Riverpark - Restaurant Week

Spaghetti - Heirloom tomatoes, lemon verbena, castelmagno cheese, bread crumbs

Greenmarket Whole Wheat Reginetti -  Smoked lamb, peppers, cumin, papalo

10oz. Berkshire Pork Chop

Clomuage Cheesecake -Grandied cherries, graham strusel & cherry ice cream

Lemon Verbena Panna Cotta -Strawberries, lemon basil shortbread, strawberry ice cream

Located on the second floor within the corporate lobby of the Alexandria Center, Riverpark has a strange feel.  Adding to the awkward are the restrooms, which are located outside the restaurant in the corporate lobby.  Aside from the layout, the restaurant itself is the perfect mix of modern, classic and elegant with dim lit lightening and a refreshing view neighboring the East River that customers swear are worth the trek to Kips Bay.  The food is a play on New American cuisine with most of the produce found within the Riverpark rooftop garden or at the locale farmers market in Union Square.  True to Tom Colicchio’s approach, the food is exquisitely plated, not overly jazzed up and complex yet there is hint of feeling underwhelmed throughout the meal.  As to the restaurant week menu, guests get a taste from the actual menu with some supplements.

LOCATION: 450 East 29th Street

NEAREST TRANSIT: (L) 

MORE INFORMATION: riverparknyc.com

Cafe Cortadito

Rich, hearty and inexpensive are three perfect words to describe this East Village cafe that serves up solid cuban food with standout appetizers such as the calamari and the cuban bread that costumers swear by with a buttery and popcorn like taste.  A true cafe, the space is great for a lively date or dinner with friends yet the service sometimes falls subpar and large groups stand waiting for small wooden tables to clear to form proper seating.  In the summer, tables emerge outside and the destination becomes a go-to spot for all you can drink (AYCD) brunches ($24.95).

LOCATION: 201 East 3rd Street (Between Avenue A & B)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (F) (J,M,Z)

MORE INFORMATION: cafecortadito.com

AlMayass

The first Armenian-Lebanese inspired restaurant has finally landed in Manhattan. Alas, it is about time!  Since its birth in Beirut, Almayass has expanded in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and affiliated ownership in Los Angeles.  It is truly a delight being in the space listening to customers from table to table speaking Armenian.  The dining room seems to be filled with multigenerational families of six or more sharing the ambulance of hot and cold mezze options (mediterranean tapas).  Known in Armenian cuisine as a delicacy, the Mantee Traditional $15 features "oven based artisan made boat shaped ravioli filled with seasoned fresh ground beef served with fresh garlic yogurt sauce topped with sumac" (shown above in the right hand corner).  Out of the entrees the Yogurt Kebab $26 reins supreme.  The least enjoyable option of the night was the Almayass Delight entree with marinated fillet mignon cubes with Almayass special sauce $17 - the entree was painfully small and the least tasty out of the bunch.  Yet overall the restaurant experience was certainly unique and enjoyable.  All in all it is sincerely worth recommending.

LOCATION: 24 East 21st Street (Between Broadway & Park Ave)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (6) (N,R) (F,M)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.almayassnyc.com

David Burke Kitchen - Restaurant Week

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David Burke Kitchen is the perfect choice for restaurant week.  Unfortunately many higher-end restaurants change their menus to less desirable options to pass off the three courses - $38 deal.  Luckily, David Burke Kitchen is not one of them. With generous portions and bold American farm to table dishes, the menu stands predominately true to the original and entrees alone cost nearly $32.  The food is delicious and the service happens to be exceptional.

LOCATION: 23 Grand Street (Between Thompson Street & 6th Ave)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (A,C,E) (1)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.davidburkekitchen.com

Scarpetta

If you’ve ever watched Chopped on the Food Network, you can recall Chef Scott Conant.  Since he seems to command perfection from contestant on his show, one would wonder what a meal would be like at his highly rated restaurant, Scarpetta located in the Meatpacking District.

Without reservation you are likely to sit in the front bar room with a few small stool seated tables allowed for walk-ins.  The main dinning room hosts a more intimate vet expansive vibe.  While you ponder the menu enjoy the breadbasket of delicious house-made focaccia and house-made stromboli stuffed with smoked mozzarella and salami, which are accompanied by citrus infused olive oil, roasted eggplant caponata and mascarpone butter for additional flavoring.

The food certainly lives up to the hype.  The polenta appetizer and spaghetti entrée are definitely the crowd pleasers. Watch the video above to get the full scoop on the spaghetti & basil recipe.  While Scarpetta will certainly leave a dent in your wallet the meal and experience is unquestionably worthwhile.

LOCATION: 355 West 14th Street (Between 8th & 9th Avenue)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (A,C,E) (L) (1,2,3) 

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.scarpettanyc.com

Smush “The NY Deli of Desserts”

 

Shown Above:  2 Oreo cookies, chocolate ice cream, sliced swirl fudge, bananas, marshmallow spread

Smush  is a pop up shop located across the street from Bryant Park that has elevated the traditional ice cream sandwich with their play on the traditional deli concept.  Instead of bread = loaf shaped cookies - Instead of meat - ice cream, Instead of cheese = homemade fudge, Instead of toppings = pretzels, strawberries, bananas..., Instead of condiments = marshmallow fluff, nutella, caramel...and the list goes on. Create your own or choose from eight signature creations.

LOCATION: 28 West 40th Street (Between 5th & 6th Ave)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (B,D,F,M) (S) (7)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.gotsmush.com/

Sorella

Sorella is a small Italian wine bar and eatery located on Allen Street in the lower east side.  The decor takes a minimalist approach utilizing dim lit candles and the small glass roof in the back room to set the tone.  Service is enhanced or hindered depending how you perceive it, by the small glasses which require continuous refill sip after sip.

Upon suggestion from the waitress, the first course of the night was the Pate di Fegato (duck fat english muffin bread, chicken liver mousse, fried egg, bacon).  While highly recommended and aesthetically pleasing, the over bearing taste of the mound of mousse made this dish the lowest ranking of the evening.  Fast forward to the entrees.  Both shown on the top tear above the Gnocchi - Casterlrosso cream sauce, brown butter pears and chives ($13) along with the Tajarin - Lamb ragu, black pepper ricotta, pistachio, mint ($15) were certainly worthwhile. 

After "you think you are full" stumble next door to the gelato take out window where everything down to the toppings are homemade.

LOCATION: 95 Allen Street (Between Delancy & Broome Street)

NEAREST TRANSIT: (F) (B,D) (J,M,Z)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.sorellanyc.com

Apizz

With countless Italian restaurants in New York City it is easy to fall into the mediocre trap of thinking "I could boil water and do this myself". It's places like Apizz (pronounced ah-beets) that stop you in your track and remind you that dining can be an experience rather than a quick bite. Tucked away on a side street in the lower east side, the restaurant provides intimate seating for small groups with great views of the rustic brick oven often utilized.  Without questions asked, fresh bread with homemade sauce and ricotta cheese are brought to the table while you contemplate the homemade options.

LOCATION: 217 Eldridge Street (Between Stanton & Rivington Street) - $$$

NEAREST TRANSIT: (F) (J,Z)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.apizz.com

ABC Kitchen

ABC Kitchen has succeeded in building a strong reputation over the years catering mostly to New Yorkers and tourist alike.  So much so, that it has been ranked #18 under the most popular restaurants rated in the 2012 Zagat guide.  Interestingly enough, the waitstaff swears business booms in the winter as apposed to the summer since there isn't the option of escaping to the Hampton's.

 The restuarant stands by a farm to table approach using local seasoned ingredients hence the menu changes season to season.  The only perminant option: the salted caramel-peanut butter ice cream sundae with candied popcorn, whipped cream and chocolate sauce (shown above).  It's all truly delicious, no further description needed.  Also known to please are the restaurants whole wheat pizza's which are the perfect appetizer for 2 to share before entrees arrive.

Keep in mind, ABC Kitchen isn't the type of restaurant you walk into and expect to be seated.  The restaurant is almost always booked completely with only two tables for walk-ins with a predictable +30 minute wait.  Word of advice, make your reservation in advanced.  

LOCATION: 35 East 18th Street (Between Broadway & Park Ave) - $$$

NEAREST TRANSIT: (4,5,6) (L) (N,Q,R)

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.abchome.com