I’ll be honest with you, I’m struggling to keep up. The moment editor-in-chief Brian Farnham announced that there would be no acceptance speeches or Oscars-style fanfare, it was obvious I would be screwed. Hopefully this will reach you on not-too-great a delay.
First up were Critics’ Picks, which is our way of recognizing great places that either defy classification or couldn’t break through in the prestige Readers’ Choice categories. Winning a Critics’ Pick as a restaurateur is like hearing your name called for Best Screenplay: You’re happy, but you know it means you’re not taking Best Picture.
A couple of observations, then awards after the jump:
- Chef Iacopo Falai, who won Best Jack-of-all-Trades for his several excellent ventures, is an athletic man. He took the the second award of the night and bounded on stage like a bobcat cub. I’m not sure if he touched any of the four steps leading to the podium. That is the enthusiasm that an Eat Out award inspires.
- When chef Michael Psilakis wins the “Break-a-Plate-and-Shout-’Opa!’ award,” the crowd erupts into spontaneous shouts of “Opa!” That makes me think that Psilakis is well liked by fellow chefs. I would eat at his places
Read the rest of the awards after the jump:
Best jack-of-all-trades
Iacopo Falai
Caffe Falai, 265 Lafayette St between Prince and Spring Sts (917-338-6207)•Falai, 68 Clinton St between Rivington and Stanton Sts (212-253-1960 )•Falai Panetteria, 79 Clinton St at Rivington St (212-777-8956)
Best modern-day soda fountain
Stand
24 E 12th St between Fifth Ave and University Pl (212-488-5900)
Best changing of the guard
Daniel Humm at Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave at 24th St (212-889-0905)
Sixth Annual Award for Best-Tasting Dare
Pork margarita at Porchetta
241 Smith St at Douglass St, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn (718-237-9100)
Best reason to ride the Q train
The Farm on Adderley
1108 Cortelyou Rd between Stratford and Westminster Rds, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn (718-287-3101)
Best place to stalk the chef
Degustation
239 E 5th St at Second Ave (212-979-1012)
Best Paris-to–New York transplant by way of Vegas
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Four Seasons Hotel, 57 E 57th St between Park and Lexington Aves (212-350-6658)
Best raiding of the henhouse
Boqueria
53 W 19th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-255-4160)
Most hypeworthy
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
207 Second Ave at 13th St (212-254-3500)
Best small fry
Petite Crevette
144 Union St at Hicks St, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-855-2632)
Best reason to look past a name
Goblin Market
199 Prince St at Sullivan St (212-375-8275)
The break-a-plate-and-shout-“Opa!” award
Michael Psilakis, chef, Anthos and Kefi
Anthos, 36 W 52nd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-582-6900).•Kefi, 222 W 79th St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-873-0200)
Best defense for Billyburg gentrification
Dressler
149 Broadway between Bedford and Driggs Aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-384-6343)
Best spot for a nightcap in Queens
Aces
32-07 36th Ave at 32nd St, Astoria, Queens (718-278-0143)
Best S&M interior
Zenkichi
77 North 6th between Berry St and Wythe Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-388-8985)
Best pastry under pressure
Open pastry kitchen at Intent
231 Mott St between Prince and Spring Sts (212-966-6310)
Best south-of-the-Mason-Dixon shout-out
The Smoke Joint
87 South Elliott Pl between Fulton St and Lafayette Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-797-1011)
Best excuse to order a second bottle
Nish
405 E 58th St between First Ave and Sutton Pl (212-754-6272)
Best bite uptown—way uptown
809 Sangria Bar and Grill
112 Dyckman St between Nagle and Post Aves (212-304-3800)
Best kids’ food for grown-ups
Ditch Plains
29 Bedford St at Downing St (212-633-0202)
Best place for a carnivore and vegetarian to break bread
Sticky Rice Thai Barbecue
85 Orchard St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-274-8208)
Best soy-based sugar rush
Kyotofu
705 Ninth Ave between 48th and 49th Sts (212-974-6012)
Best upgrade of a public eyesore
Metro Marché at the Port Authority
625 Eighth Ave at 41st St (212-239-1010)
Best rec room, reimagined
Union Hall
702 Union St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-638-4400)
First Annual Blatant-Sucking-Up-So-We-Can-Score-a-Table Award
The Waverly Inn
16 Bank St at Waverly Pl (no phone)
I recently had dinner at this wonderful trendy and inexpensive restaurant. The meal was prepared by the Sous Chef, Chef Ralpp Rivera- a recent new addition to the staff. He ensured our meal was up to par and even came out to ask how our meal was. We had the signature dish of the evening; a fried Oyster po-boy followed by mussels in a chorizo and red onion gravy and ended the meal with a succulent chocolate dessert. I highly recommend the restaurant and applaud Ditch Plain on selecting a touch notch Sous Chef.