Greenwich Village

Nothing gimmicky here, just well-executed steakhouse classics. The West Village’s 4 Charles is a lamb-chop, brick-chicken, little-gem place. (It’s the signature of Brendan Sodikoff, the guy responsible for Chicago’s steakhouse renaissance.) Like its predecessors Au Cheval and Gilt Bar, 4 Charles is old-school, complete with wood-paneled walls and tufted-leather booths. Get the burger, and you’ll be chasing that high forever.

PopUp’s bagels are worth the hype. They’re incredible right out of the oven—which, since they churn out fresh bagels all day, they always are. Their “rip and dip” cream cheese method is inconvenient if you’re on the go, but perhaps you’ll take it as an invitation to sit and savor breakfast.

Ok, yes, you might take one look at the line at All’antico Vinaio and swear off the whole endeavor. But get in that line, and you’ll (eventually) walk away with one of the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. This family-owned shop started in Florence in 1991 and landed stateside a few years ago; people keep coming for its just-baked schiacciata bread, Florentine salami, and friendly service. Could the sandwiches be a little more loaded? Sure. But it’s still the best Italian sandwich you’ll get just about anywhere.

Nami Nori get the takeout experience right. Each handroll is wrapped carefully for maximum crispiness when you finally dive in at home. (The website even has a how-to-unwrap-your-temaki animation.) And it’s affordable. Temaki runs $6 or $7 a roll, while a signature meal will set you back $28 (the spicy sea bass is incredible, as is the thoughtful vegan set). This is definitely the spot to indulge in a few apps—the clam and miso soup, crispy calamari, and Japanese potato salad are all stellar.

232 Bleecker isn’t married to any particular cuisine. Instead, the menu is a mashup of all the flavors and dishes that taste just as good at home. The pork meatball sandwich, squash hummus with crunchy veggies, and chopped kale salad are easy, portable winners for lunch. When it comes to dinner, shrimp tempura, gnocchi with smoked ricotta, and a glass (or bottle to share) from the impressive list never disappoints.

Le Dû’s Wines in the West Village is offering free shipping in the Tri-State area, which we’re interpreting as an invitation to splurge. Le Dû’s aims to make the often-daunting world of good wine more accessible, and its informative site reflects that credo. If you’re lost on where to begin, scroll down to the bestsellers and follow the pack. Otherwise, enjoy loading your cart with Chenin blanc and Provençal rosé for the hot summer days ahead.

We have spent many an evening trying to wrangle a reservation at any of Dan Barber’s three Blue Hill restaurants. Now the Barber family has reimagined the dining experience with six to-go boxes, available for pick-up from both the Pocantico Hills and NYC locations. The Restaurant contains all the components of a flawless Blue Hill–style meal in a box, like dairy, meat, grains, freshly milled flatbread, fermented veggies, and eggs. The Pork and Beef Boxes are made for the devoted carnivore, and the Bread Box is like bringing a fragrant bakery into your home kitchen. Reserve your box online here, where you can also purchase boxes the restaurant has prepared to donate to community hospitals and their teams. Image courtesy of Annabel Braithwait.

Healthy living company Bonberi.com recently broke ground on their version of a New York City bodega.

With a dedication to holistically supporting individuals and communities in under-resourced, low- and middle-income countries, St. Frank is a luxury brand grounded in its ethics. The brand’s Greenwich Village location is full of beautifully handcrafted goods from around the globe, all sustainably sourced. Choose between pillows made from Mud cloth, colorful West African textiles, and Juju hats from Cameroon. A close second to its overall mission, is the fact that the store itself is, in a word: beautiful.

Broth really is one of the great culinary elixirs—how can something so simple and pure be so incredibly flavorful and essential? While bone broth is nothing new—many cultures from the Japanese to the Irish have been consuming it for centuries—the best broth is simmered for a good eighteen hours to release the collagen, glutamine, and minerals from the bones. Brodo (Italian for broth) offers the full spectrum of broths from spicy to almost sweet—try chicken, beef, or vegetable-based (seaweed and mushroom) broth and then spike the soup with add-ins like roasted-garlic purée, chili, turmeric, pickles, even butter. We're especially partial to the Tom Yum (chicken, chili oil, lime, curry, and coconut milk) when feeling under the weather. For even the laziest home cooks, a pro-tip is to buy a jar, throw in some shredded chicken, and some vegetables for a hearty soup, or add a ladle or three to pasta or grains for a delicious and truly nourishing meal.