Home
The Greenwich Village hotspot Home has been around for more than 10 years, the brainchild of owners David Page and Barbara Shinn. The open back patio is a favorite of diners, a charming space dotted with twinkling lights and sheltered from the street. Transplanted Midwesterners, Page and Shinn missed authentic, home-cooked meals and so created this cozy, 30-seat eatery. Part of the growing farm-to-table movement, Home adjusts its menu to utilize seasonal fruits and vegetables, working with local growers rather than huge conglomerates. There are high-end dishes like duck confit and hearty, American fare like macaroni and cheese and onion rings. The beer and wine list is extensive, focusing on regional brews and wineries.
Home
20 Cornelia St.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 243-9579
homerestaurantnyc.com
Bottino
Located in the hip Chelsea district, Bottino is the follow-up effort from Daniel Emerman and Alessandro Prosperi, former proprietors of Barocco in Tribeca. The space is a former hardware store, still artistically industrial with the touches of an intimate, upscale eatery. The breathtaking, candlelit garden is available in every season, though enclosed in winter months. The menu is restricted to a dozen or so Italian-inspired dishes, from broccoli rabe to roast rack of lamb. Fritto Misto, a Tuscan tempura, and the penne speck are specialties of the house.
Bottino
246 10th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 206-6766
bottinonyc.com
Shake Shack
On the opposite end of the culinary spectrum is the Shake Shack, a deceptively casual burger joint in Madison Square Park. Created by Gramercy Tavern's Danny Meyer, this outdoor establishment is a huge draw in warmer months. The unpretentious green metal tables and chairs that surround "the Shack" sit beneath the shady branches of the park's many trees, making for a pleasant afternoon dining experience. Hamburgers and hot dogs are the entrees here, but as the name suggests, the milkshakes are the main attraction. Made with frozen custard, the flavors are as colorful as the city itself; the Hopscotch is a mixture of vanilla, chocolate, toffee, and caramel, while the Concrete Jungle features chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter.
Shake Shack
Madison Square Park (East 23rd Street and Madison Avenue)
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-6600
