Esther & Carol (CLOSED)

A little rock & roll comes to Nolita courtesy of this multiconcept eatery from Kevin King (Balthazar) and Cordell Lochin (La Esquina). The 80-seat space is split three ways: an Art Deco–inspired American bistro, a takeout burger window and a music-focused basement lounge. The restaurant serves upscale comfort foods like grilled ribeye with whipped potatoes and chicken noodle soup with spring onion, while the burger window purveys grass-fed patties and dairy-free milk shakes. The downstairs lounge is decorated like a defunct recording studio; guests can enjoy drinks surrounded by Gibson instruments, video recording gear and images of iconic musicians like Prince.