It is not every day you hear a restaurant being described as “an Apothecary-style Gastro Pub” but from the mouth of its owner, Stanton Du Toit, that is exactly what Slightly Oliver is.

Located on the Upper West Side Slightly Oliver was opened in November 2011 joining sibling restaurants, Tolani Wine Restaurant and Sojourn, as a truly unique and creative advent to some seriously good eats.

Upon walking into the dining area, it is hard to miss what can only be described as an old fashioned science laboratory (Think Sleep No More) filled with…alcohol. It is artfully displayed in a glass enclosure for your viewing pleasure, because Slightly Oliver makes all of their own infusions and extractions.

Du Toit explained they “take a medicinal approach to cocktails” using only organic and natural flavors. Instead of using anything resembling synthetic additives, they have created their own flavor profile. They also have a three tier cocktail program that includes some pretty amazing punches, “kitchen inspired” cocktails made from culinary techniques, and classic cocktails, they age in their own barrels (all of which you can see). Drinking is fun on its own, but at Slightly Oliver, it’s just plain nifty. 

Last but eons away from least is their food. Slightly Oliver takes simple bar food and elevates it to the nth degree. The menu is based around the “Commonwealth”; all the places the United Kingdom has and does call it’s own. That is why there are subtle hints of (amongst others) Indian and South African flavors in this gastro-pub’s fare

The menu changes seasonally to feature the freshest of ingredients. Currently one can delve into dishes like Duck Pastrami Sliders, a Gigante Bean Cassoulet stewed with garlic, feta, and oregano, a pretty sensational appetizer of Vermont Buratta, or a house made Mac N’ Cheese with truffles and duck confit. Is your mouth watering yet?

A masterpiece from the first bite to the last!

Slightly Oliver is located at 511 Amsterdam Ave (Between 84^th & 85^th). They are open Sunday-Thursday 4PM-12AM, Friday and Saturday 4PM-2AM, and do brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-4AM.

Call them at (212) 362-1098 to make your reservation. You really don’t want to miss out on this one.

www.SlightlyOliverNYC.com

By, Jordan Nadler

Photographer: Victoria Nadler 

Brazil has brought the world many fantastic things. Waxes, keratin hair treatments, the Samba, Ronaldinho Gaucho, a plethora of Victoria Secret models, and most importantly (to us) a unique and decadent food culture.

On 11.11.11 siblings Daniel and Mariana Bull opened Brasilina, a Brazilian patisserie and contemporary Brazilian restaurant that specializes in mixology drinks and a completely unique take on Brazilian food. 

Named after their grandmother who taught Mariana, the executive chef of the restaurant, how to cook, Brasilina is truly a restaurant with a soul. As New Yorkers, we are lucky to have a vast variety of ethnic culinary opportunities at our finger tips. But what is really fun is when chefs and restaurant owners take a step away from tradition and put new twists on what is already, to our American minds, exotic.  

When asked what some of Brasilina’s most special and signature dishes are, the  Moqueca, a shrimp and codfish stew was put at the top of the list. We were also told a tale about a very special beef stroganoff from Vinhedo, where our proprietors grew up, and was the best beef stroganoff, ever. They remembered it so fondly that upon opening Brasilina were able to track down the restaurant’s chef and were given the delectable recipe to cook for their own customers.

Daniel runs the bar, and it is quite a sight to behold! When he realized he wanted to master mixology he went back to Brazil and studied under mixology master Mario Silva ten hours a day until he had acquired a proficient knowledge of the craft. Now any cocktail you order will be made up of home made ingredients such as floral essences, fruit purees, and infused vodka.  

Most NYC Italian restaurants come in one of two categories: Big cozy family joints or city-chic fine dining. 

The first category brings to mind nights out with friends, checkered table cloths, pasta smothered in cheesy sauce, and platters of meat dishes commanding the last of the elbow room on the table. 

The second category brings about a more subdued feeling; white linens, the soft clinking of wine glasses, plates of antipasti, carpaccio, sauteed Branzino…

Because we are always looking for special restaurants, All The Tastes of New York went out in search of an amalgamation of the categories and discovered Puttanesca; a Hell’s Kitchen staple where comfort food meets Manhattan swank (and will leave your taste buds in a state of euphoria for days to come).  

Originally opened 17 years ago as a much smaller and low key Italian trattoria, Puttanesca went on to aquire what is now their main dining room and a beautiful private dining room in the back (perfect for private events, and where All The Tastes of New York hosted their entree tasting for their launch in March 2011).

Big white arches introduce you to the main dining area where backdrops of exposed brick play off cream colored walls that display some of their specialty wines. Beautiful chandeliers hang from the ceiling, delicately lighting the entire restaurant.

We spoke with Puttansca manager, Alfonso Chavarria, who shared with us some of the restaurant’s intricacies and special features. We discovered:

 * The menu incorporates both northern and southern Italian cuisine, but they try to incorporate local ingredients whenever possible.

* The most popular dishes are the chicken parm and spaghetti and meatballs. (However after tasting their macaroni and cheese with truffles and almost crying of happiness, we highly recommend that gem as well). Also, there is generally enough food on the plate at the end of the night to take left overs home and delight in your meal a couple times over. 

* And though the appearance of Puttanesca is not your checkered table-cloth ‘mom and pop’ Italian joint, the feeling is still the same: a big, cozy, family restauarant meant to bring people together over the love of good food. 

And that it does. 

To get in on the goodness you’re just going to have to go there yourselves.

Puttanesca is located on 859 9th Avenue. Call (212) 581- 4177 to make your reservation today!