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.
On a hot September weekend when summer just won’t quit, there are few better places to eat en plein air than Central Park. On the way there, I stopped by the Upper East Side location of Regina’s Grocery — the downtown Italian sandwich shop that got popular some years ago — for the Uncle Jimmy sandwich ($18), a hulking mix of prosciutto, mozzarella, soppressata, arugula, and the house pepper spread on stirato. The meats, cheese, and chiles play well together, and the hearty bread gives the whole thing a great bite (though mine didn’t lend much structural stability). I opted for a bench alongside some of the park’s ballfields to secure both entertainment and a perch from which to safely eat the sandwich, which is a messy affair, without subjecting my outfit to any oily drips, then walked off the substantial meal at the new Man Ray exhibit at the Met. 300 East 88th Street, at Second Avenue, Upper East Side — Nick Mancall-Bitel, travel and dining editorial manager
The peppercorn bone marrow at Adda. Nadia Q. Ahmad/Eater
Peppercorn bone marrow at Adda
The bone marrow ($27) at Adda is a special treat. The server brings it to the table in a dish whose lid is lifted to reveal the bone, piping hot with silky marrow bubbling inside. The luxurious texture doesn’t stop there: The server then pours a decadent sauce on top, made with green and black peppercorns and coconut milk, and sets down a plate of coconut buttered pao beside it. It comes with little wooden spoons, but I find it way more satisfying to scoop up the marrow with the bread — there’s a nice, slight crunch that comes through when you get a whole peppercorn. 107 First Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, East Village — Nadia Q. Ahmad, senior copy editor
The latkes at Gertrude’s. Nadia Chaudhury/Eater NY
Okay, this is a slightly delayed blurb, but my husband and I were going to see Nine Inch Nails play at Barclays Center, and we needed to figure out our pre-game dinner. I gave him a choice of three nearby restaurants within walking distance, and he gravitated towards this Jewish-ish Brooklyn bistro. I was really happy to see there was a right-priced prix fixe menu — $65 for three courses, including choices of entrees for each (he went for the chicken; I got the trout covered in these really lovely and sweet cherries, tomatoes, and pepitas). For our shared dishes, the spaetzle was cozy and bright, and the pickled vegetables were spicy and sour. But the star was the latkes (which were $21 for two on the regular menu), two plump fritters with crispy exteriors giving way to almost-creamy, but still shredded, potatoes topped with creme fraiche and roe. While we got two, I could’ve eaten an entire plateful. The meal ended with a huge and pleasant slice of the restaurant’s ode to black and white cookies in cake form. Our pre-concert dinner choice was reaffirmed by the fact that at least three other couples were dining out before going to the rock show, too. 605 Carlton Avenue, at Saint Marks Avenue, Prospect Heights — Nadia Chaudhury, deputy dining editor, Northeast
The crab salad at JR and Son. Bettina Makalintal/Eater
One thing I loved about the food at JR and Son was the confident undercurrent of Calabrian chiles. Their warmth and fruity flavor added an element of surprise to familiar dishes like the chicken Parm. But I think they were used to perhaps an even better effect in the crab salad ($18), which features hefty chunks of lump crab with just enough lemon aioli to bind it together, finished by a bright red drizzle of Calabrian chile oil. Arriving at the table on a bed of ice, the salad is perfectly chilled, but the chile oil adds a bolt of bright heat that makes you long for another bite of cold crab. The juxtaposition of temperatures feels fitting for this transitional time of year. The crackers on the side hold up nicely to the crab salad, but if you order bread service, nothing is stopping you from swiping some crab onto the olive focaccia, too. 575 Lorimer Street, at Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg — Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter
The milk and matcha soft serve at Fujiissa. Stephanie Wu/Eater
Milk and matcha soft serve at Fujiissa
Matcha shop Fujissa has opened in the newest location of mini-supermarket chain Hashi Market, near Union Square (it’s also available at its Bryant Park location). The star here is the soft serve ($7.80), which comes in flavors including matcha, milk, and sesame. The matcha is a must-order here, with its bitter grassy notes forming a beautiful combination with the fresh milk flavor. Other items include matcha lattes, sodas, and milkshakes. The matcha shop is currently running a promotion where you can buy one item and get a second one for half off. 93 University Place, between 11th and 12th streets, Union Square — Stephanie Wu, editor-in-chief
The chicken paillard at Bella Blu. Beth Landman/Eater NY
Chicken paillard at Bella Blu
The outdoor cafe at this popular Italian spot was fully packed with people revelling in one of the last bursts of summer weather, so we tucked into a cozy table inside. Even though titanic rib-eyes, full lobsters atop spaghetti, and whole fish from the wood-burning oven paraded by us, ordering chicken paillard ($37) seemed like a modest choice. However, when the grilled breast arrived, it took up nearly an entire plate and was still barely visible under a mountain of vegetables and salad. The meat was tender, moist, and perfectly seasoned; the fresh arugula, radicchio, cherry tomatoes, corn, green beans, and avocado added texture and flavor; and bruleed goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette enlivened the whole dish. It was impossible to finish the portion, so I had plenty for lunch the following day. 967 Lexington Avenue, near East 70th Street, Upper East Side — Beth Landman, contributor, Northeast