Cold Smoked Hamachi – Honeycrisp, Dill & Wasabi

Park Avenue is your standard beautiful yet non-descript restaurant in the Flatiron district but what sets it apart is their wine dinners.

For $65 a person, you get an appetizer, entree, dessert and essentially all the wine your happy ass can handle (within reason, our server warned).

It’s the best deal in town.

The appetizer highlights were the decadent steak tartare with truffles and foie gras and the light but flavorful hamachi.

The sweet corn agnolotti was also tasty but somehow not as bursting with flavor as I would have liked.

The pork schnitzel was very flavorful if not a bit fatty and the scallops with that heavenly butternut squash and bacon glaze were truly tasty.

I found most of the desserts to be on the meh side but the Black Forest was unique and very nice.

The server happily offered us second pours of all 4 wines being offered so you can really squeeze 8+ glasses of wine out of that $65 bucks before they drag your tipsy butt out and throw you into the nearest taxi.

You’ll regret the hangover but not the bill the next day

360 Park Ave S
New York, NY 10010
b/t 26th St & 25th St
Flatiron
(212) 951-7111
parkavenyc.com

Complimentary Snacks

Sweet Corn Agnolotti – Black Truffles

Park Avenue Steak Tartare – Black Truffle, Foie Gras

Latkes

Corn Creme Brûlée

Viking Village Scallops – Butternut Mole, XO Bacon & Asian Pear

Red Wattle Pork Schnitzel – Pear Mustard, Dates & Chicory

Warm Apple Financier

Bourbon Pecan & Walnut Tart

Black Forest Cake

The iconic Empire Diner location has been many things except maybe successful.

Maybe this new incarnation will change all that? Unlikely but greasy fingers crossed.

Greasy because they make a damn good pretzel crusted fried chicken!

If you read the Yelp reviews, apparently it’s not always that good but I found it fantastic. Loved the crunch of the smashed up pretzel bits and the meat was perfectly cooked. Please note that even though the chicken costs $22, it does not come with a side. Unless you count 3 slices of pickled green tomatoes a side (hint: they’re tasty!)

I ordered the also fantastic Cacio e Pepe Soft Scrambled Eggs with Speck (it’s called Speck on the menu but our waitress confided that it’s really just prosciutto). I know Cacio e Pepe is all the rage right now, but it works fantastically with these scrambled eggs. Comes with a few pieces of charred toast to dip it in. Yum!

What wasn’t thrilling was when a stack of 8 dishes slid off the rack next to our table and smashed, throwing bits of glass everywhere. Everywhere included being imbedded in one of our legs, drawing blood and prompting the manager to bring us over a band aid. More urgently, a bit of glass thrust itself in my eggs! What nerve!

Who cares about a partially severed leg when my last bite of eggs is positively ruined!

The staff were very apologetic and comped about half of our bills, which was really nice of them.

Will definitely be back…..wearing long pants and protective eyewear, next time.

210 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011
b/t 22nd St & 23rd St
Chelsea
(212) 335-2277
empire-diner.com

empire omelettefine herbs, boursin cheese, mixed greens, multi-grain bread
$14

soft scramble eggs cacio peppeparmesan, cracked black pepper, speck (PROSCIUTTO)
$13

sourdough pretzel fried chickenhousemade pickles, mustard hot sauce
$23

Peaches has a bunch of other stuff on the menu, but I came here for the Hot Chicken. Does anything else in life really matter?

I’m not an expert and haven’t even Googled “Nashville Hot Chicken” but I believe it’s basically fried chicken with a bunch of cayenne in the breading. Like, a lot.

Or, if you order the “Extra Hot” chicken at Peaches, it’s ghost chili powder. Way too hot to eat with your hands, best to eat with a fork and knife. If you want your traditional, just order the “Hot” option.

The collards were a bit bland, so if you really want ’em, douse them with the complimentary hot sauce at your table, to give them that vinegar kick that’s missing.

Why mac and cheese isn’t served at brunch is beyond me?? We aren’t coming here for the avocado toast, mother*cker!

Make sure you order the Crispy Grits, they are truly unique and delicious.

The chicken was good, just a smidge on the dry side. I’ve had jucier breasts before (wink, wink) (just kidding) but the thigh and leg were nice (each order comes with three pieces) and you get a complimentary side.

415 Tompkins Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11216
b/t Hancock St & Jefferson Ave
Bedford Stuyvesant
(718) 483-9111
peacheshothouse.com

You know when you’re at a BBQ at someone’s house and you see the spread of burger fixings, and you put a little of everything on your burger?

Whether you prefer your burger like that or not??

Well, I do. I’m a sheep.

I think all of humanity can pretty much agree that a big slice of tomato will ruin a burger. Do question.

The Jean Georges burger at Chef’s Club Counter is that burger. It’s a really good burger ruined by too many classic burger condiments.

There is a new trend of super simple cheeseburgers out there that Chef’s Club is not paying attention to. Or is Jean George to blame? Not really sure how it works.

You see, there is a rotating lineup of famous/celebrity chef’s who are entrusted to create some sort of upscale yet fast casual entrée, such as a fancy toast, some type of burger or sandwich and some type of bowl. It’s open for dinner but the fare is more breakfast or lunch inclined.

The idea is a great one (everyone went nuts when LA’s famous Egg Slut had their residency, selling their amazing breakfast sandwiches) but the execution didn’t really excite me.

The burger was really good, mind you, even with that tomato madness, but it just wasn’t very inspired.

And the Hot Chicken Sandwich was just odd tasting and a bit dry. I wanted more sauce action and more heat on the actual chicken.

The fries were good but standard.

The prices are decent for Soho but not cheap enough to make this your regular lunch time spot.

It’s sort of a confusing set up inside. You don’t really know what the hell to do when you enter. Hint: you order first and then find a seat. However, the menu descriptions are quite vague, even esoteric so if you’re just a tourist popping in for a quick bite, you won’t know what many of the menu items even are and you’ll leave (I saw this happen twice).

I really didn’t mean for this to come off like a super negative review but apparently that’s where it landed. I have no control over these things, folks.

62 Spring St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Mulberry St & Lafayette St
SoHo
(646) 438-9172
chefsclubcounter.com

Belles Hot Chicken Sandwich
by Morgan McGlone
Ingredients:
Crispy hot chicken thigh or tenders, American cheese, lettuce, onion, Belles “Good Good” sauce, served with Old Bay fries

JG Burger
by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Ingredients:
Grass fed beef, pepper jack cheese, avocado, crispy red onions, Russian dressing.

You only have a few bucks in your pocket.

You’re hungry.

You’re also either drunk or an NYU student.

(You also probably smell unpleasant)

Mamoun’s is where you go.

For $3.50 you can get a pretty decent falafel sandwich (heavy on all the non-falafel ingredients, as you can see) but it will still fill your broke ass up, I promise you.

Go easy on the spicy sauce, it’s VERY spicy.

The place is right next to Washington Square Park so definitely go eat it on a park bench (you can’t really eat inside) and try to avoid one of the thousands of birds there from crapping directly into your pita.

And by birds, I mean NYU students.

119 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012
Greenwich Village
(212) 674-8685
mamouns.com

CRISPY TAQUITOS served with spicy aji panca sauce and fresh lime
YELLOWTAIL* avocado and roasted corn miso 6.5/each
minimum 2 per order

When you walk by Sushi Samba, you assume it’s going to be the worst sushi place ever. A place for drinks maybe, but not food.

You would be wrong!

The food was fantastic.

Sure, this is a chain restaurant but don’t hold that against it. The drinks are dope (just kidding, I don’t say dope. They’re sick. I also don’t say sick) the outdoor seating is so nice (especially the 2nd floor) and the food, while a bit pricey, is so so tasty.

Especially those yellowtail taquitos…which are really tacos, not taquitos but whatevs.

I also don’t say whatevs.

87 7th Ave S
New York, NY 10014
b/t Grove St & S 7 Ave
West Village
(212) 691-7885
sushisamba.com

PLANTAIN PUNCH*
Rum, plantain purée and aromatized wine shaken with egg white, banana, cacao and a coffee infusion. Served on the rocks. 15
CAIPIRINHA
The national drink of Brazil made with cachaça and churned with lime and sugar. Served short. 12

Anticuchos – RIBEYE aji panca and peruvian corn 14

WAGYU GYOZA kabocha purée and su-shoyu dipping sauce 16

Samba Rolls:
EZO soy-marinated salmon, asparagus, red onion, chive, sesame, tempura flake, wasabi mayonnaise, soy paper 14
HAMAPEÑO yellowtail, shrimp tempura, smoked jalapeño, cilantro 15

Barbetta is an OLD school Italian restaurant located on Restaurant Row near Times Square.

The place is ancient (been there since 1906) and it looks like nothing has changed since it opened.

That’s not a bad thing! It’s like walking into the past. If Marie Antoinette was Italian, this place would be her jam. It has just a touch of Haunted House that may also appeal to you.

We showed up for restaurant week, so not sure if what we ordered is even on their regular menu.

So, I won’t even bother with too many details since I didn’t bother remembering what anything was.

All I know was it was all pretty good. If you’re in the area and want an upscale blast from the past, check it out.

If you’re anywhere else…just stay there.

321 W 46th St
New York, NY 10036
b/t 8th Ave & 9th Ave
Theater District, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 246-9171
barbettarestaurant.com

China North Dumpling is your best bet for some delicious, cheap dumplings without the hassle or crowds of Vanessa’s or Prosperity.

$3 bucks buys you 10 dumplings (steamed or fried) and unlike some of the other places, these are really fresh tasting (seems like they use fresh ginger) which really sets them apart and you feel like you’re getting a higher quality product.

The place is a dump, as any good dumpling spot should be. So, get your food, scarf it down and get the hell out of there.

I guarantee it will be the most enjoyable 4 minutes of your day.

27 Essex St
Ste A
New York, NY 10002
b/t Hester St & Grand St
Lower East Side
(212) 529-2700

Steamed Pork and Chive Dumplings – 10 for $3