NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

“I wanted to cook for my neighbors,” penned Gabrielle Hamilton in 1999, in an essay for Food and Wine Magazine, about her decision to open Prune. For the last decade, Ms. Hamilton has cooked for the likes of her neighbors, celebrities and world travelers, winning her the James Beard award for Best Chef: New York City in 2011. Her tiny, homespun restaurant, located in the East Village, serves eclectic New American cuisine like fried sweetbreads, lamb loin chops, and whole grilled branzino and swordfish. The atmosphere has a New England sophistication with tile floors, wooden table, and white washed walls. The warm staff and cozy ambiance make this the perfect place for a hearty meal on a cold winter day. And brunch is an event all its own: We believe the dutch pancake here is cloud nine, and we’re hopelessly devoted to their entire menu of variations on Bloody Marys, with surprises like pickled eggs and beef jerky swizzlers.