On this edition of SN Eats, we’ve rounded up the tastiest, female-founded NYC foodie spots serving up the best plates the city has to offer. Whether you’re in the market for a new weekend brunch hangout, an intimate date night spot, or a grab-and-go joint, you’ve come to the right place. Name a better way to kick off Women’s History Month.
Located on Great Jones Street in NoHo, Vic’s is the perfect spot to keep in your back pocket for locally sourced Italian-Mediterranean cuisine. Victoria Freeman re-imagined the former Five Points space, turning it into an entirely new establishment—think Italian dishes, delicious cocktails, and house-made limoncello in spacious, low-key digs. If homemade pasta, pizzas, and spritzes aren't calling your name, Freeman's other restaurants, Rosie’s and Shuka deserve your attention.
Consider your weekend brunch reserved! Founded by Heather Tierney, the restaurant-cafe-juice bar concept first opened up shop in 2012, and has since become a cult-favorite for foodies, celebs, and Manhattan passers-by alike. Her vision? An uber-chic, make-you-want-to-hang herbal escape where people could gather over coffee, work on their laptops, and nourish their bodies. Though the menu changes day by day—of course, to ensure that produce is freshly-plucked and always in season—one thing is always guaranteed: a wholesome meal made with local ingredients, and an inviting atmosphere to enjoy it in. As far as favorite dishes go, well… the whole menu. See you at The Butcher's Daughter!
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it probably is. Though its coordinates are on NoHo’s southern border, Fish Cheeks has garnered a presence across the city and beyond, thanks to a long list of savory collaborations. There’s a reason founder Jennifer Saesue has amassed a hungry following, and it’s all thanks to her remarkably simple approach—contemporary Thai cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. Her other secret? Redefining the conventional Thai-American menu, and with much more than variations of Pad Thai to offer. We’re talking shallots and Nam Jim-topped oysters, banana leaf-wrapped curried filet, refreshing corn salad, and zesty specialty cocktails. A whirlwind of flavor with every spoonful!
Did someone say bottomless boozy brunch?? Count us in! Famed for chef-founder Barbara Sibley’s take on Mexican-inspired street food cuisine, La Palapa specializes in all things tacos and margs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and, of course, a bottomless brunch option on weekends. Perhaps you opt for a mimosa with your breakfast taco, or a spicy margarita with your guac and enchiladas. Whichever you prefer, La Palapa has it ready to serve. The best news? Locations are dotted across the city, including Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, and its East Village flagship.
Located on NoHo’s Bleecker Street, Bessou is Maiko Kyogoku’s stylishly modern take on Japanese comfort food—and it’s even more delicious than it sounds. When it comes to food, Kyogoku doesn’t mess around, enlisting only responsibly sourced ingredients and changing the menu according to what’s in season. Favorite dishes tend to include braised pork belly, miso wrapped in shiso leaves, Japanese curry shakshuka, and literally everything else the menu has to offer. The coziness isn’t just a taste on a plate—it’s a feeling provoked by dim lighting, light-washed wood, soft blue tones, and a sole brick wall that makes you feel like you could stay awhile.
Shuka founder Ayesha Nurdjaja knows a thing or two about fine cuisine, and her Mediterranean-inspired SoHo outpost is proof. Located on MacDougal Street, Shuka is a go-to for specialty cocktails, exquisite Mediterranean plates, and a cozy, farmhouse-reminiscent atmosphere. Local, seasonal ingredients and exotic flavors decorate the menu, while warm lighting, mosaic tiles and oversized photographs furnish the space. Whether you’re meeting a date at the bar or passing around starters with your girlfriends, Shuka will prove to be a chart-topper sip after sip, bite after bite.
