Westville East - Review - East Village - New York - The Infatuation

"We said it in 2009, and we’ll repeat it in 2015: If you don’t like Westville, we can’t take this relationship any further. And we can’t just be friends, either. Westville is magic. It’s part of our DNA. We can’t live without it. Westville has been slinging vegetables since before it was cool to eat healthy. It isn’t fancy, it isn’t flashy, and it isn’t as on-trend as some of the other gluten-free, vegan, paleo action in town. But it’s the most consistent, and in our eyes, it’s the damn best. Westville is the ultimate utility spot that delivers the goods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s something for everyone here, and even though you’ll have to wait for a table during prime time, it’s always worth it. Most importantly, Westville runs the most efficient delivery operation in all of NYC. The fastest time ever, so far? Nine minutes, 45 seconds. Granted, my apartment is three blocks away, but still, that is FAST. So fast that you wonder if they actually cook the food to order, or just have teriyaki salmon dishes lined up ready to be grabbed and stuffed into perfectly packed, tightly-knotted plastic bags at a moment’s notice. We are New Yorkers, after all. We appreciate efficient use of time and value convenience more than most. It’s no wonder, then, that we appreciate Westville as much as we do. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Salads Westville’s salads are big and cut right to the point without getting too cute. You can add and subtract from the salad ingredients, and they don’t get pissed about it, which is always a plus. Definitely go with chicken over the steak as your protein. Favorites include: Westville Cobb, the Greek Salad, and a frequent lunch special, the Chopped Salad, which is a well-dressed, hearty mix of vegetables like cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. Get it with blackened chicken. Market Vegetables Westville always has twenty plus options available on their “Market” menu. Pick four, and you’ve got one of the best vegetarian meals in town. Favorites include: Brussels Sprouts in Dijon, Soy-Glazed Tofu with Broccoli and Sesame Seeds, Sautéed Kale with Shallots, Mushrooms with Leeks, and, of course, their Sweet Potato Fries, which are ridiculous. Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken The perfect mid-week dinner, it’s served in a light and tangy sauce, with two sides. Can’t go wrong. Salmon Teriyaki A permanent special, and one of our favorites dishes on the menu. The teriyaki sauce is addicting, and the one market side you get with it must be the garlic mash. Hamburger/Veggie Burger/Turkey Burger All of the burgers are excellent. Be prepared to get a little messy. Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad Sandwich We love chicken salad and find a lot of places cut corners and don’t necessarily pay attention to the details that make chicken salad great. Not Westville. This is chicken salad done right. Shredded chicken with heavy doses of pepper, onions, celery, and lemon that make for a high-quality sandwich. Warning: it’s heavy on the onions. Crispy Fish Sandwich A new addition to the permanent menu and one we like a lot. The breaded white fish comes soaked in cole slaw and tartar sauce on a soft club roll. You want it. Egg Scramble Sandwich/Platter Just what the doctor ordered for Saturday morning hangovers. Westville does very well with their brunch. Pay attention to the specials, because those are usually where it’s at. Baked Challah French Toast Most restaurants only annotate wait times on a menu when something is going to take a while, like, over an hour and a half. Westville lets you know the french toast is going to take 15 minutes. That says it all. They want to make sure you’ll be OK with not getting your food in ten minutes." - Andrew Steinthal