Willa Moore

A neighborhood restaurant shouldn’t charge you $21 for a glass of wine. At a neighborhood restaurant, you should be able to waltz in wearing your finest pajamas and drink a $10 glass of sangiovese from Umbria on a fifth date—the date where you finally share “your little spot.”

Smithereens is a New England-inspired restaurant that feels a bit like a sexy submarine. True to theme, you’ll find a lobster roll, a cocktail called the Ben Affleck, and Narragansett Lagers for $6 here. But the East Village spot is also from a Claud alum—which means that the lobster meat is so gently poached it’s almost rare, and the Ben Affleck cocktail might turn you into a pumpkin spice latte devotee.

Achieve the impossible task of booking a memorable meal for six to 10 people.

If you’re looking for Thai food in Red Hook, Goog is your best (and only) option.

Hainan Jones made us food hall lovers. The Singaporean spot got its start at Midtown’s Urban Hawker making Hainanese chicken rice, and just like at its original location, we like the classic poached chicken set at this DeKalb Market Hall corner stall the best. The meat is tender and soft, and the skin is leathery, smooth, and on the brink of melting in your mouth. But our favorite part of the plate is really the gingery rice cooked in chicken broth—you can get it as a side for $3, in case you finish your Trader Joe’s run and need a little snack.

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Would you like to eat an entire sheet tray of baked treats? Head to Hani’s Bakery & Café in the East Village.

Hani's is an instant hit with fun twists on comfort baked goods