Merkato 55 55 Gansevoort St. (Greenwich & Washington Sts.)
Meatpacking District
212.255.8555
Merkato 55:
The Meatpacking District may not be as hot as the days Carrie and the girls made cosmos the new Kool-Aid, but African bar and restaurant Merkato 55 is definitely trying to heat up the cobblestone catwalk. Among wall-sized prints of diverse African faces and ebony tables etched with proverbs, a fashionable crowd takes advantage of former Aquavit chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Pan-African frequent flier miles, minus the jet lag. From chocolate samosas spiked with smoked chiles to the Sogba, a mix of Bacardi, ginger beer, a bay leaf infusion and mint leaves, Samuelsson highlights traditional African culture in his menu. If you’re stopping by for African and European wine and champagne instead of dinner, save room to snack on the Kidogo, a menu of African breads, dips, and finger foods that beats the usual bar menu.
The Hatian Mafia Rockstar owners ruin the vibe at Merkato with their arrogance and scores of under age white model girlfriends. Can't we have a cool restaurant in the meatpacking without the cheesy attitude?
