lighthouse

I'm all about a seasonal menu with tons of healthy, fresh food- even better if it's got a slightly Mediterranean vibe! Lighthouse is all those things and more, with a focus on sustainability and local produce! I was excited to stop in for brunch with some girlfriends recently, and I love the laid back feeling of home you get from the moment you walk in. The whole place gets tons of light from the huge windows, and there's plenty of outdoor seating as well, which I'm sure makes the perfect spot for brunch or happy hour come summer. We started with their signature freshly baked challah bread with housemade tahini and pickles. There's not much better than fresh baked bread, except when it's slathered in rich and creamy tahini. We chose an assortment of entrees, and I loved all the bright colors involved! From vegetable salads to grilled chicken bowls to chilaquiles to ceviche, there's certainly something for everyone! I really want to try the charred eggplant bowl with green coconut rice and tahini as it sounds totally up my alley, and I think my husband would be all about the duck pita with calabrian chili! Guess we will just have to head back soon :) Make sure to click through the photos for more details on our delish meal!

abcV

The latest restaurant in the abc line up from Jean Georges is abcV, a plant-based eatery with a focus on sustainable and organic ingredients. Everything on the menu is vegetarian, and most of it is vegan, or can easily be made so. I got the chance to dine at abcV with my vegan bestie, and we ordered a bunch of dishes to share so as to try as much as possible! Highlights for me included the pine nut and lemon dip with harissa and dried apricots- such a unique and flavorful take on hummus! The stone ground nut and seed butter layered underneath roasted carrots created the perfect sweet and savory dish, and its richness was cut nicely by chilies and lime. As I'm obsessed with all things tahini, it was no surprise I loved the roasted cauliflower drizzled in turmeric tahini and topped with crunchy pistachios! Yum!

Plenty of other dishes tempted our tastebuds as well, however, we were getting full! If you can believe it, we didn't even have room for dessert, so reluctantly skipped this part of the meal. I know- who even am I? Next time for sure though, as I recall absolutely loving the salted caramel ice cream sundae with candied peanuts and popcorn from abc kitchen!  I'm also looking forward to returning for brunch soon, as the creative brunch bowls and dosas sound super delish. Be sure to click through the photos to see descriptions of each dish, and definitely make a reservation at abcV stat!

samesa

For a casual, Middle Eastern lunch in Williamsburg, Samesa is where it's at. This tiny spot, inspired by a hole-in-the-wall falafel joint, offers a some seriously colorful, vibrant, and flavorful food. Both meat and veggie options abound, and I always tend to start with some of their freshly baked pumpernickel pita and housemade dips. The carrot romesco with urfa biber and roasted beet with sumac dips are both faves of mine, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. The mezze plate above makes for a legit lunch in itself, and involves beet-pickled eggs along with the chef's choice of various dips, salads, and other pickled goodies- so delish! Fresh dishes like the raw squash and zucchini salad with smoky eggplant purée make for a light and healthy option, while the braised lamb and chickpea sandwich is the perfect choice for the meat-eaters. Samesa also makes some pretty tasty and unique smoothies- the tahini date with coconut & cinnamon tastes like a creamy milkshake, but is actually vegan! As you can see, there's truly something for everyone, and I highly recommend you check it out, stat!

nur

 
 

I love when I get the opportunity to dine at a new hotspot before it gets reviewed by the New York Times restaurant critic. When Pete Wells' review of a particular place is overwhelmingly positive, as was the case for Nur, reservations can become extremely hard to come by going forward. Luckily, I got to experience a deliciously unique meal at Nur with my husband and in-laws a few weeks before the two star review was published. I'd heard such great things about this new Middle Eastern restaurant, not to mention drooled over all the Instagram-worthy food pics, that I immediately booked a table when I found out we were going to be entertaining family.

The cuisine at Nur is influenced by the vibrant flavors of the Middle East, but with a modern twist, giving it that bold edge that's perfect for New York City. I love that the chef plays around with the classics, and can draw from both street food and fine dining dishes to create a truly memorable meal. Some highlights for me included the buzzed about Jerusalem sesame bagel and smoked eggplant carpaccio, which are delicious paired together as well, by the way. The date doughnuts, despite sounding like a delectable dessert, were perfectly savory and just bursting with caramelized flavor. Lamb is typically my preferred meat of choice (I find it even tastier with Middle Eastern flavors and spices), and in my opinion, there's not much better than freshly baked bread. Enter the Horias, lamb kebabs that are actually grilled inside a pita, with eggplant and pine nuts. I could really go on an on, as all the seafood entrées were delicious as well. Not one to skimp on dessert, especially when I knew they would be as delicious as they were creative, I decided to order two! Cardamom chocolate and halva rocks, crispy Jerusalem artichokes, smoked yogurt ice cream, amarena cherries, and candied pistachios were all involved, just to give you an idea... Click through the slideshow to read more about all the creative dishes! Nur is one to add to your must-try list immediately- just try to plan ahead and book a table beforehand if possible!

saltie

If you’re looking for an easy, but satisfying lunch in Williamsburg, I highly recommend Saltie. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get there, but this tiny neighborhood spot makes some seriously delicious (and unique!) sandwiches. Whether you're a vegetarian or meat-eater, if you're looking for breakfast or lunch, I'm sure you'll find something that hits the spot. I loved my "clean slate", which was a fluffy naan just overflowing with hummus, bulgur, and fresh & pickled veggies. Just check out how charred and chewy that focaccia looks! Keep an eye out for daily specials, like rotating seasonal egg bowls and salads, as well as refreshing beverages like a turmeric tonic. I can't wait to go back and try some of their desserts! The massive cookies (chocolate chip & pistachio or oatmeal with caraway & pumpkin seeds) looked particularly tasty!

de maria

I've been following Camille Becerra for a while now. She's a female chef whose approach to creating beautiful food I truly admire. In the past, she would collaborate with other chefs on menus and host pop-up dinners, but I was so excited when she finally opened her own place. De Maria is an all-day hip café in Nolita serving up a contemporary menu full of vibrant and healthy dishes. Practically everything is up my alley, so it's really hard to go wrong when ordering. For breakfast, I recommend the banana bread with flax, ginger & coconut, or the tahini yogurt with apricot, sumac & urfa bieber. Housemade soft drinks like the carrot, cinnamon, and ginger tonic are super refreshing and not too sweet. For lunch, I love the summer dragon bowl with coconut grains, turmeric poached egg, sungold tomatoes, heirloom beans & tarragon tahini- it's so satisfying and just bursting with flavor!

I also got to host a group of friends for my birthday dinner at De Maria, and although I didn't snap any pictures, everyone totally raved about the food. The lemon focaccia is perfectly fluffy and chewy, and the halibut with pappadum, chickpeas, apricot-mustard chutney, fermented cabbage & curry cultured cream was to die for. Camille's tendency to combine unique flavors so seamlessly is truly impressive, and makes you question why you didn't think to do it yourself. Don't skip out on the simple, yet delicious desserts- the raw milk ice cream with almonds & lavender makes a wonderful finish to any meal. Click through the pics to read more about these tasty brunch dishes as well. It's safe to say De Maria has joined the list of my fave NYC restaurants, and I can't wait to go back soon.