499299 Fri Mar 14 21:49:58 -0700 2008 7 18 Manhattan 0 3494720 We moved away from NYC (to Cali) three years ago. We'll be back for a week soon and hoped to get a quick update on what's new in the West Village. Where would you go (old or new) for a nice dinner? family brunch? leisurely lunch? We have many fond memories and will hit old favorites, but would also like to experience something new. Fri Mar 14 21:49:58 -0700 2008 109015 jenason 1 3495252 The best new restaurant is Bar Blanc. It's on the expensive side, but the food is very creative and delicious. The atmosphere is upscale casual, and it can get a little noisy, but the service is very professional. It's only been open 2 months and we have already been twice. Two others that have opened in the last couple of years that are especially good are Perilla and August. Sat Mar 15 08:33:25 -0700 2008 3494720 126803 rrems 1 3495349 Got some good recs there, but as a college student, let me give you a bit of the downscale every-day fare that's moved into town. Noodle Bar- Good, dependable Asian place replacing no. 28 (or was it 26?) over on Carmine. Great Lo Mein. Good Pad Thai. Notable for lack of good Asian previously in the area. Around 10-15 bucks. Little Owl- Might have been here last time you were here. If so, check out Market Table. Both are fairly inexpensive Dinner/Brunch joints where the chefs are actually there to talk to. Both of them currently village institutions. Around 25+ Maremma- This is second hand, but reports from the P-rents tell me that this place has improved massively from its original iteration into a beautifully done and quirky Italian place. Dunno, but worth a shot. 20+ Five Guys Burger and Fries- Over on Barrow Street replacing the cursed 7th Avenue corner location. Have heard excellent things about it such as: super-cheap, fast, delicious, free peanuts. 5-10 Pio Maya- My favorite Mexican in the area. A cute, unpretentious joint with delicious rotisserie chickens over on 8th St. Easily affordable on the budget and a nice atmosphere as well, as the people who run it are wonderful. Ask for your guac inside your burrito. 5-15 Sangam- My pet place around here, which just opened a few months ago. A new Indian joint over on Bleecker which specializes in a type of chicken-fried-rice known as Biryani. It's 7 bucks for a heaping helping (no tax) and is currently my pick for the best deal you can get in this here West Village (now that Mamouns is 2.50 :p)\ Hope this helps! Sat Mar 15 09:17:58 -0700 2008 3494720 22662 Nick F. 2 3495655 Fantastic info...thanks! Little Owl opened on our block just after we left. I'm dying to try it as it would likely have been a staple if we'd stayed. The others are not familiar to me, with the exception of August, so I'm glad to have new places to try. What is currently next to Cherry Lane Theater? I remember something new-ish but didn't know if it would last. Other ideas are welcome! Sat Mar 15 11:31:26 -0700 2008 3495349 109015 jenason 3 3495795 Something terrible. Avoid. Sat Mar 15 12:12:52 -0700 2008 3495655 22662 Nick F. 3 3495914 IMO, Five Guys Burger is an "avoid." Terrible service, really crummy burgers. In a nabe with tons of good burgers, this is just a chain restaurant with few redeeming qualities. I think No 28 is still there - it's next to Noodle Bar. The place that opened next to Cherry Lane is Commerce - a thread here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/485922 Market Place (managed by folks from Little Owl) is fantastic - friendly service, great food, nice wines - tough to get a res, but they typically hold a few tables or seats at the bar for walk-ins. About a 30-45 min wait, but you can go to BarFry a few doors down to have a cocktail and Market Table will ring your cellphone. Great scallops appetizer, pork chop, and well, just about everything they do here is pretty darn good. Not sure if Ditch Plains was here when you were, but it's on Bedford and has a great selection of casual dining faves (mac and cheese, fresh grilled fish, good shrimp cocktail, a 'controversial' lobster roll - some love, some not fans of the add'l spices in the mayo.) Extra Virgin on 4th bet Perry and Charles is great. Amazing roasted artichoke with poached egg and hollandaise and parmesan appetizer. Great mushroom crusted roast chicken with sweet pea risotto. Lively scene, yet not annoying. Alexandra on Hudson bet Barrow and Morton has been around just a few years. The service was sorta mediocre the few times i've been but the kitchen seems to be puting out good food (although I've only been a handful of times.) On nice days they have sidewalk seating. They serve a pretty good burger, along with other "american bistro" fare. Centro Vinoteca opened in the last year or so on the corner of 7th and Barrow (where a Lemongrass Grill used to be.) Haven't been, but some people love, some people not so much. A few threads here on CH - here's one: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/441528 Good luck with your chowing - welcome back to the nabe. Sat Mar 15 12:50:37 -0700 2008 3495655 20871 captkenjeroo 3 3496309 Actually, Perilla and August are in exactly the same price range as Little Owl and Market Table. So is Maremma. They are all quite good, but I think Market Table is overpriced as it is not quite as good as the others. The one next to Cherry Lane Theater is now called Commerce and it has gotten negative mentions on this board. It had reopened a few years ago as Blue Mill (its original name before Grange Hall), then closed. Sat Mar 15 15:29:53 -0700 2008 3495655 126803 rrems 1 3497771 My faves are: August, Perilla, Market Table, Babbo, Grey Dog www.thelunchbelle.com Sun Mar 16 08:46:43 -0700 2008 3494720 110996 LeahBaila