Le Coucou came out of the gate with a little too much buzz. Apparently SoHo needed another upscale European eatery.

Also, they made you put down a credit card to make a ressie, which always bugs me. It’s not a matter of the money. It’s just a lazinesss issue. This means I have to crawl out of the vaguely human shaped indentation of my bed and find where the hell I left my wallet.

Thankfully, Le Coucou was worth avoiding bed sores for. They should make that their tag line!

The place is gorgeous, which I do appreciate. Part of the reason we like going out to eat is not just to have someone cook for our lazy asses. We also like to look at nice people and/or decor.

Sometimes the downfall of going to a place for brunch is their menu can often consist of a few boring ass egg dishes, some pancake and a $19 bowl of bedazzled yogurt.

I love it when a restaurant also includes a few of their star dinner dishes too! Sometimes a fella likes to munch on chicken and foie gras before he’s properly awake!

Which is exactly what I did!

In addition to the obligatory avocado toast (yummy, spelt toast – said no adult before the 2000’s ever) and a simple but effective endive salad with blue cheese and some crispy pig part, my dining companion and I shred the most unusual chicken dish.

It came as this oddly speckled ball covered in a slice of sauced plum. I had no idea what to expect.

Even after consuming it, I’m not entirely sure how to describe it. Was it a big ass meatball stuffed with foie gras? Sort of, but then it was covered in some kind of edible condom on the outside to give it an alluring sheen.

If you still have your appetites, I applaud you.

138 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10013
b/t Canal St & Grand St
SoHo
(212) 271-4252
lecoucou.com

Endives au jambon
endive with crispy iberico ham

Le Californien
sunflower spelt avocado toast, poached eggs

Crépinette de volaille aux foie gras et Fruits d’automne
chicken and foie gras, roasted plum

After brunch, we walked through the Chinese New Year madness.

12 Chairs wasn’t our first choice for brunch on this particular day.

It wasn’t even our second or third.

After being turned away from the “We’re fully booked for the afternoon” Sadelle’s Snooty Bagel Emporium, we started to roam the streets of Soho (or South Village as SoHo adjacent is now called) looking for anything edible.

12 Chairs was packed (unlike the place next door) but the wait was fairly short, so we put our names down and hoped for the best.

Would we survive before our stomachs collapsed into themselves? Only time would tell.

12 Chairs serves a decent variety of Israeli fare in a dark wood laden, East Village vibe kind of setting.

Prices were decent and the food was fairly good all around.

The one thing we did not care for were the super bland pierogies. Even the sautéed onions and mushrooms on top could not save them. Not even the 1/2 cup of salt we also desperately added.

Do not order these.

But feel free to order anything else with my blessing. You’re welcome.

Grape Leaves – $8.50

Israeli Breakfast – $16

Pierogi – $11.50

Shakshuka – $11 (with Feta, add $3)

Roberta’s is a legendary Brooklyn pizza spot that many foodies often tout as one of NYC’s best pizza.

Usually tied with Di Fara’s as THE best.

Of course, that was before the arrival of Emily and Emmy Squared….

Anyhow, Roberta’s is still a solid choice for a yummy, Neoplitan-esque pie and definitely worth the trip from an outside borough.

There are a few Roberta’s outposts to choose from (such as the food hall near Grand Central Station) but the original has the most character and is still, despite it’s hipster (do we have a new term for that yet??) clientele, relatively casual and affordable.

I mean, it’s pizza. Unless you put Uni, white truffles, lobster or gold flakes on it, the price tag won’t usually be too high.

My pizza, The Famous Original, looked almost too simple. Was there anything even on it??

Yes. There was plenty, a**hole.

Good pizza doesn’t need a ton of toppings. Toppings are to disguise shitty crust. Sorry, I mean sh**ty.

You can flavor your crust perfectly without an actual meat or veggie.

The Famous Original was just that: good sauce, a few nice cheeses, herbs and chili flakes and you’re done.

I ate the whole damn thing without a single regret.

They have a substantial menu for brunch but I can never stray from their pizzas. If you live in the hood and have been a few times, than maybe order some egg dish or pancakes or something.

But ONLY after you’ve already tried a few of their pizzas. That’s an order.

Famous Original – Tomato, Mozzarella, Cociocavollo, parmiagiana, oregano, chili – $15

Speckenwolf – Mozzarella, Speck, Crimini, Onion, Oregano, Black Pepper – $17

The food at Harold’s is good and all but here’s the real reason you need to get your ass there NOW!

They serve complimentary CORN BISCUITS!!

Light, flakey biscuits (they weight negative ounces!) studded with bits of corn!!!! Why have I never seen these before??

I’m actually pissed at every other restaurant I’ve ever been to before this. How dare they??!

Now, as the title suggests, you pick your meat and you get three sides for free.

The sides were the least impressive thing about the joint. They were just normal sides I’d make at home if I was on a diet. The mains, the deviled eggs, the biscuits, the cocktails and the ambiance are why you come here.

Give the sides to a homeless person on your way out.

And tell the waiter that you dropped the entire basket of corn biscuits on the floor and require an immediate replacement.

2 Renwick St
New York, NY 10013
b/t Canal St & Holland Tunl
South Village, TriBeCa
(212) 390-8484
haroldsmeatandthree.com

The Recurring Dream

Deviled Eggs w/ Bacon – $9

Veal Meatballs “Parmesan” ……………….. $24

Brussels Sprout Salad / Sautéed Spinach / Cucumber Salad / Broccolini

Curried Lamb Shank ………………………. $26

Potato Salad and Mac and Cheese

Complimentary Pistachio Soft Serve at the end of our meal. I could eat this all day.

Pok Pok started as an insanely popular restaurant in Brooklyn that slowly started taking over the country.

The only thing that matters here is their fish sauce chicken wings.

Nothing else you order matters, so don’t sweat it.

Get those wings and you’ll be all set. Checked off the bucket list.

The other items we ordered were tasty (could have been spicier) and I love their Drinking Vinegar (they sell it by the bottle, sweet and sour elixir that goes excellently with sparkling water (and booze, don’t forget the booze).

I do think the Brooklyn outpost has tons more charm and character. Also waiting 2 hours for a table can elevate the dining experience a bit more and we walked right into this place (granted, it was as soon as they opened and we had a reservation).

117 Columbia St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
b/t Kane St & Irving St
Columbia Street Waterfront District
(718) 923-9322
pokpokny.com

Tamarind Whiskey Sour
Tamarind, fresh lime juice, palm sugar and bourbon on the rocks.
$13

Free Nuts!

Neua Naam Tok 18
Spicy Isaan flank steak “salad” with fish sauce, lime and chili powder dressing, shallots, lemongrass, mint, cilantro and toasted rice powder. You’ll want to get some sticky rice, it’s hot. Try it with Beer Lao!

Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings (Available spicy) 16
Natural Draper Valley chicken wings marinated in fish sauce and sugar, deep fried, tossed in caramelized Phu Quoc fish sauce and garlic and served with Vietnamese table salad. Based on Pok Pok PDX cook Ike’s recipe from his home in Vietnam.

Korean Tasting menu!

Atoboy is fun, casual, delicious and CHEAP!!

$36 for 3 courses! And trust me, it’s plenty of food.

This place is awesome, definitely on my top 10 favorite NYC restaurants….this week. Check with me next week and it will be 10 all new places.

43 E 28th St
New York, NY 10016
b/t Madison Ave & S Park Ave
Flatiron
(646) 476-7217
atoboynyc.com

FLUKE
Moo radish, Pomelo, Sesame seed

TARTARE
Beef, Oyster, Potato

CORN
Taleggio, Bacon, Doenjang

SUNCHOKE
Oyster mushroom, Black truffle, Orange

BRISKET
Foie gras, Ginger, Garlic

CHICKEN
Spicy peanut butter, Garlic

Don’t come to Trestle on Tenth.

Why?

Because it’s just fine.

And you’re in NYC for some reason, you don’t got time for fine! You want amazing!

Because you’re high maintenance like that.

242 10th Ave
New York, NY 10001
b/t 25th St & 24th St
Chelsea
(212) 645-5659
trestleontenth.com

Oysters
big rock from cape cod*
$3.00

autumn soup with smoked pork broth, chicken, mustard greens, roasted parsnip, and herbs
$10.00

butter lettuce with crispy bacon and buttermilk dressing
$10.00

orecchiette with pork bolognese, porcini mushroom, broccoli rabe and parmesan
$16.00

Claudette is a charming modern French cafe near Washington Square Park that is the perfect place for brunch.

If you’re already in the area.

If you’re not, I’m sure there’s another equally charming French eatery righ behind. Look, dummy. There. See it?

Lamb Skewers – 14

WILD MUSHROOM OMELETTE • 16
herb sau téed mus hrooms, g arlic
goat c heese

CURED SALMON & EGGS • 19
cured au rora salmon, so ft scrambled eg gs, salmon r oe
crème f raîche, grilled b read

Casa Enrique is a highly celebrated, casual but upscale Mexican eatery in Long Island City.

What else is in Long Island City, you ask?

MOMA PS1!

Definitely a good idea to hit both places if you’re going to head out that way. Or don’t, its up to you. I really could care less.

5-48 49th Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101
Hunters Point, Long Island City
(347) 448-6040
henrinyc.com/casa-enrique.html

Complimentary puffs with a trio of hot sauces.

Margarita

Ceviche de pescado – $18
Market fish cooked in lime, onion, avocado, tomato

ENSALADA DE BETABEL CON JICAMA
Beets, jicama, mint, queso fresco, and lemon vinaigrette

CHILAQUILES ROJOS
Corn tortillas lightly fried in salsa roja, onion, cream, queso fresco, avocado with Chicken.

Indian Accent is an exquisite restaurant near MOMA that serves an incredible Indian tasting menu.

As with every tasting menu, if the place is opened for lunch, I’m there. The prices are always cheaper.

There are definitely a lot of fusion items on the menu, don’t come here looking for you mom’s fish curry. Your mom didn’t make fish curry? Well, I’m clearly not talking to you.

We started with a baby naan stuffed with blue cheese. 10 more of these, please!!

We also ordered a butter chicken stuffed Kulcha as an additional appetizer, and this was also super impressive. Like an Indian quesadilla.

My first course was this Indian pulled pork and curd rice. Yum.

Then the final course came, and it was half the size of the first course. It was tasty but after only two bites, could I really be sure?

123 W 56th St
New York, NY 10019
b/t 7th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas
(212) 842-8070
indianaccent.com

Mini Blue Cheese Stuffed Naan – Complimentary

Butter Chicken Kulcha

Gluten Free Roti

Sweet Pickle Ribs, sundried mango, onion seeds

Black Pepper Pork, Curd Rice

Braised lamb, prune korma, rajasthani pearl millet khichdi

Chicken kofta, punjabi kadhi, onion pakora

Complimentary Indian Spiced Chocolates