(Fine) Dining in the West Village

[oldzinman]

We will be staying in the West Village in a couple weeks to attend the New York Fringe Festival, and are looking for great places that we can walk to dinner. Last trip we enjoyed Commerce, The Little Owl, and Babbo (but I am still paying off the second mortgage). Any suggestions?

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Little Owl
90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014

[chow_gal]

I wouldn't say Little Owl is 'fine' dining. Take a lookie loo at Mas Farmhouse.

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Little Owl
90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014

[oldzinman]

Thanks. Agree about the Owl...that is why I used the ("parens").

[kathryn]

But it's also confusing! :) How much are you willing to pay per person (including tax, tip, drinks), just so we know not to recommend places out of your price range?

If you liked Little Owl, look at Market Table. For a cheaper alternative to Babbo, consider Lupa. Whereas Babbo's entrees can near $30, Lupa's are closer to $20, etc.

Perilla is also a great suggestion -- definitely 2nd that.

Dependent upon where you are in the West Village, Soho can also be a very close walk.

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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012

Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014

Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Little Owl
90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014

Market Table
54 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014

[rrems]

Perilla
Recette
Aldea
Degustation (east village, about a 15-20 minute walk)
Perry St.(though I only go there for lunch, I think it would be a good dinner option too)
Wallse
Annisa

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Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014

Recette
328 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014

[Wilfrid]

Aldea and Degustation aren't remotely in the West Village. Guidance on price would be helpful, because if Little Owl and Babbo are pricey, Mas and Perry Street would not be good recommendations.

[rrems]

<Aldea and Degustation aren't remotely in the West Village.>

OP asks for places within walking distance. Tlhey can figure out whether these are acceptable.

[oldzinman]

Hey Rrems, thanks for the ideas. You guessed correctly, we can walk east, west or even south!
And since we have four nights, I will choose a variety of cuisines and prices, hence I didn't set price guidance.

[orthorunner]

Perilla is a great option that IMHO is fantastic food especially considering the relatively reasonable price.

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Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014

[sgordon]

I think "walking distance" is a very different concept for us New Yorkers (who walk everywhere) than it is for visitors. We'll walk a mile or two and think nothing of it.

Anyway, my humble opinions on some of those already mentioned:
Perilla - not so thrilled with. On my "overrated" list.
Aldea - on the same list.
Annisa - has potential, just reviewed it here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/725892

And a few recommendations, at various price points:
Colicchio & Sons - The Tap Room is in your price range, certainly.
Cookshop
Minetta Tavern - skip the $26 burger, everything else is worth it
The Spotted Pig
Soto - can get a bit pricey since the portions aren't terribly large but the food is exquisite.
Braeburn
Blue RIbbon
Casa
August
Commerce
10 Downing
Fatty Crab
Ditch Plains - guilty pleasure: mac-n-cheese topped hot dogs
Cabrito
Cones (for ice cream. Mmm... Corn....

)

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Cones
272 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Soto
357 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10014

Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

August
359 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Casa
72 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

Ditch Plains
29 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

Fatty Crab
643 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Commerce
50 Commerce Street, New York, NY 10014

Cabrito
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Braeburn
117 Perry Street, New York, NY 10014

10 Downing
10 Downing Street, New York, NY 10014

Fatty Crab
2170 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

Colicchio & Sons
85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[duckie]

Annisa is wonderful, very greenmarket driven in fact, if not by how they advertise themselves. It's especially good for fish preparations and for the entree of lamb with South African flavors. It's probably my favorite restaurant in the West Village right now.

I love Soto, but you would have to get a third mortgage probably.

I think Perry Street is still offering a $38 prix fixe, three course dinner. They are known for having great fried chicken, but the ambiance is modern, sleek and upscale. Perilla also has a well priced prix fixe dinner with a lot of good options on there, incidentally including a juicy and delicious Thai style fried chicken. I think the prix fixe for three courses was something like $35. Perilla is a little more casual feeling. You don't have to dress up to go, but you can.

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Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014

Perry Street
176 Perry Street, New York, NY 10014

Annisa
13 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014

[clembeauchamp]

There are a lot of great recs here. I'd also add I sodi on Christopher.