TABLE FOR ONE: CERCLE ROUGE

I have walked by Cercle Rouge so many times, a French bistro in Tribeca, without walking in, but always being curious. Well, last week, I stopped in with one thing on my mind: the chicken wings. I know a foodie friend that raved about them, so I needed to check them out.

The space is much larger than I expected, and has the perfect bistro feel. But you will forget about the space after you take one bite of the Cercle Rouge house special wings ($10). These are the best "buffalo" style chicken wings in NYC! It is an upscale version of wings, and the flavor and texture is beautiful. The accompanying blue cheese is perfect, and the shredded celery is a very nice French touch. I love these wings, and cannot stop thinking about them! A side of fries was just fine, but those wings are unbelievable!

So head down to Tribeca for the city's best upscale "buffalo" style chicken wings. Wings this good should be illegal.

Cercle Rouge
241 W. Broadway (bet. Beach and White)
New York, NY 10013
212-226-6252
www.cerclerougeresto.com

TABLE FOR ONE: GRAMERCY TAVERN

Gramercy Tavern, one of Danny Meyer's restaurants, and one of the most popular restaurants in NYC, is a spot I had never been to, until last week. Why is the place so popular? Is it the food? Is it the service? Is it the space? Is it all hype? It is not all hype. It is the food, the service, and the space. Gramercy Tavern is the perfect restaurant.

You can either dine in the more casual tavern area up front, with an absolutely gorgeous mural along the wall, or you can dine in the expansive and very nice dining room. Both rooms have different menus. I took a seat in the tavern and had a three course tasting menu for $35, and amazing service that had me smiling throughout. This was an amazing deal!

To celebrate my first time at this fabulous restaurant I started with a cocktail called the Mezcaliente, Jalapeño-Infused Tequila, Sombra Mezcal, Lime, and Cucumbers. Refreshing, welcoming, and perfect. Just like the restaurant.

An amuse bouche of three different bites was truly splendid, and awakened my taste buds.

A warm salad over lentils was absolutely mind-blowing. I thought to myself that it was the best salad I had ever had. Fresh, warm, colorful, tasty, and beautiful. It was a work of art on my taste buds, any museum would be jealous.

A crispy, tender, and juicy poussin (young chicken) was delicious. I rarely eat poussin, but this was a really nice dish.

I ended my meal with the chocolate pudding with salted caramel and brioche croutons. The best pudding I had ever had, the name "Jello" disappeared from my vocabulary forever (until just now). The brioche croutons were wonderful and ingenious.

So, if you crave perfection, Gramercy Tavern is the perfect place to dine at. Go now, or go later, I can promise you that good things come to those who wait, but the sooner the better.

Gramercy Tavern
42 East 20th St. (bet. Broadway and Park Ave. South)
New York, NY 10003
212-477-0777
www.gramercytavern.com

TABLE FOR ONE: MADANGSUI

Korea Town in NYC, 32nd street between 5th and 6th avenues, has some really good Korean spots. But, when I'm craving Korean food, my top spot is now on 35th street between 5th and 6th; Madangsui.

I first heard about Madangsui, from Frank Bruni's one-star rave in the New York Times last year, and it was a well deserved great review. The place is great! I've had many dishes there, and last week, I was once again, overly satisfied.

I love dining at Korean restaurants because they send out all those little appetizing snacks (usually some sort of pickled veggies and kimchi) before your dishes come. The ones at Madangsui are the freshest and best I've had!

All these delicious freebies could amount to a whole meal if you wanted it to! On my most recent visit though, I ordered a soup with vegetables ($10.99) which was flavorful, soothing, and great!

So for New York City's best Korean food check out Madangsui on 35th street. Korean executed perfectly.

Madangsui
35 W. 35th Street (bet. 5th and 6th)
New York, NY 10001
212-564-9333

www.madangsui.com

TABLE FOR ONE: RHONG TIAM

I love Thai food. I can crave it any moment in time. But, when I crave it late at night, there are few, if any options unfortunately. Well, a little angel has come into my culinary land, and that angel is Andy Yang, whose Rhong Tiam, in the East Village, is open til 4am on weekends, and 2am weeknights. You are a savior!

I had been to this spot before, when it was called "Kurve" (there used to be a Rhong Tiam in the West Village that was great, but has since closed too), and had a nice, flavorful meal. The food here is still good. The space is also one of the most futuristic looking spots you will dine in, in NYC.

A starter of Southeast style Buffalo wings ($5) was flavorful and tasty, and gave my stomach the late night satisfaction it craved.

Black Pepper Beef ($12) with fresh ground black pepper, scallions, and onions, was also flavorful and nice. My taste buds and stomach both congratulated me on a job well done.

I now thank God and Buddha on a nightly basis for granting me this dream come true, of a late night Thai destination in NYC. Dreams do come true friends. Late night Thai delicacies await you at Rhong Tiam. Thank God.

Rhong Tiam 
87 2nd Avenue (and 5th Street)
New York, NY 10003
212-260-8018

www.rhong-tiam.com

TABLE FOR ONE: CHAR NO. 4

I'm trying to venture to Brooklyn more, for there are some great food and dining destinations across the bridge. One such spot is Char No. 4, a place to get your meat and bourbon on. 

Char No. 4 is a whiskey bar and restaurant inspired by a passion for bourbon. It features over 150 American whiskeys and serves a menu of American fare with a Southern influence. 

I haven't been drinking much as of late, but felt obligated at this restaurant, so I started with a nice and smooth Ridgemont Reserve 1792 bourbon ($5 an ounce).

Smoked & fried pork nuggets with Char No. 4 hot sauce ($4) were tasty and great. I giggled to myself a bit, for I thought I was doing something bad popping these little nuggets of joy into my mouth. A devilishly good snack!

House cured lamb pastrami with coriander aioli, pickled onions & rye-caraway toast ($12) was fabulous! This ain't your deli pastrami folks. In fact, this is some of the best pastrami I had ever had. Delicate and flavorful. True meat perfection.

Of course, I'm trying to stay fit and look good, so I also ordered the House smoked spare ribs with a side of bacon-jalapeño cornbread & baked beans ($22). These were some succulent and delicious ribs. I wouldn't say they were mind-blowing, but they paired well with a nice rye, and I was a fan of the housemade bbq sauce. I did think the beans were the best I've had. Actually, I rarely eat beans, but these made me change my heart. Delicious! The bacon-jalapeño cornbread was ingenious and great too!

So, cross that bridge and get your meat and drink on at Char No. 4. You'll have a devilishly good time!

Char No. 4
196 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 643-2106
www.charno4.com

TABLE FOR ONE: ALDEA

Portuguese cuisine is not too popular in NYC. Portuguese fusion cuisine might not exist at all, if it weren't for chef George Mendes and his amazing, sleek restaurant, Aldea. 

I had been to Aldea a while ago, after it first opened, and had a great meal, but did not have my camera with me. (Also, at that first experience at Aldea, Frank Bruni, the former food critic for the NY Times was sitting at a table behind me, and he gave it two enthusiastic stars.) So, this past Friday, I stopped in for a bite, with my Canon PowerShot in tow, and not only was I satisfied with George's great fare, I was ecstatic about it!

A "small bite" of sea urchin toast ($9), with cauliflower cream, sea lettuce, and lime was mind-blowing. What I like to call "the perfect bite", the flavor and texture worked so harmoniously well together, it was a truly inspired and fabulous start.

Creekston Farm's Hanger Steak ($27), with smoked yucca fries, caramelized lychee puree, 

piri-piri pepper, was great! The steak was perfectly cooked and delicious. The flavor combination was both unique and wonderful. The yucca fries were amazing! Definitely the best yucca fries I had ever eaten, and some of the best fries in all of NYC!

One of my favorite dishes in NYC is George's Arroz De Pato ($24), duck confit, chorizo, olive, and duck cracklings. This takes paella to another level, and is the best meat and rice dish out there! The saltiness and flavor of the duck is addictively good. I dream one day of everyone having the opportunity to try this dish, oh, and also for World Peace.

A dessert of Dark Chocolate/Espresso ($10) with vanilla-poached mango, and cardamom ice cream was wonderful! I couldn't think of a better way to end an amazing meal. The touch of tiny homemade rice crispy balls placed on some mango was ingenious too. Also, three petit fours were splendid!

So, for one of NYC's best restaurants, Aldea delivers. It is sleek and modern, has perfectly executed Portuguese fusion cuisine, and is all-round wonderful! Take a trip to 17th Street and say Olå to Aldea.

Aldea
31 West 17th Street (bet. 5th and 6th)
New York, NY 10011 
212-675-2223
www.aldearestaurant.com

TABLE FOR ONE: BOKA/BONCHON CHICKEN

When I think of fried chicken, I get all giddy, start jumping in the air, dance around, and sing show tunes. I love me some fried chicken, and my favorite type of fried chicken is Korean fried chicken. The best place in NYC for this is at Mad For Chicken on 32nd and 5th Avenue, the start of "Koreatown". Mad For Chicken used to be called BonChon Chicken, a popular Korean fried chicken chain in NYC. So, when I was in the East Village last weekend, craving some fried chicken, I stopped into Boka, a Korean restaurant on St. Marks, that serves BonChon chicken.

The chicken here is excellent! Perfectly crisp skin, juicy and tender meat, and the soy garlic flavor I ordered was delicious. I love this chicken! I will say the waiter was a tad bias/racist because I was caucasian, and assumed I would not enjoy the pickled radish that is complimentary with each fried chicken order, and did not bring it right away with my order, until he asked me if I wanted it. Of course I did! (Management needs to tell the waiters, who are very nice, not to assume things base on color or race.) 

A side of skewered meats, kalbi and bacon, were fine and tasty, but it really is all about the BonChon chicken here!

So for some fantastic Korean fried chicken on St. Marks, Boka/BonChon Chicken hits the spot. Get your crunch on!

Boka/BonChon Chicken
9 Saint Marks Place (bet. 3rd and 2nd)
New York, NY 10003
212-228-2887

www.bokanyc.com

TABLE FOR ONE: KENMARE

Solo dining in a scene of hot and cool people. In the space that once housed the ill-fated Civetta, is now the cool Kenmare, owned by nightlife veterans Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny. The chef, Joey Campanaro, from one of my favorite NYC restaurants, The Little Owl, is behind the stoves. In fact, the menu is a reflection of The Little Owl, just in more "sceney" digs.

I must admit, I had to namedrop to get a table at 8pm on a Thursday, but that is fine. A broccoli beer soup ($8) with English cheddar and bacon croutons was a fine starter I slurped up quickly. Another starter of the risotto of the day ($12), with black truffle and an egg, was decadent, yet not overly so. I did crave some more truffle, but it suited me just fine. 

This was just a quick taste of cool. I need to come back and try some more goodies. I know I am cool enough. 

Kenmare
98 Kenmare St. (bet. Mulberry and Centre)
New York, NY 10012
212-274-9898

TABLE FOR ONE: MARA'S HOMEMEADE

Cajun cuisine in NYC is not too popular. There are just a handful of restaurants that serve this fare. Well, last night, after consuming that artichoke and spinach slice of pizza from Artichoke Pizza, I decided I needed more to eat, (that's the type of diet the NYC FOODIE follows) so I stopped into Mara's Homemade, a Cajun/Southern restaurant, my younger sister and her boyfriend had raved about.

This kitschy little spot on East 6th street stands out for a bunch of reasons. For one, East 6th street is "Little India" here in NYC, and this joint surely ain't Indian! Secondly, the food here (at least what I tried) is really good, and they do wonders for one of the most underutilized (not including New Orleans) species in food, the crawfish.

I started with a dozen Gulf oysters for $6. Not only were these oysters fresh and great, but for what comes out to 50 cents an oyster is just an amazing bang for your buck! Slurping and smiling makes the NYC FOODIE very happy! Also, a sweet, freshly squeezed lemonade was a nice chaser for these tasty mollusks.

My pleasant waitress recommended those oysters and the lemonade, as well as the crawfish stuffed bread ($16), a homemade crawfish tail and cheese stuffing, baked in a hollowed out French baguette, crisp and gooey. This is the only way to diet friends. My first reaction to this dish was, as in the words of Emril Lagasse, "BAM!". Wow, this dish was amazing. The flavor was both powerful and delicious at the same time. A beautiful kick of spiciness, a touch of sweetness, and a truly wonderful Cajun experience!

So, for those times when you crave some Cajun fixins, Mara's Homemade is the perfect spot. Get whisked away to New Orleans in "Little India", in the East Village of NYC, have some crawfish, a drink, and smile. 

Mara's Homemade
342 E. 6th Street (bet. 1st and 2nd)
New York, NY 10003
212-598-1110
www.marashomemade.com

TABLE FOR ONE: ARDESIA

Last night I stopped by Ardesia, a wine bar in Hells Kitchen that has gotten great reviews, especially noting it's good food. It's a pleasant space for consuming wine, with a living room-like area in back, and a beautiful marble bar, with a two-story wine rack behind that. I don't care about drinking much anymore though, food is the only thing on my mind of late. 

Homemade NY style pretzels ($6) came with Dijon mustard and a Gruyere cheese sauce. I rarely, if ever, have homemade pretzels, these were fine, and a nice change of pace. I especially enjoyed the mustard which was homemade too.

One of the bartenders, who was extremely nice, strongly recommended the duck banh mi ($14), saying if I liked duck I would love it. It came with house cured duck, spicy duck pate, sriracha aioli, and pickled vegetables. Unfortunately though, the duck flavor was lacking, and the sandwich was more pate, than duck, and didn't do it for me. It was more of a pate sandwich, which would have been ok, for the bread was nice too, but I missed that duck flavor dearly. Also, the entire time consuming this pate sandwich I could not help but think about the great banh mi sandwiches in Chinatown that cost 4 or 5 dollars.

I ended with a ice cream sandwich ($5) with hazelnut ice cream in between homemade chocolate cake. Lets just say you usually don't come to a wine bar for dessert. I did consume every last bite of this ice cream sandwich, but I would never order it again.

I would definitely come back to Ardesia for some wine and to try some more of their menu. I wasn't totally impressed with the food, but I'm sure after a few glasses of wine, culinary bliss can occur here, or anywhere really.

Ardesia
510 W. 52nd Street (bet. 10th and 11th ave.)
New York, NY 10019
212-247-9191

www.ardesia-ny.com