Cask (33rd st and 3rd ave)

This place is really good! I think that's a theme... I seem to like most everywhere I go. Some are only "meh" though, and a few really stand out. This place I would go back to / recommend to someone who was looking for a place to eat in the area.

We got to Cask before happy hour ended at 8, so I ordered the St. Murray because it has St. Germain in it; yum. It is a bit sour in case you don't like that, but if you do, it's delicious! They have a whole list of other very good-looking cocktails as well. The place was actually quite crowded with an after-work crowd. Lots of people grabbing drinks, and the wait when we got there was about an hour! Good thing we had a reservation :)

They start you off with a soft little loaf of bread and olive oil. Then I ordered the Prosciutto Flatbread that had fig jam, brie cheese, and arugula on it (and prosciutto of course). I really enjoyed it with the mixture of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunch. My friends also like their meals and the portions were good!

The place has a pretty cool ambiance - low lighting, very homey feel with wooden shelving and tables. They also had greenery (garlands?) everywhere that was intertwined with the soft (aka old school, not LED) xmas lights. It was was beautiful and added to the feel of the place!

Momofuku Milk Bar (13 st and 2nd ave)

So there's a Momofuku place right on the corner of 13th and 2nd, but the Milk Bar is actually on 13th st, just across the street. I went there with a friend, and we were each going to get a compost cookie - however.. the deal is 3 for $5, so of course we had to do that. We each got a compost cookie, and then got a Cornflake Marshmallow cookie to share. It's possible that the Cornflake Marshmallow was the favorite! They have these delicious looking cake truffles that I would definitely go back and try..

Penelope (Lexington at 30th st)

I've had this place recommended to me many times, and always for brunch. However, I'm also told there's always a two-hour wait for brunch, so when I took a Friday off to visit with a friend that was in town, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try out such a popular place. While we didn't get the brunch menu with the famous Nutella french toast, we had the best lunch EVER at Penelope.

My friend had the chicken club sandwich, and my thought was that a chicken club can only be so good. But she has had many a chicken club, and insisted it was the best. I had no choice but to believe her, especially give the amazing-ness of my dish!! I had the arugula with chicken meatballs. It was to die for.

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I loved it and would go back and get the exact same thing every week. Somehow they perfectly cooked these huge, moist chicken meatballs, that were full of flavor, and served 2 of them along side a bed of arugula with Pecorino cheese. People always put meatballs with pasta... but never again. It was the perfect match of heavy and light, and I didn't think two would be enough - but it was perfect. I finished every last bite and was in a heavenly stupor of amazement the rest of the day. :)

Omai (9th ave at 20th st)

Stop #2 for our around the world dinners: Vietnam. A friend of a friend suggested Omai, and the food there very good. We went a little on the early side, so it was kind of empty when we first got there, but it was certainly packed when we left!

This group likes to do a lot of food sharing, so we started with a number of appetizers: grilled eggplant, crispy spring rolls, lemongrass beef rolls, and something else that was almost quesadilla-like with chicken, but Vietnamese flavors. Everything came with a sweet/sour sauce that had a little kick to it, and it was all very good. I haven't noticed many Vietnamese restaurants around, and I would definitely recommend this place to someone in search of good Vietnamese food.

For my main entree I got stir-fried egg noodles (vegetable) that comes with a few peanuts and a chili lime sauce. This meal is something I ate a lot of while I was traveling in southeast Asia, so I thought it would be a good point of comparison. It definitely passed! Unfortunately they didn't have all the dishes I ate over in Vietnam - like beef with pineapple - but Omai did capture the flavors of that country, and the menu even includes a few up-scale options, too.

Vespa (2nd ave btw 84/85)

Our poor waiter was having his test run... he poured us like a tablespoon of olive oil for bread for 4 people, he broke a glass at someone else's table, refilled our water like once (ok maybe twice), and other than that was perfect. We got exactly what we ordered and it was great - poor guy was super nervous, but so nice! At Vespa we got a delectable bottle of Tempranillo (from 1994?); it was very very good. The owner came and served it to us, and he was a very chatty, funny, pleasant, Italian man.

And then I ordered the cavatelli with pancetta, radicchio, and pecorino. It was creamy, hearty, sharp, and had a nice crunch from the radicchio. So delicious. I hadn't had anything that heavy for a long time, so I was a bit uncomfortable from being so full (maybe I shouldn't have finished it?) but it was worth it. A good Italian experience!

Ikura Sushi (3rd ave btw 16/17)

Another all you can eat sushi and all you can drink sake bombing extravaganza... for about $40 per person. The name of this place might have changed, but the location is correct, and it's so much fun! We went to eat there with a group of THIRTY people, and it was a blast. Kind of weird that they give you Bud Light for the sake bomb instead of Japanese beer.. but it serves the purpose. The sushi was pretty good, we ended up just having them continuously bring a bunch of stuff that we would all split and share (I like doing it that way - brings me out of my box). Dining with a group that large is bound to be hectic, and it was indeed. But we had a great time and when it came time to pay it was a hassle, but the staff there were great. They had a lot of patience with us and were very attentive all night. A good place for celebrating, a fun night out, or even dinner before going out!

GO!99 (86th at 1st ave)

A slice of cheese pizza is really just $0.99! And GO99 is quick, the pizza is decent, and conveniently on my way home :) Can't really argue with that for a quick NYC dinner! Especially because I usually bring it home to add grated parmesan and red pepper flakes. Better pizza exists, of course, but as far as the quick-slice this one is good (and the fact that it's $0.99 makes it better).

Pierre Loti (15th st between 7th/8th aves)

This Turkish wine bar, right near my work, is the perfect place to have some good wine, eat a little food, and talk for hours. The wine selection is great, and Pierre Loti does have a few Turkish wines worth trying, as well as an extensive selection of others. I started with a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc; it was good, with very strong flavors. I think we got a bottle of Chardonnay next (I was with some white-wine drinkers) which was also delicious.

The original plan was to just grab a drink... but obviously we needed to get some food in our stomachs! Instead of ordering entrees, we sort of did a tapas-style Turkish meal. Lebni, zucchini walnut pancakes, and the bulgur patties. It was all very good, with an endless supply of pita for dipping.

The atmosphere is very low key - no loud music causing you to scream to hear each other. Low lighting, helpful waiters, and a good menu of options (without being overwhelming). This place could accommodate just a table for two, or even larger groups. It's basically a bench along the walls, with tables and then chairs opposite the bench - great for adjusting for a larger group. I would definitely recommend this place; a cozy wine bar with a Turkish twist, no long wait, and great atmosphere for a date or catching up with a few friends.

Jalapeno (Columbus btw 68/69 st)

After walking through the park on my trek to the west side, we wandered around for a while looking for a place to grab brunch. We picked Jalapeno because the menu looked good and there were a bunch of people eating outside. The cornbread they gave was good, and so was the champagne! I got the Huevos Rancheros and it wasn't bad, but it didn't hit the spot. With all the fantastic places in New York, this doesn't make the repeat list. :(

Grey Dog (west 16th st between 7th/8th aves)

A co-worker took me here for lunch one Friday, and it's awesome! Grey Dog has an awesome atmosphere, great music playing, a few tables outside for nice weather, nice staff. They have a good set-up too: you order and pay for your food up front, and while you're standing in line a waiter saves a table for you by putting a colored handkerchief on your table. Then they bring you your food!

And last but not least - the food is fabulous. They have an amazing list of sandwiches, soups, salads, and a mouth-watering display of baked goods. I got a half country salad which was good and had an amazing house vinaigrette, and a half sandwich that was turkey, brie, apples, and raspberry mustard! My ONLY complaint was that the bread (they have a whole list of breads you can choose from) had a nice big crust, and it kind of cut up my mouth a bit - but that's a personal issue, ha. I definitely want to go back to this place; might try a soup next time, they looked amazing!

Hane Sushi (1st ave and 20th st)

Buy one get one free cocktails! And great sushi too. The place is really big, so it's great for big groups of people to have a meal and start drinking before going out! And there were lots of groups there doing just that. They have interesting flavors of martinis, I got a blood orange cosmopolitan, and while it was sweet, it wasn't watered down and gross (like restaurants do sometimes when there's a deal).

Hane has a pretty extensive menu, and awesome options. I got some Hane Spicy Salmon Roll, and it was good. I tried what other people got too, and everyone was happy! Probably not the best sushi place ever, but it was delicious, and it's a great place for a group.

Midnight Blue (2nd ave at 85th st)

Meh. It was pouring outside so I stayed at Midnight Blue for hoursss with my friends when we went for brunch. We had a good time, but the food really wasn't great. I had a burger - delicious fries, HUGE bun for a small burger, and the meat was kind of dry. It's possible that their main courses are much better. And the place wasn't bad. That being said, there are so many amazing options in NYC, so I probably won't go back to eat at this place. Eat being the keyword (they have this sign outside that advertises a great happy hour deal - might try that out sometime)!

Pipa (19th st between broadway/park)

I haven't been to a bad tapas place yet. Pipa has a great menu, and the sangria is good - strong enough, but still very flavorful. I went there with a group of co-workers: we decided to do an around-the-world dinner group, so each time we meet up, we pick a country and go eat that cuisine!

At Pipa I ended up just ordering for everyone - we got patatas bravas, spanish omelette, olives, a flatbread, gambas, calamari, chorizo, bacon wrapped dates, mushroom croquettes, and a cheese platter. Like I said, it was all good, but I have to say, I have NEVER - at any restaurant - had such good calamari. I can't even explain it because it will sound weird. But go there and get it. No regrets.

Dessert was a must for this group (YAY), we all love chocolate. So we got the chocolate bomb, the crema, and some sort of banana dessert. I usually don't like bananas, but it was good!

Also, this place has such a great atmosphere. The restaurant has chandeliers hanging everywhere! And the best part is that they are all unique and have the price tags still on them! It's a dim place, could be intimate, but also options for large groups. I've had lots of friends go there and love it, and I would also recommend the place. Success!

Pommes Frites (2nd ave btw 7th/8th)

Nom nom. This place is ALL french fries! Pommes Frites has a whole bunch of mayo-based flavored sauces for dipping, plus some non-mayo options as well. I tried the rosemary garlic mayo which was delicious. This place is perfect for a snack. I actually went with a couple of friends after we shared a bottle of wine... it only made the french fries even tastier! And it's not just the sauces that are exciting - the fries are actually good. An all french fry place may seem impractical, but in an on-the-go city, it's perfect, and delicious.

Bocca (19th St. btw Broadway and Park)

Lots of pictures for this post!

The house cocktail list (below) at Bocca is so good! I have a picture so I can try to re-create them at home. I had the basil gimlet... wow.  Strong. Tasty. Refreshing. A dangerous or a wonderful combination, depending on how you look at it :)

For an appetizer, I started off by splitting the pineapple carpaccio with my mom. It was so good!! Very, very thin slices of fresh pineapple, on the plate with tiny pieces of prosciutto, and some ricotta cheese and honeycomb (not just honey!) on the side to eat it with. It was very inventive - which I always appreciate - and a light appetizer that still had a lot of depth of flavor - salty, sweet, fresh, creamy. (below)

My main was of course fabulous, too. Ricotta gnocchi... omg. It's really soft, and not as heavy as the potato version. This one came with some bacon and zucchini. Very warm, and it wasn't your typical humongous Italian portion, either. (below) I've actually been wanting to make homemade ricotta gnocchi... we'll see how that eventually turns out.

And finally dessert. I went with my typical chocolate choice (I'm not a big fan of tiramisu, it's ok), and it was a good one. Flourless chocolate cake (two pieces! one would've been plenty), with chocolate ganache, and chocolate gelato. (below - flash went off in the pic so it looks a little weird) I love chocolate. Can you tell?

And finally, limoncello. A small glass for each of us - on the house. If it's not obvious, I would recommend this place to others. The place wasn't too crowded (Thursday night), it was a warm ambiance, not too loud, and you weren't sitting on top of your neighbors like some NYC restaurants. There are a bajillion good Italian restaurants in this city, which I will of course continue to explore, but people are always asking for recommendations. Now I have another one to offer up.

Dervish (47th St. btw 6th and 7th)

I met my parents at Dervish for a quick Turkish dinner. The Iskander Kebab was actually pretty good! The lamb and the tomato sauce was quite good, although some of my pieces of pita were a bit stale. The salad was delicious though - cucumber, tomato, onion, etc. Very refreshing and light.

The place was pretty cute, and well decorated, but there were fruit flies flying around me! I know it happens, and sometimes there's really nothing you can do about it (I know, I worked at a vineyard where the fruit flies were unbearable during harvest in the fall!), but it's still a nuisance. It was a good meal, but I've had better Turkish/Mediterranean food in NYC. Convenient location for theater though!

Cookshop (10th ave at 20th st)

This place is a bit overpriced, but Cookshop is really good! I went here for a lunch during work, and got the mezze platter. It was probably the best mezze platter I've had. Seriously, all the dips were amazing, and the pita was to die for. Obviously I liked the place. I wouldn't make it a weekly ordeal, but I definitely recommend the cuisine. They also have outdoor seating for nicer weather, and a very chic interior.

Balade (1st ave between 12th and 13th)

I went to Balade with a Lebanese friend, and she picked a good place! I got fried Halloumi cheese that came with pita bread, tomato, and cucumber. It really was good, but I have to say, I wish there was a) more tomato and cucumber, there was only one slice of each! and b) a sauce to dip it in other than the olive oil on the table. My friends got sandwiches, so maybe I would try that next time, instead of getting an appetizer for a meal!

Del Posto (10th ave at 16th)

Phenomenal. The prix fixe lunch at Del Posto is $29 and you choose your three courses. Definitely worth not participating in casual Friday! I went with 4 other colleagues to celebrate a few things we had going on a work, and 3 of our birthdays that were all within a few weeks of each other. The waiters are so helpful and knowledgeable about the menus. I so badly wanted to take a picture of everything, but it would have been super inappropriate. Check out everything you get (and EVERY bite is a party in your mouth):

1. Gift #1 - They bring out a silver platter with 3 amuse bouches per person, and a recommended order in which to eat them. First is a gazpacho-like tomato soup... I didn't know tomato soup could taste so good! And the rim of the mini cup had a flavored powder thing on it (not sure what that was). Next was sauerkraut wrapped in prosciutto - who would have thought! And last was pretty much every expensive food you could think of, put into a tiny sandwich. I took and we all just looked at each other in awe. I'm not entirely sure of the exact contents of that mini bite of bliss... but I know there was lobster and caviar!

2. Bread - Of course it was very good bread. But it also came with little dishes of fresh butter and pork lard. Not going to lie, the lard looked disgusting, but tasted like gravyyyyy.

3. Appetizer (1st choice on the prix fixe) - I ordered insalata primavera. It was a bunch of random vegetables and herbs, playfully scattered on the plate, and with a ricotta dressing. It was really good... beet, zucchini, snap pea, radish, maybe tomato... I don't quite remember each one.

4. Main (2nd choice on the prix fixe) - Per the waiter's recommendation, I chose the skate which I've never had before. Light, buttery, flaky fish that was perfectly seasoned. It came with mini squash chips scattered over it, a green sauce on the plate, and then a light tomato broth that they poured over it at the table. I also tried the pansoti that someone else had ordered and it was fabulous. I would probably get a pasta next time!

5. Gift #2 - Another box was brought to the table at the same time as our desserts. The waiter suggested we eat the mini lollipop of olive oil ice cream dipped in chocolate and rolled in something crunchy first... heaven... then next was a mini donut filled with an amazing cream and it was still warm. It was SO good, not an over-processed piece of unflavorful fried dough. Then the waiter pulled out a little drawer from the bottom of the box and there were more goodies inside!! It was a hand-made chocolate ganache/truffle, and a little piece of grapefruit that had been reduced and cooked in something, then had something crunchy on top (we actually had those two after the dessert).

6. Dessert - I'm a chocoholic for sure, but I decided to branch out a little bit. At a restaurant like this, you know everything is going to be amazing. So I ordered carrot cake with a sage gelato. Great decision. I was unsure about the sage, but it was so perfect - it added to the carrot cake, without being too strong. But of course, I also tried the chocolate cake dessert with the olive oil ice cream. It was delicious, but I'm glad I branched out because that carrot cake was fantastic.

Obviously, I enjoyed Del Posto. I recommend it and would definitely go back - maybe dinner next time :)

Fig & Olive (west 13th street)

Nothing like a two and a half hour lunch on a beautiful Friday afternoon :)

Restaurant week got extended (yay) so we got a 3-course Mediterranean meal at the amazing Fig & Olive. I started with gazpacho, then had orecchiette with halibut, tomatoes and some sort of sauce, and finished with an awesome chocolate pot de creme. Everything had rosemary in it (we were even surrounded by little rosemary plants that blocked off the outdoor seating area), and even the focaccia and olive oil we started with was great.

This restaurant has such a great spread of food, and the atmosphere is adorable, inside included. I had actually been to the Midtown East location before for a brunch, and the cocktails are delicious as well. I love that so many places have unique, signature drinks.

Adorable place, great location, fantastic food.

Petite Abeille (17th btw 5th and 6th aves)

An amazing birthday brunch!! The food here was amazing and the whole restaurant smelled like waffles. We had a great time, and not even too long of a wait for 10 people on a Saturday for brunch.

I had the croque madame, and it was so tasty. They actually ran out of the peach stuff for bellinis, but then they used pear puree and it was just as good!

I didn't choose one of the more popular brunch places, so I was a little apprehensive about an unknown place. But no worries, it turned out amazingly :)

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Tipsy Parson (9th ave at 19th)

Went to this place after work on a Friday because I heard the cocktails were good. Correct! They have a lot of good bourbon and whiskey (which I can't really appreciate), but the cocktails u can definitely get on board with. Each one on the list is made with a different type of liquor, which is cool, and they have very unique mixes.

The atmosphere is cool; we sat in the window with cushions and a cute table. Watched people scampered around when it started to pour. We didn't have any food, but the stuff I saw looked good. Not a cheap place per se, but delicious cocktails and a great place to grab a drink - and wait out a thunderstorm :)

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Pepe Giallo (10th ave at 25th st)

Written on the wall at Pepe Giallo is, "no diet coke, no decaf, no skim milk, just good food". That's when you know it's authentic, fresh, good food.

I went there with some colleagues for lunch on a beautiful day, and we got to sit in the outdoor garden in the back. It's adorable - actually the reason we picked the place is because it's on the Food Network's Dining Guide list for outdoor seating. We all split a salad of avocado, tomato, hearts of palm, and shaved cheese: it was not your typical salad, and it was super tasty. Then I got papardelle with sausage and spicy tomato sauce. The tomato sauce was not spicy... but overall it was good. Huge portions of course, and I was stuffed.

In general, I've had better Italian, but the atmosphere there was so perfect. I also got a good olive oil idea: they put crushed garlic and rosemary IN the bottle to flavor it. I think I'll get one of those little olive oil bottles and do that at home.

Max Brenner (Broadway btw 13th/14th streets)

Omg chocolate. My brother said he wanted chocolate for dinner, and he had no idea that's exactly what he was going to get. Max Brenner glorifies chocolate. I had the Max-Wich - aka ice cream sandwich - which was so phenomenal (although already a bit melty when it came out). Also had the corn and manchego - I LOVE manchego - croquettes for a little something salty, and those were delicious, with a little bit of a spicy sauce in/on them. I must say that I'm not good at resisting chocolate, so I was uncomfortably full by the time I left the restaurant... but that won't prevent me from ever going back...

This place is great for people watching (my brother noted the mostly female clientele), and there's a mouth-watering little store of chocolate to enhance your chocolate craving while you wait for a table.

Maz Mescal (86th btw 1st and 2nd aves)

There's a lot of Mexican food around, and Maz Mescal is one of many great selections. The 3 dips that come with the chips are actually REALLY good - a fresh salsa, a sweet one, and a spicy green one. The servers are very nice, and attentive. I like that the plates weren't drowning in rice and beans, too - just enough. I had the flautas, and the chorizo and beef ones were good. The chicken was a little dry, but I just dipped that one in the above-mentioned salsas and problem solved, ha! Also, I always wanted to go there because there are always lots of people eating outside; of course the day I go it's raining, but I found out the inside is HUGE. I had no idea it was such a big place.

I didn't try the margaritas - maybe I'll have to go another time to try them :)

Supper (2nd St. at Ave A)

This was actually my second venture to Supper, it's SO amazing. I actually had an amazing sparkling Lambrusco that was a deep red, and very fruity and flavorful - but light. The food is fantastic - the panzanella I've had before, and this time we had a grilled polenta with a brie-type cheese and some greens. The polenta didn't add a ton to it, but all together the flavor was great. The bread and white beans they give are a great starter. Everyone I've been with has enjoyed their food, and lots of people have recommended the place (now I'm one of them). I had the spaghetti with lemon: such a simple dish, but the flavor is amazing. You really can't go wrong with this place. It's very authentic, cute atmosphere, good area near some bars if you're going out afterward; a classic.

Hummus Kitchen (2nd ave at 83/84)

The hummus platter is HUGE, so one is plenty for two people!! Hummus Kitchen has seriously good hummus. Seriously good - we got the mixed platter to try all the flavors. And the pita was nice and soft, good service (cute waiter), and attentive, too. Definitely recommended!

ABC Kitchen (18th btw broadway & park)

Spotted: Peter Dinklage

This place has such a great atmosphere, with a very sleek modern, but natural look to it. ABC Kitchen is generally super crowded and requires a reservation. Since there were only two of us (and it was a Wednesday), we had about a half-hour wait, so just had a drink at the bar (Southampton Double White Beer... WONDERFUL). The place is kind of loud, in case that deters you. But everything else is amazing. The bread, the roasted beets with homemade yogurt, the ravioli, and the veal meatballs with kasha and bowtie pasta! I doubt you can really go wrong here. Although when they brought the bread they brought out a tiny plate with three baby radishes on it... we weren't sure if we were supposed to eat it or not. So we each took a bite of one and that was it. They're spicy! Probably a rookie mistake? Not really sure what we were supposed to do with those... but regardless, I definitely recommend this place!

Colicchio and Sons (10th ave and 15th st)

Prix fixe lunch for $25 at Colicchio and Sons! It's a great deal, too, because the food is SO delicious. Who knew a spinach salad with strawberries and cheese (something strong, I can't remember the name) could be so good? They have much fancier first courses too, like bone marrow stuff which I'm too scared to try. For second course I had a taleggio cheese, dry-cured salami, and leek pizza. There was something else on there, too - and the pizza was so good. The people I was with loved their food, too - some kind of seafood soup, and a steak. Then we chose 3 of the desserts and split them (zeppole, OMG). I saw other people doing a beer sampling - that would be fun. I had heard great things about this place, loved it, and such a great deal for lunch!

Two Little Red Hens (2nd ave at 86th)

The cookies at Two Little Red Hens are phenomenal (I had the chocolate crinkle). The scone I had was pretty good too, but I really needed coffee with it. I'm dying to try the cakes or cupcakes there - when I went there were a bunch of families picking up cakes for various occasions. It's an adorable tiny location with a few tables, and it's almost always crowded - a very good sign!

Quattro Gatti (81st and 3rd ave)

Doesn't get more authentic than this. From what I saw it was all cute little old Italian men working at Quattro Gatti, and the food was amazing. Even the bread we started with was fabulous. I had gnocchi al pesto (two things I love) and it really was good. They give pretty hefty portions, so I got to eat that great meal two nights in a row! I know there are a ton of Italian places all around NYC, and I'm excited to try more, but this is a quality place when you want great Italian food.

Extra Virgin (west 4th at perry)

I had two recommendations for Extra Virgin, so a friend and I went after a long day of shopping. We each ordered a cocktail and they were strong!! Super good though - they had unique drinks. We arrived too early for dinner so we started with the french fries and gorgonzola fondue... wow. There's no going wrong with that, the french fries were amazing and i LOVE gongonzola, too. Then I went for the pistachio crusted goat cheese salad. I was expecting more beets, but it ended up being a lot of endive and watercress. My friend had the lemon crusted seabass, and it was perfectly cooked. Overall, it was a great place and we enjoyed it. If I go back I'll just probably try something else - maybe brunch, I heard it's phenomenal there.

Shake Shack (86th at lex)

So after everyone telling me Shake Shack was the best ever and why hadn't I gone yet and I had to go bc it was sooo good - I finally went. It was good. But that's it. The burgers are actually a good size I think, compared to the usually huge portions we find these days, and it was a pretty good burger. There's no denying that. The downfall for me was that I ordered a black and white shake, and I'm pretty sure I got a peanut butter shake - which I did not like. It's sad really, because I LOVE ice cream, so it really disappointed me.

Will I go back? Probably. Maybe I'll try one of those awesome custard flavors next time instead of a shake.

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Beyoglu (81st and 3rd ave)

This place is amazing. Turkish food is wonderful, and Beyoglu does it well. They have outdoor seating, and these beautifully tiled tables. Be prepared for huge portions! Three of us split the meze platter (the small one) as an appetizer, and it could have sufficed as my meal! It came with hummus, tabbuli, a yogurt/cucumber thing, a mixed veggie thing, some other things... and the most delicious pita I've ever had. Then all of us ordered the Iskender Kebab, and none of us could finish it! It was very good though, just huge - sliced lamb over cubes of pita, with a tomato sauce and a little yogurt on top. Let's just say I'm glad we walk everywhere in New York; there's a built in stroll after every filling restaurant meal.

Mustang Grill (85th and 2nd ave)

Cinco de Mayo!
Mustang Grill is ready to party. We may have missed the half price drinks until 7p, but we got free tequila shots (Jose Cuervo Especial promotion - we got to keep the hand-blown shotglasses) before we even made it to the bar! The margaritas were pretty good, nothing special. The beef empanadas were awesome though! It was standard tex-mex I would say, but the venue was fun. They have outdoor seating, loud music, some people dancing among the tables... we had some friendly people sitting next to us. The only negative thing was that we had to wait 45 minutes to sit (but were occupied with margaritas) and the bathroom line got REALLY long. But I suppose that's what happens at a Mexican place on cinco de mayo :)

berimbau (carmine at bedford/bleeker)

Brazilian food! And authentic too... I know this because I went with my friend from Brazil - most of the entree list were things that she makes for dinner! I started with a mango caipirinha which was delicious, although the original lime will always be the best. We got Pao de Queijo (which I had just tried for the first time the weekend before) which are little bread balls with cheese in the middle - but not a block of cheese like mozzarella sticks, it's more melted into the bread. I asked the waitress if I should get the Stroganoff or Bobo de Camarao and she said the Stroganoff was amazing; it was. But the best part - it's chicken in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and served with rice - topped with potato sticks!! This is apparently the traditional way, and I must say it made the whole dish, adding a little crunch and that saltiness. My friends got the picanha, and I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with meat in a Brazilian place. It was an intimate, low-lit place with exposed brick, and great for hours of talking. They definitely have space to push some tables together for bigger party, but I would make a reservation no matter how many you're going with. http://www.berimbaunyc.com/

Calle Ocho (columbus and 81st)

This past Sunday I ventured across Central Park to go to brunch at Calle Ocho in the Upper West Side. The draw, of course, was the all-you-can-drink sangria bar, but the food was delicious, too! They try to slow down your drinking by not allowing double-fisting, plus you have to go up to the sangria table and wait in line every time you want to fill up. Still, the sangria flavors are delicious (tropical was my favorite for the white, and mulata for the red), and any motivated diner can certainly get their share :)

The treasure box of bread arrived with strawberry butter (meh), and since I HAD to try all the different types I was pretty full by the time my entree arrived! But back to the bread - there was a dense biscuit, a donut type deliciousness, chocolate chip rolls, and some other fried variety. As good as they were, next time I think I'll just stick to the light-colored biscuit-type to save room for food and sangria. As for the Pollo Ranchero, I'll say it was good! The scrambled eggs on top weren't spectacular, but as a whole the dish was great.

A great brunch with friends - and it didn't hurt that it was finally a sunny, warm spring day! (but no outside seating)