"Casa Cruz makes Soho House look like WeWork. The original location of this semi-exclusive restaurant and clubhouse is located in London, but you’ll find a second outpost on the Upper East Side. It occupies an entire six-story townhouse, and even the elevator has parquet floors. Membership costs about as much as a factory-fresh Lamborghini, but if you aren’t a member, you can still eat here. In addition to an indoor dining room with velvet furniture and shiny copper accents, there’s a little terrace at the top where you can sit on a pink banquette and eat upscale New American food. Obviously, the food is pricey (entrees are $30-$80), but—for what is essentially a country club on steroids—the dishes aren’t bad. Try the smoky strip steak cooked in a coal-fired oven, or, ideally, save a little money and just make a trip to the second-floor bar when you feel compelled to check this place out. photo credit: Alex Staniloff" - Bryan Kim
