Archive for October 2007

There's a stretch of restaurants on the upper west side that make you feel like you're in the center of a Woody Allen flick – reeking of the picturesque Manhattan that is often only captured in films. If you want to remind yourself of how quaint Manhattan can be – walk down Columbus Ave. and stop in for a bite to eat at Pomodoro Rosso (229 Columbus Ave).

This rustic Italian eatery is a favorite haunt of mine…I'm almost hesitant to share it. The restaurant is like a slice of Venice – with a huge mural painted inside so you feel like you're docked at a canal, sipping some vino in Italy. The red and white checkered tablecloths give this restaurant a comfortable, casual feel. Come dressed in jeans or dressed in a tie – you'll fit in either way. Though their menu is filled with delicious selections, sample from their daily specials which never disappoint. I look forward to their crispy focaccia and olives (always brought out right away) that have been perfectly aged that you can taste the olive oil with each bite.

My recent dinner there consisted of an eggplant croquette and artichoke heart appetizers which were small enough to anticipate dinner, rather than fill me up. For an entrée I had the spinach and cheese ravioli covered in a light marinara and vegetable sauce. My meal was superb and simple. (If you love linguini and clams – try it here.) Entrees range from $15 to $25 but you'll certainly eat your money's worth. Pomodoro's is a great for a group or great for a date – but the atmosphere here is best during the evening. Don't come too late though, as the restaurant is practically cleared out by 11 p.m. on a weekend evening. There is no better feeling than dining in at this wonderful ristorante on the UWS. For true Italians like myself, the blend of a rustic atmosphere, decent red wines, a lovely wait staff, and delicious meals simply cannot be beat.

Head back to the days of jazz and the prohibition at Flatiron Lounge (27 West 19th St). This popular jaunt in the flatiron district has a fantastic menu of cocktails that are each made with lots of tlc. The art deco interior and club room setting made me feel like the Rat Pack would be bursting through the doors at any moment. Don't be intimidated by it's hip décor, you'll fit in and feel at home with the affable staff and great crowd.

Every bartender has their favorite specialty drink – and so do the regulars. My pick? The Metropolis. It tastes like a Granny Smith but it isn't sweet – it's the perfect blend of apple and vodka. The atmosphere is very hip where the young and trendy like to hang out – though the crowd is mixed. For example, Flatiron Lounge is a place where you can take your visiting parents or a cousin who's still in college – and all parties would appreciate its vintage vibe. Bartenders are dressed like it's the roarin' 20's – all in black with dapper ties tucked into their shirts. The rest of the crowd is dressed, well, cool.

Weekends are usually packed but it's never hard to get attention from the bar staff. If you have to wait a few minutes for another drink, they'll let you know – and send you a water to hold you over. An average drink will set you back around $12 – but it's completely worth it. If you're a true martini lover, this place is your dream come true. Sample one of the martini flights where you'll get to try three mini martinis in a common flavor theme. This cocktail lounge should be a must on every visitors (or New Yorker's) list.

Where do I even begin when it comes to describing Calico Jack's Cantina (800 2nd Ave). Let me preface this review by saying, yes, I did frequent this bar on occasion back in my college days. Second, I have many friends (myself included) that have gotten on top of their infamous bar. With that said, I'm sorry Calico's, but someone will have to pay me before I step foot in your bar again.

Calico Jack's is a spot of eternal spring break. The DJ encourages girls to shake it on the bar, bartenders pour liquor from the bottle into your mouth, and tiki style décor makes you feel like you're in Acapulco circa 1999. If you're looking to relive your college years or simply dance the night away to some top 40 hits, this is definitely the place to do it. But if it's a relaxing evening of drinking you seek, this ain't your bag baby. The lines to the bathroom are always painfully long and it's always way too loud to actually carry on a conversation. The food is inedible, the drinks are strong, and the skirts are short. Calico's is a really fun place to go if you're looking to dance (though there isn't much room to do so) – and there's always a bachelorette party taking place.

Don't get suckered into one of their "wristband" deals. You'll pay $20 and up for select "all you can drink" well drinks, but the line to the bar is always so long, you'll rarely get your money's worth. Girls with trays of shots will undoubtedly bother you throughout the night, offering weak and pricey Jello shots that you should also steer clear from. Instead, check out Calico's if you're already good and drunk so you'll be able to handle the often raunchy behavior that takes place. Wet t-shirt contests, belly shots, and dancers on the bar? Oh my.

You can find a great Italian restaurant in every neighborhood of Manhattan, but in Astoria, Queens where Greek food flows like water, it's often hard to find a really good eggplant parmesan. But skeptics beware, you'll find an authentic Italian dish at the lovely Trattoria L'Incontro (2176 31st St.).

Settled in the hub of a busy intersection of Astoria, this restaurant is a great escape. Chef Rocca Sacramone is behind this gem of a restaurant – and is often seen table hopping to ensure that everyone is enjoying their meal. The theme of the restaurant seems to be bigger is better. The interior and décor is grandiose, wine glasses are the size of your arm, and my knife seemed more suited to carve a turkey rather than cut my lamb chop. Even the menu is large. Our waiter rattled off 32 specials (a fellow diner counted) from appetizers and salads to fish and meat entrees. I felt overwhelmed by all my menu options and wished they would have put a simple insert in the menu – there was no way to remember even half of the specials.

I started off with a calamari salad with cannelloni beans and red onion – which was delicious. My entrée was a stuffed veal chop that was surprisingly small (though the plate was gigantic, of course). Our waiter was a bit stiff and often slow, though not entirely his fault since this restaurant is always packed. You'll rarely find a night where you can just walk in and eat – so calling ahead for reservations is a must. With a packed house comes a lot of noise, making this a great place to go with a big group of people, which they can easily accommodate. Overall I enjoyed my experience, though for all the pomp and grandeur, I wish the food had delivered a bit more, though I think it definitely deserves a few more visits. At least I know I can get a great Italian meal in Astoria without hopping on the N back to Manhattan.

It's very hard to find an area in Manhattan that lacks a good bar – but in the shopping mecca of midtown east (think Container Store, H&M, Bloomingdale's in a 2 block radius), there are some great places to eat, but very few to drink. But if your shopping trip has you thirsty for a really good pilsner, head to The Carriage House (219 East 59th St.)

This bar is never crowded, except for after work drinks. Ladies, this is a bar for guys – I've never visited and seen more than a handful of women. (Good news for the ladies, bad news for single fellas.) Blink and you'll miss this bar with an unassuming entrance. Once inside, the bar stretches far back. With tons of beers on tap to choose from, sports games playing on every flat screen, and darts and a pool table in the back, it's no wonder this place is chock full of dudes. Either way, the booths (that for some reason resemble church pews) are big enough to fit you and your bags from Bloomies.

The bar food is reasonably good and the beers are cold and frothy. If you're looking for more than that, you might want to find another place for a pit stop. The line for playing a round of darts is never long, though regulars will often bully people away from the pool table. Either way, it's a great place to come watch the Yankees beat…well, any team. And don't you dare step foot inside if you're rooting for anyone else!

Choice (380 Third Ave) is located in a central spot in energetic Murray Hill. It's a great place to go for beating after work crowds – but not if you're looking for a spectacular meal. Luckily for Choice – their cocktails more than make up for their boring menu.

Best known for their specialty martinis, I always opt for the "choicetini" – pineapple juice, coconut juice, and vodka – it's why I go to Choice in the first place. Though they do offer a typical bar menu of apps and easy entrees, you won't be wowed by the grub. In fact, every time I've gone to Choice, the entrees for the table have been brought out at different times - not exactly a place you'll want to go with a big group that intends on eating together. Wait staff is pleasant enough, but service is slow, even if the restaurant is half empty.

Go to Choice if you've got a friend that likes stiff drinks and isn't picky about food – the exposed brick and mahogany accents lends itself to a very east side vibe. The wine menu isn't bad either, offering over 30 different selections. Plus you can't beat the price. I had a salad entrée and two martinis for $25 on my last outing there – a really great deal for a NYC eatery. My suggestion is to start the night off at Choice with some delicious cocktails – and then head across the street to Rodeo for some pitchers of Margaritas. With so many bar and restaurant options in Murray Hill, cross this one off the top of your list.

There are very few elegant eateries in the vicinity of Times Square that aren’t teeming with tourists. If you’re a New Yorker looking for some vino and a meal (or if you’re a tourist that hates the traps), then check out Divine Bar (236 West 54th St.). Also brother to an east side location, Divine Bar specializes in a great wine list and tapas.

The atmosphere is very hip – with dim lighting, leather seating, and a large bar on the lower level showcasing their extensive wine selections. If you’re looking for something other than pubs or sports bars in midtown west, this is the place. At my most recent outing to Divine, my friend and I each had a flight of merlot to start off the evening – a great selection of four wines for only $9.50. Since tapas are their specialty, we also shared an artichoke dip ($10.50), a brie pastry with nuts and dates ($10.50), as well as a delicious spinach salad ($10.50). The tapas are very generous and we could have easily filled up on two.

For a Friday night at 8 p.m. we were able to have a quiet meal upstairs (while a large crowd was at the bar below) but were still able to hear each other and enjoy our meal. The waiter was knowledgeable and pleasant – and gave us the thumbs up when we ordered the brie. Divine also has "vinoversity" - where you can sign up for wine tasting classes that are apparently quite popular. One thing to note: not a great place to go with a large group unless you call ahead – most tables seem to be suited for groups no larger than four. Either way, I felt the experience overall was simply…divine.

It's not often that I feel that I've stepped into the presence of something really, really cool. A Friday night at Asia de Cuba (237 Madison Ave.), however, made me feel just that. Under the management of the people that brought you China Grill, Asia de Cuba is a place to be seen.

The frosted door being guarded by guys with headsets intimidates you right off the bat, but once you're ushered in, it's as if the "cool police" has accepted you and you're treated like stars. In the middle of the main dining hall is a long table that seats about 36 with a tall photograph of a waterfall at the end of the room and white curtains flowing throughout. If you're seated at this table you're probably seated next to strangers, but you're also in the center of it all, being able to take in the fashionably hip at the tables around you and seated upstairs.

Our waitress was extremely pleasant with a great opinion of what to order and how to really enjoy the meal. Our appetizer was the calamari salad – an Asia de Cuba favorite. It was large enough to accommodate four of us (including two rather hungry males) and left us anxious for our entrees. Though this food isn't cheap (the rack of lamb was $64), everything is made to be eaten "family style" – so you can easily split an entrée and side with another person. Bottles of wine start at $30 and mixed drinks are pretty pricey.

By the end of the night, however, none of us flinched at the bill. A couple seated next to us had to wait a long time for their entrees and were personally spoken to by the manager, who then sent them complimentary drinks and dessert. I have a feeling the kind of slow service didn't deter them at all. The wait staff was excellent, the food was superb, and the overall ambiance was something you've got to try at least once. Sometimes it pays to be the cool kid for a night.