The Savored Blog

“In an ideal world,” Oliver Gift ponders, sitting, arms crossed in the back of the dimly lit dining room of LowCountry “I’d be cooking in a rural area. I’ve always dreamed of being an expat, cooking food that I know how to do, relaxing, chilling out.” Chilling is not exactly in Gift’s schedule these days, head chef at a hot new Southern restaurant in the bustling West Village. Growing up in Nebraska, cooking at his grandmother’s with nothing more than a steak knife and a cutting board, Gift has always been a proponent of home-style. He jokes that growing up with football players, he “had to figure out how to work my way in with the ladies.” Kidding aside, cooking is hardly a pastime for this Nebraskan, who brings along quite a pedigree to the kitchen at LowCountry. Making his debut in New York fine dining at the age of 21, earning a coveted spot on the line at Westchester’s Blue Hill, and then at Commerce, Oliver Gift has climbed his way up in one of the world’s toughest restaurant scenes, taking the farm to table skill he has garnered and putting it to use now at LowCountry, where the bourbon flows, and the food is far from meat and potatoes.

Lowcountry, serving fare from the coastal regions of the Carolinas, has a decidedly southern charm about it; the service is gracious and the menu holds an unwavering commitment to its namesake flavors. Few patrons begin their meal without the pork sliders, loaded up with a house cole slaw. Deviled eggs are whipped into fluffy submission, speckled with bacon and chives. Spicy pimento cheese is served in a mason jar, and the creamy perfection is to be spread generously on the crispy toasts; the smokey and pungent flavors left us in silent awe. With a menu boasting an array of seasonal ingredients, we advise you ask your waiter what they picked up at the Union Square market this morning. We dove in to the denizen favorite, a bourbon-cider glazed pork chop, riotously succulent, with a subdued sweet finish.  Bourbon enlivens the cocktail menu as well, and inventive drinks flow from the bar, like the Ginger Julep, animated with Jalapeno infused ginger. Finish with the Chocolate Rolo Cake, drizzled in caramel and cradling a generous scoop of melting vanilla bean ice cream.

Step into the dim dining room and find yourself awash with the smells of aioli and chili. Witness eager diners sitting in front of heaping plates of pork shoulder, pickled radish, fish sauces, bowls brimming with succulent crab legs. Fatty Crab, a favorite for adventurous West Siders still holds the attention of diners and critics alike, commanding notice for its irresistible flavor, and an undying inventiveness.

The food is Malaysian, with riotous abandon. Liberties are taken, incorporating flavors from across South East Asia. A cocktail bar greets you, behind which you can find exotic flavors from toasted cardamom to crème de violette. The Lower West is a perfect refresher in the hot summer, topped with ginger beer and lemon. The Fatty Manhattan is not to be underestimated, enlivened with a smoky cherry coke.

When you order, you are forewarned; dishes are to be shared and arrive as ready, without sequence. The kitchen staff is omnicompetent, managing to fit our order to a smorgasbord of preferences. On a more recent foray, our order was a complete surrender to the desires our appetites, starting with a fried okra amuse bouche amplified by a shot of cool PBR. Quail egg shooters were next, lined up by variety of sambal. They make a steamed bun that folds a succulent offering of pork, “fatty” being the operative word here. A watermelon pickle rests on a succulent cube of pork belly, unmistakable for its inventive presentation, and packing a flavor punch of fresh ginger.

The crab is a feast of flavor, drenched in a chili sauce that is heavy on the butter and certifiably addictive. Far from civilized, we found ourselves absorbed in a gluttonous feast of the hefty legs, cleaning them of their tender meat. A nod to the Fatty Crew in the open kitchen to let them know, we would be back for more. Makan, Makan, Makan!

Among the snazzy sandwich shops and trendy taquerias of Manhattan’s West Village sits an unassuming restaurant, bannered with the namesake leaf; Yerba Buena Perry calls to mind an idyllic Havana cabana of our dreams. Perfectly clean cocktails slide across a marble bar, featuring Latin flavors and spices. Entrust in the congenial staff, who are quick to endorse their favorite dishes, and encourage sharing. If you have a proclivity for pork belly, and a thirst for a flawless piña colada, Yerba Buena Perry has the recipe for success.

Stunning Interior Decor

When dining in a neighborhood packed to the brim with top-notch eateries, sorting through all of the options can at times be overwhelming. Fear not loyal foodies, as I’m here to give some insight into one of my newfound favorites.

With an inherent apology for the obvious play on words, let me say, my evening at Good Restaurant lived up to its name (and then some).

While I’d like to think I don’t quite fall under the high-maintenance umbrella (wouldn’t we all?), I, admittedly, have the highest of standards for restaurant experiences – and this pleasant oasis on the edge of the West Village was a delight on all fronts.

First, I’ll set the scene. Walking that nearly impossible line between cheerful and chic, Good’s beautiful décor transitions seamlessly from daytime to nighttime. With dark wooden furniture set against beige banquettes and muted silver accents, Good’s dining room represents both the energetic bustle of the neighborhood and the romantic vibe of the Village’s tree-lined streets. Outside, their sidewalk seating has a minimalist feel, allowing people-watching of eccentric passers-by to hold the lion’s share of any diner’s attention. Combine this ambience with the attentive service, and you’re well on your way to a special evening before you even place an order.

Now on to the fun stuff– the food itself.  Being a loyal follower of the ‘let’s get lots of plates and share it all,’ mindset, I always arrive at a restaurant with multiple menu items in mind to order. Armed with personal recommendations and a thorough knowledge of the menu itself (thanks in large part to my habitual act of reading and re-reading the menu in the days leading up to any meal), my friend and I quickly selected three dishes to split.

To start, we tried the savory baked goat cheese and tomato cazuela. Served warm, this creamy dish featured the perfect balance of goat cheese swimming in a pool of tangy tomato flavors. With each bite of this decadent mixture – spread generously over freshly grilled country bread and devoured in seconds – we had little to say beyond ‘wow.’ Gone as quickly as it had arrived, this perfectly portioned appetizer left us anxiously awaiting the dishes to come.

Next came the harvest salad. This healthy serving incorporated mixed lettuces, aged cheddar, roasted pear and pecans, all dressed in a flavorful apple cider vinaigrette. With extra points for that flare of the unique found in the dressing, the harvest salad was exactly what we needed – something familiar yet exciting – and whet our appetites even more for the main event.

Delightful Harvest Salad

As soon as this seafood masterpiece was put down on the table, we could smell the treat we were in for. Cooked to a silky medium-rare, the salmon was covered in a crispy skin that was precisely salted and resting delicately over a combination of sautéed potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. Dressed further with a subtle paprika aioli, this dish was perhaps the highlight of an already impressive meal.

Overall, Good accomplished something many restaurants overshoot – leaving us feeling perfectly full without being uncomfortably stuffed, complete with smiles on our faces. I’d recommend this Greenwich Avenue gem to any friend – just as long as I was invited to go along.

#4) No-Fail Cocktails

After heading to the chic West Village eatery 10 Downing, I’ve got a number of things to share with you fine folks about this neighborhood gem.  Now, I may be an East Village gal at heart, but this restaurant can drag me away from my hood any time! Since I’m a big fan of lists, I’ve compiled my thoughts below:

10 Things I LOVE about 10 Downing

1. The restaurant’s location at 10 Downing St (@ 6th Ave) is located in NYC’s swanky West Village
2. The 74 person dining room doubles as a gallery for beautiful artwork and is perfect for an intimate date or dinner with a group of friends
3. Knowledgeable waitstaff will help you navigate the overwhelmingly tempting menu
4. The specialty cocktails are delicious – the Pickle, a gin-based drink with cucumber, dill and lime, boldly answers the question, “how am I going to drink my dill tonight?”
5. Farm fresh produce in refreshing dishes like the Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Salad are palette cleansing specialties that will have you ready for your next course
6. American Nouveau menu items like the Sweet Red Shrimp & Cheddar Grits are southern traditions I’ll gladly welcome to NYC – the petite prawns were some of the juiciest shrimp I’ve ever tasted
7. Playful twists on American dishes, such as the Curry & Spice Vegetable Pot Pie, are decadent and exotic departures from staples of American cuisine
8. For 3 months of the year (late August-early December), owner Dan McClure regularly drives lobsters back from Maine for off-menu specials
9. The daily Gnocchi special.  Their take on the pointedly potato pasta is A-MAZ-ING – our du jour feature with Lobster asparagus and cherry tomatoes was off the charts
10. You can make a dinner reservation through Savored.com 7 days a week and get 30% off your total bill!

#6) Getting Gritty in NYC

#9) Criminally Tasty Gnocchi

As far as experiences go, my meal was a perfect 10 - but don’t just take my word for it, make a reservation at 10 Downing today!