Overlooking Houston Street in the former Knitting Factory space, this popular restaurant, launched in 2013, is the joint endeavor of Uruguay-born chef Ignacio Mattos (Chez Panisse, Il Buco) and beverage director Scott Carter (Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Essex House). An exposed-brick interior and marble-top tables set a cozy backdrop for seasonal, market-fresh New American-meets-Mediterranean small plates (think burrata paired with salsa verde, and lamb ribs bedecked with charmoula and honey). The shareable dishes (and expansive wine menu) recently earned Estela a ranking on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and the fandom doesn’t stop there: no less an eminence than Barack Obama has swung by.
Estela
Image by Estela
