Taco Vision
While strolling through Midtown East, you may now catch a whiff of mouthwatering modern Mexican fare floating in the air. Inspired by Mexico City street food and the bustling vibe of New York City, TacoVision serves up some unique tacos and agave shots in a hip space which includes a hopping bar. Brought to you by the team behind Crave Fishbar, this brand new vibrant bi-level restaurant distinguishes itself with its approach to serving only fresh, made-to-order food. With everything from vegan to short rib to Al Pastor tacos, plus spice-rubbed rotisserie chicken and scrumptious sides including fried brussel sprouts, made with poblano pepper and banana pepper sunflower seed and roasted cauliflower with heirloom bean puree, jalapeno salsa and cilantro, you will be craving their creative dishes long after you leave. Dig into their other delicious dishes, such as the guacamole bowls, made with cilantro lime puree and serrano chile, shrimp ceviche, made with fresh corn puree, oyster mushroom, hearts of palm and green olive, and of course, their “house-pressed” organic blue corn tortillas. They even offer veggie and grain bowls, as well as a tasty variety of vegan options. Another great feature of the restaurant is its extensive list of beverages, filled with countless mezcal and tequila-based cocktails. Try one of their flights that showcase various aspects of agave spirits. Check them out for lunch, after work drinks or dinner – or all of the above!
244 E 53rd St.
New York, NY 10022
646.921.1990
Aqua Boil
Inspired by casual New Orleans Cajun style dishes, Aqua Boil brings delicious and hot Southern cuisine to Hells Kitchen. Aqua Boil is the brainchild of the restaurant group behind THEP and V{IV} Thai Restaurant & Bar. While traveling throughout New Orleans, the team was impressed with the real boils they tried and wanted to bring this same authentic experience to the city. This fun spot, which features a nautical décor, encourages diners to get messy with their array of seafood boils! You can also get cozy in their dining room where you will find blue chairs, bright orange booths and a massive octopus mural. The Aqua Boil menu boasts delicious seafood options and great starters such as Honey Garlic Wings, Catfish Sliders, Lobster Roll, Gumbo and Soft-Shell Crab Basked served with Cajun fries. Enjoy one pound of Top Neck Clams, Head-On Shrimp, Crawfish, Lobster, King Crab Legs, Snow Crab Legs or two pounds of Dungeness Crab, all served with corn and potatoes and your choice of Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper or Cajun Mix sauce. You can also choose your spicy preference level, which goes from mild to raging hot! Try a combo, including a mix of Snow Crab Legs and Shrimp, or Lobster and Crawfish. Their side dishes include Andouille Sausage, Brussel Sprouts, Garlic Pasta and Steamed Rice. With cocktail names such as Poseidon’s Wrath, Rusty Anchor, Beach Bum and Seas the Day, they have to be good – and they are!
750 9th Ave.
New York, NY 10019
212.464.7428
Junoon
This Michelin star restaurant located in the heart of New York City is Indian cuisine reimagined. The interior is sleek and posh — a fusion of traditional Indian flair and cutting-edge modern design. Janoon means passion in Hindi, and passion is indeed behind each and every plate masterfully created by talented Executive Chef Akshay Bhardwaj. Restauranteur Rajesh Bhardwaj was determined to share his love of Indian food and culture and has found a way to elevate traditional yet innovative Indian dishes. His talented team has indeed transformed the Indian dining scene with their tantalizing dishes. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in its first year of opening and is still receiving the same recognition a decade later. Junoon is devoted to improving the purest traditional and regional cuisines, while creating modern interpretations. Their trendy décor is the perfect place for a relaxing dinner or a posh celebration, and the eight-course Chef’s tasting menu promises to take you on an exciting journey into Indian cuisine, exotic spices included!
The lunch prix includes two or three courses, including the Lotus Salad, with pickled lotus root, lotus chips, market greens and mango chili vinaigrette, Eggplant Chaat, crispy eggplant, raita, tamarind chutney, red onion and Chaat Masala appetizers. Their mouthwatering main courses include the Artichoke Mattar, made with sunchoke, artichoke hearts, green peas, tomato sauce and fenugreek and the Nizami Paneer, stuffed paneer, cranberry, almonds, khoya and tomato sauce. Try the palatable plates of the Prestige Lunch Prix Fixe, including options such as Lahsooni Gobi, crispy cauliflower, tomato-garlic chili chutney or Shrimp Butter Pepper Garlic, shrimp with pepper garlic sauce, before digging into the Mushroom Korma, royal trumpet, pioppini mushroom, maitake, saffron cashew sauce or the Lobster Moilee, made with coconut milk, fenugreek, turmeric and heirloom tomato. Enjoy both prix fixe or a la carte lunches or dinners in the Patiala Room. The three-course and four-course menu, as well as their eight-course Chef’s Tasting Menu, are served in the main dining room. The tasting menu including treats such as Uttapam, South Indian pancake, onions, tomato, cilantro, caviar/finger limes, Five Pepper Mushroom, seared royal trumpet, five green pepper coulis, orange marmalade, Truffle Khichdi, winter white truffles, masoor daal, turmeric, Saloni Macchi, Atlantic salmon, beet raita, sous vide beets, candy cane beets and more. You can also choose a wine pairing to go along with each course. Find true bliss with The Drunken Shahi Tukra, one of their delectable desserts made of saffron cake, Amrut rum and cardamom rabri.
27 W 24th St.
New York, NY 10010.
212.490.2100
Zuma NYC
Japanese cuisine is enchanting and full of rich flavors, and Zuma knows how to combine both, resulting in one magical dining experience. In keeping with Izakaya tradition, dishes are meant to be shared and there is no set protocol on ordering from the menu. Enter Zuma’s seductive ambiance and feast on their savory fare. Founded in London by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney back in 2002, Zuma, which can be found around the world, has conquered the culinary world, one dish at a time. Designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Studio Glitt, the interior is a fusion of natural and manmade elements that reflect the essence of Japanese culture and cuisine — the harmonious relationship between nature and man. When it comes to their cuisine, Zuma introduces traditional izakaya-style bites as well as sushi and robata-grilled dishes using fresh and eclectic ingredients. Enjoy their Ebisu Express lunch menu, a one course set menu served with miso soup or the Ebisu Business lunch menu, where you can dig into three courses. Try the seared tuna with chili daikon and ponzu sauce, the grilled salmon teriyaki with pickled cucumber or the spicy fried tofu with avocado and brown rice donburi. Sit back and relax with their lounge dinner menu, which features tempura and signature dishes such as the lobster with spicy ponzu and wasabi mayonnaise, the spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chili and sweet soy, or go for some lighter snacks, cold dishes and salads. For dinner, dine on a 10 oz skirt steak with shiso chimichurri, grilled Chilean seabass served with green chili and ginger dressing or the organic chicken with ginger soy sauce and Japanese pickles. Their nigiri sushi, sashimi and maki rolls, including the California maki with Alaskan snow crab, avocado and tobiko, as well as the Waygu beef sushi with daikon and black truffle, will take your senses to a whole new and tasty level. A sixty-selection saké book and an extensive wine list, as well as decadent desserts, allow you to visit Japan without leaving New York City.
261 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212.544.9862
BarDough
With unique and pork-inspired specialty pies, it’s time to get your pizza party started at BarDough! Favorites include the Pizza Alla Vodka, made with vodka cream sauce, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, mushrooms and peas, Smoking Bardough, comprised of roasted red pepper cream sauce, smoked fresh mozzarella, reggiano, sweet Italian sausage, pickled red onions and basil and Aldo’s Puttanesca, with plum tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, pancetta, capers, garlic, anchovies and kalamata olives. You can also create your own personal pie with toppings including hot spicy honey, chicken prosciutto di parma pancetta, fresh vegetables, and of course, pepperoni or sausage. The Breakfast Pizza, served during brunch or as a late night snack, comes with your choice of scrambled or over-medium eggs plus one cheese and up to three toppings. They even offer a gluten free or cauliflower crust. BarDough is always brining innovative dishes to their menu, including the sal-zone, a mini quarter moon shaped calzone molded into a 12” pie. Just choose your filling and dressing – ricotta, goat cheese, blue cheese, feta, smoked or fresh mozzarella and honey mustard, lemon vinaigrette, ranch, lbue cheese or Caesar dressing. Their appetizing appetizers include the Crispy Calamari with arugula, lemon aioli and marinara sauce, prosciutto and burrata with heirloom tomato, fresh basil and virgin olive oil, mini pork osso buco ribs and fire roasted meatballs with a plum tomato sauce and mozzarella. You can also enjoy a healthy salad with your pizza pie! Sip on some creative cocktails, such as the You Bacon Me Crazy, a bacon infused Elijah Craig bourbon with maple syrup, walnut bitters and beef jerky.
350 W 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
917.262.0543
