If you are familiar with the blog, you probably remember that I have rediscovered bone marrow at Noma in Copenhagen a couple of years ago. Since then, I have been looking for it and enjoying it, whether on a steak (like at American Cut by Marc Forgione or STK) or on a burger (at The Brazen Fox). So, my next target was Swine and their bone marrow and brisket burger. 

I discovered The Cannibal few years ago, at The Gotham West Market, where I noticed their bone marrow that I kept in mind since then, thinking that I should definitely go back to try it. And I did...I went to their main location, on the East side, for lunch. As I entered, I noticed a large selection of beers, some of them being fairly old.

Located across from the New York Academy of Art, Tutto Il Giorno is an all Italian restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, cooked by Chef Nicolas Reisini, a Northeastern native. I thought it was a small place for two reasons: first, by looking at the facade and second, because of the lack of spots for reservation on Opentable, the few times we tried to go there. I was wrong: it is a fairly big place, long, with high ceilings and a minimalist decor, that celebrates nature.

It has been a while since I wanted to go to Bubby's in TriBeCa for dinner, especially after I tried their brunch at their location in the Meat Packing District. So we went there, on a Friday night and I was really surprised to see that many people with their kids there. I like the place: quite rustic with an interesting vibe.

I love steaks and was looking for a more original steakhouse, far from the classic restaurants when I stumbled upon Prime and Beyond, a Korean steakhouse. I did not know what to expect there, thinking about maybe a large piece of meat marinated like a bulgogi, prior to being grilled or broiled. It was not really that and I'll explain in few minutes. First, I should talk about the decor that was different from the dark and leathered decor of classic steakhouses. It is not a big place for sure, with a small dining room overlooking the opened kitchen where the magic happens. Well, the magic also happens downstairs where one can see the dry-age room: apparently, they dry-age their steaks for 50 days minimum and they also propose wet-age cuts such as the ribeye. 

Altright, so I might have found another great Italian restaurant in TriBeCa: Pepolino. Named after a variety of thyme that grows in Tuscany, this casual restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine in a rustic setting. And this place was definitely crowded when we went on a Friday to have dinner at 9pm. So crowded that we ended up in their heated outside seating area that in fact I liked, the noise level being very low and less crowded than their two dinning rooms.

I rarely go to the Financial District for a meal, this area not really being a synonym for dining, being mostly a business area. But, for a steak, I am ready to make another exception, following my last outing to Delmonico couple of months ago. That's how we found Reserve Cut, a stunning kosher restaurant that I admit was difficult to find (I always get lost in that area, but thanks to my phone and Google Maps, I was able to make it...). This place is impressive: huge, elegant with a modern decor that definitely differs from classic steakhouses, one dining room separated from the other by an amazing wine cellar.

Shake Shack is quickly expanding and I am not going to complain about it. Several weeks ago, they opened a new location on 36th and Broadway and I see that as a blessing as their location near Times Square is always crowded. Although this one might be too soon. Their burgers are fantastic and, with others like Five Guys, they set the expectation for a great burger. No more grey tasteless meat: what the crowd wants is a tasty burger made that not only looks, but tastes  like meat. We went there on a Saturday before 12pm and I was glad we were early as this place started to get packed as time passed.

Chinese food is one of those cuisines that I often crave, but, with so many restaurants in Chinatown, one never knows where to find authentic Chinese cuisine, far from the tourist traps. Well, I might have found the perfect spot: Bite of Hong Kong. What makes it different: it's seafood for sure, from fish to crab (the day I went, they had this huge Alaskan crab that was the size of beast you see in horror movies, results of nuclear experiments). Ok, I might exaggerate a bit, but still: it was a nice size. 

Last Saturday, I was invited to a dinner organized by Tabelog, a website that is more than just a restaurant review site like any others: they have created a community of foodies that I enjoy to meet as the conversation is often centered on food. This time, we were at Bread in Nolita, located inside the Nolitan Hotel. In fact, this is their new location, opened a month ago, after moving from their original one close by, on Spring street. 

I finally made it to Pok Pok, the restaurant in Brooklyn that created the buzz few years ago with their fish sauce wings. It was on my list, and, when I discovered that it was on Opentable, I could not resist booking a table for a Saturday, for lunch. The restaurant is definitely off the beaten path and you really need to be motivated to go there. But you know what? It was worth the trip and, although a bit pricey, the food was fantastic. 

Well, I have heard about Yum Yum simply watching some commercials at the movie Theaters in Times Square. This is a small Thai place with low light setting and loud music in the evening, setting this place apart from most of the Thai restaurants in the area. The food there is good, with reasonable prices. We ended up there after a movie in fact, looking for a place in Hell's Kitchen. The place was packed for sure and the staff extremely busy. 

Few weeks ago, Indian Accent, the famous New Delhi restaurant of Chef Manish Mehrotra opened its door at the Parker Meridien Hotel. This opening has been surrounded by a lot of buzz in the press and social media, giving a new light to Indian cuisine, usually considered a cheap option rather than an option for fine dining, even though places like Tulsi or Tamarind successfully attracted a crowd hungry for such cuisine, but looking for something different. In fact, we were so excited to try Indian Accent that we showed up...one week ahead of our reservation! And they graciously accommodated us...

Going to Tutti Matti in Long Island City is like finding a corner of Italy one stop from Grand Central. The Italian atmosphere is not just carried by the food, but also the Italian language you will hear abundantly, spoken by the staff or customers. Looking small from outside, this place is fairly big and when we came, they were finishing serving a baby shower.