Virginia’s

Virginia’s used to have one of the city’s best burgers, and we were sad to see it close in 2021. This American bistro is now back in a bigger spot in Alphabet City, with a striking red ceiling, framed menus from famous restaurants on the walls, and lots of sidewalk seating. They’re still serving classic dishes like shrimp cocktail and steak frites—but with uneven results: the burger lacks seasoning and juiciness, failing to live up to our high expectations, and the mushroom risotto with undercooked rice is another miss. The fries are good though, and with most menu items under $20, dishes like crab cakes and hamachi crudo are perfectly fine if you’re looking for familiar flavors at relatively reasonable prices in the area.

photo credit: Noah Fecks