Eat the Apple

If your heart is begging for the best french fries dipped in homemade mayo and washed down with a belgian beer that will kick your arse, then this is THE place. There are others in the village, but Bruxelles is the original and still the best.

So if the authenticity of a place is measure by the number of Japanese expats, students and salarymen, then Sapporo must be the most so.
Ramen, Udon, Gyoza and Yakisoba rule here. The servings are huge and you will slurp it all down, it is that good. They have classic soup noodle dishes but also some of their own inventions. If you like it spicy try either the Ma Po Ramen (fashioned after the spicy chinese tofu dish) or Dan Dan Ramen (fashioned after the spicy chinese sesame paste noddles).

“ino” is the suffix in italian to convey the diminuative of something. So true to its name this place is small, like 7-8 tables small, but with a long bar. But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in taste. This is the home of italian “sandwiches” in the city. There are three types of bread based fare; Bruschetta, Tramezzini and Panini. Basically bruschetta is a small piece of toasted bread topped with goodies, Tramezzini are like English tea sandwiches only eatable and Panini are the larger grilled sandwiches. I know, you say, “sandwiches for dinner?”. I say yes and keep them coming.

OK, so this place is steeped in history and you know this because it covers the walls, the floors and fills the air. I know there is always battles about the Carnagie and Stage Delis, but forget them and go to the Lower East Side for the real thing. This is not the place for vegans, unless you are looking to convert one to a meat lover. Its all about the hand-cut pastrami and corned beef. OK there are franks and tongue and other things, but for me its about that hot heaping pile of juicy pastrami. And it is a good thing that you are in the Lower East Side because you are going to have to walk to the Upper East Side to digest that tower of meat. But you will always go back for more.

This is Mario Batali’s homestyle Roman cuisine restaurant. It is more casual than his flagship Babbo, but the food is just as good and surprising. I always love eating at the bar where you learn more about the food, the wine and all the great amaroes and grappas behind the bar. If you are lucky you might end up literally rubbing elbows with some celebs. My most memoriable night was the one where I heard this deep gravely voice only to turn and see I was sitting next to Kathleen Turner. And only in NYC can you end up chatting with a star and sharing food like old home week and have it feel like nothing big. OK the food…any of the vegetable antipasti, the homemade cold cuts, fresh lemon cured sardines, a simple but heavenly pasta dish – Cacio e Pepe – just cheese and cracked black pepper. And any of the entrees are great. This is a place where one should have an antipasti, share a pasta, an entree AND desert. And the most amazing thing is the wine list. Incredible selection and at amazing prices.