Until recently, the area north of New York City's Madison Square Park — dubbed "NoMad" by clever developers — was a black hole for food.
But with the arrival of trendy hotels like The Ace, The NoMad, and the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel, it's starting to become a dinner destination in its own right.
The neighborhood's boundaries are flexible, but we're defining it as the area between 25th and 30th Streets to the south and north, and Lexington and Sixth Avenues to the east and west.
Some of these spots are new and have generated tons of buzz, others are under-the-radar mainstays. But one thing is certain: they're all delicious.
Best Gastropub: The Breslin
The Ace Hotel, 16 West 29th St.
The Breslin is a modern take on the English pub: a gastropub that serves British-inspired dishes in a cool setting.
Executive chef April Bloomfield (of Spotted Pig fame) serves creative dishes like lamb scrumpets with mint vinegar and Caesar salad with anchovy croutons. But the best thing to order here is the grilled lamb burger with feta, cumin mayo, and thrice-cooked chips.
Located inside the Ace Hotel, the Breslin is a chic but relaxing room that has become one of the hottest late night spots in the city. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait.
Best Seafood: L&W Oyster Co.
The team behind Almond opened L&W Oyster Co. this fall in the former Bar Breton space on Fifth Avenue, and seafood lovers are thrilled.
The place is casual, with a quirky nautical theme and fun design components like magnet boards and lights that look like they were pilfered from a fishing boat.
But the real draw is the fresh oyster selection, with a rotating menu from both coasts and served with innovative accompaniments like a celery salt lime granita.
Follow them up with a lobster BLT or Brooklyn Clam Chowder, and you're sure to leave satiated.
Best Roast Chicken: The NoMad
This fine restaurant inside the hotel of the same name opened just last year, but it has already created a lot of buzz in the NYC restaurant world.
The restaurant was created by the same duo behind the uber-successful Eleven Madison Park, which has 3 Michelin stars.
People are raving about the food — especially the $78 roasted chicken for two — served in this opulent, airy space.
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