Westville East

Cuisine: American
Location(s): 173 Avenue A @ 11th St & 210 w 10th St b/w 4th St & Bleeker St
Phone #: (212) 677 2033
Method(s): Eat In & Delivery
Price Range: $$
Food: A
Value: B+
Service/Atmosphere: A
Overall Rating: A-

Westville East is one of those East Village spots that (pretty much every time you walk by) is packed and people are hanging out outside waiting for a table. However, it doesn't give off the vibe of being trendy or pretentious, so in this case the fact that it is crowded makes it inviting. It is a cozy, intimate setting with fantastic service and when it's warm out they have large floor to ceiling windows wide open to the outside.

What I liked
Make sure you always look at the specials menu when you are coming to Westville. One of the best salads I've had anywhere is the Chef's Salad ($16), which has high quality diced steak over organic mixed greens with avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta and lemon olive oil. It is just as light and delicious as it sounds.

In terms of appetizers, the Mac & Cheese ($7) w/ bacon ($8) is definitely worth mentioning, as are the Crab Cakes with Spicy Tartar Sauce ($10), Chicken Tenders with Buffalo Sauce ($8) and Turkey Chili ($7.50). All of these are excellent options to start off with and split with your eating partner.

In terms of staples, the Hamburger ($9), Turkey Burger ($9) or Veggie Burger ($10) are all worth trying if you're in the mood for that kind of thing, as are the Hot Dog ($2.50 or $3.50 for Vegan) and Steak Sandwich ($11). Forgive me for not being overly excited because although I have tried these items and they are good, these are not necessarily why a person should be inclined to go to Westville East.

I like to consider myself a proud meat-eater, but in terms of veggie spots, Westville East is the best I've found. What truly makes this restaurant unique is the selection of market vegetables they offer ($5/1 or $13/4). I know it sounds boring at first but, believe me, it is anything but. Each vegetable option is prepared in a special, unique manner. I will talk about my favorites in the Killed It! section below, but some worth mentioning in this section are the Lemon Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan, Asian Style Bok Choy, Roasted Zucchini with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella cheese, Broccoli Rabe with Cherry Tomatoes and Parmesan, Fried Plantains with Cotija cheese and Roasted Butternut Squash. You can't go wrong ordering any of these (or probably any of the others not listed here, for that matter).

What Could Use Work
The items off the "plates" section of the menu that I have tried have all been pretty plain. The Lemon Dill Grilled Salmon ($13) and Herb Lemon Grilled Chicken ($13) are two examples of that. If you're trying to go healthy then I recommend sticking with the market veggies.

Killed It!
As I mentioned above, Westville East is one of the only places I have been where I can order only vegetables and leave feeling completely satisfied. The $13 for 4 veggies plate is plenty of food and is a tasty, healthy option for lunch or dinner. My all time favorite vegetable here is the Brussel Sprouts with Honey Dijon. Never before have I been so enamored by brussel sprouts. The honey dijon mixed with the crunchiness of the brussel sprouts is just fantastic. In fact, before I tried the variety they serve here, I really didn't like brussel sprouts. Now I eat them everywhere. My mom would be proud. Also exceptional are the Artichoke Hearts with Parmesan Cheese and Cauliflower Dijonaisse. Lastly, although they are not vegetables, the Sweet Potato Fries and Garlic Mashed Potatoes are listed in the same area of the menu and are a good way to cheat if you don't want to eat ALL veggies. I will leave you with this message: Enjoy the veggies while you are here, but make sure you get back to eating meat very soon!