More Staff Picks
I always try to stray away from…
… the JW chicken at Barbuto, but always end up getting it (I have to), even if it’s for the table. Same goes for the crispy potatoes, which are maybe the best potatoes I’ve ever eaten. And the budino stands up to any chocolate mousse, with its decadence and sinful goodness. If Barbuto is still around after all these years, it’s for a reason: It’s such a welcoming, open space, with very friendly staff (owner Jonathan Waxman’s son was our waiter, as an added bonus!), and everything is so flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and bursting with freshness.
— Julie Waters, Executive Assistant
I’ve been thinking about…
… the fried olives at Balaboosta every day since I’ve been. Other great bites included the whipped feta with a gluten-free pita (most of the menu avoids gluten — yes, even those fried olives) and the hiramasa ceviche. The staff were all so sweet and welcoming, which really cultivated a fun vibe and an atmosphere friendly enough to lean over and get to know the guests dining next to you.
— Adrianna Harris, Restaurant Success Manager
A cozy night…
… at June Wine Bar is always a good idea, especially now that the weather has turned. It’s one of my favorite spots on my “places to hole up in the rain” list. Though it’s a wine-focused spot, the food is always fantastic. Their menu typically has fairly straightforward bar bites (they have a baked Brie right now that’s unreasonably good) but I’m always pleasantly surprised by how elevated and interesting they’re able to make everything. A must-visit for date night this fall/winter.
— Isabelle Andrews, Director of Technical Product
I still can’t get over…
… a bowl of daal at Bungalow. In a parade of flavor-packed, head-turning dishes (the yogurt kebab! The spice roasted pineapple! Ammi’s lamb chops!), it was this seemingly simple dish that properly knocked my socks off. Maybe it was because chef-owner Vikas Khanna graced our table and spooned it for us in little bowls? (Like a grandmother lovingly would, he explained.) And it’s true: The daal was properly thick, like a comforting black lentil stew, with homemade butter for richness, and kidney beans to give it texture and chew. I’d come back just for this dish alone. And for the wonderful hospitality chef Khanna and his team have in spades.
— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial
I usually struggle with pre-theater dining…
… but I had a delightful early dinner at Le Rock, and it will now be my destination of choice before heading to Broadway. (Plus, the Le Rock team was so kind and accommodating in ensuring we were out the door in time to make our show.)
The theme of our meal was au poivre: we drank martinis au poivre (which come with huge olives and a sidecar) and feasted on bison au poivre (which comes with Le Rock’s perfect French fries). Other highlights included the oysters, agnolotti stuffed with last-of-the-season corn, and dreamy profiteroles with buckwheat honey fudge.
— Alex Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager
Don’t let the lively, laidback interior fool you…
… Virginia’s has a serious food program, including one of the best burgers in the city. It’s good enough with the cheddar, onion marmalade, and marrow aioli it already comes with, but I can’t urge you enough to add the egg and bacon for a truly symphonic experience.
— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager
It was so incredibly special…
… to dine at ACRU during their soft opening. The cozy, cabin-like spot tucked in Greenwich Village was perfect on this cold night out. I’d never had true Australian-inspired dishes, but I’m so glad I got to experience ACRU’s unique dishes, made with really intentional ingredients. The attention to detail and pacing of the courses were on point. The dish with carrot soup and North Carolina goat cheese was to die for. Also, ending a tasting menu with three desserts is the only way to go.
— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager
This is my new neighborhood gem…
After peeking through their construction the past few months, I am so thrilled Borgo is finally open. Grab anywhere from four to six friends for, not only delicious food, but also hospitable service and the coziest atmosphere. Don’t skip on the focaccia and fried delicata squash to start, and order as many pastas as your heart desires — but the timballo di anelletti is an absolute must for the table. And the sachertorte and apple tart are the perfect end to an already perfect meal.
— Lala Liban, Senior Hotel Program Management and Innovation Manager
I finally visited…
… Daphne’s, a new(ish) spot in my neighborhood from one of the people behind another favorite, Decades Pizza. Everything we ate was a hit, but some of the standouts were the focaccia (to start) and the pappardelle with chanterelle and maitake mushrooms. The desserts were also phenomenal — there was a special tiramisu and some delicious olive oil ice cream. And an espresso martini, of course.
— Duncan Goodwin, Sr. Implementation Specialist
My friends and I are obsessed…
… with Arthur & Sons. We’ve been too many times to count because the food and drinks are incredible, and it keeps getting better every time we go.
We especially love the meatballs (which are perfect), the vodka chicken parm (which is thin and crispy and covered in an amazing sauce), the macaroni alla tartufo (which hits every time), and the fusilli alla limone (which has a humungous piece of burrata on top of it). This place is great for bigger groups and I can’t say enough good things!
— Lindsey Block, Product Designer
This place really exceeded my expectations…
Of course, the dry-aged duck at Francie was the standout — it was perfectly cooked, had crispy skin, and came with great sides. I’d also recommend the Wagyu carpaccio and the conchiglie with clams, bacon, and white sesame breadcrumbs — though rich, it was perfect for sharing. Bonus: It’s a Michelin-starred spot but with a relaxed vibe, which made the whole experience even better.
— Melissa Linder, Strategic Partnerships Analyst
Love a menu that doesn’t take itself too seriously…
… and The Corner Store delivered (five-cheese pizza rolls, anyone?). We had classic staples like steak frites, a great Caesar salad with cream cheese bites and everything bagel croutons, and the Wagyu French dip, which lived up to the hype. It’s a sceney environment with an increasingly hard to get reservation, though, so get on it now before it becomes nearly impossible!
— Dan Snitzer, Card Membership Marketing & Capabilities
For a fast-casual spot in Chelsea…
… head to the newly-opened Tziki (courtesy of the founders of Ella Funt), which serves some amazing fast-casual Greek food. The pork gyro, in particular, was amazing, with meat freshly carved from a rotating spit in the kitchen. And be sure to get a side of their namesake sauce, as it pairs perfectly with everything on the menu.
— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager
Thank you, Priority Notify…
… for allowing me to snatch a 7 p.m. table on a Friday night at Sailor (!). I’d been wanting to try this spot since they opened and had heard incredible things. Unsure how long these appetizers will last as the menu changes seasonally, but we had the most delicious sweetbread and Swiss chard with risotto. Thinking back, we really should’ve ordered a Swiss chard app each. I’m still dreaming about it.
— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager
If you’re craving a cheeseburger and martini…
… on a cozy fall night, Cecchi’s is your spot. I absolutely loved everything about it: the vibes, service, and food were all fantastic. The apricot ribs were some of the best ribs I’ve ever had, and the chocolate layer cake was also to die for. I can’t wait to come back.
— Will Stern, Senior Product Partnerships and Business Development Manager
For some of the freshest pasta…
… in a fun Williamsburg environment, head to Lilia. Be sure to get the cucumber appetizer with feta to start (which is super tasty and refreshing), and end the night with the olive oil soft serve that comes with bee pollen on top — a blend of flavors that go perfectly together.
— Dan Snitzer, Card Membership Marketing & Capabilities
It had been years since…
… I had last dined at Forsythia, the handmade pasta destination on the Lower East Side, and I was so happy to be back after far too long. We checked out the chef’s tasting menu, priced at $92 per person for four courses and $135 for six courses, and what I loved most was trying more of their non-pasta dishes on this visit. The lamb loin chop with Jimmy Nardello peppers was perfectly cooked, and the cheese-forward, savory panna cotta to finish was so unexpected for dessert. Of course, though, the pasta we did have was also spectacular: beautiful cappelletti filled with the last of summer corn and mascarpone, topped with chanterelles. I can’t wait to go back again sooner than later.
— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial
The formerly behemoth menu…
… at the recently reopened Kellogg’s Diner in Williamsburg has been pared down and modified with a Tex Mex twist. We got the enchiladas, hot fried chicken, cheeseburger, and chicken pot pie. By far, the best dish were the enchiladas — I would go back specifically to eat them again. Their wines by the glass were well-suited to pair with the menu, and I saw lots of diners enjoying cocktails and beers, too.
It’s operating on a limited, dinner-only schedule for now but I look forward to coming back for late-night eats or brunch in the future. In the meantime, reservations are hard to come by, so take advantage of Resy Notify; that’s how I got my prime-time res’!
— Hannah Noyes, Senior Integration Planning & Project Management Manager
The hospitality was great…
… at L’Artusi. We were seated a bit after our scheduled reservation (it was packed on a Wednesday night!) and they gave us complimentary Champagne while we waited. It was the perfect vibe and atmosphere to catch up with some friends over a mid-week dinner. We ordered a couple of things to share but the standouts were the roasted mushrooms with a fried egg and pancetta, and the spaghetti. But definitely share everything, especially so you can try different pastas!
— Erika Greengarten, Restaurant Success Manager
Don’t be fooled by the line…
… in front of Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, it moves fast — the casual soup dumpling spot has great and quick service. We shared the chicken soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, and the Shanghai stir-fried udon.
— Dan Snitzer, Card Membership Marketing & Capabilities
For a great ambiance and minimalistic vibes…
… head to Motel Morris in Chelsea. I went with some friends recently, and the food was so solid (shoutout to our table favorites: the chicken paillard and the cheeseburger!). We especially enjoyed our cocktails and the overall vibe of the restaurant. It’s great for conversation and snagging a last-minute reservation.
— Lindsey Block, Product Designer
I’m still thinking about…
… so many of the dishes I had during a special collaboration between chefs Vicky Cheng of Hong Kong’s Wing and Junghyun “JP” Park of New York’s Atomix earlier this month at Atomix. Before dinner and throughout the meal, the chefs and fellow guests discussed heritage in fine dining, and it was so inspiring to hear them and other chefs talk about the ways in which they’ve been able to weave in their own cultures and life experiences into the food they cook today, and the restaurants they operate. Tasting what both chefs created for the meal that night was particularly meaningful to me, because so many of the ingredients and techniques they used reminded me of my own upbringing in a Chinese American family. When chef Cheng unveiled a delicate spring roll with sea cucumber, I immediately thought of the sea cucumber dishes my parents used to cook for us after I became obsessed with the springy, bouncy echinoderm as a kid. An unassuming bowl of rice topped with thirty-year-aged fish maw and abalone sauce was sublime — unlike any fish maw dish I’ve ever tasted.
— Deanna Ting, New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial
I’ve always loved…
… how intimate and laid-back the vibe is at 4 Charles, like you aren’t really in New York. I’d been before, so on this particular Sunday (to celebrate a birthday), we tried a few things we’d never had before. Like the baked crab cake, the prime rib, and the lemon meringue pie for dessert, all of which were amazing.
Pro tip: It’s always worth going with four or more people (so you can try even more of the menu), and you truly should not miss the burger.
— Erika Greengarten, Restaurant Success Manager
You’ll need to go back many times…
… to try all the different slices and flavors at Mama’s TOO. But the chicken parm sandwich was fantastic — a perfect blend of pesto, cheese, and crispy chicken, with nice and fresh bread. Be sure to go at an off time as there’s often a queue! (Though they do have an efficient line process if there’s a wait.)
— Dan Snitzer, Card Membership Marketing & Capabilities
For an awesome meal in Williamsburg…
… head to The Mouth, a great bar and restaurant and gallery space that specifically features local artists. We loved the dips, the truffle tater tots, the burger, and the spicy chicken sandwich.
— Lindsey Block, Product Designer
