The West Village may get all the attention as the fancy foodie haven of New York City, but that’s just fine for the East Village. All that means is that restaurants across the island can be more fun, more inventive, and (yes!) much kinder to your wallet. Plus, many eastside haunts also feature some outstanding bars, so consider this list not just dinner inspiration, but the start of one epic pub crawl.
Ippudo
There are no promises that the lines at Ippudo will be any shorter than their neighbor ramen shop, Momofuku’s Noodle Bar, but at least Ippudo’s space is large enough to let you breathe in all that salty air. Any of their ramen will fill you with porky goodness, but try the Akamaru for a special hit of garlic.
Ippudo, 65 Fourth Avenue (between 9th and 10th streets); 212-388-0088
Narcissa
A girls’ night out restaurant that all the girls in your group can agree on. The farm-to-table menu features plenty of greens, for the vegetarians in the gang—or greens hiding under lacquered duck breast, for the rest of us.
Narcissa, 25 Cooper Square (between 5th and 6th streets); 212-228-3344
Bruno
Pizza is pizza, right? Not when it’s made by Roberta’s ex-pats. This sleek gray spot features imaginative pizza combos, like smoked ham and peaches, or cured lamb and charred cabbage.
Bruno, 204 East 13th Street (between Second and Third avenues); no phone.
Upstate
Beer and seafood. What’s not to like? The crowd-pleasing Upstate, a warm little gem of a place, keeps it simple and fresh. There’s a selection of oysters and clams that changes every day, along with dishes du jour of fish and scallops. The craft beer options also rotate, so it’s a great place to find something new.
Upstate, 95 First Avenue (at 6th Street); 917-408-3395.
Zabb Elee
What is “real” Thai food? It’s a matter of culinary debate, but when describing Zaab Elee, the word that most pops up is “authentic.” The menu is far from what you’d recognize on Seamless, but food—cooked in the northern Thai “Isan” style — is so delicious that the original branch of the restaurant, in Queens, just earned a Michelin star.
Zaab Elee, 75 Second Avenue (between 4th and 5th Streets); 212-505-9533.
Great Jones Cafe
If you’re missing Mardi Gras this year, get your Nola fix at Great Jones Cafe, which serves Southern, Cajun specialities like jambalaya, gumbo, and fried catfish. The small space is as rowdy and fun as anything inspired by the Crescent City should be, so prepare for some noise (and a line, if you’re coming for brunch).
Great Jones Cafe, 54 Great Jones Street (at Cooper Square); 212-674-9304.
Lavagna
If you’re looking for the kind of Italian joint that Billy Joel might have written a song about, look no further than Lavagna. You’ll get brick walls, candlelight, a wood-burning oven — and most importantly, comfortingly delicious dishes like pappardelle with braised rabbit and rack of lamb.
Lavagna, 545 East 5th Street (at Avenue B); 212-979-1005.
Jeepney
If you’ve never tried Filipino food, you have no more excuses. This deliriously fun gastropub has Ginuwine on the soundtrack and richly-flavored pork shoulder on your table. Visit on Wednesdays and Thursdays, in particular, when those tables are covered with banana leaves and the silverware is stored away for traditional kamayan nights.
Jeepney, 201 First Avenue (between 12th and 13th streets); 212-533-4121.
Jewel Bako
This small sushi restaurant resembles a golden train car inside, and the romantic ambiance contrasts with the surprisingly affordable food. You can try all nine “special” makimono rolls for only $42, so give your standard Japanese take-out a break and impress a date at this shimmering spot.
Jewel Bako, 239 East 5th Street (near Second Avenue); 212-979-1012.
The Eddy
The simple, streamlined gray interior offsets the unique, colorful food preparations at The Eddy. There are delicious meat options, but go for the fish: cuttlefish, scallops, and seared squid get special sweet or salty pairings. The real rarity? Its tasting menu costs an un-New Yorkish $58.
The Eddy, 342 East 6th Street (between First and Second avenues); 646-895-9884.
Frank
Do you miss your grandma? Or the little Italian nonna you never had? If so, try Frank, which resembles the home of a little old lady, down to the picket fence and flower boxes out front. Inside, there’s quaint, eclectic furniture and hearty fare, like spiced meatloaf and homemade gnocchi.
Frank, 88 Second Avenue (at 5th Street); 212-420-0202.
The Cardinal
All the Southern standards are present at this barbecue spot: pulled pork, catfish, mac and cheese, collard greens, and more. The highlight, however, is the fried chicken, which some dare say is the best in New York. Multiple barbecue sauces and $5 unlimited mimosas during brunch only sweeten the pot (literally).
The Cardinal, 234 East 4th Street (between Avenues A and B); 212-995-8600.
Prune
New Yorkers love themselves a brunch. And if Prune’s eleven different varieties of Blood Marys don’t tempt you, the scent of its Dutch pancakes and creative egg dishes just might. Oh, and it’s very pretty inside, too.
Prune, 54 East 1st Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-677-6221.
Northern Spy Food Co.
Eating locally is very hip these days, but Northern Spy Food Co. brings that whole sustainable dedication to their decor as well. The tiny restaurant has reclaimed floors and tables made of old bowling-alley boards, among other sweet touches. All the better to enjoy their fresh, seasonal dishes.
Northern Spy Food Co., 511 East 12th Street (between Avenues A and B); 212-228-5100.
Sembrado
Most often, the best dishes come from the highest quality ingredients. Chef Danny Mena uses all-natural, hormone-free meats in his classic tacos, which are served in quintessential Mexico City style. That faithful philosophy carries over to the cocktail menu, with the bulk of drinks being made with mezcal (tequila’s sister, also made from the agave plant).
Sembrado, 432 East 13th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-729-4206.
The Momofuku Restaurants
David Chang’s Asian fusion food empire is centered in the East Village. Momofuku Noodle Bar mixes worldy flavors with hearty Japanese ramen; Momofuku Ssam Bar has the best pork buns you’ll ever have; and Momofuku Ko has a delicious, fancy tasting menu hiding behind an impossible reservation system. When is Chang getting coronated as king of the East Village, again?
Momofuku Noodle Bar, 171 First Avenue (between 10th and 11th streets); 212-777-7773.
Momofuku Ssam Bar, 207 Second Avenue (at 13th Street); 212-254-3500.
Momofuku Ko, 163 First Avenue (at 10th Street); 212-500-0831.
The Redhead
Anyone who has discovered this Southern soul-food joint has at least one unique item they rave about. Is it the bacon peanut brittle snack? The homemade pretzels and beer cheese? The requisite buttermilk fried chicken? If you can beat the crowd, try them all and choose for yourself.
The Redhead, 349 East 13th Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-533-6212.
Cherche Midi
Restaurateur Keith McNally, who The New York Times once claimed "invented downtown," recently opened his eleventh restaurant, a gorgeous French space à la Balthazar and Minetta Tavern. The buzziest dish so far is the Prime Rib Burger, which is topped with bacon marmalade, roasted mushrooms, and gruyère.
Cherche Midi, 282 Bowery (at East Houston Street); 212-226-3055.
Graffiti
When your group can’t agree on a type of cuisine, head to Graffiti. Its small plates-focused menu contains mind-bending global combinations like cumin eggplant buns and zucchini hummus pizza. Forewarning: The space is super small, so you want to pick only your very favorite friends to share these dishes with.
Graffiti, 224 East Tenth Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-677-0695.
Caracas Arepa Bar
An arepa is a sort of muffin, sort of pita, but as this restaurant puts it, "our arepas resist definition." While the place is normally packed, luckily there's a take-out location just two doors down where you can grab the former, filled with pork shoulder, sweet plantains, grilled leeks, chorizo, and so much more, to-go.
Caracas Arepa Bar, 93 1/2 East Seventh Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-228-5062.
Han Dynasty
If you don’t like the heat, then stay out of Han Dynasty. The famous Chinese eatery opened a New York outpost in 2013, and patrons have been lining up to burn off their tongues ever since. While the Dan Dan noodles are a must, you should also try endless combinations of protein, noodle, and spiciness. Don’t worry too much, though: The kind waitstaff will walk you through the one-to-ten heat-level system.
Han Dynasty, 90 Third Avenue (between 12th and 13th streets); 212-390-8685.
Edi & The Wolf
There are moments when you find yourself saying, "Oh, this is why I moved to New York." One of them is when you step into Edi & the Wolf, an Austrian restaurant that more or less resembles an old wooden shack — and that's a very good thing. The rustic walls, ceiling, and tables offset the sturdy (and delicious) spatzle and schnitzel with sides of black kale and pommes frites.
Edi & The Wolf, 102 Avenue C (at East Seventh Street); 212-598-1040.
Supper
Running out of places to hold a birthday dinner? Look no further than Supper, a warm, bustling joint serving crowd-pleasing Italian specials like lemon spaghetti and a daily risotto special. Aside from the communal tables, there's a private room hidden among the wine racks that is the perfect spot to blow out the candles on your big night.
Supper, 156 East Second Street (between Avenue A and Avenue B); 212-477-7600.
Ducks Eatery
Ducks Eatery is a barbecue spot that tries to be more inventive than the typical sticky-sweet wings with a hunk of cornbread. Have we got your attention yet? There's the smoked whole goat neck, which is accented with bing cherries and yellow curry, and smoked, fried duck confit on a waffle. Fancy, yes. But more importantly, delicious.
Ducks Eatery, 351 East 12th Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-432-3825.
Gruppo
Trying to declare the best pizza in New York isn't just difficult, it's insane. So it's better to pick your favorite type of pie and go from there. Gruppo has some of the crunchiest, flakiest thin-crust pizza in the city, and its toppings are pretty cool too – we recommend the Shroomfest or the Big Pineapple.
Gruppo, 98 Avenue B (between East Sixth and East Seventh streets); 212-995-2100.
Huertas
Pick your poison at Huertas, the new Spanish restaurant with a tantalizing mix of Basque-inspired small plates (pintxos) and entreé options. Pinxtos are $1 each, or all six for $6, and inventive — duck croquettes and clam toast won't disappoint. While you sample, peruse the wine list touted by all East Villagers for its affordability.
Huertas, 107 First Avenue (between East Sixth and East Seventh streets); 212-228-4490.
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