For everyone who thinks BBQ can’t be healthy, think again.
In my relationship, one of us is clearly a BBQ lover while the other (ahem, me), would rather eat dirt. Needless to say, I’ve found myself playing the role of good sport in a few BBQ joints over the years, munching on sides while my fellow diners gnaw on animal carcass ribs.
I fully expected the same scenario to play out at Blue Smoke. But to my surprise and delight that’s not how it went down. At all. In fact, this place has a dedicated vegetarian menu, not to mention a gluten free one too. Can the rest of the smoke pits in this country please take note?
The veggie menu features tasty and healthy sides (no, it’s not all mac-n-cheese and cornbread, folks), a substantial salad selection and even a veggie burger.
What I Ate: Roasted Root Vegetable Salad with Radicchio, Brussels Sprouts and Cider Vinaigrette (shared), Sweet Potato Wedges (shared) Hickory Smoked Vegetable Burger with Tomato Chutney and Arugula Salad
(Hint: In this case the veggie burger came with a salad but that’s not always the case. At most restaurants sandwiches usually come with fries. Don’t be afraid to ask to substitute the fries with a side salad or other green vegetable you see on the menu. It’s an easy way to sneak more greens into your diet).
What He Ate: Ribs.
When We Dined: Dinner, Sunday.
Also On the Healthy Side: Mixed Greens and Fennel, Sauteed Spinach, Pickled Ruby Red Shrimp and Seared Atlantic Salmon (all on the lunch and dinner menus)
Be In the Know: Blue Smoke Battery Park City offers delivery to 200 West and 3 and 4 World Financial Center and is also next door to a movie theater, making it a perfect spot for dinner-and-a-movie date night. Blue Smoke Flatiron houses the famed Jazz Standard where you can listen to world-class Jazz while eating award-winning barbecue. Just try to remember you’re in the Big Apple, not the Big Easy.
Address:
255 Vesey St.
New York, NY 10282.
Tel: 212 889 2005.
116 East 27th St.
New York, NY 10016.
Tel: 212 447 7733.
Danny Meyer is an incredible restauranteur and entrepreneur – in addition to just being cool! Love his book “Setting the Table” and reading the story of how his concepts, like Blue Smoke, came to life. xo!