For those of you New Yorkers who are all about the downtown nightlife scene, it might be time to rethink your location. The Upper West Side welcomed the French bistro and lounge, Cafe Tallulah, in January and it is one spot you need to check out. The main floor is comprised of a fine dining area and the UWS's longest bar made of zinc, which plays homage to old Penn Station. Additionally, during the summer the windowed walls open up to create outside sidewalk seating.
After sufficiently stuffing your belly, head to the sophisticated lounge downstairs, which is open Thursday through Saturday from 8pm-2am. Award winning mixologist, Dushan Zaric, of Employees Only and Macao Trading Company, created the the innovative cocktail menu, while Tom Gannon serves as the wine director for the venue. Between the pair, you can sip on the drink of your dreams whether you're at the bar upstairs, pairing libations with your dinner, or downstairs in the lounge. The lounge can be best described as cosmopolitan, with vintage seating, exposed brick, and even a pool table.
The Upper West Side has officially welcomed Sugar and Plumm. The tasty new sweet spot offers up some devilishly delectable treats; such as pulled pork and waffles, house smoked 72-hour pork stacked in between waffles topped with a pickeled onion slaw, and the waffle & bacon shake. And yes, it is served exactly how it sounds; with candied bacon and a cinnamon waffle bite!
If you're looking for lighter fare, their salad menu offers options from hummus to beet to whole grain. They also have blended fruit smooothies available and the sides menu included fresh fruit and berries as well as lemon spinach and green beans.
There's no better way to escape the summer heat than with a refreshing drink at a place you know you’re going to love --and Sasa’s Lounge is the perfect spot! The lounge is a tucked away gem on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; the rustic red brick walls display local art that set the stage for earthly dressed Tapas and the Aperivito Lounge. We can personally attest that their Italian tapas are amazing! The lounge also features live music to lift your spirits and the relaxed vibe is a major plus after a long work day. Sasa (the owner) is ever present and will be certain to make you the 'perfect’ mojito as you relax in the VIP section with your friends.
Walking food tours are a great option for those visiting New York City or have recently moved to a new neighborhood where they aren’t quite sure where the best places to eat are. There are quite a few companies that offer walking tours that are neighborhood specific and dedicated to the diverse dishes found in those neighborhoods. From Chinatown to the Upper West Side there’s a walking tour that will fit anyone's taste buds, all for a relatively cheap price tag.
Joonbug found five interesting walking food tours that we cannot wait to try out the next time a friend comes to town or have day to ourselves to go on an adventure.
Being a young barhopper in New York can be tough. Your friends who moved to Nashville call to tell you about their wild night, and here you are, plopping down your last 7 dollars on a pint of Rolling Rock. But fear not, draft hounds: justice comes to all in the form of happy hour. We've scoured the city for the best deals this side of South Dakota, and while the drinks may not be top shelf, at least your wallet won't be hung over the next morning.
Bourbon Street (407 Amsterdam Avenue)
When most people in their 20s come to New York City, they usually have a long list of things to do. Mostly involving restaurants, clubs, dancing, a lot of liquor, and maybe some tourist spots here and there --Empire State Building, Times Square etc. However, if you want to delve into the more cultural side of NYC, the American Museum of Natural History should be on your list of must-see sites. Sure, I'm admittedly on the nerdy side, and I may be more interested in watching the Zapruder film and ant colony documentaries rather than Jersey Shore, but even for those who are not usually into museums/history, AMNH is nothing short of entertaining and extraordinary. Just put it this way, you won't be tilting your head to Louis VXI portraits all day.
Flex Mussels began with a simple concept: using one ingredient in a myriad of creative ways, nothing pretentious or overcomplicated. Three successful years later, after opening an Uptown and later a West Village location, Flex Mussels has stayed true to its mission and Prince Edward Island roots and has continued to push mussels to an entirely new level.
With the recent addition of Michael Sullivan as the new executive chef, this increasingly popular one-item restaurant is experimenting with ideas for new mussel creations and other menu items. Good news: It looks like a third New York restaurant is in the works.
When most people think of “foodie neighborhoods” in NYC, the Upper West Side may not be at the top of their list. However, this area has reinvented itself and is now home to more and more of the cities' best chefs and restaurants such as A Voce, Bar Boulud, Telepan, Kefi, Rosa Mexicano, and Jacques Torres.
In honor of this neighborhood's amazing talent, diverse food and restaurant culture, Whole Foods Market is hosting their Fourth Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side on Friday, May 20th, and Saturday, May 21st, 2011.
Joonbug arrived at Graffit near the corner of 69th and Broadway around 11am and descended into the well-lit, colorful restaurant. A floor-to-ceiling mirror with the definition of “graffit” outlined the entrance, along with mismatched frames housing different textures creating the perfect so-simple-yet-so-chic décor.
Long communal tables with tall seats lead to a long white bar mid-way through the restaurant. Throughout, the mix of wallpaper and exposed brick with carefully selected pieces of graffiti created a connective thread through the seemingly different rooms.