Solo Mission

[dparaskakis]

I will be in NYC from December 16-21 for a mix of business and pleasure. Interested in lively restaurants where I can eat at the bar and still get a good representation of the menu. Price not really an issue... interested in all kinds of food. Happy to here your thoughts. Will likely stay in SoHo but location not necessarily an issue.

Thanks

[ChemWork]

I will second the recommendation for Babbo. I had a great solo meal at the bar (as Kathryn wrote, the entire menu is available except for the tasting menus). I had really fun conversations with the people around me and they let me sample some of their food. The bartenders gave great food and wine recommendations. I also had an excellent experience at the bar at Gotham Bar and Grill. The Modern Bar Room is another outstanding suggestion.

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Gotham Bar and Grill
12 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

[kathryn]

Nearly all NYC restaurants will serve the full dinner menu at the bar. I know that EMP doesn't (they have a prix fixe dinner whereas the bar menu is a la carte), and Maialino makes you choose from a bar menu that doesn't include the same dishes, but they are the few that don't.

Babbo - you might have to wait for a seat, or you could go to Scarpetta, both serve the full menu at the bar but Babbo won't do a tasting for the solo diner
Hearth - you can eat at the bar or ask for "the pass"
Minetta Tavern - go early or really late
Prune - but the bar is pretty tiny
Pearl Oyster Bar - nearly 1/2 of the restaurant is counter seating
Momofuku Ssam Bar - also solo diner friendly
Degustation - reservations recommended, all counter seating around an open kitchen
DBGB or Bar Boulud - although I think the seating set up at DBGB at the bar is kind of funky
Gramercy Tavern - the bar and casual front room have a nice vibe to them, it's a la carte unlike the formal dining room
Bar Room at the Modern - great atmosphere but it can get a bit loud
Txikito

Also any sushi bar will definitely be able to accommodate you.

More recs:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/706332
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/739284
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/689391
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/735602
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/713122

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Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014

Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[InfoMofo]

Craftbar has a full bar menu that is very good, and their cocktails are also pretty amazing.

[Mr Porkchop]

I had a good meal at the upstairs bar of the Spotted Pig, which bills itself a gastropub. Kinda sceney, but I dig the burger.

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

[ellenost]

You might enjoy a dinner at Momofuku Ko (reservations are available on their website 7 days in advance).

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Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003