Alloro

Mangia e parla en Italiano at this once a month class held at Alloro Restuarant. The class is $60 and includes some conversation a three course meal plus a glass of red wine. The amount of language was minimal, but the good company,super nice hosts and wonderful authentic food made for a great evening. You are given a choice of three appetizer and three entree items and following three dessert items. For the first course I ordered a multi-layer flat bread over an artichoke salad with bacon gelato on the side. The salad was tasty, and a nice balance with the flat bread and savory bacon gelato. My friends appetizer of eggplant parmigiana with a mozzerella ball was delish. For the main, I ordered the chocolate gnocchi with wild boar ragu which was a rich dish. My companion's main of al dente saffron rissoto with licorice was again delish. Desert was a choice of ricotta cheese cake or coffee mouse filled cannoli. My lemony ricotta cheese cake with cinnamon ice-cream was spot on. Either for dining or speaking and dining Alloro is molto bene.
GO!

Point Brazil Restaurant

Obrigada for this cute corner joint on 31st. Street one block off the hub of Broadway and Steinway. Too snowy to explore further, this crowded little joint looked like there was good food and beckoned me in. This is a self-serve churrascarria one of several in the nabe. The buffet hosts Brazilian specialties such as tiliapia in a coconut cream sauce, potato salad, white rice with black beans with sausage(fejoidish dish) okra, a torta with chicken, and beans with seasoned yuca flour with sausage and much more. Just the buffet is $4.99/pound, but the buffet with carne sliced by the meat man is $5.99/pound. There were approximately 8 different kinds of meat featured here. Skewered meats salted and cooked include top sirloin, chicken wrapped in bacon, linguica(brazilian sausage), pork spare ribs etc. The meat server was accomodating as I asked for fatty pieces of top sirloin. Salty, fatty goodness that went perfectly with the selections from the buffet. All washed down with a combo of guava and passion fruit juices. I was offered a tropical dessert of coconut pineapple cake and tasted homemade and was indeed made by the owner's sister. This family owned churrascaria cares about their food and customers. Clean, big bathroom in the rear.
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Bussaco

Big, beautiful Brooklyn space sans the Park Slope stroller set, Busacco for brunch was great. Soaring space with black booths in back, I was seated at one of the spacious booths as the spot was not full thankfully on Sunday. The brunch menu rocks with a $15 prix fixe which includes a mimosa and coffee. Brunchy items like Swedish pancakes with ligonberries as well as breakfast pizza with potato, egg and choice of meat and the unusual dim sum for one which bacon, eggs, sticky rice, shrimp dumplings and sausage. I went for one of two lunch items which included a cheeseburger with Vermont cheddar or fried poisson and waffles. The fried chicken and waffles was perfection. Small in size though high in quality, the chicken was crispy, perfectly cooked and salty which enhanced the skin and juicy meat of the chen. A properly well cooked waffle with apple butter balanced out the savory chicken and the collard greens added a little vegetable action to the mix. A rich hot chocolate served in a glass was a nice compliment to the meal. Next time, the Spanish tango sundae with Il Laboratorio chocolate ice-cream, hot fudge and peanuts is a must.
MUST GO!

Bar Carrera

Situated down the block from the Village East Cinemas is the double storefront of this Spanish tapas and wine bar. The bar is as crowded as a Madrid original and the dining area next door with high tables and stools provides moody lighting for a romantic stop before a movie or just to drink and eat. The vibe in the room was very friendly and relaxed. A large selection of regional Spanish wines and sherries. My sherry fino which was slighly sweet was yummy. A plate of hams and cheeses included Serrano ham, chorizo, several semi sweet cheeses and a few olives for color. A warmed mini baguette was served with the dish.
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La Esquina Criolla

Absolutely authentic Argentine cuisine on the corner(esquina) of Corona and Junction Blvd in Eastern Queens. Since spending a month in Argentina in 2000, this is the closest I have come to a real taste. Esquina sports plain decor, but killer meat cooked on an uneven griddle over flame. I started with a chicken empanada full of moist chicken, bits of egg and red pepper. A side dish of Argentine sausages(salchichas) and a good fresh roll and butter filled me up from the jump. I ordered number six which was two beef short ribs and a skirt steak(entrana) which was $14 and worth every dime. I waited awhile for the steak which made me very nervous, but it arrived perfectly cooked with two huge short ribs and the smaller skirt steak. Argentine meat cuts are different from the American so the beef short ribs are huge and absolutely delicious. A side of oven baked potatoes came with the meat which was almost an afterthought with the huge, heavenly meat in front of me. Less expensive meat sandwiches are also available though those with sandwiches were showing dish envy at my gorgeous meat. If you are a carnivore this is a.......
MUST GO!

Uncle Nick's Greek Cuisine

Thank you to the greek gods for sending Uncle Nick's to Chelsea. Big, clean corner space with some old black and white photos of people grilling meats assumably in Greece. To start we ordered the four dips and those arrived with grilled pita. I love the Greek meze's and all of these were enjoyable. A small country salad was huge with a nice hunk of feta and nice red tomatoes for the middle of winter. The main course was baby back ribs which were huge and slathered in a little too sweet sauce. The ribs were spot on though and served with mediocre lemon potatoes. My companion's entree of pork chops was spectacular looking though overcooked and dry to the taste. The dessert of homemade baklava was a tad dry and no dripping with honey as the better ones are.
GO!

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!