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809 Restaurant offers modern Dominican cuisine with a Latin

fusion served by attentive staff in an up tempo setting.

It also has one of the most sought after tables in Northern Manhattan,

a VIP booth in a semi-circular alcove facing the main

dining area – the place to be seen. To sample menu highlights,

try the 809 picadero for two with appetizer-sized portions of

croquetas, torta de crangrejo, empanadas, arepa and pinchos

($24). The most fun dish is the pinchos ($11), chicken, beef,

and chorizo skewers accompanied by a small flame for heating

to one’s content. It’s a great conversation starter on first dates.

For entrees, the Boca Chica is a whole, crispy Mediterranean

dorado (mahi mahi) served with ginger cream and coconut rice

($24). The Chivo al Caldero is braised lamb shank with goat

cheese malanga mash, fire roasted tomatoes, onions, and mint

pesto ($20). In just two years, 809 has earned a citywide reputation

for its six original sangrias ($8 to $35), less sugary and

more citrusy than most. Sampling them was recently included

in the Time Out New York book “1000 Things To Do in New

York.”

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