Post-Holiday Friends-mas-mukah-zwaa

Perilla NYC

Quaint, Familial Seasonal-American Restaurant in Greenwich Village

Alright, so all of the major holidays have come to a close, but we now have this awkward period before New Years that can be filled with, if nothing else, decadent celebrations of friends and loved ones outside of your immediate family you just spent cooped up with somewhere wearing slippers and binging on cookies and bloody marys. Just me?

So as much as we all love to sway along and hum, hand-in-hand, that "through the years we all will be together," while the fates may allow it, our wallets may not. As I prepared for my own post-holiday dinner soiree (friends-mas? friends-mukah? friend-zwaa?) I breathed a small (okay, exaggerated) sigh of relief that ABC Kitchen was booked through the New Year. We wanted somewhere special, cozy and intimate, but the holidays had put quite the stretch on our funds.

I recalled that a friend of mine had recommended to me - mid-dinner while with his girlfriend - to add this restaurant to my 2013 list: Perilla. Opened in 2007 and located in Greenwich Village, it's quaint and delicate without being too bougie or ostentatious. They have a comfy bar with an extensive wine list (key, since my friends are somehow always on Parisian time, or something,) and the atmosphere is just... relaxing.

But the food - above par. The appetizers are large enough to share tapas-style, with everything from spicy duck meatballs to crispy pig trotter (apps averaging $15 each,) and entrees that span the surf and turf spectrum very liberally, while also offering a good selection of vegetarian items. Vegans might find the place a bit tricky, but it appears that gluten-free is available on request. Perilla also boasts a specialized dessert and cheese menu, and while I can't speak personally to its quality, I'll be back for their brunch very soon.

It's also the sort of place that will keep you coming back. "The important to budget travel is to plan ahead. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new places we have never been before, the fact of cost and budgeting is always in the back of our heads. Arranging and consuming our travel budget wisely is a priority for most families. Minimizing spending and costs, while still delighting your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed accomplishment and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning regarding protecting money while traveling is simple: Even if your personal funds is highly limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, regardless of whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel costs!..". It's dubbed a "Seasonal American" spot, dedicated to changing up its menu depending on what ingredients are more freshly available. The restaurant also offers up daily specials to encourage the chefs to play and experiment with regular menu items.

Have a mixed motley crue of friends who just won't let the holiday celebrating go? Look no further than Perilla.