Nolita Restaurant Named Honoree For Top Three Manhattan Eateries

NOLITA — The Nolita eatery, Peasant, was among Manhattan's honorees for the New York City Hospitality Alliance's top restaurants.

The alliance announced the honorees on Tuesday for its fourth annual awards to be held at TAO Downtown on April 8.

Peasant, located at 194 Elizabeth St. between Spring and Prince Sts., is an honoree for the "I Love Manhattan Award," along with Magnolia Bakery and the Rainbow Room in Midtown.

"The Alliance Awards give us an opportunity to recognize and honor the remarkable people and businesses that contribute so much to our city and make New York City the hospitality capital of the world," executive director of the alliance, Andrew Rigie, said in a statement.

Frank DeCarlo opened Peasant back in 1999. It is known for Italian dishes with a hidden downstairs wine bar.

"It was 1999 and this area was part of Little Italy," says DeCarlo, according to the restaurant's website. "I've lived and worked here most of my life and I have no idea where the name Nolita came from. We were the first real restaurant in the area that didn't serve meatballs or fried calamari so the neighborhood gave us a hard time at first."

Another Downtown restaurant, Veselka, is an honoree for the "True Taste of NYC Award." Veselka, located in the East Village at 144 Second Ave., will be honored for its famous pierogies, served 24 hours a day.

West Village jazz bar Blue Note, located at 131 West Third St., will be honored for the "City That Never Sleeps Award," which goes to an influential bar, club or cocktail bar.

Dan Kluger, a chef at Greenwich Village eatery Loring Place, at 21 West Eighth St., will be honored for "Back of House Award," which goes to individuals who have achieved excellence working in one or more jobs in the kitchen. Kluger's menu at Loring Place is known for spotlighting local farmers and farms after frequenting the Union Square Greenmarket for over two decades, according to the eatery's website.

Tickets for the April awards are on sale, starting at $250.

For the full list of honorees, click here.