Sometimes all you need is comfort food and kitsch, but in NYC, that's often asking for a lot. If it's baked macaroni and cheese in a teal booth you crave, check out Vynl Restaurant (754 9th Avenue). The theme of this eatery is music – menus are made of old record albums and the overall décor is dedicated to favorite singers and bands.
If you take a seat at the bar, definitely try their signature Vynl cocktail ($8) – mixed with lemonade, vodka, and something that makes it pink and delicious. You'll get to check out lots of old school music memorabilia like Run DMC dolls or Beatles action figures but alas, these aren't for sale. The menu is packed with things you'd find at a diner (hamburgers, quesadillas, wraps) but with some Thai infused dishes too.
Though I've eaten here day and night, Vynl really comes to life in the evening. Music starts blasting at happy hour and as the lights go dim, the disco ball comes on. It's almost like Happy Days meets the O.C. with the restaurant's kitschy feel but retro modern vibe. Don't expect first class service here or delicious dishes. Go to Vynl for the experience – not for the food.
It's only fair to admit the real reason I go to Vynl when I'm on the west side is for the bathrooms. First time customers will be confused by the doors that read "Elvis", "Dolly", or "Nelly" and probably won't know what to expect. Though each bathroom is gender neutral (meaning the "Elvis" isn't just for guys), you might want to step inside whichever artist you prefer, since each bathroom is an homage to that particular songbird (wall-size mosaic portrait and all). If you're lucky enough (or, er, I guess unlucky) to stay inside the bathroom long enough, you'll catch on that the tune blasting from the ceiling are always only sung by the singer whose bathroom you're visiting. Sound confusing? Go check out Vynl for yourself…even if it's only for a drink and a brief bathroom break.
Have you ever had a slice of true Neapolitan pizza? If you're shaking your head yes, you've probably been lied to. But at L'Asso (192 Mott St.), pie makers pride themselves on making a real Pizza "DOC". A "DOC" is actually a very strict set of rules that must be followed for a pizza to be deemed a true Margherita. For example, the tomatoes must be San Marzano, the mozzarella must be made of buffalo-milk, the oil must be olive oil – along with a lot of other things that were too complicated for me to understand.
So for a genuine pizza – or just an easy casual Italian meal – head to L'Asso in Nolita. Though mostly known for their pies, all of their dishes are unpretentious and satisfying. On my most recent outing there, I tried the Fusilli al Pesto Fatto in Casa ($12), a creamy pesto with asparagus and pistachios blended in. I was happy to receive an average heap of pasta instead of a ½ pound dish that certainly would have disrupted the comfort of my skinny jeans. A decent bottle of Cabernet cost us only $28 and a nice selection of olives and flatbreads came out with it.
The owners boast that L'Asso's most popular pies are the Pizza al Tartufo (Portobello mushroom pesto, cheese, fresh rosemary, and truffle oil) and Pizza San Daniele (prosciutto san daniele, mozzarella, arugula, parmigiano, and olive oil) – two great combinations that might not rival a famed slice from Lombardi's down the street, but are mouthwatering nonetheless.
One of the biggest downsides to eating casual in New York usually means you won't have a quiet meal. L'Asso was filled with a few families and a large group of NYU kids that clearly couldn't handle their wine. Other than that, service here is great, your meal comes out fast, and you won't empty your wallet on overpriced dishes. The intimate lighting and close seating makes this place great for a gabfest with friends, but should definitely be a place you'd skip for a date.
On a recent Saturday night, my friends and I decided to visit what many New Yorkers refer to as "Clubland" a.k.a the strip of trendy clubs along Tenth Avenue in Chelsea. As we approached Marquis, the endless line seemed less than thrilling and had us wishing we had never left Queens. Next door, however, we came across a frosted door, a guy with a clipboard, and no line. Score. The promise of drinks without a wait was reason enough for us to give Glass (287 Tenth Avenue) a try.
Glass was designed by architect Thomas Leeser and it's futuristic bar area opens into a bamboo garden that is more reminiscent of an airy Asian tea garden instead of the west side of Manhattan. The line to the bar was never long and the drinks were never too expensive (a ketel and cran cost me $10). I was also pleasantly surprised at how friendly the staff was. At one point several of my friends could not get a drink at the bar and the manager quickly sent a waitress to our table to take personal drink orders… making us feel like VIPs though in reality, we were very far from it.
Though there isn't an actual dance floor, the outdoor area serves as one with seating lining the perimeters. The DJ was spinning lots of old school Madonna and some new Kanye – a perfect blend if you're looking to dance the night away. The weirdest – and most well-known – aspect of Glass are the bathrooms. The co-ed bathrooms boast only three stalls for men and women so the lines tend to get painfully long. The bathroom mirror is two-way, so if a line does start to fill outside of Glass, everyone can watch you wash your hands though you can’t see them. Though the bathroom left me feeling like I was hanging out in a fishbowl, I'll definitely revisit Glass…as long as there’s still no line.
Sometimes all you need is comfort food and kitsch, but in NYC, that's often asking for a lot. If it's baked macaroni and cheese in a teal booth you crave, check out Vynl Restaurant (754 9th Avenue). The theme of this eatery is music – menus are made of old record albums and the overall décor is dedicated to favorite singers and bands.