The weekend scoffs at the notion that <em>The Godfather</em> isn’t a holiday film.
This week’s Perks: 1) A three-course power lunch for two (with cocktails) at Philippe on the Upper East Side. 2) Customizable mac and cheese from the Mac Truck... for a whole $3. 3) Fifty potentially life-changing minutes with a top interior designer—for 35 bucks.
You learned a long time ago that power lunching is best done at a place that’ll stuff one crustacean with another. Hence this place, where crab-stuffed Maine lobster is a possibility, along with bone-in rib eye and Sterling caviar. Intimidation begins with tiny spoons and toast points.
If there were a room that reflected your karaoke style, it’d be a purple-lit, gold-tufted-leather-boothed lounge (you have the Prince catalog on lockdown). And that’s what you’ll find on the second level of Kristalbelli. Also: Korean small plates and soju. “Purple Rain” doesn’t just happen.
They say it’s better to give than to receive. Jury’s still out on that one as far as you’re concerned, but still: giving’s great. And Brooklyn Flea’s got a market from the Blue Hill guys, Danny Macaroons and the kind of lovingly carved wooden cheese dishes that just scream “Mom.”
If fried-egg-topped nachos, slow-roasted goat tacos and walls of tequila sounds like a brunch you can get behind, congratulations, you’re a human being. Also: you should carve out some weekend time at this Mexican spot from the Lure Fishbar and Burger & Barrel guys. We’ll wait while you carve.
The Leadbelly. Already it’s your favorite Moonrise Kingdom–like home for cocktails and oysters on the LES. And that was before they started this new institution of oysters, live music and card games. The oysters are a buck, so feel free to use them as currency.
