On Thursday Erica, Amanda and I reunited to celebrate A’s 23rd birthday.
We started the night off at Spice Market – a restaurant in the Meatpacking District inspired by South Asian street cuisine.
Yes, the same place you saw on Sex and the City.
To be honest, I’m sometimes wary of the larger, “trendy” restaurants in NYC; I prefer smaller/intimate ones. But I’ve got to say – Spice Market did not disappoint.
First of all, the look and feel was fun yet relaxing, in a sense. The service was also great; they were attentive, kind, and didn’t try to rush us out like many restaurants in the city tend to do.
As for the most important part? The food. was. epic.
Everything on the menu is served family-style. We went with Striped Bass (Wok Fried Napa Cabbage, Water Chestnut and Cucumber):
Onion and Chili Crusted Short Ribs (Egg Noodles and Pea Shoots):
Seasonal Vegetable Fried Rice (XO Sauce and Basil):
And Snap Peas and Shiitake (Water Chestnut):
I wasn’t sure if two entrees would be enough for the three of us, but there was plenty to go around. None of that swanky, “it’s gourmet because there’s two-bites-worth of food” dishes here. GML approved, for sure.
After dinner we hit the town, including a stop at Ganesvoort Park rooftop and a private event at RiFF RaFF’s.
It was a good night.
Once again – happy birthday, A! I hope you had as much fun as I did 😉
What trendy restaurant(s) do you like/dislike?
Everything looks delicious! I HATE when restaurants rip you off with small portions (and make it even more apparent by using overly large plates)..they may as well spit in my face!
Looks like you had a blast!! I love the look of the restaurant too! It appears very moody!! Back home in Illinois, there was a small coffee shop called Common Grounds. It was very small and intimate but very trendy like. My friends and I would go there all the time and my husband and I went on one of our first dates there! It brings back really good memories 🙂
Here in Chicago it seems like the trendy restaurants are hot one minute, then closed the next. I can’t keep up with the restaurants coming and going. I don’t often go to the super trendy ones mainly because you have to get reservations so far in advance and I’m more of a last minute kinda girl 😉
Louise says
I hate it when you go out to eat at a ‘trendy’ restaurant and pay quite a bit for something that you could have made just as easily (and cheaper) at home!
I have recently found you’re blog and LOVE it, I am so jealous of you living in NY, so much fun to be had there!!
hmmm i don’t dislike trendy restaurants per say, but i absolutely loathe tourist traps. i spent a good chuck of my summer in Charleston and it’s so funny how people would flock to the chain-type restaurants that pay for all the advertising, yet those places do not even come close to having as good of food as the hidden gems. that’s when living with a local came in handy!
I’ve been to Spice Market and absolutely fell in love. The drinks, service, and food was incredible-not to mention the atmosphere. I would love to go back. I also love any Bobby Flay restaurant-Bar Americain is my favorite.
happy birthday!
looks like you guys had so much fun!
mmm, i love me some spice market. that picture of the fried rice is making my mouth water. and i just had lunch! lol.