Once upon a time you were all about wearing your skinny jeans and heels in an effort to make it by the velvet rope to drink overpriced Cosmos in the VIP room of some hotspot on a Friday night. Now you’re into bribing your 13 year old neighbor with unlimited snacks and Video on Demand just so you and your beloved can enjoy a night on the town without even counting to three.
Here are our editor’s picks for the best new eateries close to home (to make it worth your while)
Local
Where: St. Eve’s, Ho-ho-kus
Vibe: Rustic and casual, with the former chef of Citrus Grille, Steve Christianson at the helm
Sip: BYOB, the house-made Root Bear or Green Love juice (with a dash of jalapeno to cut the grassy aftertaste)
Munch on: Wood Grilled Mushroom Crespelle or the St. Eve’s burger with grilled onions finished off with the butterscotch pudding for dessert.
(St. Eve’s, 611 N. Maple Ave, Ho-ho-kus, 201-857-4717)
Hop Bergen’s Eastern Border
Where: Son Cubano, West New York
Vibe: Upscale Latino with live music and the best sunset views around
Sip: Sangria or the special house-made Mojitos
Munch on: Guacamole and Empanadas to start, Paella as your main event and don’t even try to resist the Churros for the best dessert north of the border.
(Son Cubano NJ, 40-4 Riverwalk Place, West NY, reservations on OpenTable)
Over the Bridge
Where: Imperial No. Nine, at the Mondrian Hotel, Soho NYC
Vibe: LA circa 2000 a la the Mondrian. Young hipsters, fun bar scene. Party like it’s 1999.
Sip: The No. 7, a concoction comprised of tequila, chamomile agave and lime juice
Munch on: Small plates to share. We liked the Cauliflower Fritters, Slow Cooked Octopus and King Crab a la Plancha. Fresh out of the oven for dessert, cookies!
(Imperial No. Nine, 9 Crosby Street, NYC, 212-389-1000 and on OpenTable)
Where: The Dutch, Soho NYC
Vibe: Waffle house meets Oyster Bar in the old Cub Room space, great people watching and late-night eats available.
Sip: One of their many artisanal beers or whiskeys.
Munch on: Oysters for sure, in any form, especially the Fried Oyster Sliders, Table Corn Bread and Hot Fried Chicken with Biscuits. If there is still room, a slice of fresh pie.
(The Dutch, 131 Sullivan Street, NYC, 212-677-6200)
