In the territory immediately surrounding NYU, and therefore Washington Square Park, fine dining isn't always the first thing to come to mind. Instead, there's Mamoun's for late-night falafel, the Dosa Man, or the Dessert Truck – great for meals on the cheap and meals on the go. But on nights when you feel like you deserve a glass of wine with dinner, have a downtown date, or just crave a real sit-down meal, the Washington Square Hotel's North Square Restaurant (formerly C3) is a another subterranean option that'll dig slightly deeper into your wallet, but is well worth the price. In the L-shaped dining room on the corner of Waverly and MacDougal, the art deco-meets-contemporary furnishings set the right tone for some fancied up home-cookin'.
On a recent night, Gothamist started with two fantastic salads: the baby arugula salad with dried figs, pistachios, grilled onions, manchego cheese, and a deliciously sweet and pungent honey and cumin vinaigrette. The beet and goat cheese salad (in most places too beet-heavy), was lightened up with baby lettuce, fennel, and a horseradish vinaigrette. A braised lamb tart was full of tender spiced meat and encased in a savory herbacious pastry ring.
The list of entrees features many restaurants' oft-featured favorites, like roast chicken, braised short ribs, and hangar steak. However, North Square's stand out because of their accouterments, like the glazed sugary apples that accompanied our crispy duck breast, or the buttery cauliflower mash and and sauteed mushrooms that stood in for more expected mashed potatoes under the seared artic char. Entrees boldly use spice rubs, mix savories with sweets, and serve colorful, flavorful dishes with thoughtful presentation.
North Square restaurant is also open for afternoon tea (3-5 p.m.), brunch, and lunch, and is located at 103 Waverly Place, 212-254-1200.
