The Little Owl

On the corner of Bedford and Grove Streets, in the building whose facade fans know as the exterior of the apartment in Friends, The Little Owl has been one of the West Village's most charming small restaurants for almost two decades. Chef Joey Campanaro opened it in 2006 with an American-Mediterranean menu and a dining room so compact that every table feels like a good one, with big corner windows looking out on one of the prettiest intersections in the city. It serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and a private Chef's Room hosts small celebrations and events. It is the definition of a neighborhood gem that the whole city has discovered.

New York Turk dropped in to see what a West Village lunch break costs in 2024. Whatever the hour, order the gravy meatball sliders, the dish that made Campanaro famous: tiny meatballs in tomato gravy with melted pecorino on soft buns. At dinner, the pork chop with butter beans is the signature main, and the menu also offers the grilled whole branzino, a petit New York strip and pastas such as the ziti Patricia. At breakfast and brunch, the beignets are a must. Book ahead, because tables are few, and ask for a window seat for the view of the corner. The weekday happy hour is a good way to sample cocktails and fries.