15,000 square feet of space, the Buddakan is huge. Stunning decor lends a dark, sexy backdrop to the trendy scene. Guests will experience jumbled visual allusions: an enormous fake European tapestry here, scores of artfully showcased Buddha pictures over there. Astoundingly high ceilings have massive chandeliers hanging from them. 

The Food

Offering flavorful Asian dishes, the menu is very exciting - the theme is modern Asian cuisine. Although the restaurant is renowned for its innovative cuisine, classic Chinese and Cantonese dishes still have a presence on the menu. 

Personal favorites from the menu include the Crab sui mei, Cantonese spring rolls, spareribs, and the tea-smoked chicken. For dessert, you must try the crying chocolate cake or the sorbets.

Summary

If you're looking to splurge on a unique meal, Buddakan will not disappoint. Perfect for a night out with friends or a date with someone you want to impress, the environment at Buddakan is uniquely New York.

TRIBECA GRILL

TriBeCa Grill

The next restaurant I will be covering is TriBeCa Grill! TriBeCa Grill is a buzzing restaurant co-owned by Robert De Niro serving a New American menu & lengthy wine list. TriBeCa Grill is located in TriBeCa, at the cross streets of Greenwich Street and Franklin Street. TriBeCa Grill earns a $$$$ price rating from Zagat.

The Restaurant Atmosphere


The atmosphere at TriBeCa Grill is classic. Upon entry, the green trim, and trophy/plaque collection at the coat check create something of a country-club feel. The outdoor patio, which offers seating, and green, wooden doors provide curb appeal.  

Set in a converted warehouse, the restaurant achieves coziness on a grand scale - an antique wooden bar anchors the huge room. Large, colorful paintings by De Niro’s dad adorn the brick walls, and the center bar feels pleasantly Cheers-like. Tthe warm surrounds ensure good people-watching, and the attentive” staff makes you feel at home.

The Food

The food is classic and competent, if not groundbreaking: Seared sea scallops bear a caramelized crust, and king salmon is served with a salad of Asian pear, fennel and celery root. Flag down one of the skilled, apron-clad servers to help you negotiate the epic wine list, which offers more than 2,300 bottles. 

Personal favorites from the menu include the grilled octopus, pan-seared diver scallops, Colorado lamb chops, and the crispy fingerling potatoes. For dessert, the Ithaca Yogurt Panna Cotta and the Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee are outstanding.

Summary

TriBeCa Grill is a neighborhood classic. Although on the expensive side of things, it's the perfect 
location for a classic American meal. Perfect for business lunches or dinners, or even a meal with 
visiting family. 

VANDAL

Vandal

The next restaurant I will be covering is Vandal! Vandal is a restaurant serving globally inspired street eats & cocktails in a splashy space with a lower-level lounge & DJs. Vandal is located in the Lower East Side, at the cross streets of Bowery and Spring Street. Vandal earns a $$$ price rating from Zagat.

The Restaurant Atmosphere

A 22,000 square foot space, Vandal has 360 seats and can accommodate cocktail parties for a thousand guests. Arguably New York's hottest new restaurant, it is extremely difficult to secure a reservation. With a secret entrance and a downstairs DJ lounge, Vandal has hip types obsessed. 

The interior is set up so guests sit amid stunning and bizarre murals (including one by Shepard Fairey). The enormous 22,000sqft, two-level space features a bar and lounge, two dining areas, a private dining room, a cellar bar and lounge, and a "secret garden" -- and the street art theme is not being taken lightly here. In addition to that only slightly terrifying 11ft bunny, the walls are covered with murals and installations from artists like Hush, Apex, and Shepard Fairey, among others.

The Food

On the menu, you'll find shareable dishes like lobster and sweet potato soup dumplings, as well as other small plates inspired by European and Asian street food. For drinks, you're looking at inventive cocktails like the Las Palmitas with Thai spiced Ilegal Mezcal, lemon nectar, Thai basil, and Schöfferhofer grapefruit beer. 

Personal favorites from the menu include the Crunchy Jicama Shell Tostadas to start. Followed by the Crispy Bao Buns and the Lamb Loin Kati Rolls. 

Summary

If you're looking for the hottest spot to eat in NYC, Vandal is it. This is more than a place to eat, but an environment to experience. Vandal is certainly a place to see, and a place to be seen. 

ROOT & BONE

Root & Bone

The next restaurant I will be covering is Root & Bone!  Root & Bone is a restaurant serving Elevated Southern fare, barrel-aged cocktails & brown booze in a small rustic space with a market. Root & Bone is located in the Alphabet City neighborhood, at the cross streets of 3rd Street and Avenue B. Root & Bone earns a $$ price rating from Zagat.

The Restaurant Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Root & Bone is quaint and rustic. It is a fun, cool, scene, although the tiny, tight space fills up fast, especially at brunch. With outdoor seating along the 3rd Street sidewalk, Root & Bone is a great place to enjoy the fall / summer / spring weather while enjoying a delicious meal. The rustic theme begins on the exterior, featuring an entrance that reminds you of southern hospitality. 

Inside you'll find brick walls painted white and worn wood tables, chairs, and countertops. The lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling add to the modern yet rustic atmosphere. With such delicious cocktails, you certainly won't be thinking about the tight space.

The Food

Fans can’t get enough” of this incredible fried chicken and other delicious Southern comfort classics. Top Chef alums Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth take a Pennsylvania Amish bird and brine it in sweet tea, onions, and garlic for 24 hours.  Portion sizes are large enough to share for a light meal, or just the right size if you have worked up a nice appetite. 

Personal favorites from the menu include the shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, and the chicken biscuits. To drink, nothing beats the kombucha spritz.

Summary

Looking for a great brunch, lunch, or dinner? Missing the comforting taste of southern cuisine? The Root & Bone is where you need to be. Dubbed NYC's new, best fried chicken, this restaurant is on you shouldn't miss. 

LAVO

LAVO Restaurant and Nightclub

The second restaurant I will be covering is Lavo! Lavo is a restaurant serving Italian cuisine in an upscale, industrial-chic setting. Lavo is a large and almost luxurious restaurant on East 58th Street, set above a nightclub, also called Lavo. Lavo earns a $$$ price rating from Zagat.




The Restaurant Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Lavo is fantastic. It's one “crazy” scene at this pricey Midtown Italian that is a meet-and-mingle hub for the Botox-and-high-heels set and the expense-account suits who love them; just bring earplugs and an appetiteThere is a bar in the front, which is always packed after 5:30PM. Beyond the bar, the room opens up beautifully.

It's what classic dining rooms in New York City should look like... imaginary Europe, with soft light and subway tile and old mirrors. There are tables everywhere, jammed one on top of each other as if to illustrate the concept of 110 percent. You'll be pleased with the surprisingly high server-to-patron ratio.

The Food
The menus open up to almost the width of the table. You’ll want to get rid of these as soon as you can, if only to make room for wine. Serving massive portions, expect to be absolutely stuffed. Expect to indulge in things such as 16 oz. Kobe meatball, eighteen-inch lobster-scampi pizza, and Oreo zeppoles for dessert. At Lavo, even the salads are huge.

Some of my personal favorites include The crisp chicken Dominic, roasted Chilean sea bass, and select pizza varieties. For dessert, you wont want to miss the huge Lavo log: an elegant Ho Ho, basically, with a toasted marshmallow sauce. It’s big enough to serve your table.  


The Nightclub

The thumping downstairs nightclub is a definite must see if you are young, in New York looking for a great night. Loud music, beautiful people, and expensive drinks - Lavo nightclub is a celebrity hotspot. 


Summary
Whether you're looking for an excellent family-style Italian meal or an extravagant night out on the town with friends, Lavo will be the perfect location. 

TAO

TAO Restaurant and Nightclub

The first restaurant I will be exploring is TAO! TAO is a restaurant serving Pan-Asian cuisine in a club-like setting. TAO earns a $$$ price rating from Zagat.

TAO has two locations in New York, Uptown and Downtown. TAO Uptown is located on East 58th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue. TAO Downtown is located on the corner of West 16th Street and 9th Avenue.

The Restaurant Atmosphere - TAO Downtown

The atmosphere is arguably the most unique part of the TAO dining experience. Giant, serene Buddhas overlook the dark, exotic confines and all the action. High ceilings and large, spacious dining areas create a unique environment. At TAO Downtown, the entranceway is a bright red color and sits behind heavy wooden doors.

Inside, the restaurant can be described is wood-paneled cave. The dining room fits 400 people and occupies two levels. The centerpiece of the dining room is a large Buddhist goddess with an aquatic light show being projected onto it. There really is nothing quite like it.

The Food - TAO Downtown

The menu features some favorites from TAO Uptown, only slightly reimagined. Also, the menu features sushi, barbecue, as well as a large variety of dim-sum-style plates, in both single portions large enough to share. With an eight-page menu, there is certaintly something for everyone. My personal favorites include the cripsy Thai pork, the Chilean sea bass satay, the chicken-wing lollipops, and the five-spice short ribs.

There is no lack of ingenuity in the dessert menu either. Popular choices include the cotton candy, the giant fortune cookie, and the mochi tasting.

Summary

Whether you're uptwon or downtown, the dining experience at TAO is something you don't want to miss. The exciting menu and environment are sure to not disappoint.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!

Over the course of this semester, I will be exploring and presenting restaurants that I find cool and interesting in New York City. 

Although I am originally from Florida, I have lived in Manhattan for the past 3 summers. This past summer I was an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at MTS Health Partners, an investment bank serving the healthcare sector. I will be moving to New York after graduation this May to return to MTS as an Investment Banking Analyst. 

Spending these summers in New York, I have discovered a lot of exciting dining experiences in Manhattan. I look forward to sharing them and discovering new ones over the following months! 

Teddy