Kindly recommend somewhere in the vicinity of E. 14th and 2nd Ave for a post-procedure early dinner?

[buttertart]

I really don't know that area of the city terribly well. My husband is having a small surgical procedure done and figures since he has to fast since 12 last night he'll be up to a very early dinner after it (around 5). I saw Motorino and Momofuku Ssam recommended here (considering same), are there any other notable places close by? Thanks in advance.

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

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[buttertart]

We ended up at the Ukrainian Home, both because it was closer than Zaab and less challenging to the slightly woozy. Good food and a dining room and ambience straight out of Ontariio in the mid 1970's. Just the ticket. We got to Zaab a week or so later and enjoyed it a lot but it was not as transporting as some here find it.

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Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

[janethepain]

Great choice, love the meat pierogies there (and I don't like any other pierogies). Nothing better to break a fast than rib-sticking homestyle cookin'.

[Ann900]

Ah yes- the Ukrainian restaurants that used to be down around Queen W- or Country Style up on Bloor for Hungarian food (still there). I lived in Toronto back then and worked at Queen and Spadina for a while -spent many lunch hours in those places.

[buttertart]

Yes!!! Exactly. We met at UofT and that kind of place was a staple (the Continental, Patria Tavern - not that those were Ukrainian). There are still Hungarian places around there? Where? Hooray, getting back to T.O. in the early spring!!!

[rose water]

In addition to everything mentioned here already, I highly recommend Dirt Candy. If very casual is okay, Xian Famous Foods is also nearby and wonderful.

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Dirt Candy
430 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009

Xi'an Famous Foods
81 St. Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

[buttertart]

Thanks a million everybody so far - leaning a bit away from Italian because we had an Italian veal stew at home last night...hadn't thought of Zaab, this may be the ticket, depending on how the pt's tum is doing after this.

[linguafood]

You might also want to venture down E. 12th St. heading west. That street is practically covered with restos.

There's a mac n cheese place I always wanted to try....

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S'Mac
345 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[buttertart]

No mac and cheese shall ever again pass this raised Catholic with meatless Fridays boy's lips. I'd love it.

[ml77]

Just tried Smac a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Its small and was crazy crowded on the Saturday late afternoon when I went, but we got the sampler which was small portions of 8 different types of mac and cheese and it was really good.

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S'Mac
345 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[linguafood]

I really have to eat there some time....

[RGR]

SSam Bar and Hearth (mentioned by sgordon) don't start serving dinner until 6 p.m.

'inoteca is a bit further north, on the corner of 24th & 3rd. They serve the same menu all day, so no problem eating at 5. We haven't been there in quite a while, but the food has always been very good, and I've not heard anything lately that disputes that.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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'inoteca
323 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

[RGR]

Oops! kathryn is right about Ssam Bar starting dinner at 5. I accidentally looked at the bar menu times.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[sgordon]

Those are certainly among your best bets - I'd lean towards Momofuku Ssam Bar of the two, just for something more interesting, though I'm not sure if MSB starts serving dinner until 5:30. Either way, you'd want to be in line a little before then as it often fills up pretty quickly.

Other great options in the neighborhood:

Vandaag (modern Scandinavian, and some of the best cocktails in the city if you're drinking. Also a very interesting, well-curated beer list if you're fans of artisanal suds.)

Hearth (a little less boisterous, more relaxed atmosphere - though on a Monday evening every place should be fairly relaxed, i suspect...)

If you want to go a little further South...

Prune (eclectic, homey comfort food)

JoeDoe ("Aggressive American" - big, bold flavors, hearty stuff, great neighborhood joint)

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

Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009

Prune
54 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003

JoeDoe
45 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10003

Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

[kathryn]

MSB's site says dinner starts at 5pm.

Hearth and Vandaag don't start until 6pm.

Prune doesn't start serving until 5:30pm IIRC.

Looks like JoeDoe is closed Mondays?

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JoeDoe
45 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10003

Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

[tex.s.toast]

I came to suggest motorino (from the post title alone - i see you've seen the choices). Theres also the second location of baohaus and northern spy if you want something with full service thats not pizza or ssam bar. If you dont mind a short jaunt down second ave theres also zaab elee for thai.

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Northern Spy Food Co.
511 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009

BaoHaus
238 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003

[kathryn]

Northern Spy's site says dinner starts at 5:30pm, may be too late for buttertart's hungry husband...