Contemporary chefs captivate palates with their reinventions of traditional dishes, just as contemporary artists captivate critics with their hard-fought games of tic-tac-toe. Fill in the blanks in your appetite with this Groupon.
$99 for an Appetizer Party Platter for Up to 15 People ($225 Value)
- Chips and artichoke dip
- Assorted cheese platter
- Truffle popcorn
- Assorted flatbread pizzas
- Italian eggroll party platter
Vanity
Unknowing passersby often overlook the inconspicuous entrance to Vanity due to its clever—albeit anachronistic—disguise as a telephone booth. A tribute to the profusion of speakeasy clubs that popped up in the Prohibition era, Vanity decorates its posh interior with black-and-white photos, vintage-inspired décor, and coat racks that look suspiciously like undercover cops.
However backwards-looking the décor, the menu reflects ultra-contemporary tastes with its mix of New American and Italian flavors. A selection of starters—aptly named "temptations"—include Italian eggrolls stuffed with shaved cold cuts, and "Vanity plates" include such colorful dishes as the Double Cross Delmonico rib-eye steak. Like any respectable speakeasy, Vanity features a lengthy drink menu with elderflower-flavored cocktails, sugar-rimmed martinis, and gin and tonics garnished with fresh eviction notices.