Plugs — Joanne Wilson

New York food, drink, and leisure recs from my mother, the Gotham founder and CEO + LINKS

Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. Every week, you’ll get six picks—a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat—from someone in New York who knows what they’re talking about, plus a selection of Angel-curated links.

#96 (in all-time Plugs history, but #1 in NY Plugs history) is Joanne Wilson, also known as the Gotham Gal. Joanne is the founder and CEO of Gotham, the cannabis concept store with locations on the Bowery, at the Domino Sugar Factory, in Chelsea, and in Hudson, New York. Before getting into the weed biz, she was an angel investor focused on women-founded startups like Parachute, Clue, Sweet Loren’s, and Food52. She’s also my very own mother—and the person most responsible for my lifelong obsession with food. She taught me how to roast a chicken, and that chocolate chip cookies should be baked regularly and kept in a big glass jar on the kitchen counter. She gave me a proper education in dining, too: taking me to places like Tabla, wd~50, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, and Fatty Crab at the height of their popularity, and shepherding me to classics like Fred’s at Barney’s and Florent. She likes to call herself a woman about town, and I’d agree. Who better to kick off Plugs in New York City? Here’s Joanne.

For the first two weeks of January, The Angel is free. After that, all editions of Plugs and most of our reporting will be behind a paywall.

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Restaurant — Anton’s

I have lived in NYC long enough that when asked to plug a restaurant, it all depends on the angle. Favorite (tough one), cuisine (multiple), old school (plenty), and the list goes on. We all have our go-tos. My husband and I eat out six days a week. I insist we stay home on Sunday night. I decided the plug must be a spot we frequent at least once a week, and sometimes more, because you can also go there for lunch: Anton’s. The vibe is great, the story behind it is great, and in full transparency, we ended up becoming investors when the former owners (The Franks of Frankies) left the space behind and handed the golden keys to Natalie and Nick, who made it their own. It has been an absolute success, and the food is delicious. Ask anyone who has been there. Anton’s is also our neighborhood spot, located on Hudson and 11th, an epic corner.

Photo by Joanne Wilson.

Bar — Barbuto

I love a good bar, particularly one you can eat at, and that is around the corner. We have been going to Barbuto from the start, when it was on the corner of 12th and Washington, where the bar had maybe seven seats. It was a miracle if you could score one. Barbuto closed when the landlord sold the building to someone who planned to convert it into a one-family, then four-family (and now currently stalled) project, which is not ok for the neighborhood, but the good news is that Barbuto found a spot a block away. The new bar is huge, and we can usually score a seat and have a drink. The bartenders all know us, they know our drinks, and they know to bring us an order of breadsticks.

Shop — Dover Street Market

I wanted to share my favorite food shop, but there aren’t many that I frequent. Besides Eataly, which works if you live in the area, and the H Marts springing up everywhere, there is a real void in the grocery store sector, particularly in the West Village. I pine for the old Dean & Deluca and Balducci’s. Citarella has gone downhill. So I am going to plug my favorite store in NYC (besides, of course, all the Gotham stores): Dover Street Market. Cutting-edge, cool building, constantly changing inventory, young designers, and of course lunch, a treat, or just a coffee at Rose Bakery, where they carry a great curated selection of food products. It’s the perfect way to spend a few hours once in a while.

A Rose Bakery scone. Photo by Joanne Wilson.

Ingredient — Lemon

I love when lemons get charred at a high temperature, making them soft, juicy, and ideal for squeezing hot juice over fish. I love a moist lemon cake with ample zest. I love a tart, oozing lemon pudding. Lemon rind in my vodka martini, always. Even when I was a kid, and we would go to Baskin-Robbins for a treat, I’d always order a scoop of lemon ice cream on a cake cone.

Person — Liz Neumark

I usually would say my husband, as we are great together, and he is my favorite person, but I am going to choose Liz Neumark here. I was introduced to Liz by someone I had invested in. He thought we would make a good connection, so we all got together for drinks. After meeting her, I wrote about her for Women Entrepreneur of the Week, a column I used to write for my blog. Liz and I got together at Chelsea Market, and I interviewed her. She was a photographer who began to cater art openings on the side, turning her side hustle into Great Performances, one of the biggest hospitality companies in the country. We became fast friends. She loves food, and so do I, so I suggested we spend an afternoon at the Golden Mall Food Court in Queens. Since then, we have visited countless cities together to eat, learn, go to farmers’ markets, and have fun. Liz is a true New Yorker, and I am lucky to have her in my life.

Treat — Hershey’s Kisses

My favorite treat isn’t especially gourmet, but it always hits the spot. Hershey’s Kisses make me happy, although sometimes I have to hold myself back from eating too many. They’ve been around since 1907, a classic. I peel off the silver foil, pop the kiss in my mouth, and let it melt on my tongue. For Valentine’s Day many many years ago, I got each of our kids a framed photo of a Hershey's Kiss. It’s kind of the perfect treat.

The Best Way to Get a Restaurant Reservation? Duh: become a regular. [NYT, gift link]

Blackbird had the most fun making dining predictions for 2026. [The Supersonic: Blackbird's Secret Substack]

Are you reading Price Upon Request, a new Substack by the one and only Abigail Sandler? You should be. Here she is, with her discerning taste, on oysters plates, teapots, and egg cups. [Price Upon Request]

I’m into this mindset, put forth by Nicolaia Rips: Your Taste Should be Private [i-D]