Tartine

"This small French restaurant in the West Village is the kind of place where you’ll probably end up talking to the people at the table next to you once you get tired of “catching up” with your friends. It’s a warm and friendly environment, sort life like a diner mixed with a nondescript bistro. The food isn't anything fancy, but you can grab a decent burger, a kale salad, or some chicken paillard. Whatever you wind up eating, order a side of fries." - team infatuation

"There’s a pretty good chance that, at some point, you will find yourself walking down Mulberry Street, looking for a dinnertime consolation prize because Parm and Rubirosa are on a two hour wait. When that happens, you’ll likely pass by Tartinery, a shiny looking new restaurant and wine bar just down the block from those places. We are here to ask that, despite the fact that there’s an indoor tree and some hot French people inside, you keep on walking. Not too long ago, we found ourselves in exactly that dinnertime situation, and crammed into the overcrowded bar at Tartinery to try and figure out what the exactly goes on in this crazy place. We had a few glasses of wine and decided that the entire concept appears to be to draw in females with exposed brick and French dudes, and then convince them that open faced sandwiches are the new South Beach Diet. I’ve actually never seen a restaurant more determined to market to women. Not only are there about twenty different types of quaint tartine sandwiches on the menu and lord knows how many organic wines, but there’s also a full slate of fresh juice options, and they play Colbie Callait and the Plain White Tees on repeat because someone definitely told them that American girls love those songs. We made the mistake of going back for brunch recently, and I’m actually shocked that this place doesn’t offer a pilates class. As you might have started to gather, the food at Tartinery isn’t nearly good enough to make you look past the fact that it’s just some dude’s idea of a girl’s ideal restaurant. The space is unappealing, the menu is all over the place, and somehow despite all of that, Tartinery is usually pretty packed -which makes it an even less desirable place to spend your time. If you’re really desperate to stay in Nolita and/or talk to French people, go to Cafe Gitane or Public. Ask nice enough, and those places might even put on your favorite Colbie Callait song, which is hopefully none of them. Food Rundown Rillettes De Canard This is a serviceable jar of duck rillettes with some crusty bread on the side. We certainly weren’t mad about eating it, but this isn’t something you have to order. Croque Monseuir I suppose all of the tartines here are French, but this one might be the Frenchiest. It’s a fine sandwich with chopped ham, gruyere, and a bechamel, but it won’t impress you much either. Saint Marcellin This tartine is thick with Saint Marcellin cheese, and then it’s topped with prosciutto. We had to scrape the superfulous cheese off like we do with an overloaded bagel. No thanks. Brunch Tartine You can customize the brunch tartine by adding smoked salmon, bacon, mushrooms, or tomatoes with the bread and sunny side eggs. It’s fine I guess, but you could also get this for eight bucks with at about ten different places on the Upper East Side, and there it comes with a bucket of mimosas." - Chris Stang

"People who know and love Tartine tend to fall into two categories: people who live nearby, and people who go to BYOB restaurants. This idyllic spot has all of about 15 seats, and has been sitting quietly on one of the best corners in the West Village for decades. Brunch is their most popular meal - to the point that people line up down the street waiting for a table on most fair-weather weekends - but dinner is perpetually crowded too. We’ve always found the food at Tartine to be consistently solid, and even though it’s never quite awe-inspiring, the aesthetic appeal and the value make this a good place to know if you’re in the neighborhood, or just looking to eat well without mortgaging your future. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to have a nice dinner with their favorite bottle of Pinot from the cellar (the fridge). Food Rundown Eggs Norvegienne A staple from the brunch menu that’s basically eggs benedict with gravlax instead of Canadian bacon. It’s tasty. Omelette As you would hope, Tartine does a better than respectable omelette, which you can customize with your choice of fixings. Croque-Monsieur This is our order at Tartine for brunch. They use a homemade brioche, and it’s delicious. Apple Pancake This huge apple pancake is like a plate-sized donut with powdered sugar and probably lard. Ok probably not lard, but this thing can’t be good for you. French Onion Soup One of the best around. We love this, especially when it’s cold out. Curried Mussels The mussels at Tartine come two ways, but to order anything but curry mussels is a huge mistake. These guys swim in a broth of curry, coconut milk, garlic, and cilantro. Fries are included, which makes this a must-order. Spicy Chicken Pretty sure the French didn’t invent guacamole, but this spicy chicken is served with some and it’s really good. Chances are high that you’re gonna see this on the table next to you, which will most likely be exactly two inches away. It’s a fan favorite. Bouchee a la Reine This is basically chicken in a puff pastry with some mushrooms and other good stuff. You won’t be bummed about it. Skate On our last visit, we had an excellent skate from the specials menu, served with some root vegetables. We’d order it again." - Chris Stang

"Tartine in the West Village, used to be bring your own alcohol, but now it's not. It did—and I still think they still do—have that sense of charm where they know you; it's intimate, it's quaint, and it's very tried and true savory plates." - Edward Barsamian

"What is your go-to casual spot? Tartine in the West Village, used to be bring your own alcohol, but now it's not." - Edward Barsamian