NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: CRISPO

Italian food. A common cuisine in NYC. Every block's got at least one. Some are good, some are great, some are mediocre, some are poor. Crispo on 14th street is a place I have walked by hundreds, if not thousands of times, and never even peaked in. I had heard good things about this place, so last night I stopped in with a friend for a quick bite. 

Looks can be deceiving, for what looks like a small Italian joint, is much larger than you think. There is a main dining room in front, which is big, but there is also a much larger tented room in the back. 

Both rooms are extremely loud. For a Tuesday, the place was busy too, making both rooms even louder. In fact, I had to switch seats from the back room, for the acoustics were just terrible, and I could not hear a thing. The front room was loud too, but not as loud as the back. The front room is also definitely more romantic, as long as your view of romance includes saying "What? What?" to your date. 

But, luckily, you won't have to do much talking at Crispo, for there is some pleasant Italian bites in store for you to be putting in your mouth.

Risotto Balls ($6 for 5), were gooey, tasty, and perfect! I was told this was the most popular of the antipasti and I could see why. These were some fabulous balls! 

A pasta dish called Trofie al Prosciutto "San Daniele" ($21.95), was simple, yet rich with truffle oil, and nice. It was definitely a Springtime pasta dish, with some nice green from some peas. I would have actually liked some more prosciutto in the dish, but it was a fine preparation I devoured quickly.

A special halibut dish ($24.50) with chanterelle mushrooms, ramps, and sunchokes, was a really good fish dish. Another perfect Spring dish, the fish was perfectly cooked, and I loved all the vegetable components. Nice job.

Crispo is definitely an Italian restaurant I'd call a good "go-to" spot, meaning you can't go wrong with this place. The food is solid. It's not mind-blowing, but definitely a fine option on 14th street. Just make sure your voice is well rested.

Crispo
240 W. 14th St. (bet. 7th and 8th ave)
New York, NY 10011
212-229-1818

www.crisporestaurant.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: WEST 3RD COMMON

The gastropub. A bar that has a strong focus on the food as well as the drinks. I'm thinking about The Spotted Pig and Spitzer's Corner, to name a couple. And now, I am also thinking of West 3rd Common. This is a spot in NOHO I had never even heard of, until I was lucky enough to get invited to a meal here this past week. This is a spot that is under the radar in my opinion, but the food here is quite tasty and good.

Duck sliders ($10) with kimchi and sweet hoisen were wonderful. I loved the balance of the sweetness of the hoisen and the spiciness of the kimchi. The kimchi added nice texture too.

Crawfish Monica ($9), a classic New Orleans staple with crawfish in a spicy cream sauce tossed with rotini was something I have never experienced, and I am glad I did. My dining companion and I could not stop eating this dish! The cream sauce had just the right amount of kick to it and was extremely addictive. I craved bread to soak up the sauce, but was glad there was none, for I didn't want to put too many calories on!

The Common Burger ($11) with cheddar, tomato, arugula, and sautéed onions, and herbed aioli, served with garlic french fries (I added bacon too for $1-was on a diet) was excellent. The burgers here are steamed, which creates a nice crust on the outside and lovely juiciness on the inside; it was devoured within minutes!

There is a good rendition of Spicy Fried Chicken ($16) with cheddar and smoked gouda mac and cheese and mustard slaw too. The skin had a nice flavor, and the meat of the chicken was juicy and tender.

So, if you are craving a bar with great food, West 3rd Common is the spot that hits the spot! PS. Look out for their new Spring additions April 22nd, with such dishes as catfish ceviche and kim chi tamales. Yummo!

West 3rd Common
1 West 3rd Street (and Broadway)
New York, NY 10012
212-529-2059

www.west3rdcommon.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: MA PECHE

Today for lunch my younger sister and I stopped into the brand new Ma Peche, David Chang's first venture above 14th Street. My all-round favorite restaurant in NYC is probably Momofuku Ssam, and I am truly in love with the Momofuku empire. So, when I found out there would be a branch in the Chambers Hotel on 56th Street, 10 blocks from my apartment, saying I was excited would be an understatement. 

The cuisine here is Vietnamese fusion and is a collaboration with executive chef Tien Ho. The space is simple, yet modern and alluring. You walk downstairs into a large room with extremely high ceilings, and a unique and prevalent X-shaped communal table. 

Being it is their first week, the place was overstaffed and the service was a bit overbearing (a busser tried to take my sister's plate while she was still eating a mussel on it, etc), but it's ok, for it takes time to get into the flow when you first open up. I'm sure after a few weeks it will be like a "fine-tuned machine". But, I will say that although I love being at restaurants when they first open, hovering staff can make a diner nervous at times, and I prefer less intrusiveness.

Of course, my main concern when I eat is the food. I will tell you that I had pre-conceived notions of the food here, assuming it was going to be mind-blowing, for it is coming from the mind-blowing Davig Chang pedigree. 

We started with a wonderful bò tartare ($16); beef tartare, scallions, mint, and shrimp chips. Both my sister and I loved this dish. Putting the tartare on the shrimp chips gave it a great crunch. It was fine start to the lunch.

Moules bouchot au bia ($14);– mussels, crab paste, and beer was just okay. My sister thought it was just "eh" and was not impressed. I thought the flavor was unique, especially the addition of beer, but I must say it was an underwhelming dish. It wasn't bad, just didn't really do anything for us. Soaking up the broth with some nice ciabatta bread was nice, but these mussels were a bore.

Our final dish was bun du riz ($18) – rice noodles, spicy pork, and sawleaf herb. After my first bites I was not impressed, but then taking the advice of my sister, and using a spoon to get all the elements in one bite, the dish evolved into greatness. It was addictive, flavorful, tasty, and had nice texture. This was the kind of dish that is signature to David Chang. In fact, it reminded me a lot of one of my favorite dishes at Momofuku Ssam; the spicy pork sausage and rices cakes with chinese broccoli and shallots. It was very similar, and probably could have used just a touch more kick. But it was a fine dish.

Ma Peche is a baby I am happy for Midtowners to raise. I am excited for people who live and work in Midtown to experience the great cooking from the David Chang empire. Once this restaurant gets it stride, it will definitely be a force to reckon with. There is no other place like it in Midtown.

Ma Peche
15 W. 56th St. (bet. 5th and 6th in the Chambers Hotel)
New York, NY 10019

www.momofuku.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: MENCHANKO TEI

If you are craving noodle soups in Midtown, check out Menchanko Tei (two locations). I've been to this spot a bunch of times, including last week, and it will satisfy your craving. I wouldn't call the dishes mind-blowing, but the dishes will definitely please you. Start with an appetizer of stir fried eggplant with minced meat ($5), and then order any of their noodle soups, for a soothing, delicious experience.

Mechenko Tei
43 W. 55th St (bet. 5th and 6th)
New York, NY 10019
212-247-1585

131 E. 45th St. (bet. Lex and 3rd)
New York, NY 10017
212-986-6805
www.menchankotei.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: ROBERTA'S

Last weekend I stopped by Roberta's in Bushwick, Brooklyn for a quick bite. The space exudes Brooklyn hipness, with it's wooden, old school decor, or what my sister calls "trendy cabin". It's definitely a cool place to dine in. They have a nice outdoor space too, (with an outdoor fireplace,) which I'm sure is popular when the weather is warm.

The food is pretty good too. 

A special of tuna belly was simple and fishy, but good.

Hen of the Woods mushrooms ($11) with thyme, olive oil, and sea salt, was also simple, and tasty. The mushrooms were great, although the dish was a tad boring. Then again, it was just a plate of mushrooms, what else would you expect?

A Treviso salad ($10) of wilted radicchio, blue cheese, and pear, was excellent and delicious!

Veal Sweetbreads ($13) with Benton's mayo and Meyer lemon was mind-blowing and probably the best I have ever had. They were lightly fried and practically melted in my mouth. Amazing.

A wood-oven pizza ($13) topped with egg and guanciale was a fine pie, but I've had better.

A large calzone ($16) with artichoke, mushrooms, pesto, and ricotta was puffy and fine. I would have liked some more cheese in it though.

A shaker lemon pie was a bore and nothing special. I did enjoy the homemade whipped cream though.

So for some decent Italian bites in cool Brooklyn environs, Roberta's hits the spot. Order the sweetbreads and be hip.

Roberta's
261 Moore St.
Brooklyn, NY 11206
718-417-1118

www.robertaspizza.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: CASCABEL

There is a Mexican gem on the Upper East Side of NYC, and that gem is Cascabel. I had read great things about this spot, and finally checked it out Saturday afternoon. In fact, I think everyone should check it out. It's not a huge space, but the food is worthy of a trip.

Start with one of their agua frescas (homeade sodas). I had the lime, which was refreshing, great, and absolutely perfect for a hot Spring day.

Their taco special for brunch of Carnitas De Puerquito ($12) was excellent! Slow roasted suckling pig with cumin spiced guajillo chili puree, black radish, red jalapeno, shallots, and cilantro roasted tomatillo salsa had amazing flavor and texture. These were truly fabulous tacos!

The Elote Asado, grilled corn, mexican aioli, lime, cascabel chili, queso cotija, was mind-blowing! This was probably the best corn I have ever eaten! Amazing. It lingered through my mind all weekend, I could not stop thinking about it. You must go to Cascabel and try this corn asap, trust me!

So for fabulous Mexican on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Cascabel is a gem that you must check out. Go for the tacos, stay for that corn!

Cascabel
1542 2nd Avenue (bet. 80th and 81st)
New York, NY 10028
212-717-7800

www.nyctacos.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: LUCALI

Ladies and gentleman, Saturday night I had one of the best pizza pies in all of NYC at Lucali, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Lucali just serves large pizza pies ($24 for a plain pie) and two sizes of calzones, in their small (10 tables), but rustic and romantic space, but it is a place I recommend all pizza lovers check out. 

My good foodie friend who has been raving about this place brought me here and we ordered our pie half with artichoke and garlic, the other half with mushrooms and shallots. We also got a small calzone. 

The pizza was absolutely perfect. With amazingly fresh ingredients, and deliciously crispy crust, I could not think of a better pizza pie I have eaten. The freshness of the artichokes still lingers in my mind.

The calzone ($10) was also excellent. With fresh and delicate ricotta, each bite was an oasis of love in my mouth.

I will say that greatness does not come cheap. A plain pie at Lucali costs $24, toppings extra. Our total bill before tip was $43 which does seem a lot just for pizza. But, I will also say, that this isn't just your ordinary pizza and calzone. This is the freshest and best you might ever have. The moon hit my eye that night. 

Lucali
575 Henry St. (at Carroll St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11231

718-858-4086

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: SORELLA

I have written about Sorella before, and it has become one of my favorite NYC restaurants. My fam and I dined there last week, before my 30th Birthday soiree, and it was again, outstanding! If you have not been to Sorella yet, go asap, because it is a wonderful and amazing restaurant!

I love this place so much that it makes me want to write a poem, so without further ado, here was our meal..in a poem.

"Sorella With The Beckermans", March 2nd, 2010.

Ah, breadsticks you are so addictive
My father can't stop eating you, as I predicted
Pate de Fegato, oh how you tease me
With fried egg and candied bacon, oh how you please me

Wow, all this cheese and meat, I feel greedy
Some perfect Arugula salad will surely feed me
And a splendid Hearst Ranch Beef Carne Cruda, what the heck!
Ah, and one more piece of this mouth-watering Speck!

Crispy Veal Sweetbreads with quince bacon marmalade
An amazing snack, if I keep eating you, I shall never get laid
Save me Ligurian anchovies with salsa verde, lemon butter, and hazelnuts, enough said.
Your simplicity and perfect flavor will let me dream well on your crispy flatbread

Let us end with the best gelatos I have ever had, yea all seven
These are so amazing, I feel like I'm in heaven!
But, wait, there's more! Bomboloni filled with Meyer Lemon Creme, oh how flirty!

There is no better place I'd rather be, with fantastic food, for turning thirty.

Sorella
95 Allen St. (bet. Broome and Delancey)
New York, NY 10002
212-274-9595
www.sorellanyc.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: MOMOFUKU SSAM

I get asked often what my favorite restaurant is, and too be honest, I love many NYC restaurants. But, I always do answer Momofuku Ssam for a variety of reasons. I love it's casual and hip atmosphere, and I love how each dish has great flavor and texture. The Momofuku Empire gets a lot of hype, and mostly deserved, and I do think it is an all-round fantastic restaurant! 

I had't been to Ssam Bar in a while, so late Friday night I thought it was time to pay it a visit to see if it was still worthy of being my favorite. I now have many favorites and am not sure I can name just one, I will tell you, the food at Momofuku Ssam Bar is still excellent! 

An appetizer of Long Island Fluke ($15) with tiger's milk, fennel, and nori, was delicious and wonderful!

Crispy's Pig's Head ($21) with sauerkraut and pear mostarda, had great flavor combinations and textures, and was a good dish.

I wasn't going to order dessert, but was glad I did. The Grapefruit Cream Pie ($7) with Ritz cracker crust and black sesame was surprisingly great!

So for great food, with great flavors and textures, in a fun, and cool atmosphere, Momofuku Ssam Bar should not be missed. It's one of New York City's best restaurants.

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave (at 13th St.)
New York, NY 10003
www.momofuku.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: BILL'S BAR AND BURGER

I have been to Bill's Bar and Burger a few times now, Steve Hanson's new burger spot in the Meatpacking district, and will tell you that it has some of the best burgers in town. My favorite burger there is the Fatcat, which comes with caramelized onion, and American cheese on an English muffin served with lettuce, tomato and pickles on the side. For $6.95 it is also an amazing bang for your buck! Order a side of Disco fries ($4.50), French fries smothered with gravy and melted cheese, and you are good for the night!

Bill's Bar and Burger
22 9th Avenue (at 13th St.)
New York, NY 10014
212-414-3003
www.brguestrestaurants.com