For an authentic New Orleans experience, you no longer have to get on a plane to Louisiana. Simply take the subway down to the West Village and check out Blackwood Hospitality's new restaurant Gentilly Kitchen + Bar. 

New Orleans native and Owner of Gentilly, Andre Neyrey and his team have infused the space with the celebratory spirit of the Crescent City. Between the jazz music playing and the inventive list of custom cocktails if you close your eyes you just might forget you're in Manhattan.

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The menu at Gentilly reflects creative spins on many NOLA staples. Seafood lovers will certainly enjoy the Low Country Boil which features red fish, clams, mussels, and shrimp prepared with potato and corn in a deliciously spicy broth and The Po' Boys and Classic Muffuletta are the best you will find north of Louisiana. I got to try a taste of the menu at their Grand Opening party and I can promise you one thing, you will not be disappointed. Everything was so full of flavor and just a few bites of their Torchio Mac + Cheese already has it rivaling some of my favorites in the city.

Whether you're a southerner looking for a slice of home or a New Yorker hoping to experience a taste of the bayou, Gentilly Kitchen + Bar has you covered. 

I am so excited to tell you guys about a new restaurant opening this Saturday on the Upper West Side called The Social House! 

My boss’ husband, Andre and his team at Manhattan Restaurant Consultants have been busy taking what used to be an ordinary diner and turning it into an upscale restaurant with American cuisine over the last month. And I’m confident you’ll be impressed by the concept they have come up with!

I’ve always loved the Upper West Side near my office, in the W. 80’s. It’s a great place to meet up with friends after work for a drink, and there’s no shortage of options for Happy Hour. The one thing the area has been significantly lacking on though is nice sit-down options. And that’s where The Social House comes in!

The restaurant gives off the perfect amount of class with a romantic touch. A much different vibe than the sports and dive bars that line the streets. Even if you aren’t in the mood for a sit-down meal, you can still enjoy one of their specialty cocktails in the bar at the bar tables.

Now onto the important things.. What to eat! I always enjoy trying dishes that are a little off the beaten path, and this restaurant nails a balanced combination of interesting dishes and spins on some of the classics you’ve tried before. My favorites on the small plates menu were the Figs on Horseback, Shrimp with Cilantro Aioli and the Striped Bass Ceviche with blue corn chips and avocado mousse. Mmm, my mouth is watering just typing these! If you enjoy flatbread, do NOT miss out on their selection! I tried the Roasted Wild Mushroom, Grilled Kale with Smoked Goat Cheese flatbread and it was fantastic. 

Now onto the entree! If I thought my mouth was watering before… I will definitely be back again soon to have their Roasted Hanger Steak with Chimmichurri Sauce! I order steak on rare occasion, but this one was calling my name of the menu. I’m glad I listened to the calling too, because if it weren’t completely against proper manners, I totally would have licked the plate. The sauce and seasoning on the steak was superb!

And yes, I totally realize I failed you on the pics of the food. The only downfall to fantastic mood lighting, is my pictures just can’t do the food justice, so I decided I’d leave a little left to the imagination so you have to go over there and give them a try! 

So I hope I have done just that and sparked your interest enough to get over there and give it a go. You definitely won’t regret it! Plus, have I ever steered you wrong in the food department? I didn’t think so..

Check The Social House out on Amsterdam between W. 81st and 82nd!

Every day for the past year I have walked by this cute restaurant called Jacob’s Pickles on my way to my office. It’s only a block away from work, but I don’t tend to stick around the area after hours much.

It wasn’t until one of my co-workers started talking about their biscuits and beer that I got intrigued and decided to check out the menu. It only took about 30 seconds for me and another one of our co-workers looking at the menu to decide we needed to make that trip happen ASAP!

The restaurant is super cute inside. Southern charm, mason jars and all!

Something that jumped off the menu to me was their Warm Apple Pie cocktail, made with a spiced blend of ole smoky moonshine & pressed apples. I’d never had moonshine before, but I’ve been talked into watching too many episodes of the show Moonshiners not to give it a try. Of course, as I sipped on my warmed apple blend I couldn’t hold back on my Jim Tom impersonations, it felt necessary. If anything, I entertained my friends for a little bit ;-). I must say, my drink was pretty fantastic! It was served in a small glass inside a mason jar that had hot water in it. At first I was surprised by how small the drink was at about half full, but I soon learned why. That moonshine is strong! 

Along with our drinks, we also ordered up some good old-fashioned fried pickles while we were waiting for the grand finale….

These guys!!!

When I first looked at the menu I was immediately drawn to their biscuits. There’s a place in Portland that is my favoriteeeee called Pine State Biscuits and the items on the menu seemed very Pine State-ish. I ordered their Honey, Chicken & Pickles which was a buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken, hot sours and clover honey. The bottom biscuit was one of my friend’s, the Southern BLT which was a buttermilk biscuit, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, bacon, and pickle slaw. There is no skimping on the portion sizes here either.. all the biscuits also came with a heaping portion of cheddar grits! Both were mmm, mmm good too! We had a wonderful evening and I must say it’s nice to have my own little NY version of Pine State now!