Wallse

Absolutely divine brunch at Wallse on a serene corner in the West Village. I have eaten here a few times and always impressed. Not as crowded for a restaurant of this caliber, the hostess was super accomodating for our last minute reservation. Last time I was here, Maggie Gylenhal was pregnant and dining with hubby so it is quite awhile. All pastries are baked in house and we started with an almond croissant, Austrian apricot donut, and an orange pound cake. Delectable and delicious. I ordered the spatzle with stewed rabbit for $14 bangers. Housemade spatzle with corn, baby exotic mushrooms in a creamy wine sauce. Again, heavenly. Dessert was a souffle over hucklberries. Absolutely amazing. Great Austrian wine. Mine was spot on: sweet, orangey oiley. Killer meal in a special restaurant.
MUST GO!

Royale Bakery

Hot pink candy colored confection of a bakery that doesn't actually bake it's goods, but rather imports the best of them from Baked in Red Hook. Baked creates great sweets and even makes it's own granolas and sells to some high end markets in Manhattan. The cupcakes are absolutely divine and my fave is the chocolate cupcake with salted chocolate buttercream frosting for $2 bangers. Denser than a Billy's or a Magnolia with some frosting edging into the cupcake itself. The store also sells tea and coffee to go with the goodies. Other Baked items include the chocolatey chocolate chip cookie for $2.50, some brownies(I favor the salty spicy one) and a few types of Baked granolas. The store also sells other purveyors though the Baked goods are the star of the show.
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Schnitzel Haus

Ya voll at this cute, kitchy German spot with a German accented waitress. The spot on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge is decorated with lots of wood touches and charming knick knacks. A large selection of beers on tap like my fave hefewiezen(white beer). They serve Weienstepen Deutch style so this is a large serving. The food can be a tad overpriced for lunch with a beer, but as there a few German options around and it is fairly authentic fare . For a starter, I ordered a potato leek soup with bacon and topped with cheddar. The soup was thick and satisfying, with bacon adding a fatty touch though a little more seasoning and better cheddar instead of the generic yellow stuff would have been better. The bratwurst was a winner served with homemade sauerkraut with bacon and spatzle. Delish for $8 bangers. Lots of grilled meats as well as schnitzels. Classic German soul food.
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Kebab Garden

Kebab Garden looks like a movie set of a certain genre straight out of the 1970's with it faux fruit and veggies around the stone walls. This place has an enticing buffet filled with a dozen Turkish delights as well as killer kebabs. I ordered a kebab with a few sides from the buffet and served with homemade pita for $9. The pita is a cross between Turkish bread and pita and is very good. Kebab here is the real deal, seasoned perfectly cooked and satisfying. It is a fun place despite or because of the unusual decor plus the large amount of buffet offerings that you can enjoy with a kebab.
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Momofuku Milk Bar

Oh the Momofuku empire,Chef David Chang has two restaurants plus the new Milk bar off the corner of 2nd. Avenue in the East Village. This modern stand up dessert bar offers cutting edge baded goods baked on premises in an open kitchen. Intoxicating smell and accomodating baker, baked up some cookies on the spot for a gentleman who wanted peanut butter cookies. Pies with names like crack pie have ingredients that give crunch like corn flakes. Other pies include pistachio pie, banana pie and candy bar pie. I had the banana cookie for $1.75 which was chewy on the inside and crunchy at the edges and super flavorful. Other options are pretty exhorbitant like the blue cheese bread which was properly darkly baked and cost $9 bangers. The Milk Bar is open for breakfast and sells inventive, delish baked goods and milk shakes.
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Blue Water Grill

One of the absolute most beautiful dining rooms in New York at this corner Union Square classic that once housed Club Metropolis in the eighties. Slendid high ceilings and lush marble surroundings being decorated in their Christmas finery. Any special occasion is more special here and my birthday was well celebrated. The brunch starts off with raisin and pumpkin bread and strawberry butter. I ordered the main lobster roll pictured above which was served on a toasted challah roll with applewood smoked bacon on a plate with house made chips was delish. The staff was extra accomodating to the birthday girl and fries were added on as well. My companion's seafood quiche more of a tartlett was spot on served with a side salad. Drinks are included like my companion's nostalgia provoking srewdriver and my potent Bloody Mary, though those could use some updating. An extensive menu of brunch and lunch items abound. Several benedicts, eggs and pancake options like pumpkin pancakes make for a grand choice. Lunch items include burgers(meat and salmon) and salads. The dessert of a banana tower pictured above with malt crunch ice-cream, chocolate sauce, and bananas served in a crispy sweet shell was decadent. Chocolate fondue with dip-ins like marshmallows, meringue and fruits was a fitting end to a grand meal. Again, gorgeous special occasion spot brought to you by the B.R. Guest restaurant conglomerate.
MUST GO!

Dinosaur Barbecue

Dinosaur barbecue is a giant roadhouse joint located on 12th. Avenue in the hinterlands of Harlem. Boisterous, fun spot which was crowded on a Saturday afternoon. We started with the swag sampler which was deviled eggs, spicy boiled shrimp, fried green tomatoes and accompanying sauces. The dish for two was about $9 bangers and is not to be missed. Next up, I ordered the ribs which were recommended with two accompanying sides of mac and cheese and baked beans. The ribs were meaty though could have been more succulent inside, but the sides were bangin' with mac and cheese having a nice cheesy top and beans with chorizo and rib pieces were porkly good. My friend ordered the catfish which I did not try though her sides of amped up rice with cabbage and the creole potato salad were also yum. The dessert of sweet potato pie with pecans while presented beautifully was a little less so in taste. Come hungry and thirsty as their are good beers here too.
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Uncle George's

Uncle George's is an institution in Astoria and for good reason. A nice corner location, Greek music and of course, consistently good Greek cooking. A lamb was cooking on the spit as I entered, and they cook up the lamb in many ways served with tasty lemon potatoes. Snapper, fried calamari and lots of fish choices are also on the menu. For lunch today, I had the gyro which was a tasty lamb mix over grilled pita with lemon potatoes, tzatziki with a small salad of lettuce, tomatoes and onions for $8 bangers. Yummy, flavorfull meat, balanced by soft and slightly oily potatoes and super garlicky tzatziki.
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The Redhead

The Redhead is a much blogged about Southern restaurant/bar in on 13th. Street between 1st. and 2nd. Avenue. Finally ate there the other night with two girlfriends. The spot was full for a Thursday in the midst of a recession. It is a dark, moody room with velvet banguettes surrounding the perimeter. We each ordered an appetizer and mine was the sunchoke and sweet potato salad with hazelnut, pear, aged goat cheese and spicy watercress for $9 bangers. This is definitely a case of a dish sounding better than the execution. The sunchokes should have been warmed slightly otherwise it was a reasonably good balance of flavors. Next time it would be the bacon peanut brittle(because every thing is better with bacon) for $5. The best app. of the group was the braised red-wine short ribs for $11, with potato pierogi and carmelized onions, yum. The winner of the main course and much renowned online was my buttermilk fried chicken with baby spinach, apples, candied walnuts and an add-on of a biscuit for $16. Salty, crunch, juicy perfect fried chicken with the savory/sweet accompaniment. The biscuit was delish with honey butter. The accomodating waiter also gave us three wrapped up chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies to take with us.
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Thai Basil

I ascended to Massaman heaven during my lunch meal yesterday at Thai Basil on 9th. Avenue. The place has been renovated with white plastic wainscotting and high backed white plastic chairs and some Thai wall decorations. They did forget to redo the toilet which has the same green tiles and stinky smell of years ago. Though who cares about the toilet for this level of true yum yum food. A lunch special of $6.95 which the price has also thankfully not changed from years ago includes a nice salad with mesculun, tiny tomatoes, cucumber and carrots as well as a fresh spring roll. I ordered pork massaman which is served in a rich brew with coconut and hot pepper flecks with smashed skin on red potatoes and cashews. Delish. Lot's options with chicken or beef for that bangin' deal and of course you have the choice to eat at a dozen other Thai joints on 9th., but for this price and great grub is there really a choice.
MUST GO!

Windsor Wines

Windsor wines opened it's new location under somewhat a veil of secrecy in the charming Windsor Terrace neighborhood. Signs saying ice-cream parlor were visible during construction of the former pet store leading many to hope for a sweeet shop or cute old fashioned diner. Now it is all clear, a big, well stocked, friendly wine store opened. Wine tastings are held every Thursday and Saturday. The big surprise here is the lovely stained glass in front reminicent of a long gone ice-cream parlor.
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Christine Valmy

My facial was $33.50 for a weekday service with extractions.. Did I mention that there was a class going on right next to me and a few bumps into my horizontal self during the nearly 2 hour service. High quality products and a classic European facial left my skin silky soft afterwards. No frills though for a lengthy Euro treatment with lots of bang for the buck, Christine Valmy rocks.
Must Go!