Feature
End of the Year Best Eats
A look at restaurant openings and trends in eating from 2009
DBGB Kitchen & Bar (photo: T. Schauer)
| | More
No one can deny that our fallen economy has brought about positive changes to the restaurant world; more pizza pies, discounted prix-fixe dinners and most interestingly an interest in food carts. And while the city’s neighborhoods couldn’t be more different, they’ve been focusing on the same aspects: handcrafted cocktails, elaborate craft beer offerings, and a deeper understanding of what it means to eat local.
While classic drinks have been showing up on cocktail lists for the past couple of years, a new focus has been on “good for you” drinks. If that’s not an oxymoron, look to original creations featuring antioxidants like Açai and pomegranate juice, plus tropical fruits and teas, showing up at Flatiron Lounge (37 W. 19th St. 212-727-7741), the contemporary eco-chic Asian cuisine eatery Pranna (79 Madison Ave. 212-696-5700) and the stunning Hotel Delmano in Williamsburg (82 Berry St. 718-387-1945).
No longer is beer just for pubs! Beer Table (427 7th Ave. 718-965-1196) in Park Slope has been leading the way with an impeccable list of craft, local/seasonal and barrel-aged beers, whereas Fort Greene’s summer opening of the German beer bar Der Schwarze Kolner (710 Fulton St.) will soon be the Brooklyn equivalent of the East Village’s Zum Schneider (107 Ave. C 212-598-1098) with its recently added weekend brunch, 10–4. Even four-star chef Daniel Boulud opened downtown DBGB Kitchen & Bar, (299 Bowery 212-933-5300) his first restaurant, “That places almost equal emphasis on beer and wine.”
We couldn’t be more thankful for the innovative food carts popping up around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Sure a NY hotdog sometimes satisfies a craving, but it’s the hearty cod, pork and veal schnitzels and bratwursts served from the Schnitzel & Things truck (www.schnitzelandthings.com) and the perfectly crispy Belgian waffles cooking with bacon from the yellow Wafels and Dinges truck that has us salivating (www.wafelsanddinges.com). Since these restaurants are on wheels, your best bet is to get updates with Twitter to see when they’ll be passing through your ‘hood!