I finally made it to Northern Spy Food Co last week, a restaurant people have been raving about for a while now. This small and inviting restaurant, with a menu built around "seasonality, accessibility, and quality, whenever and wherever possible using locally-grown or -produced ingredients" is really good. It's great for a date, or dinner with your sister and her boyfriend.

Heritage pork meatballs ($12) with marinara and pecorino are excellent. Soak up that addictive marinara with some lovely flatbread, and you'll be one happy diner.

A special of wild mushrooms with chorizo and potatoes, topped with a poached egg, in a red wine sauce was delicious.

Another special of crawfish ravioli with a tarragon mascarpone sauce was really nice too. My sister's boyfriend yelped with glee after each bite.

Squid and mussels ($13), with navy beans, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeno was excellent! Addictive and tasty, NYC Foodie style.

Desserts are fine and homey. Chocolate Hazelnut Tart ($6) with crème fraiche & hazelnut brittle is helped with the nice crunch from the hazelnut brittle, and I loved the homemade creme fraiche. Peach pie ($6) with burnt sugar ice cream & oat crumble was also a nice ending. My sister thought her cardamom ice cream was "unique and delish, and fab". I'd have to agree.

Northern Spy Food Co is a very good little treasure nestled in the East Village. With food this well executed, it just makes me wish I lived in the East Village. What a great neighborhood.

Northern Spy Food Co
511 E. 12th Street (bet. A and B)
New York, NY 10009
212-228-5100
www.northernspyfoodco.com