Joseph Leonard - An oldie but a goodie!

Recently on a warm Saturday afternoon (finally I know after what must have been the world's longest winter!) we found ourselves out in the West Village around 6pm thinking where should we eat?  Wanting to take advantage of the early time and the fact that the weather was so nice no one was thinking about eating dinner so early, for fear of missing out on much needed sunshine I though - now would be the perfect time to try somewhere I've always wanted to go.  Joseph Leonard!  Seriously, over the past I don't know how many years, I have walked by this restaurant countless times, driven past it in cabs - always noting how crowded it always is!

I've been to the sister restaurants - Fedora, Chez Sardine and Jeffrey's Grocery...but always wanted to try the original.  So now was my chance.  

We were seated immediately right by the window (I guess since it's so tiny, every table is by a window)...but it was lovely to say the least.  This restaurant is probably the definition of quintessential West Village style.  The staff was super friendly, and I settled in for what ended up being a two hour dinner.  Not rushed one bit - no matter how crowded it got.

The food was delicious - every dish complemented with spring vegetables and cooked wonderfully.  Mussels and fries, and a deliciously flaky hake dish smothered in truffled mushroom and spring peas.  A side of the stuffing with gruyere to boot and I was in heaven.

The best part was dessert - how can you ever turn down monkey bread?  The portions were big, the drinks strong, and the ambiance and staff perfectly lovely.  If I lived in the neighborhood this would definitely be my go to spot.  Even with the customary 1 hr+ wait.

I have been to their other sister restaurants, but I have to say - as with most restaurant groups...the original usually can't be topped. 

Joseph Leonard

170 Waverly Place at West 4th

No reservations

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

Permanent Brunch - Breakfast food all day long

Permanent Brunch in the east village opened a couple months ago to much fanfare.  I mean, who doesn't love brunch?  And why is it only on Sundays!  Like "happy hour one more hour," Permanent Brunch builds upon the idea of extending a favorite meal all day long.

I mean, didn't you always want to have pancakes for dinner as a child?  There are many places in the city that serve pancakes for dinner (Clinton Street Baking Company - don't bother waiting for brunch to get their blueberry pancakes - just go for dinner!)

However, Permanent Brunch takes it to another level, serving all kinds of "brunch" food for dinner.  To do so, it means that many of their brunch dishes are more savory than sweet.  In fact there was only one real sweet entree - buttermilk pancakes.

I tried the Baked Eggs with Braised Short Rib Ragu and Duck Fat potato fingerlings.  Delicious, with the potatoes being the best part.  I mean cooked in duck fat?

Can it get better than that?  It was served quite prettily and was just the right portion.

While I did eat it for "brunch," I could definitely see craving it at dinner.

Who said eggs were only for the morning??

Sorry my pictures are kinda muted - but I guess it gives you a sense of the ambiance.  Permanent Brunch is quite tiny and the lighting is club like even in the middle of the day.  Bring your iPod and you can be part DJ, part diner...

I also tried the Chicken and Waffles.  Now the chicken was super moist and juicy - not dried out which is often the case with chicken and waffles.

Done coq au vin style, it's not fried chicken and waffles like you'd normally think.

The waffles are cooked with wild rice and topped with maple glazed bacon.

Crispy, sugary, delicious - the bacon provided the sweet to the savory dish.

Overall, Permanent Brunch has quite delicious food - and most of the entrees are savory and sophisticated enough for dinner.  It's not your classic brunch food, so I guess that's why it makes sense to the taste buds for dinner as well.  To a certain extent "brunch" almost seems a misnomer.

P.S. - they actually don't have brunch during the week during "brunch hours."  M-F they open at 5:30pm, Sat and Sunday at 10:30am.  Friday and Saturday they don't close till 3am!!!  So you can even get an early brunch to ward off that inevitable hangover....

Permanent Brunch
95 1st Ave (At 6th)
212-533-3315

Brunch at Prune - Be prepared for a 1 hour wait...

So I went with my friend to Prune a couple of years ago.  Before it got so popular!

In the couple years since, it appears Prune has pretty much blown up in the foodie world.

Yesterday I got up around 10:30am and I decided since it was before noon to give Prune another try.

I knew it was a busy place, but I thought, hey 11am is pretty early on a Sunday for brunch. 

I mean some places don't even open until 11:30 or 12 so they can serve alcohol.

But man.  11am was not early enough to escape the crowds at Prune.  By the time we were seated it was around 12:20/12:30.  And then, get this, we were out the door by 12:58pm.  They turn those tables fast and there was still an hour wait!  Boy do they do good business on the weekends.

Prune is a really charming restaurant tucked away on 1st st. located between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave.  With few other options on the street, Prune is definitely a destination place so diners coming there usually stay for the long wait.

Unless they migrate over to JoeDoe across the street.  Which I wasn't likely to do given his hatred towards food bloggers...And from the looks of it, it didn't seem like he was getting much spillover from Prune..

Anyhow, onto the food.  Now after waiting over an hour, I was hungry!  Unfortunately the portions were a bit on the small side, but no bother.

I ordered the soft scrambled eggs, which maybe in retrospect was too safe of a choice.  Very ordinary, the standout part of the dish was the potato rosti which was delicious, if not a bit overly oily.

Butter, butter and more butter abounded on the dish.  Including an overly buttered english muffin.  But you know me, a good soft scrambled egg always makes me happy.

What I should have ordered though is what my boyfriend got.  Luckily he always shares.

He ordered the fried oyster omelet.  Now this one is tricky - it's hidden away on the menu near the eggs and sides.

You kind of have to search for it.

Not sure why they didn't put it on the left side of the menu with the other brunch specials.  It was yummy!  Fried oysters stuffed into a delicate omelet with tabasco on the side.

This is the dish I would come back for again and again.  But maybe at 10am when they open....

One thing to note - unlike Clinton St. Baking Co where it is nearly impossible to get a four-top, Prune seems to be more than accommodating for parties of 4 - I actually saw them in some cases get seated even before parties of two...

Prune
54 East 1st St. (Between 1st and 2nd Ave)
212-677-6221

Tartine - A charming, always packed West Village staple

Off for some "exploring" yesterday afternoon, I found myself at Doma on Perry street and Waverly around 4pm.

After settling down for some coffee and entertainment via the Honda commercial filming across the street (which coincidentally stars my friend Yue!), I started to hear my stomach growl.

Early you say?  Yep, but then I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to try a West Village staple that I've always walked by, but never had a chance to visit.

Due to massive crowds vying for a table in its tiny quarters.

The restaurant?  French bistro Tartine on the corner of West 11th and West 4th.  We waited until 5:30pm - the earliest I could stand to eat dinner, and raced over there to grab a table.  I don't think Tartine gets too crowded until about 7pm, so it's best to squeeze in before then.

Super cute, super small, it feels like a classic neighborhood haunt for locals.  That is, West Village locals.  Fully hoping for a celebrity sighting, looking out the window served as great entertainment as I waited for my boyfriend to run to an atm.  Tip - this place is cash only.

Oh, and BYOB!  So of course he picked up a chilled bottle of wine on the way  back.  Perfect way to cool down on the steamy August evening.

My intent observation and perseverance paid off as 5 minutes after settling in, I saw none other than Mischa Barton walk by.  Now, if celebrities claim they don't want to be bothered or noticed, why do they always dress so aggressively?

Normal people simple don't walk around on an August afternoon in black jeans, black leather jacket and a fedora.  

Anyhow - back to the restaurant.  I ordered one of the specials - Indian curry mussels and fries.  Man, was it good!!!  Sauce was made with coconut milk and cilantro, and what I determine to be LOTS of butter.

It was delicious...I nearly drank myself sick finishing off the soup.  Mussels were cooked perfectly and the fries rival those of Balthazar.  Yummm! 

My boyfriend went with the Spicy chicken and guacamole with fries.  This strangely seemed to be a very popular dish as we saw many other diners order the same thing.

To be honest, I'm not sure why as I swear by the mussels as a far superior choice.  The chicken was served in medallions in a nice spicy sauce with guacamole - which seemed a little random for this place.

While it was good, it wasn't stunning.  Not like the mussels....

Finally, although I was stuffed silly having drank up all the remains of my curry stew, I couldn't leave without dessert!

I went with the classic Tarte tatin - caramelized apples with puff pastry and vanilla ice cream.

Absolutely wonderful. Only thing with these hot desserts + ice cream means you have to race to eat it so quickly before the ice cream becomes vanilla soup.

All in all, Tartine was wonderful - highly recommend!

Although try to get there on the earlier side or you might be waiting a while since the restaurant is so tiny.

Lastly, try to score a table at the window or outside if it's nice.  And keep your eyes open for a celeb sighting!  In that area, I'd say it's a 50/50 chance on any given night!

Tartine
254 West 11th St. (at West 4th)
212-229-2611

Veloce Pizzeria -Trendy Delicious Sicillian Pizza

Veloce Pizzeria is a part of a growing restaurant group that includes such favorites as Porchetta and Bar Veloce.

No wonder our server recommended the porchetta pizza to us!

Located on the corner of 6th St. and 1st Ave., Veloce Pizzeria serves up traditional Sicillian style pizza in a trendy, casual yet somewhat "dateish" place.

We popped in around 8:30 on a Saturday night and it was maybe half full.

By 9:30 though the place was rockin with lots of trendy young singles hanging out at the bar.

This place definitely has the "cool" effect.  Possibly from the exposed brick walls, to the vespa located at the back, to the very hip, good looking servers.  All I saw were young men decked out in the requisite Diesel jeans and vests - looking quite dapper I might say.

We went with our server's suggestion of the calamari to start and the porchetta sausage pie for the main.

The calamari was delicious!

Served over  bed of arugula and lightly fried with some lemon, it had none of the heavy fried batter that I commonly associate with fried calamari.

It was cooked just right as the calamari bounced, but was not chewey - the worst!  It was a great start.

Onto the pizza.

The pizzas are square shaped and come with four slices.  One is enough for a party of two as the slices are quite generous.

The bonus of a square pie with 4 slices is that every slice is a corner slice!  Whoo hoo!  Now I usually don't eat the crust, but here the dough was so fluffy, buttery and delicious, I didn't leave one scrap.

The sausage was wonderful as you would expect given Porchetta is in their blood.  My only complaint would be it might have been a bit too salty - but that seems to be the norm when you order porchetta.

The highlight is truly the pizza dough.  Sublime.  I can't quite put my finger on it except that it was just right.  Not chewey, not too soft, just perfect.

You'll have to try it to see what I mean...

Veloce Pizzeria
103 1st Ave. (At 6th st)
212-777-6677

PDT - Please Don't Tell that we're part of Crif Dogs

PDT, aka "Please Don't Tell" is a bar hidden behind the guise of a phone booth at legendary stoner haven Crif Dogs. 

The bar is kind of the anti-thesis of Crif Dogs - much more pretentious where you are more likely to see your average anorexic model accompanied by her seer sucker clad boyfriend.

Much in the style of Freemans on the lower east side and somewhat reminiscent of Milk & Honey, PDT relies on the cache or aura of being a "hard to get into" bar.  Somewhere where only the "in the know" know about it.  I mean, given it's behind a fake phone booth.

In actuality all it takes to get into PDT is a reservation.  And the phone number is not a secret.  It's 212-614-0386.  Same day reservations - call at 3pm on the dot to reserve a table, otherwise try your luck at the bar which is first come first serve for walk-ins.

Decked out like a classic speakeasy, with the requisite taxidermy - bears, antelope, frogs..you name it, PDT has a pretty groovy vibe.  It is very small with only a couple of booths and tables, and drinks are pricey - $13 bucks a pop.  But...they are worth it - very strong and potent, most can only last through 2 rounds.  I would have a picture here, but too bad they don't allow photography!

Favorites include the Pharoah Cooler (watermelon juice + tequila...) and the Imperial Blueberry Fizz - champagne + cognac....the list goes on and on.

If you get the munchies - tator tots and specialty crif dogs honoring only the coolest of NYC chefs around town - get the WD-Dog or Chang Dog.

Just don't plan on gettin rowdy - our table of 6 was told to quiet down.  Quiet down in a bar??? A little too hoity toity for me.
(picture from eater.com)

PDT
113 Saint Marks Place (Between 1st and Ave. A)
212-614-0386

Brunch at Morandi = Great people watching + rustic Italian

My friend Jillian and I went to Morandi for brunch today.  I have been meaning to go to Morandi's for about two years now and somehow never got around to it.

You know how it is - going to the "it" restaurant often is quite an ordeal.

But now, since Minetta Tavern has taken that spot easily in the Keith McNally empire - it's much easier to go to Morandi!

And since I love Pastis and Balthazar - it was pretty much a sure thing I would love Morandi. 

We went for brunch today and it was wonderful.

Better than I expected actually - prices were very reasonable ranging from $10-$15 per entree with a wonderful selection of rustic Italian entrees.

On a nice day such as today (well earlier today) nothing beats an outdoor table at Morandi - great for people watching in the always fashionable West Village.

I ordered the "uova in camicia" which was 2 poached eggs with speck (prosciutto), spring onions and new potatoes.  Mine also came with fava beans - a delightful treat!

Jillian had the frittata which sported a soft middle - as all good omelets should have! Plus country bread to soak up the leftover goodness...

Other notables include the basket of sweet breads and ricotta fritters.

Brunch was delicious - I'm thinking of going back for dinner next week!  I guess given my track record it might be a while before I make it into Minetta Tavern...

Morandi
211 Waverly Place (at 7th Ave South)
212-627-7575
http://www.morandiny.com/index.php

Kyotofu - Japanese Dessert + Sake Bar

Having lived in Hell's Kitchen for 4 years, I was always on the lookout for new restaurants. Witnessing the "culinary renaissance" from 2003-2007 on 9th avenue was quite an experience.

It seemed as though everyday there would be a new restaurant or bar popping up around the corner. Some would last only a couple of months, others seemed destined to stay.

Kyotofu thankfully seems to be falling into the latter category. After opening in 2006- 3 years later they are still going strong. Opened by an ex-JP Morgan investment banker, Kyotofu looks very similar to Chikalicious downtown.

That's not a coincidence. The owner hired the same architects as the famed east village dessert bar to create a similar ambiance - simple, elegant...and most of all a feeling of "fresh and so clean."

White space abounds the tiny space - and it is tiny. On a Friday night, plan on waits exceeding 30-40 minutes if you want a spot inside, or better yet just grab a seat at the window counter for some awesome people watching. That's more my style.

I started off my meal with a "Japanese soda" - you know, the sodas with the marble inside? Somewhat of a throwback to childhood days...

Desserts are a mix between fanciful and simple. Signature desserts include their sweet tofu and the black sesame tofu. While they may appear exotic to the western taste buds - these are traditional desserts easily found down in Chinatown for a fraction of the price.



No matter, they are served exquisitely in "riedel" type glasses - and afterall, aren't we paying a premium to have it here and not in Chinatown? I'm okay with that.

The soymilk soft ice cream sundae was a delight - chocolate and vanilla swirl with a kuromitsu whipped cream, mixed berry compote and matcha mochi.

Kyotofu also serves a light appetizer menu including a japanese panko crusted mac'n'cheese and "pigs in a duvet" - berkshire pork sausage wrapped in a puff pastry.

Kyotofu also has a bakery serving up award-winning cupcakes- specialty being a chocolate souffle cupcake, homemade cookies, brownies and macaroons.

Kyotofu is reasonably priced, but they get you on the alcohol - doesn't everyone? A bountiful list of sakes and cocktails can easily push the check for two to north of $80.

Overall - I'd say Kyotofu is a fair alternative to Chikalicious if you live in the Hell's Kitchen area. But east villagers - stay downtown - the soft serve Vanilla Bean sundae at Chikalicious Dessert Club outshines any option at Kyotofu.

Kyotofu
705 9th Ave. New York, NY
212-974-6012
http://www.kyotofu-nyc.com

10 Downing - 10 on a Scale of 20?

A couple of weeks ago I went with a girlfriend to 10 Downing for brunch. Now maybe that was the wrong choice, and I should re-review it for dinner.

However, given the brunch experience I'm not sure it's necessary to go back.

Not that 10 Downing was bad. It wasn't. It just wasn't that great.

And in this day and age with the economy the way it is - opening a new restaurant is a risky venture. It is truly Darwinian - survival of the fittest. Not many will succeed. And in my opinion - trendiness and hype will only get you so far.

What 10 Downing has going for it is a nice interior, positive reviews and more importantly - a trendy prime West Village spot directly across from Da Silvano and it's sibling Bar Pitti. The food is somewhere between New American and Mediterranean. Surprise, surprise - isn't that the market most new restaurants seem to be aiming for these days?

We ordered the 10 Downing Salad with chicories, piperade & manchego vinaigrette. Nice and crisp - the manchego certainly added a new twist to an otherwise ordinary salad. But for $10 bucks, not a bad deal. However...don't expect to get full off of that unless you already ate or plan on eating again very soon.

On the sweet side - the Challah french toast was thick and dense. A little underdone for my taste - super eggy with batter that was raw enough to make you a little nervous. The strawberries and creme fraiche were a nice touch- although they proved too heavy for the underdone bread, resulting in a somewhat soggy mess. Not much points for presentation.

All in all - 10 Downing is an "okay" choice - but why settle for okay when you can get great. Leave 10 Downing for the model types who go there for the salad and head across town to The Smith where you can get a real brunch.

10 Downing Food & Wine
10 Downing St. New York, NY 10014
212-255-0300

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

Clo - A Wine Bar for Techies

Opened only for about 2 months now, Clo is a new wine tasting bar located on the 4th floor at the Time Warner Center

It has a nouveau concept - a self service wine tasting bar, where you purchase by the taste...

Sandwiched between the likes of Per Se and Bar Masa, Clo is certainly in good company. The wine bar is located in an open aired area on the 4th floor, with a smart looking white bar running down the middle of the area. The bar has seating for around 10 people - and for this place, you need a seat - that is where the magic happens.

Each seat at the bar has a touch screen navigation tool that lets you search for different wines by price, region, white/red/rose, etc. Reminiscent of the iPhone, the bar will register the slightest of touch, letting you scroll through the various wines offered. Each wine has an info page that has some notes on the particular wine and its "location" at the bar, i.e. where that wine is located at the bar. (All the wines are encased around the bar)

After choosing a wine to taste - you go to the location, insert your "Clo" card and then press the tap and a taste (about half a glass) will pour into your glass.

Clo offers two options - a prepaid card - you can add any amount to a Clo card - perfect for gifting, or you can just give them your credit card and run it like a normal bar tab.

Be careful though - that tab can easily run up, as tastes range from $4 all the way to a sky high $98 for a wine dated back to 1896. Remember, prices are per taste, not per glass...double it and you get the per glass price.

In a couple months Clo will open an accompanying wine shop downstairs where they can use the information on your Clo card to have the wines you tried ready for you to purchase in a jiffy.

Clo is a new and interesting concept utilizing the best that technology has to offer. While there may be some kinks to iron out as there is a fair amount of consumer education necessary...the idea is a good one - A great way to taste some very expensive wines without committing to the bottle.

Open from late afternoon to evening, Clo is a great way to unwind after a long day at the office or a fun place to take a date when you want to impress.

Clo
Time Warner Center, 60 Columbus Circle
4th Floor, New York NY 10019
212-823-9898
www.clowines.com

Mercadito - Dressed Up Mexican in NYC

Mercadito has to be one of my all time favorite restaurants in NYC. Now a mini-empire with an outpost in the West Village, Mercadito Grove, and Mercadito Cantina...I still remain true and loyal to the original, Mercadito in the heart of the East Village.

Located on 11th Street and Ave. B, Mercadito is a small, quaint, utterly charming Mexican restaurant - great for both dates and groups. The ambiance is vibrant, colorful, with a rustic feeling like you are sitting in a cantina in Mexico City, albeit a very nice one.

I always always start with the Mango Mojito - fresh muddled mangoes, but you can go with any of the fresh fruits available, and switch out your rum for tequila and do a margarita.

Moving on to the dishes - now I feel like one goes to Mercadito for two things: guacamole and tacos. Guacamole - your choice of pineapple, mango or original...I go with the mango. But that's because there's almost nothing I love more than mangoes. Except maybe bacon, but you already know that.

The chips are served warm and crunchy - and before you know it they are gone. Be sure to ask for seconds.

As for the tacos....all I can say is yum, yum, yum. There are several varieties, but the overall gist is that each taco dish comes with four small soft tacos in a variety of fresh and interesting combinations. Favorites include the Camaron: shrimp, avocado, roasted garlic and chili chipotle mojo, and the Carne: lime & soy marinated skirt steak, scallions, avocado salsa. I also usually go with one of the fish tacos - either the Estilo Baja: today's beer battered fish, mexican style cole slaw, chile chipotle aioli, or the Mojarra : tilapia, huitlacoche, manchego cheese, corn, tomatillo salsa.

For my boyfriend and I, 3 taco dishes is usually the perfect amount to order. Other dishes include a variety of ceviches and main courses, but I typically stick with the tacos. I like to have variety and taste a many different combinations.

For sides - I recommend the plantains...hot, sweet and decadent...they are the perfect complement to the spicy flavors of the meal.

As for dessert - I recommend walking across 11th to St. Marks and stopping by Chikalicious Dessert Club or the Dessert Truck. You'll get a better bang for your buck there as Mercadito is not known for its desserts.

One final note - after 10pm on weeknights, 11pm on weekends...Mercadito has a special all you can eat tacos for $24 bucks! This is subject to change so call before you head on down, but it makes for a perfect late night bite.

Also- reservations are necessary as the restaurant is small and very popular. In addition they are pretty strict about the 15 minute grace period so my advice is tell you friends the resy is 1/2 before the actual time. We all know how long it takes to get down to the East Village!

Mercadito
179 Ave. B, New York, NY 10009
212-529-6490
http://www.mercaditony.com

Casa Mono - Not your Neighborhood Tapas Bar

The first time I went to Casa Mono was right after it had just opened. It was crowded, service was choppy, and the food unpredictable.

Coming back this summer for the first time since - it was perfect.

The food was amazing, the crowds were more manageable, and the service was fine. I mean, what do you expect when you sit at the bar?

Not 5 star service, but a 5 star show - watching the cooks prepare my food is better than 5 star waiter service any day of the week.

At its heart, Casa Mono is a Catalan tapas bar - inspired by all regions in Spain. Part of the burgeoning Batali & Bastianich Restaurant Group, Casa Mono was conceptualized by one of Mario Batali's longtime apprentices, chef Andy Nusser.

The restaurant is a tiny box in Gramercy, located on Irving Place. Seating is limited, and you need a reservation if you want a table.

But I prefer sitting at the bar where I can watch the cooks whip up a frenzy of dishes - everything from Sweetbreads to Duck Egg with Mojama to one of my personal favorites - Skirt steak with onion mermelada. The steak is perfectly medium rare with a sauce that is tart, sweet and spicy at the same time. It is a rich treat for your taste buds.

Other favorites include the Seasonal Soft Shell Crab and the Housemade Chorizo with my favorite part - crispy manchego cheese.

The dishes are succulent, with a variety of smells, tastes and sensory delights which will transport you back to the cobblestone streets of Barcelona.

Until the dollar strengthens enough to go to Spain without breaking the bank...we have Casa Mono to bring us there night after night.



Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY
212-253-2773
http://www.casamononyc.com

Nook - BYOB in Hell's Kitchen

The fact that it is BYOB compensates for the sometimes brutish attitude of the owner and staff at this small neighborhood haunt on rejuvenated 9th Ave.

This tiny place seats only a handful of people at a time- so make sure you have a reservation if coming for dinner. Local Hell's Kitchen residents have taken notice and it has become a neighborhood favorite.

For dinner, the small quaint atmosphere can make it a bit romantic, but the tight quarters make getting along with your neighbors essential. Favorite dishes include Black Angus Steak with peppercorn and Sashimi Peppered Tuna.

Be prepared for choppy service and some attitude from the owner. It is not the friendliest place - which is odd given I usually find smaller places to be warmer in general.

Go for brunch - usually it is less crowded, and service tends to be a bit more pleasant. The scrambles are delicious - my favorite is Bacon, chives & tomato. Love bacon, always, always a brunch must-have.

Also- It is cash only - or at least was cash only the last time I was there.

So be prepared.
(picture from weblicist.com)

Nook
746 9th Ave New York, NY
212-247-5500

Aki on West 4th - Not Your Ordinary Asian Fusion

Aki Sushi on West 4th (I mention the West 4th because there are so many sushi places in the city named Aki Sushi- and this is not to be confused with your ordinary neighborhood takeout place).

Aki on West 4th is Japanese food with a Caribbean influence - Japanese + Jamaican.

While the sushi is good, the appetizers are even better. You can get sushi anywhere. But, the chef's Jamaican inspired appetizers melding fresh fruits and fish is a special find.

This, you cannot get anywhere else.

The chef of Aki on West 4th was a chef to the Japanese ambassador to the West Indies, bringing to us the best of both worlds through his innovative and inspired dishes.

The menu is broad, with many appetizers to choose from. Typically I order the prix- fixe, 2 appetizers + sushi/sashimi entree + dessert. The appetizers are the prized jewel.

Favorites include the "must have" Tuna MilleFeuille: tuna, fiji apple, avocado, shiso and tobiko with apple vinegar and white balsamic sauce. The apple gives it a refreshing crunch, and the avocado marries the dish together, providing what I often call the butter or glue to the dish. The acid from the vinegar is a perfect finish.

A hot appetizer I like is the Eel Napoleon. This is truly unique. Eel, fried tofu, mashed eel & pumpkin and ginger with eel sauce. It sounds like a lot of eel, but the pumpkin adds a nice twist to the customary sweetness associated with eel rolls. The plating is exquisite, and if you like eel, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Where else have you heard of an Eel Napoleon?

For the entree, the sushi and sashimi are fresh - an obvious requirement of any good sushi joint. Like I said though, the highlights are the appetizers.

For dessert, my choice is the Green Tea Tiramisu, but if you are more adventurous, go with the Tofu Panna Cotta - with soymilk, tapioca, green tea syrup, red bean and logan. The red bean and logan bring me back to Asia.

Drinks. This place is quite generous with the drinks. Order a small plum wine for $8 bucks - it comes with its own vessel - which often seems never-ending. A lovely addition to the meal.

Tip - this place is tiny so definitely make reservations. Also, there is an early bird special from 6:30-7:30pm (short window- often changes so call first, but if you make it...it's worth it.)
(picture from nymag.com)

Aki on West 4th
181 W. 4th St., New York, NY
212-989-5440

Upstairs at Bouley - Bouley at 1/2 the price. What a Deal.

Upstairs at Bouley is a market + bakery + dining room all in one. It's across the street from Bouley, David Bouley's much revered NYC institution.

My boyfriend took me to Bouley for my birthday a couple of years ago. It was delicious. Grandiose. Fancy. Great for a special occasion. But Pricey. Pricey. Pricey. Plus the average age of the patrons is closer to my parents age than mine.

Our waiter, oh so helpfully told us to come back - but next time to go across the street to Upstairs at Bouley.

We did. And oh are we glad we did.

The dining room at Upstairs at Bouley is fantastic. Keep in mind, the chefs from Upstairs share ingredients and dishes with the chefs at Bouley. In fact, many of the same dishes are available at Upstairs, for a fraction of the price.

How come more people don't know about this place?

Well, lets just keep this between you and me...Go there, go quickly. I mean, our waiter at Bouley was essentially telling us where the 50% off sale was.

The menu at Upstairs is diverse, somewhat strange, but all the while delicious. If you and your partner can't decide where to eat - he wants continental, you want sushi? No problem. Upstairs has both.

Upstairs is a tiny room with an open kitchen and a sushi bar. Now I love open kitchens. It's like a free show to boot! Plus you know how your food was made, and you know it was made to order. Open kitchens are a chef's nightmare, but a guest's dream.

A popular appetizer is the Chicken Meatballs - but get here early, they often sell out.

My favorite dishes include the Stage Harbor Day Boat Scallops with ginger wild mushrooms. The scallops are huge, and the ginger mushrooms add a bit of an asian twist. It's a steal at $18 bucks.

The Pennsylvania Roast Chicken is also very good. Now we know I don't usually recommend chicken, but this one is done perfectly. One of the juiciest chicken dinners I've ever had.

On the sushi side- there is a sushi chef, and a full Japanese inspired menu. Everything from Broiled Yellow Tail to Uni and Toro Nigiri sushi.

For dessert I recommend going with whatever the special is. Usually it's exactly what they are serving across the street at Bouley for half the price.

Upstairs at Bouley is a small space and can get crowded at times, so the wait can be unpredictable. Tip- go on a rainy night. Other people won't want to trek all the way down to Duane St.

Their loss is your gain.

(picture from nymag.com)

Upstairs at Bouley

130 West Broadway, New York, NY

212-219-1011

http://www.davidbouley.com/

Blue Hill - Finally getting its Due.

I bet that chef Dan Barber's appearance on the season finale of "Top Chef, Miami" resulted in a spike in interest for his West Village restaurant, Blue Hill. Not to mention his much deserved James Beard award for "Best Chef, NYC."

Too bad for us.

No longer low profile, it may be harder to get reservations at this fabulous neighborhood restaurant, which has been serving up fresh, locally sourced, organic products since 2000.

Long before organic became the buzz word of the day.

Blue Hill is excellent. Excellent in every meaning of the word. The food is exquisitely prepared, always always with the freshest ingredients, paying mind to our ever changing environment.

Located in a converted West Village townhouse, upon entering you feel like you've been transported back in time. A time when dining out was always a special event.

Your meal usually starts with some sort of amuse bouche, to cleanse the palate. Then of course comes the bread. Fresh bread. With at least 3 different kinds of butter. You'll never taste such creaminess again.

Appetizers. My favorite has to be "This Morning's Fresh Farm Egg." At $15 bucks, you may say..too pricey. But that's the price you have to pay for the freshest, most perfect egg you'll ever have. Nothing's better than an egg done right.

Favorite entrees include the Grass Fed Lamb and the Stone Barns Pastured Chicken. Now I am not ordinarily a huge fan of lamb - I don't like the strong "lamb" taste you get at most outposts. Dan Barber's rendition however is divine. I'm not sure if it's the result of special preparation, or if it's proof that everything lies in the ingredients.

Freshness.

The same goes for the chicken- this isn't your ordinary chicken. I usually don't ever recommend getting chicken at restaurants. I often say "I can cook it myself!"

But, good chicken is probably one of the hardest things to do right. And Barber does it right. Juicy. Juicy. Juicy.

Keep in mind that the ingredients and preparations change along with the season and our environment. If something is not in season, it's not going to be served.

Blue Hill also offers a tasting menu, which is a great introduction to the chef and the restaurant's point of view. Perfect for a date or a special occasion.

Well, every date with your honey is a special occasion, right?

The Barbers also own Blue Hill at Stone Barns - a farm, restaurant and educational center located in the Hudson Valley. (picture from bluehillnyc.com)

Blue Hill NYC
75 Washington Place, New York, NY
212-539-1776

Blue Hill at Stone Barns
630 Bedford Rd, Pocantico Hills, NY
914-366-9600
http://www.bluehillnyc.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/

August - Ambience Rocks, Food Disappoints.

So I know that a lot of people feel very strongly about August in the West Village. They looooooove it.

So I rightly expect not everyone will agree with this post. Which is "a-ok" with me. :)

My first dining experience at August was a couple years ago when I stopped in on a rainy Saturday night. I was seated at the tiny table right in front of the door.

Unfortunate seating. Each time the door opened, the rain and wind came in with it. Not surprisingly it was hard to enjoy my dinner and I remembered little of the food.

That experience unfairly turned me off from August and it's been 2 years since.

This weekend I gave it another shot after many friends insisted that it was one of the best places in the Village.

Very hard expectations to live up to.

I came for brunch on Saturday afternoon - it was a beautiful day, and upon entering I was very, very pleasantly surprised to see that there was an outdoor atrium past the kitchen.

It was gorgeous. Rustic, homey, quaint...it transported me to a European countryside. I was in love.

Now for the food. We ordered the German Pancakes and the Alsatian Baked Eggs - with bacon, carmelized onions and creme fraiche.

First off, the German Pancakes. Hrmm. Tough to describe, except that it came out in a big cast iron skillet and was huge. Fluffy. Very very eggy, and a little bit of a burnt taste.

Not what you think of when you think of pancakes. That was alright, except it was sold to me as having fresh peaches stuffed inside. I dug and dug until I found 2, maybe 3 slices of peaches.

I love peaches. :(

Second, the Baked Eggs. These I have to say were good. Better than good. The creme fraiche, bacon and especially the carmelized onions - who doesn't love carmelized onions! It was good.

Only problem. The portion was tiny!

Too bad the Baked Eggs were tiny, and the German Pancake was huge.

Aww.

Well, I suppose what you'll tell me is - You have to go for dinner! That's the real deal!

Maybe...maybe I'll give it one last try.

Just cuz I loved that atrium so much.

August
359 Bleecker StNew York, NY
212-929-4774
http://www.augustny.com/