Esther & Carol Bistro

You’ll find dinner and nightlife under one roof at this beguiling bistro, which hosts live rock and dance music in its basement. Set on a corner at the crossroads of Little Italy, Nolita and the Lower East Side, the venue is run by restaurant and nightlife vets Kevin King and Cordell Lochin, who named it for their mothers. The American menu ranges from healthy grain bowls to more indulgent dishes like duck ragu toast and buttermilk fried chicken.