Lower East Side

Note: Restaurants are categorized by cuisine and listed in alphabetical order and not in order of preference.

American 

  • Beauty & Essex – A pawn shop gives way to a happening restaurant & lounge serving creative American fare & cocktails
    • Location: Lower East Side
    • Atmosphere: Trendy, happening, romantic, upscale 
    • Suggestions: Kale and apple salad, Korean style fish tacos, tortilla soup dumplings 
    • Reservations: Suggested 
    • A Good Place For: A third date, girls’ night out, large parties 
    • Note: The food here was just average but the menu has creative offerings, and the atmosphere makes it worth it

Indian

  • Dhamaka – Innovative, energetic eatery offering provincial Indian cuisine in a colorful dining room. Dhamaka serves dishes from all over the sub-continent including lesser-known regions highlighting local flavors
    • Location: Lower East Side 
    • Atmosphere: Colorful, electric, energetic, casual 
    • Suggestions: Baingan bharta, methi na gota, nalli briyani
    • Reservations: Required; reservations are released on Resy one month in advance at midnight. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability/cancellations, and, according to the restaurant, the best time to show up is at 5pm
    • A Good Place For: Small group dinner (2-4 people), a fun meal
    • Sister Restaurants: Semma, Adda, Masawala & Sons  

Italian 

  • Forsythia – Homemade pasta & creative mains turned out in a charming eatery that has outdoor seating
    • Location: Lower East Side 
    • Atmosphere: Quaint, welcoming 
    • Suggestions: The menu is constantly changing (daily changes), but everything I had here was delicious so if something speaks to you, get it 
    • Reservations: Strongly suggested but not difficult to get
    • A Good Place For: Dinner with friends, a nice meal
    • Note: Most reservations at Forsythia are for their prix-fixe menu, which is $109/person. You get to pick one dish from each of the 6 sections on the menu. There are a la carte reservations available Tuesday – Thursday, outdoor only. Forsythia also offers pasta making classes on Mondays and Wednesdays 

Mexican 

  • Jajaja – Jajaja is where south of the border flavor meets New York City flair to create global experiences rooted in local heritage
    • Location: West Village, Lower East Side, Hudson Yards, Williamsburg, Long Island City 
    • Atmosphere: Casual, light, well decorated 
    • Suggestions: Tacos, empanadas 
    • Reservations: Not required 
    • A Good Place For: A casual dinner, dinner with individuals who are vegetarian or vegan 
    • Note: All of the food at Jajaja is plant-based (i.e., vegetarian)

Japanese / Ramen 

  • Mr. Taka – Several types of ramen, Japanese appetizers, sake & beer served in a tiny, contemporary storefront
    • Location: Lower East Side
    • Suggestions: Spicy cheese chashu tonkotsu ramen
    • Note: This is my favorite ramen in NYC

Thai

  • Wayla – Homestyle Thai fare inspired by the markets of Bangkok is served in a stylish space with a patio
    • Location: Lower East Side
    • Atmosphere: Simplistic, quaint
    • Suggestions: Moo sarong (pork meatballs), peek gai tod (chicken wings), maa’s gaeng pak (yellow curry), mango mousse 
    • Reservations: Suggested but not difficult to get 
    • A Good Place For: A date, a small group dinner (2-4 people)

Brunch

  • Essex on Rivington – Boozy brunches, happy hours & New American dinners in a warehouse-like space with balcony seating
    • Location: Lower East Side
    • Atmosphere: Loud, party, upbeat 
    • Suggestions: The food here is mediocre but people come for the bottomless 
    • Reservations: Suggested for large groups 
    • Bottomless: For 1-7 people, choice of entrée with 1-1/2 hours of mimosas, bloody marys, screwdrivers and Narraganset draft beers for $44.95. For 8+ people, choice of entrée with 2 hours of mimosas, bloody marys, screwdrivers and Narraganset draft beers for $54.95