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