After walking Highline Park my wife, Tina, and I dropped in for a late lunch at 5 Ninth. Had we been in NYC any longer, this would have been a dinner destination. But, time being short, we thought lunch was better than not going at all. It turns out that was an excellent decision.
As it was coming on to late afternoon, the place was empty. The waitress let us choose our own table, so we grabbed a corner on the second floor of the narrow building. The space was very cool, similar to the hip reclaimed wood look so popular in the Pacific Northwest.
We picked two appetizers to start: gnocchi with proscuttio and a crispy artichoke. The gnocchi was almost butter like in texture and very tasty. The crispy artichoke, served with a flavorful garlic aioli, was wickedly addictive.
Tina’s main was a truffled macaroni and cheese (pictured above). Rich and cheesy, it was a one-of-a-kind dish that should be a signature (if it isn’t already). I had an “SBLT” (salmon, bacon, lettuce, and tomato). The salmon was extremely fresh and the flavor combination surprisingly good. I’ll have to try that back home!
5 Ninth wins on many fronts: service, food quality and creativity, and atmosphere. It’s high on our list for a return visit, especially for dinner.
★★★★★
5 9th Ave
New York, NY 10014
(212) 929-9460