Freeman's - American - $$$

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I can honestly say that this place was so worth the wait! I had been wanting to try this restaurant for months and months and months. A girlfriend had asked to join me on my foodie adventures around the city, so I thought that this would be both, the perfect opportunity to try this restaurant, and the perfect place to ease her into food baby-ology.

So walking towards the restaurant down Freeman's Alley is so cute and romantic, and really sets up the restaurant well. It's decorated with animal heads, and flannel, and admission for men apparently seems to be an abundance of facial hair. The crowd is young and pretty. The cocktails are fabulous, the food is fresh and so so delicious. This place is officially, my favorite date place.

Since this was our first experience together, we kind-of just rolled up our sleeves and ordered everything that sounded delicious.

- Saw Mill Cocktail
It's made with Rye... get it?... and pear liquer, it is so smooth, I think I ordered 3...

- Devils on Horseback
Aaaaamazing. Prunes stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon, and fried. You pop this into your mouth and there's this warm explosion of melting cheese, sweetness, saltiness, it is just AMAZING.



- Artichoke Dip
Garlicy, cheesey, and huge chunks or artichokes throughout. It's SO good.



- Cheese Toasts
These were so perfectly crisp and had so much delicious cheese on them, we didn't even leave crumbs. Even the watercress salad it is served with was gobbled right up.



- Venison Cutlets
My friend ordered this and loved it. It's breaded and fried, and is an interesting alternative to the veal or chicken cutlet.



- Hunter's Stew
I ordered this one, and unfortunately was disappointed. It just wasn't for me. The others around me who had ordered this dish ate every last spoonful. But instead, I was devouring the creamed kale side that I ordered with it.





We did order a LOT for 2 people, and spent around $80 each. You certainly don't have to be such a high roller, but man... it is so worth it!

Minetta Tavern - Burger - $$$

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OK. I've already posted Minetta Tavern, but the first time I went there, I had the steak- which is not what you're supposed to go there for. The Minetta Tavern Black Label burger is the talk of the town. It's considered the best burger in the city by many, who also justify the $26 price for what I like to consider as the single-childless-yuppie-with-money-to-spend's burger.

A friend of mine who is documenting his way through the best burgers of the city invited me along. We were on a mission. Even on a Wednesday night, the place was packed and loud as usual, making it really difficult to chat, but then again, the burger was so incredible, when it did finally arrive

there were no words spoken at our table, only "Mmmms"

It was amazing. The burger is pretty small, but I've read all sorts of articles about how the actual meat mixture used to make this burger is secret and exclusive to Minetta Tavern. It's essentially like the best steak ground up and cooked to perfection, then topped with carmelized onions. DO NOT think to put anything on this burger. It doesn't need anything at all.



We went with a certain technique to extend the life of this life-changing burger, which was by: cutting it in half, eating the first half in tiny bites, then eating the delicious fries that came with it, followed by the other half of the burger. At the end of the meal, I noticed that the knife bore the evidence of how perfect and fatty the burger is.




For me personally, the best part of the night was having Riad Nasr come out of the kitchen and speak to the guests at the table next to us. For all the times I have been to the McNally restaurants and dreamt of the opportunity to meet Riad Nasr- one of my favorite chefs and chef-owner pairings.... it was like too good to be true. And there he was, not even one foot away from me, with his name embroided on his chef's jacket. I dont know which experience was better-- the burger or the chef.

We finished the meal off with the Grand Marnier souffle, which well, was also amazing.



I so love Minetta Tavern.

Burgers and dessert about $45pp.

Union Square Cafe - American - $$$$

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Union Square Cafe is one of those quintessential NYC restaurants; an oldie but a goodie. It also always participates in Restaurant Week, which is a nice chance to check out a pricey restaurant. I couldn't wait to try it and have this restaurant to live up to its reputation. I really wanted it to WOW! me... but it was ok. Don't get me wrong, the food is really great and it's a really beautiful, classy restaurant, but I don't think that I'd ever choose to go back. The ambience is more of a business-y, classy, somewhat uptight, atmosphere. I think it is more appealing to a mature crowd than a 20-something gal about town. I did in fact, go for a business dinner, so it was appropriate for the setting.

- Pacific Oysters
- Grilled Lamb Chops Scotta Dita
(perfect)

Without wine it cost about $55pp.

Minetta Tavern - American - $$$

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Minetta Tavern is another McNally gem. This one is located on MacDougal St., amidst jazz clubs and falafel places, right in the heart of NYU's Greenwich Village. It is so inconspicuous, you could walk past it a thousand times and not really know it's there (like I did). I kept reading about how wonderful it is in New York Magazine, and couldn't wait to get the hard-to-get dinner reservation.

The thing about all of the McNally restaurants that I've been to and love, is that their food is always simple. It is simple, high quality food, served simply, in simple, non-portentous settings. So everyone can go and feel comfortable and enjoy their meal, without being snubbed or feeling a need to whisper and behave. And that's what makes them so appealing to the masses. Schillers, Balthazar, Pastis, Morandi, Pulinos... all the same. They are always packed with crowds and their food is always fresh and delicious, so customers always go back.

I went there with a client about a year ago after he let me choose the restaurant. He'd already been there, but I was so dazzled by the hype that I honestly researched the menu and had already decided what to order about a week prior to going. (Don't worry, I know just how dorky that does sound.) So I passed-up the highly praised black label burger for the bone-in steak, and was not disappointed. However, the tightly packed restaurant was not a very conducive setting for a client dinner, as it was extremely difficult to hear one another. We were even there on a Tuesday night and it was still very crowded! So go here with friends you don't really need to talk to, or don't mind shouting at.

Everything you will try will be delicious, but I will go back for their burger.

- Bone-in Steak
- Black Label Burger
- Lamb Saddle "Tranche"
- Roasted Bone Marrow
- Oxtail and Fois Gras Terrine

DBGB - French Fusion - $$$$

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(Bowery and Houston)

I was very much looking forward to trying DBGB, but sadly, it didn't live up to my excitement. I waited for a friend at the bar and had the baby shoes cocktail which was as yummy as the bartender. The space has a nice vibe- dimly lit, open area, and shelves that are stocked with all sorts of boxed and canned goods-- the kinds that my mom and I always bring back from France.

But our waiter was less than enthusiastic that night. I expect the waiters in good restaurants to sell their menu--- that is what a good waiter is supposed to do: push the best dishes. But when we asked, he was short with his answers and bland with his suggestions. The food was overall very mediocre, and I can't justify ever coming back or spending more money at this restaurant. Not one bite of anything was "WOW!" or made me want to keep eating or come back... In fact, we were so unsatisfied that we didn't even order dessert and actually went to Mark for sliders.



- DBGB Dog
(This was OK. The bun was perfectly toasted and my friend loved this, but I didn't)



- Pan Seared Scallops and Shrimp
(This was really good. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the polenta and sprouts were a really nice add to the flavors)



- Steak Frites
(This was the only entree the waiter recommended and there was nothing special about this dish at all. The fries were better than the plain steak. It was supposedly the best quality meat that you could get, but it just wasn't one of the top steaks I've had)



- Tablier de Sapeur
(Crispy tripe with tomato tripe salad. I honestly didn't even know what this dish was until I had to ask, and then, I was not happy at all. I love tripe, but you couldn't even taste or tell what this was, other than fried. I would not recommend this at all, and in fact, the waiter took this off our bill.)



We ended up spending $50 each for a mediocre meal and then went for $2 sliders to be satisfied.

Schiller's - A McNally All Star - $$

http://www.schillersny.com/

Schiller's is another one of those restaurants at the top of my "Best NYC Restaurants" list. In fact, all of McNally's restaurants are (Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, Pulinos, etc). Everytime I go, I'm secretly wishing to meet Chef Riad Nasr. Schiller's is a great LES go-to spot. Brunch, Dinner, Drinks- all good. I usually go for brunch more often than dinner. The home fries are faboo, bloody mary delish.



- Eggs Norwegian


- Huevos Rancheros


- Bread basket from Balthazar


- Bloody Mary

About $30pp.

Blue Ribbon - American - $$$$

http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/rests_brass_man_main.htm

Another great food experience. I met my friend there for a fabulous dinner after work, we barely had a wait.

- West Coast Oysters
(In my opinion, West Coast trumps East Coast Oysters. A lot sweeter and meatier than the brinier counterparts.)
- Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade
(Honestly, if I knew it would be so delicious, I would have ordered it for my appetizer AND my entree. You get 3 chunks of beef bone marrow to serve atop toasting Challah Bread and spread with the incredibly delicious oxtail marmalade. Culinary genius)


- Skate
(My friend ordered this and it was so crispy and perfectly cooked.)
- Pigeon
(I ordered the pigeon and it was also perfectly cooked but I wasn't in love with this dish... it was served warm over barley and with a side of sweet potato mash that just didn't compliment the meat at all, wouldn't order this one again)
- Creme Brulee
(For dessert we split the creme brulee, which was also just ehh. Not the best one I ever had)

without wine, the meal was about $60pp. pricey, but worth it.

ABC Kitchen - American, Organic - $$$$

http://www.abckitchennyc.com

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. I went with 2 girlfriends and we shared a bunch of plates. Everything is organic and delicious--- it's American food done extremely well, plus the ambiance is great. It's trendy without being annoying, but it did take a couple of weeks to get a reservation, well worth the wait.

- chicken liver toast
- roasted kobacha squash toast
(both incredible, buttery, crisp toast. the liver pate has a cinnamon flavor and doesn't taste "liver-y"; the squash is sweet and delicious)

- roast carrot & avocado salad
- pretzel dusted calamari
(honestly, both just mediocre)

- complimentary ravioli from the kitchen

- fresh organic chicken
- braised lamb shank
(both delicious)



all that with a bottle of wine came to about $80 each, not too bad for such a delicious meal. will definitely go back and get the toasts again next time. would not even recommend those appetizers. the entrees were so delicious, but i would probably choose something else just to try other deliciousness.

definitely felt like i had a food baby after that meal.