10 Downing Food & Wine

This is both the name and address of this seasonal American cuisine restuarant located in NYC's Greenwich Village.

"J" ordered a ginger ale ($3) and I had a glass of Muscadet ($9).

We started by sharing the daily special appetizer of lobster mac n cheese ($11). It was more creamy and not as cheesy as expected which reminded us of fettucini al fredo.

"J" ordered the lobster and crab salad ($14) and shoestring fries with truffle salt ($7) for her entree.

I ordered from the $35 3-course prix fixe Restuarant Week menu and had the smoked salmon carpaccio with shallots, beets and arugal and the pan roasted diver scallops with sauteed clams, cauliflower and tarragon. And for dessert the lemon panna cotta.

"J" ordered the cinnamon doughnuts for dessert ($9) - they were 4 donut holes served warm with orange marmalade (too bitter) and a sauce which we couldn't taste the flavor.

Overall the food was good, but the noise level too high.

Zengo

...is located at 622 Third Avenue in NYC's Midtown near Grand Central Station.

"J" and I took advantage of the NYC Restaurant Week 2010 $35 prix fixe 3-course dinner offerings.

"J" had a Limonada de Fresa - vodka, lemon, strawberry and sour mix. It was fruity and delicious.

I had a glass of Riesling - very light and sweet...just the way I like them.

"J" started with the Green Salad - Togarashi candied pecans, orange, cabbage and piloncillo-ginger vinagrette. It was very flavorful and had nice texture.

I had the Covina Ceviche - Aji Amarillo, red onion, cucumber, apple, tomato and sisho. It was served with homemade yuca chips - yummy, but very watery.

For entrees "J" and I both ordered the Braised Short Ribs - with oaxaca cheese potato puree, shitake, huitlacoche and dragon sauce - very tender.

For dessert we shared the two offerings:

Mexican chocolate tart - with cocoa nibs, cinnamon whip and chili ancho anglaise. This was very light and anglaise had barely any chili.

Lemongrass Panna Cotta (no photo) - with passionfruit sorbet and passionfruit caramel. Very light and melted in your mouth.