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.
In this economy, happy hour deals aren’t what they used to be. And look, I fully get why oysters are now at least $2 each, but also, I lament the loss of the dollar oyster and the actually affordable cocktail. The dream of cheap happy hour remains alive at Cozy Royale, though, where you can still order a burger (with fries!) and a martini for $10 each. (Another $5 gets you a beer and a shot.) What is this, 2019? Recently, I finally stopped by to try it for myself. The burger tastes like McDonald’s but better, and, having put down two martinis, I left a little misty-eyed, remembering more budget-friendly days. A deal this good obviously isn’t a secret, so to ensure that you can take advantage of it, make a reservation or show up right at opening. 434 Humboldt Street, at Jackson Street, Williamsburg — Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter
The chicken salad at Meadow Lane. Sergio Scardigno/Eater
My expectations were low during our visit to Meadow Lane, the upscale grocery and prepared foods shop in Manhattan that was a TikTok sensation before it even opened, thanks to founder Sammy Nussdorf’s endless teaser videos. We gamely tried a bit of everything — the chopped salad, the miso salmon bowl, the fast food-style chicken tenders and nuggets — and the clear standout was the chicken salad ($12), with a heavy dose of horseradish to kick the flavor up a notch. Yes, this is a wild amount of money to drop on six ounces of chicken salad, but I’d pair it with some pita chips or hearty crackers for a pretty darn satisfying lunch. 355 Greenwich Street, between Franklin and Harrison streets, Tribeca — Stephanie Wu, editor-in-chief
The hoja santo and mole at Pujol’s NYC pop-up. Melissa McCart/Eater NY
Mexico City’s two-Michelin-star Pujol has popped up in Manhattan for a 12-day run at WSA until Saturday, November 22; the event is in honor of the restaurant’s 25th anniversary. It’s a $295 experience (you can still snag cancellations) that’s less expensive than making the trek to Enrique Olvera’s restaurant in Mexico. Here, there’s a good chance you’ll see the chef behind the pass. “It’s nice getting back in the kitchen,” he said the night I was there. The dinner includes a sweet potato sope with caviar, a glorious rock crab chileatole, lamb birria, and the classic mole madre (the darker aged sauce) and mole nuevo (the brighter version), served on a plate in concentric circles. It comes with some of the best tortillas I’ve had in a while, pressed with hoja santa, a licorice-scented leaf. Like any excellent restaurant, the dessert did not disappoint; this one was a peanut financier with dark chocolate and the perfect amount of salt. For a less committed mole experience, the champurrado (made with the restaurant’s mole) is available at La Cabra locations through Saturday, November 22. 161 Water Street, at Fletcher Street — Melissa McCart, lead dining editor, Northeast
The filet de boeuf with au poivre Sarawak from the Le Bistrot Paul Bert at Le Rock dinner. Nadia Chaudhury/Eater NY
The filet de boeuf with au poivre Sarawak from Le Bistrot Paul Bert at Le Rock
I’m a sucker for French bistro food, so I was delighted to find out that this famed Paris restaurant was coming to New York for this collaboration dinner with Le Rock chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr (I’m slowly working my way through their restaurants). As part of my $125 four-course prix fixe, I opted for creamy roasted Saint Jacques scallops and the magnificently prepared steak, where the nearly bloody filet mignon medallion was drenched in pepper sauce. It was the quintessential iteration of what a Parisian dinner should be. Le Rock, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Rockefeller Center — Nadia Chaudhury, deputy dining editor, Northeast
The testa at Foul Witch. Terri Ciccone/Eater
When I saw “testa” — Italian for “head” — on the menu at the warm and glowy Foul Witch in Alphabet City, my first question was: “Whose testa is it?” After learning that the terrine was from a pig’s head, I couldn’t resist. While the only head cheese I’ve ever had before was served as a cold slice speckled with pink-hued meat and had a gelatinous texture (not complaining), Foul Witch’s version ($14) was served quite warm, making the gooey, unctuous meat extremely spreadable — the texture more like that of a comforting, melt-in-your-mouth meat stew. It went extremely well spread over the house-made sesame focaccia with cultured butter ($6), another can’t-miss dish. 15 Avenue A, between East Houston and Second streets, East Village — Terri Ciccone, deputy director of audience development
The butternut squash ravioli at Coletta. Beth Landman/Eater NY
Butternut squash ravioli at Coletta
My Eastern European friend’s meal of choice is beef and potatoes, accompanied by bread slathered with butter, so I knew suggesting a vegan restaurant might not be met with enthusiasm, but he was open enough to take a risk, so we headed for the Italian-accented Coletta. I ordered the “steak filet”, a fermentation of soy and wheat protein, with some coconut fat, and beets for color, which was pretty tasty and surprisingly meaty. But it was the butternut squash ravioli ($27) that was so good, we wanted to order a second plate. Al dente pasta pillows were filled with a mix of roasted butternut squash and cashew, scented with sage. Though this type of ravioli usually relies heavily on a butter sauce, the plant-based version here was made with white wine, cherry tomatoes, lemon, and hazelnuts, dusted with vegan parmesan, making it rich enough without any dairy. I plan on picking up a take-out order to add to my family’s Thanksgiving. 365 Third Avenue, between East 26th and 27th streets, Gramercy — Beth Landman, contributor, Northeast