Dim Sum Palace is not unknown to me, having dined at this place multiple times, trying some of their small fried or steamed dishes. It is always exciting to go there, marking with a pen on their menu your selection, sometimes probably going overboard as you want to try plenty of things, similar to what would happen in a tapas restaurant.

Have you ever been to a restaurant and, after seeing their menu, wish that you could order all of it? Or if one single ingredient could be changed, you would order that dish? It happened to me multiple times. But that problem is resolved at Il Gradino, “the step” in English, an Italian restaurant located on the Upper East Side that opened in May 2022. There, owner Diego Argudo, a veteran of the restaurant industry, decided to implement the concept of piacere (pleasure, enjoyment in Italian) that is interpreted that as “preparing the dishes your way”. Diego explained to me that…

Short for l’appartment, L’Appart is a hidden restaurant located in The District, a French marketplace located few steps from the World Trade Center. We discovered this place few years ago and could not wait to go back for our anniversary. With 28 seats and an open kitchen overlooking the spacious dining room, this place proposes a unique experience where the term hospitality meets its true meaning: from the moment you enter to the moment you dine, you not only feel welcome, you also feel special.

Chef David Burke is not unknown to me as I ate in many of his restaurants in the city and saw him few times on TV in shows like Top Chef. So, when I was invited to try David Burke Tavern, I was really excited because I knew this would full of surprises. As we arrived, we went to the upstairs dining room and sat next to a penguin, not a real one of course: a stuffed animal. You might have heard that, during Covid, to ensure that patrons would respect social distancing, Chef Burke bought…

This post is a bit overdue and describes our experience as we were walking around New York and noticed Le Fournil, a French bakery that I could not resist trying. The experience started well, with a wonderful and appetizing smell filling our nose as we entered the place. We decided to get three of their baked goods: a chocolate croissant (pain au chocolat), a raisin…

It’s been a while since I have been to Lokal in Jersey City. Not that the food is not good, but there is so much to explore in Hoboken, Jersey City and New York that time passed before going back there. So, when I got an invite to try their new menu, I was thinking that it would be a good opportunity for a revisit. I did not regret it: the food at Lokal is not just exciting, it is overall good in a relaxed atmosphere, not too noisy (well, it will also depend on the neighboring tables of course), with a breathtaking view of the city.

We ended up at Auntie Guan’s Kitchen as we were looking for a place close to the Path train, and passed in front of this place that makes dumplings, quite a few times. Classic menu with spring rolls that were good, crispy, although the ratio shell to filling was in favor of the former, and the Dan Dan noodles not as good as what I had at Hao Noodle or…

A few months ago, Charritos decided to redefined themselves as a Taqueria, changing totally their menu, keeping only their guacamole that used to be one of the best. Used to because the one they serve today, with a generous amount of salsa and tortilla chips is not as good, a bit soupy, as if their used a blender to make it, with not enough chunks of avocado in it.

I discovered Rubirosa many years ago but never posted about it. I cannot remember why. I also do not know why it took us that long to go back, this place being fantastic. Most of the people go for their pizza that is superb, with its crispy thin crust. What is great is that, if you hesitate a bit, you can pick two different pizza flavors, each going in half a pie. The classic, that is simply made with tomato and mozzarella is good, but the best for me is the Tie Dye that is made with vodka sauce, tomato, pesto and mozzarella.

We wanted to try Whipped Urban Dessert Lab, a vegan ice cream shop located on the Lower East Side and did not expect to see a long line in front of it. We waited a bit and then weere able to enter the shop that was not that big, making our way to the front where we could order on a screen, a system I always prefer when not sure what to get…

For few years now, for my birthday, we have been going to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle for dinner. I have never been disappointed by this place, always going for the same steak: the chili rubbed boneless ribeye. Always perfectly cooked medium rare, very tender, juicy, the chili rub enhancing the flavor of my favorite cut.

Located where Talde the eponymous restaurant of the Top Chef alum used to be, Hudson Hound opened in 2021 near the Grove street stop of the Path train. This outpost of this NYC Irish-American restaurant serves delicious comfort food with classics like the fish and chips or the full Irish breakfast that is composed of two eggs (you make them your way, so I chose sunny side up), Irish bacon (rashers), Irish sausage (bangers), roasted half tomato with herbed breadcrumbs, sautéed mushrooms, black & white pudding, boxty potato cake, baked beans, and a slice of house made…

It seems that mochi donuts are a thing, with plenty of spots opening, serving this delicious combination between an American doughnut and Japanese mochi that originated in Hawaii in 1992. The Chicken Factory that serves fantastic Korean fried chicken is now serving mochi donuts. Shaped with eight balls, these deep fried donuts have a slightly crispy outside and are chewy on the inside. Like classic doughnuts, they can be proposed in many ways: the classic with confectioner’s sugar on top, churros, coffee, cookies and cream, chocolate with coconut, etc.

We passed in front of Lexington Candy Shop few times, noticing their windows full of Coca Cola bottles from all over the world. So, it was time to try this close to a century old luncheonette located on the Upper East Side. Small, packed, with still this nostalgic feel, and the rudeness of the service that seems to be a signature, unless you are a regular…

I was really looking forward to trying the new location on broadway of Wolfgang Steakhouse, but, our dinner did not go as expected. It started well though. Entering the place, I saw some bottles of whisky against the wall, not knowing at that point that they have a very large selection of this delicious liquor, my choice that day being a glass of Kentucky Owl Confiscated.

Mischa, the new venture of Chef Alex Stupak from Empellon, is difficult to fairly describe. First, the place is hidden in an office building on Park avenue and if you pass by, you would probably not notice it. That could be on purpose, so only diners specifically looking for it would go there. Then, the menu is a mix of various cuisines, served with a twist, like the deviled egg floating island that combines two different dishes (the deviled egg that originated in Ancient Rome and the floating island that is a French dessert) in an elevated way. Light but also creamy, it is served with trout roe that…