Gardenia

The pastel-hued dining room at this West Village restaurant is filled with natural light, thanks to a large skylight in the center of the room. Brunching here will give you the full benefit of the sunny room, but you’ll need to come for dinner to taste the full menu of Latin and Mediterranean fusion dishes. Whet your appetite with the guacamole topped with fresh pomegranate seeds ($14) or the spinach, corn and cheese empanadas ($13). Order a bunch of smaller plates to share, like the burrata salad with roasted root vegetables and beet sauce ($16), tuna steak tacos with truffle mash ($16) and grilled baby octopus with spicy aioli and papas bravas ($17). For heartier fare, try the Catalan paella with shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels and chorizo ($30). Thirsty? Order up a carafe of the Mediterranean sangria with rose and elderflower or a few lavender, cucumber or blood orange margaritas.