The life cycle of a bad week, as told through restaurants

What dining out looks like when we're feeling a whole range of emotions, from defeated to lazy to in the mood to "treat ourselves."

Even in the few weeks already that I’ve been writing this newsletter, I’ve noticed that when I look back on them, they are not only a record of the restaurants I go to but also a catalogue of everything else going on in my life. Birthdays, reunions with friends, engagement celebrations, dates, holidays. My drive to document what makes restaurants special will always be intrinsically linked with the desire to chronicle the memories made within them. What arises out of that is a diary of my singular experiences, sure, but hopefully one that I hope people can relate to. Life may twist and turn, but dining will always persist.

With that, comes the weeks that suck. Tough work days, breakups, health scares, fights. I had a bad week and my dining choices were all over the place. Well, I thought they were, until I looked back on the week and realized that the restaurants I chose actually mirrored the full range of emotions I was going through. First, defeated. Then, seeking comfort and lazy ease. Followed by a burning urge for a stiff drink release and “treat yourself” indulgence. At the end, a feeling of renewed inspiration.

Welcome to my bad week, told through the lens of restaurants.

Dispatches from the Corner Booth

Tales from a week of dining.

A duo of defeated meals, reaching for sad salads and wet pizzas.

Things started out bleak with meals that embodied defeat. I grabbed a just-fine bowl from Chopt and a lukewarm can of Blue Moon and sucked down both at the ripe hour of 11am. Later in the day, delirious, I knocked back a pungent Negroni and slightly too-wet Neapolitan pizza at the kitschy Pizza Secret near my apartment. These silly, simple meals met the moment, offering a level of unseriousness, ease and mediocrity that pairs well with life’s absurdities and misfortunes. And you thought this newsletter would be all glitz and glam. Sike!

A warm bowl of udon noodles, a 10 pound sandwich and biscuits to nourish the soul.

Then I entered a spin cycle of seeking out dishes that offered maximum comfort and ease, but this time they were all magnificently delicious, too. Like the rich, savory Mentaiko Cream Udon noodles with beef sukiyaki from Muteki Udon. Or the hefty, divine 10-pound sandwich called “The Muffuletta” created by Regina’s Grocery in collaboration with Molly Baz’s Ayoh mayo line. At home, I brought in food that filled me with pleasure, like simple takeout sushi from Ki Sushi, or bowls of homemade Grossy’s Vodka Sawce pasta with crispy chicken cutlets. I finished out this good-for-the-soul hit parade with three freshly baked biscuits (garlic & herb, lemon poppy, buttermilk), hand-delivered by Sundays Only.

An easy walk-in Mediterranean dinner and an Italian wine bootcamp in Soho.

When I’m feeling exhausted and sour, I’m not on my Resy grind. So it was the week of walk-ins for me. Shuka, that’s your cue, old friend, take the stage! I had no complaints with this easy 45-minute dinner with glasses of house red, fluffy hummus, flavor-packed roasted carrots and satisfying lamb merguez kebabs. We then strolled over to try an Italy 101 Wine Boot Camp class, put on by La Compagnie, that we had booked awhile back. I’m not sure I found it quite worth the $55 price tag, but getting out of the house on a Monday night to drink wine in a private backroom is surely not a bad way to take your mind off things.

A burger and martini-induced release at a natural wine bar in Gowanus.

Then I was in the mood, sudden and urgent, for a stiff martini and something beefy to eat. Liar Liar in Gowanus swooped in wearing a “We open at 4PM and offer $16 house martinis and burgers!” cape. Once inside, a bright eyed girl slipped in to a stool next to me and chatted to the bartender about how she just moved to New York and is loving it so far; I wonder what she thought of the bitter diner next to her (me), double fisting a crispy gin martini in one hand and a dripping, thick burger in the other. I ate ferociously, selfishly, swiftly, next to a record player tugging my arm to pay attention to its happy tunes. Turn that frown upside down, it impatiently screeched.

An indulgent, inspiring meal at a chic hot spot in Chinatown.

At the end of the week, I craved pure, luxurious, all-consuming indulgence. A 5:30pm bar seat opened up at Bridges, the buzziest new darling in town, and I snatched it up, with visions of chic solo feasting dancing in my head. Walking in, I expected to meet dishes that would thrill me. It is Sam Lawrence in the kitchen after all, previously of Estela. And they did just that, from the delicately grilled oysters to the smoked eel dumplings bathing in a decadent broth to the glorious king crab legs, drunk on butter.

What I didn’t expect was what came next. A fellow solo diner joined me at the elbow of the bar and struck up a conversation. She was a chef, and a passionate one at that. This selfishly fueled mission to indulge myself might have brought me in the door, but the actual reasons I love dining out so much kept me in that stool for hours: meeting and connecting with another human, discussing our shared passions and ideas, appreciating the communities we find ourselves in. Corny, I know, but I left that seat with a reignited sense of inspiration, for this industry and for my little corner (booth) within it. Dining can fill us up in more ways than one.

Riding a high, I then spun through Bar Oliver for a nightcap. They were swamped, so I just slipped the bartender a $20 bill, no change, in exchange for a Negroni. I sat at the window, ready to take on the next week.

Bathroom Mirror Selfie

Design inspiration from restaurants.

The bathroom in the above mentioned Bar Oliver is a dream for anyone who loves to collage. Find everything inspired by this too-cool tapas bar here.

1. Order a bundle of vintage magazine clippings from Etsy and let’s get collaging. I like these food-related ones in green, purple or red hues.

2. A large Julian Schnabel mural hangs in the main room. Learn more about his work with this wonderful book.

3. Taking inspiration from the vintage matador paintings they have scattered throughout the bar, find your own here, here and here.

4. In the bathroom, there’s an art deco blue and white marbled light above. Get a similar look, but in vase form.

5. Why is a bundle of decorative branches always so chic? Try these willow branches or quince branches.

The Reservation Desk

Curated dining suggestions.

Every Monday, I host an open call on Instagram asking for your dining dilemmas, to then resolve right here before the weekend. Be sure to follow along and submit your own queries each week, for a chance to have your night curated by Corner Booth, too.

Dilemma #1: Mom visiting and taking me and my sister to dinner! 3 people downtown, ideally LES/Nolita. Splitting the iconic fennel salad and some pastas at the beautiful Altro Paradiso will always be a tried-and-true parent option for me. A lovely dinner underneath a ceiling of painted clouds at the French/Italian Raf’s would also be nice; I still think about their ricotta with Italian long hot peppers. Alternatively, if the mood strikes for some pizza, split knock-out pies at Pasquale Jones or Una Pizza Napolentana, the latter of which was named best pizzeria in the world.

Dilemma #2: Last minute date night spot that feels chic but easy, in Brooklyn, 2 people. In Carroll Gardens, snag a table at the cozy yet chic Bar Bête and split a bottle of wine along with an array of dishes like the crispy duck fat potatoes and tuna toast. In Prospect Heights, turn to Cafe Mado for stand-out small plates, enjoyed either beside an open kitchen or in the back garden atrium space; whatever you do, don’t skip the baguette and butter. In Bushwick, dine under orange neon lights at the astoundingly good, very hip Persian spot Eyval.

Dilemma #3: Friday night dinner and drinks for a group of 6-7 girls, flex on area (emphasis on party size) ! I’ve been dying to try Baz Luhrmann’s gothic bar Monsieur for drinks, and they have big corner booths just asking to be filled by a group of 6 or 7 (you might just have to stalk the reservation page a bit). Keeping in the theme of large booths that could fit 6 or 7, try the white tablecloth-clad Cecchi’s for dinner, offering glamorous vibes and lots of martinis and fries. As a back-up, Café Chelsea also offers reservations for 6 or 7, and you could go to Shy Shy or Bar Bonobo for drinks before/after.

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