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Obama, the Hippest POTUS of All Time, Dines at Estela in Nolita

Forget white tablecloths. Barack and Michelle want some orange wine and mussels escabeche.

@CaraMaresca

Reports from Twitter, Instagram, and the Eater tipline are all pointing in one direction: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, in town for the UN Assembly, dined at downtown food world favorite Estela tonight, throwing the entire Houston corridor into a frenzy:

Obama estela

Obama estela 2

[Courtesy @arielpsegal]

The President and First Lady are known for their excellent taste in restaurants, but they usually skew traditional, high end for his official and non-fundraiser meals. Please see their date night at Blue Hill (and Minibar), or the President's tête-à-tête with Bill Clinton at Il Mulino. That said, the man does enjoy a Shack Burger. Why wouldn't he crave chef Ignacio Mattos' famous steak tartare?

Have any intel on the presidential meal? Was escarole involved? Did they take a tour of San Gennaro after? Send it this way.

Update: Here's their order, including the two orders of burrata with salsa verde and bread, two endive salads, tomatoes, and ... a croque madame? SOURCES REVEAL: croquettes.

The below photo is via chef Ignacio Matto's Instagram. Per one commenter on his feed: "I was there! Had made the res almost a month ago! So happy we still got in.

The rest of what happened last night, however, is on Secret Service lockdown. When reached for comment, Thomas Carter told Eater, "unfortunately I can't disclose any details."


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Estela

47 East Houston Street, Manhattan, NY 10012 (212) 219-7693 Visit Website