FRANNY ON THE GO

La Boulangerie

2012-02-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Authentic French boulangerie where the baguette is warm and crunch outside and soft inside. Owned by a Frenchman, the newish Forest Hills spot brings breads, pastries and some savories to this carb starved hamlet. Prices are reasonable @ $2.50 for a baguette this good and warm. A madeline $1 is lemony and add a little fresh preserves kept at wooden farmhouse table is pretty perfect. Only downside to this spot is lack of a loo. Otherwise.......
MUST GO!

Parm

2012-01-31T16:45:00.001-08:00

Parm the quintessential NY description of eggplant, chicken or meatball parmigiana satisfies with old school recipes revisited. The setting a lunch counter with wallpaper reminicent of grandma's kitchen is small, and the tunes like Volare and When the Moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie take you back. If you come early before 6 you will likely get a table, after that name on a list. I came early and sat at the counter. I ordered the garlic knots, baked clams, eggplant parm platter with Sunday salad. The baked clams are simply divine sauce meant to dip and slurp. Garlic knots are light a little sweet, heavy on the garlic and delish. Eggplant was dry sitting under the broiler way too long where it should have been moist with sauce and cheese like Monte's meatballs and polenta. Sunday salad was authentic with ice-berg, California olives, peppers and a good vinaigrette. Fun spot to relive memories.
GO!

Monte's

2012-01-29T08:10:00.001-08:00

The resurrected Monte's in a spot also resurrected by time moves into an updated Italian menu. A wood fired oven is the centerpiece and churns out high quality delicious pies. Renovated and reopened it drew quite a crowd on a Saturday night. Meatballs over polenta cooked in the oven satisfies with a hearty sauce and high quality mozzarella ($9) The special pie of escarole, sausage and mozzarella hot out of the oven was pizza perfection. Charred with al dente escarole it had a magnificent flavor reminicent of Zero Otto Noves pies. Thicker not paper thin, lots of flavor.($17) Larger pies called metros are big enough for a family to share. Mighty fine!
GO!

Frasers Bake Shop

2012-01-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

Open since 1902, this old school bakery treasure from old Yorkville sits on 1st Ave. near 87St. I am drawn in by it's goods and knowing that I have discovered a remnant of things past. The enormus oven(coal) speaks to the rustic quality of some of the baked goods. Challah looks bandmade and slighly charred on top. Originally a bread bakery when opened they expanded to cakes and pastries. All looked lovely. I went with some classics- black and white cookie, peecan danish, cheese danish, chocolate cupcake($1.25). The danishes which were properly darkly daked and properly delicious. Must get a challah next time.
MUST GO!

Ai Fiori

2012-01-15T03:41:00.000-08:00

High end, hotel restaurant in the newish Setai Hotel on 5th Ave. and 37th St. Large dining room on second floor overlooking less glamarous 5th. Ave. The lunch on Saturday boasts all sections of the menu at megawatt prices. We were seated at a four top and enjoyed the moment. A Fisher amber from the Alsace comes in a pretty bottle and is tasty. Ai Fiori has an extensive wine list as well. My friend and I shared two pastas. A Ligurian crustacean of seafood finely added over black squid pasta. The other dish was a tortelli(large ravioli) with ricotta and a sauce of marscapone and a red wine glaze. Total cost of the small plate pastas was close to $50. They were fine, dishes- the seafood pasta ligtly creamy and delicate pieces of scallop and sepia. The tortelli(pictured) glistened and also was mighty fine. For dessert a chocolate caramel(chemuex) with vanilla ice-cream was a divinely decadent finish to a pricey albeit tasty meal.
GO!

Vandaag

2012-01-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

A stellar brunch experience starting with the space- bright, light, and modern corner restaurant. Northern European with emphasis on Dutch. Unusual flavor combos make for a comforting yet exotic experience. A latte and Dutch hot cocoa started us off. Latte was perfect and hot chocolate was spicy from cinnamon and...was delicious. A piece of sweet bread rolled around a jam center served on a slab with butter and fig jam was also a winner. The star of the brunch was the Dutch pancake. Served in a round white bowl, it was perfection to look at and eat. Speck, gouda with rind,bits of Fujji apple and topped with Juniper apple syrup. Purely orgasmic. Cleanest, bathrooms by European standard.
MUST GO!

Smorgas Chef

2012-01-03T13:49:00.001-08:00

A charming spot that boasts some Scandanavian design elements like preserved trees and wooden benches, plus looks out onto a lovely part of the hamlet. Smorgas Chef has been around awhile and with good reason, the food is good. Scandanavian cuisine is enjoying a rebirth of sorts in NY and this is a fine place to sample some. At brunch, there is a prix fixe for $17.95 or a la carte dishes, we went with the latter. The pancake with vanilla sauce and bacon pictured for $14 and an egg white salmon and jarlsberg omelette for $16. Both were solid choices with the eggy pancake sprinkled with a few strawberries being the clear winner. A delicate plate of cookies sprinkled with powdered sugar topped the meal for $5.
GO!

Kutshers Tribecca

2011-12-26T09:41:00.001-08:00

Oh, nostalgia reigns supreme. A unique concept of a resort capitalizing on fond memories of it's dining hall opens a restaurant. The dining room is a modern retro 1950's affair. Some old pics remain in the front of the house. Updated faves and new ones appear on the very pricey menu. Matzoh ball soup, latkes, stuffed knishes, Catskill trout, Short ribs in red wine to name a few. Matzoh ball soup was a flavorfull broth and veggies though the matzoh was underseasoned. The latkes served with caviar is a new twist, homemade apple compote is also quite good. The short ribs in wine were tasty and the whipped mashed amazingthe Catskill trout with Meyer lemon confit was tasty. A chocolate bread pudding with poached pears and caramel brandy sauce didn't rock my boat. $115 total for two.
GO!

Palm One Steakhouse

2011-12-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

There is no school like the old school and I'm the headmistress. Original locale sports wood booths, celebrity caricatures and the owner greets you like you haven't been here in a million years- how's the family? You come to the Palm for classics. Starting with the lobster bisque(pictured) with sherry cream you are sent straight to heaven. If you start with the lump crab meet served in an elegant silver serving dish you are also headed straight up with fresh seafood.
The steaks here are taken seriously and my rib eye(medium rare) was meat perfection. Juicy, a little fatty, bone in of course. Brussel sprouts as a side were slightly overcooked, but with a shallot flavor. A warm bag of donuts for dessert were darkly fried, warm, tasting like cornmeal served with chcocolate sauce and raspberry puree.
GO!

La Promenade Des Anglais

2011-11-28T02:25:00.000-08:00

The latest venture from the Allegretti team wins you over with food and attentive service. Brunch starts with fine breads and olive oil with sea salt on the side, though we requested butter. I had the egg white omelet(pictured) with apple wood smoked bacon and home fries for $15. My dining companion went with the blueberry pancakes with pieces of blueberries, blueberry preserves and lemon curd on the side for $12. The pancakes were certainly well conceived, cooked and delish. Don't miss the stellar dessert of chocolate mouse, salted caramel , marshmallow and crunchy bits. The divine concoction for $10 is one of the best deserts, I devoured in months. 461 West 23rd. St. London Terrace.
GO!

Zenon Taverna

2011-11-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

Zenon Taverna is an old school real deal food joint in the heart of Greek Astoria. It boast white washed walls and plaques transporting you to Greece/Cyprus. They offer some of the standard fare plus enormus meze platters for two that are a feast fit for a Greek God. Two of us had the Seafood Meze for $23.95 each. Fourteen dishes in all. Skordalia, taramosalada, Greek and Cypriot salads....and more meze. Olive and pita are on the table for dipping. Then comes the seafood- salmon, octopus, grilled squid, fried calamari- all expertly cooked. Our friends lamb chops were enormus cooked medium rare to perfection. This is a fun spot for a group where the management cares deeply about the food they serve.
GO!

Bigelow's New England Clam Shack

2011-11-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

Bigelow's is a Long Island institution since 1937. It is a stand alone shack, where you sit around a counter and chow down on some chowder while chatting with the friendly owners or other patrons. It is definitely a one of a kind spot. A cup of New England clam chowder is a little old school and underflavored for my taste. Better is the fried clam sandwich which is fried to order for $9.95. Pieces of battered clams fall out of a fresh bun and the fries with some skin on action are super tasty. Cole slaw is fresh and made in house you can add it on for $3.00. This is a real summer Long Island thing, but a fun jaunt from Manhattan via the rails and a $5 cab from Rockville Center.
GO!

Tertullia

2011-11-06T15:30:00.001-08:00

Tertullias is quiet early for Sunday brunch and I like it that way. The draw at Tertullia is the wood burning oven and having been to Spain several times, I was excited to try Seamus Mullen's latest Spanish endeavor. Brunch is a tad cheaper though not much.
Churros con choclate for $7 is a good place to start. Light, sugary donuts with rich chocolate though not as rich a sludge as you would find in Spain or at Dough doughnuts in Brooklyn. I ate the Desayuno Tertullia for $14 which was two poached eggs, housemade face bacon, crusty bread, crispy mini fries and Spanish style peppers. This is a homerun dish, with flavor all over the place.
GO!

Bien Cuit

2011-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

This high end bakery was opened by Le Bec Fin bread baking alums is one of amazing quality and prices to match. Bien Cuit means well done and their breads are done to a beautiful color. That said some of the loaves run to $8. but they do sell half loaves a very key concept. The space is open and generous with bakery elves bringing fresh baked goods to the front for display. Classics like croissants will set you back $3. I bought a half a country white for $4, chocolate chip bread cookies, and teeny linzer like cookies for $.50 each. The linzer like cookie dark with high quality raspberry jam was the best this side of Salzburg. The bread is formidable and well cared for from yeast to oven. If you crave top notch restaurant quality at matching prices this spot is for you. 120 Smith St.
MUST GO!

The Cardinal

2011-10-23T04:35:00.000-07:00

The Cardinal is a newish, North Carolina restaurant in the East Village. A cozy duplex with exposed brink and a funky setting for some slammin' Southern eats. I went for brunch which was surprisingly empty given the high quality of the food, or not so surprising in the East Village where quantity and booze reign over quality. I went for the smothered fried pork chop with eggs and grits $16. I was asked if I wanted cheese on the eggs and grits and of course I said yes- I was later charged $2 extra for the cheese. No matter, when the food is this good. The pork chop arrives beautifully fried sitting in a bed of gravy with espresso in it. Eggs, cheesy and fried the way I asked plus the cheesy grits with some pepper on top. Oh and a housecured piece of bacon. Add to the mega flavor on the plates two types of housemade barbecue sauce. One that is mustard base kicks it all up a notch as if the food can be kicked up any higher.
Looked at someone's sweet potato pancakes and cannot wait to come back here for more.
MUST GO!

Print Restaurant

2011-10-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Brunch at Print House Restaurant is a first class though pricey affair. Brunch starts on Saturday/Sunday at 11:30. It is a chic restaurant within a hip hotel on the far reaches of Clinton on 11th Ave. The maple/bacon sticky bun pictured is only available at brunch and it is divine. Warm and oozing maple with bacon bits it is tops. The rich hot chocolate(also pictured) with housemade marshmallows was pretty perfect. The theme of Print is farm to table and this spot executes this perfectly. I went with a poached egg over challah with green beans, pancetta, pea shoots and mushrooms. Crispy green beans, runny egg all made for a great taste sensation. ($16) The bargain of the brunch was the insane sticky bun which at $3 is well worth doggie bag to take some home. Seamless service.
MUST GO!

Le Paddock

2011-10-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Opening in the long closed, yet locally iconic Lauras was a great move from the beginning. Decorated in Brooklyn farmhouse charm, Le Paddock offers an eclectic menu with alot of value. The restaurant boasts a wood fired oven which creates to start, an amazing house baked bread, chewey slightly salty and delicious. Mains range from $10 for moule/frites to $20 for a NY Strip. I had the oven made salmon with ratatouile for $16 and an order of potato daphinois for $5. The food arrives unremarkably presented though speaks volumes in flavor. Salmon is presented skin side up and is moist and flavorful. Ratatouile is authentic and a lovely side as is the thin classic, cheesey potatoes. Too full on the bread for dessert, I will definitely be back.
Prospect Ave. @ Reeve Pl.
MUST GO!

The John Dory Oyster Bar

2011-09-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

Kitchy seafood decor and a prime corner in the Ace Hotel Complex, the John Dory found a home after a shortlived time on 10th Ave. Some of the food here is inspired like the cremy, complex, corn, clam, and potato soup with spicy chorizo(crostini) and the lovely lobster roll with the skinniest shoestring potatoes. Yummy, warm, buttery Parker rolls are good for chowing and dipping. The freshest seafood(oysters) also rocks out with fresh horseradish and great sauces. The crudo with Kaffir lime was underseasoned and underwhelming. The shooters of crab and avocado are tasty though for $7 are miniscule. Desserts are also not sensational- vanilla sundae with raspberry was good as was chocolate mouse with butterscotch cream, but none were mindblowing. Very expensive with subpar service.
SLOW GO!

Chinatown Brasserrie

2011-09-03T14:08:00.001-07:00

Sumptous Chinese plus dim sum spot in a lofty space with Chinese banquets and lots of red lamps. Once seated you can order any and all off the menu- no carts, though this food is super fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Soups include wonton, corn/egg drop with lobster both tasty and wontons are super duper tasty/fresh. We ordered Peking duck, classic egg rolls, shrimp and mango rolls plus dumplings made with bok choy and mushrooms. A feast. Each dish was soooo good. The half Peking duck($20) arrived with the requisite shredded cucumber and pancakes with oyster sauce. Classic egg rolls were fresh fried and full of big size veggies- yum! Pricey yes, but a posh choice for a fun lunch or dim sum. Lovely loos for the ladies.
GO!

SteepleChase Coffee

2011-08-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

Kensington coffee shop in a burgeoning stretch of Fort Hamilton Parkway. Classic Brooklyn name and big airy space. Friendly service and wifi, SteepleChase offers a cool, chill vibe for a bit of a bite. Goodies from Trois Pommes, Balthazar, and Terrace Bagels. Some of the offerings are vegan. Outdoor seating in front of the store make this shop a welcome addition to this happening hood.
GO!

Tipsy Parson

2011-08-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Tipsy Parson serves low country food in a pretty, narrow spot on 9th Ave. in Chelsea. Dinner here is pricey with most entrees over $22, so we shared some small dishes to make a meal. Mac and cheese- $7 for a small portion, hush puppies- $8, shrimp and grits- $16, peach ribs- $15. The standoutof the four plates were the hush puppies with pimento cheese dip and shrimp/grits. Hush puppies were perfect, dark and tasty. Shrimp and grits were super tasty, spicy and grits were super creamy. We ordered the signature dessert- the Tipsy Parson a brandy soaked almond cake with berries and vanilla custard- delish.
GO!

Salt and Fat

2011-08-22T14:27:00.001-07:00

A temple to salt, pork and general fat. This long and pretty restauratn is very popular and an interesting spot along busy Queens Boulevard. Bacon popcorn(pictured) starts the service. This treat is highly addictive and you will find yourself asking for more and friendly servers will oblige. Our Queens dinner group ordered a bunch of dishes and shared. The plates are considered small which portion sizes are reasonable and so are prices with most under $12. Started with the cesar salad with runny egg and lots of house cured bacon. Delish. Lobster salad with pieces of orange and grapefruit was just ok. The signature crack and cheese was a gooey concoction of fried gnocchi, bechamel and more bacon- rich. Best were the meatball of veal. pork and beef in a spicy tomato sauce. The pork sliders pictured with some sweet spicy sauce on brioche with pickle was decadent. Dessert was rice crispy treats with marshmallow ice-cream. #7 train to 40 street takes you right there. 41-15 Queens Blvd.
MUSR GO!

Almond

2011-08-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

Brunching in NYC is taken very serously by some. Though I enjoy brunch it has to be something special for me to take it seriously. Almond hosts a serious brunch. A large, pretty, and noisy room people love this spot for brunch. Why? It showcases All American foods some made in house with a little extra. Starting brunch with warmed biscuits with housemade strawberry jam and apple butter is a surefire winner. My dad's housemade pastrami with eggs was mega tasty for $16. I opted for huevos rancheros which was quite good. The brews are all drafts and although drinks are not included this is a fine brunch option for Manhattan.
GO!

Totonnos

2011-07-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Holy Pizza Batgirl! This family owned pizzeria has been family owned and operated since 1924. A fire below the pizza oven a while back shut down the operation though much of the original pressed tin ceilings and walls in the dining room remained intact. One comes for the great Napolitana pizza and I have came here since I was a kid. It is the two booths and old timey feel that transport you back to when Coney was a small town of bungalows and summer day tripperrs. The service is to the point. Pizza is served on styrofoam and it deserves better. You have two pizza size options small and large- small is $16.50 and large is $19.50. Toppings are $2.50. We had a large plain and a small extra cheese- both pictured. The pizza has the freshest of crusts with a slightly sweet/salty taste. Perfectly darkly baked in the 1000 degree oven- this is the NY pizza that defines the ideal NY pizza with it's Naples roots. Cheese, crust, sauce, flavor are all spot on.
MUST GO!

Addeos Bakery

2011-07-12T16:54:00.001-07:00

Bread beauty on Authur Ave. Addeos is a bread bakery, nothing else and the bread is beautifuul and fine. It is like walking into a carb. lovers dream. Loaves upon loaves of pane di casa, semolina, and the bread I bought- sourdough. So many, but not enough space to carry all. The woman said the sourdough wasn't soft, no it was perfect. At, $2.00. it was one of the finest I have tried, perhaps ranking #2 to Royal Crown of Brooklyn.
MUST GO!

Love Gelato

2011-06-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love this lovely gelato. Made in Chelsea with authentic Italian flavors and consistency. The space is bright, airy with a few tables to mangia the great gelato. Tried the dark chocalate and chocolate/caramel. Both bursting with flavor. Ice-cream is pricey at $4.50 a cup, but with taste, ingredients and lots of fun and classic gelato flavors, show some love! 7th Ave. South and Charles St.
GO!

Le Bernadin

2011-06-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

$45 Harvest lunch with $5 donated to City Harvest. This is an amazing deal- cannot find this deal on their website, but when I sat down there it was. Toast points with fresh and smoked salmon started the meal. Fresh rolls from TomCat bakery. First course, salmon wtih grapefruit raw and surrounded by citrus- heavenly. Second course was perfectly cooked cod, surrounded by a red peppercorn mariniere. Wine, I chose was a lovely Frensh dessert wine. Pre- dessert was a budino with caramel and chocolate ganache in an eggshell(divine). Dessert was their classic Chocoalate- Peanut dark chocolate, and caramel tart, meyer lemon puree, peanut powder praline-citrus sorbet. Of course, service was what was expected-attentive, knowlegdable, highly professional. West 51st. in the Equitable building.
MUST GO!

Aggie's Roll

2011-06-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Looking like a Hamptons garden party, Aggie's roll is a New England style food truck with ambitious culinary merits in a sea of red sauce Italian and fried food joints that dot City Island. Owner/chef cooks her goods to order. You can see the whole cooked lobsters out back. I went with a mini- lobster roll- $10. Served warm with butter and lemon on a potato roll. This lobster sandy knocks others straight out of the water. Sit outside in the lovely patio and while away the summer hours. Other dishes include fish tacos, mac and cheese, Irish soda bread and salads. 150 City Island Ave.
MUST GO!

Brooklyn Star(The New)

2011-06-12T13:39:00.001-07:00

Sophisticated Southern in a big airy, corner space. Much larger than the original. They sat us at a round 4 top and we enjoyed the big feastt hat ensued. Very attentive and friendly folks are servers here. We had a food party and doggie bags to go. Biscuits are absolute biscuit perfection- $4 crispy at the edges, buttery and superflavorful. Mac and cheese with bacon $9 was tasy with pork though not as cheesy on top as I like. Smoked trout served with okra and onion rings rocks with flavor. The spicy pickeled onion rings, rung out with savory goodness. Best of all the mains was the meatloaf sandwich- $10. Made from veal, pork and beef and wrapped in bacon and topped with spicy slaw on pullman bread- absolute flavor boom in your mouth. A wonderful dining experience. Too full for dessert.
MUST GO!

The National

2011-06-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thai spot near BAM that is packed at night serving the standard Thai fare at moderate prices. Best thing about the National is also the worst- the very open kitchen is a show to behold, but makes dining a noisy experience with the clanking of pans nearby. The flavors are not exceptional here. I ordered summer salmon rolls for $4.95 and vegetable red curry for $6.95. The salmon rolls were fresh and generous. I love red curry, and there were plenty of veggies, though no zing. Service was a little gruff and unBroklynlike. Most entrees here are under $9, which makes this spot an inexpesive meal before BAM if you're craving Thai.
SLOW GO!

Milk Burger

2011-06-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Burgers and banquettes. If you like your burgers best on white pleather banquettes with a bar, music and a club land feel- Milk Burger is for you. Serving a Shake Shack style thin patty, with all the fixin's including American cheese, milk sauce on a potato roll. This burger at $3.75 will satisfy your burger fix. Add on cheese fries for another $3.75 and you have a cheap meal. At lunch your meal is served with a Coroncita(little Corona). The fries with cheddar were a little light for my taste, Shakes though not made with any local ice-cream are quite tasty. A chocolate/caramel shake plus making it malted is a cool- $4.50 The space here rocks and is a most unusual spot for a burger and................
GO!

Queens Kickshaw

2011-06-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Long industrial space on Broadway amid nail salons and Pollo Mario while directly across from the Queens Public Library. Queens Kickshaw boasts top-notch coffees and coffee making with creative grilled cheese sandwiches. When you enter you feel a little of the Brooklyn vibe, though with Queens flavor and hospitality. I went for the grilled cheese. None of the items are over $11 which makes for cheap fix. They range from gruyere with pickled onions on rye with Napa cabbage-caraway slaw for $8 to Gouda with black bean hummus, guava jam, pickled jalapeno on brioche with green salad and jalapeno vinaigrette for$10. I went with a classic combo- cheddar and mozzarella on brioche with tomato soup and toasted pumpkin seeds for $8. My sandwich was artfully prepared by the grilled cheese chef and was sinfully satisfying. Goey, cheese exploded from buttery brioche. Combine that with rich tomato soup flavored with carrots. More grilled cheese please!
MUST GO!

Maialino's/ Spring Brunch

2011-06-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

When you walk in the door at this Gramercy Park/Danny Meyer spot you are greeted by professional and caring hostesses. We were seated before our reservation time and later moved to a booth when the room opens officially for brunch. This is an elegant restaurant on a private park in a fancy hotel, but you are treated well here.
We started with coffee, and later switched to the lightly, luscious hot chocolate. A hot toffee brioche and a glazed croissant to start. I ordered the ricotta pancake with rhubarb compote and my dad the roast pork, egg, on ciabatta bread. The ricotta pancakes are seasonal and perfectly cooked- absolutely perfect. My dad's egg sandwich with it's signature roast pork was a satisfying savory dish. Total came to $65 which was a fair price for a superfine brunch.
MUST GO!

Cocoran

2011-05-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Mini temple of soba(cousin to ramen) or buckwheat noodles. Cocoran emphasizes the health benefits of various ramens. The ramen and the accompanying appetizers are not expensive so you could order a few things and eat an interesting meal. There are three small tables and a counter around an open kitchen. I ordered cabbage with miso and sesame seeds, potato and okara croquettes and a cold soba- Oroshi with ginger and scallions. The cabbage with miso was crunchy and sweetly delish. Potato and okara croquettes were freshly fried and flavorful. My soba was served on a tray with a large wood spoon- very cool. The buckwheat noodles were al dente and the broth made more flavorfull by the other sauces from my two appetizers. If you love soba....
GO!
61 Delancey St. near Ludlow

Zeri Otto Nove

2011-05-21T05:34:00.000-07:00

Aurthur Swchwartz the food guru from WOR once told me that Zero Otto Nove near Aurthur Ave. was the best pizza in town. This was before the proliferation of great authentic pizza in NYC. It still rises to expectations at it's new Flatiron branch. The restaurant is cavelike and elegant. The pizza speaks to greatness. Margherita for $13.95 offers a slightly doughy sweet crust, a little char and a ton of flavor. The sauce is a knockout. A side of cauliflower with parseley, garlic, soft and tasty. This spot is a welcome addition to Manhattan. Much more to try.
MUST GO!
15 West 21st. bet. 6th and 7th. Ave.

La Silhouette

2011-05-07T04:37:00.001-07:00

Former high end restaurant people opened this posh spot in the Theater District. $21 prix fixe lunch for two courses is a major deal for this level of food. I added on the dessert for $10 which was well worth the cost. La Silhoutte offers French/American comfort and does it mighty well. If you go for lunch there are three choices each among the appetizers, mains and desserts. I had the grilled leek salad with duck procuitto, and grilled red onion dressing, Amish chicken with wild mushrooms, and olive, caper jus. For dessert the cheesecake with strawberry rhubarb compote and mango sorbet. Each course was better than the one before it. The grilled leek salad was a lovely start with winey red onion dressing. Amish chicken was pure comfort with it's lovely mushrooms and bread dippable jus. The star was the cheesecake- light and perfectly set off by the compote and sorbet. Uber professional service.
MUST GO!

Pachanga Patterson

2011-04-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

Pachanga Patterson has a catchy name and is a popular new spot in Astoria. It serves up high-brow Mexican and is a fun spot brought to us by the people who brought VESTA to Astoria. We were five who dined there and enjoyed our experience. There are a few salsas to order with fresh made tortilla chips all tortillas are from Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona which is top of the line. I had the corn and charred tomato-$3 which was good. A start of a quesadilla with cannelini beans and cortija cheese was muy deliciouso- $6. For a main I had the pork belly enchilada with a chocolate-fig crema- $14 which was also delish. Others enjoyed their start of mussels in a chorizo broth or pork tacos. The side of sweet potato puree with a spicy kick was execptional- $3. Desserts include a diablito which is a date cake in a spicy sauce as well as a banana crepe with pecans and neither knocked my socks off.
GO!

Queens Comfort

2011-04-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

When I heard the words Queens and Comfort I was so there. Saturday brunch at this popular Astoria joint was rocking. A mix of ffolks with a few crying babies. Small space with virtually all communal tables, the decor is not the draw. The brunch is cheap and cash only. Ordered fried chicken served over mole and queso fresco for $10. This chicken is brined, braised and fried and full of mega-watt flavor. A delish dish. I also ordered a mac and cheese to go for $7. The mac and cheese was just the way I like it- cheesey with a darkly baked cheese top. Absolute killer. People around me enjoyed their brunch dishes which change weekly. Queens comfort, Queens style. 30th. Ave., Astoria
MUST GO!
GO

Albert Hall Tavern

2011-03-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

New gastropub in the burgeoning Hells Kitchenish... nabe. This is slightly south of Hells Kitchen proper. Albert Hall(love the name Albert) is a long British decorated pub that serves food some quite good. We started with warmed artichoke dip($10) served with toast points and topped with housemade potato chips. Very tasty and satisfying on a cold night. My main was classic mac and cheese($12) was a gooey, cheesey tasty version. My friend's fish and chips was perfection- $16. Expertly fried and served with thin, crispy fries, skin on cooked in duck fat and drizzled with truffle oil. The beer pictured is a Belgian wheat called Kwak served in a flask and wooden holder was a fantastic presentation. For dessert we shared the custard tart which was a cold mash-up of figs and too rustic for my taste. Charming loos.
GO! 508 9th Ave bet 38th. and 39th.

LYON Bouchon Moderne

2011-03-23T03:39:00.000-07:00

They say the cuisine of Lyon France is more meat centric. Perfect for a carnivore like moir. Went for brunch on Sunday and was pleasantly surprised. Firstly, the space occupied by the former Cafe De Bruxelles was a perfect transition for this Lyonaisse spot. Secondly, and rather oddly the restaurant was uncrowded as I abore brunchtime mobs. The service was attentive naturally as I was one of a few diners. I ordered three things. The weiner pictured and served on a pretzel roll as well as brussel sprout hash with bacon plus a hot chocolate. The Lyon hot dog is a truffled dog served with saurkraut on a pretzel roll with Dijon mustard naturally. Delicious, and savory- love the pretzel roll. The bacony brussell sprouts were the best I ever tasted. The hot chocolate though not deeply rich was reminicent of those I have tasted in France.
Must Go!

Stellina Cafe

2011-03-20T04:28:00.001-07:00

This little pink cafe is owned by the Sorella restaurant next door. It offers sandwiches, salads and the famous grissini that Sorella is known for. It also showcases luscious looking and tasting gelato. This is high end gelato expensive and worth it. Cones are housemade too for a full ice-cream experience. Gelato is $3.5 per serving and I ordered two in a cone which came to $6.53. The salted caramel with bits of chocolate was divine as was the giandujotto with bits of caramel. Incredible flavors like bananamil which is banana with animal cookies and coconut stadatellla make this a must visit for ice-cream addicts like me. 95 Allen Street.
MUST GO!

Il Laboratorio

2011-03-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

The newly opened Il Laboratorio is a genuine modern ice-cream factory. Clean, industrial with minimalist seating, it houses the works in the back and retail in the front. Double the flavors of the Orchard Street location this is an ambitious undertaking. My favorite flavors are Thai chili chocolate and banana both of which were on hand when I was there. Two scoops in a small cup are $3.50 plus $1 extra for a topping. I got a hot fudge topping(pictured). Black mission fig, marscapone, lavender and other amazing flavors. Also, enjoy the refreshing sorbets on a hot day as they are made with raw fruit and quite tasty.
Must Go!

Red Rooster Harlem

2011-03-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

Red Rooster is a hopping, happening Harlem hotspot. Complete with a big, beautiful bar this spot is a scene from the moment you enter through a velvet curtain. Hosts with attitude greet or don't greet you and you won't get a table without a reservation unless your name is Clinton or Obama. That being said there are 18 seats at three communal tables next to the bar and there I sat and consumed a fine meal. Ok, bread with exotically spiced chickpea dip arrives first. I ordered the Fried yard bird($21), sweet potatoes with maple bacon($8) and a frosty malted choclate for dessert($8). The two big pieces of chicken are fried darkly and exotically spiced over collards, white mace sauce and hot sauce plus a shake of spices and the chicken is tasty. The whipped sweets with maple bacon are super delicious- bacon makes everything better. The frosty malted chocolate served with house made creme fraiche and pieces of malted milk balls is an orgasmic dessert.
GO!

Dough

2011-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

A doughnut pilgrimage to Bed-Stuy in the wee hours of the morning is not as far-fetched as it sounds if you love doughnuts. This bakery/doughnut plant makes baked goods for it's retail as well as other establishments in an open kitchen. Perched on the corner of Franklin and Lafayette it is a welcome sign to early morning hunters of a great breakfast. Stumptown coffe is served here along with just baked donuts showcased on the small counter. All doughnuts are $2 and with flavors like chocolate with chocolate nibs, dulce de leche with almonds and nutella filled- you are likely to encounter just the doughnut for you. All yeast all the time. We started with the chocolate covered with chocolate nibs- this doughnut was slathered in fresh chocolate and messy to eat and absolute doughnut nirvana. The coffee was killer and the hot chocolate $2.50 for a molten lava blend of several was absolute dark and delish. I took home the nutella filled and another chocolate as the freshness and absolute doughnut magic I wanted to bring home. G train to Classon Ave. 1 block walk to Franklin.
MUST GO!

Doughnut Plant

2011-02-20T13:03:00.001-08:00

Oh, doughnut joy and happiness. The arrival of the Doughnut Plant at the Chelsea Hotel has been long awaited and overdue since August. It is more than a factory it is a cafe too serving organic coffee and hot chocolate and making the doughnuts right here in Chelsea. There are some new uptown flavors like creme brulee with a raspberry glaze a salted peanut cake doughnut and the regular favorites like the square jelly or the Valrohna chocolate. Doughnuts are $2.50 each and the place is packed especially on weekends. Mark Israel the owner is present at his latest gift for the Chelsea community and beyond.
MUST GO!

Pizza Roma

2011-02-15T16:38:00.001-08:00

Roman style pizza is square with a formidable crust. There are few spots that do it right, Golosi is one and now Pizza Roma. This spot opened in the former historic Zito's bakery. You can dine inside or take your pizza to go by the slice. The margherita pizza pictured is $3.25 and was a tasty slice with good ingredients. The bianco or plain pizza was also strongly crusted with a little sea salt. If you dine in you get this pizza bianco or pizza bread at the table and it is divine. The star which is not pictured was the rice balls. Oblong, and freshly darkly fried these balls were divine- meaty, gooey with cheese and sauce. $6.00 for two. You can also order the Suppli or rice balls with porcini and cheese- also the best rice balls around. Most pizzas like potato and artichoke are $5 and the dessert pizzas are also $5. This spot rocks and don't forget the balls.
259 Bleeker at Cornelia St. Must Go!

Joe's Italian Cuisine of Ave. U.

2011-02-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

There is no school like the old school and I am the headmistress. This spot offers authentic south of the boot food, heavy on the fish, olive oil and flavor. Eating here is like going back in time- same booths and food with the same delicious flavor I remember from back in the day. Baked clams ($8) with a piece of garlic on each clam sitting on a bed of olive oil thick with parsely are simply great. The bread here from a bakery on Ave. O is dense, and divine. The chicken parm.($8) pictured is served with a huge dollup of fresh ricotta which is the best I have ever tasted. You can't go wrong with any of their seafood dishes which offer a true Sicilian taste. You can eat an enormous amount of food for a reasonable price. Head to Nuccios bakery down the block afterwards for some Italian pastry. Ave. U and McDonald Av.
MUST GO!

9 Restaurant

2011-02-05T05:35:00.000-08:00

New Eric Hara(Oak Room, David Burke's Townhouse) corner spot offers haute American style food among the ethnic pockets of Ninth Ave. The seating is slightly cramped though the food more than makes up for the space. A lunch special of two dishes for $15 is a bargain for the caliber of food served. The butternut squash pictured features candied bacon, organic mini arugula and a poached egg. The egg adds a lusciousness to the dish and the candied bacon is spectacular. The chicken BLT was food theatre piled high on a toasted brioche. Fries were perfection with some skin on served with mayo and ketchup. This is absolute comforting comfort food. Service here is top-notch.
GO!

Desserts NYC

2011-01-30T04:20:00.000-08:00

A Chinatown treat, this sho serves up suprisingly killer cupcakes, cakes and chocolate balls of joy. Bowls of chocolate wait ready to frost the luscious sweets. You can have your cupcake frosted with chocolate, espresso, raspberry etc. The chocolate is specially thick, rich and delish. The vanilla cake is moist and fresh. The staff is very friendly and accomodating and at $2 per cupcake you are getting a sweet deal. This Chinatwown treasure is at 155 East Broadway around the corner from the East Broadway stop of the F train.
GO!

Oaxaca

2011-01-23T05:05:00.000-08:00

Oaxaca is a chain of no-frills Mexican street fare restaurants offering authentic food in a spot of minimalist decor for very low prices. I have been to two of the Oaxacas- one on 4th Ave in Park Slope and one on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens. Each spot offers the same grub. There are daily specials and weekly lunch specials of two tacos and rice and beans for $6.95. I have tried both the taco and the burrito which is not on the menu. What sets these Mexican staples apart is that the the tortillas are warmed on the flattops and the fillings are that good. The tacos are $2.95 and filled with your choice of meats or specials. Yesterday, I ate the burrito with a filling of potato and poblano peppers that also included black beans, tomatoes, cheese and pickled onions served in a warmed and slightly charred tortilla with a dollup of sour cream. I asked for salsa verde whcich was a slightly spicy green salsa. The flavor was outstanding. Twitter.com/Oaxacatacos
Go!

One Girl Cookies

2011-01-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

One Girl Cookies is an upmarket bakery in Cobble Hill specializing in mini artisinal cookies with girls names. Like petit fours these cookies are made from top quality ingredients. You can try four for $2.50 and they are all unique. I particularly liked the Lucia and the Lana. The Lucia has a shortbread bottom and combines caramel with a chocolate top for a swwet treat. The Lana is a bittersweet chocolate cookie with a raspberry jam center. Uniquely pretty cupcakes(pictured) are $2.50 and mini cupcakes are a steal at $1.50. A cute sort of nostalgic seating area.
F train straight to Bergen Street and One Girl is right on Bergen.http://www.onegirlcookies.com/
GO!

Maialino's

2011-01-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

Danny Meyer's Roman trattoria is a remarkable achievement. Housed in the elegant Gramercy Park Hotel, you can look out at the lovely private park and enjoy your meal.
Starting with the hostess who said would you like to wait for your party at the table, and being seated at a comphy booth you feel the professionalism right from the start. The room has a warm feel and no noisy din usually associated with a full restaurant. We went for brunch and wanted to try a few things so we shared. Starting with the bombolini($4) and the brioche carmellatto($3). For the mains we also shared the malfatti(open ravioli) with their signature suckling pig($21) and a ricotta pancakes($14).
The roman style bread(pictured) served simply with sea salt was super.
The brioche was warmed in a tiny toaster oven- a homey touch for such a nice spot. Perfect tiny donuts with a light custard. The malfatti is perfection with it's housemade yolky pasty filled with the slightly salty pig in a butter sage sauce with the green from the arugula. The ricotta pancakes are light, sweet, cooked perfectly and served with a splendid fruit compote. My hot chocolate with flowere creme fraiche on top $5 was a tad light though pretty. A carefully chosen wine list. Bathrooms could be better lit. Gramercy Park Hotel- 2 Lexington Avenue.
MUST GO!

The Green Table

2011-01-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

Organic and seasonal restaurant within Chelsea Market, The Green table offers a sit-down spot within the market. With a menu focused on American classics with a full range of meat and veggie options. We dined there for Sunday brunch and it was a lovely meal. I went with the half grilled cheese sandwich served with a soup and dressed greens for $13. The soup of winter squash, carrot, coriander and bacon was tasty, not creamy, but super flavorful. Raw Vermont cheddar on Amy's bread with apple chutney was delish. The mac and cheese pictured served with dressed greens was $15, very tasty, albeit small for the price.
GO!

Campo di Fiore

2010-12-30T17:34:00.000-08:00

Highly rated for it's pizza, Campo di Fiore is a Park Slope restaurant which turns out Roman style food. It is a plain looking spot on a corner with slightly confused service. The pizza is by the pie. There were some left over slices from lunch and I went with one topped with an eggplant for $4. I also ordered orzotto which is a barley like pasta served with asparagus, speck and parmigianno cheese. The orzotto was a flavor fest and the slice while good was not outstanding. This spot is more local than boroughwide.
SLOWGO!

Pulino's Bar/Pizzeria

2010-12-26T14:30:00.001-08:00

Believe what you heard about the latest feather in the Keith McNally cap. It is a stunning corner spot with a similar design to Pastis and Schiller's. The pizza here is perfect. I went for brunch and started with a bitter chocolate, orange and cranberry scone for $3. Housemade and delicious. For the main I went with the Spinaci(half) for $9. The spinaci is a pizza with a soft egg, spinach, mozzarella, marscapone and grana. The thinnish crust is pizza perfection- well cooked, only ever so slightly charred. Flavors of this pizza are super. The hot chocolate though beautiful was a little weak for my taste.
MUST GO!

Landmark Tavern

2010-12-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

This 100 year old tavern in Hells Kitchen on 11th Ave is a landmark in so many ways. A beutiful wood laden front dining area with windows on two sides, provides a nice view. The service here is friendly and personal. The menu offers traditional Irish bar fare and it is done well. Nice raisiny bread starts the meal service. I went with a burger with cheese and asked for the garlic mayo with my fries. This unadorned burger was perfectly cooked with it's cheddar cheese perfectly melted. The fries were good bar fries and the garlic mayo a delish compliment. The shepard's pie pictured was also super rich and tasty. We finished the meal with homemade ice-cream of hazelnut and vanilla- a silky finish.
GO!

Chef 28

2010-12-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

Can you say Spare Ribs? On a non-descript block and having not been here since it was renovated a few years ago- I was pleasantly surprised. While not cheap, lunch specials generally run under $10, but not by much. Greasy, fat wontons just like I like them start the meal. I went with the wonton soup which was good with big wontons. The ribs were a delicious surprise- meaty, carmelized, porky goodness. I will return for those ribs.
Go!

Delta Grill

2010-12-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

While fiending for chicken fried steak and a comforting meal, I headed to Delta Grill for lunch. Long a mainstay on Ninth Ave, the fireplace and Cajun comfortable dining room are a welcoming sight on a cold day. They have lots of lunch choices all $14 and under- not the cheapest on the Avenue, but certainly well worth the price. Soup and half sandys run $8.95 which are some of the cheaper options. The $11 chicken fried steak was absolutely delicious. Crunchy fried steak smothered in onion gravey, alongside mashed potatoes with some spice from jalepenos. The veggies on the plate were cooked al dente and smacked of lip smacking butter. A lip smacking, stick to your ribs meal. All the Cajun and Creole Louisiana faves are featured here in an authentic setting.
GO!

Minetta Tavern

2010-12-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

A space that looks like a mini-Sardis with cramped red banguettes and old celebrity photos. Minetta Tavern, offers celebrity style dining to the average joe with deeper than average pockets. There was a D-lister present whose name escaped us, but the show is the food itself. Balthazar bread arrives first and then the absoloutely most professional service and knowledgable waiter. We were seated at a two-top and the place quickly filled with folks and conversation. This was a stellar dining experience and recommended for a special occacion or just for a special night out. I ordered the special appetizer of roasted brussell sprouts, shaved parmesan and a poached egg wtih bacon lardons. The brussell sprouts were shredded and the flavors were a great mix of savory and bacony. Of course, the star of the show was the Cote de Boef(medium rare) which is marbled rib eye and bone marrow roasted(pictured above). Some of the best meat I have ever tasted was on this dish($110). The salty marbled rib eye and the gelatin like innards of the bone marrow made for a naughty pleasure. The pommes aligots- basically mashed potatoes with cheese curds were a good side dish to the spectacular main. We exchanged the boring hazelnut crepe for a chocolate dacqoise which is chocolate ganache with hazelnut meringue and was positively foodgasmic.
MUST GO!

Brooklyn Commune

2010-11-21T06:45:00.001-08:00

Newly opened Brooklyn Commune was teeming with toddlers and their harried parents on their first Saturday opened. A lovely corner space on Prospect and Greenwood Avenues, the spot fills some sort of need for a cafe/market for locals. Having some local mission in mind- their appears to be house made jams and granolas as well as a nice selection of salads and sandys. I went with the BLT(pictured) for $8 which features sugar glazed bacon, avocado and tomato with tomato jam on grilled country bread along with a few taro chips and some steamed yellow wax beans. The bacon on the sandy(not cooked to order) was tasty though the tomatoes were mealy and underripe which ruined the sandy's texture. The house mixed chocolate which went into the hot chocolate($2.50) was dastardly good- rich, dark and lovely and not to be missed. Other items like breads(TomCat and Orwarshers) and cookies(Amy's) are imported. If you want to relax- skip the prime times as waits for food can be lengthy as well as the noise levels from lots of kids can be daunting.
SLOW GO!

Astor Bake Shop

2010-11-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

An oasis in the middle of the desert, this expansive corner spot with high ceilings showcases the baked goods of it's expert owner/baker. Having been a pastry chef at some of Manhattan's top restaurants- he opened his own joint in the lovely Astoria 'hood. Delectable baked goods, and smells abound here. I found Astor while chowing down at the Foundry event for Queens Harvest(the first Queens food co-op). Pumpkin eclairs, apples covered in chocolate and pecans, coconut cake, the lovely rustic apple pie(pictured) I particularly enjoyed the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting to which the baker adds granualated sugar on top for some flavor and "textural contrast". Their are some savories on the menu including a burger and chicken sandwich. The space and relaxed vibe lends itself to some major sweet tooth satisfisfaction. If I lived nearby, I would live in here. 12-23 Astoria Blvd.
GO!

Queens Eats

2010-11-20T06:43:00.001-08:00

Queens Eats was a benefit at "The Foundry" in Long Island City to benefit the first Queens food Co-op named the Queens Harvest Food Co-op. A brilliant industrial space featuring some top Queens restaurants including M Wells, De Mole, Testaccio, Vesta, Market and Bareburger. Bakeries such as Cream and the fabulous Astor bakeshop sweetened the pot. Standout savories included the frank with beens and homemade slaw from my beloved M Wells and brisket and slaw sliders on brioche roll from Market. The Astor baker rocked out with red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing with some granulated sugar on top.

Food Parc

2010-11-20T06:40:00.000-08:00

A food bazaar with a high tech twist. Order from computer stations around this multi-culti food spot. Italian pizzas and paninis, burgers and grilled cheese, Asian flair at Redfarm stand and desserts at the dessert station. Luxe, loungey seating inside are great. Food is hit or miss as the burgers rock out with Pat La Frieda meats. The Redfarm stands offer some innovative choices like smoked bacon egg rolls and water chestnut and arugula salad with passion fruit dressing- both yum and under $10 plus made to order. The 3B Burger Station offers made to order burgers with meats from Pat La Frieda. A cheeseburger, fries and a small drink run under $10. Patty is cooked on the flattop and steamed with American cheese, a special sauce and lettuce and tomato. Fries are cooked and salted to perfection. You can eat well and cheaply here if you choose wisely. Sixth Ave. and 29th St.
Go!

Hallo Berlin Express

2010-11-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

German soul food at a narrow spot with a food cart inside. This express cart is sort of like eating at an indoor food cart and the food is quite good. The single soul food special at lunch($7.50) is quite the deal. Choose your wurst, and that is chopped and mixed with fried(pan) with red cabbage and a nice spicy mustard. Sort of a hearty, porky mix. I choose the bratwurst twice which is panfried and the combination of flavors- spicy, sour, hearty is a satisfying combination of tastes served with a fresh roll. Double soul mix with a second wurst is a little pricier. This is a lunch deal.
GO!

Blackburn Burger

2010-11-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

A ninth Ave. burger spot is enticing especially when the lunch special here is $7.95 for a main and side or salad. I went with the Blackburn burger- a 100% lean beef burger on a seeded bun with romaine lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheddar. A pretty stellar burger albeith cooked medium well and not the medium requested. A side of grilled fingerling potatoes with a dab of pesto was yummy. On my second visit, I had the spicy corn and shrimp soup served with freshly baked bread. Repeat on the potatoes for a nice light lunch. Service is charming and friendly.
Go!

Qathra

2010-11-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

Qathra is a new coffee house/cafe on the ever burgeoning Cortelyou Road scene. It orders it's bread from Balthazar and serves it's food with a Middleeastern twist. On a pretty fall day- it is crowded and the lovely garden beckons. I had a creative lunch sandwich of hummus, avocado and sprouts on an everything focaccia(pictured). The sandwich was under $10 and enjoyed the outdoor garden. The service is decidedly more friendly than the other folks on the road. Brownies which are baked in house(also pictured) looked delish. Other baked goods come from Balthazar and the busy cafe is definitely embraced by the hood. Cortelyou Road area.
GO!

Ta Cocina

2010-10-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

$6.95 lunch special make this one of the best deals on the Avenue. Fresh chips and salsa are plentiful. Not too crowded and a comfortable spot for lunchtime grub. Lots of the usual suspects for lunch like the steak burrito pictured with fresh meat, choice of beans, rice, and pungent pico de gallo. Also tried the veggie chimichanga which was lightly fried and served with a side of black beans and cheese.
GO!
http://www.tacocina.com

Peter Luger's Steakhouse

2010-10-17T09:17:00.001-07:00

The grand dame of steakhouses in New York is in Williamsburg Brooklyn where it has been for over 100 years. Cash, debit or Peter Luger's cards only here. You must be a carnivore here as the meat is the star of the show. My friend and I ordered jumbo shrimp, and a thick slab of bacon to start. The shrimp were jumbo and juicy served with homememade cocktail sauce which tasted like Luger sauce with horseradish. The rolls here are super fresh and tasty. Now for the main event- we ordered the Porterhouse medium rare and it was a beautiful sight. Perfectly cooked, super tender, a great American steak. American steaks are a little underseasoned to my palate sometimes and this steak features the flavor of the meat, without alot of salt or seasoning like some South American style steaks. The onion rings to accompany were delish. For dessert we went with the hot fudge sundaes. When I asked the waiter(friendly by Luger standards) where the ice-cream was made he said Haagen Daz. Luger's has a formula and doesn't deviate which is suprising with all the great homemade ice-cream around. Still quite satisfying even with Haagen Daz.
If you are craving some great American beef and have the bucks to shell out, this is the place.
GO!

Artichoke Basil/Westiside

2010-10-11T04:42:00.000-07:00

Artichoke moves west to the Meatpacking District with a restaurant and slice shop. The slice shop features the usual suspects of square, magherita and the artichoke signature slice. Pizza is a little pricier than the east side with two pieces topping out at $9. On the plus side the small shop is not as crowded and pies are fresher and not as charred. Head over to the Highline while weather permits to chow down on some great pizza.
GO!

Hill Country Chicken

2010-10-08T17:59:00.002-07:00

The new outpost of chicken opened by the very successful Hill Country Barbecue people is a mixed bag of chicken. Kitschy, cute retro decor and value priced, alacarte eating make it a fun destination. The food is another story. Having eaten there twice- 2nd time on a gift certificate, I am not a fan of the skin on chicken. Looking dark and tasty- it is seasonless and crunchless. It tastes almost baked. The skinless chicken has somewhat more crunch. The sides are another matter- cheesy mashed is spyicy, cheesey comfort food deliciousness. The blistered corn is decent. The pies are small and delish- tried the banana cream and double cherry.
You could eat a meal plus dessert for under $20, which isn't over the hill.
SLOW GO! Broadway at 25th. Street

The Double Windsor

2010-09-27T03:38:00.001-07:00

The former Royal Video store on this key corner has morphed into a lovely local bar with thoughtful ingredients and a wide variety of drafts. If I still lived in this pretty hamlet this would be my neighborhood go-to spot. There is a weird system of ordering food in a little window near the kitchen and then ordering your drinks at the bar. Nevertheless, the grub and drink are worth it. $11 bought a slow roasted Heritage pork sandwich with a side salad or fries. The spicy, sweet, tangy pork pieces were delish as were the crispy fries. The Troegs Dreamweaver wheat was a perfect compliment. Happy hour takes $2 off the brew making this draft $4. On the nice day we were there with breezes from the park, I grew nostalgic for Brooklyn living. Corner of 16th St, and Prospect Park West.
GO!

Westside Steakhouse

2010-09-11T05:30:00.001-07:00

Westside gets a new great value priced steakhouse. Where steakhouses are normally the realm of just big lifetime celebrations, this restaurant brings high end steak to the people of the Westside and beyond. Menu items reflect traditional steakhouse fare, at a fraction of the cost. Warmed olive bread with butter arrived pronto at the table. For lunch, I ordered sliced beefsteak tomatoes with sweet Georgia onions a steakhouse classic for $6.50 with steak sauce. The sweetness of the tomatoes and the crunch of the onions makes for a great start. Next up, I ordered a center-cut porkchop which arrived glistening with steakhouse fries for $13. Perfectly cooked and oh so satisfying with the tasty large fries, I can't wait to return for dinner and order the porterhouse or ribeye. The dining room is pretty and faces the burgeoning scene on 10th Ave. Traditional sides like creamed spinach and baked potato are also available. Liquor license is in the works. Personalized service makes for a unique steakhouse experience.
MUST GO!

Eataly

2010-09-06T11:30:00.001-07:00

Molto mangiamo in the new Batali/Bastianich mega store in the Toy Building. Euro styled gourment market is the real deal with authentic imported Itlaian foods, Italian foods made on premises and very fine local foods. This is surely the largest local purveyor of imported Italian foods.
..Bountiful and beautiful breads baked on premises
..Coffee counter with real deal espresso and cappucino
..Cobb Cobb rotisserie chicken- we took home a good sized one for $12- juicy and tasty
..Italian home goods
..Cheeses and slumi
..Imported chocolates
..Grandissimo selection of imported Italian foods- making other Italian food stores obscure
..Pizza Napolitana
..Gelato
MUST GO!

M Wells

2010-08-23T13:25:00.001-07:00

A restored diner in Long Island City kinda sitting in the middle of nowwhere though down the block from the Hunter's Point #7 station. This spot rocks. Some treasured booths at the window and very friendly service, this spot is only open for breakfast and lunch during the week for now. The owners who hail from Quebec have created a delectable menu and food to boot. Reasonable prices for the tone of the food- I loved it. I had the Crab, egg and potato hash with creamed corn and hollandaise which was $12. I watched the chef sprinkle some cracked pepper on my dish before serving and this was absolutely perfect. A wild strawberry shake created with frozen custard from Timmy O's in Corona and wild strawberries for $6 was super. I took a homemade chocolate chip cookie with walnuts for $1 to go and this cookie was firstrate. For my second foray to M Wells I had the tortilla espanola with smoked ham and green beans for $7. Cooked to perfection with a little olive oil and toasted baguette. In four trips to Spain, I have not tasted a more flavorfull tortilla Espanola. My chocolate, strawberry and banana shake(made to order) was bliss. A hot dog with sweet bacon chili and slaw is a bargain at $5 and the Quebec style buckwheat crepes at $4 sound super duper.
MUST GO!

Brooklyn Bowl

2010-08-23T13:21:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn Bowl features food by the Blue Ribbon restaurant people and it is a draw to visit thes Billyburg bowling/performance space. Huge, and arty, with an uber cool vibe, we started with dinner in the smallish eating area sitting at a communal counter with stools. We started with the cornbread with local peach butter- crunchy, seasoned cornbread sticks with delish peach butter. Smoked barbecued wings were also super tasty. The much touted fried chicken plate for $17 stocked some dissappointing chicken. Not particularly seasoned or with substantial crunch the bird was boring. The sides of smoky collards with mashed potatoes with gravy were the better of what was on the plate. Service ranged from lacksadasical to plain snotty. Bowling for two plus a beer, egg cream and shoes was $59.98. Lanes are cool looking, but short in length.
Slow go!

Holland America Cruise

2010-08-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Holland America cruise to Bermuda leaves from Manhattan's Westside directly to Bermuda. My first cruise, food was at the top of my list of priorities and I was not dissappointed. The ship- "the Veendam" hosts a culinary center with free and pay for demos. I started the cruise with a tour of the huge kitchen. Huge and busy, with lots of pictures of the dishes served. A free demo of strudel making was also quite fun. The food was non-stop with four meals a day;
Breakfast- everything plus the kitchen sink including pancake of the day
Lunch- buffet, plus ice-cream sundaes that you make yourself
Tea- homemade scones plus chocolate breads was lovely
Dinner- classic continental with prime ribs as one of our faves
Desserts- Chef Armando the pastry chef made us very happy with chocolate souffle, strudels, baked alaska, and fantastic cheesecakes- chocolate/ strawberry was a fave.

Go if you can!

Cascabel

2010-08-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

This popular authentic Mexican upper East Side spot should be called Decibel instead as it is so loud in there. Few tables and a confusing set-up- do you order by waitress or not leads you to this small restaurant with food modeled after markets of Mexico. The food is quite good and sophisticated though the dining experience is not. Gorditas with Berkshire pork belly are tasty as well as queso fundido with homemade chorizo. The corn with lime and white cheese was of good quality and lots of agua frescas to wash it all down. You can eat pretty well for around $20-$25 though, with so much good authentic Mex. around, I would head to others unless you live on the UES. 2nd. Ave. off 80th. Street.
Slowgo!

Opa O Fournos Bakery

2010-07-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

Nestled under the N train at 2846 31st Street(30th Ave. stop) is bakery gold. I discovered O Fournos when wandering apres Petey's burger and I noticed the white rustic oven in the rear. I looked at the baked goods and the oven and inquired if the oven was imported from Greece and yes was the answer. Wow! The breads and other other baked goods turned out of this oven look as beautifully created as you would imagine. I bought one round roll for $1. The roll was formidable with score marks and firm on the outside, perfectly baked soft on the inside. Great!
MUST GO!

Petey's Burger

2010-07-17T14:27:00.001-07:00

Petey's Burger on 30th Ave in Astoria offers a great "retro" burger comparable to the In n Out furgers of California. This is fast food done fresh and made to order with tons of flavor. I enjoyed watching the burger boys make the burgers on the flattop, add some sercret spices and "viola"- burger magic. This is a very cheap dining experience considering the quality with a Burger, fries and a drink costing $7.29 add American cheese and that brings you up to $7.79. The burger is killer with a juicy patty, crisp romaine lettuce, a nice tomato, raw onion with thousand island dressing on a fresh, soft roll. The fries were quite tasty with some skin on remnants and well fried. I hear the chocolate/strawberry shake($3.99) is quite good for the next visit. 30-17 30th Ave. N train to 30th. Ave- right there.
MUST GO!

La Fonda

2010-06-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

The front for real Mexican cooking in the heart of El Barrio on the corner of 103rd Street and Lex. on the #6 line. This corner spot serves up a wide selection of Mexican foods cooked to order. A friendly waitress started me off with a small portion of tortilla chips and tasty salsa. The flor de calabaza burrito served on a homemade corn tortilla with the requisite radish, lettuce and tomato was absolutely delish and not often seen on alot of Mexican menus. The dishes on the menu are mainly under $10 and La Fonda is a nice sunny, comfy spot to chow down.
GO!

Johnny's Famous Reef Restaurant

2010-06-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

At the tip of the Puerto Rican Riviera on the Long Island Sound sits Johnnys Famous Reef Restaurant. If you are from the Bronx, Johnnys is famous and I was introduced to the spot by a Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx and fell in love ever since. This is an old school style joint where the food is served cafeteria style(serve yourself). No fuss, take your food outside and enjoy the amazing view. Lots of food here is fried with a tried and true recipe and it rocks. The fried clams are a New England classic and absolutely the tast of summer. Raw clams, fried shrimp, corn are all great. My only gripes with Johnny's are the canned beers(not good enough for the chow) and the bathrooms outside are a little gritty. Otherwise, this spot is one of a kind and the kind of place where patrons would not want it to spruce up or change a thing. Also, prices are reasonable- you could feast for two for about $40.
Must Go!

L.A. Burdick

2010-06-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

It is hard to find very high quality chocolate at reasonable prices. L.A. Burdick offers just that. Without the fanciness or pretentiousness of some high end shops this one aims to please and the friendly shop clerk gladly offered up some samples to help me decide. I bought two gift boxes for Father's Day and a small bag of leftover chocolate pieces for $8. The bag of chocolates was a variety of whole pieces and absolutely divine. Can't wait to restock those delectable bits.
Must Go!

No. 28 Pizzeria Romana

2010-06-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Located at 196 Spring Street near 6th. Ave. in Soho this newish Pizzeria by the slice provides more options for quality slices. Offering varieties like mushroom, procuitto cotto, a standard slice, artichoke slice etc. for $4-$5, it is a welcome addition. The pizza itself is made from high quality dough and many of the slices are perfectly darkly baked, though others a somewhat dissapointing. We tried three- the mushroom, artichoke and standard slice. The mushroom was the best of the three with rich mushroomy flavor and the great crust. The artichoke contained cold, canned artichoke which underwhelmed the lovely crust. The standard slice(not pictured) was less well baked and offered flavorless not fresh mozzerella. The top pictured slice is with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzeralla, and basil- looks like a better option. Customer-centered offerings of bottles of olive oils and flavored olive oils as well as a ultra-modern seating space make this place very user-friendly.
SLOW-GO!

Riveria Cafe

2010-06-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

The venerable Rivera Cafe on the corner of West 4th and Bleeker Street has history and good food. The corner, windowed space make any table a virtual Village view. The food here is a cut above many diners in flavor, and value. The chowder pictured is so good, lighter, less creamy than most, though very tasty. At $5 it is a good deal. Also, great is the pulled chicken sandwich on a brioche roll served with their fantastic potato wedges, and purple slaw, costing $10.95. Friendly service and a very relaxed diner atmosphere.
GO!

Lucy's Cantina

2010-06-11T06:41:00.001-07:00

This Cantina on the corner of 34th. Street and 8th Ave. serves the Long Island commuters wanting to drink and maybe eat a little bit as well as be served by waitresses wearing island dresses year-round. The food has slightly declined since opening as there were some tasty Tex-Mex dishes particularly the corn with stringy cheese now sans the stringy cheese is just ok. The chile was fair and the steak burrito with Lucys name seared in was tasty. Not many options on this corner, and their is a roof on a nice day with a few beers, you may not notice the food.
SLOW GO!

PopBar

2010-06-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Popbar is a fun concept where you choose(operative word here) a flavor of gelato, yogurt or sherbert on a stick and then choose(that word again) a dip like dark, milk or white chocolate and then proceed to have it rolled in the nuts or topping of your choice for $5. My banana gelato, dipped in dark chocolate and pistachios was a delish mix of flavors and textures. Gianduja is my next choice of flavors. There are fruity gelatos as well and an accomodating staff. On the corner of Carmine and Bleeker near Grom, Cones and L'Arte de Gelato. Choose, dip, roll and enjoy.
MUST GO!

Kinski Cafe

2010-05-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

This charming cafe on Rivington creates authentic Austrian delicacies as well as cafe faves in it's charming, comfortable space. I popped in the try the bread knodel or semmelknodel which are bread dumplings in a mushroom sauce with a side salad for $8. This is more of a cold weather dish though none less delish as these dumplings were terrific and well paired with the hearty mushroom sauce. The greens were all perfectly coated with a lemony dressing and were the perfect compliment to the dumplings. Can't wait to try the sweet dumplings.
GO!

South Brooklyn Pizza

2010-05-27T11:04:00.001-07:00

The pizza wagon has brought a new player to the slice wars. Only a few blocks from the acclaimed Artichoke Basil, South Brooklyn Pizza offers fresh, high quality thinner, crispier pizzas than Arichoke. The big draw is the add-on bar with roasted garlic, hot cherry peppers and grated parmiganno all at no extra cost. Slices are $4 and are super tasty, with fresh basil to boot. I was also offered freshly made garlic knots(gratis) with some red pepper flakes that gave it an extra kick. Very friendly service.
GO!

Wechslers Currywurst and Bratwurst

2010-05-27T10:01:00.001-07:00

Teeny, skinny, bar cum restaurant, the food here is great and cheap. Lots of brews to accompany the made to order wursts and fabulous fries. This stretch of 1st Avenue is fast becoming quite a CHEAP FOODcentric destination with Little Piggy, Weschslers, and South Brooklyn Pizza all within blocks of each other. A brat and fries is $8 which is pretty cheap for the fresh made quality. My brat was fresh made served with a soft roll and lots of winey mustard. The fries here are perfectly darkly fried, thinly sliced and well salted. Absolute mad flavor and served with mayo or ketchup.
Must Go!

Rosa Mexicano

2010-05-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

A healthy and organic Mexican cooking demo at this famed Mexican eatery. Chefs David Suarez and James Cawley guided through doable dishes with a healthy spin.
Starting with organic housemade juices with fruit and agave as well as excellent coffee.
The menu:
Roasted tomato salsa
Fava bean and mint soup
Wild Grouper steamed in banana leaf
Grapefruit gratin with fresh fruit sorbet
Mexican granola

The dishes were light, flavorful and some just a little spiced- all delicious.
The recipes were included and I gained a new respect for the culinary traditions of the region and the chefs wonderful interpretations of them.
GO!

Clinton Street Bakery

2010-05-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Pancake Edition: Visiting Clinton Street Bakery without enduring the line is easy if you want to get there by 9AM during the week- they open at 8AM. Sitting down you feel you scored because you get to eat the most coveted pancakes in town though not necessarily the best. At $14 these light, fluffy though slightly undercooked pancakes are definitely delish and the warmed maple butter is divine. The best part of my breakfast recently was the fresh fried sugar cured bacon- an extra $4 and well worth it. Sugary to the taste and big pieces of porky bacon were a perfect compliment to my pancakes with Maine blueberries.
Service can't be bothered here so be prepared.
GO!

Colson Patisserie

2010-05-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's version of the Belgian bakery of the same name. French born film-maker trained with the culinary creator Hubert in Belgium to bring us this high lavel bakery. I rediscovered this patiserrie on Sunday after a long absence. Originally, there upon opening the baked goods look absolutely gorgeous. Traditional pastries, scones, breads, brioches and cookies. A chocolate chip cookie was super-fine and one of the finest around. Almond/chocolate croissant was also well done. Worth exploring more especially considering this one block of 9th street houses Colson and Almondine bakery.
GO!

Ovest

2010-05-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Situated on the far west of Chelsea, down the block from clubland, Ovest was devoid of the club kids when we ate there on Sunday night. Actually devoid of all diners when we first got there about 6PM. Never having ate at Luzzo's I was pizza curious and satisfied upon leaving. A big, square albeit odd space on this deserted block we sat down at a four top and ordered. Starting with fritto misto, and fried artichokes, they were both delicous. The seafood($10) was fried to perfection and tasty, tasty with a slightly spicy red sauce. I particularly enjoyed the artichokes which were also perfectly fried and delish. The pizza maker took great pride in creating the pie- an alessandro/arugula combination as we updated the arugula with fresh cherry tomatoes the restaurant added an open table fee to our bill for it. Also on the pie was fresh procuitto creating a nice smoky taste. The pie was perfect and tasted of green, and red almost like an Italian flag.
GO!

Vesta

2010-04-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

Vesta is a corner trattoria/wine bar in the far reaches of Astoria and it is worth the trek from the 30th Street N train station. Our Queens group arrived at 6:15 on Sunday when it was empty and quiet and by the time we left at 8:30 it was packed. The friendly waiters brought over nice bread and olive oil to start. What sets Vesta apart is the interesting menu. Lots of interesting pasta dishes and the Sunday special of three meat lasagna(veal, pork & beef) for $15 was the big draw for me. Two of us ordered the meatball appetizer(pictured above) which was two tasty meatballs in a intense/red/winey saurce. For the main, I ordered the Sunday special lasagna served up in a ceramic baking dish(very rustic). Absolutely rich, meaty, cheasy and delish.
The side of garlicky Russian kale with smashed cannelini beans was the perfect compliment. Their internet touted Baby Jesus cake which is simply a date cake surrounded by toffee and homemade whipped cream was a happy ending to a perfectly lovely meal. Wines were quite good according to the group.
GO!

DBGB

2010-04-22T08:11:00.001-07:00

Uber cool and hip industrial spot on the burgeoning Bowery. My second visit proved dissapointing foodwise. Though the bread and salted butter are what you expect from a high end restaurant other features are uneven. There are the sausages made on premises which are hit or miss. My viennoise with emmanthaler cheese(pictured) and served with housemade sauerkraut was a tad bland though sauerkraut was good. At $14 though it is pricey. A side of spaetzle for $6 was also underseasoned. The superstar dessert of rhubarb tart with meringue and ice-cream was a winner at $9. Unprofessional service for a spot of this caliber.
Slowgo!

Pain d' Avignon

2010-04-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

Oh the bread.........Pain d' Avignon formerly sold to the trade from their bread ovens in Long Island City. Now in a tiny kiosk in Essex Street Market, one can enjoy the gorgeous breads and rolls at reasonable prices for artisan goods. Baguettes, pecan, cranberry, onion rolls are some of the offerings. These breads have depth, flavor and are perfect! If you are a bread lover.......you......
Must Go!

Hecho en Dumbo

2010-04-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Soaring, industrial space on the now trendy Bowery, Hecho soars with upmarket Mexico City style offerings. There is exposed brick on both sides of the long room and kitchen seating for those who like to watch their food being made. Water is brought over in a Patroon style bottle and they were nice enough to ask if I wanted ice in my water. This is not your chips and salsa style Mexican and you only get their housemade tortilla chips with an order of guacamole($7). The salsa shown above come gratis and include pico de gallo, a red and a green. The crema de elote soup of zucchini and corn with spring onion succotash was a perfect blend of flavors for $7.
The three sopes which you can mix and match- I had the chicken in a chile sauce plus two sopes de nopales(cactus) which included a spread of black bean puree on the tortilla(tasty) for $8. Enjoyed the hip, fab space and not too pricey food.
GO!

The Spot

2010-03-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

A divine dessert bar that creates desserts that are constructed in front of you. The desserts are in the molecular gastronomy realm or as I call it "molecular dessertronomy." Innovative flavor combinations as well as textural combinations. We shared a dessert tapas of three desserts- soft cheesecake, chocolate pudding with bananas as well as a coconut crema. The soft cheesecake was balanced by tangy blood oranges and crunchy granola. The chocolate pudding with bananas featured a crunchy sweet crisp made in house that was also divine. Lastly, the coconut crema served with passionfruit mousse was a refreshing combination. These desserts are delicous and different.
MUST GO!

Roebling's Tea Room

2010-03-24T06:52:00.001-07:00

Guest house meets industrial warehouse chic. Roebling Tea Room sits on a corner in a huge converted factory space with some outdoor space to boot. A large menu of teas confirms that this is a tea room. Popular brunch lures in the local hipsters for some interesting brunch items. Do come for the "big pancake" pictured above for $10 which is an absolute killer cake with stewed fruit. $10 buys you this cakey delicacy with butter and syrup that is not only unique, but one of the best in town.
GO!

Joseph Leonard

2010-02-12T06:14:00.001-08:00

Farmhouse, shabby chic interior with wood-beamed ceilings and well worned wood tables. A perfect lunch-spot on a snowy day off from work. Lunch time is still pricey though an interesting menu creates a unique experience. There are cornichions and salt on the tables and service is thoughtful though distant. I ordered the crab sarnie with fresh chips as well as a side of winter stuffing. The sarnie came prettily served on toast though tasted better on the onion roll offered by the waiter. The winter squash with sausage and chestnuts was slightly spicy though a little bready. The best part of the meal was a salted caramel pudding with cookies on top which was t.d.f.
Go!