If there are two things you should know about me, it is that side orders are my favorite part of any menu and I LOVE diners. So when I found Westville, a hip and healthy diner with locations in Chelsea, East Village, West Village, and the Financial District, I was in food heaven. Without fail, Westville has become my #1 go-to restaurant in NYC. Yes it is small and at peak hours all locations are absolutely packed, but service is quick and friendly, turnover time is typically less than your estimated wait, and there are an ABSURD amount of nobread options…
The highlight of the menu is the Westville Market where you can order one side for $6, or order the market plate of four sides for $15. And the portions are MORE than generous! They’re huge, actually. With over 30 market sides to choose from, you can order any vegetable fathomable, prepared several different ways. I always order the market plate and typically fill it with the sautéed broccoli with garlic, brussels sprouts with honey dijon, cauliflower dijonaise, asparagus with lemon (noparmasean), and green beans with almonds. Favorites amongst my friends are the green peas with shallots and bacon, zucchini with cherry tomatoes and parmesan, artichoke hearts with parmesan, fried plaintains, and sautéed kale. For those who are dairy free, all can be ordered sans the parmesan. I also recommend the salmon salad; this salad is large, filling, and the fish is grilled perfectly.
I used to order the sweet potato fries EVERY single time I went to Westville. They are unbelievable, and serve as a reminder for myself that anytime I think something is unbelievable, I should double check that they are gluten free. In making sure I had all the correct nobread facts for this website, I asked my waitress about the french fries and sweet potato fries and was devastated to learn that these fries are NOT gluten free. Not only are the fries subject to cross contamination, but they are coated, and the coating contains gluten. I knew the fries were too good to be true!! I don’t mind a little cross contamination, but I won’t touch breaded fries.
Thankfully my obsession with all the veggies here will keep me coming back! Westville is still one of my favorite restaurants in NYC for its vibe and extensive menu, and even though I can’t have the fries, I guess it’s nice to go nocarbs every once in a while.