Best Vegetables - Best of New York Food 2011 -- New York Magazine

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Plants Matter

The best of this year’s vegivore bounty.



Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Beets

  • Russ & Daughters

    179 E. Houston St., nr. Orchard St. 212-475-4880

    To the juices that remain after pickling beets for a salad, add fresh lemon, a pinch of sugar, et voilà, one beet-lemon shrub�the vaguely vinegary, wholly refreshing revival of a Colonial-era tonic.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Broccoli

  • Sorella

    95 Allen St., nr. Delancey St. 212-274-9595

    Does tempura-frying broccoli and dousing it in hot-pickled-pepper aïoli and Grana Padano diminish its nutritive value? Does it matter?


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Brussels Sprouts

  • Carmine Club Cafe

    41-43 Carmine St., nr. Bedford St. 212-933-0527

    More ammunition against the anti-sprout camp, these are flash-fried and aggressively seasoned with Old Bay and citrus.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Carrots

  • Dirt Candy

    430 E. 9th St., nr. Ave. A; 212-228-7732

    The vegetarian answer to Momofuku pork buns: dough tinted with carrot juice, a barbecued-carrot filling, and a carrot-hoisin dipping sauce.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Cauliflower

  • Torrisi Italian Specialties

    250 Mulberry St., nr. Prince St. 212-965-0955

    What distinguishes this version from all others? The chefs’ insistence on the lowbrow garnish of their youth: Progresso bread crumbs.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Escarole

  • Porsena

    21 E. 7th St., nr. Cooper Sq.; 212-228-4923

    A salad with oomph: wilted bitter leaves strewn with anchovy-infused croutons, and a dressing that pulls no punches.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Kale

  • Birdbath

    160 Prince St., nr. Thompson St. 212-612-3066

    A shredded-kale salad that stands out in an increasingly crowded field, thanks to rich additions like toasted hazelnuts and Grana Padano.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Salsify

  • Buvette

    42 Grove St., nr. Bleecker St. 212-255-3590

    The only thing better than slow-poaching salsify batons in red wine and honey, it appears, is encasing them in parchment with a cache of Roquefort cheese.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Squash

  • ABC Kitchen

    35 E. 18th St., nr. Broadway 212-475-5829

    As befits a seasonal menu, dishes here come and go. But the deep-fried delicata rings, showered with goat cheese and maple syrup, better come back soon.


Illustration by Kagan McLeod  
  • Turnip

  • Dovetail

    103 W. 77th St., nr. Columbus Ave. 212-362-3800

    An unlikely star on the �Monday Veg� menu, the turnip seviche is �cured� with lime, then artfully combined with quinoa, pearl onions, and jícama.

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