Japonais

is located near NYC's Union Square area at 111 East 18th Street.

"T" and I went for the final week of the extended NYC Winter 2010 Restuarant Week for the 3-course $35 prix fix dinner.

"T" started with the Crab Cake with soy mustard sauce and then the Japanese Ribs - hickory smoked in red miso bbq sauce, served with truffle soy bean salad.

I started with Crispy Shrimp and Salmon roll - panko shrimp roll topped with soy marinated salmon and wasabi tobiko sauce, and then the Salmon Japonais - nori skin encrusted Atlantic salmon with botan ebi and horseradish, oyster & leek stew and curry oil.

There was only one dessert offered - Kabocha Cheesecake - Japanese pumpkin cheesecake with five spiced pineapple mousse and an almond crust cookie.

All of the food was very good, but looked like half portions (this was, afterall, Restuarant Week prixe fix), but the dessert was a full and generous portion (which is the best part of the meal anyway). We were quite full and satisfied when we left.

Hale & Hearty

Hale & Hearty is a chain of specialty. Primarily known for their soups (there are a few dozen varieties offered each day) they also offer salads and sandwiches. There are many locations around NYC. I visited this Midtown location in the Garment District on Broadway and 39th Street.

I had the Ginger butternut squash soup - medium for $6.79.

Thick and flavorful - this soup is a puree of sweet butternut squash with a hint of ginger.

And if you ask for a "Bean Card" when you buy 10 soups and you get the 11th size Medium for free!

Truck Spotting

the Mud Truck in NYC's East Village at Astor Place....

I don't drink coffee, but from what I have read this truck serves very good coffee.

Porchetta

This tiny little shrine to porchetta is located at 110 East 7th Street. There are several bar stools lined around the counters, but most people order their food to go (probably because there are no available seats as was the case on this evening).

Wikipedia defines Porchetta /por'ket:a/ is a savory, fatty, and moist boneless pork roast of Italian culinary tradition. The body of the pig is gutted, deboned, arranged carefully with layers of stuffing, meat, fat, and skin, then rolled, spitted, and roasted, traditionally over wood. Porchetta is usually heavily salted in addition to being stuffed with garlic, rosemary, fennel, or other herbs, often wild.

"M" and I both had the Porchetta sandwich - moisty, flavorful chunks of pork inside a tasty, crusty roll ($10 each). And we shared two sides: beans and crispy potatoes and burnt ends ($5 each). The white beans were soft and tender; the potatoes were crispy and the burnt ends were chunks of crispy pork skin...I can feel the cholesterol rising already!

And to top it off we had the daily biscotti - chocolate, candied ginger and almond (2 for $1).

This is a great place for a quick, filling pork fix! "M" also asked about buying an entire porchetta (for a party) - the cost is $25/lb and each one ways approximately 10 lbs. You do the math...we did and walked away with sticker shock.

We prefer to eat one porchetta sandwich at a time...

Cooper's Tavern

is locate on the edge of NYC's Garment District at 481 Eighth Avenue.

"J" had the Shrimp Sizzlin Caesar salad: Shrimp romaine, smoked tomato & avocado, topped with croutons & sizzling.

I had the Cooper’s Skyscraper Burger: 10 oz. prime beef stacked with smoked mozzarella, portabello, smoked bacon & crisp onions. fried potatoes, knife & fork.

Jo's

is located at 264 Elizabeth Street in NYC's Nolita and serves yummy American fare. Their bar menu features small versions of comfort food.

The front/bar area was packed, but the dining room was half empty.

They had sold out of goat cheese croquettes and bone marrow. We were afraid to order "meat in a cup".

I was disappointed that they didn't serve any bread before dinner.

"A" had the tiny lasagna (which was served in a small ramekin similar to ones used to serve ketchp) for $5 and Brick oven roasted chicken with potato puree ($19).

I had the gruyere gougeres ($7) and Garganelli pasta with lardon ($16) and a glass of Prosecco ($11).

We shared the Churro Thumbs with raspberry sauce and chocolate dipping sauce ($7.50).

The manager, Jim, was very friendly and informative. Jo's has a great 3 course prix fixe Sunday dinner for only $21 which I would like to go back and try.

They also offer a suckling pig dinner ($65/pp for 5 courses with one week's notice).

A Voce Columbus Circle

is the second outpost of A Voce. This restaurant is located at 10 Columbus Circle inside the Shops At Columbus Circle NYC's Midtown.

I had lunch during NYC 2010 Restaurant Week. For $24.07 I had a wonderful 3 course meal which started with fluffy focaccia bread and home made ricotta spread sprinkled with olive oil and thyme:

- Mozzarella di bufala with calabrian chilies, dried grape tomatoes and arugala

- Boreta alla graisana branzino, clams, mussels, shrimp, tomato broth

- Chocolate Panna Cotta with toasted hazelnuts

And for $12 I had a glass of Moscato d'Asti.

It was a great meal and that was just lunch. I look forward to returning for dinner!