The Musket Room and Raf’s Camari Mick Shares Her Favorite NYC Solo Dining Spots

If I were going on a spa day with myself, this would be the before or after treat. If I’m just treating myself, I’ll sit on one of their comfy couches, and eat some of their ackee. It’s also vegan, and really, really good.

They’re great at night, too, especially for after-dinner drinks, because they do a lot of pop-ups. They did a collab recently with my friends from Philadelphia, Down North Pizza, where they kind of shut down the whole sidewalk. A lot of people want to come support and show their love.

It’s in Little Caribbean, so just being able to support a Black-owned business in Brooklyn [is great]. It brings out the families, and it’s really a vibey spot. Plus, the owners, Nicole and Mike [Nicholas] are just amazing — a super aspirational couple.

Once you’re there, once you’re in, once you connect with them, you’re family for life. It’s definitely somewhere that you want to go after the spa for an after-dinner drink and to say “hi.”

I haven’t done this in a while, but I love taking myself out to a lovely sushi date. Definitely for sushi, if I’m going to pay the price, I’ll go to Shuko. They only have dinner service. It just seems more special to be there at a 5 p.m. seating by yourself, when you’re able to connect with the sushi chef.

I had a really good memory there a while back, with my ex actually. I took him there for his birthday. We were really young cooks at this time, and we were asking the chef questions about his history and about the fish.

At the end, it was so special, because they poured us this 18-year-old Japanese whisky. It was such a memorable experience. That’s somewhere that I don’t mind dropping that $250, or $275 for a special night for myself anymore.

This isn’t as high a ticket price, but I really love the atmosphere and the people. They’re so creative, and they’re so sweet: I love Sam [Clonts] and Raymond [Trinh, the owners].

I had a cook with me from from Texas who had trailed with me for a week and she wanted to pick my brain about certain things. So, I was like “Let’s do this over dinner.” I took her here. That was also the week [the Forbes’ list for] 30 Under 30 dropped. I didn’t put it in the notes, but they already knew, and they had done it all up. Also, one of my cook’s boyfriends works there, too; they all talk, and they all follow me on Instagram, so we knew each other. Everybody in the kitchen and on the front-of-house team signed the menu that night, and wrote “Congratulations” on it. It was a very, very homey vibe.

And the first time I ever went there by myself they decked it out. We were talking about amaro, like finishing a meal with amaro, and I said that I loved Chartreuse. So, Raymond pulled out this giant bottle of green Chartreuse, and well, you know how some restaurants will leave the bottle at the table, so you can have as much as you want? That’s what Raymond did.

I had a very similar experience at Peasant. They have a wood-fire oven, and they’re kind of a staple; I feel like they’re becoming a New York staple.

I had met Marc [Forgione’s] sister and his co-owner at Peasant [Cara Forgione], at Raf’s, and she told me that she loved my amaretti cookies, so I sent her home with a bunch. One day, around 5 p.m., I thought, “I’m hungry, let me just go walk down to Peasant” because it’s on Elizabeth Street, like The Musket Room and Raf’s. I wasn’t really expecting anything. One of our former bartenders worked there, and they tried to squeeze me into the bar and the owner came up and said “Oh, we’re gonna get you a table.” They sat me down, and I had the best service. They dropped wine for me, they decked me out on top of what I had already ordered. I ordered the suckling pig; so I already had a heavy meal.

It was just so sweet. The whole environment there is so warm and romantic. I was wearing jeans, so I remember feeling a little underdressed, but it’s a neighborhood restaurant. I just love the atmosphere.

I’m a person who takes pictures of food, not to post, but just to remember what I ate. That time I did that, but I took more pictures of their dining room. I had just moved, and was in the midst of designing my apartment the way that I wanted it. I took the pictures because I thought “This is me.” It was the inspiration.

Editor’s note: As of March 23, 2024, Joomak Banjum has rebranded into a new concept, Beut.

They have this elegant dining room. I suggest going here for their Sunday suppers with almost bottomless steak, and then at the end you get a sundae of the week from chef Kelly Nam.

It’s got a Michelin star, and it’s definitely in a higher price range but it’s totally worth it. Once again, they’re just such warm, welcoming people. I’ve been there a few times before they got their Michelin star, and after they got the Michelin star. I did a pop-up with them. I just took my team there for a dessert tasting for a holiday thank you.

Once you’re in, you’re family. They’re very generous. Chef Jiho [Kim] comes out, if you’re sitting at either the dessert bar or the bar, and he’ll come have a sip with you, shoot the shit, and maybe drop a few courses. It wasn’t just me or my people that he dropped a few courses to, either; I saw him do that for other people as well. It’s definitely all-hands-on deck over there, and I really love the energy that they have. Their kitchen is just so well run, and very admirable.

I love The Modern as a very low-key celebratory, do-it-by-yourself thing. Especially the happy hour. You can get your fried chicken, fries, and a bottle of Champagne for what I think is still under $100 with tax. That type of deal in the city, at that location, for a two-Michelin-star restaurant? It’s just chef’s kiss; you can’t go wrong.

Let’s say you’re celebrating with your own self — this is the best. Dress yourself up. Get in your little leather pants, cute heels, walk around the museum, and romanticize your life. Then finish your night with Champagne and fried chicken. It’s just an amazing experience.

I took my friend Rasheeda [Purdie], who owns Ramen by Ra, there to celebrate an award that she had just gotten. The chef came out, and the pastry chef came over and said hi. They gave us a tour of the kitchen, and funnily enough, Rasheeda also ran into people she knew in the kitchen.

One thing I love about the industry of hospitality is how we go hard for one another. We know we work our asses off, and we know we do long hours. So, when we do have the chance to go out, we love to make everybody feel special and go that extra mile. We deserve this, you know? I just love meeting new people in the industry and continuing to hype them up, and to support them.