Italian Seafood for Lunch: Santina

  

Summer is here and New Yorkers are out looking for bright, sunny places to eat and drink. Santina delivers a perfect mix of outdoor and indoor seating, with a bar that is worth visiting on its own, and inspired dishes to satisfy that fresh pasta craving. Their seafood brings Barcelona to mind, with octopus, cod, black bass, and tartar as mix-ins, appetizers, and sandwiches. 

  

 

I highly recommend one of their pitchers to share. The Spritzer is light and refreshing, with Aperol as the star ingredient. They also have an excellent house punch, with a tequila base and pineapple, served in a ceramic glass.

  
I went for a simple dish; their fish sandwich. Made with cod and a delicious house sauce, this one is light but still filling enough for lunch, and relatively guilt-free.

 
One thing that you just have to try is the Cecina, a chickpea based crepe to share with various dips you can pick from. The spicy tuna tartar goes perfectly with this one.

  

Overall, this place screams GREAT LUNCH. I don’t really recommend skipping the bright, lively daytime experience here for dinner. With a pitcher to share, Cecina and dip, and entrees, price is about $50 pp. And their location right by the High Line is unbeatable on a weekend with nice weather.

Check them out at 820 Washington St, between Gansevoort St and Little West 12th St in the Meatpacking District.

Summer Rooftop Brunch: Hotel Chantelle

  

Summer is here and it’s time for New Yorkers to do what they do best: outdoor Brunch!

One of my all-time favorites is Hotel Chantelle, with a signature Parisian feel, great music, and cocktails on a rooftop.

 

The brunch menu features two cocktails for 92 cents each. One is a strawberry vodka soda of sorts, the other is a champagne-based gimlet called The Passage. Both are great summer choices, and both come in pitchers for $8 if you plan on getting  8 servings.

   
 

The menu mixes classic favorites like a Benedict, French Toast, and Smoked Salmon with innovative creations like the Breakfast Pizza and a Truffle Grilled Cheese (amazing). We tried the Lobster Roll and French Toast, and both were fresh, delicious, and filling  – the lobster being the lighter of the two.

  
As a side, I highly recommend their Truffle Tater Tots. Perfect for two, and goes nicely with most plates.

If you want a cocktail outside their 92 cent options, I recommend the Beach Cruiser. It’s light, flavorful, and screams summer. It’s half-priced on brunch days, too.

  
With plenty of drinks, an entree, and a side, average price is about $35pp. Check them out in the Lower East Side, at 92 Ludlow St, between Broome and Delancey.

  

Sunny Brunch: Hudson River Merchants

I stumbled upon this place while walking the trail around Battery Park on a sunny weekend. I couldn’t help notice the bright blue table cloths and clinking mimosa glasses on a casual open porch.

The staff was quick to greet and seat me, and I had a delicious pepper-infused Bloody Mary in no time. You can customize these with different bases and toppings – just ask your server for whatever you want in/on it!

I really enjoyed the variety of healthy options on the menu. I got a cold shrimp wrap with fresh greens, and it was crisp, delicious, and pretty satisfying as a full brunch.

  

At $20 pp with the view, you can’t beat it.

Check it out on a sunny day at Hudson River Esplanade, 375 South End Ave in Battery Park

Date Night in NoHo: Saxon + Parole

Although NoHo is not the first neighborhood to come to mind for date night, Saxon + Parole proves this neighborhood to be a worthy destination on week nights as well as a weekend brunch. Reservations are reliable, and the cocktail menu is a welcome shift from your typical gin and whiskey craft cocktails that have become monotonous in comparable restaurants.

Starting with a Celery Gimlet, and moving to a crisp Manhattan (on tap), Saxon easily holds its weight as a cocktail hot spot before even trying their innovative dining options.

The most popular appetizer here is the Bone Marrow, served with a broiled top and a cold, crisp arugula citrus salad. This one is shareable, and truly opens up your appetite for a hearty second course.

A house favorite is the mushroom pot, served with crispy baguette wedges.  The savory mousse pairs perfectly. A fun and different dish to share, and a true conversation piece in its presentation.

For my entree, I went for the Hanger Steak, and I was impressed by the generous portion and a diverse flavor profile, with roasted potatoes, sweet sauce, and a crunchy salad. 

The wow factor for this dish is definitely the Marrow Bernaise sauce on the side, served in the bone, adding a silky topping to the meat without taking over.

Overall, a solid choice for date night, at $80 pp from drinks to 2 small plates to an entree each. 

Check it out on 316 Bowery in NoHo.

The 20th Century Brunch: Hill and Dale

  

“Our name refers to one of the earliest methods of audio recording, wherein a stylus would cut a vertical groove of varying depths into a wax cylinder phonograph record.  This was referred to as the “hill & dale” process.  With the emergence of the phonograph in the early 20th century, it became possible for the first time to hear music in your own home — and dance to it.  We draw inspiration from the golden age of recording, and we’ve bedecked our venue with the musical Americana from this time.”

Walking in, I was greeted with an energetic Johnny Cash tune and a smiling hostess. Reservations run like clockwork, with pre-assigned tables for your expected party. The booths feel like something out of a New Orleans train station, with raw brick, steel table tops, and solid wood benches. Add a dim, copper light sconce at each booth, and it’s immediately the coziest seat in the neighborhood.

  

Brunch is my favorite meal here. True American home cooking, and you can go with bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s, an entree, and a side dish for a flat $35 (sides include hash browns with apple butter, torched grapefruit, giant slab bacon, and several veggies). Plus, you can switch between Mimosas and Bloody Mary pitchers throughout the meal, which is extremely rare.

 

Try the chicken and biscuits – an amazing mix of textures between meat, silky gravy, and fluffy fresh biscuits. Their legendary bacon complements it well, too.

  

I would pair anything with their gigantic hash browns. The contrast between the savory crust and the sweet apple butter just works. Go for it!

  

If you want something different, the Duck Confit is incredible, but really, really filling. It comes with greens, veggies, and egg topping – and it still includes a separate side. 

 

Although we did not stick around for their evening service, it’s worth noting that Hill & Dale puts on quite the party at night. The chairs in the inner room get tucked away, a DJ takes over, and the bar works on the double to serve a lively crowd.

  

Check them out on the northwest corner of Allen and Delancey in the Lower East Side.