After the runaway success of Craft (see), chef/owner Tom Colicchio’s magnificent temple to the season’s best ingredients, it was only a matter of time before he opened a smaller, more intimate and casual offshoot. Located right next door to its fancier sibling, craftbar is part wine bar, part Italian trattoria, and part American eatery, serving small plates like the signature fried, stuffed sage leaves and crisp fried oysters with preserved lemon, alongside beautiful salads, soups, crusty panini, game, fish, and the most extraordinary veal ricotta meatballs in the country, if not the world. The wine list is extensive, and a meal at the bar is a great way to go if you can’t score a table.

craftbar Information:

• American, Mediterranean menu. Lunch, dinner. Bar. Casual attire.