Where Txikito and La Vara Chef Alex Raij Dines Out With Family in New York

I love that they have cold dishes and hot dishes. Everything that they do is just so on point — it’s always the best version of itself that I’ve had. They’re super vegetarian friendly. Nobody in my family is a vegetarian, but I often will get the vegetarian mushroom broth if I’m getting hot ramen, and it’s not a compromise. It’s just what I prefer that day.

The service is not that involved, which I also really like for dining with family, because you’re focused on your family and your food. The service is kind of invisible; they would help you if you need it, but it’s not a show. I also feel like [the food] never goes down heavy, even though it’s fundamentally pasta. It just feels slippery and light and like you’re doing something good for yourself. It’s not super showy. I just think of it more as my neighborhood restaurant.

My daughter just celebrated her birthday here with her friends. They took really good care of her, and they treated her super nicely. They watched her grow up, and so that’s a special relationship for my kids and a special relationship for us.

They’re a family restaurant, and they came up with us [and our restaurants]. I think that the ethos is really similar to what we love. We had just moved to the Lower East Side when it was being built out. We’re on the intersection of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, and at the time, there weren’t that many options. Bacaro became our home away from home, the kind of place where you could get a really good drink. They have a kind of stealth awesome wine list, and they’re just very friendly and consistent.

We always get the fritto misto, squash blossoms, and pasta. The vongole is also really good.

I feel like this is something that, as neighborhood people, we know about, but other people might not. After COVID, they reopened [in a new location] and they really improved their situation. They have very, very good spare ribs.

I think their dim sum is better than their other stuff, to be honest. I love dim sum giants in some cases, but this reopened one is smaller and there’s something kind of intimate about it that reminds me more of the Chinese restaurants I grew up going to with my family in the strip mall.

It’s carpeted, so it’s quiet. I could take my deaf dad there and it’s not too loud for him. They have a good Peking duck and other good dishes you can add in, but they have exceptional dim sum like white tripe, and the spare ribs — those are some of the best I’ve had in the city — and chicken feet. We love those things.

The secret sauce is that you can get dim sum at night, and usually, places don’t have that at night because you’re not supposed to eat it then. What kid doesn’t like a dumpling? Such a good spot.

Call (212) 964-5256 to make a reservation.

OK, my daughter has one. Oh, I like that one too, that’s a good one. It feels fun; it has a couple of different environments inside, and you can go for brunch or dinner. They do a great job on cocktails if you have friends in town; it feels really fun.

Greenpoint is great, too, for all the thrift stores. I used to spend time there when I was younger, and then my daughter started playing volleyball there, so we ended up there a lot.

[Rule of Thirds] really feels like an event; it feels like you’re doing something. It’s a good one.

They also do the frozen beer that’s fun. The service is really professional and friendly, too. They treat kids very nicely. They also have some fun, goofy desserts.

I’ve been going to The Odeon forever, I have to say it. I went there after I got married at City Hall.

I never know where to go when I’m in Tribeca, and then I go there, and I’m home. Somebody fabulous is always at the door, and it feels very New York to me, even though it’s kind of French. It’s almost like an American restaurant in Paris.

Call (212) 233-0507 to make a reservation.

See also: “The Timeless Joy of French Restaurants.”