Gene's

"The Greenwich Village institution has a whole dining room where you can drink to-the-brim glasses of red wine and eat veal parm amongst people wearing their finest fur coats on a Tuesday. But if there's a bar seat open when you arrive, you're going to need to snag it, because despite being cramped, it's the most charming perch for a dirty martini and six-to-an-order baked clams. Gene's has been open since 1919, and it's become the favorite restaurant of many New Yorkers—including Sarah Jessica Parker, who may in fact be one of its youngest fans." - willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja

"Gene’s opened in 1919, and it’s not just Sarah Jessica Parker’s favorite restaurant—it’s a lot of people’s favorite restaurant. The old-school Italian spot is always packed, even on a Tuesday, and though you can sit at a table in the dining room next to someone wearing their furs and order veal parm from a server in a vest, you should always try for the bar. It’s a coveted spot for heavy pours of red wine and garlicky baked clams under a thick layer of golden brown breadcrumbs. End with a raspberry cordial parfait with chocolate ice cream that’s boozy enough to make you feel eternally grateful to live in NYC so you can take public transportation home." - willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja, arden shore

"The Dish: Baked Clams Oreganata You could easily have a full meal in the back dining room at Gene's, next to a group of women wearing fur and sharing veal parm. But the real move at this old-school Italian spot is to come solo, snag a stool at the bar up front, and make a meal of bivalves and gin. The baked clams here are textbook perfect, with crispy tops, soft bottoms, and enough garlicky sauce underneath to necessitate an after dinner mint. Snack on them between people-watching, and sips of martini. " - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja

"Gene’s is always packed, even on a Tuesday. This old-school Italian spot in Greenwich Village opened in 1919, and it’s not just Sarah Jessica Parker’s favorite restaurant, it’s a lot of people's favorite restaurant. Many of them have been coming here for half a century, wearing their furs on a weekday because this isn’t just any old place—this is Gene’s. The dining room in the back has white tablecloths and servers in vests, but if you can snag a bar seat up front, you should. It’s a coveted spot for heavy pours of red wine, and garlicky baked clams under a thick layer of golden brown breadcrumbs. Add on the veal parm, and end with a raspberry cordial parfait with chocolate ice cream that’s boozy enough to make you feel eternally grateful to live in New York, and can take public transportation home. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff" - Willa Moore

"Also located in the Village, Gene’s (founded 1919) reflects the same era in Italian-American cooking Carbone aspires to, but you can get a reservation or walk in nearly any evening, and Sarah Jessica Parker is reportedly a regular. (Veal parm: $36.)" - Robert Sietsema