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