Food Euphoria

Overview:

Casual Italian at it's best. If you can't get a reservation at Mario Batali's rustic communal style Roman trattoria, put your name on the bar list and pray for a seat. Dinner/lunch is the same menu but most of the menu choices are delicious and lunch is less hectic than dinner so I prefer eating at the bar.

Started with simple clams and fregola, interesting but slightly under seasoned. The second time I went I had the Veal Sweetbreads with Shishito Peppers, nice. Next have the Mozzarella di Buffalo, DOP with grilled leeks on crusty bread, lovely and creamy like Burrata. A favorite. Refreshed with the Escarole, Walnut, Red Onion & Pecorino, simply dressed but I loved it.

It is hard to find great Spaghetti alla Carbonara but Lupa does a nice job. I loved the Ricotta Gnocchi with Fennel & Sausage. Next try the Heritage Pork Belly with Scorzonera & Pears, heaven. Finish off with Amaro Coppetta with Cardomom Gelato & Espresso Croccante (crunchy, espresso almond brittle), good.

Prices are moderate and it is great for larger parties because of the long tables and kid friendly.

Special Dishes:

Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Ricotta Gnocchi, Heritage Pork Belly, Amaro Copetta with Cardomom Gelato

JeffHarms

Overview:

When I'm in town, this is one of my favorite boozy lunch spots. The croque madame is not to be missed....

Special Dishes:

littlechef

Overview:

You really can't go wrong at shake shack; the original in Madison Square Park is by far the best, not because the food tastes any different, but the atmosphere with the park is just priceless.

Special Dishes:

Concrete Jungle custard shake

Food Euphoria

Overview:

My son moved to Allen Street a couple of months ago but with school and a busy social life he has not had a chance to explore the neighborhood restaurants, of which there are many fantastic choices. So, we decided to make it our mission to try a new place each week. While I frequent many great spots on the lower east side I had not yet been to A Casa Fox.

A Casa Fox is a small, dimly lit rustic Latin American restaurant with Nicaraguan influence owned by Chef Melissa Fox. There is tapas, some salads, empanadas and small plates served in a cozy atmosphere with an open kitchen, nice food presentation but a tad overpriced. We enjoyed the refreshing Encortido salad and spicy shrimp which we washed down with a very nice mojito.

Special Dishes:

Risotto croquettes with bacon and Fontina Spicy shrimp with lime zest Encortido (cabbage, tomato, scallion and poblano salad) Spiced beef and tomato empanadas

Food Euphoria

Overview:

Best thing to do is go down there and put your name on list for a table and hope you get it. There are lots of places to go for drinks while you are waiting. If you don't get in you can always go across the street to Blue Ribbon! Price point is $ to $$$$ though. This is such a great area for food with a short walk about you might stumble on a great little place.

Special Dishes:

kcscojo12

Overview:

Great place to take in the sights and sounds of New York when the weather is right. Enjoyed a nice cold beer with my Sashimi Tuna Tacos. They were so good I ordered them twice.

Special Dishes:

Sashimi Tuna Tacos

Food Euphoria

Overview:

Crown restaurant is a beautiful, dimly lit place with dark wood paneled walls and an Ivy League club atmosphere. Actually, it was a tad too dim as I could barely see my food. The bar is crowed with "yuppies", "hipsters" and
the chic geriatrics, as my daughter likes to call me and my set.

I have been to Crown several times now and have consistently gotten the same results with certain dishes.

The wild salmon, cut like medallions, was good but slightly overlooked which is not a mystery when you slice it so thin. The beef crudo with arugula, parmigiano reggiano and truffle vinagrette was more like a tartare but was delicious. Try the pappardelle with Bolognese; it was a little too salty but I felt the need to keep eating it. The knudi with sheep's milk ricotta, morels, ramps, asparagus and pistachio was good; creamy, not heavy and very
flavorful. The octopus with baby fennel, speck, potato, lemon confit and olive oil emulsion was very nice but on the chewy side. The soft shell crab, wild Ramos, smoked bacon and horseradish was great. Order the fries,
it is a generous portion that several can share.

The service is attentive and patient but grows slow in between courses. The last time I ate at Crown there were seven women joining me. One mistake I will never make again. None of them could decide what to have. I just hate
eating alone. The manager, Christian, a good looking charming Italian, paid special attention to us by coming over to chat as well as sending us a delicious rack of lamb with chanterelles and a port bordelaise on the house
which was much appreciated, as well as his offer to tour the kitchen after midnight.

I love a restaurant with excellent service. I usually will not forgo a good meal for better service but let's face it, bad service is a bad overall experience no matter how good the food is. I like this place. The food is good but the service superior, which makes you want to go back.

Special Dishes:

Beef Crudo, Pappardelle with Bolognese, Knudi

Food Euphoria

Overview:

Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya, the newest of the Blue Ribbon sushi restaurants to open in the city, is a Japanese tavern in SoHo; stark, dimly lit, but comfortable. I think the sushi is overpriced and the pieces sometimes strangely cut but having said that, there is a wide variety of options including hand rolls, vegetable rolls, maki and platters. All the fish was fresh and top quality. But Blue Ribbon has so much more to offer than just raw fish.

Try ordering the bone marrow with sea salt bonito, deep fried shiso leaves and teriyaki sauce served with toasted challah bread. It was decadently delicious. So was the braised tripe with tamari butter and candied ginger, the beef tongue with daikon, shiitake and black truffle teriyaki. The sweet and sour chicken feet tasted more like the familiar General Tao's chicken but I cannot lie, I enjoyed them.

The kushi yaki offers many choices. The pork meatballs with a sesame glaze arrive three on a skewer; for two people that was a problem so we had to get two more orders (that means they were good). Next, the smoked pork belly with pickled onions and spicy baby watercress was a great combination of favors complimenting each other. Beautifully tender and delicious.

Usuzukuri Kampachi yellowtail (usuzukuri is the Japanese word for thinly sliced), came in thick slices, lightly dressed in ponzu sauce and yuzu pepper (a paste made from from chili peppers, yuzu peel and salt) and was very tasty. It would have been nearly perfect if the slices were cut properly. Also, try the baked clams with miso butter. There are basic salads, tempuras,
chicken, pork, beef and shellfish entrees with a variety of fried rice and vegetable sides. Along with the lovely and light but overpriced small bottle of Blue Ribbon house sake at $70, this was a great meal with unique concepts, though very expensive.

Our server was friendly and attentive as was one of the partners who stopped by to see if we were enjoying our meal. There was upbeat club music playing in the background and a young hip crowd among us. I would not necessarily just go there only for sushi because I think the cooked food is very creative and they do it so well.

Special Dishes:

Bone marrow, Beef tongue, Pork meatballs, Smoked pork, Sushi, sashimi

Annie W

Overview:

My friends and I stop at Carmine's every time we head into the big city, even if it just for the key lime martini. We have enjoyed various dishes from the menu and share because they are so generous. Vegetarian, seafood, and meat dishes are authentic and flavorful. The basket of a variety of warm breads needs refilled every time! Get here early or you will have to wait, well worth it, though. We try to go before a show as it is very near the theaters. I even have the Carmine's cookbook now.

Special Dishes:

A shared eggplant parmessan sandwich at the bar with a couple martinis is a great beginning to the evening.

Lindsey C

Overview:

This cash only pizza utopia is a no-brainer for those looking for the real deal. Come hungry with good company because they don’t accept reservations. Although I assure you the homemade toppings alone(hello Italian sausage) are well worth the long lines. Personally, I like to work for my pizza. Bumping elbows in small spaces and soaking up the history is part of the experience in my opinion and Lombardi’s is just that. Aside from its reputation for being the first pizzeria in America, the crust was perfectly crispy with the right amount of sauce...that’s amore folks. You can also get it by the slice if you aren’t willing to commit to the whole pie!

Special Dishes: