Gato means “cat” in Spanish.

I have absolutely nothing humorous or clever to add to that. Just know it. Actually, you probably already do.

Is there a cat theme to this restaurant? I don’t think so.

Ok, this might be the worst blog post to date. I can’t promise I’ll be able to turn things around in the next few paragraphs. But I’ll try.

When we ordered 6 of the Bar Bites items and a side of Brussels Sprouts, our server seemed mildly horrified.

“No entrees? The bites are REALLY small” She seemed personally offended that were intentionally ordering cheap shit with the sole intention of giving her the smallest tip imaginable.

Truth be told, we had a late lunch and just wanted some nibbles and drinks but didn’t want to quarantined to the bar in order to do so. We arrived under the guise of actually being hungry.

The bites were, indeed, small and with a price tag of 3 for $19, they were certainly not the best deal in town.

But they were fun and tasty! And they actually seemed more appealing than the main entrees. I’d much rather spend more money in exchange for each one of my bites to contain different foods/flavors.

Gato is Bobby Flay’s NY baby and, for being around for so many years, it’s popularity has not seemed to wane. Good for you Bobby. If people will continue to pay nearly $20 bucks for three bites of food, than they deserve a place like Gato.

That sentence wasn’t actually intended to be as bitchy as it came off.

324 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Houston St & Bleecker St
NoHo
(212) 334-6400
gatonyc.com

NORA GREENHOOK GIN, GRAPEFRUIT, CELERY, THYME, LEMON – 16

Brussels Sprouts, pomegranates, pistachios —14

Lamb Tenderloin, salsa verde

Eleven Layer Potato, caramelized shallots, fried sage

Meatball, tomato-piquillo sauce, goat cheese

I don’t know what/where South Village is but this place is basically in SoHo, so let’s just move on.

Here are two reasons you should hate me right now.

Tonight at Sessanta, we consumed not just one, but TWO Veal dishes. Who does that?? Who eats a Veal Buffet??

Awful people. That’s who.

But my lord, both of those cruel dishes were delicious! I’m sorry. Haters gonna hate anyways. Now you have two legitimate reasons.

Now, I maybe eat Veal (Yes, I’m going to continue to capitalize it, poor things) once a year, maybe every other year? And I always feel (sorta) bad about it.

Veal kind of tastes like a cross between beef and chicken. And it’s just so damn good.

The meatballs were heavenly, all moist and…vealy.

The Veal Milanese was absolute crispy perfection and you get a huge chop for the $37 price tag.

The Tuna Crudo? Just ok. A little lacking in the flavor department.

The linguine was also just ok, and a smidgen TOO al dente.

I guess what I’m saying is, either come here to dine on poor, defenseless baby calves (a**holes) or don’t come at all (everyone else).

60 Thompson St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Spring St & Broome St
South Village
Phone number (212) 219-8119
sessantanyc.com

Complimentary Cheese and Olives

VEAL MEATBALL tomato sugo, thyme 10

TUNA CRUDO oranges, pistachios, pickled red onion 19

LINGUINI A.O.P. garlic, olive oil, peperoncini 18

VEAL CHOP MILANESE piccata sauce 37

Is Olmsted charming?

Yes.

Does Olmsted have good food?

Yes.

Is Olmsted just a wee bit pretentious and on-trend?

Yes.

Is Olmsted worth the 2 month reservation wait?

No.

We only tried three dishes at this impossibly hot hotspot and all three were tasty and totes creative. And they grow a lot of their own ingredients in the super cute backyard garden, which is a perfect spot for a drink amongst the plants.

Did anything blow us away? Not really. But it didn’t disgust us either, so there is no reason for you guys NOT to go. By all means, do your thing. Go and enjoy and not be disgusted, too.

Just don’t kill yourselves to get here.

And if you’re disappointed, go and get a slice of pie at the pie store next door. Drown your ennui in baked happiness.

Oh, one more thing! The lamb porchetta below looks absolutely revolting. The dish is blanketed in fig leather, which makes it look like you’re dissecting some purple squid. But it’s good! Do not be alarmed by the pic!

659 Vanderbilt Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11238
b/t Prospect Pl & Sterling Pl
Prospect Heights
(718) 552-2610
olmstedNYC.com

Gobi Pakora Cauliflower – $8

Lamb Porchetta – Figs, Coffee, Fennel – $23

Garden Kale Crab Rangoon – $13

Prime T-Bone Steak
$56.00

For me, the best part of all steakhouses are not the steaks.

The steaks aren’t even the second reason I come to steakhouses!

I just go nuts for the iceberg wedge and the Manhattans!

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a disappointing cocktail at a steakhouse. I think serving a delectable adult beverage might actually be a legal requirement. Steaks, on the other hand…I’ve been sorely disappointed on that front, many times.

I guess if you serve a damn fine drink, no one will be sober enough to notice that the steak is ice cold in the center and just set you back $75.

Keens is a really old (opened in 1885) joint in lower midtown (is Lower Midtown a thing? I guess this is considered Midtown West) and I do think it’s the best steakhouse. Of course, I’ve really only been to three others but it’s got the best ambiance. You’d be surprised at how hard it is to come by dark wood and leather booths at a steakhouse anymore. Many have such a cheap, corporate vibe to them.

Like someone stripped all the “fun” out of a Ruby Tuesdays and doubled all the prices!

I won’t be drooling over every facet of the steak because I didn’t have any. I will just say Keens is the place to go if you want that Steakhouse Vibe and actually get your money’s worth.

Plus, they have hundreds of pipes stuck to the ceiling, so….there’s that.

72 W 36th St
New York, NY 10018
b/t Avenue Of The Americas & 5th Ave
Midtown West
(212) 947-3636
keens.com

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Complimentary Bread and Veggies

French Onion Soup

ceberg Lettuce Wedges, Blue Cheese Dressing
with Chopped Tomatoes and Bacon . . . add 4.00
$13

Baked Idaho
$9.50

Our Legendary Mutton Chop
$52.00

Key Lime Pie – $12

Hot Fudge Sundae – $12

Lasagna Pizza

Pizza 23 is your average local slice joint (albeit, a step up from those super divey places where, at first glance, you’re not entirely sure what kind of service the establishment provides until you actually see the pizzas. Is this a barber shop?…oh no, it’s pizza).

I only get the lasagna pizza here. Is it because it’s that good? Not really. I just never know what else to get. I should learn to calm down and just order a plain cheese slice.

They’re always so good. There is nothing like a good slice of “regular”, as the locals call it. Sometimes simple is best.

But the second my brain sees any sort of toppings, I immediately say “Screw your regular slice!” (usually out loud) and always order the flashiest one I can find. Must be the LA in me. Which is why I’ll never be a local.

268 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
b/t 7th Ave & 8th Ave
Chelsea
(347) 745-6938