A Couple of Restaurants to Add to Your "Must Eat Here" List

If you're like me and keep a running list of those restaurants people mention in passing that "you HAVE to try," then I have two to add to yours while in NYC. The first is Barbounia, a sunny Mediterranean spot on 20th and Park with an extremely generous brunch deal. I popped in with my little sister when she was in town last weekend and we got unlimited champagne cocktails (bellinis for us, mimosas for Nick) which were filled up by the waiter before we ever finished a glass.

We had the Trio appetizer with the Hummus, Tzatziki and Spicy Feta dip - they are all super tasty but the Spicy Feta is crazy amazing. 

...so we promptly finished it all.

And Kelli and I split the Challah French toast with crème fraîche which was deeeelish. 

After grabbing the check, we headed over to the bar where we would receive generous cocktail refills until 4PM. Since we arrived around 11AM, we didn't take FULL advantage of said generosity, but definitely got our money's worth. 

Took a quick break from all of that eating and walked over to Madison Square Park where I showed Kell the Orly Genger "Red, Yellow and Blue" art installation...

After saying our misty-eyed goodbyes, I made my way downtown for a friend's 28th birthday celebration at Freeman's, a quaint and rustic little place that can be found by the stringed lights tucked away at the end of Freeman Alley off of Rivington Street.

cred

We walked to the back of the restaurant and settled around the most gorgeous wooden table and tablescape in the private wine room, complete with seasonal bouquets and wine bottles wall to wall.

We had a prix fixe menu that included the most ridiculous spinach artichoke dip and a choice of four entrees - a friend and I split the Pan Fried Potato Gnocchi with corn, tomatoes, basil and parmesan and the Seared Filet Mignon with sweet and sour onions, mashed potatoes and horseradish cream. We finished off our dinner with family-style portions of Bananas Foster with rum butterscotch and vanilla ice cream, a Berry Crisp with mint ice cream and chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

I do not say this lightly when I tell you that this was, hands down, the best meal I have had in a very long time. I'm tempted to say the best meal I've had in all of New York. It was that good. And the waiter recommended the Gianni Gagliardo "Fallegro" Favorita which is my new favorite wine - it's fizzy, almost like champagne mixed with white wine. I mean, what's better than that??

Happy eating y'all!

xoxo,
Amanda