La Esquina Criolla

Absolutely authentic Argentine cuisine on the corner(esquina) of Corona and Junction Blvd in Eastern Queens. Since spending a month in Argentina in 2000, this is the closest I have come to a real taste. Esquina sports plain decor, but killer meat cooked on an uneven griddle over flame. I started with a chicken empanada full of moist chicken, bits of egg and red pepper. A side dish of Argentine sausages(salchichas) and a good fresh roll and butter filled me up from the jump. I ordered number six which was two beef short ribs and a skirt steak(entrana) which was $14 and worth every dime. I waited awhile for the steak which made me very nervous, but it arrived perfectly cooked with two huge short ribs and the smaller skirt steak. Argentine meat cuts are different from the American so the beef short ribs are huge and absolutely delicious. A side of oven baked potatoes came with the meat which was almost an afterthought with the huge, heavenly meat in front of me. Less expensive meat sandwiches are also available though those with sandwiches were showing dish envy at my gorgeous meat. If you are a carnivore this is a.......
MUST GO!

Uncle Nick's Greek Cuisine

Thank you to the greek gods for sending Uncle Nick's to Chelsea. Big, clean corner space with some old black and white photos of people grilling meats assumably in Greece. To start we ordered the four dips and those arrived with grilled pita. I love the Greek meze's and all of these were enjoyable. A small country salad was huge with a nice hunk of feta and nice red tomatoes for the middle of winter. The main course was baby back ribs which were huge and slathered in a little too sweet sauce. The ribs were spot on though and served with mediocre lemon potatoes. My companion's entree of pork chops was spectacular looking though overcooked and dry to the taste. The dessert of homemade baklava was a tad dry and no dripping with honey as the better ones are.
GO!

Wallse

Absolutely divine brunch at Wallse on a serene corner in the West Village. I have eaten here a few times and always impressed. Not as crowded for a restaurant of this caliber, the hostess was super accomodating for our last minute reservation. Last time I was here, Maggie Gylenhal was pregnant and dining with hubby so it is quite awhile. All pastries are baked in house and we started with an almond croissant, Austrian apricot donut, and an orange pound cake. Delectable and delicious. I ordered the spatzle with stewed rabbit for $14 bangers. Housemade spatzle with corn, baby exotic mushrooms in a creamy wine sauce. Again, heavenly. Dessert was a souffle over hucklberries. Absolutely amazing. Great Austrian wine. Mine was spot on: sweet, orangey oiley. Killer meal in a special restaurant.
MUST GO!

Royale Bakery

Hot pink candy colored confection of a bakery that doesn't actually bake it's goods, but rather imports the best of them from Baked in Red Hook. Baked creates great sweets and even makes it's own granolas and sells to some high end markets in Manhattan. The cupcakes are absolutely divine and my fave is the chocolate cupcake with salted chocolate buttercream frosting for $2 bangers. Denser than a Billy's or a Magnolia with some frosting edging into the cupcake itself. The store also sells tea and coffee to go with the goodies. Other Baked items include the chocolatey chocolate chip cookie for $2.50, some brownies(I favor the salty spicy one) and a few types of Baked granolas. The store also sells other purveyors though the Baked goods are the star of the show.
GO!

Schnitzel Haus

Ya voll at this cute, kitchy German spot with a German accented waitress. The spot on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge is decorated with lots of wood touches and charming knick knacks. A large selection of beers on tap like my fave hefewiezen(white beer). They serve Weienstepen Deutch style so this is a large serving. The food can be a tad overpriced for lunch with a beer, but as there a few German options around and it is fairly authentic fare . For a starter, I ordered a potato leek soup with bacon and topped with cheddar. The soup was thick and satisfying, with bacon adding a fatty touch though a little more seasoning and better cheddar instead of the generic yellow stuff would have been better. The bratwurst was a winner served with homemade sauerkraut with bacon and spatzle. Delish for $8 bangers. Lots of grilled meats as well as schnitzels. Classic German soul food.
GO!

Kebab Garden

Kebab Garden looks like a movie set of a certain genre straight out of the 1970's with it faux fruit and veggies around the stone walls. This place has an enticing buffet filled with a dozen Turkish delights as well as killer kebabs. I ordered a kebab with a few sides from the buffet and served with homemade pita for $9. The pita is a cross between Turkish bread and pita and is very good. Kebab here is the real deal, seasoned perfectly cooked and satisfying. It is a fun place despite or because of the unusual decor plus the large amount of buffet offerings that you can enjoy with a kebab.
GO!

Momofuku Milk Bar

Oh the Momofuku empire,Chef David Chang has two restaurants plus the new Milk bar off the corner of 2nd. Avenue in the East Village. This modern stand up dessert bar offers cutting edge baded goods baked on premises in an open kitchen. Intoxicating smell and accomodating baker, baked up some cookies on the spot for a gentleman who wanted peanut butter cookies. Pies with names like crack pie have ingredients that give crunch like corn flakes. Other pies include pistachio pie, banana pie and candy bar pie. I had the banana cookie for $1.75 which was chewy on the inside and crunchy at the edges and super flavorful. Other options are pretty exhorbitant like the blue cheese bread which was properly darkly baked and cost $9 bangers. The Milk Bar is open for breakfast and sells inventive, delish baked goods and milk shakes.
GO!

Blue Water Grill

One of the absolute most beautiful dining rooms in New York at this corner Union Square classic that once housed Club Metropolis in the eighties. Slendid high ceilings and lush marble surroundings being decorated in their Christmas finery. Any special occasion is more special here and my birthday was well celebrated. The brunch starts off with raisin and pumpkin bread and strawberry butter. I ordered the main lobster roll pictured above which was served on a toasted challah roll with applewood smoked bacon on a plate with house made chips was delish. The staff was extra accomodating to the birthday girl and fries were added on as well. My companion's seafood quiche more of a tartlett was spot on served with a side salad. Drinks are included like my companion's nostalgia provoking srewdriver and my potent Bloody Mary, though those could use some updating. An extensive menu of brunch and lunch items abound. Several benedicts, eggs and pancake options like pumpkin pancakes make for a grand choice. Lunch items include burgers(meat and salmon) and salads. The dessert of a banana tower pictured above with malt crunch ice-cream, chocolate sauce, and bananas served in a crispy sweet shell was decadent. Chocolate fondue with dip-ins like marshmallows, meringue and fruits was a fitting end to a grand meal. Again, gorgeous special occasion spot brought to you by the B.R. Guest restaurant conglomerate.
MUST GO!

Dinosaur Barbecue

Dinosaur barbecue is a giant roadhouse joint located on 12th. Avenue in the hinterlands of Harlem. Boisterous, fun spot which was crowded on a Saturday afternoon. We started with the swag sampler which was deviled eggs, spicy boiled shrimp, fried green tomatoes and accompanying sauces. The dish for two was about $9 bangers and is not to be missed. Next up, I ordered the ribs which were recommended with two accompanying sides of mac and cheese and baked beans. The ribs were meaty though could have been more succulent inside, but the sides were bangin' with mac and cheese having a nice cheesy top and beans with chorizo and rib pieces were porkly good. My friend ordered the catfish which I did not try though her sides of amped up rice with cabbage and the creole potato salad were also yum. The dessert of sweet potato pie with pecans while presented beautifully was a little less so in taste. Come hungry and thirsty as their are good beers here too.
GO!

Uncle George's

Uncle George's is an institution in Astoria and for good reason. A nice corner location, Greek music and of course, consistently good Greek cooking. A lamb was cooking on the spit as I entered, and they cook up the lamb in many ways served with tasty lemon potatoes. Snapper, fried calamari and lots of fish choices are also on the menu. For lunch today, I had the gyro which was a tasty lamb mix over grilled pita with lemon potatoes, tzatziki with a small salad of lettuce, tomatoes and onions for $8 bangers. Yummy, flavorfull meat, balanced by soft and slightly oily potatoes and super garlicky tzatziki.
Go!

The Redhead

The Redhead is a much blogged about Southern restaurant/bar in on 13th. Street between 1st. and 2nd. Avenue. Finally ate there the other night with two girlfriends. The spot was full for a Thursday in the midst of a recession. It is a dark, moody room with velvet banguettes surrounding the perimeter. We each ordered an appetizer and mine was the sunchoke and sweet potato salad with hazelnut, pear, aged goat cheese and spicy watercress for $9 bangers. This is definitely a case of a dish sounding better than the execution. The sunchokes should have been warmed slightly otherwise it was a reasonably good balance of flavors. Next time it would be the bacon peanut brittle(because every thing is better with bacon) for $5. The best app. of the group was the braised red-wine short ribs for $11, with potato pierogi and carmelized onions, yum. The winner of the main course and much renowned online was my buttermilk fried chicken with baby spinach, apples, candied walnuts and an add-on of a biscuit for $16. Salty, crunch, juicy perfect fried chicken with the savory/sweet accompaniment. The biscuit was delish with honey butter. The accomodating waiter also gave us three wrapped up chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies to take with us.
GO!

Thai Basil

I ascended to Massaman heaven during my lunch meal yesterday at Thai Basil on 9th. Avenue. The place has been renovated with white plastic wainscotting and high backed white plastic chairs and some Thai wall decorations. They did forget to redo the toilet which has the same green tiles and stinky smell of years ago. Though who cares about the toilet for this level of true yum yum food. A lunch special of $6.95 which the price has also thankfully not changed from years ago includes a nice salad with mesculun, tiny tomatoes, cucumber and carrots as well as a fresh spring roll. I ordered pork massaman which is served in a rich brew with coconut and hot pepper flecks with smashed skin on red potatoes and cashews. Delish. Lot's options with chicken or beef for that bangin' deal and of course you have the choice to eat at a dozen other Thai joints on 9th., but for this price and great grub is there really a choice.
MUST GO!

Windsor Wines

Windsor wines opened it's new location under somewhat a veil of secrecy in the charming Windsor Terrace neighborhood. Signs saying ice-cream parlor were visible during construction of the former pet store leading many to hope for a sweeet shop or cute old fashioned diner. Now it is all clear, a big, well stocked, friendly wine store opened. Wine tastings are held every Thursday and Saturday. The big surprise here is the lovely stained glass in front reminicent of a long gone ice-cream parlor.
GO!

Christine Valmy

My facial was $33.50 for a weekday service with extractions.. Did I mention that there was a class going on right next to me and a few bumps into my horizontal self during the nearly 2 hour service. High quality products and a classic European facial left my skin silky soft afterwards. No frills though for a lengthy Euro treatment with lots of bang for the buck, Christine Valmy rocks.
Must Go!

Cafe Petisco

I hauled myself down to the corner of East Broadway early Sunday morning to meet a friend at this new cute corner spot. Cafe Petisco could not be a more pleasant place to brunch. A light and bright corner, with an uber friendly staff, good music and not too crowded. The waiter was accomodating and concocted a dark hot chocolate with bittersweet stuff as I requested a rich brew. We both ordered the egg burritos for $9 bangers and they were large and served with a side salad and sliced fresh avocado. Very tasty. Other brunch options include a steak benedict, french toast, and Petisco's eggs which include scrambled eggs,asparagus, hearts of palm and melted mozzarella with a baby arugula salad for $11 bangers.
GO!

Jimmy's

If you could call a restaurant a dive this would be one. No frills, low budget and pretty tasty grub is served here. Four dishes over rice, chow fun, or low mein cost $5.75. Some of the dishes include mini spare ribs(yum), broccoli with chicken, fried chicken, small pieces of asparagus in sauce, beef stew with carrots and potatoes(good), funky whole fish, string beans in sauce, bok choy or baby bok choy(yum). This spot is frequented by Baruch students as it is up the street from te college and Postal workers for some reason as Jimmy's is cheap, fast and good.
GO!

Aspen Social Club

Breaky and lunch are now available at the Midtown outpost connected to the Stray Hotel. The decor is sexy, upscale, log cabin like and boasts a white antler chandelier in the center of the ceiling, and faux rawhide banguettes around the oddly shaped dining room. It would be fun to stop in at night as the food is more of an after thought and may be enhanced after a few libations. There are fun dishes like bison sliders with smoked cheese for $7 and fries with chipotle ketchup for $6 bangers. I ordered three dishes, some biscuits with butter for $7, a beet and feta tart with hazelnuts for $6 and chicken quesadillas with guacamole for $8. The biscuits while probably baked in house were not particulary buttery or warm or flavorful. The beet tart while beautiful lacked flavor and the feta tasted like blue cheese. The chicken in the chicken quesadilla was also lacking in seasoning though the guacamole tasted super fresh and flavorful. The menu lists housemade ice-cream for dessert which is a personal fave, though the savory portion was quite enough.
SLOW GO!

De Mole

I would move to Sunnyside for this level of good and cheap food. A cute corner location and a nice crowd at lunch welcomed me to this much blogged about spot. The menu has many desirable options including some not often seen like grilled pork chops with rice and beans for $8.75. My only dissapointment was that their much heralded salsa was not ready at the time of my meal. The chips here are good though not housemade, but every thing else shined. I ordered the pollo with mole poblano with rice, beans and corn tortillas for $9 bangers. The slow cooked chicken leg was smothered in a rich, complex and chocolately mole. Rice and black beans completed the dish which was deliciouso. Fresh squeezed to order juices are $2.50. My orange juice was super good and a large size for the price. After lunch or dinner head over to Skillman Street for the cute vintage store Stray and other cute cafes and foodstuff stores.
GO!

Bon Appetit Supper Club

Open only once a year and featuring famous chef offerings, food freebies plus other goodies. The spot on 57th street featured different chefs daily and I was there twice for the food and fun. A chef demo one day and a how-to use a coffee press the next were the featured demos on the day I was there. The food was divided into sandwiches and salads as well as hot food for the day. Almost all were under $10 bangers. The dish on the right was Ben Ford's Atlantic salmon with artichoke and potatoes with a fennel dressing for $9 and was absolutely delicious. The desserts were pretty fab and I had the strawberry, rhubarb, coconut cupcake for a desert which was super tasty. There was a chocolate chip brownie I had twice and was tdf. The second day there were foods featured by Batali and Tyler Florence and I had the clam chowder with leek cream for $6.50 which was richly yum. Free wine and free makeovers with Maybelline as well as a complimentary lipgloss made me wish this pop-up spot stayed a little longer.

L&B Pizzeria & Spumoni Gardens

This iconic institution has been family owned and operated for over 40 years. Sitting at the crossroads of Sicilian Ave. U. and across the street from Marlboro projects, L&B is still as popular as ever. There has always been something special about a warm day eating a slice of pizza outside on the benches and then a homemade Italian ice or Spumoni at Spumoni Gardens as we call it. Firstly, pizza wise skip the round slice here as it is all about the square. The Sicilian is what they are famous for and I have been eating as long as I can remember having grown up in the nabe. The square is $2.25 which is a bargain for the quality of the slice. What distinguishes this pizza is the dough, kinda sweet and fresh with very little char. The sauce is sweet and piled over the cheese instead of vice versa. Is the pizza as good as Artichoke Basil's complex square, absolutely not. Will people ever stop coming to L&B, probably not as it is quality and nostalgia all in one bite.
GO!

Char no. 4

Char no. 4 mambo no. 5. This stylish bourbon, scotch bar and accompanying back restaurant is one of the most original spots I encountered in awhile. Located on Smith Street in the midst of many good restaurants, Char no. 4 distinguishes itself with amazingly good grub. We started with the Clam Chowder to die for. Velvety chowder with super flavor finished with chopped chives and the chowder rounds floating on top. We also shared a house cured bacon with black-eyed peas cooked with a tomato coulis. This was pure pork heaven. Amazing! For the main, we both ordered the seared scallops over a mashed pumpkin for $20. Also, lots of flavor. Dessert was a homemade butter pecan ice-cream finished with bourbon. Super duper! The restaurant is decorated in beige and brown with lots of brown booths for comfort.
This place is not served with a bargain twist, but is definitely an original.
MUST GO!

AQ Kafe

Can anyone say Swedish soul food? This newly opened bakery and restaurant sits directly oposite the Time Warner Center on Broadway and 58th. Gorgeous darkly baked loaves and a yummy pretzel welcome you in. The adjacent restaurant has common and private table seating and is set up like a Scandanavian Pain de Quotioden(sic). I ordered the smogasbord plate for $12.95 and though lots of little bites all were delish. Different smoked herrings, a Swedish meatball, shrimp salad, a boiled potato and ligonberries made for an interesting taste sensation. The lovely breads were the perfect accompaniment. A weak hot chocolate sweetened the savory. Lots of sandwich options under $10 including a meatball with potato salad on potato bread or a roast chicken with potato salad sound like pleasant lunch options. The place is also open early for breakfast and judging by the look of the coffee and the yumminess of the bread it sounds like a good wake-up option to me.
GO!

Empire Beauty Schools

Located at the corner of the hub in Astoria on Broadway and Steiway, this uber friendly school, dishes out the usual, wash and blow for a bangin' bargain price of $8.32. This spot in a chain of schools is one of the nicest and easist to navigate. Not especially crowded with clients, Olga was my stylist. Of course like all the schools it is BYOS(Bring your own shampoo). Olga washed my hair and dried it with a real towel, unusual in the beauty school culture. She was an experienced stylist who had worked at a salon in Chelsea so my hair was expertly styled and I left a happy girl and headed next store to El Mundo Department Store(more on El Mundo later).
MUST GO!

Paradou

Charming Paradou is a French/Wine Bar across the street from Pastis where we could not be seated yet for our reservation, because a table for two was not available. Luckily, we wound up at the better option. Seated near the street in the small front room, Paradou has a true European feel and a relaxed vibe. We found out when Business Week came over to interview us that wine was free on Monday nights- Depression Mondays as they were called in the '80's. The food at Paradou is good, we shared a plate of cheeses pictured above with housemade confitures which balanced the cheeses with a nice sweetness. One of the confitures was a spicy apricot which added a nice kick. A package of lovely wrapped goat, a strong blue and a comte rounded out the plate for $15. My beet ravioli which was a take on a goat cheese tart was filled with herbed goat cheese, served with raw golden beet "pasta" and caramelized walnuts with beet coulis for $12 was quite good. There is a lovely garden in the back for warmer nights. My favorite part about Paradou is that like Europe we sat unbothered for a few hours.
GO!

Please tune into Business Week in review Sunday at 11:30 on Ch. 7 to see the interview.

Ikea Cafeteria Brooklyn

The classic Swedish soul food dish of Swedish meatballs, mashed and ligonberries for $5 bucks. This is a pretty good dish of tasty, multiple meat balls and creamy mashed balanced by the tart ligonberries. Wash it down with some fruity Swedish soda for a fun diversion while shopping with the masses at Ikea's latest outpost. Wander over to Baked(see below) afterwards for dessert.
GO! only for the savory.

Baked

The famous Baked cupcakes at the origninal Red Hook Bakery on Van Brunt Street. I wandered over after Ikea, a good idea to combine the local flavor with the Swedish giant. Baked is adorable, piney walls with picnic style tables and a large chandelier in the middle. A visible kitchen is in the rear where all the goodies are baked(tadum). Lot's of brownie choices, I tried the salty dark chocolate one which was quite good. A bourbon /pecan bread pudding with golden raisins was also tasty. What knocked my socks off was a "chocolate malt" which was a dark spicy hot chocolate with Jacques Torres chocolate. Baked also makes homemade granolas, lot's of cafe options abound in this neighborhoody joint.
GO!