Dim Sum Garden in NYC

Dim Sum Garden in NYC

I discovered Dim Sum Garden recently, thanks to one of my colleagues, Alex who recommended it, but with the caveat that he thought it was expensive for dim sum. I had to see it myself. The place is bright with few booths that I admit are not that comfortable…The way it works is that you will mark with a pen your selection and the dishes will come as they are ready. One of the original dishes is their sampler that is beautifully presented in a wooden tray that separates

Vegetarian meal at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

Vegetarian meal at Seeds and Weeds in the Tin Building

After trying the T Brasserie in the Tin Building, our next stop was their vegetarian restaurant, Seeds and Weeds, on the second floor. Nice place, spacious, with lots of light, the green color and wood decor rendering perfectly the theme of the restaurant and giving a zen atmosphere to it.

We started off our meal by ordering beverages. Jodi got the same Cherry and yuzu carbonated soda she tried the last time, and I got the “red juice” that is made with beets and…

Cafe Fiorello in NYC

Cafe Fiorello in NYC

It’s been years since we had a meal at Cafe Fiorello on the Upper West Side. I discovered this place when a colleague of mine referred it as the best pizza in NYC. The rectangle crust at the time (not anymore) was good, but what I loved there was their open face lasagna, Parmesan ravioli and their chocolate mousse bucket that was always a treat.

So we went back last Saturday after a…

Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

There are few places in Hoboken I would go for dinner in a heartbeat. Anthony David’s is one of them. The restaurant from Chef Pino who also owns Bin 14 Uptown is a true gem, serving succulent food for brunch or dinner, although, if I had to pick, it would be brunch where this place is usually packed.

Contrary to Bin 14, plates are larger, less crafted for sharing, and, strangely, they seem made for a more formal dining as opposed to Bin 14 that has a more casual feel. For brunch, I love their…

La Boheme in Hoboken, NJ

Few months ago, the owners of Barbes, a French-North African restaurant located Uptown Hoboken that serves delicious tagines and couscous, decided to open a French restaurant where the closed restaurant Cucharamama use to be. So we went there on a Friday evening, to check it out. The decor at La Boheme is great, with the very large black and white photos of French celebrities like Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardo, Serge Gainsbourg or Eddy Barclay, giving a bit of a nostalgic atmosphere to the place.

Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side

Jacques Brasserie used to be my favorite French restaurant when we were living on the Upper East Side and it has been 9 years since our last visit! So we decided to go back there for a lunch on a weekend. The place looks like what I remember: brasserie feel with a decor that would make you think that you just travelled across the ocean in a restaurant in Paris, besides the music being more international!

Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Tin Brasserie by Jean-Georges

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, simply known as Jean-Georges, opened a month ago a high end market at South Street Seaport, the Tin Building. This gigantic market proposes various restaurants serving French, Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisine in the middle of a busy market place where you can get vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, cookies and all sorts of delicacy that would make you want to move in.

Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

Il Laboratorio del Gelato in Hoboken, NJ

When Il Laboratorio del Gelato opened mid-July in Hoboken, I did not know what to think. I went to their spot on the Lower East Side many years ago and, although I thought it was an interesting concept, I never really craved it. The concept? Making hand-crafted gelato with unique flavors like olive oil, malt, buttermilk, cardamon, tarragon, mint, etc.

Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Dear Maud in Hoboken, NJ

Dear Maud opened in July in Hoboken and I surely wanted to try this eatery. Our first attempt was on the Friday before Labor Day, thinking it would be quiet. We were wrong: the restaurant was not only busy, but they were blasting music that is something I really cannot stand while having a meal! So we went back for brunch the following Sunday. Quieter, but with still loud music, we decided to give it a try. Entering the place, we soon realized how big it is with the back area that seemed to be quite spacious and the bar area, also large, with its impressive bar that dominated the room. To start our meal, we decided to get…

Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

Plaka Souvlaki in Hoboken, NJ

When Plaka Souvlaki opened on Newark avenue, I was quite excited, not being too excited by Surf Taco, its predecessor, but more because I love Greek food and heard that they were serving souvlaki that is meat cooked on a skewer, not to be confused with gyro that is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. My favorite meat? Lamb!

Benjamin Steakhouse Prime in NYC

Benjamin Steakhouse Prime in NYC

Restaurant week is always a gamble: some restaurants understand that it can be a way for diners to discover a place, others simply do not care, looking more for number of tables than number of returning customers. Benjamin Steakhouse Prime is the former, offering a delicious menu for $45 with an appetizer, an entree and a dessert that certainly will make you think you got yourself a good deal. For appetizer, I got their grilled calamari that was a good change from the usual fried calamari, giving the sense that I started with a healthy dish…The calamari were perfectly cooked, not rubbery, served with olive oil, lemon and garlic.