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................
GO!

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!

Cocoran

Mini temple of soba(cousin to ramen) or buckwheat noodles. Cocoran emphasizes the health benefits of various ramens. The ramen and the accompanying appetizers are not expensive so you could order a few things and eat an interesting meal. There are three small tables and a counter around an open kitchen. I ordered cabbage with miso and sesame seeds, potato and okara croquettes and a cold soba- Oroshi with ginger and scallions. The cabbage with miso was crunchy and sweetly delish. Potato and okara croquettes were freshly fried and flavorful. My soba was served on a tray with a large wood spoon- very cool. The buckwheat noodles were al dente and the broth made more flavorfull by the other sauces from my two appetizers. If you love soba....
GO!
61 Delancey St. near Ludlow

Zeri Otto Nove

Aurthur Swchwartz the food guru from WOR once told me that Zero Otto Nove near Aurthur Ave. was the best pizza in town. This was before the proliferation of great authentic pizza in NYC. It still rises to expectations at it's new Flatiron branch. The restaurant is cavelike and elegant. The pizza speaks to greatness. Margherita for $13.95 offers a slightly doughy sweet crust, a little char and a ton of flavor. The sauce is a knockout. A side of cauliflower with parseley, garlic, soft and tasty. This spot is a welcome addition to Manhattan. Much more to try.
MUST GO!
15 West 21st. bet. 6th and 7th. Ave.

La Silhouette

Former high end restaurant people opened this posh spot in the Theater District. $21 prix fixe lunch for two courses is a major deal for this level of food. I added on the dessert for $10 which was well worth the cost. La Silhoutte offers French/American comfort and does it mighty well. If you go for lunch there are three choices each among the appetizers, mains and desserts. I had the grilled leek salad with duck procuitto, and grilled red onion dressing, Amish chicken with wild mushrooms, and olive, caper jus. For dessert the cheesecake with strawberry rhubarb compote and mango sorbet. Each course was better than the one before it. The grilled leek salad was a lovely start with winey red onion dressing. Amish chicken was pure comfort with it's lovely mushrooms and bread dippable jus. The star was the cheesecake- light and perfectly set off by the compote and sorbet. Uber professional service.
MUST GO!

Pachanga Patterson

Pachanga Patterson has a catchy name and is a popular new spot in Astoria. It serves up high-brow Mexican and is a fun spot brought to us by the people who brought VESTA to Astoria. We were five who dined there and enjoyed our experience. There are a few salsas to order with fresh made tortilla chips all tortillas are from Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona which is top of the line. I had the corn and charred tomato-$3 which was good. A start of a quesadilla with cannelini beans and cortija cheese was muy deliciouso- $6. For a main I had the pork belly enchilada with a chocolate-fig crema- $14 which was also delish. Others enjoyed their start of mussels in a chorizo broth or pork tacos. The side of sweet potato puree with a spicy kick was execptional- $3. Desserts include a diablito which is a date cake in a spicy sauce as well as a banana crepe with pecans and neither knocked my socks off.
GO!

Queens Comfort

When I heard the words Queens and Comfort I was so there. Saturday brunch at this popular Astoria joint was rocking. A mix of ffolks with a few crying babies. Small space with virtually all communal tables, the decor is not the draw. The brunch is cheap and cash only. Ordered fried chicken served over mole and queso fresco for $10. This chicken is brined, braised and fried and full of mega-watt flavor. A delish dish. I also ordered a mac and cheese to go for $7. The mac and cheese was just the way I like it- cheesey with a darkly baked cheese top. Absolute killer. People around me enjoyed their brunch dishes which change weekly. Queens comfort, Queens style. 30th. Ave., Astoria
MUST GO!
GO

Albert Hall Tavern

New gastropub in the burgeoning Hells Kitchenish... nabe. This is slightly south of Hells Kitchen proper. Albert Hall(love the name Albert) is a long British decorated pub that serves food some quite good. We started with warmed artichoke dip($10) served with toast points and topped with housemade potato chips. Very tasty and satisfying on a cold night. My main was classic mac and cheese($12) was a gooey, cheesey tasty version. My friend's fish and chips was perfection- $16. Expertly fried and served with thin, crispy fries, skin on cooked in duck fat and drizzled with truffle oil. The beer pictured is a Belgian wheat called Kwak served in a flask and wooden holder was a fantastic presentation. For dessert we shared the custard tart which was a cold mash-up of figs and too rustic for my taste. Charming loos.
GO! 508 9th Ave bet 38th. and 39th.