Rebecca enjoys the snapper at Double Crown restaurant.

By Rebecca Simzak

This past Saturday I went to Double Crown restaurant with my girlfriend for dinner. Double Crown offers English/American fusion cuisine with Asian–influenced sauces and seasonings. The restaurant is dimly lit with an interior that has the personality of a “high class pub.” A long communial table and oversized bar seem somehow glamorized by Double Crown’s Asian and Art nouveau accents. I could totally picture Madonna here in her Guy Ritchie days …

The restaurant lends nicely to either a romantic evening out or a group get together, due to double or communal seating. However it’s the food at Double Crown that is absolutely their best-selling feature. To begin, the wait staff brings a platter of thin bread crisps with three dipping sauces: one tsaziki based, one with sweet red pepper and another made with cilantro lime. A full bar is also offered, with tons of unique drink specials. I had the Gooseberry, Red Chili and Elderflower Smash which is made with level vodka, gooseberries, lemon and Elderflower foam ($12.00). It was very light and refreshing without being overly sweet.

My girlfriend and I shared a bunch of small plates as we had a hard time deciding what to order from the menu. We started with the Crispy Drunken Quail (with cinnamon tamarind sauce, carrot and cilantro: $13.00), and the Pigs in a A Wet Blanket (pork with lychee and coconut sauce: $6.00). For Dinner we Shared the Steamed Snapper (with prawn dumplings, sesame broth and bok choy: $27.00) and the Brussels Sprouts (with cinnamon and fenugreek glaze: $5.00). These were AMAZING!!!

Now, I usually have the willpower to restrain myself from the dessert menu, but the small plates and entrée were so amazing that we just had to try out at least one dessert. We decided on the Pumpkin Bread pudding with a pumpkin-vanilla crème sauce ($9.00). It was incredible and a reasonably small portion which helped alleviate any guilt.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out the food at Double Crown ASAP… but be sure to make a reservation. I called a week in advance for our Saturday night dinner and was still given a relatively later (10.00pm) dinner time. Luckily the staff is super friendly and made a note that I would prefer an earlier reservation. They called me back the day before with a 9:15 opening.

By Rebecca Simzak

If you love pulled pork but aren’t a paper plate kind of girl, then Wildwood Barbeque might be just the place for you.

With the perfect blend of cornbread and cosmos, Wildwood offers all the classics: short ribs, pulled pork and brisket, as well as healthier options like their all natural applewood smoked chicken glazed with apricot barbecue sauce.

Unlike most barbeque spots that offer only beer and soda, Wildwood has a fully stocked 50-foot bar with signature cocktails like the Green Tea sour ($11) as well as specialty beers (Wildwood Organic Ale $8.50/pint, $24.50/pitcher)

Though the wait was a bit long (an extra 15 minutes after our reservation time) the food was excellent and the portions were very generous. My girlfriend and I started with the Jailhouse chili ($6.95) as an appetizer. A bit spicy, but very good, the chili comes in an adorable single serving cauldron (pictured above) and is topped with cheddar and sour cream.

As the chili was incredibly filling, we easily could’ve split one between the two of us, we decided to share the “Best of the Best” pit plate with smoked beef brisket and pulled pork ($24.50) which comes with an option of two sides. I highly recommend the baked beans with bacon and the brussel sprouts with sweet onion and bacon sauce.

We were way too full for dessert … but maybe next time

Despite the wait and the somewhat cramped table space, the meal was excellent and the service was great. The fine staff even held a Cartier bracelet I had dropped from my purse when paying the bill and held it for me until the next day.

Wildwood Barbeque
225 Park Avenue South at 18th Street
212-533-2500

Website

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Rebecca Simzak is a beautiful NY Blonde living in Chelsea. She is 25 years old and works as a Design Director for Playboy.