With Eater editors dining out sometimes several times a day, we come across lots of standout dishes, and we don’t want to keep any secrets. Check back for the best things we ate this week.
Pregaming a Madison Square Garden concert at this homey Korean restaurant is perhaps my greatest move yet. And also, soup is king in my opinion, soothing on cold days, and filling on hot summer ones. A friend and I went to Her Name Is Han because it was within walking distance from the venue, and we’ve somewhat started a new tradition of getting soupy meals before concerts. Sure, there was a bit of a wait, but it was a pleasant day and we gave ourselves some wiggle room. The server thoughtfully steered us away from the pancakes because it was made with shrimp (my friend is a vegetarian). She went for the bibimbap with tofu, while I went all out with hella huge budae hot pot ($38), a beautiful, simmering pool of veggie broth with swimming hams, rice cakes, ramen vegetables, melted cheese, AND beans. It was just the thing I needed to fortify myself before singing and dancing to Haim. 17 East 31st Street, near Madison Avenue, Midtown — Nadia Chaudhury, deputy dining editor, Northeast
Warm shrimp salad at Orsay
The shrimp salad at Orsay. Beth Landman/Eater
As we transition out of summer, I enjoy salads with a little more heft and this one ($26) at the popular Upper East Side brasserie is particularly luxurious. Served just above room temperature, it is loaded with plump, sweet Gulf shrimp that pair perfectly with creamy avocado, crisp little gem hearts, and heirloom beefsteak tomatoes, all lightly dressed with a tangy carrot ginger dressing. Apple smoked bacon and toasted bread crumbs add additional crunch and flavor, and the mix is topped with visually stunning, green tobiko caviar eggs nesting on seaweed. The bar here is usually lively, so it’s fun to grab a seat and enjoy this solo. 1057 Lexington Avenue at 75th Street, UES — Beth Landman, contributor, Northeast
I haven’t yet had the chance to visit Kabawa, Momofuku’s new Caribbean restaurant, so it was a real treat when I happened to be nearby this weekend, decided to walk-in and see if its snackier sibling Bar Kabawa might have some seats, and was seated almost instantly. Bar Kabawa is anchored by patties, both fried and baked, and my colleagues have told me that these have been among their favorite bites of the year. Because I’d already been out eating, I asked the chefs behind the counter which they’d recommend if I could choose only two. They guided me to the baked patty with eggplant, tomato, and raclette and the fried one with pepperpot duck and foie gras. Both were flaky, with luscious, deeply flavored fillings, and paired well with a frosty daiquiri. (If I had to choose only one, it would be the eggplant.) It was clear to me why everyone is so taken with this place: The food is satisfying and the energy is lively and welcoming. I’ll be back for more than just two patties next time. 12 Extra Place, between Bowery and Second Avenue, East Village — Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter
Rangoon at Tatiana pop-up
Rangoon at Tatiana’s stand. Kayla Stewart/Eater
Eater’s 20th anniversary party in Chelsea had a lot of impressive bites, but most memorable was the taste I had during my stop at the Tatiana stand. Kwame Onwuachi’s celebrated Lincoln Center restaurant brought “Rangoon royale” to the table, an African diasporic-inflected take on the dish. A deeply-fried, sturdy wonton was loaded with braised oxtail, Osetra caviar, truffle, and plenty of poached crab. It was crafted just right for one or two strong bites, and was a nice, meaty addition to some of the other vendor offerings at the party. — Kayla Stewart, senior editor
Being from the South, I’m very particular about tomatoes — they have to be at peak season ripeness for me to enjoy them; otherwise, they are a mushy, mealy disappointment. I was skeptical about ordering a tomato salad at the end of September at New York’s Le Veau d’Or, but the bartender, from New Orleans, assured me that the dish was worth trying. The appetizer, part of the bistro’s prix fixe lunch, was a work of art. A thick slice of yellow heirloom tomato sat atop a bouncy bearnaise sauce. Petite tomatoes, slicked with an olive oil dressing, were nestled into the crevices of the base tomato, along with crunchy, craggly croutons, and a mess of herbs, from basil to chervil to celery leaves. Every element was in balance — the sweetness from the vegetables, the zip from the acid in the sauce, and the brightness from the greens. The tomatoes were indeed at their prime, even though fall was right around the corner. 129 East 60th Street, near Lexington, Upper East Side — Erin Perkins, South editor
The egg-and-cheese sandwich at Suited. Tierney Plumb/Eater
I stopped by Suited, one of NYC’s best coffee shops, on Sunday afternoon and the place was popping (by Financial District weekend standards, at least). The egg-and-cheddar cheese built on airy brioche ($11) was delightfully filling, and an attentive barista gladly brought over a silver saucer of house-made hot sauce. The sleek space honors its co-owners’ dads — an Italian-born tailor and sculptor — with lots of attention to detail. Wooden tie-shaped paper weights holding down napkin stacks speak to its name and Wall Street regulars. Even the bathroom is dressed to the nines, with geometric mirrors stretching up to the ceiling and a big accent bowl filled with glassy blue pebbles. Whenever the kitchen is open (until 3 p.m. daily), a curved section of marble tables stick to a no-laptop rule — a rare coffee shop perk in this day and age. 45 John Street, near Dutch Street, Financial District — Tierney Plumb, Northeast editor