Oh Otto!

While this is far from my first visit to Otto, as evidenced by the bartender wearing a baseball cap with my company’s name on it, I still feel it is worthy of reflection… so I’ll reflect.

Otto is a Mario Batali (I admit I just “Binged” him to get the correct spelling….) restaurant. I have been to this establishment about a dozen times. I like pizza. The bartender remembers my name. The wine is good. And heck, they give you an endless supply of free bread sticks…. what else does a single diner need?

The restaurant has a bar area and table service in the back. I have only experienced the bar area alone and I would strongly recommend other single diners do the same. The other part of the restaurant is without question… family zone. However, the bar area is not. Modeled after an Italian train station, the majority of the bar space has high tables with no chairs (and don’t THINK about moving any of the bar stools to the tall tables… you will quickly, but nicely, be told the fire department forbids such decor). The bar is big.  GREAT marble. Comfy. Did I mention the bread sticks?? The menu is all about Italian bar food: pizzas, salami, cheeses, antipasto (pronounced… antiPAst ), and pastas. I can’t really say much about most of the menu items. I order the margherita. That’s right… I have been to this restaurant a dozen times, and a dozen times I have ordered the margherita pizza. So what??? I like it. I’m sure the other items are good… I just can’t personally vouch for them. Hey. I never proclaimed to be a foodie… I claimed to be single.

The trick with Otto is timing. After 8 pm, you’ll wait to get a seat at the bar. Now… I’m not sure if you have ever been to a restaurant by yourself and have to wait for a seat at the bar. It sucks. You start looking at your watch. Then you glance at the door… because of course, you want EVERYONE in the bar to think you are waiting for your date or friend. You look at your phone. Search the web a bit, and if all else fails… play a quick game of bubblebreaker and hope no one sees you. Then just before you are ready to die, the bartender gives you the sign… All is right in the world again. You have your seat, you settle in, and you order… the margherita.

I like Otto. Most folks who are at the bar are nice. Seems to be more New Yorkers than out of towners. A truly amazing wine selection by the bottle and a pretty good wine selection by the glass. So unless you are ready to get plastered on a $200 bottle of Barolo, you’ll have to settle a bit. Did I mention the bread sticks??

The pizzas are a good size. I never finish one. I usually leave 2 – 3 slices. They always ask if you want to wrap it. I always say no. I’m predictable.

All in all, I would give Otto a single’s thumbs up. Get to know the bartenders. Introduce yourself. They like that. Makes the experience much better.

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria

1 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

Phone: 212-995-9559

www.ottopizzeria.com

Primehouse New York

While NYC has more steakhouses than it knows what to do with, Primehouse NY has alot going for it if you are single and like a good meal in a comfortable location. Without question…. THE most comfortable bar seats this butt has encountered in a while. Friendly bartenders. GREAT Mac and Cheese… and let’s be honest, life is just better with great Mac N Cheese. Wine list by the glass could use some originality. Good TV placement so the single handbag (aka BOOK) is not required. A very good brunch which won’t require more than $20 to enjoy. Friendly folks… a Single’s thumbs up!!

Primehouse New York
381 Park Avenue South, New York, NY
212-824-2600

Chikalicious – what NYC is all about

Ok… $20 for dessert and coffee… given our times, that could be a little steep… HOWEVER…. save up folks, it’s worth it!!! Chikalicious is welcoming, built in entertainment at the bar, as you can just sit there, enjoy your dessert and watch them make everyone happy! I had the blueberry sorbet eclair… really – it’s why dessert was invented.  Was fun to go by myself. People were very nice. Across the street is an offshoot and you can grab a cupcake to go! Without question a “Single’s thumbs up!” Well done.

http://www.chikalicious.com/ 10th street btwn 2nd and 1st avenue

Craftbar… Singles step up to this bar!

I have been to Craftbar on multiple occasions. Well done Tom C! You’ve done a tremendous job creating an atmosphere that is fun and entertaining, but doesn’t intimidate the single guest! Great bar… have always been able to score a seat within a few minutes of arriving. Other singles are there eating as well so you don’t feel like an outcast. Good lighting, so if you bring the ever-present single diner version of the baby’s blanket… AKA “reading material”… you can actually read it while you are eating. Food is always good. Bartenders are nice and engaging. One visit was tough as in the corner were two folks who felt it was necessary to assist each other’s food as it went down their throats with each others tongues…. however this clearly over the top PDA was offensive for both singles and couples so can’t blame CB.

All in all, a “Single Knock Out”! Enjoy!!

900 Broadway / http://www.craftrestaurant.com/craftbar.html / 212.461.4300

DBGB – Great food… Not a single friendly bar.

So I tried DBGB this weekend. Still in “previews” but without question ready for primetime. HOWEVER…. MAJOR “single boo boo”… at the bar, they decided to purchase “bar benches for two”. Very cozy if you are with someone… very weird if you are by yourself. Really… they couldn’t spring for some “single seats”?? If I sat at one of the bar benches for two… and someone chose to sit next to me…. PROBLEMO!  Way too close for someone I don’t know. I am now dependent on someone else if I want to move my “bar bench for two”. And if this person becomes a problem… I’m screwed. So… DBGB… GREAT food. GREAT wine/beer list…. but an “Unfriendly” rating…..

299 Bowery (Btwn Houston and 1st Street) / www.dbgb.com / 212.933.5300

Welcome to “Just One”

As a single New Yorker I often reflect on the number of times I walk into a restaurant and say “Just one”. As if my “one”… wasn’t enough. So, being a glass half full kinda person, I figured I would turn a crappy situation into an opportunity and begin this site… “Just One”. If you are single, and are wondering… “where is a good place to go and eat”… this is your blog. If you are wondering where is a good place to go and pretend I am eating so that I can pick up men… this blog isn’t for you.

I like to eat out. This is probably due to the fact that I don’t cook. However, some restaurants don’t understand that single people like to eat out too. I find this odd. Even offensive. So, this blog will help all those single people identify the “single friendly” restaurants in NYC, as well as some of the other cities I travel to. Enjoy!