Eataly - Manzo

Eataly is the mega Italian speciality market in NYC's Chesea at 200 Fifth Avenue. They have several restaurants including Manzo which features meat.

I started with the Striploin salad with foie gras and balsamic vinegar dressing ($19). The steak was medium rare, sliced thinly and sprinkled with shavings of foie gras pate. I wish they offered this in an entree portion size.

Then I had the Papparedelle with sausage ($21) which was very buttery. And I topped it off with the Chocolate Budino ($10) which was a cross between a cake and fudge, but was served chilled with pistachio sauce and vanilla gelato. I wish it was room temperature or even warmed.

Becco

This was the first restaurant by Lidia Bastianich. It is located on Restaurant Row in NYC's Theatre District at 355 West 46th Street and is still quite popular especially for pre-theatre diners.

They have a daily pasta special prix-fixe menu. For $22.95 your choice of Caeser salad or antipasto and all you can eat servings of 3 types of pasta.

"J" and I had the antipasto (grilled vegetables and seafood) and the pastas were: linguini with jumbo lump crab meat and toasted panko crumbs,

farfalle with fresh tomatoes and basil, and Garboon Ravioli with browned butter and fresh corn.

The linguine was my favorite.

We each also had a ginger ale ($3/glass), "J" had a cappucino ($5.50) and we shared an apple streudel with cinnamon ice cream ($7.50). It was a very long slice and I can only imagine how large the entire streudel must be.

Torrisi

"J" and I braved the crowds for the no reservation $50/pp prix fixe dinner at Torrisi. This unassuming old fashion Italian deli located in NYC's SoHo at 250 Mulberry Street turns into a foodie haven for dinner.

At 5:45 the hostess appears with clipboard in hand and we sign up for a table starting at 6pm.

At 6pm the doors are open and we are promptly seated.

The daily dinner menu is written on the large blackboard. The menu includes 4 antipasti, 1 pasta, 1 entree (your choice) and house dessert.

We both start with a glass of Oregon white wine ($9/each) served in small water glasses - old school style!

ANTIPASTI:
Warm Mozzarella, Da Vero Olive Oil, Milk Thistle Cream - creamy mozzerella served with garlic bread
Frank's Salami Bread, Baccala, Cured Lemon - buttery and with just enough saltiness

Veal Sweetbreads Nha Trang - very rich, buttery and could have been foie gras it was so rich, with a little sweet and sour tanginess
Spaghetti Alla Osvaldo - spaghetti squash with freshly grated cheese

MAIN:
Skate Francese - good, but not as interesting as the antipasti
Devil Chicken, Evans Farm Yogurt - very juicy and a little spicy

Before dessert we were served mini paper cups of lemon sorbet to "cleanse" our palates.

DESSERT:
House Pastries - pizzette cannolis, tricolor, mini cream puffs, mini cheesecake tarts with chocolate graham cracker crust, butter cookies with cherry and hazelnut filling

The entire meal was excellent and very filling. The service was also very good.

Although the space is small and it was easy to eavesdrop on the neighboring conversations this is a great place for dinner.

Dee's

"C", "P" and I had dinner at Dee's located at 107-23 Metropolitan Avenue in NYC's borough of Queens in Forest Hills.

It was a large, airy space with a brick oven for pizzas.

We shared the Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($12) served with fresh baked focaccia bread. The dip was not cheesey enough for me, but the bread was very good.

"C" had the Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Ravioli ($17) in sun dried tomato pasta with roasted red pepper sauce, "P" had the Argentine Style Skirt Steak ($24) served with fries and vegetables and I had the Linguini by the Sea ($15) - sauteed shrimp, calamari and mussels in a spicy plum tomato sauce.

The food was good - very pedestrian meals.

For dessert we shared a toasted almond tiramisu ($7) which was excellent.

Eataly - La Pasta

I went back to Eataly in NYC's Flatiron District at 200 Fifth Avenue to try the pasta restaurant. The pasta is cooked to order in an open kitchen.

I started with fresh mozzarella antipasti ($11) which was sliced and drizzled with olive oil and served with a tiny mound of sea salt. The mozzarella was light and creamy - almost like burrata. I ordered the Agnolottie al Plin ($19) tiny meat filled pasta which were very delicate and served with freshly grated parmigiana reggianno.

Unfortunately, since the restaurants are food specific they do not offer dessert.

Trinity

...is located in Hoboken, NJ at 306 Frank Sinatra Drive.

"A" had the fettucini with asparagus ($18), but didn't like it and sent it back in exchange for eggplant ravioli in red sauce.

I had the sirloin burger with cheese, bacon and fries ($11). The burger was so juicy every time I took a bite I had to wipe away the juices. By the end of my meal I useded an additional napkin just to wipe my face. The fries were excellent and crisp.

We shared a chocolate souffle cake with Bailey's creme anglaise and a chocolate cheesecake brownie sundae (both $8). The sundae was excellent.

Adrienne's Pizzabar

...is located at 54 Stone Street in NYC's Financial District.

"A" and I both had a limonata soda ($4). I had a margherita pizza ($12) which had a nice thin crust. "A" had penne a la vodka with shrimp ($18).