Flexitarian
My SoHo isn’t one of designer boutiques and hoards of tourists squeezing into shops along Broadway. The neighborhood I call home is just west of all this chaos, in a leafy area that was once full of Italian immigrants. If you look closely, remnants of this Italian past remain, in the bakeries, butcher shops, and elderly residents speaking their native tongue.
The neighborhood is also full of restaurants, markets, and specialty shops that I think any Clean Plates reader would appreciate. Here are five of my favorite spots in SoHo, from brunch spots to smoothie joints.
1. Aurora
510 Broome Street (near West Broadway)
It’s easy to overlook Aurora, an Italian restaurant and wine bar on Broome Street, practically in the mouth of the Holland Tunnel. But once you’re past the door and settled into the exposed brick dining room in the back, all this noise disappears. Aurora offers a brunch special, but skip it — here, it’s the Italian dishes that really shine. All the pastas are made fresh on-site with organic eggs. My favorite is the wide cut spinach pappardelle.
2. Sunrise Mart
494 Broome Street (near West Broadway)
Just across West Broadway, also on Broome, is Sunrise Mart. Inside the unassuming entrance is a well-stocked Japanese grocery store with a small eat-in space to boot. Fresh produce is displayed near piles of affordable Japanese buckwheat noodles and Asian fruits. For a quick (and inexpensive) bite, Sunrise Mart also offers soups, soba noodle dishes, and Bento boxes.
3. Hundred Acres
38 MacDougal Street (between Prince and Houston)
Make reservations for weekend brunch you’ll discover a neighborhood addiction. Meals here are a lazy, slow affair, whether you’re seated next to French doors overlooking MacDougal Street or in the sunny, covered garden space out back. The brunch menu features a long list of dishes to share – both sweet and savory – before tucking into creative mains; my favorite is the goat cheese-thyme bread pudding with spinach salad and poached eggs.
4. Organic Avenue
156 Sullivan Street (between W. Houston and Prince)
Located just south of West Houston on one of the prettiest blocks in Soho, Organic Avenue is a little shop that can fulfill many cravings. Juices include Veggie Vibrance, an option packed with beets, carrots, swiss chard, lemon, ginger, and parsley. In the smoothie department, one of my favorites is the Green Monkey, full of banana and kale. You can also snag wraps and salads, and there are benches on the block where you can eat outside on a sunny day.
5. Brinkleys
406 Broome Street (near Centre Street)
A little further afield than the other spots on this list is Brinkleys, a neighborhood pub and kitchen with great music and a friendly staff. This spot is just as welcoming to a single person with a grass-fed burger craving as big groups looking to tuck into plates to share, like roasted black garlic hummus with grilled pita bread. After a work day, the half roasted organic chicken or mission fig, spinach, and mozzarella salad are intensely satisfying. Brunch here is great, too.
Want to share five favorite spots in your neighborhood? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at info at cleanplates dot com.
Photo of author Jessica Colley in her SoHo neighborhood courtesy of the author. Photos of Aurora and Hundred Acres courtesy of ZagatBuzz on Flickr. Sushi photo courtesy of Flickr user Robyn Lee, Organic Avenue photo by Flickr user Michelle Ramos and Brinkley’s photo courtesy of Brinkley’s.
