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.

LYON Bouchon Moderne

They say the cuisine of Lyon France is more meat centric. Perfect for a carnivore like moir. Went for brunch on Sunday and was pleasantly surprised. Firstly, the space occupied by the former Cafe De Bruxelles was a perfect transition for this Lyonaisse spot. Secondly, and rather oddly the restaurant was uncrowded as I abore brunchtime mobs. The service was attentive naturally as I was one of a few diners. I ordered three things. The weiner pictured and served on a pretzel roll as well as brussel sprout hash with bacon plus a hot chocolate. The Lyon hot dog is a truffled dog served with saurkraut on a pretzel roll with Dijon mustard naturally. Delicious, and savory- love the pretzel roll. The bacony brussell sprouts were the best I ever tasted. The hot chocolate though not deeply rich was reminicent of those I have tasted in France.
Must Go!

Stellina Cafe

This little pink cafe is owned by the Sorella restaurant next door. It offers sandwiches, salads and the famous grissini that Sorella is known for. It also showcases luscious looking and tasting gelato. This is high end gelato expensive and worth it. Cones are housemade too for a full ice-cream experience. Gelato is $3.5 per serving and I ordered two in a cone which came to $6.53. The salted caramel with bits of chocolate was divine as was the giandujotto with bits of caramel. Incredible flavors like bananamil which is banana with animal cookies and coconut stadatellla make this a must visit for ice-cream addicts like me. 95 Allen Street.
MUST GO!

Il Laboratorio

The newly opened Il Laboratorio is a genuine modern ice-cream factory. Clean, industrial with minimalist seating, it houses the works in the back and retail in the front. Double the flavors of the Orchard Street location this is an ambitious undertaking. My favorite flavors are Thai chili chocolate and banana both of which were on hand when I was there. Two scoops in a small cup are $3.50 plus $1 extra for a topping. I got a hot fudge topping(pictured). Black mission fig, marscapone, lavender and other amazing flavors. Also, enjoy the refreshing sorbets on a hot day as they are made with raw fruit and quite tasty.
Must Go!

Red Rooster Harlem

Red Rooster is a hopping, happening Harlem hotspot. Complete with a big, beautiful bar this spot is a scene from the moment you enter through a velvet curtain. Hosts with attitude greet or don't greet you and you won't get a table without a reservation unless your name is Clinton or Obama. That being said there are 18 seats at three communal tables next to the bar and there I sat and consumed a fine meal. Ok, bread with exotically spiced chickpea dip arrives first. I ordered the Fried yard bird($21), sweet potatoes with maple bacon($8) and a frosty malted choclate for dessert($8). The two big pieces of chicken are fried darkly and exotically spiced over collards, white mace sauce and hot sauce plus a shake of spices and the chicken is tasty. The whipped sweets with maple bacon are super delicious- bacon makes everything better. The frosty malted chocolate served with house made creme fraiche and pieces of malted milk balls is an orgasmic dessert.
GO!

Dough

A doughnut pilgrimage to Bed-Stuy in the wee hours of the morning is not as far-fetched as it sounds if you love doughnuts. This bakery/doughnut plant makes baked goods for it's retail as well as other establishments in an open kitchen. Perched on the corner of Franklin and Lafayette it is a welcome sign to early morning hunters of a great breakfast. Stumptown coffe is served here along with just baked donuts showcased on the small counter. All doughnuts are $2 and with flavors like chocolate with chocolate nibs, dulce de leche with almonds and nutella filled- you are likely to encounter just the doughnut for you. All yeast all the time. We started with the chocolate covered with chocolate nibs- this doughnut was slathered in fresh chocolate and messy to eat and absolute doughnut nirvana. The coffee was killer and the hot chocolate $2.50 for a molten lava blend of several was absolute dark and delish. I took home the nutella filled and another chocolate as the freshness and absolute doughnut magic I wanted to bring home. G train to Classon Ave. 1 block walk to Franklin.
MUST GO!