From Jamie’s Desk:
These days when I come back to New York, I stay in Tribeca, just one block from where my last apartment was before I moved to Los Angeles. I’ve fallen back in love with NYC in large part because of this area—the energy, the restaurants, the bike path—it’s such a special place. But visiting also carries a weight. For me, there’s always a quiet reminder of 9/11 in the air here.
Living in New York during that time was an experience that’s hard to put into words. The pain, fear, and grief that swept the city were overwhelming—but alongside that was an undeniable sense of strength and community. Too many people lost loved ones, whether in the towers, on the planes, or from the lingering after effects. There are few days in the past 50 years that people remember more vividly than 9/11. I was living just three blocks from the World Trade Center, leaving for a doctor’s appointment as the first plane hit. I ran back to get Kelly and our two friends from LA who were staying with us, and from the street outside our apartment we watched in horror as the second plane crashed. Like everyone else, we fled uptown. The heat from the explosion, the sounds, and the terror of that day are things we will never forget.
We were fortunate to have a place to stay during the two months we were evacuated, but the impact of that day has never left me. As the 24th anniversary arrives, I’ve been reflecting on that time. What stands out most, even amid the tragedy, is how the city and the country came together.
One small example I was part of in the months afterwards was Dinner Downtown, started by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. We invited people to return downtown and support local restaurants and businesses. It was a reminder that food, community, and gathering can play a role in healing when disaster strikes, and that these local businesses are the heartbeat of New York.
On this day, let’s remember those we lost, honor the resilience of the city, and reflect on the strength that comes when people band together in the face of tragedy.
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Discussed in this issue: Downtown NYC restaurants, my conversation with the writers of Adolescence, next week’s conversation with Kara Swisher.
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Since today marks the anniversary of 9/11, we’re turning our attention downtown—a neighborhood that holds a lot of history, but also everything we love about New York right now: the energy, the people, and of course, the food.
Photo by Ha’s Snack Bar
Cuisine: French Vietnamese
Crew: Ben Hundreds, Infatuation, NY Times, Eater
Good For: Date Night
Pro Tip: They take walk-ins, but unfortunately the line can be really long. If you are just two, go to a show, a concert or a movie and head here for a late meal.
What to Order: The menu rotates so you never know what you’re going to get, but some of the best dishes I had were escargot, the egg's mayo, sausage and oysters.
Notes: It is always exciting when a restaurant debuts and instantly vaults to being considered one of the best restaurants in a city, and that is what happened with Ha's. Now like all things in life this was not an overnight success, the chefs (who are a couple) Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns-Ha, started with a roving pop up in 2019 called Ha’s Đặc Biệt in 2019 (“Đặc Biệt” loosely translates as “house special” in Vietnamese.) Once they gained a loyal following, the two opened Ha's Snack Bar in December, and it was soon enough #9 on NYT's top 100 restaurants. The tiny restaurant has just a few tables, counter seating, and something that would barely be called a kitchen. It is not much more than what you would expect in a college dorm. The best way to describe this place is part Parisian bistro and part downtown hipster cool (too cool for me, but I make it work). Go hungry so you can basically order the whole menu. Fortunately I was with my nephew Jack and we were starving post seeing Maybe Happy Endings.
Photo by Bubby’s
Cuisine: American
Crew: Lloyd Sacks, Kate Burr, Infatuation, Eater, Goop, Time Out
Good For: Meetings, Quick Bite, Casual Meal
Pro Tip: They only take reservations after 5pm. If there’s a wait, you can always take a walk along the Westside Highway.
What to Order: Pancakes, Hot Chicken Sandwich, Biscuits, Banoffee Pie. Ron Silver, Bubby’s owner, recommends the Red Velvet Corned Beef Hash, Fried Chicken, Pancakes, and, for the faint of heart, the avocado toast, which he calls a rock star.
Notes: Bubby’s is tied with Odeon as the most iconic restaurant in Tribeca. My first jobs in high school were at the Tribeca Film Center, so I’ve been going there for over 30 years. Surviving 9/11 was no small feat for any restaurant, but Bubby’s not only made it through, but is still thriving today. When I asked owner Ron Silver what the 24th anniversary made him think of, he said, “So many things to say about 9/11! Mostly I am grateful for the Bubby’s crew. It was an eye-opening moment both internally and otherwise.” The number of breakfast and lunch meetings I’ve had there probably rivals anywhere in the world. And with their new, very swanky outpost at LaGuardia, it looks like their success isn’t slowing down anytime soon. For the ultimate Tribeca breakfast or lunch experience, Bubby’s is your place.
Photo by Penny
📍Penny (reviewed by Jordan Okun, Host of Air Jordan Podcast)
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: James Ponsoldt, Ben Hundreds, Andy Wang, Jamie Patricof, Aaron Stern, Kate Burr, Eli Meyer, NY Times, Michelin Guide, Infatuation, Bon Appetit, Condé Nast Traveler
Good For: Date Night, Great Wine List, Solo Dining
Pro Tip: Penny features bar seating only, so stick to parties of two or three. If you’re a fan of salty treats, add the anchovies to your bread-and-butter course, then skip the brioche dessert and go straight for the chocolate mousse. Seating is limited, so reservations are a must—but it’s also a perfect spot for solo dining, so go ahead and try for a walk-in if you're dining alone.
What to Order: Shrimp Cocktail, Razor Clams, Sesame Brioche and Butter, Tuna Carpaccio, Confit Oysters, Stuffed Squid, Chocolate Mousse
Notes: If you’re a fan of the Swan or Found Oyster way of life (and you really should be), this is your kind of place—just a touch more elevated, a touch more proper for a night out, and a touch more “cheffed-up” in its celebration of all things ocean.
Photo by Frenchette
📍Frenchette (reviewed by Anthony Jacobson, game developer and avid food adventurer)
Cuisine: French
Crew: Ben Hundreds, Aaron Stern, Kate Burr, Martha Patricof, Eli Meyer, James Ponsoldt, Eater, Food & Wine, Infatuation, Goop, Bon Appétit
Good For: Date Night, Dinner With Friends, Business Dinner, Fine Dining
Pro Tip: If you arrive after 9pm you can normally be seated without having to wait. Definitely order the chocolate mousse dessert which is off the menu during dinner.
What to Order: Leeks Vinagrette, Brouillade, Duck Confit, Pollet Roti, Filet au Poivre
Notes: Unless you want to fly to Paris, it’s worth the trip to Tribeca to eat here. Every neighborhood should have Frenchette’s beautifully executed classic bistro fare. Seven years and counting, the chefs are old school Balthazar alumnus who developed a mellow vibe mixing French sophistication with New York style. Be prepared to load up on the delicious fries. Even your pickiest friends will be happy as they have one of those menus where everything is good. Now if they would only open a location in Los Angeles…
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In honor of the Emmy Awards on Sunday, we’re throwing it back to my conversation with Adolescence co-creators Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne. The critically acclaimed Netflix series received 13 nominations this year.
This conversation was a great one. We spoke about the making of the series (yes, including the mind-blowing use of the one-shot), the rise of the manosphere, how to protect our children from the dangers online, what British food Stephen grew up on (hint: it’s…interesting), and much more. Ahead of the Emmys this Sunday, be sure to have a listen. Good luck Jack, Stephen, and the whole team at Adolescence!
🎙️ On Monday, 9/15 at 12 PT/3 ET, my guest on Lunch With Jamie is Kara Swisher. You can register here.
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Rol San with Alex Orlovksy; Ca Phe Rang with Team Roofman; Epoch with Derek Cianfrance, Shannon Plumb, Jessica Kolstad, Channing Tatum, Lynette Howell-Taylor, Inka Williams, Eve Brigham, Evelyn Karamanos, Nicole Caruso, and Alex Orlovsky; King’s Noodle with Kevin Drew and Rachel McLean; Rol San with David Hatkoff and Brent Morley (yes, I went twice); Crosby Street Hotel with Team Roofman; Fannelli with Lynette Howell-Taylor, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Russell and Galen Core; and Restaurant Nippon with Alan, Mark, and Jon Patricof.
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Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga
