Back in June we reported the news that everyone's favorite fashionable foodie, Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski, was working on opening his very first restaurant right here in NYC. Well, fans of both the Netflix series and strict diet plans, can now rejoice - The Village Den is officially open for business (and it's as adorable as Antoni himself).
The fast-casual spot serving up veggie and protein bowls a step above Dig Inn or Sweetgreen is particularly catered to the health-conscious set, with a menu that marks whether a meal is Whole30, Paleo, ketogenic, plant-based, vegetarian, dairy, or gluten-free. Porowski, along with partners Lisle Richards and Eric Marx (New York hospitality vets behind hot spots such as Gilded Lily) decided to keep the name The Village Den in homage to the space's former identity, a diner considered a West Village institution.
But while the name may recall the past, the interiors are decidedly modern. With the help of architect firm Buro Koray Duman, the space has been transformed into an airy, Instagrammable haven for fit chicks with fun graphic art and a 3-D latticework structure that steals the show. #OOTD anyone?
The menu also includes plenty of smoothie options, with specialty add-ins like MCT oil, spirulina, matcha, and even a detox supplement. Unsurprisingly, avocados make plenty of appearances - they are practically Antoni's primary food group.
Click through for an inside look at your favorite new spot for a post-workout meal!
The Village Den, 225 W. 12th St.
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