Elettaria 33 W. 8th St. (5th & 6th Aves.)
West Village
212.677.3833
Elettaria:
Yet another achingly perfect new eatery you can almost afford, this time in the culinary no-man’s land of West 8th Street. In an open kitchen where Jimi Hendrix once rehearsed, chef Akhtar Nawab and partner Noel Cruz (both formerly of Craftbar) are generating their own electric buzz. Here, wine takes a backseat to some serious cocktails that rival the food in innovation, and the spice-driven American menu is definitely not for the squeamish—dishes include fried quail, crispy pigs’ feet, and wild boar served with a hefty side of marrow. Sure, you could take the sissy route and order the roasted chicken (still tasty), but you risk earning the quiet disapproval of the foodies discussing their foie gras torchon at the next table.
