"Being seated at one of the rich red leather banquettes inside the Waverly Inn feels like you’ve gained entry to a secret club, even if the only actual criterion for admission was keeping the notification settings for your reservation app on point. This timeless yet trendy restaurant, cozied up inside a landmark West Village townhouse, is a modern NYC classic, with solid food and an unbeatable atmosphere. Dating back to the 1920s, the restaurant—originally known as Ye Waverly Inn & Garden—reopened in 2006 and assumed a new identity as an exclusive celebrity hangout, drawing big names like Fran Lebowitz, Robert De Niro, and Taylor Swift. What was once a nightly fire-hydrant blast of famous guests may have waned to steady drip over the last two decades, but the Waverly Inn still maintains a discreet no-photographs policy (which is, in our experience, intermittently and unpredictably enforced). photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee The ivy-covered back patio here is beautiful, but the best seats in the house are those that maximize your view of the Edward Sorel mural of Village personalities that stretches along a full wall of the candlelit, low-ceilinged dining room. With any luck, you’ll also find yourself peering over your burger at a very Manhattan character, someone you’re sure you know from somewhere—actor? Broadway producer? hotshot literary agent?—who looks like he could be one of the mural’s caricatures come to life. Food Rundown photo credit: David A. Lee Biscuits The best part of any meal at the Waverly Inn arrives at your table unprompted, and better yet, for free. These soft, moist biscuits are delicious on their own, but even better with a slathering of whipped honey butter. photo credit: David A. Lee Baby Beets & Ricotta These multicolor, jewel-like beets are nearly as sweet as the candied walnuts they’re served with, not to mention juicy and fragrant. Truffle Mac & Cheese While technically a special, this macaroni and cheese, with black truffles shaved onto it tableside, has nevertheless been a Waverly Inn staple for quite some time. Maybe the reason it doesn’t appear on the printed menu is so that the restaurant can maintain plausible deniability about its price—last we checked, it’ll cost you $100. This dish has a devoted following, but we’d skip it. The shavings themselves don’t have much flavor, and there’s an off-putting truffle oil note to the sauce itself. photo credit: David A. Lee The Waverly Cheeseburger The thick, juicy burger is a very solid choice. We especially like the crunchy golden french fries. photo credit: David A. Lee Waverly Chicken Pot Pie This peppery, comforting pot pie tastes like home cooking, and—served in period-appropriate cast iron—probably wouldn’t have felt out of place at the original Ye Waverly Inn. Onion Rings Large, puffy, and golden, with a spicy aioli on the side. Get them." - Molly Fitzpatrick
