(10:37am Apr 27, 2010)

mascarah:

Where to Eat in TriBeCa

I really love food. This is part of an ongoing series I have going where I’m sharing my favorite eats in different neighborhoods and cities. So far I’ve covered the LES, West Village, Soho & Nolita , East Village and Chelsea & the Flatiron District. This week I’m tackling my TriBeCa favs. Next Week I’m heading across the bridge to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

BEST:

• Corton: Uber pricey and slightly pretentious crowd but man oh man is the food well executed and super inspired. I know the jury is mixed on this joint but I love it.
• The Harrison: A neighborhood institution. Order the chicken.
• Nobu: Gotta love original locations..This one delivers on levels that none other quite do. Order the cod, but at this point you all probably already have. There’s no question that with 15+ locations now Nobu has changed…but I still think it’s a classic.
• Bouley:  A bit pricey but I’m in love with this seasonal food. Crowd can be older and not so interesting, but the food is delicious.
• Laconda Verde: The lamb meatball sliders and mama’s pasta put this in the tops for me. This place is growing on me. Bonus points for the warm and well designed decor.

GOOD:

• Blaue Gans: Sister restaurant to Wallse (which I love), this isn’t 100% authentic Austrian food but it is pretty dang close. Love the rustic food and warm environment of this joint.
• Estancia 460: Upscale (seeing a theme here?) but still somewhat rustic Argentian. I think finding good Argentine food is not an easy task and this place is amongst my favorites for that fare.
• Megu: Hated this place the first time, loved it the second. It is super expensive but the quality and freshness of the sushi is quite good. Bonus points for fun people watching in this super sceney environment.
• Odeon: This place is an institution. Many a Carrie Bradshaw and CB wannabes have dined here.
• Landmarc: The desserts are fun and the food is just plain good. Prefer this one to the oversized one in Time Warner Center.
• Wolfgangs: Craving a traditional steak house? Choose this joint. The bacon appetizer is amazing.
• Dylan Prime: Second favorite steakhouse in Tribeca to Wolfgang’s. Bonus for having a fabulous whiskey menu.
• Max: Casual, affordable, yummy Italian.

BRUNCH & LUNCH:

• Bubby’s: Many think their brunch is the best in the city. I don’t know about BEST but it’s definitely in my top 5.
• Bread Tribeca: I prefer this location to the Soho one. Neither blow my mind but the brunch is solid.
• Kitchenette: Love (!) the baked goods (pies oh my!) here and the breakfast is pretty good too.
• Square Diner: Just one of those good old solid diners. Perfection when hung over.
• Columbine: One of my absolute favorite sandwich places in the city. Super tiny so order to go.
• Tribeca Grill: The quality is certainly not what it used to be, but this place is an institution. Worth a visit, at least once…
• Zucker’s Bagels: Bagel + smoked fish = totally delicious when purchased here.
• Carl’s Steaks: One of the best Philly Cheesesteaks I’ve found in the city. Still doesn’t hold a candle to Philly but Carl’s will hit the spot.

FUN:

• Turks & Frogs: A great place to cozy up with a date and a bottle of wine and some decent Turkish food.
• Macao Trading Co: This place is really (!) well designed and super fun. The food is similar to sister joint Employee’s Only. Not the best, but good. Fun place to dine with friends.
• Smith & Mills: Love this place. LOVE. One of my favorite bars in the area and solid food that extends beyond the bar basics.
• Walker’s: This used to be JFK Jr’s hang out and they serve a mean burger. Are you sold yet? I am.
• Mr. Chow: Not as ridiculous as the one in LaLa land, but almost. If you want a totally ridiculous night head this way…
• Churrascaria Tribeca: One of those crazy Brazilian steakhouses where they carve piles of meat straight onto your plate. Super fun for groups & birthdays.

As always, would love to know what you think. What did I miss? Agree? Disagree?

Can we suggest Cafe 92YTribeca? If you haven’t tried it yet, please do, and let us know what you think. We know our opinion seems biased, but that doesn’t change the fact that Chef Russell Moss does a fantastic job. Plus the drinks!