With Eater editors dining out sometimes several times a day, we come across lots of standout dishes, and we don’t want to keep any secrets. Check back for the best things we ate this week.
A coworker and I stopped by this new-to-NYC Japanese restaurant to shoot an episode of Eater’s “First Bite,” and I find myself still thinking about the richness of the tsukemen ($21), a dipping ramen with noodles and this wonderfully hearty broth. It’s well worth getting the add-on rice when the noodles are all gone so you can get in every single drop. 92 Second Avenue, between East Fifth and Sixth streets, East Village — Nadia Chaudhury, deputy dining editor, Northeast
I’m smitten with Wild Cherry — the restaurant from Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson that is inside the theater now run by indie film studio A24, behind films like the Brutalist, Babygirl, and Friendship. I love it for its lush little room, the perfect horseshoe bar, a fun soundtrack, the excellent wine list from Jorge Riera, and the straight-ahead food offerings, from an outrageously great cheeseburger to a memorable sausage and kraut. At the end of the meal, the desserts are simple yet memorable. There’s a collection of custards topped with something delicious, such as the chocolate custard leveled-up with a drizzle of Chartreuse ($16). Yet the voluminous white and fluffy coconut cake ($16) with its feathery frosting from pastry chef Michelle Palazzo might best Claud’s decadent chocolate slab as far as visuals. An oversized slice that tastes of the tropics in a room this fun fits with the creative current flowing from A24 next door. 38 Commerce Street, between Hudson and Bedford streets, West Village — Melissa McCart, lead editor, Northeast
It can be a challenge to find a non-touristy meal in Times Square, let alone a quiet one. After a Broadway show, I found both high in the sky at the Knickerbocker hotel, where chefs Charlie Palmer and Taishi Yamaguchi teamed up to open Akoya this spring. Perched on the 17th floor, the zen escape from the city below is attached to the hotel’s lush, ivy-covered patio lounge, St. Cloud — where you can also order a pared-down selection of dishes from Akoya inside. I went the alfresco route with a blue crab volcano roll, which featured an abundant use of the crustacean in each piece. The roll paired perfectly with an ice-cold green can of Neko IPA from Japan. Yamaguchi, who previously worked at places like Katsuya and Aman, specializes in temaki (hand rolls) from his small dining room. The perk of ordering at St. Cloud is you can get a solid range of options, from hummus with veggies to edamame to mochi balls, as well as that breezy view. 6 Times Square, at West 42nd Street, Midtown — Tierney Plumb, Northeast editor
Squash is one of my favorite fall treats, and kabocha is one of the densest and sweetest, a real comfort food. At this cozy new addition, the vegetable is roasted with curry and a miso sauce that has a bit of heat, caramelized, topped with both pepper and yuzu gelees, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The squash sits on hearty farro, cooked in aromatics, mixed with kale, and garnished with fragrant Thai basil ($38). I enjoyed every bite, and the experience was enhanced by a view of the illuminated street through a huge casement window on the second floor. I plan to come back on a snowy night, to take some photos from that perch, and enjoy this warming plate again. 1022 Lexington Avenue at East 73rd Street, Upper East Side — Beth Landman, contributor, Northeast
Dining and Cooking