Dough

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

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

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.

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

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!