Spring Street Natural
62 Spring Street near Lafayette Street, Nolita, (212) 966-0290
Getting There: 6 to Spring Street
Spring Street Natural

The open atmosphere inside Spring Street Natural is befitting of a plain restaurant that camouflages in with the rest of the neighborhood.  When the weather is warm, patio seating is available and the eatery is a great spot for an early evening dinner.  During cooler seasons the outside may be closed, but the organic and minimally processed food served inside are appealing enough to persuade patrons to give it a chance.

When we stopped off at Spring Street Natural, we were looking for a moderately priced place to have dinner after a LocalBozo.com photo shoot.  Wandering several blocks, we stumbled onto a relatively busy yet considerably sized dining area, with a nondescript blue awning.  After being seated immediately, we quickly perused the menu which stood out based on many distinct buzz words that we had not anticipated: “grass-fed,” “organic,” and “free range” to name a few.  With so many restaurants in Manhattan catering to gluttony, Spring Street Natural was a nice change of pace.

Being served a basket of fresh, multigrain bread and rolls was a welcome opening to our meal.  After a long day of shooting, our pangs of hunger were calling aloud, and the bread basket became our prescription for comfort.  Our mouths watered as we selected our entrees.  The appetizer options are all over the place- which is a good thing.  From sea fare like crab fritters ($10) and seafood risotto ($10) to vegetarian cuisine like the chickpea hummus ($8) and summer rolls ($7), there is something on the menu to quell every taste bud.

The main courses are equally as varied- the grilled natural grass-fed hanger steak ($23) is the only true red meat entrée but the sesame crusted sashimi rare yellowfin tuna steak ($23) looked the most delicious.  We opted for some lighter fare- the asian ginger-lime stir fry ($16) is a conglomerate of vegetables- deliciously doused baby shitake mushrooms, Chinese dried black beans, snow peas, baby bok choi, and onions over a sticky bed of rice, and topped with seitan- a high protein wheat gluten.  The dish is vegetarian friendly and was both saucy and flavorful.  Also, a freshly toasted brioche bun played host to the grilled free range chicken burger ($13), topped with pepper-jack cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, and crispy hand-cut French fries- an insanely tasty and healthy alternative to a sloppy red meat patty.

Spring Street Natural plays the part of distinct alternative to those of us who are non-vegetarians.  The neighborhood is full of energy and artsy-ness, and while there are certain restaurant hot spots in the vicinity, sometimes a reasonably priced meal with good food that is good-for-you tastes best.  Spring Street Natural forges both into one enjoyable dining experience.