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!