Barnacle, Loulay, Among Zagat's 25 Most Important Restaurants of 2013

[Photos: S. Pratt]

Renee Erickson's Barnacle and Thierry Rautureau's brand new Loulay both make Zagat's list of the 25 most important restaurants of 2013.

Barnacle, which opened adjacent to Erickson's Walrus and the Carpenter in September, comes in at #18. Zagat says the bar, "meant to accommodate the hungry hordes lined up for Walrus and Carpenter" has become a hit on its own (but we already knew that). "We'll credit the well-crafted cocktails and interesting lineup of savory shareables, including the dynamite octopus terrine. Nobody's calling it a tapas bar, but it certainly fits the description."

Loulay, which barely made the list, having just opened Dec. 4, grabs the #25 spot. Despite its semi-opulent aesthetic, Loulay Kitchen & Bar is less-fussy and less-formal than Rautureau's lamented Rover's, with a menu "filled with many of his childhood staples, including toasted brioche with cocoa, meant to offer a sweet afternoon break from shopping."
· The 25 Most Important Restaurants of 2013 [Zagat]
· Barnacle [Official Site]
· Loulay [Official Site]