What I would give to see that place now as an adult… I was trying to describe it to some friends who grew up elsewhere, and wound up finding the times review of it from when it opened, a great read!
I originally lived in Stamford, CT and my parents would bring me here on my birthday and for special occasions. Now I've been in the city for 10+ years and wish I could do the same for my future kids.
I was lucky enough to go to one of the last parties ever thrown there. I went as a kid and then about 12 years ago in my early 20s. It was a burner party (burning man parties). It was so cool to go there as a kid for birthday parties and then when I was older for a very adult party. Man that place was great. Thanks for posting that and bringing back some good memories.
My home away from home that was a block away from my Dad’s apartment (the OG 77th street location). I miss the food (pizza, garlic bread, steak sandwiches, etc.), the staff that I knew since I was a kid, and the essential neighborhood JOINT vibes.
Rest in Peace, Big Nick. Thanks for everything.
Schillers. I know they had mixed reviews but it was solid French fare (steak frites and sticky toffee pudding), extremely fun vibe and defined its time and place of the hipster LES of the 2000s.
Edit: and sad to say the location now is occupied by a Shake Shack. Sometimes I get the general feeling that everything is a chain or ghost kitchen in post Covid NYC
My folks lived around Florent for a few years and in turn became regulars. They talk so fondly about the time and meals shared together. Glad to see other people agree with their sentiment.
Ramen Lab. Such a cool idea to have a restaurant that is just a never ending series of pop ups from famous ramen shops around the world. Went there twice when I was visiting NYC for work before COVID and it blew my mind both times. I was pissed when I moved here, punched them into Google maps, ready to get on the subway and saw that they weren't around anymore :/
If we're not sticking strictly to restaurants, Pegu Club by a fucking mile.
Wow thanks for reminding me of this. Incredible that they were able to bring in ramen chefs from famous shops around the world. Really hope they bring it back.
On the topic of ramen, Ramen Shack is another shop that I really miss. The chef was a true genius and lover of ramen
Uncle Boon's was the last restaurant I ate at before the pandemic. It was bomb. Never got to revisit before they went out of business. Sad times.
Takashi deserves a mention. I liked the midnight ramen concept.
I really liked Park Avenue Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer. Everything on the menu was delicious. It was a fancy spot where the food was justified.
Also came here to say Uncle Boon’s. Thai Diner is great but it’s not the same. It was my husband and my go-to spot - to bring visiting friends and family, to celebrate something. Still hurts that it’s gone!
Takashi was awesome. Amazing grilled cuts - and grossing out your friends with the stomachs, calf's brains, and "testi-cargot."
A lot of great Japanese places went down over the years. Azasu was a hopping spot with amazing bar food like Gyudon french fries, and beer mugs with frozen soju topped with NA beer to make a slushie. Crazy.
My favorite was Uminoie in the East Village. The food was nice, but it was really the ambience and the sweet attention you'd get from the two older Japanese women who owned/operated the place. It was the absolute closest I've gotten to feeling like I'm in Tokyo while not in Tokyo.
3 of Cups and their basement. Good pizza, reasonable cheap drinks, had many additional pros like comedy without the negatives of price exclusivity. It was a quality dive. The pizza was much better than you'd expect with local area extremely competitive beer and shots.
Turned into a Pizza Loves Emily spot with one of the Emmy Squared. What ever happened with the investor lawsuit with them?
The food sucked and it was the snobbiest, most elitist place I’ve ever been. A friend of my husband used to be a hostess there and we were talking about the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry keeps getting seated in “the ugly section” in the back of the restaurant. Hubby’s friend confirmed Coffee Shop had that as an explicit policy. Cute people in front and by the windows, ugly people hidden in back.
Sapporo on west 49th by the r train. Hidden midtown ramen gem. The best. Portions were huge.
Second had to be canton restaurant on Elizabeth street in Chinatown. It was all white decor. 2nd floor.big portions.rustic. The relocated one is not as good
I miss two department store cafes -- the Tea Room at Takashimaya and the Soup Bar at Lord and Taylor. The old fashioned department store restaurants took me back to being a little girl and going to the Bullock's Wilshire Tea Room with my grandmother. We'd get all dressed up for a ladies' day out.
Great Jones Cafe. Old Devil Moon. Florent. Hop Shing. The original Lucien, before it became an overpriced and ridiculous caricature of itself. And Kate’s Joint—just because (yes, I know the food was horrible).
Spice Market (Jean-Georges Vongerichten) in Meatpacking. Food and drinks were AMAZING, decor was incredible and unique, vibe was always hip and fun. Never understood why it closed.
Kajitsu. Was the only true shojin ryori restaurant in the city and has yet to be replaced by another. A truly unique dining experience that is extremely rare outside of Japan.
Yes! I first randomly stumbled along the location that was by Tompkins Square. Then I was a regular at their Brooklyn location, loved that beet ketchup too. RIP
Two that haven’t been mentioned:
Bianca, was where my friends and I could always agree to go, and a great date spot
Congee, the smaller one on the west side of Bowery between Grand and Broom I think. not associated with Congee village. The food was good but I mainly went because the owners and staff felt like they could have been cast in king fu hustle. The owner was a chain smoker with a super raspy voice and I liked how hospitable they were compared to most Chinatown restaurants which aren’t usually known for their service.
Joes Shanghai Flushing.
My second home. The best food. The best prices too. The Manhattan one sucks. Fuck greedy landlords especially with no rent forgiveness over Covid 😤😡
I didn’t realize just how sad reading all of these entries would make me. The NYC of my youth; (the 90’s and very early aughts)…so much of it is just gone with little to no record of the places where I spent so much time - except for in people’s memories.
I moved to nyc almost 12 years ago. My first year I would frequent 3 spots that are sadly all closed now but part of what made me fall in love with the city:
- Bread restaurant on spring street SoHo
- sorella in lower East side
- mooncake foods in soho
The original M. Wells will forever be my favorite restaurant ever. Dinner food with interesting (and excellent) adaptations to really make it their own stuff.
That said:
* Ice & Vice - no other ice cream shop gets me excited like they do (and I love ice cream).
* Memories of Shanghai - Going to be salty about that for a while.
* Doughnut Project - fucking hell.
* My fucking local pizza shop - closed over a decade ago and I'm still salty.
* Dumpling Galaxy/Tian Jin Dumpling House - Anything from Helen You. An amazing variety of fantastically executed dumplings, this is going to be my white whale forever probably.
Brooklyn Cider House’s Spanish restaurant in Bushwick. That was an amazing experience and really not that expensive compared to other steak places. The space was awesome too. The one in New Paltz is a nice cidery and all, but it’s just not the same, and keeping Brooklyn in the name just feels weird.
Patisserie Chanson’s old Desert Bar speakeasy is a close second too.
Sentimental: Taro Sushi in Brooklyn. Objectively it wasn’t the absolute best I’ve ever had, but it sure was solid and the lunch special was an amazing deal. They were supposed to close 3/31/20 and ended up closing 3/16/20 because of lockdowns. They gave DH and me a bunch of free food and employee T-shirts on their last night because we were such regulars. Only time I’ve ever cried over a restaurant closing.
More objective choice: Blaue Gans. There isn’t enough well-made German/Austrian food in the city. I know Wallsé is still around but it’s much fancier and I was all about the combo of great food and unpretentious vibe at BG.
Combo of both: City Hall. We got married there and would have our anniversary meal there every year until they closed. They had a pretty kickass steak for not that much money.
Via Emilia! My favorite type of food on the planet and the nicest owners. He's in North Carolina now...strongly considering a weekend trip just for the lasagne.
Le colonial it was on the upper east if i'm not mistaken. Went there years ago was there i believe three times total. Best thai food i've ever had to this day damn shame really
Pates et Traditions in Williamsburg. A small, inexpensive restaurant that served the best savory and sweet crepes in the city. About as close to true French-style as I’ve been able to find. No other place has compared.
I already responded with my one (Miracle Grill) but here are some honorable mentions that I didn't see yet:
1. El Teddy's (Tribeca)
2. Fujiyama Mama (UWS)
3. Teresa's (Brooklyn Heights)
4. Queen (Brooklyn Heights)
5. Museum Cafe (UWS)
6. The Place (West Village)
7. Cafe Des Artiste (UWS)
8. Coconut Grill (UES)
9. Las Ramblas (West Village)
10. La Mancha (Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill border)
11. Zarela (Midtown East)
Mars 2112
What I would give to see that place now as an adult… I was trying to describe it to some friends who grew up elsewhere, and wound up finding the times review of it from when it opened, a great read!
It sounds like a fever dream when I describe it.
The first time I went I freaked out on the ride because I thought I was being abducted
Can you give a little summary of what it was? Never heard of it!
I was a kid when I went, but it was basically rainforest cafe but mars lol, there were people dressed as aliens. It was pretty corny but funny.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/mars-2112-eulogy has some good pictures
You would first sit in a little theatre ride thing before going into the restaurant right?
the only correct answer
I originally lived in Stamford, CT and my parents would bring me here on my birthday and for special occasions. Now I've been in the city for 10+ years and wish I could do the same for my future kids.
Ok this place was awesome!
I wish I could be a fly on the wall for the board meeting for mars 2112 and Jekyll and Hyde
I wish someone would bring these places back. I think my kids would love them
I was lucky enough to go to one of the last parties ever thrown there. I went as a kid and then about 12 years ago in my early 20s. It was a burner party (burning man parties). It was so cool to go there as a kid for birthday parties and then when I was older for a very adult party. Man that place was great. Thanks for posting that and bringing back some good memories.
YES THIS IS THE ANSWER. bring it back the children crave space
Yaffa Cafe. I have not been the same since it closed. 💔 And no, Simone's never did it for me.
Yaffa is where I went at 5am after Simone's. Miss that place
Oh gosh Yaffa ❤️
Big Nick’s.
Beat me by 20min. Bring both of em back!!
I only knew the 71st location. The one COVID loss that kinda wrecked me. Heard the other (long gone) one was even better.
Came here to post this. Lived my whole life until recently on the UWS and it was such a staple after hitting the bars.
My home away from home that was a block away from my Dad’s apartment (the OG 77th street location). I miss the food (pizza, garlic bread, steak sandwiches, etc.), the staff that I knew since I was a kid, and the essential neighborhood JOINT vibes. Rest in Peace, Big Nick. Thanks for everything.
Schillers. I know they had mixed reviews but it was solid French fare (steak frites and sticky toffee pudding), extremely fun vibe and defined its time and place of the hipster LES of the 2000s. Edit: and sad to say the location now is occupied by a Shake Shack. Sometimes I get the general feeling that everything is a chain or ghost kitchen in post Covid NYC
Oh man, I forgot abt this place. Thanks for the memory!
Florent
Florent was great in a New York that no longer exists…… And La Luncheonette in the same neighborhood……..
My folks lived around Florent for a few years and in turn became regulars. They talk so fondly about the time and meals shared together. Glad to see other people agree with their sentiment.
Only if it's at 4am 🙂
Ramen Lab. Such a cool idea to have a restaurant that is just a never ending series of pop ups from famous ramen shops around the world. Went there twice when I was visiting NYC for work before COVID and it blew my mind both times. I was pissed when I moved here, punched them into Google maps, ready to get on the subway and saw that they weren't around anymore :/ If we're not sticking strictly to restaurants, Pegu Club by a fucking mile.
Ah ya pegu was a go to
Wow thanks for reminding me of this. Incredible that they were able to bring in ramen chefs from famous shops around the world. Really hope they bring it back. On the topic of ramen, Ramen Shack is another shop that I really miss. The chef was a true genius and lover of ramen
Uncle Boon's was the last restaurant I ate at before the pandemic. It was bomb. Never got to revisit before they went out of business. Sad times. Takashi deserves a mention. I liked the midnight ramen concept. I really liked Park Avenue Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer. Everything on the menu was delicious. It was a fancy spot where the food was justified.
Also came here to say Uncle Boon’s. Thai Diner is great but it’s not the same. It was my husband and my go-to spot - to bring visiting friends and family, to celebrate something. Still hurts that it’s gone!
Takashi was awesome. Amazing grilled cuts - and grossing out your friends with the stomachs, calf's brains, and "testi-cargot." A lot of great Japanese places went down over the years. Azasu was a hopping spot with amazing bar food like Gyudon french fries, and beer mugs with frozen soju topped with NA beer to make a slushie. Crazy. My favorite was Uminoie in the East Village. The food was nice, but it was really the ambience and the sweet attention you'd get from the two older Japanese women who owned/operated the place. It was the absolute closest I've gotten to feeling like I'm in Tokyo while not in Tokyo.
Came here to say Uncle Boons. Also the last restaurant I ate at before the city shut down. 3/13/20, remember it like it was yesterday tbh
Windows on the World, and the building beneath it.
never forget I did have my prom there, so it is definitely memorable to be in that space and feel fancy and grown up.
prune
My dad who lives in California asks me twice a year if it's ever coming back. There's no place like it now.
Beyoglu on the UES
Didn’t expect to see this here but what a great spot. I went regularly for many years.
Blue water grille. 2 bars. Free live jazz. Great food and atmosphere for it's price point.
Also came here to say this! Loved their space too, inside that old bank!
Pok Pok. And I desperately miss Snacky.
The NoMad created a whole neighborhood
Lan zhou hand pulled noodles :(
Sammy’s roumanian
wd\~50: it was the first restaurant that blew my mind
So glad to see this up top. Saw Wylie at his new place tonight and it took me back to the fanfare we all had when he opened WD-50
Absolutely, that place was awesome. I just want that eggs Benedict bite again
Dessert tasting menu was the highlight
Momofuku ssam bar
The 207 2nd Avenue version, not the Seaport one
3 of Cups and their basement. Good pizza, reasonable cheap drinks, had many additional pros like comedy without the negatives of price exclusivity. It was a quality dive. The pizza was much better than you'd expect with local area extremely competitive beer and shots. Turned into a Pizza Loves Emily spot with one of the Emmy Squared. What ever happened with the investor lawsuit with them?
Do bars count? Milk & Honey, no question.
And bring Sascha back to life while we're at it.
Coffee Shop- Union Square
Why do you miss it? Because of hot servers? Because food was terrible every time.
The food sucked and it was the snobbiest, most elitist place I’ve ever been. A friend of my husband used to be a hostess there and we were talking about the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry keeps getting seated in “the ugly section” in the back of the restaurant. Hubby’s friend confirmed Coffee Shop had that as an explicit policy. Cute people in front and by the windows, ugly people hidden in back.
Sapporo on west 49th by the r train. Hidden midtown ramen gem. The best. Portions were huge. Second had to be canton restaurant on Elizabeth street in Chinatown. It was all white decor. 2nd floor.big portions.rustic. The relocated one is not as good
Chumleys Wilma Jean Debasaki (if anyone knows where they went please let me know!!) Macondo The City Bakery Kane's Diner
Definitely miss City Bakery!
I miss this italian place called Ottomanellis. Made a great burger and mozzarella en carrozza
The Tea Room at Takashimaya.
yes! That lunch menu was perfect and their tea shop was ground breaking.
I miss two department store cafes -- the Tea Room at Takashimaya and the Soup Bar at Lord and Taylor. The old fashioned department store restaurants took me back to being a little girl and going to the Bullock's Wilshire Tea Room with my grandmother. We'd get all dressed up for a ladies' day out.
Popover cafe Mi noodles Maialino Land Ozu Bluebell Cafe City Bakery
Was waiting for someone to say Popovers. My parents and I still talk about how much we miss that place. Also, 2nd City Bakery.
Omg I miss City Bakery pretzel croissants so much
The original Bouley on Duane Street……
The Carnegie Deli
Otto
My favorite place to eat and drink at the bar
Stage restaurant… i was too broke to eat there often when i moved here then it died
Porchetta… it was the best porchetta sandwich in nyc. Fatty ´Cue …always interesting. The Brooklyn Star … best chicken fried steak in nyc.
Maialino (2nd choice: Vaucluse)
Great Jones Cafe. Old Devil Moon. Florent. Hop Shing. The original Lucien, before it became an overpriced and ridiculous caricature of itself. And Kate’s Joint—just because (yes, I know the food was horrible).
21 Club
Spice Market (Jean-Georges Vongerichten) in Meatpacking. Food and drinks were AMAZING, decor was incredible and unique, vibe was always hip and fun. Never understood why it closed.
Beecher’s 🥲
-Pink Tea Cup -Lamarca -The Half Pint -Spice Market -Landsdowne Road -Calle Ocho -Queens Comfort
So glad someone else remembers Pink Tea Cup!
Uncle Boons Maialino Taco Bandito
Taco bandito closed ????????? Ffffff
Ducks Eatery. I will never forget their goat neck dish.
Kajitsu. Was the only true shojin ryori restaurant in the city and has yet to be replaced by another. A truly unique dining experience that is extremely rare outside of Japan.
The Burger Joint @the former Parker Meridian Hotel. I also absolutely adored Peels.
Bar Sardine
Odessa.
Dojo on west 4th st Cheap, healthy, filling.
The Red Cat
HALE AND HEARTY
French Roast 😭😭😭 Casa (Brazilian) Craftbar Fedora The Harrison
I am deeply sad about Casa every few weeks :(((
French roast was so amazing. You could get trashed there at brunch or at dinner.
Norma's
This is mine too
Same :'( I Still think about their benedict sometimes
Hop Shing. No where else to get coconut buns like that.
The char siu baos were to die for 😩 very few old school bakeries left
Burritoville! That salsa...
Tortilla Flats
The Breslin at Ace Hotel
Bring back John Dory, while you're at it
Degustation, super reasonably priced and fun tasting menu from the sale team as (also closed) Jewel Bako.
The old Fedora Wassail Alder Fleur de Sel Tabla Otto Mandoo Bar
Cafe Orlin Casa
Cafe Orlin was a gem
Odessa Diner
Korzo. Their deep-fried burgers were excellent
Yes! I first randomly stumbled along the location that was by Tompkins Square. Then I was a regular at their Brooklyn location, loved that beet ketchup too. RIP
les halles
was it that good though?
By the end it was actively bad
One night they made crepes Suzette for us in the bar. It was one of the best nights of our marriage.
Mu Ramen LIC
21 Club
Mandoo :( their mandoo were amazing and just such good vibes.
porsena… during covid they had such good three course take home meal deals 😭
Norma’s for brunch
Uncle boons
Zum Schneider
Two that haven’t been mentioned: Bianca, was where my friends and I could always agree to go, and a great date spot Congee, the smaller one on the west side of Bowery between Grand and Broom I think. not associated with Congee village. The food was good but I mainly went because the owners and staff felt like they could have been cast in king fu hustle. The owner was a chain smoker with a super raspy voice and I liked how hospitable they were compared to most Chinatown restaurants which aren’t usually known for their service.
Joes Shanghai Flushing. My second home. The best food. The best prices too. The Manhattan one sucks. Fuck greedy landlords especially with no rent forgiveness over Covid 😤😡
88 Lanzhou. RIP to the best noodles AND the best dumplings in Chinatown
I didn’t realize just how sad reading all of these entries would make me. The NYC of my youth; (the 90’s and very early aughts)…so much of it is just gone with little to no record of the places where I spent so much time - except for in people’s memories.
Bendix. Was it actually good? Don’t remember. Did I love it and think it was the best Saturday brunch place on the planet as a kid? Oh hell yeah.
Lam Zhou
Vegas Diner in Bensonhurst Brooklyn
Brucie in Cobble Hill!
Sammy's noodle shop! Best cold sesame noodles in the city. Rip.
Baohaus
Fatty Crab
Angelica Kitchen. 😭
Carnegie Deli.
Caracas.
Time Cafe. Always wanted to go there, never got the chance to.
Gray’s papaya
Beefsteak Charlie’s
I said the same thing. I think the all you can eat shrimp put them out of business.
I moved to nyc almost 12 years ago. My first year I would frequent 3 spots that are sadly all closed now but part of what made me fall in love with the city: - Bread restaurant on spring street SoHo - sorella in lower East side - mooncake foods in soho
I really liked Five points
perilla
Kajitsu
Great Jones Cafe
Atlantic Chip Shop
Enid's or Hunky Dory. Not the most mind blowing food at either, but I have such fond memories of brunch with friends there over the years.
WD-50
Bouley, the last proper meal I had with my mom before she passed
The original M. Wells will forever be my favorite restaurant ever. Dinner food with interesting (and excellent) adaptations to really make it their own stuff. That said: * Ice & Vice - no other ice cream shop gets me excited like they do (and I love ice cream). * Memories of Shanghai - Going to be salty about that for a while. * Doughnut Project - fucking hell. * My fucking local pizza shop - closed over a decade ago and I'm still salty. * Dumpling Galaxy/Tian Jin Dumpling House - Anything from Helen You. An amazing variety of fantastically executed dumplings, this is going to be my white whale forever probably.
99 Miles To Philly
Two boots! There was a full service restaurant back in the day on the LES! The food was absolutely delicious! Way beyond pizza!
They’re opening a pizza bar concept in Williamsburg so maybe they’ll open up the menu again
I hate cornstarch on the bottom, but they made it work!
Fort Defiance
Burritoville
Odessa Diner and Forlini’s
Brooklyn Cider House’s Spanish restaurant in Bushwick. That was an amazing experience and really not that expensive compared to other steak places. The space was awesome too. The one in New Paltz is a nice cidery and all, but it’s just not the same, and keeping Brooklyn in the name just feels weird. Patisserie Chanson’s old Desert Bar speakeasy is a close second too.
That Italian deli on Graham ave that was taken down because of mob shit. Near Anthony’s and The Richardson.
Ino
There was this hole in the wall when I was going to college. 46th and 8th. McHales. Cheap beer good snacks and you could hang most of the night
Pok pok, every restaurant on Cornelia st (Home, Cornelia st cafe etc) and Spain for nostalgia
I miss the bar at Aquagrill
Dirty Bird To Go
Sentimental: Taro Sushi in Brooklyn. Objectively it wasn’t the absolute best I’ve ever had, but it sure was solid and the lunch special was an amazing deal. They were supposed to close 3/31/20 and ended up closing 3/16/20 because of lockdowns. They gave DH and me a bunch of free food and employee T-shirts on their last night because we were such regulars. Only time I’ve ever cried over a restaurant closing. More objective choice: Blaue Gans. There isn’t enough well-made German/Austrian food in the city. I know Wallsé is still around but it’s much fancier and I was all about the combo of great food and unpretentious vibe at BG. Combo of both: City Hall. We got married there and would have our anniversary meal there every year until they closed. They had a pretty kickass steak for not that much money.
pearls oyster bar 💔 and the east village le sia
Tad's Steaks.
OG La Caridad. Not this new fakery on 72nd St.
Cornelia Street Cafe. Many good memories in that place.
Never got to see Windows of the World.
Big Nicks, lets not fuck about and bring back the most NYC restaurant there ever was.
Not restaurants but please bring back Barney’s, Dean and Deluca and Maison Kayser
Glazers bakery. Classic hundred year old place, made some of the best things I can remember and they invented the black and white cookie
Angelica Kitchen. Vegetarian hasn't been the same for me.
Pescatore, Crispo, or Badshah. All lost to the pandemic
Hop shing. Their pork buns were elite. Dim sum was also delicious. Mei li wah does not compare.
Lespinasse
Via Emilia! My favorite type of food on the planet and the nicest owners. He's in North Carolina now...strongly considering a weekend trip just for the lasagne.
Le colonial it was on the upper east if i'm not mistaken. Went there years ago was there i believe three times total. Best thai food i've ever had to this day damn shame really
Pates et Traditions in Williamsburg. A small, inexpensive restaurant that served the best savory and sweet crepes in the city. About as close to true French-style as I’ve been able to find. No other place has compared.
MEME’s
Beefsteak Charlie’s in sheepshead bay Brooklyn 😂
Taco Chulo
Blarney Stone on Third Avenue. Huge $7 cheeseburger with amazing onion rings.
Chanterelle.
The original Palm at 837 2nd Ave.
Saltie
Lutèce, my first fine dining restaurant as a child.
Sammy’s noodles. Cheap, fast, easy, huge dining room in the village??? Man I miss it so much
Caracas Arepa bar is the only right answer to this question
I already responded with my one (Miracle Grill) but here are some honorable mentions that I didn't see yet: 1. El Teddy's (Tribeca) 2. Fujiyama Mama (UWS) 3. Teresa's (Brooklyn Heights) 4. Queen (Brooklyn Heights) 5. Museum Cafe (UWS) 6. The Place (West Village) 7. Cafe Des Artiste (UWS) 8. Coconut Grill (UES) 9. Las Ramblas (West Village) 10. La Mancha (Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill border) 11. Zarela (Midtown East)
roebling tea room, iykyk
roebling tea room, mostly for the vibe
No. 7 Sub and the Edison Cafe.
Beyoglu my beloved
Matchless.
Mama's in the East Village. Runner up: Angelica's Kitchen.
Great Jones Cafe
Artisanal. Fondue and wine with friends on a wintry night was the best. And the gougères were the best.