L'Artusi - West Village NYC

Multi-leveled West Village Italian hot spot with staying power, L'Artusi is locally sourced, thoughtfully composed and consistently excellent.   There is a sleek comfortable marble counter that looks into the kitchen, and is a great place to be entertained while eating incredible food.  Not your average Italian, there are lots of vegetarian options as well as excellent, innovative crudos and many lighter dishes.  The pastas do, however, shine- both classics like Orecchiette with sausage or modern twists like gnocchi with rabbit cacciatore. 

Address:  228 West 10^th St, New York, NY

Website: www.lartusi.com

O Ya - Murray Hill, NYC

The best discovery at O Ya was that I found
my long lost sushi hero, Don from the now
defunct Geisha Table. It was a teary
reunion. Man does he have a
way with fish!!!

Sublime sushi tucked away inside the park south hotel in Murray hill. Two menu choices, either an 18 or 24 course tasting menu beginning with sushi (rather than sashimi -as it typically is done) and ending with some unbelievably delicious composed plates. Each bite is complex and precise. Up there as perhaps the best sushi, maybe even food, that I've ever experienced. This is still new- once people figure this one out, you won't be able to get a seat.  Click on to see some of the best of the 24 courses.

Website: O-Ya.Restaurant/o-ya-nyc/
Address: 122 East 28th, New York, NY 

All'onda - Union Square, NYC

View from the street.

My favorite restauranteur in NYC is Michael White. He does Italian food incredibly well-and I love his seafood preparations. The chef at All'onda cooked with Michael White and there are a lot of similarities with his menu and the menu at Marea or Ai Fiori. Anyway, I also am obsessed with sea urchin recently and read about a specific sea urchin pasta that I needed to try. I ventured to this union Square hot spot and was not disappointed.

Website: Allondanyc.com
Address: 22 East 13th Street, New York, NY

The Clam - West Village, NYC

This was my second time at this quaint west village eatery. The room is inviting with exposed brick walls, a metal tiled ceiling and a sleek marble bar. Heavily focused on seafood, and as the name implies, clams, the menu has both the predictable and the unexpected. The food is seasonal, simple and really fresh tasting. 
Great neighborhood spot with friendly casual vibe- seemed like a lot of regulars/locals.

Website: Theclamnyc.com
Address: 420 Hudson Street, New York, NY

Maestro's Steakhouse - Midtown, NYC

From Maestro's website.

Good for an expense account, large group dinner. Huge multilevel mid-town place that could be anywhere, Miami, Vegas anywhere. Packed with large parties, it's a lively and efficient place to drop a lot of money on good but not great food. I forgot to take photos of the steak and sides- what you would expect with a NYC steakhouse with a couple of standout dishes- king crab black truffle gnocchi and lobster mashed potatoes were scrumptious.



Address: 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
Website: MaestrosRestaurants.com

Via Carota - West Village, NYC

The bar at Via Carota - great place to dine solo

After enjoying my meal at Buvette so much, I found myself at another of chef Jody Williams restaurants last night, Via Carota. This is a joint venture with another popular West Village chef, Rita Sodi of I Sodi fame.  The menu is Italian and heavily leaning toward well sourced preparations of local and seasonal foods- loads of veggies.  The restaurant is simple and welcoming, with a huge marble bar and bistro style tables with mismatched flea market chairs and antique decor.


Address: 51 Grove Street, New York, NY
Website: ViaCarota.com

Solo Farm & Table - South Londonderry, Vermont

We are lucky to know the proprietors of this secluded Vermont farmhouse sophisticated dining spot. In an unassuming renovated home with lovely gardens and grounds, you'll find impeccable service, incredible Spanish influenced food and a super cozy relaxed place for an ideal date night.


Address: 95 Middletown Road, South Londonderry, VT
Website: SoloFarmandTable.com

Buvette - West Village, NYC

Chalk wine map on the wall highlighting wines
by the glass and where they are from

This neighborhood gem is another no-reservations, cramped space that serves some well-prepared, simple, heavily French influenced "gastroteque" fare. The chef, Jody Williams, made a name for herself in mostly Italian spots, but does casual French well. Be prepared to be shoe horned into impossibly tight seats and to hear every word of your neighbors conversations.


Address: 42 Grove Street, New York, NY
Website: Buvette.com

Salt Block Scallops - Omnivore Originates

Himalayan Salt Block: First go at it with scallops- definitely imparts a salt flavor. Keeps the scallops juicy and firm. I can't wait to try it with other foods!

Shuko - Union Square, NYC

Peeky toe crab salad.

If you're lucky enough to snag a table at this amazing Japanese hot spot you won't be disappointed. The two chef-owners have an impressive pedigree- both alumni from both Masa (the NYC gold standard for sushi with a crazy price tag to go with it) and then the hipper version of Masa -Neta. This is their own venture- and is a unique place. From the u shaped ash wood bar behind which a mesmerizing dance of wait staff, chefs and sommeliers all working in synch occurs, to the pulse pounding sounds of Kanye or old school rap, it all results in a cool sophisticated vibe. But on to the food...

You have to do the sushi kaiseki menu- roughly 20 plates- half composed plates of seasonal dishes and half sushi and sashimi dishes. It's all unbelievable - flavors, textures, heat, spice- all flawless. Close your eyes and suck it all in because this is damn near perfection.

Address: 47 East 12th St., New York, NY
Website: ShukoNYC.com

Florian Cafe - Gramercy, NYC

There are a few reasons to go to florian on park ave south.

1) Big impressive room mimicking the 300 year old Venetian coffeehouse, Cafe Florian.

2) Cool and racy statues.

3) Wonderful sparking chandelier (just like ours!)

4) And the real reason- Lobster pizza. A whole lobster on a cracker thin pizza crust cooked in a brick oven. Squeeze fresh lemon on it- voila! Incredible.


Address: 225 Park Avenue S, New York, NY
Website: FlorianNYC.com

NoMad Bar - Flatiron, NYC

I'm a big fan of the Nomad restaurant and specifically their signature chicken dish- stuffed with a challah foie gras and truffle stuffing, I love everything about the food and vibe there so naturally I have had the nomad bar- a space right next to their hotel/restaurant- on my list for quite some time.
I was finally able to make it there last night, and I was not disappointed. Long, dark, mahogany bar with every cocktail imaginable expertly swirled, shaken and crafted by handsome well-coiffed professional mixologists.


If you're ever in need of an indulgence that is really an unrivaled culinary sensory experience - go to the nomad bar- treat yo self!

Address: 1170 Broadway & 28th St., New York, NY
Website: NoMadHotel.com

Maialino - Gramercy Park, NYC

Source: GramercyParkHotel.com

Danny Meyer's take on an Italian trattoria tucked away in the Gramercy park hotel. Warm and inviting space- huge beautiful brass and wood bar and glass cases filled with bread cheese and prosciutto. Menu is adventurous- crispy sucking pig face (poor piggy!!) sweetbreads, liver etc. and a huge selection of cheeses,meats & bread to nibble on when choosing your meal.

Address: 2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY

Website: Maialinonyc.com

The Place - Guilford, CT

On the main drag of Guilford, CT is a rustic, throw back summer shack called The Place. Very no frills operation with stump seating around wooden tables, an open wood fired grill and a BYOB vibe. Patrons walk in with coolers filled with everything from bottles of Jordan to large plastic containers filled with macaroni salad. The menu is simple, likely the same since 1971.

Address: 901 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT
Website: ThePlaceGuilford.com

The Whelk - Westport, CT

Chef Bill Taibei's tribute to local seafood near the Westport, CT train station.  Smartly nautical decor- chalk board lists of oysters and beers- place-mats made of recycled newspaper.  The impressive raw bar selection is the only way to make it out of there with your arteries in tact.  Many of the composed plates are ultra buttery, decadent often fried, and of course delicious.

Address: 575 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880
Website: TheWhelkWestport.com