Just shy of a month old, the new Alphabet City branch of West Village Gothamist favorite, Westville, keeps farm fresh veggies flowing to hip, young clientele seven days a week. Seating forty, Westville East offers the same American comfort food as the original joint, but with twice the space to dine and serve in. Of course, this doesn't mean the lines are shorter--during brunch on a recent Sunday the line ran longer than twenty minutes, and during dinner, seats were filled just after the clock hit seven.
The noise level is moderately loud, but still conversational, and decor is sparse aside from tabletop candles and chalkboards displaying specials and desserts. Dinner is stronger than brunch fare in Gothamist's opinion, with daily market specials like dijon roasted brussels sprouts, sesame ginger snow peas, roasted beets with walnuts, and mashed sweet potatoes making for delectable (and nutritious) sides, if not entrees. Salads are entree sized and nearly all less than $10.00: our favorite is the sweet-savory combination of watercress, arugula, pear, and sweet roasted walnuts with lemon vinaigrette. Meat eaters will probably opt for the fancied-up sandwiches: carmelized onions sweeten up a Newport Steak against the bite of horseradish mayo, and hot dogs (yes, hot dogs), which are offered in three varieties--Hebrew National, vegan, or Niman Ranch. For dessert, pricier than expected at $6 an item, the apple pie with vanilla ice cream is flaky and just the right sweetness, but the German chocolate cake was slightly dry and certainly nothing to rave about.
The brunch standout is the egg scramble--a mix-ins variation of the omelet for a reasonable $8. For a few dollars more, the options become fancier; Gothamist enjoyed a lox, herb, and asparagus scramble for an additional $2. Coffee is served a la carte, but refilled frequently, though not regularly, reflective of the sometimes flighty service, like dropping off the wrong table's check, or adding it up wrong. What Westville East lacks in choreographed service is made up for in the comfort and reasonably priced, tasty food.
Westville East is located at 173 Avenue A (at 11th Street), 212-677-2933
