All Over The Map Destinations, JOurneys, and Diversions
New York City
One-Dish-Only Restaurants
by Carolyn Jones
When it comes to food options in the Big Apple, you can find anything you can imagine. So how does a new entry stand out? Specialization. Curiously specific restaurants keep popping up in the city, each building a menu from a single dish.
S’MAC
This colorful East Village nook serves ten
renditions of mac-and-cheese in oven-baked
skillets. Try the smoky Alpine, with slab
bacon and Gruyère, or the Parisienne, with its
creamy brie and fresh rosemary. Feeling
indecisive? Opt for the sampler and taste
eight bestsellers.
345 E. 12th St., East Village
212.358.7912
smacnyc.com
Totally Baked
A hot spot for Manhattan office crowds,
Totally Baked shows off the versatility of the
lowly spud, piling on everything from skirt
steak or brisket to American black caviar and
crème fraîche. And the dessert menu stars
the sweet potato — baked with maple syrup or spun into gelato.
8 W. 18th St., Flatiron
646.336.6118
Peanut Butter & Co.
The sandwiches in this cheery yellow
lunchroom range from spicy peanut
butter and chicken to the grilled
honey-and-banana Elvis.
240 Sullivan St., Greenwich Village
212.677.3995
ilovepeanutbutter.com
Socarrat Paella Bar
Traditional Spanish paella is tricky to
perfect. That’s why this sliver of a
restaurant, named for the crusty rice
that sticks to the paella pan, serves
nothing else — except for tapas and
sangria to tide you over until the
enormous dish lands on your table.
259 W. 19th St., Chelsea
212.462.1000
socarratpaellabar.com
Rice to Riches
If the Jetsons wanted rice pudding,
they’d head for Rice to Riches. This
dessert parlor dishes out 22 flavors,
from rum raisin to mascarpone,
with an equally formidable array
of toppings — all served in bright
futuristic containers amid a space-age
decor that would make George, Jane,
Elroy, and Judy feel at home.
37 Spring St., Nolita
212.274.0008
ricetoriches.com
