I don’t eat out that much at home, so exploring restaurants is one of the things I look forward to when I travel.
New York is exceptionally great for this because it has so many, many great restaurants.

I have a small list of places to try, these are mostly recommendation from friends, food/travel magazines and websites. The list keeps growing, which is fine because I get a sense of accomplishment when I’m able to check a restaurant off it; particularly if the experience exceeded my expectation.

On this recent trip, we had a memorable lunch at the vegan restaurant Candle 79 on the Upper East Side, and a superb dinner at Jack’s Wife Freda – all places I highly recommend and can’t wait to go back and try other items on their menus.

Speaking of restaurants I want to go back to, ABC Kitchen is definitely on my repeat list.

I still think about the roasted carrot and avocado salad we had at there last spring. It was crunchy and spicy and sweet with tasty pumpkin seeds.

ABC Kitchen espouses the farm-to-table ethos and it shows; the food is excellent, and expertly prepared using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.
We shared a wonderfully seasoned kale salad, lemony with mint and slices of Serrano peppers.

This is the more casual of the collection of restaurants owned by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The space open, brighter and airy with a charming rustic décor much in tune with the chic and venerable ABC Home store.
The eclectic tableware used in the restaurant and its stylish fixtures are all available for purchase from the store too.

Service was brisk and attentive; our friendly waiter recommended the ravioli with herbs and tomato sauce, which was simple and delightful and surprisingly so very flavoursome.
We ended the night with a fun and wildly delicious popcorn sundae.

But we weren’t quite done with the ABC Home family yet…

We went back on our last afternoon in New York, this time next door to their sister restaurant, ABC Cocina for a quick lunch and fell in love with the fun and beautiful ambiance, and delicious tapas.

ABC Kitchen, New York
35 East 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
http://www.abchome.com/eat/abc-kitchen/

ABC Cocina
38 East 19th Street
New York, NY 10003
http://www.abchome.com/eat/abc-cocina/