Earlier than I hop into the questions, a particular because of my colleague Becky Hughes for filling in last week. I really feel nicely rested and energized to reply one other spherical of reader questions. Right now we now have a beginner trying to attempt totally different cuisines, a customer searching for nice Cantonese and a diner who needs to eat in a ravishing house.
As at all times, when you have your individual suggestions or questions, shoot me an e-mail at wheretoeat@nytimes.com.
Broadening One’s Eating Horizons
I need to develop into extra “adventurous” and order totally different plates as a substitute of the frequent ones I at all times do. (I’ve had sufficient salads and pasta for all times!) As I simply moved to NYC, that is my excellent excuse to take action. Right here’s the catch: I’m vegetarian. I’m dying to attempt Korean, Ethiopian, Indian meals, for example, however I feel some eating places don’t supply vegetarian plates in any respect. Do you could have any suggestions? — Yohana D.
I’m glad you set adventurous in quotes as a result of what’s “adventurous” to you might be run-of-the-mill to another person. And even higher, all three of the cuisines you talked about have loads of entry factors for vegetarian diners. With that in thoughts, right here’s a little bit of a starter equipment: As I discussed in my newsletter on vegan dining, vegetarians can have a ball at Ras Plant Based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, or Bunna Cafe in Bushwick, which each concentrate on vegan Ethiopian meals. As for Korean, take a look at Haenyeo in Park Slope. Go for the japchae, yache pajun and the bibimbap with tofu. And Indian delicacies is overflowing with vegetarian choices: Begin with the chili paneer tikka at Adda in Lengthy Island Metropolis, Queens.
Outdated-College Cantonese, Two Methods
I might be in Manhattan in early July and am enthusiastic about going to a Cantonese restaurant. Sadly, there are not any good ones in Houston, the place I dwell. Would you probably have the ability to suggest any? — Ellen S.
I’ve two choices for you: If you wish to lean into historical past, you need to go to the brand new location of the legendary Jing Fong, at 202 Centre Avenue, which isn’t housed in a grand eating corridor, as its older downtown location was, however continues to be churning out top-tier dim sum like pork buns and tender shrimp and chive dumplings. Then there’s Uncle Lou, which is lower than a 12 months outdated, however is already one thing of a Chinatown darling, leaning into old skool Cantonese eating. Pete Wells put collectively a super menu in his March 2022 review, together with gained tons in chile oil, and a home-style seafood stir-fry.
In It for the Aesthetics
I’m not a foodie, I’m an artwork historian and artwork critic, or a connoisseur of magnificence. The place in Manhattan or close by are the eating places with stunning rooms — architecturally, furnishings, lighting, spaciousness, consolation. If they’re inexpensive, a lot the higher. If not, I’ll do an occasional splurge to have a night a deux in a superb surroundings. The view out any window is just not vital; I need to be ensconced in a ravishing environment. — Suzaan B.
I like your unabashed dedication to magnificence. However that doesn’t imply you need to, as they are saying on “The Great British Bake-Off,” sacrifice substance for model. The primary eating room that involves thoughts is the pure light-filled La Mercerie in Chinatown. Strive a lunch of anchovies with vanilla butter and haricots verts when you’re eating on a funds. Bar Tulix on Houston Avenue can also be straightforward on the eyes, with snug cubicles and a sultry atmosphere. The spicy tuna tostaditos and masa-encrusted branzino tacos are to not be missed.
And although I haven’t had the chance to go to the lately opened Oiji Mi in Flatiron — from the workforce behind the Korean restaurant Oiji, which obtained two stars from Pete Wells in 2015 — the inside is outfitted in a beautiful combination of velvet, leather-based, wooden and glass.
In Different Information …
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This week, Pete Wells awarded two stars to Saigon Social on the Decrease East Facet, the place “a celebration of Vietnamese food made the traditional way” is on full show from the chef and proprietor Helen Nguyen.
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Kossar’s Bagels & Bialy, the practically 90-year-old Decrease East Facet fixture, will expand its attain to Hudson Yards this week and the Higher East Facet this fall, Florence Fabricant reviews.
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Tejal Rao turned a spotlight on the chef Wes Avila’s Angry Egret Dinette and its “fine-dining-quality ingredients, handled with care, but served without any of the associated pretensions,” in Los Angeles’s Chinatown.
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Our reporter Christina Morales took a deep dive into the world of gravestones etched with household recipes.
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