New York City: West Village
The West Village offers a decent array of discreet, upscale spots in its angled streets, and is probably the most popular neighborhood of all for langorous weekend brunches.AMERICAN AND CONTINENTAL
Corner Bistro
331 W 4th St (at Jane St) tel 212/242-9502.
Down-home pub with cavernous cubicles, paper plates and maybe the best burger and fries ($6.50) in town. Longstanding haunt of West Village literary and artsy types, a mix of locals and die-hard fans line up nightly, but don't be discouraged, the line moves faster than it looks.
Grange Hall
50 Commerce St (at Barrow St) tel 212/924-5246.
Tucked away in one of the most beautiful West Village corners, this Depression era-designed eatery is a hit for dinner, brunch and drinks. Cranberry porkchops and potato pancakes are recommended. Entrees $11-17.
The Pink Teacup
42 Grove St (between Bleecker and Bedford sts) tel 212/807-6755.
Longstanding Southern soulfood institution in the heart of the Village, with good smothered pork chops, cornbread and the like. Brunch too, but no credit cards.
ASIAN
Little Basil
39 Greenwich Ave tel 212/645-8965.
Such Thai staples as green and red curries, Pad Thai and the like are served along with pan-Asian dishes like crispy duck, in a comfortably casual environment.
Tomoe Sushi
172 Thompson St (between Bleecker and Houston sts) tel 212/777-9346.
While the nightly lines might look daunting, the wait is worth it for some of the best sushi in Manhattan. If they have soft-shell crab, get it rolled.
Yama
40 Carmine St tel 212/989-9330.
This intimate yet bustling Japanese restaurant features great sushi, great everything. Try the wasabi shumai dumplings.
CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN
Caribe
117 Perry St (between Hudson and Greenwich sts) tel 212/255-9191.
A funky Caribbean restaurant filled with leafy jungle decor and blasted with reggae music. Jerk chicken, washed down with wild tropical cocktails, makes it the place for a fun night out. Entrees around $9-16.
FRENCH AND BELGIAN
Café de Bruxelles
118 Greenwich Ave (at 13th St) tel 212/206-1830.
Very authentic and popular Belgian restaurant in the West Village. Try the
waterzooi
, a rich and creamy chicken stew, or mussels served everyway you like.
Chez Brigitte
77 Greenwich Ave (between Bank St and 7th Ave) tel 212/929-6736.
Only a dozen people fit in this tiny restaurant, which serves stews, all-day roast meat dinners for under $10, and other bargains from a simple menu.
Markt
401 W 14th St tel 212/727-3314.
Very large and very noisy brasserie, serving decent Belgian standards - mussels,
waterzooi
, and of course frites - along with one of the city's best choice of Belgian ales. Not the place for a quiet tête-à-tête.
Paris Commune
411 Bleecker St (between 11th and Bank sts) tel 212/929-0509.
Romantic West Village bistro with reliable French home cooking and a fireplace. Memorable French toast and wild mushroom ravioli at moderate prices. Long lines for brunch.
ITALIAN
Arturo's Pizza
106 W Houston St (at Thompson St) tel 212/475-9828.
Coal-oven pizzas, no slices, that rival some of the best pies in town. While-you-eat entertainment often includes live jazz, and there are a couple outdoor tables on busy Houston St.
Babbo
110 Waverly Place (between 6th Ave and MacDougal St) tel 212/777-0303.
This eatery offers delicious, creative Italian dishes - beef cheek ravioli and various takes on scrapple garner much of the praise - attentive service and an interesting selection of wine; it's quite popular, so reserve in advance. Expect to pay at least $50 or so a head.
John's Pizzeria
278 Bleecker St (between 6th and 7th aves) tel 212/243-1680.
No slices, no takeaways. A full-service restaurant that serves some of the city's best and most popular pizza, with a crust that is thin and coal-charred. Be prepared to wait in line. Uptown branches at 408 E 64th St (between 1st and York aves) tel 212/935-2895 and 48 W 65th St (between Columbus Ave and Central Park W) tel 212/721-7001.
Lupa
170 Thompson St (between Bleecker and Houston sts) tel 212/982-5089.
A fine, moderately priced trattoria, serving hearty, rustic Italian specialties such as
osso buco, saltimbocca
and gnocchi with fennel sausage. Hint: go before 6.30pm and you'll have no problem getting a table.
SPANISH
Sevilla
62 Charles St (at 4th St) tel 212/929-3189.
Wonderful Village old-timer that is still a favorite neighborhood haunt. Dark, fragrant (from garlic) restaurant with good, moderately priced food. Terrific paella and large pitchers of strong sangria.
Spain
113 W 13th St (between 7th and 8th aves) tel 212/929-9580.
Modest prices (entrees are $9-18) and large portions are the prime attractions of this cozy Spanish restaurant. Casual atmosphere and tacky decor in the larger back dining room - this neighborhood place has been here forever. Order the paella and split it with a friend.
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