Justine’s on Hudson

With big windows and mirrors, heavy silverware, and a dedicated sommelier, Justine’s might seem like just another exclusive West Village bistro backed by an UES family. But between watching that sommelier haul a chair through the open kitchen and finding the foot still attached to your grilled chicken leg, you’ll realize Justine’s is a serious little restaurant with seriously good French- and Filipino-inflected food, but also one with actual personality. Generous dishes incorporate seasonal produce from the family farm, and are best paired with wines from the family import business (adopt us, please). Dinner can run to $100 per head, but it’s worth it for an unstuffy, grown-up evening: grab a velvet bar seat with your soon-to-be-significant other, or reserve a marble-topped table with your friends who appreciate the finer things.

photo credit: Dillon Burke