Back to NYC Eats… and Drinks!

Aroma Espresso Bar, 145 Greene St [CAFE]
– An Israeli coffee chain with 3 locations in the city. Good coffee, chic interiors!

Balthazar Bakery, 80 Spring St [BAKERY / CAFE]
– Haven’t eaten in the restaurant so can only comment on the Cafe attached to it, which serves a good coffee and great cookies!

Bar 89, 89 Mercer St [AMERICAN]
– The food is nothing to write home about but the decor is cool and the toilets are awesome!! The glass on the toilet booth remains transparent till you lock the door!

BondSt, 6 Bond St [LOUNGE / JAPANESE]
– Chic lounge setting, beautiful people all around and some very inventive Japanese food, including some of the best Tempura I’ve ever tasted! All of it, expectedly pricey!

Brinkley’s, 406 Broome St [PUB]
– Beautiful interiors complete with gorgeous old ceilings, tiles and red leather couches. Lighting is mellow although the crowd is anything but! Good spot to wind down after a long week at work, with multiple seating areas so that it never gets too crowded, even on a weekend! Watch out for the surly waiters though, especially the blond one!

Cafe Habana, 17 Prince St [CENTRAL AMERICAN]
– Warm & cosy, great Cuban food and the best Mojitos in town!

Chinatown Brasserie , 380 Lafayette St [CHINESE]
:: UPDATE :: This location is currently closed but is expected to relocate within the neighborhood later in 2012.
– Massive space, beautifully done up with all the grand oriental touches one would expect. Service can be slow at the best of times, but their food is very good, especially the Dim Sum and their Veggie entrees. Good place if your out with a group looking for somewhat high-end Chinese.

Dos Cominos, 475 West Broadway [MEXICAN]
– Multiple locations in the city. Great ambiance and good food!

Ear Inn, 326 Spring St [BAR]
– One of the oldest bars (or taverns as they were referred to then) in NYC, The Ear Inn is housed in an early 19th-century landmarked building, and is chock-full of character within. Get there early on summer evenings if you fancy a spot outside, else the bar inside will do just fine. They have a good line up of beers, and serve a solid burger too!

Fanelli Cafe, 94 Prince St [AMERICAN / BAR]
– One of the oldest bars in the city, Fanelli oozes character, and I consider it a hidden gem within the tourist overrun neighbourhood of SoHo! Great spot for after work drinks, or when your tired from all the shopping! A friend spoke highly off their Steak Sandwich, which I’m yet to try but what I did get were their wings, which were great – the sauce comes on the side! Very attentive service and reasonably priced drinks – a rarity for SoHo!

Gonzalez y Gonzalez, 625 Broadway [MEXICAN / CLUB]
– Haven’t eaten here but have had a few good Margaritas and danced the night away to an excellent live band churning out Salsa and Merengue! Great atmosphere and some amazing Latin dancers on the floor!

Great Jones Cafe, 54 Great Jones St [CAJUN]
– Cosy little joint with a jukebox, great Cajun fare and the best non-Buffalo wings in the city! Possibly one of my favourite places in the NYC!

Hampton Chutney, 68 Prince St [INDIAN FUSION]
– Somewhat overpriced Dosas but worth a shot, given their interesting take on it! The Lassis are great to!

Isola, 9 Crosby St [ITALIAN / BAR]
– Have only been here for a single Cocktail – a truly potent one at that – but suffice to say, this place is worth a visit, if only for its sheer ambience. Set in a greenhouse, within the Mondrian SoHo, the space has a stunning collection of chandeliers, amongst them a hanging glass sculpture! Even if your not dining there, the long bar is a great spot to grab a drink and admire the place.

Jack’s Wife Freda, 224 Lafayette St. [BRUNCH / MEDITERRANEAN]
– This intimate little space located at a safe distance from the shoppers frenzy that is SoHO has a short but interesting selection for brunch. The Shakshuka is great, yet light, accompanied by some crisp Challah Bread, and they serve Stumptown Coffee to boot! Save some space for their awesome Chocolate twists. Would love to return here for dinner to try some more Israeli delectables!

Kelly & Ping, 127 Greene St [ASIAN FUSION]
– Cool interiors, good service and some very good Asian food!

La Esquina, 114 Kenmare St [MEXICAN]
– This review is only for their Taqueria (the Corner Deli), although having tried it, I’m keen on trying their street level Cafe and basement Brasserie too! The menu at the Taqueria is short and sweet, your food is delivered quickly and the prices are very reasonable. I got the Lengua (Veal Tongue) and Carnitas Taco – both very good, especially the former! Good selection of Mexican drinks too, notable amongst them the Horchata.

Madam Geneva, 4 Bleecker St [BAR]
– This dimly lit lounge space adjoining Saxon & Parole, has plenty of cosy seating areas conducive to groups and couples alike. Their specialty is Gin based cocktails with preserves – Gin n Jam if you will! A limited but well curated selection of beers as well.

Merc Bar, 151 Mercer St [BAR]
– Good spot to hangout and people watch in SoHo!

Pravda, 281 Lafayette St [BAR]
– An awesome interior resembling an abandoned Moscow Underground station and a good selection of drinks. The Russian Mary, spiced with horse radish is a must try!

Rice to Riches, 37 Spring St [DESSERTS]
– A great concept for what is essentially a dessert destination. Space-age interiors could throw you off a little, but focus instead on their rice pudding offerings, which are diverse, well priced and plentiful.

Rubirosa, 235 Mulberry St [ITALIAN]
– Multiple dining areas, complete with old tin ceiling and trinkets, make up this family-style Ristorante, which traces its roots back to Joe and Pats Pizzeria in Staten Island. While Pizzas make up the bulk of orders here (their thin-crust Vodka Pizza is very good), it is the appetizers and sides that really impress, notable amongst them, Grandma’s Braciole and the traditional Meatballs. Save space for desert if you can – they do a great Affogato on request – and possibly some Grappa! Service can be slow, but at least they don’t rush you once your seated.

Saxon & Parole, 316 Bowery [AMERICAN]
– A cavernous space with multiple sections, including a dining room in the basement – all of it beautifully designed and classy looking! Their long bar serves up some quality Cocktails and has a decent selection of Beers to boot. Their new American menu seems most enticing and I will have to give it a try someday!

Scratchers, 209 East 5th St [IRISH PUB]
– A ‘local’, just off the Bowery, and a great spot to spend an evening in conversation with friends.

Sweet & Viscious, 5 Spring St [BAR]
– Good selection of brews and pretty much everything else at the bar, an extremely efficient pair of ladies ‘manning’ the bar area, some awesome music belted out by the DJ, and a little courtyard at the back! Better still, this place is far removed from all the hustle that makes up SoHo!

The Room, 144 Sullivan St [BAR / LOUNGE]
– This ‘off the beaten path’ place is divided into two areas or ‘rooms’ – the bar and the lounge, and offers an extensive list of Beers and Wines at reasonable prices. Great selection of music, never gets too crowded and the bartender’s are a helpful lot! The mood lighting is alright for the lounge area but seems a little too dark for the bar. Music can get a tad loud too! They have similar setups in Tribeca and the West Village.

Von, 3 Bleecker St [BAR / DANCE CLUB]
– It seems like any old bar in the Village when you enter, but down below is a rocking dance floor! Great music, a really chilled place to let your hair down and a good selection of brews too!