6 Secret Restaurants You Need To Know About
We're spilling the details on the coolest places you've never heard of.
Secret supper clubs and hidden restaurants have been a growing trend these past few years, but often, as quick as they appear, they're gone. Here's the latest on the places — and events — you can't miss.
The Naked Lady Room, New York, NY
How It Works: This tiny room hidden behind a door in the West Village restaurant Bell, Book, and Candle is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall spot. It's decked covered in pink wallpaper featuring a whole bunch of scantily clad women (hence the name), and can squish up to six people.
What's On The Menu: "Hawaiian nachos" topped with tuna and guacamole, Brussels sprouts and ricotta salad, and grilled salmon. And that red phone in the wall is a direct line to the bar: You can order any drink and have it delivered to the small pass-through in the wall.
How To Score A Seat: Call the restaurant ahead of time to book the secret room. Get more details at bbandcnyc.com.
Borrachito, New York, NY
How It Works: Knowing this restaurant's name won't help you find it. Keep an eye out for The Garret East — the taco joint's tucked past a dark hallway in this East Village bar.
What's On The Menu: All kinds of tacos, with tortillas made fresh daily. The burrata taco features a 2-ounce ball of cheese on it, and the New York Strip Steak taco is not to be missed.
How To Score A Seat: Slip past the hallway at the back of the bar and you're in! Get more details at borrachitonyc.com.
Sunday Dinner Club, Chicago
How It Works: Dinners occur several times per month and typically have three to five courses shared with about 20 diners.
What's On the Menu: Cassoulet with duck confit, leg of lamb, garlic sausages (yes, please!), hickory smoked bacon (extra porky!), with white beans and grainy mustard. The pièce de résistance: chocolate mousse and mint chocolate cookie tart.
How to Score a Seat: "Invites are sent via a mailing list, but the mailing list is cultivated by referral only," says the hosts. So, if you are lucky enough to be invited through a friend in-the-know or if you miraculously cross paths with the chefs, you're in! Hint: They shop at local Chicago farmers' markets. Another place to start? Sign up for the mailing list: sundaydinnerchicago.com
A Razor / A Shiny Knife, Brooklyn, NY
How It Works: Though most events take place in Brooklyn, New York, their epicurean offerings have been held all over the world — Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Panama City, Panama, and Bogota, Colombia — in non-traditional venues: an uncompleted apartment building in Brooklyn, a wild boar farm, and inside a swanky art gallery.
What's on the Menu: The folks who run A Razor, A Shiny Knife like to treat their kitchen more like a laboratory. Mesmerizing meals are produced using molecular equipment: lasers, infizzilators, vacuum chambers, and liquid nitrogen. Which means what you read on the menu, may not be exactly what you eat.
How to Score a Seat: Get your email on their radar: arazorashinyknife.com.
Hush, Washington D.C. and Chicago
How It Works: Founder and organizer, Geeta, acts both as chef and storyteller for her authentic vegetarian Indian meals. "During the meal, I give a 30 minute Spice Tour," says Geeta. We end with 'Playing with Food', where I have guests taste and sniff various ingredients used in that meal."
What's on the Menu: Specialty spices are also incorporated into cocktails, like the Viceroy, a cinnamon- and saffron-infused gin and tonic. The vegetarian feast features organic ingredients whenever possible.
How to Score a Seat: To make a reservation, click "Reserve" on the Hush website and fill out a questionnaire for every member of your party. Then make sure you remember the secret password upon arrival.
The Sunday Night Dinner, Astoria, NY
How It Works: What began as a regular gathering of friends evolved into a gustatory gathering of strangers. Proprietor Tamara Reynolds, a former server from Prune restaurant in New York, prepares a feast for about 20 folks in her tiny Astoria apartment.
What's on the Menu: This is one serious gastronomic supper! Favorite dishes include radishes with butter and sea salt, fried oysters with housemade remoulade, and rumaki: water chestnuts wrapped in bacon then broiled in a mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar, and freshly grated ginger.
How to Score a Seat: Find upcoming events on the Facebook fan page: The Sunday Night Dinner In Astoria and check out their flavorful pics on Flickr.
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