Back Forty Restaurant

Peter Hoffman of the Savoy fame has made sustainable agriculture not just popular but also extremely chic. Known for his innovative culinary delights at the Savoy, the Back Forty Restaurant is his brainchild. Here, too, he follows the farm-to-table trend that has created so much stir in New York’s culinary scene.

Located in East Village, Back Forty Restaurant is run with the help of his chef de cuisine, Shanna Pacifico. The restaurant has a lot more casual feel about it as compared to the Savoy, and the dishes on the menu are family-friendly fare.

Back Forty sports a very farmhouse hip kind of ambience. If you are walking in on an extremely cold day, you will appreciate the warmth of the place. And, I am not talking about just the heating. The décor of Back Forty includes lots of wood, huge windows, dark brown fabric, imparting a very homey feel to it. The restaurant is so light and airy and comfortable that you just don’t feel like relinquishing your seat at the end of your meal.

Simply because it’s associated with Peter Hoffman, you don’t have to assume that the fare will be expensive. A main course from here would be less expensive than a cocktail in one of the restaurants uptown. To give you a better idea, the cocktails are all $8-10, quartinos of wine are $9-11, and beers run $6-7. Teas and coffees are under $5 as are the appetizers and sides. Finally, most entrees are around $12, and desserts are $7-8 each. Besides, the quality of the food served makes every dollar stretch even further.

Although everything on the menu is worth a try, you can’t come away without trying their grass-fed burger. It’s probably the most ordered item over here, and the top reason why Back Forty is so famous. It’s difficult to describe how good this succulent beef burger topped with Heritage bacon and farmhouse cheddar is. Everything about it absolutely perfect – the light and fluffy sesame bun, the perfectly cooked, juicy, and medium rare meat, the rosemary fries…you’ll want more than one, we promise you that.

Other dishes worth trying are pork jowl nuggets, baby cauliflower gratin, mushroom croquettes, fried chicken and waffles, and blintzes with homemade farmer’s cheese, served with cinnamon apples. Their wine list isn’t extensive, but it is focused and showcases boutique producers. For desserts choose between freshly fried cider-glazed doughnuts and the triple chocolate bread pudding.

Back Forty isn’t a restaurant that is about pretensions or showing off. It’s might not be the fanciest restaurant in New York, but you will be back before long to choose another great option from their meat-friendly yet healthy menu.

• Address: 190 Ave B (between 11th and 12th Sts)
• Phone: 212-388-1990
• Brunch – Sat: Noon-3 p.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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