Ask Casey: Family Fun in the East Village
My family will be in New York next month and we’ll be attending an event on 12th St. in the East Village. Where can I take them to eat that night? They’re a bit of a meat-and-potatoes crowd, but it would also be great to suggest some hipper places for my cousin when he sheds the parents.
The East Village is one of the best areas for dining in Manhattan: you can wander any of the Avenues and find at least one satisfying place to eat on each block. But since you’ve restricted it to the northern end, I can narrow it down to a few parent-pleasing options around 12th Street.
The meat-and-potatoes crowd will feel very comfortable at Back Forty (190 Avenue B at 12th St.). It’s an ingredient-driven “haute barnyard” menu—basics like roast chicken and vegetables, grilled trout, and the house burger—prepared unfussily. If any member of your group wants to splurge on a house cocktail, I highly recommend you try one or two of the seasonal selections. My friend Lisa’s favorite, the strawberry-based The Red and the Black, only comes around in the summer when the berries are in the greenmarkets, but you can try it at your leisure with her recipe.
Similarly, The Redhead (349 E. 13th St. between 1st and 2nd Aves.) serves simply-prepared, hearty dishes with a Southern bent. The fried chicken, house-made soft pretzels, and bacon peanut brittle are always on the menu for good reason, but you wouldn’t be steered wrong if you wanted to sample a big-boy pork chop or roasted beet salad. Unlike Back Forty, this is a no-reservations joint with the exceptions of groups of 5+, and even then, they’ll only seat your party before 6:30 pm.
Both of these places are hip enough that your cousin won’t be embarrassed, nor are they so trendy that anyone will feel overwhelmed or out of place.
After dinner, if the parents are sticking around, head over to Shoolbred’s (197 2nd Ave. between 12th and 13th Sts.) for some well-made drinks. Owner and Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long has styled the space as an homage to his Scottish ancestors, and it’s a cozy room with a comfortably long wood-paneled bar, leather armchairs, and most importantly for these cold nights, a fireplace. If you can find any more room in your stomach for a late-night bar snack, this is the place to have one: the deviled eggs with candied bacon and the crunchy-topped mac and cheese in a cast-iron skillet are standouts.
Need more dining ideas for finicky friends? Wondering how to make that brand-new juicer more useful? Ask Casey takes all questions at caseyATwww.www.goodfoodstories.com.
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All great choices. I love the EV (and that cocktail!). Can’t wait to try Hearth soon.
aaaah, I remember that picture! Hi-Fi is one of my favorite bars, I guess its ok to let the rest of the world in on the secret!