Little Gems

Sometimes good restaurants come in small packages, even in the vast metropolis known as New York City.

- Robert Haynes-Peterson

AMONG THE 45,000 or so bars and restaurants peppered around New York City, it seems as if finding the perfect tiny spot for a date, closing a business deal or celebrating a special occasion is harder than it should be. You don’t want another run-of-the-mill trattoria, nor shoulder-to-shoulder dining at a soulless brunch joint. Most after-work bars involve jostling through noisy clusters of tired folks, and neighborhood restaurants are often sterile and over-lit. It takes hard work to design a true gem of a tiny establishment.