Love Gelato

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

$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

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)

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

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

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................
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Queens Kickshaw

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

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!