East 13th St. btwn 5th Ave. and Broadway – closed 2009
Trendiness rarely comes cheap in this town . Trendiness sans dismissive, hipper-than-thou, I’ll-get-to-you-when-I-feel-like-looking-down-attitude is an even greater anomaly. Trendy Tong Thai Brasserie avoids both of these vexatious formulas. While it embodies many of the traits of a brasserie, it’s a hell of a lot [...]
102 East 22nd Street, between Lexington and Park Avenue South
Championing a masterful approach to the culinary refinment of contemporary Piedmontese cuisine in a setting of understated elegance that is achieved through ecru walls and soft lighting, Novita’ is among Gramercy Park’s top destinations for a romantic evening or a relaxed business meeting.
Cappuccino fiends of the world unite!
To stay or to go, you can get an excellent cappuccino at any one of the three places below for under $5.
To see my criteria for a great cappuccino, see previous post.
1. La Lanterna di Vittorio on 129 MacDougal St (kitty corner to Washington Sq. Park, between W. 3rd and W. [...]
Are you tired of shelling out upwards of $4.00 for a cappuccino that is not worth the paper cup in which it’s stored? I’m certain that if cafe’ managers and baristas would simply follow a few basic formulas, there’d be a lot more cappucino junkies and city would theirs to rule.
If there’s one thing that should disturb both the discerning oenophile and the House Merlot drinker, it’s poor pouring etiquette. This is not a rant about some minute subtlety that would only be noticed by master sommeliers, “Sideways-type” wine fanatics, and others schooled in wine esoterica, this is about the basic right that consumers have [...]
61 Greenwich Avenue (corner of W. 10th Street)
While there’s no shortage of good Italian restaurants in Greenwich Village, less than a handful offer the inspired, simple Italian dishes in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, the way Grano does. This is why Grano is one of my staples.
Overdue for a splurge? Want to impress? La Houppa has just the answer for you.
Located on E. 64th St. between Madison and 5th, La Houppa is an elegant, upscale but by no means stuffy or boring Upper-East side choice.
The decor alone is a feast for the eyes. The dining room strikes a soothing balance of vibrance and subdued subtelty. Fauvist-like [...]
On one of those rare nights in early September, when the humidity is coasting at below 30%, it follows that every Manhattan sidewalk cafe is going to be packed to full capacity . It’s that way at 60% humidity too.
Labor Day may have come and gone but you need not to bid farewell to summer culinary fare and perfect oudoor perches from which to enjoy the city’s most comely attractions just yet. In fact if you have not yet been to Gigino’s this summer, then it’s a must. Apart from breathtaking views of Liberty Island, Gigino’s at Wagner Park offers a wide menu of [...]
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