The John Dory Oyster Bar

Kitchy seafood decor and a prime corner in the Ace Hotel Complex, the John Dory found a home after a shortlived time on 10th Ave. Some of the food here is inspired like the cremy, complex, corn, clam, and potato soup with spicy chorizo(crostini) and the lovely lobster roll with the skinniest shoestring potatoes. Yummy, warm, buttery Parker rolls are good for chowing and dipping. The freshest seafood(oysters) also rocks out with fresh horseradish and great sauces. The crudo with Kaffir lime was underseasoned and underwhelming. The shooters of crab and avocado are tasty though for $7 are miniscule. Desserts are also not sensational- vanilla sundae with raspberry was good as was chocolate mouse with butterscotch cream, but none were mindblowing. Very expensive with subpar service.
SLOW GO!

Chinatown Brasserrie

Sumptous Chinese plus dim sum spot in a lofty space with Chinese banquets and lots of red lamps. Once seated you can order any and all off the menu- no carts, though this food is super fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Soups include wonton, corn/egg drop with lobster both tasty and wontons are super duper tasty/fresh. We ordered Peking duck, classic egg rolls, shrimp and mango rolls plus dumplings made with bok choy and mushrooms. A feast. Each dish was soooo good. The half Peking duck($20) arrived with the requisite shredded cucumber and pancakes with oyster sauce. Classic egg rolls were fresh fried and full of big size veggies- yum! Pricey yes, but a posh choice for a fun lunch or dim sum. Lovely loos for the ladies.
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SteepleChase Coffee

Kensington coffee shop in a burgeoning stretch of Fort Hamilton Parkway. Classic Brooklyn name and big airy space. Friendly service and wifi, SteepleChase offers a cool, chill vibe for a bit of a bite. Goodies from Trois Pommes, Balthazar, and Terrace Bagels. Some of the offerings are vegan. Outdoor seating in front of the store make this shop a welcome addition to this happening hood.
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Tipsy Parson

Tipsy Parson serves low country food in a pretty, narrow spot on 9th Ave. in Chelsea. Dinner here is pricey with most entrees over $22, so we shared some small dishes to make a meal. Mac and cheese- $7 for a small portion, hush puppies- $8, shrimp and grits- $16, peach ribs- $15. The standoutof the four plates were the hush puppies with pimento cheese dip and shrimp/grits. Hush puppies were perfect, dark and tasty. Shrimp and grits were super tasty, spicy and grits were super creamy. We ordered the signature dessert- the Tipsy Parson a brandy soaked almond cake with berries and vanilla custard- delish.
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Salt and Fat

A temple to salt, pork and general fat. This long and pretty restauratn is very popular and an interesting spot along busy Queens Boulevard. Bacon popcorn(pictured) starts the service. This treat is highly addictive and you will find yourself asking for more and friendly servers will oblige. Our Queens dinner group ordered a bunch of dishes and shared. The plates are considered small which portion sizes are reasonable and so are prices with most under $12. Started with the cesar salad with runny egg and lots of house cured bacon. Delish. Lobster salad with pieces of orange and grapefruit was just ok. The signature crack and cheese was a gooey concoction of fried gnocchi, bechamel and more bacon- rich. Best were the meatball of veal. pork and beef in a spicy tomato sauce. The pork sliders pictured with some sweet spicy sauce on brioche with pickle was decadent. Dessert was rice crispy treats with marshmallow ice-cream. #7 train to 40 street takes you right there. 41-15 Queens Blvd.
MUSR GO!

Almond

Brunching in NYC is taken very serously by some. Though I enjoy brunch it has to be something special for me to take it seriously. Almond hosts a serious brunch. A large, pretty, and noisy room people love this spot for brunch. Why? It showcases All American foods some made in house with a little extra. Starting brunch with warmed biscuits with housemade strawberry jam and apple butter is a surefire winner. My dad's housemade pastrami with eggs was mega tasty for $16. I opted for huevos rancheros which was quite good. The brews are all drafts and although drinks are not included this is a fine brunch option for Manhattan.
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Totonnos

Holy Pizza Batgirl! This family owned pizzeria has been family owned and operated since 1924. A fire below the pizza oven a while back shut down the operation though much of the original pressed tin ceilings and walls in the dining room remained intact. One comes for the great Napolitana pizza and I have came here since I was a kid. It is the two booths and old timey feel that transport you back to when Coney was a small town of bungalows and summer day tripperrs. The service is to the point. Pizza is served on styrofoam and it deserves better. You have two pizza size options small and large- small is $16.50 and large is $19.50. Toppings are $2.50. We had a large plain and a small extra cheese- both pictured. The pizza has the freshest of crusts with a slightly sweet/salty taste. Perfectly darkly baked in the 1000 degree oven- this is the NY pizza that defines the ideal NY pizza with it's Naples roots. Cheese, crust, sauce, flavor are all spot on.
MUST GO!

Addeos Bakery

Bread beauty on Authur Ave. Addeos is a bread bakery, nothing else and the bread is beautifuul and fine. It is like walking into a carb. lovers dream. Loaves upon loaves of pane di casa, semolina, and the bread I bought- sourdough. So many, but not enough space to carry all. The woman said the sourdough wasn't soft, no it was perfect. At, $2.00. it was one of the finest I have tried, perhaps ranking #2 to Royal Crown of Brooklyn.
MUST GO!

Love Gelato

Love, love, love this lovely gelato. Made in Chelsea with authentic Italian flavors and consistency. The space is bright, airy with a few tables to mangia the great gelato. Tried the dark chocalate and chocolate/caramel. Both bursting with flavor. Ice-cream is pricey at $4.50 a cup, but with taste, ingredients and lots of fun and classic gelato flavors, show some love! 7th Ave. South and Charles St.
GO!

Le Bernadin

$45 Harvest lunch with $5 donated to City Harvest. This is an amazing deal- cannot find this deal on their website, but when I sat down there it was. Toast points with fresh and smoked salmon started the meal. Fresh rolls from TomCat bakery. First course, salmon wtih grapefruit raw and surrounded by citrus- heavenly. Second course was perfectly cooked cod, surrounded by a red peppercorn mariniere. Wine, I chose was a lovely Frensh dessert wine. Pre- dessert was a budino with caramel and chocolate ganache in an eggshell(divine). Dessert was their classic Chocoalate- Peanut dark chocolate, and caramel tart, meyer lemon puree, peanut powder praline-citrus sorbet. Of course, service was what was expected-attentive, knowlegdable, highly professional. West 51st. in the Equitable building.
MUST GO!

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!