Restaurant: Joseph Leonard

Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Place
West Village
Subway: 1 to Christopher St.
Mon, 5:30pm-midnight; Tue-Fri, 8am-2am; Sat, 10:30am-2am; Sun, 10:30am-midnight

Joseph-Leonard is, as of this writing, a hot-spot. Not in the creepy way, but it's no-reservations and small and you'll wait. Is it worth the wait, you ask? I am not the one to ask: I am firmly of the beat-the-rush school and am much more inclined to do a brunch-early-bird, myself. That said, it's indeed something special, and relaxed and fun and delicious and terribly New York. Last time we dined there, we had basil Gibsons, a delicious beet salad and a terrific skirt-steak and David Wain and his parents were at the next table. It was perfect. So, that's up to you.

Patisserie Claude

Patisserie Claude
187 W. 4th St. nr. Barrow St.
Subway: A, B, C, D, E, F, V at W. 4th St.-Washington Sq.
Daily, 8am-8pm


Patisserie Claude, which is shleppy and shlumpy, was for years actually run by Claude, who was the sourest French baker in the whole world. He's retired now and a much nicer employee has bought the place, but the croissants are as good as ever. A true old-Village experience! Sit and eat, but nb: there's no AC come summer.

Do: Film Forum

Film Forum
http://www.filmforum.org/
209 West Houston Street between 6th and 7th Avenues
Subway: 1 to Houston Street


The Film Forum is the city's best revival house and it's always worth checking their schedule! The popcorn is also excellent, although I've never found Jacques Derrida's recommendation of the banana bread to be convincing one way or the other. If you go during the day, many, many oddballs. Oddly, there's only ever a wait for the men's room here.

Bar: Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey
134 Eldridge Street
Daily, 9pm-3am
F at Delancey St.; J, M, Z at Essex St.; B, D at Grand St.

Yes, they have an ever-changing secret number. You need a reservation. (Although I've shown up looking respectable and been given a slot.) And there's a long list of rules, like no more than 4 to a party. And it kind of started the horrible "speakeasy" trend. But the cocktails are so good. And thanks to all those rules, you can have a quiet conversation over a perfect drink on even a Saturday night at 10. Oh, and cash only.

Other bars, same owner, also great and no reservation but get crowded:

Little Branch
20 Seventh Ave. South, at Leroy
West Village


East Side Company Bar
49 Essex St.nr. Grand St.
Lower East Side

Restaurant: Westville

Westville: 210 West 10th Street near Bleecker Street
A, B, C, D, E, F, V at W. 4th

Westville East: 173 Avenue A
L at First Ave.


Westville does all kinds of upmarket takes on kid food and their butterscotch pudding is highly regarded in some quarters, but it's the long daily menu of fresh, inventively-prepared vegetables - and the vegetable plates that ensue - that make it such a destination (for me.) They also have a new, East Village location, even though now the name makes no sense. It's still just as good.

Restaurant: Pearl Oyster Bar

Pearl Oyster Bar
West Village
18 Cornelia Street
Mon-Fri, noon-2:30pm and 6pm-11pm; Sat, 6pm-11pm; Sun, closed
Subway: A,B,C,D,E,F to West 4th Street



Pearl does New England-style, no-frills seafood like lobster rolls, chowder and oysters. Everything on the short menu is perfect, and there's a reason it's always packed: come early or wait, and get a sundae if you have room. Not too fancy, but always festive. They started the lobster roll craze of the 'oughts which, while it should not be of remote interest to anyone else, was kind of Big in NYC for a while.

Restaurant: Tartine

*Tartine
West Village
253 West 11th Street
Mon-Sat, 9am-10:30pm; Sun, 9am-10pm
Subway: 1,2,3 to 14th Street; 1 at Christopher St.-Sheridan Sq


Tiny (it's really cramped - don't bring anyone rotund or claustrophobic), unpretentious and charming, Tartine is really special. BYOB and prepare to wait - then have a meal of well-priced, delicious French classics and an especially yummy dessert. (I like the chicken in white wine, with salad. But that's just me. And if they have that layered meringue gateau, try it!) If you're in the area, a lovely breakfast spot. Oh yeah, cash only.