Principe
Soho
Everyone needs a go-to spot to take their parents when they're in town – somewhere you can show them a good time and let them pick up the tab. Now, my parents are rather fancy, to put it mildly. They're more than willing to drop $500 on a fabulous dinner for four without batting an eye. Secondly, they appreciate clean, delicious food – the kind where they can enjoy a salad, pasta, and a piece of fish. That's why Principe is the perfect spot to bring them.
Principe opened about a year ago, so it's relatively new, and it garnered significant hype at the start. The chef, Abram Bissell, boasts two Michelin stars and has been a fixture in the NYC restaurant scene for quite some time. He previously worked at The Nomad and The Modern, both outstanding establishments, before embarking on his latest venture at Principe, a seafood-forward restaurant in Soho.
But enough about the chef – let's talk about his food.
The menu is extensive and best enjoyed shared. The top two must-try items are the Basil Tortellini and the Crispy Chicken. The tortellini, bathed in a brown butter sauce at the table, is easily one of the top five bites of 2024 thus far. The crispy chicken is a double-fried, flattened cutlet that manages to be both light and supremely delicious.
However, that's not to say the other items aren't noteworthy. The oysters are incredible, as is the gnocchi. I recommend sampling a bit of everything – raw fish, pastas, chicken, and cooked fish – to truly savor the experience.
The Margaritas are fabulous, and the sommeliers truly know their stuff. It's a fancy establishment, slightly over the top, but you can still get away with wearing jeans – classic NYC.
And let's not forget about the vibe. The space is open, with the entire restaurant visible as soon as you enter the dining room, complete with a full bar at the entrance. The ambiance is dark, but the lighting is sufficient to see everything clearly. When I visited, they were playing fun 2000s music, and the staff, for the most part, were pleasant (though the hostess left a bad taste in my mouth). The average age seemed to be around 30, with most looking like they earned well above the basic six-figure salary that's become customary in NYC (this is an insane comment but yes, people here are just F*** rich).
I genuinely adore this spot – it offers delicious food, a hefty bill, and great vibes. Bring your parents along; you won't have to worry about the table next to you dropping F-bombs, and the wine list is extensive.
