Food: ☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
I recommend: Gouda,
Category Archives: NEW YORK CITY
Totto Ramen, Hell’s Kitchen , NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $
Must try: Paitan ramen, Totto extreme spicy ramen
Locanda Verde , Tribeca, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Dishes not to miss: Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Lamb Meatball Sliders, Pumpkin Agnolotti, Porchetta
MORIMOTOS, CHELSEA, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Fit for: People Watching, Bar Scene, Notable Chef
Dishes not to miss: Creamy Crab Croquette, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Sushi, White Chocolate Panacotta
Masahru Morimoto’s imposing iron chef personality sure does translate into his restaurant.
His sprawling, modern, cavernous restaurant is quite magnificent. One of the most striking elements is the wall made of bottles filled with clear liquid, which has an interesting play of lights on it. There is a very funky bar area downstairs alongside some really cool bathrooms. Continue reading
Jane, Greenwich Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
I recommend: Mushroom Soup, Goat Cheese Flatbread, Seven Layer Chocolate Cake
Continue reading
Butter Restaurant, East Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Roasted Hudson valley Duck Confit
One if by Land Two if by Sea, West Village, NYC
Taboon, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Mint Lamb Kababs, Vegetarian Grill
Boulud Sud, Midtown West, NYC
Park Avenue Winter, Upper East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Seared Scallop “Sandwich”, Smoked Salmon & Beet Salad
Ai Fiori, Midtown West, NYC
JoJo, Upper East Side, New York City
Food: ☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Toasted Almond Ice-cream Bar
Amma, Midtown East, New York City
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Chicken Tikka Masala, Lal Maas
Osteria Morini, SoHo, New York City
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
Must try: Salt Cod & Potato crostini, Zuppa Funghi
FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS PIE SHOP, Park Slope, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆ ☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: Salted Caramel Pie, Chocolate Scone
“This must be where pies go when they die,” says a sign as you walk into Four and Twenty Blackbirds. I couldn’t agree with the sign more. Continue reading
The Doughnut Plant , Lower East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: Carrot Cake, Valrhona chocolate, Jelly filled, Raspberry
I was never a doughnut fan until I bit into one of Mark Isreal beauties at the Doughnut Plant.
Using recipes that were handed down from his grandfather, Isreal has gone from retailing his sweet treats out of a basement to owning two storefronts in New York City. He does nothing less than doughnut wizardry in these kitchens. Continue reading
Bruschetteria, Lower East Side , NYC
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Pork Meatball Panini , Deviled Eggs with basil pesto
The Bruschetteria is a tiny little eatery on the Lower East Side in New York City. It specializes in bruschetta, paninis and a smattering of other Italian fare. Continue reading
Luke’s Lobster, Upper West Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Lobster Roll, Shrimp Roll, Crab Roll
Luke Holden is the grand master of the lobster roll.
Born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Luke grew up surrounded by the freshest of seafood as his father owned and ran a seafood processing company. Luke sources his seafood from the family business and that ensures using the best quality meats for his rolls. Continue reading
Totoya Restaurant, Upper East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
I recommend: California Rolls. Rocky Mountain Roll
This non-descript, east side Japanese restaurant serves food that is a little better than mall sushi and less than the fabulousness that Manhattan has to offer. Continue reading
Taverna Kyclades, Astoria, NY
Food: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Dishes not to miss: Pan-Fried Greek Cheese, Grilled Porgie and Drurade, Galaktoboureko
If you are craving Greek food, then there is no better neighborhood to hit than Astoria in Queens.
Amongst the teeming numbers of Greek restaurants, Chef-Owner Ardian Skenderi’s Taverna Kyclades seems to be one of the more popular spots, offering the freshest seafood at very affordable prices. At peak times the waits can be very long but the food is very worth it. Continue reading
Sammy’s Halal Food Cart, Jackson Heights, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: n/a
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: lamb over rice
From cabby to foodie! Sammy is immigrant from Pakistan who knew that he needed to be more than just another Pakistani cab driver in New York City. That has been the journey of Samiul Haque Noor of Sammy’s Halal who won the Vendy award for best street food cart in 2006.
Megu, Tribeca, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$$
Fit for: People Watching, Special Occasion Dining
Dishes not to miss: Tuna & Avocado Megu Style, Tuna Soy Akami & Black Truffle
Special notes: Wait for restaurant week or special promotions to eat here because the prices really hurt.
Fresh Fanatic Bakery by Chef Michael Allen
I was invited to cover an exclusive tasting event showcasing the upcoming launch of The Fresh Fanatic Bakery by Chef Michael Allen. The event was held at the B3 Lounge at Body By Brooklyn, showcasing desserts by famed Pastry Chef Michael Allen and Thanksgiving accented foods catered by The Fresh Fanatic Market and Café. Continue reading
The Wright at the Guggenheim Museum, Upper East Side, NYC
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Dishes not to miss: Roasted Chicken
The Wright (named after Frank Lloyd) opened to the public at the Guggenheim Museum on December 11, 2009, where the Guggenheim Café used to be. This sleek, modern space was awarded the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for outstanding restaurant design. The striking feature of this bright room is the multicolored installation titled The Horizon by artist Liam Gillick. Continue reading
Crema, Chelsea, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Fit for: Lunch Spot, Brunch, Dine At The Bar, Outdoor Dining
Dishes not to miss: Salsas de la casa, Quesos Flameados, Burrito de Atún
Chef Julieta Ballesteros, of Mexicana Mama fame, has traded up to Crema in Chelsea, where she serves upscale, refined Mexican cuisine.
This eatery is a place to try delightful combinations of carefully composed plates. Ballesteros has put a lot of thought into the creation of each dish. At Crema, one experiences combinations of Mexican flavors that are rare and very pleasing to the palate. Continue reading