The Premium Life

Personally I prefer dining at the bar area of a restaurant as opposed to a table. I believe the overall experience is more interactive: the bartender often has good recommendations, you end up socializing with other patrons, and usually you can linger as long as you desire. I often compare it to the experience at a blackjack table…

So for this entry I decided to share a few spots that I recently visited.

Scarpetta (355 west 14^th street) is a fabulous place to satisfy your Italian cravings with some pasta and wine while being tucked away in the borders of theWest Village. Living in Italy I experienced my fair share of pastas, polenta, and pancetta but  chef  Scott Conant’s focus on the ingredients and tribute to the native cooking is what makes his dishes stand out. The bar area occupies the entire front of the restaurant with an L shaped bar and seating options both at high top and two top tables. Your can order from the entire menu that is offered in the main dining room. Conant did a great job capturing the comfortable and rustic downtown style while maintaining the sophistication of  staff wearing tobacco colored uniforms and cover plated entres.

It is a terrific spot to meet a friend for a drink and a nibble. The Primi’s range from a raw yellowtail seasoned with spiced oil and flaked sea salt to creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms. The pastas are delicious; if you decide to share, the kitchen splits them and serves them in small white porcelain dishes. The statement “simple is best” is demonstrated with Conant’s spaghetti with tomato and basil which received the New York Magazine best pasta award in 2009. The bar area attracted many diners who sought after quality food “after hours” so the Scarpetta team created a Late Night Bites menu offered from 10am-1pm Tuesday through Friday.

I recently tried Resto (111 East 29^th street) for their authentic Belgian casual fare. Chef Ryan Skeen prides himself on the emphasis on seasonal local farm fresh ingredients to serve to his Gramercy Park neighborhood patrons. The bar is cozy and inviting with 10 bar seats to accommodate walk in guests.

Resto serves up classic dishes like short rib carbonnade, moules & frites and their pan fried burger… that can be of comfort in any season. I branched out and tried the chicory salad, served with dandelion, escarole, frisee pigs ears, spring beans, soft egg, and warm vinaigrette. The variety of textures, the runny egg yolk combined with the crispness of the ears blended marvelously.

With a menu like Resto’s that you don’t see everyday it is helpful to ask the bartender’s suggestions. The hanger steak was generously seasoned with a crisp char juicy center. I paired it with local sautéed snap peas…and of course the frites. The frites are served with a choice of dipping sauces that compliment the crispy outside and the starchy center- (mayo, sweet chili, lime pickle, cocktail, mayo & onion, gribiche, lemon & smoked paprika, sriracha, yogurt, cumin, roasted garlic.

Don’t under estimate eating brunch at the bar…how can you go wrong with a frosty cold  Duvel beer, Belgian frites and a classic grilled cheese served on a waffle with Vermont cheddar, gruyere, bacon, pork belly and greens. Save room for dessert with a variety of Belgian chocolates (dark, milk, and white) to chose from. I promise it will be a sweet end to the meal.

Five Points (31 Great Jones street) My last pick is a classic and one that I have been venturing to since its doors opened in 1999 and almost always opt for a seat at the bar. Five Points is a place that can become your local hangout…with a friendly approachable staff, a seasonal menu with Mediterranean accents and a wide range of spirits, it is just the place you want to hang your hat and stay a while.

The char grilled grass fed burger served with Vermont cheddar, smokehouse bacon & French fries and the wood oven pizzette (fontina cheese, sliced yukon gold potatoes & white truffle oil) are constants on the menu.

Whether you opt for one of their fresh salads made with local herbs and ingredients such as the marinated beet & mutsu apple salad with Greek style yogurt, watercress & spiced almonds or fish dish like the wood oven roasted dayboat merluzza served with white bean ragout, watercress, tangerines & gremolata you are sure it will be complimented by a perfectly made cocktail. The experienced bartenders know how to fix one of the best Martinis around and the white and red Sangria are popular choices. With the airy ambience and the wood tones the Five Points style sets an ideal ambience for all seasons.

I hope this helps next time you are looking for a spot to meet a friend, or even grab a bite for one…regardless of your circumstance– sitting at the bar offers a different perspective on your dining experience. You might even make a new friend.

For more information and reservations, and to plan your next experience be sure to check us out on www.premiumlg.com.

Eat well!

Often hotels streamline their décor to create a consistent look…in the lobby, restaurants and bar. The Le Parker Meridien NY does the exact opposite and the daring boldness pays off.

I enjoy bouncing around the city on the weekends experiencing a variety of venues in various neighborhood of Manhattan. It makes you appreciate the diversity and splendor of our beloved city.

One of my repeat spots is the Parker Meridien. I really enjoy the contrast of the opulence of Knave and the grittiness of the Burger Joint (which are located across the lobby from each other.)

We lounged at our favorite table in the Knave bar to kick off our weekend with some of the best Bloody Mary’s and coffee drinks the city has to offer. Every detail is done with complete care at knave. The bar snacks are even differentiated, as they serve to crisp warm fried olives along with the more common bar snacks at high end properties.

The décor is magnificent with hints of medieval accents. Knave is a passageway for guests to enter from 56^th street to the lobby. So while relaxing in the comfort of the hand crafted red velvet and wooden couches, there is time for optimal people-watching, gazing at the bustle of the hotel patrons on their journeys. The vaulted ceiling, soaring columns, and oversized mirrors create a spiritual vibe which sooths the soul.

Even though there is a significant amount of foot traffic through the long and narrow bar, there is an immediate respect for its beauty and the church-like ambience- this environment has the effect of dulling conversations as visitors walk through.

Cocktails, pastries, sandwiches and sweets are available throughout the day and evening.

After a few cocktails we were starting to build up an appetite. What is better than a juicy burger and fries to satisfy a weekend crave. The Burger Joint!

Behind the brown curtain entrance there was a line of salivating guests, awaiting their turn to shout out their order off the straight forward menu which is written in rainbow colors on a chalkboard.

The open kitchen houses the team of masters that have their burger shtick down to a science. The legendry hang out is wood paneled with initials carved into the benches, vinyl booth and sports memorabilia tacked on the walls.

Whether you are from Timbuktu or the Upper East Side, you better know what you want…it is equivalent to the pressure in the famous Soup Nazi line from Seinfeld!

The menu sticks to the motto…”If you don’t see it we don’t have it” – Your choice of a hamburger or cheeseburger with the classic toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced pickle, mustard, ketchup, and mayo. I recommend the WORKS. Trust me. The flavors just mend to perfection!

Salty and crisp fries overflow the brown greasy paper bag they are served in. If you want to go all out, order a milk shake while you are waiting in line.

The Parker properties have mastered both ends of the spectrum of taste!  Visitors should also not forget to try the best brunch in the city at Norma’s .

For more information about the park Meridien please visit www.parkermeridien.com. For assistance in planning your next experience come check out our website at www.premiumlg.com. Eat well!