We finally were able to get a res at the very popular Mel’s on Tenth Avenue, owned by Michelin-decorated Chef fellow Dame Melissa Rodriguez. I started with their Old Fashioned made with bourbon, cognac and amaro ($18) while my dining partner had a Cosmo ($18).

We liked the flavor and heat from the chilies of the charred shrimp with a small fresh herb salad ($24), yet wished the crustacean hadn’t been overcooked. We followed that with a tasty gem lettuce salad with fresh mint and grilled and marinated burrata also with heat chilis ($18).

Of course, we had to try one of the pizzas. We opted for the tomato sauce broccoli rabe one with provolone, roasted garlic and a few cherry peppers ($23) that I washed down with a glass of their peppery Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2020, Abruzzo ($16).

I had to speed walk to The Public to get to the start of Fat Ham, James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play that follows Juicy, a queer kid at a family backyard barbecue serving as Juicy’s mom’s and uncle’s wedding reception. It’s a compelling examination of love and loss with a bit of Shakespeare folded into the play. A delectable humorous tragedy. I recommend.

Mels
Chelsea
85 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011
212-970-2202
mels-nyc.com/