Fun Place to Eat Solo In Manhattan
I have a free night (solo) in the city. Last time I was here, I ate at the Spotted Pig and loved it. Before that, I tried Freeman's Alley and also loved it there. Any suggestions on a lively, fun, people-watching place where I can sit at the bar and dine solo?
I am at 53rd & 6th Ave. But, will travel.
Thanks!
Foodie from Philly
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steve h.
Jan 18, 2011 05:10 PM
I've always been impressed how Daniel and Per Se treat their solo diners.
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019›5 Replies-
re: steve h.
uhockey
Jan 18, 2011 05:40 PM
Could not agree more - same with Picholine, Le Bernardin, Scarpetta, Ssam, and Alto actually.
Was less impressed with the solo dining at Jean-Georges, Marea, and Ko.
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Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019Picholine
35 West 64th St., New York, NY 10023Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019-
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re: peter j
uhockey
Jan 19, 2011 06:09 AM
Jean-Georges I think it was a waiter issue - guy had no personality and tried to tell me the Foie that tasted like petrol was "how it is supposed to taste" when the replacement tasted just fine - I think the brulee container simply got too close. Food unfortunately didn't wow, either.
Ko - I felt like I spent $175 to get minimal service, less-than-stellar dish explanations, and to sit on hard stools. A few dishes were great, most were "good," some just okay. For similar cash there are 20+ places in Manhattan I'd go first, and if comparing that "style" of restaurant (chef's table, impossible reservation, privilage to experience our genius, etc) the service was MUCH more friendly at Schwa, Volt Table 21, and Vidalia 24.
Marea - the place was dead (no one there,) Michael White was personally serving a table of bigwigs (still not sure who they were,) waiter didn't seem to enjoy his job much.
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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019-
re: uhockey
Interesting. During my one dinner at Ko twelve months ago, I found the chefs to be chatty and forthcoming about the food, and one of them even gave some recs for notable dishes at other restaurants.
Marea is always crowded nowadays, one of the more difficult reservations in town, though it's still possible to have a meal at the bar without a wait during off hours.
As for Jean Georges, I've learned to stick with his classic dishes. Some of his newer offerings don't seem to be at the same level. In my experience, service has always been professional and very friendly.
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Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
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May I recommend Compose? It is a relatively new restaurant in Tribeca, and the chef previously worked at Noma. They serve a ten course tasting menu priced at 120, however only ten seats are available for this menu each night. All diners who are eating the tasting menu will sit at a communal bar, which would seem nice for a solo-diner. They also have a few other tables which you can only reserve the day of.
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re: mjm1218
uhockey
Jan 18, 2011 05:04 PM
Likely because only 50 people can eat there per week. :-)
If none have reported back by then (and even if they have) I'll have all my rambling thoughts on it up after my meal on 2/16.
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re: deepfry7
uhockey
Jan 19, 2011 02:10 AM
Friend did it, 12:05 in the AM on 1/17 for a reservation on 2/16 at 7:00pm (the only seating.)
He called the day before and apparently they only take Opentable reservations, none by phone.
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re: mjm1218
I can only speculate it's also because not enough people recognize Noma in NYC and we're all tired of chef's table/impossible to reserve restaurants! Also probably not best to open a new restaurant right before the holidays when all the press folks are busy with 2010 roundup lists.
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uhockey
Jan 15, 2011 09:26 AM
IMO, NYC is perhaps the best place to dine solo in the United States - there isn't a single place you'd feel uncomfortable because it is all at once a businessman's city, an epicure's city, a tourist's city, and a local's city - from Per Se to Momofuku Noodle you'll find folks from everywhere eating solo or as large groups and the servers, largely, are extremely professional.
Surely not all of them are "lively" or good for "people watching" - but if you want that, Casa Mono and Ssam are the two I liked best.
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003›1 Reply -
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scoopG
Jan 15, 2011 07:12 AM
As usual, kathryn has it covered! I would only add one place, near to where the OP is staying: Ma Peche.
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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019›5 Replies-
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re: ellenost
Both Spotted Pig and Freemans are known for being loud and crowded, like 2-3 people deep at the bar, people on the sidewalk outside waiting for a table. Ko is nowhere near that lively. Ma Peche might be more lively on certain days, especially after work, but not as insane as Spotted Pig or Freemans.
Remind me, if you sit and have dinner at the raw bar at Ma Peche, are you facing the rest of the room? I thought you'd have your back to the rest of the room but I can't remember if the counter at the raw bar is L shaped or not.
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Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019-
re: kathryn
ellenost
Jan 17, 2011 09:11 AM
If you're seated at the raw bar, your back is to the dining room, but you have a "front row" seat watching the chefs prepare the shellfish dishes, which I find "cool" and interesting. Sort of like Ko except the stools at Ma Peche are well padded.
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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
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You are one block from the Bar Room at the Modern. Delicious food and lively vibe.
Bar Room at the Modern photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157623551861759/
Since you liked the Spotted Pig, you might want to check out another of Chef April Bloomfield's spots, the new John Dory Oyster Bar, in the Ace Hotel, on 29th, just off B'way. I haven't been, but our daughter and son-in-law went recently, and she told me it was excellent. The lobby of the Ace Hotel, which also houses The Breslin, is a hoppin' place.
http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com
ETA: kathryn is just too fast for me! lol
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Here's some places (not super formal but not super casual either) where you can drop in and get a good meal at the bar:
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, Lupa and Otto are also solo diner friendly, especially at the bar
Hearth - you can eat at the bar or ask for "the pass"... Terroir is next door as well if you want some wine and bites to eat.
Minetta Tavern - go early or really late
Prune - but the bar is pretty tiny
Po - ditto
Jeffrey's Grocery - they have a good sized bar and specialize in oysters, sandwiches, etc
Joseph Leonard - sister restaurant to Jeffrey's Grocery, the bar is neat in that dependent upon whereyou are, you can look into the kitchen or are a level up from half of the dining room and look out onto the street, don't miss the brussels sprouts with Sriracha if you go
Smith & Mills - tiny place but the bar has like 8 seats
Locanda Verde - the bartenders are great, you can order off the full menu, too
Pearl Oyster Bar - nearly 1/2 of the restaurant is counter seating anyway
Momofuku Ssam Bar - also solo diner friendly
Momofuku Noodle Bar - ditto, actually I bet any of the ramen places could accommodate you, like Ippudo
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
Union Square Care - they save the bar and some walk in tables for those without reservations
Txikito or El Quinto Pino - Most of EQP is counter style dining anyway
Casa Mono - also solo diner friendly and you won't have a long wait if you're a party of 1 at an off hour
John Dory Oyster Bar & the Breslin - both newer restaurants by the chef of The Spotted Pig, both very popular
Perilla - I think you can order off the full menu, this is Harold from Top Chef's place, also I think his new Thai joint, Kin Shop, has a bar with full menu dining but it's very popular and you might need to wait for a bar seat
Maialino - although they don't serve the full dinner menu at the bar in the front room, it's an attractive and comfortable space, and lots of people watching opportunities
Osteria Morini - I haven't been yet but friends have reported having a great meal at the bar there, also I believe they have vermouth on tap as wel-----
Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012Pearl Oyster Bar
18 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012El Quinto Pino
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003Bar Boulud
1900 Broadway, New York, NY 10023Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003Terroir
413 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001Smith & Mills
71 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010Osteria Morini
218 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012Jeffrey's Grocery
172 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014The John Dory Oyster Bar
1196 Broadway, New York, NY 10001›2 Replies-
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re: dpavey
You are right near the Bar Room at the Modern (in MoMA, on 53rd, b/t 5th & 6th), which I recommended in my post below, and which kathryn included in her list.
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