Morgenstern's Ice-Cream

When it comes to ice-cream parlor's this new fangled one is top of the cone. It's creamy consistency, creative flavors make eating ice-cream a summer pleasure worth the caloric intake. Morgenstern's has been opened about a year and I have had their ice-cream a dozen times and each time I am excited like a kid in an ice-cream store. The physical store is clean with counters in a small square space. There is water with real glasses and you can get a real bowl if you eat your ice-cream to stay. The one caveat is the line on weekends is prohibitive so go during the week if possible. Also, greatness does not come cheap. My salted chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate with house-made whipped cream adding a marshmallow finish was $7.00 up from $6.50 last year, but oh so worth it. There is a plethora of flavors in each flavor headline like bourbon vanilla or Szechuan peppercorn and sesame caramel along with classic chocolate and Madagascar vanilla or the new classics. A treat in any flavor combo. GO! GO!

El Original

El Original is quite orginal in it's gigantic 7000 foot space in the once seedy stretch of 10th Ave in the Skyline Hotel. It's design is sleek while giving a bow to it's Tex-Mex identity it is gorgeous. Sliding windows with booths and generously spaced tables give you a feeling of space in central Manhattan, how rare. The food is authentic and tasty. Start with warm chips with salsa and order the wicked chile con queso. The queso with bits of tomatoes is gooey and the perfect compliment to your chips and the main. I went with the sour cream enchiladas with chicken and refried beans, topped with sour cream sauce and monterrey jack cheese. Wow- there is a flavor goddess in there as this dish packed a flavor punch. Topping off the meal were Texas pralines- a brown sugary concoction with pecans. Tasty, food, in a generous unique space, El Original rocks. GO! GO!

Dirty French

Step inside the budoir like room inside the Ludlow hotel and be prepared for a rare feast.Major food group succeeds in dishing dirty, delicious French and North African fare. The warm flat bread with herby cheese is a cross between a Turkish bread and crepe. I went straight for the main of Black Sea bass, clams in a holy basil pistol served en papilote. I ordered the oven bakeD cabbage with. Both dishes tasted of Marseilles on a warm summer night. The portions are small, but packed with flavor. Dirty or not Dirty French is wicked. GO! GO!

Boulevard Bistro

In a charming brownstowne, Boulevard Bistro awaits. The room is on the first floor of a corner brownstone lined with banquettes and two communal tables and a small bar. This is an intimate space with friendly folks there to please. The biscuit to start is perfect. Dark, hot and flavorful served with a Louisiana can sugar butter- this is addictive. I went with the grouper with corn and tomatoes. The grouper wasn't as satisfying. The corn was not fresh and the grouper was underseasoned to taste. The idea of a great soul food spot in Harlem is so appealing, but foodwise things are a bit uneven. Maple whipped sweets fared better, but I would venture back for the biscuit alone. GO!