The New York Diet

Socialista Co-owner Armin Amiri Takes His Guilt Trips to the Juicer

“I’m not much of a drinker really.”haha Photo: Melissa Hom


Ever wonder how alpha doormen spend the eighteen hours of their lives during which they’re mere mortals? Granted, Armin Amiri is now the co-owner and face of hot spot Socialista and a budding actor soon to appear with Joaquin Phoenix in Terry George’s Reservation Road — but those of us whose egos have not yet healed from being turned away at Bungalow 8 will always remember him as the place’s dapper doorman. So what does the “Prince of the Night” eat when he’s not hobnobbing with the stars?

Thursday, July 5
I start all of my mornings at Panino Giusto. It’s right next to my house on Perry Street. They make really good cappuccinos, and it’s very quiet if you want to read. I had a cappuccino with whole-wheat toast and butter and jelly. Not very healthy, but that’s how we do it.

Wednesday, July 4
I went through a bit of a cleanse. I started with green tea, and I basically stayed on juice the whole day. I had fruit in the afternoon and didn’t eat anything for dinner. I left work early — around 12:30 a.m. — so it was all right. Sometimes not really eating gives you more energy. Although when I play basketball and swim at Chelsea Piers, I have to have something in my system.

Tuesday, July 3
I started at Panino with tea. I had a chocolate-almond croissant.

Around 3 p.m. I went to Elixir for juice. It’s called a guilt trip. It makes me feel better about my lifestyle, especially being up late at night. Sometimes I have them put ginseng in it.

Then I went to Whole Foods and bought some raw nuts.

At Socialista I had corn to start, and then I had our grilled chicken.

Monday, July 2
I had a cappuccino and toast at Panino.

For lunch I had a tuna sandwich at Bottino. They have really amazing sandwiches.

For dinner I went to Hasaki. The quality of the fish is amazing there. It has that East Village cool style, but everything is very clean. You see it being done right there. I had the teriyaki salmon, and I started with a small salad and had two pieces of hamachi and two pieces of salmon. For dessert I had hot sake and green tea.

Sunday, July 1
I started my day at Panino. I had green tea and toast. At 2 p.m. I went to Elixir again to get carrot and beet juice.

At 5:30 p.m. I had a meeting at Socialista so I had a salad and the Cuban-style burger. They’re very tiny, and the mustard and ketchup are already prepared in the meat. The French fries are on top of the meat and you close the bun on top.

For dinner I went to Raoul’s and had the steak-frites with goat-cheese salad. I was a bad boy, and I also had chocolate cake. I used to work there a long time ago. If you want a good steak, they make it the way they made it 27 years ago. Even though you may see a lot of “in” people, it’s not right in your face. I go there most of the times Sundays.

Saturday, June 30
I had breakfast at Panino — cappuccino and whole wheat.

Around 4 p.m. I went to Elixir for juice.

Around 6 p.m. I went to Whole Foods for raw nuts. I had dinner at Socialista — I started with corn on the cob, then I had the salad, and salmon with rice and beans.

Around 1 a.m. I had a Cuban sandwich at Socialista upstairs. They’re very tiny. Our menu is a bit lighter and has a bit of a Spanish background and a bit of Americano. [When at work] I’m not much of a drinker really. I have a glass of wine or maybe a cocktail around 1 a.m. [Joking] I like to spank some heroin in my system; that’s what I’m more into these days.

It’s really important not to have a pretentious place. If celebrities are here, great, enjoy, but we’re not here strictly for that. The music is important to me — not having any hip-hop. I want it to be a place where great minds come together.

Socialista Co-owner Armin Amiri Takes His Guilt Trips to the Juicer