Guy American Kitchen and Bar

Guy and Heartland Brewery team up to create a mecca to American comfort albeit a pricey one. Is this farm to table-no, but a fun dining expedition. Creative drinks like the Jack Nog with eggnog of course, Jack, honey, cinnamon tasting like Baily's or Kaluha in a glass. Oysters Malibu with spinach, garlic, onions and lemon baked to a tasty perfection. Chipotle soft tacos also a winner with taste and a little spice. The mains were less inspired.......the Motley Ribs with their galactic glaze were less tasty than they looked and an Argentine hanger lacked flavor. The dessert a fruity parfait called Salted Whiskey Caramel Fool with whiskey and layered strawberries & poundcake was a nice finish. Have fun folks this is a Times Square restaurant not "New Brooklyn" dining. GO!

Giovanni Rana

Giovonni Rana is a fifty year old pasta maker from Verona, Italy. It first appears somewhat like Eataly with pasta for sale, a restaurant and some packaged Italian goods. It is not, in that pasta is elevated to a fine art here. The pasta for sale is magnificent showcasing hard to find styles like beet tagliatelle- normally found only in restaurants. Raviolis with paper thin exteriors look great. The beet tagliatelle only $2 for a quarter pound(serving for one) is quite a bargain. You can also dine in and the chef is reputed to be quite good. A great addition to Chelsea Market. GO! GO!

Kristophe

Pan Euro food in a rustic charming W'Burg spot. Think German, Hungarian and Polish. Started the meal with sweet potato pirogies and grilled bacon. The sweet potato pirogies were perfectly pan-fried with sour cream. The grilled bacon was a wickedly fattening treat. The main of Heritage pork chop with mashed parsnips and string beans was a comforting meal. Nicely grilled pork chop though a dad overdone for me made for a filling European trip. There are lots of European beers on tap, I went with the Czech Imperial and it was quite good. Friendly service and not as crowded as other Metropolitan Ave. hotspots make Kristophe a good Winter food spot. GO!

Coffee Shop

On the eve of the impending storm- Sandy, I ate at Coffee Shop. Disasters in NY tend to bring out an odd collection of locals looking for a momentary thrill, before oncoming uncertainty. coffee Shop holds memories of the 80's in all it's glory. The apathetic modelesque servers, the booths and banquettes are all retro fun. The Brazilian/Latin influenced food is a hit or miss and that night it was a big hit. The roast chicken dinner $15.95 took twenty minutes to come out, but when it did it was a thing of beauty. Roast perfectly, darkly with yellow rice, red beans and big pieces of well cooked sweet plantains(maduros). The resulting meal offered comfort on a night most of us needed it. The really should renovate those black, club-club like cubicles called the ladies room Coffee Shop was once-upon a time the highest grossing restaurant in Manhattan and they could well affford it. GO!

Brooklyn Central

There is a "pizza party" at Brooklyn Central on 5th Ave. where the "old school" meets the "new school" in a perfect marriage of flavor. The menu at Brooklyn Central offers traditional pizzas with imported ingredients or "new fangled" pizzas with local ingredients. Friendly service offers delicious "wood fired" Neapolitan pies which are pillowy and slightly charred. I started with a kale salad with candied pecans and citrus with some parmesan($9). The salad was fresh, and flavorful offering a tasty tease before the main event. The Colony pie(pictured) is a new school pie. Tomatoes, local mozzarella, local pepperoni, pickled chilies and honey($15). Amazing, pillowy pie, porkly, spicy and balanced with the sweetness of the honey. The menu here is very well thought out and offers something for everyone. GO! GO!

Maison Harlem

Fantastic French newcomer to Harlem. This corner spot exudes charm in a killer space with a colored windowed pane kitchen. The food here is amazing. Hot, house baked bread with butter is served. Addictive hot bread is the perfect complement to the meal. I stuck with a mushroom theme- cream of mushroom soup(soup of the day) and mushroom risotto. The soup was spot on- and a little bread- a hearty starter. The mushroom risotto with veggies and cheese finished with a balsamic glaze was so unusually delicious- unlike Italian risotto- a wicked flavor. Total- $25. Alot, of inventive desserts are on the menu as well like a pina/colada cake- there will be a next time. GO! GO! Uptown baby!

Tavola

Tavola opened in the Manganarro's Grosseria Itlaliana spot. The signage and old fans are amazing. That is were the amazement ends. The menu here is a bit run of the mill with a lovely pizza oven that unfortunately both undercooked and overcooked my calzone more on that later. My appetizer of pasta fagioli was hearty with nice veggies and al dente pasta plus pancetta- very good. The calzone which I ordered after seeing my table neighbors perfectly cooked version and hearing of the soppresata inside I changed my order to. My calzone big and undercooked arrived sadly. I sad put it back for a second. Big mistake it came out charred and not in a good way. Portions of pasta looked small and the service here was amatuerish. Better off going to Capizzi- Tavola is a... SLOW GO!

The Americano

The Americano is the hotel restaurant of the same name. It is a sleek, spacious and modern room with outstanding service. We went for breakfast and the room was half-full with mostly hotel guests. The joy of eating here is the amazing Latin inspired food with soft Brazilian music piped in and the gracious service. I went with the Huevos Mexicanos and LaColombe coffee. The sweets here are all baked in-house and the croissant was eggy, soft perfection. My huevos were a deconstructed eggs with onions and tomatoes with lovely refried beans, fresh avocado and green salsa with tortillas. A masterful dish, so simple yet paired with the coffee so delcious. A smoothie with peach, coconut and banana was the perfect tropical accompaniment. My father's organic eggs(pictured) also showed deft kitchen skill in their simplicity. Overall, a great spot for breakfast. We hear brunch has a live bossa nova band and would love to return for that. GO! GO!

David's Brisket House

The new outpost of the Bed-Stuy original. I always wanted to try David's and since I was headed out to BayRidge- why not. It is a sparse and generally unwelcoming space. The counterman gave me a taste of pastrami and brisket. The pastrami was good, but lacked oomph. The brisket, moist, and slightly fatty was a definite yes. I went with the brisket on rye and a side of potato salad. They give you a side of jus to eat with the sandwich. The potato salad was very homey and tasty. Pickles were out of a jar. My only complaint was that the other counterman did not want to serve me tap water until I insisted. A spot like this needs a pitcher- you can't force folks to buy a drink. SLOW GO!

Battersby

Battersby was voted one of Bon Appetit magazine's ten best restaurants in America. Is it? Well it certainly is an eclectic albeit eccentric addition to one of new Brooklyn's original food strips- Smith St. Battersby takes no reservations and about half an hour after opening it is full. I sat at the bar in the corner which was fine. The bartender was attentive much different from my Happy Hour nosh at Ed's Chowder House. A crostini with chicken liver and a sliver of a mushroom arrives first- tasty. The rosemary flatbread with seasalt and accompanied by housemade ricotta is amazing. I went with the chowder. Smoked bacon, peeky-toe crab, and corn adorn this smoky, delicious chowder. Potatoes were slightly overcooked within the chowder. I also ordered a half wheat beer on draft which made me happy. For the main, I went with the green ravioli with earthy vegetables in a lemony brown butter sauce- delish. Finishing my meal with a banana-lime tart with dulce de leche and housemade whipped cream from an upstate creamery. Quite good though for such an eccentric meal, I would have preferred a more rustic finish. Total- $50 GO! GO!

Speedy Romeo

Speedy Romeo is on a new "Brooklyn Food Strip" on burgeoning Classon Ave close to the Classon Ave train station. It is a large corner spot in what used to be a garage. The light bright spot sports an open kitchen and has that hipster vibe one expects in this corner of Brooklyn. The brunch hosts breakfast and lunch foods which is great. I started with the butternut squash soup finished with creme fraiche and hazelnuts for $10. This was a stellar soup- rich and delicious. The pizzas which Speedy Romeo is known for is what I opted for. The Casey Moore($14) promised baked clams, spinach, and bechamel, plus tarragon. While the brick oven baked pizza was perfectly cooked and mega tasty- I was expecting clams with breadcrumbs and garlic. Otherwise, a nice Brooklyn spot. GO!

Ed's Chowder House

Ed's Chowder House is a pricey albeit fancy Lincoln Center Fish House. The views of Lincoln Center from it's second floor location are quite pretty. The "happy hour" daily offers budget conscious folks the chance to sample the chow at a bargain. Dollar littlenecks(pictured) are fresh and good. A sandwich of tuna with spicy aoili plus some NE chowder added on for $3.50 was a tasty light bite. The chowder is fine and creamy lacking the big potatoes of my fave at Extra Fancy in Brooklyn, but still quite good. Rolls and cornbread served are quite delish. The bar stools are cushioney and the views priceless. GO!

Felidia

Felidia's $29.50 weekday lunch is a genuine bargain for this level of food. In an elegant townhouse on the Upper East Side in what was once the premier dining destination. The prix fixe lunch includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. The food here is ever evolving high end cuisine and every dish speaks volumes. Bread arrives with two rolls stuck in like lollipops ala Donatella & Burke. A raw pesto and cannelini beans is a tasty accompaniment. When I asked for sea salt it arrived promptly in a cute little bottle. Lots of servers answer your every dining whim. My appetizer of Maine Diver sea scallops in a fava bean puree was quite good. Even better was my friend's tagliatelle with beef, veal and pork ragu plated tableside and perfectly aldente, rich, complex and meaty. A good bottled beer selection and we went with the Lagunita which was very good. The salmon entree with mustard sauce was also quite good, but the grilled seafood($15 supplement) was quite astounding. Grilled lobster, shrimp, scallops, and razor clams with parmigiana had a Clams Casino flavor- this is a stellar dish. We finished with a palinchinko(Eastern European pancake) and housemade gelato with chocolate sauce. Best palinchinko I have ever tried and lucscious vanilla and strawberry gelato and rich chocolate sauce. Brava Felidia! GO! GO!

Tomasso's

Tomasso's is an uber charming old school restaurant in a formerly Itlalian restaurant heavy section of Brooklyn. Filled with family photos and momentos, Tomosso's makes you feel right at home. A piano and an opera singer add a lovely, nostalgic feel to the spot. The bread comes with lovely pesto and an arancini(rice ball) which was good. There is a three-course $27 prix fixe meal that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. The appetizer I chose- stuffed artichoke was unavailable so I went with baked clams which were standard. The main of lasagna was an over-cooked mess with Polly-O tasting ricotta. The dessert of Italian cheesecake dusted with powdered sugar was a better choice and quite good. SLOW GO!

Acme

The old Acme was a favorite of ours in the 80's and 90's with it;s honkey tomk decor and walls lined with hot sauce from all over the country. The new Acme is a highly touted Scandanavian restaurant and rightly so. Went for brunch and it was pretty amazing. The bread pudding pancake pictured with diced rhubarb and raw maple syrup was dark and delectable having the consistency of a potato pancake. The baked eggs that my dad ordered arrived in a cast iron skillet with slab bacon. We both had the rhubarb, blood orange and watermelon juice a creative combo. Overall, the food here is inventive, and uber tasty. Not cheap, but worth it. GO!

Sapori

A lovely neigborhood spot in Murray Hill. Best part is the Roman style garden in back. Solid Italian with great pizzas. We went with the spaghetti and clams in red sauce and the risotto special. The clams with red sauce were reasonable, but underseasoned. The special risotto with rock shrimp in a pink sauce really rocked out with toms of flavor. It took awhile for the bread and white bean dip to arrive. Nice alfreso dining if you are in the mood for Italian. Go!

Gueros

In the rapidly changing Crown Heights, sits Gueros a life altering taco joint with wide acclaim. It's dishes mainly tacos are extremely creative and cheap so who wouldn't love them. Brisket, fried avocado, vegetable are some examples. Everything made here to order with flavor to go. I had the brisket taco and the fried avocado/jalapeno taco. Also, some house fried chips with limey/slightly spicey guacamole. The brisket with cheddar, rajas, roasted onions and au jus on a soft corn tortilla was amazing. The fried avocado/jalapeno with jalapeno buttermilk, pico, beans and cortija was inventive. The two plus the chips and guacamole were more than enough for a little meal. The place rocks and cute stores to window shop along Franklin Ave. GO! GO!

La Palina

The quintessential old school Italian restaurant that satisfies on a Sunday or anyday. The dining room fills up with a few parties and it is a happy time with families and couples. Garlic bread on the table. Warmed bread and butter. Sunday means Sunday gravy and it is special filled with pork ribs, veal braciole, potatoes and a meatball. The great sauce with flecks of tomato tastes the same as when I was a little girl. The grilled pork with sweet peppers provides a perfect counterbalance to the juicy meat. They do it right here as they have since the 1930's. Valet Parking. GO! GO!

Sushi Mikasa

Located on Gravesend Neck Road in Brooklyn, a stone's throw from where I grew up, Chef Kevin has created a susi stir in the nabe and beyond. Behind frosted glass doors and windows, delights and artistic creations abound and the pricepoint is high. I went for lunch and the menu is the same all day every day. I started with a soup and green salad. The ginger/onion dressing on the salad is outstanding. Next, spicy tuna over crispy rice. I had this once at Koi and it is sooooooooo delectable. I went with four sushi pieces some Chef Kevin created especially for his restaurant like salmon with a sauteed tomato. The eel/avocado was tasty, and yellowtail with jalapeno was luscious. The sea urchin was a tad funky for my taste otherwise, amazing and unique experience. If you love sushi... GO! GO!

John Brown Smokehouse

Barbecue pork belly might be my new favorite food. This newly moved and reopened steakhouse on the edge of Long Island City. I was here for barbecue, but when I stopped by at 12 the beans weren't ready. I came back and glad I waited. The food here is downhome style 'cue and mighty satisfying. The ribs and pork belly are sensational, porky, smoky, and meaty. My first barbecued pork belly and that is addictive. Beans were a sweet side and collards could have been smokier. They were flavored with garlic and pulled pork instead of the traditional fatback. Service here is still working on getting it right, but the 'cue is worth the trip. GO!

Mission Chinese

So you want to go to Mission Chinese Food. Who doesn't? With good reason, the food rocks. Danny Bowien, a food network reject, opened the New York restaurant to enormus buzz. If you want to wait, I suggest you go lunchtime when the waits are shorter, it is well worth it. You are led past the flaming woks of food theatre on your way to your seat. The dining room is really a building exention with some half communal seating. Go during the warmer months as Winter could be chilly in here. We started witht he pickled vegetables Sichuan, The KimChee like dish had peanuts soaked in Old Bay. The dish was mildly spicy and my least favorite. Next was Kung Pao Pastrami and salt cod rice. Kung Pao Pastrami is genius representing the Lower East Sdie where the restaurant is housed. Spicy by chilies in the gorgeous red mix, porky by pastrami and more Old Bay peanuts. The salt cod rice is so delicate, mildly flavored lovely. No desserts here. Should you go? GO GO!

Fonda Del Sol

My second pick for restaurant week was Fonda Del Sol the modern Spanish on Park Ave across from Grand Central. Some of the food here was sensational and other dishes missed the boat. My bread took a while to arrive. The dishes here are tapas style so for Restaurant week it is two appetizers, two entrees and one dessert. The gazpacho and ensaladilla tuna(tuna salad) were both winners. The gazpacho with heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers was delectable, though served a little messy. The tuna served with tomatoes and carrots was delicate and tasty. Next two were the meatballs and the paella. The pork meatballs in a sweet sauce and mahon cheese was uber tasty. The paella was dry and flavorless. Churros were divine- hot, doughy, sweet and cinnamonny. A great finsh. GO!