NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: GEISHA TABLE

The Upper West Side has a new joint for great sushi, and that joint is Geisha Table, the annex to the new Serafina on 77th and Broadway. A tasting there last month had me excited for having this spot as one of my neighbors. If you are smart you will let Executive Chef Richard Lee and Master Sushi Chef Don Pham dictate an omakase for you, like I did, and you will be happy, satisfied, and ecstatic, at what is put in front of you. Sushi has never been so fun!

A magical sushi adventure awaits!

Geisha Table
2178 Broadway (entrance on 77th St.)
New York, NY 10024
212-595-0092

www.geishatable.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: PERLA

One of my favorite restaurants to open up this year is Perla, the West Village Italian restaurant in the old Bellavitae space on Minetta Lane. Perla comes to us from the team behind Fedora, Joseph Leonard, and Jeffrey's Grocery, and just like those spots, it is fun, festive, casual, and awesome. This is their Italian baby, and I absolutely love everything about this joint. Chef Michael Toscano's (Manzo) food is top notch, and I've enjoyed everything! 

Lobster ($19) with caviar, robiolina, and leek vinaigrette is superb and beautiful.

Garganelli ($12) with tripe, guanicale, tomato, and chili is addictively fabulous. I wanted more and more of this dish, with each bite. I was in pasta heaven. Perfection.

Raven and Boar whey fed pig ($14), is silky and delicious.

Braised octopus with oven dried tomatoes, eggplant, and fettunta is mind-blowing. One of the best octopus dishes I've had. What took this too another level, besides the perfectly cooked octopus, was the sweetness of those fresh tomatoes. I loved this dish!

I don't eat too much guinea hen, but the guinea hen ($28) at Perla is great. Served with black trumpet mushrooms, brussels sprouts, and foie gras sugo, it's a more grown up gamier chicken, and a pleasure to consume.

Tortelli ($12) with beet, ricotta, and parmigiano regianno is another splendid pasta dish.

End with any of Perla's simple desserts, and you too will see why Perla is one of the best restaurants to open in 2012. A magical meal awaits.

Perla
24 Minetta Lane (bet. 6th Ave and Minetta St.)
New York, NY 10012
212-933-1824
www.perlanyc.com 

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: 15 EAST

As the NYC Foodie, Foodie Magician, my signature trick is guessing people's favorite restaurants. Last month, while entertaining chefs, busboys, waiters, and managers, in the kitchen of the amazing 4-star Daniel restaurant, I had the honor of guessing Chef Daniel Boulud's favorite restaurant. It was 15 East, a Japanese restaurant I had never been to, but after this feat of mind-reading, I knew I was destined to go. Cut to three weeks later, where I found myself dining on sublime sushi at the bar of 15 East. I could see why someone, including an acclaimed superstar chef would love this place. It is sensational and awesome. 

We started with a slow-poached octopus ($15), that was so exquisite and tender, it practically melted in my mouth. And then we let Chef Masato Shimizu orchestrate his omakase ($55 for 10 pieces) of unbelievable pieces of sushi. This is one of NYC's best sushi joints.

15 East
15 East 15th St. (bet. 5th ave and Union Sq. West)
New York, NY 10003
212-647-0015
www.15eastrestaurant.co

NYC QUICK BITE: PARM

Have you been to Parm yet? The sister restaurant to Torrisi Italian Specialties, right next door? You should. It is amazing. It's my favorite lunch joint this year. EVERY dish is absolutely wonderful. From the Best turkey sandwich in the world, an out of this world Chicken Parm, a fantastic sausage and peppers, a titilating eggplant parm, a superb meatball parm, the best mozzarella sticks in the world, sensational baked clams, and orgasmic homemade mozzarella, Parm kicks ass. And then some. Period. Oh, and house made ice cream cake? Yes, please.

Parm
248 Mulberry St. (bet. Prince and Spring)
New York, NY 10012
212-993-7189
www.parmnyc.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: IL BUCO ALIMENTARI & VINERIA

The great NoHo Italian joint il Buco recently opened up a sister spot around the corner called il Buco Alimentari & Vineria,"a market salumeria, bakery and enoteca and restaurant, inspired by simple authentic food that's made with an uncompromising ethic, and the joy of sharing it with friends." This is another great spot to grab some wine and delicious Italian bites. 

Crispy artichokes ($12) get a nice kick from preserved lemon. 

A salad of wintergreens ($14) with anchovy dressing and breadcrumbs, was refreshing, and had a nice crunch.

Crostini with ricotta, grapes, and a drizzle of honey, was splendid.

Calamari A La Plancha ($14), seared local squid, fingerlings, pickled onion, and salame rosa, was perfectly cooked and fabulous.

A pasta dish with broccoli rabe and sausage was tasty and fine, as was the gelato.

Italian wine and bites sounds like the perfect night to me.

il Buco Alimentari & Vineria
53 Great Jones St. (bet. Lafayette and Bowery)
New York, NY 10012
212-837-2622
www.ilbucovineria.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: KUTSHER'S TRIBECA

Modern Jewish American Bistro. I never thought I'd ever speak or write those words. But, this does exist. Down in the hip and trendy Tribeca. An offshoot of the popular Catskills resort, Kutsher's Tribeca is bringing modern Jew food to the masses. And after a meal there last month, I'm here to tell you it's pretty darn good. From some of the best latka's in town, to fabulous smoked salmon, and a solid Matzo ball soup, Kutsher's surely does satisfy. End your meal with a black and white cookie ice cram sandwich, and you'll be complete. Nana would be proud.

Kutsher's Tribeca
186 Franklin St. (bet. Greenwich and Hudson)
New York, NY 10013
212-431-0606
www.kutsherstribeca.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: BARRIO 47

A new gem of a restaurant opened up late last year, that has been under the radar, and I think everyone should know about it. The restaurant is Barrio 47, in the West Village, bordering the Meatpacking district, in what used to be Pasita. 

Much of the menu utilizes a wood-fire oven, and pairs with classic and specialty cocktails. Every dish I ate last month was excellent, and I was surprised how much I loved the food here. Chef Miguel Rosado, and owners Alex and Roman Volland definitely know what they are doing. Drop in for a drink and a bite to see for yourself. 

Try any of their Cocas ($12) (flatbreads that are a specialty from Majorca). The ones I tried were delicious.

Marble charred Portuguese octopus ($13), with a trio bean ceviche, is excellent. Perfectly cooked, a great char.

Handmade potato gnocchi ($14) with chanterelles, brussels sprouts, pancetta, and parmesan, is sublime. I loved this dish. It was like "butta".

Caramelized scallops ($15), with tri-color cauliflower terrine is also superb. That terrine was so addictive and amazing, it blew my mind.

Also fabulous are the Mayan Shrimp ($26). Served with an awesome saffron rock shrimp rice, this dish was tasty as heck. Perfection.

So grab a drink and a bite at Barrio 47. Sounds like a great night to me.

Barrio 47
47 8th Avenue (bet. Jane and Horatio)
New York, NY 10014
212-255-3900

www.barrio47.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: EMILIO'S BALLATO

Solid Italian fare is delivered at the downtown favorite Emilio's Ballato. This Italian spot, recently written about in the NY Times, is a pleasant joint on Houston Street to devour old school, classic, Italian dishes. From delicious broccoli rabe and Caprese, to tagliatelle alla bolognese and veal milanese, all the dishes here are really good, without being mind-blowing. Take a date, have some wine, and have some solid Italian grub.

Emilio's Ballato
55 E. Houston St. (and Mott St.)
New York, NY 10003
212-274-8881

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: DEL POSTO

Four Star Italian awaits you at Del Posto, Mario Batali, Joe and Lidia Bastianich's temple of Italian cuisine. Del Posto is the only 4-Star rated NY Times Italian restaurant. The space is sprawling and beautiful. The service is superb, yet stiff. When I dine out my goal is to make everyone around me smile and laugh, (that is my goal in life everywhere) it took me a lot of energy to break the staff at Del Posto. Don't take this stuff so seriously people, it's just food!

That being said, the food at Del Posto, helmed by Executive Chef Mark Ladner, is quite wonderful!

The three amuses brought to our table were extraordinary. True bites of joy. I would just come here for some wine and these babies any day.

Fried calamari with spicy capers was tasty as can be. It had a unique tang to it, although it wasn't mind-blowing.

Insalata Primavera della Terra, with Sheep's Milk Ricotta Dressing, is a work of art and delicious. Superb.

Carne Cruda, with Truffled Salsa, Parmigiano-Reggiano & Wild Watercress, is the best beef tartar I've ever had. Out of this world. Everything is better with truffle!

Ricotta Pansoti, with Green and White Asparagus & Black Truffle Butter is orgasmic. Seriously, I moaned after my first bite. Unbelievable.

Garganelli Verdi al Ragu Bolognese, is a Del Posto classic and great. Perfect texture, perfect flavor.

Young Lamb alla Romana, with Garlic Yogurt and Ceci & Swiss Chard Ragu, is succulent and interesting. This flavor combination was unique to me. You really need to be a fan of swiss chard. I didn't love this dish, but the lamb was perfectly cooked.

Desserts at Del Posto by Chef Brooks Headley are unique, ingenious, playful, and awesome.

Sfera di Caprino, Celery & Fig Agrodolce & Celery Sorbetto, is absolutely ingenious. That's right, you read that correctly- celery sorbet. I loved this dish! Fantastic.

Tartufo al Caffe, Dark Chocolate, Sant’Eustachio Coffee, & Candied Lemon, is a chocolate lover's fantasy come to life. Wonderful.

We were also brought some sort of chocolate tree which was fun and a true treat to eat after a fantastic meal.

As their website states, "Del Posto can best be described as trans-generational: an expression of the evolution of cuisines, menus, service and ambiance that have characterized the history of the Italian dining experience in this country." It's truly a fantastic restaurant. I just wish the staff smiled more. Have fun!

Del Posto
85 Tenth Ave (and 16th St.)
New York, NY 10011
212-497-8090

www.delposto.com

NYC FOODIE QUICK BITE: WASAN

Have you heard of Wasan? It's a quaint little Japanese restaurant in the East Village on East 4th Street, between 2nd and 1st Avenue. It's also wonderful and amazing, and a restaurant you should know about. It's a gem, a treasure, serving fabulous and unique Japanese fare, and you should dine here soon.

I went a few weeks ago with my family and was blown away with the perfectly executed dishes. Every dish we had was fabulous. From foie gras sushi, to shrimp buns, my taste buds were in complete happiness. Any dish offered with eel at Wasan is extraordinary, same with any dish that utilizes sea urchin.

For all you shrimp tempura fans, you need to order the dish at Wasan. It comes in two styles; "traditional" and with a "tortilla crust". That's right, coated with tortilla chips. Both are amazing, and the best you'll ever have.

Short rib will melt in your mouth, as will sashimi.

At the end of your meal at Wasan you will receive a smoked tea, that is unique, delicious, fascinating, and downright amazing, just like Wasan. So next time you are hungry, and looking to go out for dinner, head to Wasan. It's one of the best Japanese restaurants in NYC.

Wasan
108 E. 4th St. (bet. 2nd and 1st)
New York, NY 10003
212-777-1978
www.wasan-ny.com