Andrew Carmellini, the brain behind blockbusters like the
Dutch,
Bar Primi and
Locanda Verde, is putting his locavore lens on zoom for his seventh venture, sourcing produce from the city’s green markets, seafood from nearby fishmongers and meat from upstate purveyors. But he’s not jumping on the kale craze (the hyped green shows up only–and subtly–in ricotta-stuffed
agnolotti). Instead, he spends time elsewhere: charring and slow-roasting sunchokes over embers, dressing them with hazelnut vinaigrette and pickling Concord grapes to slather over the duck breast he dry-ages for two weeks. The remainder of his menu reads like a map, pinpointing baby chickens from Pennsylvania, striped bass from Montauk and fresh lobster from Maine. Even the restaurant’s name expresses love for local flavor. “At the corner of Chambers and West Broadway is one of my favorite spots in Tribeca,” Carmellini says. “It’s the little park across the street.”
85 West Broadway at Chambers St (212-220-4110, littlepark.com)