Vic's - Comfort food in style...

Vic's is the "somewhat" new restaurant from the team that brought you favorites Five Points and CookShop.  Vic's has taken over the spot on 31 Great Jones street where the beloved Five Points used to hold fort - especially on Sundays for brunch!  The restaurant has been redesigned with a focus I believe more on lunch and dinner...not just Sunday brunch.  Five Points was pretty legendary for many years as being one of the hottest brunch spots in the city. Waits border-lined on epic, and it was ALWAYS crowded.  However, I think they struggled mightily to recreate the brunch business at night.  For a while they tried introducing themed nights - sunday supper, lobster nights, etc., but it just never caught on, and I think in New York, two days a week of stellar business won't cut it.

Introducing Vic's.  Given I was pretty heart broken when Five Points closed, I was a bit skeptical at first.  But boy, in a day and age where I'm actually finding it pretty hard to find new restaurants that stand up to the old tried and tested ones, Vic's will definitely go on my "go-to" list.  The vibe is somewhat of a family restaurant, but in a New York way.  I went on a recent Saturday evening, and the restaurant, while certainly doing it's fair share of "first date" dinners, also had a large contingency of "sophisticated" Manhattan/Brooklyn families -  large tables with generations of a single family. Perhaps because there is something for everyone on the menu. The food is well done - interesting pizza and pasta dishes (I am very partial to the Little Purse - delicious hot piping ricotta bursts into your mouth, slightly cut by the acid from the lemon).  Main courses - the pork and the oxtail were hearty and shareable.  Perhaps the right order is a pizza/pasta + a main course to share with a partner.  Of course you can't miss some of the appetizers...notably the Sweet Crispy Onions - pretty much every table had these. Think lightly fried onion rings dusted in tomato powder with a bit of bite.  Paired with a parmesan dip - it was like the best of onion rings + nachos combined.  Yum.

All in all - the ambiance was relaxed, not snooty or uptight...not too fashiony, nor too cavalier.  Was just right for any night of the week.  I haven't tried brunch yet, but am definitely looking forward to it. 

Highly recommend!

Vic's

31 Great Jones

212-253-5700

Jeffreys Grocery - The Perfect Neighborhood Spot...

...It's places like Jeffreys Grocery that make me wish again and again that I lived in the West Village!  I stopped by with my friend Yue to have lunch yesterday at this brand new grocery/bar/luncheonette (they serve dinner too!).  Her friend Jim was bartending, so we decided to pay him a visit and keep him company on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

From the people who brought you Joseph Leonard, the shop is pretty small - seating for maybe around 20?  We nabbed two perfect seats at the bar and got down to business.  First up - the drinks.  The Red Fox and The Waverly Weekender - too classic sweet, but not too sweet drinks.  Perfect for brunch.  For beer lovers - definitely try out their draft (fyi you can also take a growler home of your draft of choice if you so desire!)  A good way to be the most popular Sunday Football house guest!

For lunch we went with the Curry Chicken Salad sandwich and the Pear and arugula salad.  Delicious- both were light and flavorful - not your garden variety salad and sandwich spot.  If you so desire, there is an extensive raw bar as well as cheese and charcuterie options.  Next time I will definitely do a sampling of that...

Keep in mind, this is a part grocery, part bar, part restaurant.  Meaning the menu is pretty small - mostly cold salads and sandwiches with only a couple of hot dishes.  All about quality, not quantity - how every good restaurant should be...

For dessert we were treated to a huge slice of Red Velvet cake with fresh berries in whipped cream - YUM.  Beware, this is meant for 2 - it is huge!  Perfectly moist with cream cheese frosting....this is how red velvet is supposed to be.  Not overly sweet either.

Our other dessert was off the menu, but will hopefully be added soon!  A delicious toasty Olive Oil infused bundt cake.  Yumm....olive oil cake definitely seems to be the dessert du jour these days. Finally, a dessert that's good for you!  :)

As a perfect complement - don't forget to get the coffee - It's Stumptown!!! And there really is a difference between good coffee and bad coffee - it goes down much smoother with none of that acidic aftertaste.

Jeffreys Grocery

172 Waverly Place (at 9th)

(646) 398-7630

The Breslin - Wear your best flannel and puffy vest!

So I went to The Breslin yesterday morning for brunch to check out what everyone's been talking about.  Boy was I glad I had whipped out the grandpa cardigan and oxfords! 

The place was crawling with facial hair, flannel, puffy vests - moneyed people outfitted by the adjacent Opening Ceremony, spending who knows how much to look like they stepped out of Goodwill!

The Breslin @ The Ace Hotel

If you ask me it was all a little too much for me.... anyhow onto the food and decor.  A bit too dark for my taste - definitely too dark for brunch, but I suppose the lack of light matched the rustic dark wood decor giving an air of heaviness to the environment.  A heaviness that was certainly matched by the food.

I had the pumpkin pancakes which were quite lovely.  Not particularly light or eggy - more like a multi-grain pancake.  My boyfriend said it reminded him a bit of eating oatmeal, it definitely had that kind of heartiness to it. 

I obviously ordered a side of the house cured bacon.  Now this was delicious.  But definitely a heart attack in the making.  Fatty, fatty, fatty...You definitely need some sort of acid to counteract all that grease and fat.  Perhaps a Bloody Mary?

Our neighbors had the full English breakfast - fried egg, sausage, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms.  $21 bucks! Urmmmm......I don't know about that.

The lamb burger on the other hand was delicious - but just to warn, it is topped with goat cheese (I am not a fan - I know, that's like blasphemy to most people...but just saying...)

Accompanied by crisp steak fries....I definitely felt guilty gorging on this meal while at the same time thousands were running the NYC marathon....hehe

All in all, I probably wouldn't come back to The Breslin - I am not a huge fan of the heavy Irish pub fare, but those true Spotted Pig lovers will definitely appreciate it.

I would however come back to the lounge at The Ace Hotel - if only to people watch!

All the style blogs must capture a lot of people for their street scene shots from here.  Curious location for the hipsters though - 29th/Broadway...not exactly what I think of when I think of where the cool kids play.....

Maybe I'm just getting old... 

The Breslin
16 West 29th (at Broadway)
212-679-1939

Northern Spy Food - Locally sourced food does a body good!

So recently my boyfriend and I have decided to institute a Sunday night "date night."  Early Sunday dinners are an awesome idea since usually places aren't really packed on Sundays - much less earlier in the evening, and it's a great way to try out new restaurants.

And there's nothing better than it being 7pm on Sunday night and already being done with dinner!  The weekend still seems long.... trickery I tell you!

Last Sunday we tried Northern Spy Food Co. in the East Village. This is a tiny little restaurant nestled on East 12th between Ave. A and B - specializing in locally sourced artisanal foods from the Mid Atlantic and the North East.

Think of a cheaper version of Blue Hill, Craft, etc.

The ambiance was like the perfect little country comfort food neighborhood diner.  Cozy benches and stools - this place just screams warmth and friendliness!

I decided to go with the chicken and egg sandwich - chicken thigh + poached egg with fresh veggies, nestled in a pocket sandwich.  With sweet pickled onions and a pickle with a bite to last a while - this was a really nice light dinner option.

More like a late afternoon snack, I also added a side of the potatoes and dill mustard as well as the braised kale.  Yum yum yum.

My boyfriend went with the Sunday dinner special - get this - 3 courses for $20 bucks!  Starting off with the Farmers Market Salad - deliciously fresh sweet potato, carrots, turnip and potatoes in a light yogurt dressing.  Topped off with mint - this had to be one of the best salads I've ever had.  Focusing on root vegetables - it was super hearty and left me feeling clean and refreshed.

Next came the chicken meatballs.  A bit like chicken parmesan - it definitely reminded me of old style Italian cooking.  Without the greasy part.

Finally - warm winter bread pudding.  Topped with super fresh whipped cream.  Served piping hot - in a large bowl, this is enough to share.

But of course we still had room for the carrot cake.  Probably the second best thing of the night (just after the Farmers Market Salad).

All in all - it was a great meal.  I'd definitely go back - maybe next time I'll try their brunch!

Oh - and also definitely try one of their homemade seltzers.  With flavors like concord grape and quince (!!) you can't go wrong!

Northern Spy Food Co.
511 East 12th Street (between A and B)
212- 228-5100

The Redhead - Is the hype justified?

After Frank Bruni did one of his last reviews for The Redhead, the wait time for a table turned into a 1 to 2 hour marathon on any given night. You are welcome to have a seat at the bar where you can order from the full menu - but good luck getting a seat without baring some teeth.

Last Saturday night my boyfriend and I stopped by The Redhead at around 8:45pm. After being told the wait was around 1-1 1/2 hours long - we proceeded to try to shimmy our way into an advantageous spot near the bar that would make it easy for us to nab two seats.

Not easy at all. Just as a group of 4 got up to go to their table, 3 men swooped in, leaving just one spot for me. Boo - was my boyfriend supposed to eat standing up? Anyhow - I sat guard on my seat and proceeded to order - thinking this would guarantee us the next bar seat available.

Wrong again. After the couple next to me got up - it was only after I bared some teeth that I was able to wrangle an extra seat. Tip - eating out is not for the weak in NYC....

Ok ok. Onto the food. We started off with the much talked about and raved about bacon brittle and peanuts.

Huh? For what I could tell - they were just planters peanuts with some bacon! Maybe I just didn't get it. A bit overly salty and sweet for my taste - this probably appeals to those who enjoy Momofuku Milk Bar...

For our main dishes we ordered the fried chicken, of course! And the burger. While the chicken was crispy and juicy all the way through - even the guy next to us agreed that sometimes nothing beats good old KFC...

The salad accompanying the chicken however was very nice- sprinkled with pecans which added a nice sweet touch. And you can never go wrong with cornbread.

As for the burger - at $10 bucks, I'd say this was a pretty good deal. But again - it's nothing special. Just a regular burger. And not that big of one to boot.

Finally we got the salt and vinegar fingerling potatoes. Ouch! Super strong vinegar and doused in oil - these are for only the strong at heart...and strong stomachs....

Which brings me to my last comment - apparently something went wrong with my stomach, because I didn't feel too good the rest of the night.

But maybe that was just me - my boyfriend was fine!

All in all - The Redhead is your average neighborhood spot - nothing special, and in my opinion certainly not worth the 1-1/12 hour wait.

Maybe I came on an off night??

P.S. No pictures this time - sometimes it just feels awkward taking pictures at a bar, don't you think?

The Redhead
349 East 13th St. (between 1st and 2nd)
212-533-6212

Cafeteria - A classic Chelsea no muss no fuss spot

On a nice night, few spots beat the sidewalk dining at Cafeteria in Chelsea.

A Chelsea standby, Cafeteria is pretty dependable for good old fashioned spruced up diner food.

Servings are abundant, atmosphere is sufficiently hip (even years after its heyday) and the wait is usually very doable.

Even at primetime on a Friday night, I didn't have to wait for a perfect twospot right on the sidewalk.

What I love is that the restaurant is always crowded enough to make you feel like you are somewhere hip, but never too crowded where the wait becomes unbearable.

I went with the Fried Chicken Salad - an abundant heaping of fried chicken, beans, haricot verts (green beans), tomatoes and chipotle dressing.  The dressing was spicy!

I usually never believe that these types of places mean spicy when they say spicy - but Cafeteria does.

My mouth was burning a couple bites in.  But it was worth it - the salad is no salad for models - this is the real deal.  Definitely filling enough and at $12 bucks - it's one of the great deals in town!

The Braised Short Rib Tacos were also huge portions - 3 heaping tacos overflowing with braised short ribs.  Served with a sweet potato puree, the short ribs were very rich and juicy.

Almost too heavy to eat in a taco, you soon have to resort to fork and knife for this one.  The corn and apple salsa is a perfect way to finish off the dish with a light and refreshing twist.

Other great standbys are the macaroni and cheese trio and of course the burger!

Cafeteria is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  The ultimate diner.  And after so many years I think we can safely say it's now a Chelsea institution that hopefully is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Cafeteria
119 7th Ave (at 17th Street)
212-414-1190

Wildwood BBQ - Trendy BBQ? Is that an oxymoron?

Wildwood BBQ is B.R. Guest's try to bring BBQ to the big apple.  Located on Park Avenue South near Union Square - it's neighbors include trendy restaurants Dos Caminos and Japonais.  You get the picture, right?

So knowing all this information - I didn't expect too much from Wildwood in terms of real southern BBQ - for that I think I need to go on up to Harlem to get the real deal.

However, for the neighborhood and location, Wildwood gives it a good try.  Memphis baby back ribs - full rack for $25 bucks, is a little pricey, but definitely better than your average Tony Romas. A tiny bit on the overcooked side - the quality can be unpredictabe at times.

On the other hand - I did like the Carolina pulled pork - the potato bread and vinegar sauce was a nice southern touch.  The tang from the vinegar nicely offsets the sweetness of the pulled pork.

As for sides - definitely go for the creamed spinach!  It is delicious and rivals any steakhouse around town.  The mac'n'cheese however was a real disappointment.  A little too much of the Kraft Box kind - $6.95 was a bit steep for a tiny bowl.  For a much better rendition - go on to Mara's Homemade - their mac'n'cheese never fails to come out bubbling hot and spicy.

Overall, Wildwood is an okay choice if you are in the neighborhood and craving some BBQ pork, but don't make a special trip down for it.

There must be better options around town - i.e. Blue Smoke, Dinosaur BBQ...Hill Country...

Wildwood BBQ
225 Park Avenue South (Between 18th and 19th)
212-533-2500

Yummy@Home Macaroni and Cheese

Since it was a rainy night we decided to make mac'n'cheese!

It's funny - when I was little I really didn't like mac'n'cheese - and I know everyone has childhood memories attached to kraft mac'n'cheese, but I really didn't like it.

I think it's that to this day I for some reason have a weird aversion to orange cheese...

However, ever since mac'n'cheese began popping up on menus around town, I've become a huge fan!  My two favorites are Five Points and Hudson Cafeteria - but each one sets you back anywhere from $10 - $18 bucks (in the case of Hudson).   Even S'Mac isn't thaaat cheap - plus sometimes it can be burnt.

Tonight we went with an aged cheddar + gruyere version.

Preheat oven at 375 degrees.

Step 1 - Cook the macaroni. (elbow macaroni works the best)

• This is pretty obvious - cook it just like pasta - boil with salt and some vegetable oil.

Step 2 - Make the Cheesy Sauce!

• While you are waiting for the water to boil - start on the sauce.
• Grate one block of sharp cheddar and one block of gruyere - basically we bough two squares from Whole Foods.  I think around 1/2 pound each - doesn't have to be precise...if you like it cheesier do more!
• Heat up 1 quart of milk (whole, or we used non-fat and it came out great too) - Be careful not to let it boil - I kept it on medium heat
  
• Melt one stick of unsalted butter in a large pot.
• Add 1/3 cup of flour and whisk on low heat for a couple minutes
• Add the heated milk and whisk until thick and creamy (couple minutes)
  
• Take off heat and add the shredded cheese, one tablespoon of salt, pepper and nutmeg (could substitute paprika if you want)

Step 3 - Bake it!

• Toast bits of white bread on a pan with melted butter
• Pour the macaroni into baking dishes and sprinkle the bread crumbs
• Toss on some thyme or rosemary
  
• Bake for approximate 30 minutes

Serve with a side of chorizo and caramelized onions!

Perfect for a cold winter night...or in our case a warm summer rainy night! Also might be a good dish to bring to a dinner party.  After all - everyone loves mac'n'cheese right?

Update- Recession hits the Quality at Clinton Street Baking Co.

Alert- the blueberry pancakes that made Clinton Street Baking Co. worth the 2 hour wait have now been compromised.

It appears that the gloom and doom economic environment has resulted in cost cutting across the board - most noticeably in the pancakes.

No longer served with fresh blueberries - the blueberry pancakes resemble something closer to the IHOP version, which would cost you less than half the bill at Clinton.

In the past the pancakes had a sprinkling of fresh blueberries mixed into the dough - nowadays the pancakes come smothered with "blueberry syrup" - mashed up blueberries that are shriveled up, clearly either canned or frozen.

They are almost unrecognizable as they are no longer the color of a delightful flaky brown, but more like something the Smurfs would enjoy...

A truly disappointing development - especially at $12 a pop. To be honest, I am a little relieved - now I no longer have to devote an entire Saturday afternoon down on the LES waiting for these pancakes.

I suspect others will feel the same...and that 2 hour wait will continue to shrink. My suggestion - go between 6-8pm Mon- Sat for the Beer + Burger $12 special - now that's a deal worth waiting for.

Clinton Street Baking Co.
4 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002
646-602-6263
http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/

Nolita House - More Bar than Restaurant

I consider Nolita House to be more of a bar than a restaurant. While Nolita House does have enough seating and a menu long enough to warrant it being a restaurant - the vibe I got was definitely more dive bar.

Located on East Houston between Mott and Mulberry, Nolita House is a great neighborhood spot serving up classic burgers, mac'n'cheese and pizzas. The food is average for a restaurant, better than average for a bar.

That's why I prefer to call it a bar...

I ordered the Lobster Bake Mac'n'cheese. My expectations were not that high considering it was a lobster dish for only $14. I was right. The lobster was very few and far between...finding a piece of lobster was like finding that golden egg on an Easter egg hunt.

However, more disappointing was the lack of flavor in the mac'n'cheese. Not very cheesy, I would almost describe it more as a "pasta alfredo." Maybe I should have just gone with the Four Cheese Original if I wanted more cheese.

The burger was good - definitely above average with a great side of greasy cut fries. And the guacamole and chips were great - and generous to boot. Usually restaurants are so stingy with that guac!

All in all, Nolita House is a good choice if you live in the neighborhood, but not worth a subway ride.

Last tip - there is a definite draft in the front part of the restaurant so on a cold winter night make sure you ask to sit in the back.

Sit up front and you'll be dining with your scarf and mittens.

Nolita House
47 East Houston, New York, NY 10012
212-625-1712
http://www.nolitahouse.com

Stone Park Cafe - Brooklyn Brunch Does A Body Good...

Stone Park Cafe - Be prepared to wait upwards to 2 hours for brunch at this Park Slope favorite.

Opened in 2004 by two local residents - "the two Joshes" Josh Foster and Josh Grinker, Stone Park Cafe serves up classic American contemporary cuisine.

Although I have yet to try Stone Park Cafe for dinner - I can vouch for their seriously unbeatable brunch offerings. Dishes ranging from Biscuits and Gravy to Shrimp and Grits to an unbeatable Short Rib Hash and Eggs...this is country cooking styled for the ever hip Brooklyn foodies.

Even the "Cobb Salad" comes with thick bacon - pork belly in this case, and a fried poached egg fit to satisfy the manliest of men.

Popular with both hipsters and families, Stone Park Cafe manages to simultaneously be the restaurant of choice to cure a nasty hangover, while also delivering the goods to the legions of devoted Park Slope "yummy mummies."

Be sure to accompany your meal with one of their mean Bloody Marys or crisp Mimosas...after all there's nothing better than a slight buzz to round out your lazy Sunday.

Tip - get there before 12pm if you want to avoid the crowds. Otherwise get ready for a long and potentially frustrating wait. After all, one can't rush the brunch crowds.
(picture from NY Times)

Stone Park Cafe
324 Fifth Ave. Park Slope, Brooklyn NYC
718-369-0082
http://www.stoneparkcafe.com

Char No. 4 -Smith Street's Modern Twist on Bar Grub

Char No. 4 is a new bar/restaurant on Smith Street in Brooklyn- right off the F train at Bergen.

While Char No. 4's claim to fame is its extensive list Whiskeys and Bourbon, I come for the food.

Deliciously simple, inventive comfort food with a modern twist.

Now I love sitting at the bar to grab a bite to eat- I find it more social and entertaining.

For those of you deuces who prefer a table to dine, one caveat with Char No. 4 is that the main dining room appears to be primarily for larger groups- several long booths await parties of 3 or more.

On a recent night my boyfriend and I came in and were told there was a 45 minute wait for a table but we could eat at the bar. Right after us came a party of 3 who were seated immediately in one of 3 large booths which were empty. Just a warning for those planning on bringing a first date...

As for the food - it is delicious. Portions are on the small side, so while prices are definitely reasonable, it might take several dishes to fill a hungry tummy.

The BLT was filled with thick slabs of fried fatty pork with a kicker of pickled jalapenos and peppers lending it an almost Asian feel.

The Shrimp and Grits were smoky, spicy, with a fresh hint of cilantro to give it that extra crisp.

As a side dish- I recommend the cauliflower gratin with almonds. Creamy and cheesy, its a perfect way to get daily dose of veggies. The almond topping adds that extra crunchy texture that elevates the dish to another level.

For dessert you have a choice of chocolate cheesecake or homemade butter pecan ice cream with bourbon.

As you can guess most of the diners seem to go with the butter pecan ice cream. The strong bourbon is a perfect accompaniment to the sweetness and buttery flavors of the ice cream. The combination is simply to die for.

For those of you die hard Manhattan foodies - Haven't you heard that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan?

At least "The Real World" and "Top Chef" think so.

So venture out on the F train - the restaurant is less than a block off the Bergen stop. You won't be sorry :)
(picture from NY Mag)


Char No. 4
196 Smith St., Carroll Gardens
718-643-2106

Good Enough To Eat - Serious Home Cookin...

Good Enough To Eat - What a name? With a restaurant name like that, it better be good. And Good Enough To Eat certainly lives up to its moniker.

I recently trekked up to the Upper West Side to have brunch at Good Enough To Eat.

It was worth the trek. Home cooking at its best - I think it gives a lot of the wannabes around the city a run for their money.

Serving up classic breakfast food (not brunch, but true good'ole breakfast), think pancakes, waffles, french toast, and eggs, eggs, eggs.

Pancakes come with anything from Apple Pancakes, Banana Walnut, and Peter Paul Pancakes - this is Belgian chocolate with coconut.... to the classic LumberJack combo with bacon and scramble eggs.

As for the waffles - they have many options, but you know which one caught my eye: Bacon Waffles. Could there be anything more heavenly???

Now we get to the eggs....they take their eggs seriously. Favorites include the Deep South - scrambled eggs with biscuits and sausage gravy. Yummmmmmm........my arteries may be clogged up, but after that a dish like that, I can die knowing I lived a full and happy life.

So I'm sure Good Enough To Eat, is "Good enough to eat" anytime of the day, but I love breakfast and when I think of comfort home cookin I think of breakfast. On a future trip I'll try dinner and let you know how it is, but until then...go here for some good farmstyle breakfast - you won't be disappointed.

One thing to note however - the restaurant is crowded and there is usually a wait on weekends. The wait takes the form of a physical line outside the restaurant, so if it's raining beware. You will be waiting in the rain. Now this could be a good thing because it might detract others from coming and your wait will be close to none...

But, with food like this, don't count on a little rain scaring away the masses. We're tough New Yorkers who do anything for our food - So put on those rainboots and settle in for the long haul.

See ya there!
(picture from citysearch)

Good Enough To Eat
483 Amsterdam Ave, NY, NY 10024
212-496-0163
http://www.goodenoughtoeat.com

Delicatessen: Deli Food for the Hip and Glamorous

Delicatessen is a new restaurant that just opened this summer down in Soho, cashing in on the concept of "done up comfort food."

It has a similar feel to the owners' other restaurant, Cafeteria down in Chelsea, in that it serves up casual food in a trendy and hip environment, charging higher prices than your average corner deli.

Delicatessen is located at Prince and Lafayette, making it a perfect place for local Soho and Nolita residents to meet up after a long night on the town. I like it more as a brunch or lunch spot, rather than a dinner date...although there is a small bar located downstairs which probably sees a lot of after-hours action.

The food ranges from classic NYC deli fare including a take on the pastrami sandwich, to international "street foods" like a surprisingly tasty Vietnamese sandwich with ground pork and jalapenos. Sides include anything from the inventive paprika dusted onion rings to classic diner dishes like peas and carrots - which unfortunately tasted a lot like the frozen dinner variety.

The scene is typical NYC/Miami hip restaurant - open air, white space, and beautiful people. Since it recently opened, there are some of the typical problems with service and seating which should be ironed out as time goes by. Prices are steep for deli food, but reasonable relative to other NYC hip eateries.

My advice though- While Delicatessen is an attempt to replicate the success of Cafeteria, I believe it falls short to its predecessor. Cafeteria will remain my go-to place when I want classic comfort food with my girlfriends. The food is better, the ambiance slightly less pretentious, and the wait is shorter.
(picture from NY Post)

Delicatessen
54 Prince Street, New York, NY
212-226-0211

Eatery - A Hell's Kitchen Twist on the Diner

Eatery on 9th Ave. is a Hell's Kitchen staple serving up comfort and diner food with a twist. Asian chicken salad with wonton crisps?
Always a favorite for the banker girls who frequent the place after work.

Other classics include the Mac'n'Cheese with crispy fried onions and the Eatery Burger- nice and tasty with grilled bun - but beware, want to top it with your favorite choice of cheese? - goat? mozzarella? bleu? Extra cost = $1.50!

The crowd is an eclectic mix of investment bankers grabbing a bite after work, to struggling off-Broadway actors meeting to dissect latest auditions, to the locals who remain loyal to one of the first hot restaurants on 9th Ave.

Save room for dessert- the E-Wich, a huge chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream sandwich with chocolate and caramel sauce....yumm....

Come for Brunch as well - the E-Benne, Eatery's take on eggs benedict served on a vegetable potato cake is delicious. For those with a sweet took, French Toast with chocolate and bananas and a cream cheese filling - served with vanilla ice cream to boot, will have you swearing off sweets for the next week!

Eatery also sports a hip cocktail bar, serving up everything from mango mojitos to sangria. In the summer, score a seat on the sidewalk and watch the fashion show that is the diverse Hell's Kitchen crowd.

Eatery
798 9th Ave. New York, NY
212-765-7080
http://www.eaterynyc.com

Friend of a Farmer - Country Bumpkin Meets City Slicker

Friend of a Farmer is the brunch place of choice for yuppie Manhattanites who want to pretend they are back at the farm...even though they've probably never been anywhere more than 20 miles from the coast. Either coast.

Friend of a Farmer is located in a country house on Irving Place with two floors -you actually feel like you are eating at a B&B you might find upstate.

Serving up classic brunch food from eggs to pancakes brought sizzling in a cast-iron skillet, your stomach is guaranteed to be filled to the brim.

Omelettes are served with country potatoes - a favorite is the Country Omelette with bacon, cheddar and potatoes. Pancakes - I go with the Old Fashion Pumpkin Pancakes - a slight twist on your traditional pancake.

The chicken pot pie is also to die for - a perfectly flaky crust that is perfect for scooping up all the gooey goodness.

For the legions of skinny girls there with their hungover boyfriends, there is the requisite Smoked Salmon Platter or Granola.

While Friend of a Farmer is a good choice when you want some good country cooking, the wait for brunch on the weekends can be unbearable - especially on hot summer days and cold winter mornings. You wait in a line outside...catch my drift?

Tip - go in small groups, tables larger than 2 can be harder to come by and you might get angry seeing the twosomes continuously bypass you in line.

I know, life can be so unfair sometimes.

Friend of a Farmer
77 Irving Place, New York, NY
212-477-2188
http://www.friendofafarmernyc.com

Resto - Belgian Comfort Food at it's Finest. Moules Frites anyone?

Resto is a new tasty food spot, filling a void in an area desperately needing more food options, straddling Murray Hill and Flatiron. I'm not really sure where one begins and the other ends....

Nonetheless, Murray Hill residents are cheering now...

Resto is a sleek and modern, classic rendition of an old Belgian beer bar and serves Belgian food at its best. Burgers, moules frites done 3 different ways, and fries with 7 different sauces, ranging from mayo with onion (my favorite) to lime pickle and lemon with smoked paprika.

Fries galore. It's like I've died and gone to heaven.

The appetizers are the BEST. BEST. BEST.

Start with the deviled eggs. No longer just cocktail fodder, deviled eggs are making a comeback all around town with renditions at The Spotted Pig and Hundred Acres.

But, Resto serves up one of the best - deviled eggs on pork toast with green onion. Deviled eggs with bacon? Does it get any better than that? I think not.

The burger is a popular choice- topped with gruyere, red onion, pickle and mayo. For the moules frites - I always choose the parsley and garlic.

Other moules frites options include witte ale, garlic and orange zest, and debal curry, coconut milk and cilantro. I'll have to try that sometime.

As for beers...of course they have one of the widest selections, with over 5 dozen Belgian beers, But..

Beware. Don't ask for advice- they'll just point you in the direction of the most expensive beer on the menu. That's how I ended up drinking my first $14 beer.

Also, dessert is disappointing. $8 for a liege waffle. Take me to the Waffle & Dinges Truck any night of the week instead.

One more tip - the restaurant only reserves 50% of the tables, leaving the other half for walk-ins. But since the restaurant is fairly small, if you get there past 7pm you might be out of luck and in for a long wait at the bar.

Happy Drinking.
(picture from nymag.com)

Resto
111 East 29th, New York, NY
212-685-5585
http://www.restonyc.com/

D. S'Mac - Who doesn't like Mac'n'Cheese?

Next stop on the list - S'Mac, or Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese

I can eat mac'n'cheese for every meal, everyday. Doesn't everyone love mac'n'cheese? So what better place to go than a place that just serves mac'n'cheese!

S'Mac is a cozy place in the East Village where they serve up the mac'n'cheese just like at home, but with a grownup twist.

You can get your macaroni regular, multi-grain or even gluten free! What has this world come to?
Plus, you can choose from 14 different cheeses and add your own ingredients from a vast list including everything from cilantro to tuna to even shiitake mushrooms!?!?

We stuck with one of Sarita's recommendations: Alpine. Gruyere cheese and slab bacon.

Need I say more? It is my opinion that everything in life is better with bacon. That goes double, no triple, no quadruple for mac'n'cheese.

The mac'n'cheese comes out on sizzling cast-iron skillets...it's hot hot hot! Not that I'm complaining :)

Plus it comes in 4 sizes: Nosh, Major Munch, Mongo and Partay! Depending on the combination, the Nosh runs anywhere from $4.25 - $6.75 for the gourmet Alpine version.

Not bad when many fancy shmancy NYC restaurants are serving it up for double or triple the price.

Treat yourself to the perfect comfort food for any night of the week.

Just do it.

S'Mac
345 East 12th Street, New York, NY
212-358-7912, 212-358-7917
http://www.smacnyc.com/

B. Peanut Butter & Co. - Gourmet PB&J?

Next stop: Peanut Butter & Co.

Our thought would be that the creamy peanut butter could help subside the burning sensation from Kati Roll. We were right. It was the perfect sweet after salty combo.

We ordered the Fluffernutter - a simple concoction of melted marshmallows and peanut butter. So simple, why didn't I think of it?

It came out on a plate sliced in half with a side of carrots and potato chips. However, there was one fatal flaw....The bread wasn't toasted!

Isn't that weird?
Maybe I'm the only one who likes it toasted?

The perfect afternoon snack?
I think so.


For $5.75?

Not so sure.

I think next time I'll just make it at home.

Peanut Butter & Co.
240 Sullivan St, New York, NY
212-677-3995
http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/

Melba's - Chicken and Waffles in Harlem

So I'm not ashamed to admit that I decided to go to Melba's after seeing her on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." I watch that show every week and get inspired to go explore some of the local favorites showcased.

Say what you want to say about Bobby Flay- but he's bringing food to the masses and there's nothin wrong with that.

A while back I took the subway up to 116th on the west side to go see what Melba's was about. What I found was a modern setting serving up southern comfort food. The restaurant was basically a square dining room with dark lighting and sleek finishes - trendy, romantic and comforting all at the same time. Interesting combination, but it succeeds in making me feel right at home.

Of course I ordered the chicken and waffles, and my boyfriend ordered... the meatloaf.

...So my opinion is that when you go to a restaurant famous for one dish, you order that dish!

...And yes, my boyfriend ended up ordering two dinners. Another chicken and waffles please?

The chicken and waffles were crispy, a perfect mixture of salty and sweet. While the chicken was good, I have to say the waffles were better. All in all, not bad for chicken and waffles, but I'll have to try Slyvia's before I make my final recommendation.

One tip - don't leave Melba's without getting the red velvet cake. Simply one the of best renditions I have ever tasted.

And if you're lucky you'll get a Melba sighting just like I did. What a warm and wonderful lady.

Melba's
300 W. 114th St. New York, NY
212-864-7777
http://www.melbasrestaurant.com/