Where to Eat in N.Y.C.: Best Restaurant Sequels

A restaurant sequel can be really hard to pull off. This week, I’m taking a closer look at three to see how they compare to the original restaurants. I think Rose Marie, the sequel to Yellow Rose, has something for everyone. You could go there and have a full meal, or you could sit at the bar and have a beer and shot special or frozen drink. Different from the original restaurant, the theme is more generally American. I think what the best foods have in common here is that they’re fried. You have fried potatoes, you have fried flounder. And my favorite dish, these perfect cheese curds that are served correctly, by the way, with ranch dressing. So then we have Bartolo, a spin off of Ernesto’s. This is a Spanish restaurant. I think the first and last sections of the menu are most successful. That’s where you’re going to find snacks like the gazpacho, which comes in a shot glass, or the layered crackers of anchovies and chilled butter. The best thing on the menu is, unfortunately, a market-priced steak. It’s the chuleta de buey: This really wonderful cut of meat that’s marbled through with so much fat that you’re going to be fighting over once it’s grilled. I Cavallini is an Italian restaurant from the owners of the Four Horsemen. There’s a lot of great ideas here, especially in this pasta section of the menu. They have these short, knotted trophie in this really pleasant, gritty pesto. One of my favorites is the gnocchi sardi, this plump pasta that is served with beans and shrimp. It’s just in this really complex seafoody broth. It’s impossible to beat the Four Horsemen, but it’s easy to love I Cavallini. There’s so many sequels in the city right now. Let us know where else we should check out and subscribe to where to eat in your inbox weekly.