NYC Restaurants

An all-day cafe with a Southern California vibe is the best way to describe La Ventura with its coastal cuisine. The West Village spot is the brainchild of Ryan Burke and Kenneth McCoy, the team behind Ward III and The Rum House. Chef Peter Lipson (Empellon, Northern Spy Food Co.) has created a menu meant to be a “choose your own adventure.” It offers everything from snacks like charcuterie with hot honey mustard to grilled octopus, jerk sunchoke kebabs, and a chef’s lamb burger topped with smoked cheddar, pickled peppers and aioli spiked with garlic and clove. Beverages are on the lighter side, including spritzes, and utilize health-conscious ingredients like kombucha and carrot juice. The coastal feel also extends the restaurant’s design which relies on plants, distressed wood and skylight to create a light and breezy feel. >>

- Thomas Rafael