With all the buzz around coffee these days, tea sometimes gets neglected.  And while New York's experiencing a coffee revolution, there are just as exciting things happening in the world of tea.  We can't help but notice several new tea spots determined to change the way we see and sip tea.  There's the French-inspired Bosie Tea Parlor with a Bouley-trained pastry chef turning out killer macaroons and one-of-a-kind David's Teas  made with everything from popcorn to chili and chocolate.  Here's a few of our favorites...

David's Tea

Address: 275 Bleecker St., btwn. Jones and Cornelia Sts. (multiple locations)

Phone: (212) 414-8599

Website: www.davidstea.com

We can thank Canada for this exciting, new tea shop, which just recently opened in Manhattan.  David's Tea (pictured above) ups the ante with one-of-a-kind blends that will change the way you think about tea.  Think we're exaggerating?  How about a hot cup of "Forever Nuts" with real apples, cinnamon and almonds or "chocolate chili chai" with all of the above.  "Movie night" has real popcorn in it and dulce banana has caramelized banana bits, coconut and rooibos.  There's hundreds (yes hundreds) of loose-leaf teas in stock, organized by category - black, green, herbal, oolong, rooibos, white, mate, pu'reh.  Don't get intimidated.  The staff is beyond helpful even with the most high maintenance customer and let you smell and any of the teas.  You can buy a few to-go and get a cup hot or cold right in the store.  And with Valentines Day fast approaching, try a cup of "Read my lips" with a sexy combination of vanilla, peppermint, chocolate bits, spicy red peppercorns, and most notably, little red candy-lip sprinkles. 

Podunk 

Address: 231 E. 5^th St., btwn. Bowery & 2^nd Avenue

Phone: (212) 677-7722

If you weren't looking for it, you might miss this off-the-beaten path spot in the East Village and that would be ashamed because it's worth seeking out.  Podunk's  mismatched furniture and iced tea served in Mason Jars set a cozy, bed and breakfast-like scene.  While there's a laundry list of traditional teas to choose from, we recommend one of the 'pot chocolates,' which comes with cookies and cream. The delicious and unique 'pot chocolates' offerings include Earl Grey-infused dark chocolate, classic milk chocolate, rose and chili chocolate, chai-infused chocolate, and black apricot tea-infused chocolate.  There's even homemade chai teas, like coconut and Vietnamese vanilla or the cardamom and black pepper. 

Bosie Tea Parlor

Address: 10 Morton Street between Bleecker and 7^th Avenue

Phone: (212) 352-9900

Website: bosienyc.com

Finally, tea gets its due at this new French tea parlor, which just recently opened in the West Village.  This sleek spot(pictured right) not only boasts 80 varieties of tea, but also a pedigreed pastry chef, Damien Hergott, who worked at Bouley Bakery.  The result is tea sandwiches made-to-order, including egg salad with thyme blossoms and chicken with curried mayo, quiche lorraine and plenty of other French classics.   If that doesn't convince you of its merits, then one bite of the lemon teacake or the salted caramel macaroon surely will.

Alice's Tea Cup

Address: 102 W. 73^rd Street & Columbus Avenue (multiple locations)

Phone: (212) 799-3006

Website: alicesteacup.com

Imagine stepping into one of Alice in Wonderland's tea parties and you've got the idea.  The perfect afternoon respite, this whimsical tea parlor with both an upper west and east side location has a lot more going for it than merely tea.   Their baked goods rival some of the best in the city, including their fresh baked biscuit and spiced pumpkin scones.   We're even more excited about their health conscious tea selection with a remedy for whatever ails you.   With cold season upon us, there's ginger orange peach, an organic Indian black tea with ginger root, orange peel and ginger pieces.  Or try the herbal detox blend with alphalpha, dandelion, nettle bush, plantain, red clover and mint.  Our favorite option is the hard-to-find,  gyokuro green tea,  touted as the most superior or all Japanese green teas. 

Radiance Tea House and Books

Address: 158 W. 55^th St., between 6^th and 7^th Aves.

Phone: (212) 217-0442

Website: radiancetea.com

This serene tea house in midtown feels like it's anywhere but midtown Manhattan.  In fact, Radiance Tea House (pictured right) is a veritable mecca for tea culture with its own book store dedicated to English and Chinese tea studies and over 100 teas to choose from.  In keeping with the traditional Chinese and Taiwanese tea ceremony, Radiance uses clay tea ware, bamboo tea tools and mineral-infused water.  The one-hour ceremony includes tea tasting, ceremony performance, and three teas off of the traditional and herbal menu.   There's homemade dumplings, wontons and freshly baked Asian pastries to complement your brew.  

Two for the Pot

Address: 200 Clinton St., btwn. State Street & Atlantic Avenue

Phone: (718) 855-8173

Tucked away along the border of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill is Two for the Pot, a local mainstay and mom-and-pop style tea shop that boasts superior knowledge and friendly service. There's a stellar selection of teas, but what's more, there's an equally impressive stock of tea accessories, from pots to brewing equipment. There's more than tea - although the selection of loose-leaf teas is quite impressive - there's also roasted coffee, spices, exotic chocolates, local honey, and a variety of British treats. 

Tea and Sympathy

Address: 108 Greenwich Ave., btwn. 12^th and 13^th Sts.

Phone: (212) 989-9735

Website: teaandsympathynewyork.com

If you're on the hunt for quintessential British tea service, you need look no further than Tea and Sympathy in Greenwich Village.   With a menu built on British classics, the likes of Yorkshire pudding and bangers and mash, it's no surprise to find proper afternoon tea here, too.  Aternoon tea here includes assorted finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, a selection of cakes, and of course, a steaming hot pot of tea.    Tea and Sympathy also carries their own line of teas, available for dining in or taking home retail. 

Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

Address: 56 Irving Place between 17^th and 18^th Streets

Phone: (212) 533-4466

Website: www.innatirving.com

If you want to experience afternoon tea the way Englishwomen did centuries ago, you'll want to visit Lady Mendl's Tea Salon at the Inn at Irving Place.  Set in a landmark townhouse built in 1834, the Victorian-style tea salon plays the part right down to the tea cups and tablecloths. This isn't your typical afternoon tea.  It's a traditional tea service with five-courses, which includes classic finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones, a clotted cream, and yes, a fine selection of teas. 

RG Writer: Ali Baker

Bone marrow is one dish that leans heavily towards the decadent end of the culinary spectrum and deliciously so.  This winter, we've noticed quite a few unctous appearances in restaurants around the city, some prepared classically, others with a new twist.  Miso-glazed bone marrow with orange and olive marmalade? That's one we never had before Saxon + Parole recently opened.  There's everything from spoonable bone marrow at Prune to bone marrow tacos at Belcourt. Yes, bone marrow tacos. Here's a few of our favorite discoveries... 

We're not suggesting you forgo your daily cup (or three) of coffee, but winter is the perfect time to add a warm libation to your list of go-to beverages. From the Hot Buttered Mezcal at Daniel Boulud's Bar Pleiades to Peels' outstanding "Ichabod's Old Fashioned," made with homemade pumpkin bitters & maple syrup, here's a few of the hottest winter cocktails this season... 

Peels Restaurant
Address: 235 Bowery New York, NY 10003
Phone: (646) 602-7015
Website: http://peelsnyc.com/
 Peels specializes in southern comfort foods, like fresh baked biscuits and gravy, but we're just as excited to discover a soothing hot cocktail to settle into after work hours.  The cocktail chefs here have come up with a terrific spiced apple cider, dubbed "The Switchel", composed of dark rum, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and molasses.  If that's not your calling your name, they've also created "Ichabod's Old Fashioned", a unique riff on this classic, made with homemade pumpkin bitters, bourbon, rum, and maple syrup. 

Café Orlin
Address: 41 Saint Marks Place New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) - 777-1447
Website: www.cafeorlin.com
Cafe Orlin's menu spans the map, but it's best known for its coffee creations and weekend brunch.  Instead of heading to a bar after work, you might consider heading to this low key, St Mark's spot for Cafe Orlin's Signature Hot Toddy.  We've had our share of spiked, mulled ciders, but what sets this one apart is the bitter-sweet addition of grand Marnier, black tea, spices, and fresh fruit. We're also fans of their "Cadillac Cider", composed of home-pressed apple cider with a splash of brandy and grand Marnier.

Alice's Tea Cup
Address: 102 West 73rd St # 1 New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 799-3006
Website: http://alicesteacup.com/
Think Alice In Wonderland meets British high tea: This whimsical tea parlor takes the pretense out of afternoon tea and beyond. In fact, one of our favorite meals is brunch with everything from cornmeal pancakes to apricot brandy tea-infused french toast. Nevermind the outstanding assortment of fresh baked goods, like classic, buttermilk biscuits and pumpkin-spiced scones.  And let's not neglect the drinks, which include a standout  "Hot Toddy," made with rooibos bourbon tea and cider, or the "Honey Cocoa," a blend of phoenix tea-infused hot chocolate with bourbon.

Union Square Café
Address:  21 E 16th St New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212)-625-2929
Website: unionsquarecafe.com 
After more than two decades, Danny Meyer's flagship continues to hold its own on the dining scene, which means it's still just as hard to get a reservation.  No matter. You can still roll up to the bar for a bite and a glass of wine, or even better, a cocktail.  Our favorite is "The Palmetto", a classic drink created back in the 1930's that's practically made for winter. This old school libation is a unique blend of Venezuelan dark rum, dry Vermouth, aged Sicilian Vermouth, and orange.

Bar Pleiades
Address: 20 E. 76th St, Manhattan, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 772-2600
Website: www.danielnyc.com  
If you want a Daniel Boulud-inspired nibble without the commitment of a long, pricey meal, Bar Pleiades is a terrific alternative.  Tucked inside the Surrey Hotel right next to Cafe Boulud, this elegant, Upper East Sider offers everything from beef sliders to tart flambé, but the biggest draw can be found on the cocktail menu.  There are several inspired drinks, including the Applejack Smash, composed of maple syrup, lemon and mint or hot buttered mescal with mole bitters, hot water & butter.

Community Food and Juice Restaurant
Address:  2983 Broadway New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 665-2800
Website: www.communityrestaurant.com 
This Morningside Heights restaurant prides itself on being a neighborhood joint -- part diner, part pub with everything from a biscuit sandwich and banana walnut pancakes at breakfast to roasted duck breast or homemade ravioli.  Where drinks are concerned, the menu features from scratch hot chocolate, warm cider with lemon, mint & honey.  For something that will take the edge off, try Community's  'hot buttered cider,' composed of organic apple cider, warm maple butter, cinnamon, and gold rum, or Irish coffee with whiskey.
 
The Dove Parlour
Address: 228 Thompson Street New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 254-1435
Website: hwww.thedoveparlour.com/  
This Greenwich Village bar has earned praise for its romantic setting and classic cocktails.  This season, The Dove Parlour is offering several wintry libations, includiing warm mulled red wine. Or you can also get cozy with their Honey Dove made with cognac, honey and organic soy milk or Spiced Peach Cobbler, a blend of peach vodka, honey and vanilla soy milk.

Noodles mean different things to different people.  For some, a deep bowl of ramen topped with a hard-boiled egg and pork belly comes to mind.   For others, it's a bowl of homemade fettuccine in brown butter sauce. Whether you like your noodles hand-pulled or knife-cut, hot or cold, wheat, rice or buckwheat,  there's oodles of fantastic noodle dishes to discover this winter.  (Though you want to stick with the warm versions until spring rolls back around.)   From Zabb Elee's Thai spicy and sour Thai noodle soup to Viennese spaetzle at Café Sabarsky, to soba done right at Cocoron, noodles are our latest wintertime delight.

Zabb Elee - Spicy-Sour Noodle Soup
Address: 75 2nd Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets
Phone: (212) 505-9533
Website: zabbelee.com
"Authentic" pad thai? Yawn. Menus touting great pad thai seem to pile up like junk mail around our apartments, along with fusion joints with a cross selection of Thai and Chinese. So it was refreshing to stumble upon a Thai restaurant that doesn't even have pad thai or curry in its line-up. Drawing heavily on influences of Northern Thailand, the menu at Zabb Elee features traditional Isaan cooking and fiery Laotian flavors. For noodles with a kick, try the Yen Ta Fo, a massive bowl of soup (easily enough for two or three to share), brimming with a spicy-sour broth, fried tofu, fish ball, squid, and noodles, of course.

Max Soha - Linguini Del Pescatore
Address: 1262 Amsterdam Ave. at 123rd Street
Phone: (212) 531-2221
Website: maxsoha.com
Pasta comes in all shapes, sizes, and even colors. Bow tie, elbow, straight, twisted, white, red, black... we love them all.  But what we really crave when winter strikes is a freshly kneaded noodles in tomato sauce.  Which is why Max Soha, a cozy, family-owned Italian spot in Morningside Heights is making our noteworthy noodle line-up.     Or more specifically,  their linguini del pescatore. The black ink-stained noodles are made in-house, cooked to a perfect al dente, and tossed with shrimp, crab and a spicy tomato sauce. providing a chewy resistance that's perfectly complemented by the kick of the spicy tomato sauce.  If that's not your style, they also serve homemade fettuccine in meat ragu and homemade lasagna.

Momofuku Noodle Bar - Ramen
Address: 171 1st Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets
Phone: (212) 500-0831
Website: www.momofuku.com
Sure we've heard rave upon rave about David Chang's restaurants, and while we're reluctant to jump on the bandwagon, we can't help but jump on the bandwagon where late-night noodle are concerned.  Next time, hunger strikes at one in the morning on Friday or Saturday night, skip the slice or street food and head to Momofuku Noodle Bar for their late-night menu, which includes a heaping bowl of ramen or ginger scallion noodles.

S'Mac - Macaroni & Cheese Sampler
Address: 345 E. 12th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues (multiple locations)
Phone: (212) 358-7912
Website: www.smacnyc.com
Cheesy noodles are a guilty pleasure learned early on in childhood and one we rarely grow out of.  Usually, you have to know where to find them or seek them out, that is, until S'Mac opened in the East Village.  This place wheels and deals in piping-hot skillets piled with macaroni and cheese.  It's not quite as simple as that.  The elbow macaroni noodles come in regular white, multi-grain, or even gluten free macaroni and come smothered all sorts of ways.  Case in point: 'The Parisienne' with creamy Brie, roasted figs, roasted shitake, and fresh rosemary or the Alpine,' mingled with Gruyere and bacon. Perhaps our favorite option is the S'Mac sampler, a taste of all the favorites including the parisienne, all-American, 4-cheese, cheeseburger, la mancha, Cajun, napoletena, and alpine.

Cocoron - Soba
Address: 61 Delancey Street between Allen and Eldridge Streets
Phone: (212) 925-5220
Website: cocoron-soba.com
What about the oft-overlooked cousin to ramen, soba?  We actually prefer the texture and flavor of these earthy buckwheat noodles over ramen and thanks to Cocoron there's a lot more ways to get it.  This teeny gem on the Lower East Side makes some of the best homemade tofu and soba in the city.  In fact, there's over twenty soba dishes on the menu, served hot or cold, with a delicious spectrum of proteins, sauces and seasonings.   Though it's technically winter, we still suggest cold soba to experience the rustic quality of the noodle.  Besides, it comes with a hot bowl of healthful soba broth to slurp after you're done.

Sentosa
Address: 39-07 Prince Street (Flushing)
Phone: (718) 886-6331
Website: www.sentosausa.com
While you're in Flushing, stop at Sentosa, too, for a helping of Malaysian noodle soup at this standout spot that's been praised by New York Magazine. There's a few to sample on the menu, notably the fish head rice noodle soup with salted cabbage, or the asam laksa, a spicy and sour rice noodle soup with lemon grass broth. For fried noodles, order the hokkien mee - thick, yellow noodles tossed with shrimp, pork, chicken, squid, vegetables and a dark soy sauce.

Danji - Whelk Salad with Buckwheat Noodles
Address: 346 W. 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues
Phone: (212) 586-2880
Website: www.danjinyc.com
If you haven't been to Hell Kitchen's best newcomer, you'd be wise to schedule a visit asap.  It's not often a restaurant like Danji comes along, managing modern Korean while still preserving the traditional Korean flavors it's born from.  The menu's focus is Korean tapas, like a trio of kimchi, bulgogi sliders or steak tartare.  But Danji also produces two noodle dishes that caught our attention. The first is a spicy whelk salad with buckwheat noodles. For those of you not familiar with whelk, it's sea snail, and prepared correctly, it happens to be delicious. The earthiness of the cold, buckwheat noodles is a perfect match for the spiciness and chewy texture of the whelk.  If you don't mind double dipping in one sitting, try the stir-fried vermicelli with beef and wondrously crunchy vegetables.

SD26 - Chestnut Fettuccine With Wild Boar Salami
Address: 19 E. 27th Street between Madison and 5th Avenues
Phone: (212) 265-5959
Website: sd26ny.com
They may have moved downtown, but they're still just as good at turning out old world pasta that tastes like it was made by someone's Italian grandma.   Our favorite primi on SD26's menu this winter is an appropriately seasonal chestnut fettuccini, mingled with wild boar salami and dried cranberries.  If you prefer linguini, the kitchen also produces a terrific linguine di gragnano with clams, grape tomatoes, and smoked with applewood.

Lanzhou Handmade Noodle - Beef Noodle Soup
Address: 41-28 Main Street (Golden Mall Food Court - downtown Flushing)
We don't give the ethnic food in Queens a shout-out often enough, and the noodles at Lanzhou are the perfect excuse. First, there's the atmosphere. Though you're essentially eating in a food court, the scene is reminiscent of a mom-and-pop food stall in China, and more importantly, the noodles are hand-made on the spot right in front of you. Order a bowl of the beef noodle soup with a deeply flavorful broth along with tender slices of beef.  Add in a little chili sauce and pickled veggies and you're good to go.

RG Writer: Ali Baker

The holidays have officially come and gone, and as much as we love all of the festivities and food, we're ready to come up for air.  Just because we need a break from the holiday excess doesn't mean we plan on staying in - and you shouldn't have to either! There are plenty of ways to make the most of New York's dining scene, while still sticking to healthful New Year's resolutions.  There's a host of talented chefs all over town, serving imaginative dishes that will fill you up without filling you out.  (We couldn't resist the pun.)  

You can still sample newcomers, like the Meatpacking's new, tri-level seafood spot, Catch or Japanese home cooking at Family Recipe on the Lower East Side. There's the all-vegetable menu at Le Verdure in Eataly or buckwheat noodles and much more.  Here's to a happy - and healthy - New Year and here's a few great restaurants to eat by in 2012.

Family Recipe
Address: 231 Eldrige St., at Stanton St.
Phone: (212) 529-3133
Website: familyrecipeny.com
Though chef-owner Akiko Thurnauer grew up in Tokyo in a foodie family, her tastes were heavily influenced by her father's travels around the world and the ingredients he brought back from those trips. At Family Recipe, she blends her Japanese upbringing with international inspirations to create a truly distinct menu all her own. Think Japanese home cooking with an eclectic edge and you get sake-steamed mussels, homemade seasonal pickles and black sesame and walnut tofu. And that's just for starters.  There's Brussels sprouts with capers, shallots, miso and pine nuts, or oyster salad with mizuna and pink peppercorn vinaigrette, The menu changes regularly, but you can count on healthful finds that put a new spin on Japanese fare.

Catch
Address: 21 9th Ave., at 13th Street
Phone: (212) 392-5978
Website: emmgroupinc.com
This recent newcomer to the Meatpacking District, Catch is the latest venture from the guys that brought us Abe & Arthur's and Tenjune. And with Top Chef winner Hung Hyunh in the kitchen, the food is as good as the scene. We were impressed by the Dungeness crab spaghetti with tomato and flying fish roe, but there's much more to explore on this Mediterranean and Asian-inspired seafood menu. The raw bar
includes a bounty of choices, from oysters, clams and peekytoe crab, to sushi and sashimi, as well as a selection of tartare and carpaccio. There's a standout salmon belly carpaccio with watercress, sweet and sour onion, and yuzu, or hamachi tartare with pear and avocado. If you're craving something warm and a little more filling, try the herb-roasted branzino or head to the "Simply Cooked" section of the menu with an array of grilled fish, including sole, salmon, or shrimp.

The Fat Radish
Address: 17 Orchard St., near Canal St.
Phone: (212) 300-4053
Website: thefatradishnyc.com
From the looks of it, you'd never know this chic, Lower East Side gastropub specializes in healthful cooking.  And while you wouldn't typically associate British pub grub with light fare, The Fat Radish's menu is the delicious exception to that rule.  That's because Silkstone, a catering and event company, and chef Ben Towill apply their healthy and sustainable food philosophy to the British classics they grew up eating.  Vegetables shine thanks to simple preparations and bold flavors, like an appetizer of beet crumble with goat's cheese, Swiss chard, hazelnuts and oats, or roasted cauliflower with castelvetrano olives, almonds and raisins. Follow one of those up with the Montauk diver scallops accompanied by a golden beet and sweet potato mash and chinese broccoli, or the heritage pork loin (decidedly lean) with greenmarket cabbages and prune gravy. They even grow some of its produce in the rooftop garden, giving new meaning to "local" food.

Pure Food & Wine
Address: 54 Irving Place, btw. 17th Street & 18th Sts.
Phone: (212) 477-1010
Website: www.oneluckyduck.com
While we usually aren't proponents of raw food, cleanses, juicing and the like, we take exception at Pure Food and Wine.  This chic Gramercy spot offers inventive raw fare. which translates to nothing heated above 118 degrees. The kitchen's inventive use of ingredients and techniques make for a menu that sounds anything but bland, like hazelnut crostini with crimini mushroom and capers bearnaise or mushroom scallops in a lemongrass coconut broth.  Craving lasagna sans the carbs, they've got a pasta-free version, layered with zucchini, tomatoes and pistachio pesto.  And since there's no reason to skip dessert here, go for the apple tart tatin or the salted chocolate caramel tart.

Rouge Tomate
Address: 10 East 60th St., btw Madison & Fifth Aves.
Phone: (646) 237-8977
Website: rougetomatenyc.com
Sanitas Per Escam, otherwise known as SPE or Health Through Food, is the culinary philosophy behind Rouge Tomate.  While that sounds academic and unexciting, it's thankfully far from it thanks to Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Bearman and in-house nutritionist, Kristy Lambrou.  They've design a menu that feature the best of seasonal ingredients, prepared in ways that maximize their nutritional benefits and their flavor. Even the cocktails, which feature fresh fruit juices and minimal sugars, stay true to the restaurant's mission, so drink up.  As for the winter menu, there's brussels sprouts with roasted pear, La Quercia prosciutto, and hazelnuts, Alaskan spot prawn agnolotti in a ginger-lemongrass consomme, or wild striped bass a la plancha with French lentils, parsnip, spinach, pomegranate, and pumpkin seed vinaigrette.  And those are just a peek at the a la carte dishes! Rouge Tomate also boasts a six-course tasting menu for indulging without blowing your caloric budget.
 

Le Verdure at Eataly
Address: 200 5th Ave., near 23rd St.
Phone: (212) 229-2560
Website: eatalyny.com/eat/le-verdure
Vegetables take centerstage at Le Verdure, one of several eateries tucked inside Eataly.  The menu is built around seasonal and local produce, and the result is tons of texture and flavor.  Take for instance, the verdure alla piastra, a plate of warm grilled vegetables over a faro salad, healthy comfort food to cushion the cold.  Or start with the pinzimonio, a salad of crisp, fresh raw vegetables with a lemon citronette, and work your way into one of the chef's specials, which are updated daily, but typically include a soup du jour and several types of bruschetta.  When you think of Eataly and all things Italian, you might immediately think of La Pizza, La Pasta, or La Piazza (charcuterie and cheese), but Le Verdure is definitely worth a visit.

Soba Nippon
Address: 19 West 52nd St., near 5th Ave.
Phone: (212) 489-2525
Website: sobanippon.com
As the name implies, Japanese soba, or buckwheat noodles, are the specialty here and this midtown spot serves some of the best in the city.  Soba Nippon makes their noodles in house with buckwheat sourced from the restaurant's own farm in Canada.  Their made in the "ni-hachi" style, which means the noodles are 80 percent buckwheat flour and 20 percent wheat flour. Among other health benefits, soba is much higher in protein than wheat or white flour noodles.   More importantly, soba is deliciously versatile as it can be served both hot and cold in soups, salads or heartier dishes.   One of our favorite ways to eat soba here is an order of cold soba with grated daikon radish, or with tororo, grated mountain yam.  Seeing as it's the middle of winter, we prefer hot soba served in soups with anything from shrimp tempura to duck breast or curried broth with pork and onions.  Soba Nippon serves lots of noodle-free dishes, including sushi and sashimi, which are also good, but we believe in concentrating your efforts on the main attraction.   

The Green Table
Address: Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave., near 16th St.
Phone: (212) 741-6623
Website: cleaverco.com
 The Green Table is brought to us by the people behind The Cleaver Co., a  30-year-old catering company that has been sourcing from local family farms and promoting sustainability long before it was status quo.  At this Chelsea Market restaurant and wine bar, the guiding principles are the same, which means the seasonal menu is complemented by a list of organic and biodynamic wines and beers. It's a great spot to grab a drink and a couple of small plates, like ceviche, vegetable credit with housemade dips, or roasted beets with fennel and ricotta salata. Or you can stay for dinner and settle into their pan-seared snapper with a green pistou.   

ABC Kitchen
Address: ABC Carpet & Home, 35 East 18th St., near Broadway
Phone: (212) 475-5829
Website: abckitchennyc.com
ABC Kitchen has a commitment to sustainability that goes far beyond the food. The chic dining room is furbished with reclaimed wood tables and a host of other recycled materials, courtesy of ABC Home (of course). But with chef Daniel Kluger in the kitchen, our focus remains squarely on the food, which features the best of the Union Square Greenmarket.  We recommend starting with their signature, roasted beets accompanied by a housemade yogurt as well as the ginger and mint-marinated tuna sashimi.  Follow those up with the steamed salmon salad or one of our favorites, the wood oven roasted lobster with oregano and lemon-chili vinaigrette.  No need to skip dessert when you can finish with fresh strawberries and juice with mint.  ABC Kitchen didn't win the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant 2011 for nothing.