She may scream obscenities at Larry David for a living, but there’s one thing that actually makes Susie Essman happy: the restaurant scene in New York. “You can go into any place locally and get great food,” says the comedian, who regularly appears on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” as the wife of David’s manager. For 28 years, Essman, who was born in The Bronx, lived in the West 70s. She now resides in Morningside Heights. “The 70s got big-box stores, not mom-and-pops. It got a little East Side,” she says. “Curb” just arrived in syndication on the TV Guide Network where, following each show, Essman moderates a debate about the episode’s ethical issues. This is her New York.
1 Pisticci, 125 La Salle Street, between Broadway and Claremont Avenue
“It’s this great little Italian place. Everything is delicious there, but my favorite is the grilled eggplant appetizer topped with fresh mozzarella.”
2 Smoke, 2751 Broadway, at 106th Street
“When I was in high school, I used to come into the city all the time and go to the Village Vanguard and the Village Gate and all these jazz clubs. [Smoke] has that feel. It’s small and intimate, and they have incredible musicians.”
3 The Central Park Boathouse, East 72nd Street and Park Drive North
“When we want a romantic lunch or dinner, my husband and I like to go to the Boathouse. Then he takes me rowing. I love Paris, and I love other cities, but I think New York is the most romantic city in the world. Just walking the streets of New York, whatever neighborhood you’re in, there’s something romantic and dreamy about it.”
4 Friars Club, 57 E. 55th St., between Park and Madison avenues
“We were married here. Our ceremony was in the George Burns Room, and our reception was in the Milton Berle Room. It was moving to me that our ceremony was in the George Burns Room because George and Gracie had a legendarily great marriage, and George always let Gracie get the laughs. That’s how it is with my husband.”
5 Henry’s, 2745 Broadway, at 105th Street
“The food is always good. They’re always welcoming and they have a great bar. It’s a good neighborhood joint. My favorite dish is the grilled yellowfin tuna with artichokes, spinach and lemon vinaigrette.”
6 Brooklyn subway station
“One of the first movies I ever did was ‘Crocodile Dundee II,’ and we shot in a subway station at, like, 4 in the morning, somewhere [that I can’t remember] in Brooklyn. That was one of my first movie experiences. Paul Hogan was lovely. But I remember my first on-location movie experience was in a subway, which was appropriate because I was always Miss Turnstile.”
7 Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, between 49th and 50th streets
“That’s my hometown club. Comedy rooms are very hard to figure out. It’s all vibes. There are certain givens, like having a low ceiling because laughs need to hover. If you ever go into a comedy club, the good ones have low ceilings. If you have to do comedy outdoors, as I’ve done sometimes, it’s hard because the laughs just go into the air and dissipate. The laughter needs to hover, because it’s contagious.”
8 Babbo, 110 Waverly Place, between Sixth Avenue and Washington Square West
“I love all Mario Batali’s restaurants. I think he’s the best out there. It’s always special to go to any of his places. Babbo is so good, but I really can’t pick a favorite. It’s like when people say, ‘What’s your favorite color?’ I don’t know. I have a lot of favorite colors. To eat, I like whatever the special is. I let them choose.”