This Secret N.Y.C. Restaurant Is Hidden Behind a Bar
Every great city has its secrets, whether it's a secluded street or a private park—and New York is certainly no exception. Tucked away inside the confines of The Garret East, a cocktail bar in the East Village designed to look like the posh apartment of your most eclectic friend, is Dinnertable, a speakeasy Italian-American restaurant helmed by New York Sushi Ko alum Ricardo Arias, a Puerto Rican chef with a penchant for Japanese ingredients.
To get there, head straight to the back of the space, pass through a curtain, flip a switch outside a nondescript wooden door and an attendant clutching a clipboard of reservations will greet you. Once inside, grab a seat at the bar and let Arias regale you with clever tidbits about the artful construction of each dish, which cleverly incorporates both Asian and Caribbean flavors, and prepare yourself for a dining experience you won't soon forget.
WHAT TO EAT
Ask for the chef's choice and let Arias do his thing. Oysters drizzled with yuzu mignonette sauce, baby shrimp wasabi, pickled bluefin tuna, and charred striped bass are among the highlights of the seafood-focused menu. Wash it all down with a glass of wine or a bottled cocktail (ingeniously prepared in advance by The Garret East's bartenders).
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WHEN TO GO
Dinnertable is open for dinner Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and is closed Sunday and Monday save for private dining. Book a table circa 8 p.m. towards the end of the week and wait for the bar to populate as you eat.
WHAT TO WEAR
Dress for a night out: You'll likely want to grab a post-dinner cocktail after your meal.
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Dinnertable, 206 Avenue A, no phone; dinnertable.nyc
