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!

Extra Fancy

Extra Fancy in Williamsburg equals extra tasty when it comes to fresh seafood and chowder. This barlike fishshack creates seafood concoctions that rock your palate. A New England Clam Chowder with pieces of whole clams, yukon gold potatoes, and herbs is simply stupendous. It is served with housemade pepper flaked oyster crackers The kielbasa sandwich served on a buttered roll with red cabbage and set off nicely by potato salad and a Brooklyn pickle works so well. A dessert of salted caramel ice-cream on a housemade chocolate cookie was a tasty finish. Other dishes sound like their fish sandwich sound like a must-try for next time. GO! GO!

StripHouse

Saucy, salacious, Striphouse the venerable B.R. Guest restaurant group spot, offers Restaurant Week for lunch only in the downstairs dining room. A well thought out and great tasting menu is offered though watch the libation count as it does add up. Bread from TomCat Bakery was ohh so good. A gazpacho shooter from the chef was nice. Watermelon gazpacho to start with crisp zucchini and pieces of shrimp is so tasty and refreshing. The 8oz strip was a fine cut of meat with a small band of fat, perfectly cooked and finished with sea salt. The peach melba served with chocolate sauce as requested was a lovely finish. Bordeaux wine from their reserve added depth to a super meal. GO!

Corner Social

The newest "Harlem Hotspot" to enter the booming uptown dining business. Located diagnonally across from Red Rooster, Corner Social offers locally sourced comfort food. What sets Corner Social apart is the accomodating service. You can go there at prime dinner hour during the week and actually eat. I was seated at a prime outdoor corner table on Tuesday at 6PM. Located on lovely Lenox, this is a prime people watching locale. The menu has been updated from whats online and still very reasonable. I ordered fried green tomatoes with truffle aoili and a meatloaf sandwich with Grafton, Vermont cheddar plus fries. The fried green tomatoes were uber tasty as was the meatloaf. I ditched the bread chowed down on a flavorful dinner- good fries. Best part was the outdoor view of the "life on Lenox." GO! GO!