The Spotted Pig - New York, NY

For three years now, Nikki has been wanting to visit The Spotted Pig in the Village. The first year, we passed it up for a restaurant of my chosing and I have never heard the end of it. Finally, we took the subway to the Village and found it tucked down a residential street. We almost passed it, but I spotted the pig hanging above the doorway. We arrived around 11am, early to ensure we nabbed a seat for brunch. The Pig has a pub atmosphere and a friendly staff, of which there is a lot. We had three waiters in the first few minutes. An eccletic list of songs plays as you dine. We were seated at a small table by the window, good for watching the Village life outside. Nikki had read that the deviled eggs were out of this world, so I insisted on ordering those, even though I also ordered the Frittata with Asparagus & Ricotta (sometimes the asparagus is a subsitute for broccoli rabe). Eggs and more eggs. Nikki ordered the Chargrilled Burger with Roquefort Cheese, about which she had heard good things. When I told the waiter I would like a side of homefries, he did warn me that the burger came with fries, but I had no idea he meant a mountain of fries, so I insisted on my $7 side because as Laine and I always say, we are made of money. (Note sarcasm here.) The deviled eggs arrived and you get two for $3, and trust me, these are well worth it. Sundried tomato and parsely top the eggs and the deviled meant that the egg was almost a whipped consistency, very creamy and sinfully good. Nikki has the recipe from a write up in The New York Times and I have already commissioned her to make them soon. Demanded, really. (For Deviled Eggs Recipe, Click HERE.)

When our entrees arrived, my jaw hit the floor. My frittata was a good size and the homefries were fine, but the burger came with a Mount Everest side of shoestrings. Literally, the fries were piled five inches or so up on the plate. I told the waiter he was not kidding when he warned me. My frittata was extrememly tasty and the home fries were very different in a positive light. They were cooked in a reduction type of sauce or glaze. Worth $7? Probably, but I do wish I had listened to the waiter because we had way too much food. Nikki said the burger was good, but Roquefort cheese is very salty and she had slight meal regret and wishes she had tried another brunch item. Next time, of course, because we both enjoyed our time at The Pig and look forward to another meal there. I did not opt for dessert, as we were sure we would see something while walking through the Village. See Magnolia Bakery and prepare for mouth watering.

There are quite a few brunch items. Eggs cooked a variety of ways, cornbeef hash, oysters, duck egg, French toast and a grilled cheese are a few. In addition to the deviled eggs, you can order chicken liver toast, a pot of pickes and a few other appetizers. The prices are mid-range. The burger was $17 and the frittata was $15, not including the $7 homefries. The Spotted Pig is well known and you may have a wait if you arrive during prime time, especially during dinner. It is worth the wait though and you can give you name and cell number and the hosts will call you when a table is ready. Tour the West Village while you wait. They have maps! Another plus about the Village is you might run into a familiar face while you are walking around. Many celebrities live in the Village and I would imagine feel more comfortable walking around there than somewhere like Midtown. We saw Alan Rickman on our way to The Pig.

~Alex

The Spotted Pig is located at 614 W. 11th Street @Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10014. They are open Monday thru Friday for lunch, Saturday and Sunday for brunch and every day for dinner.

www.thespottedpig.com

Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, Nolita - New York, NY

Nikki read this review in The New York Times on Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria in Nolita, the latest from Keith McNally of Odeon in TriBeCA, Cafe Luxembourg, uptown on the West Side, Lucky Strike on Grand Street and Nell's on 14th Street. Sunday, we again arrived early since this restaurant was covered recently in the paper and when that happens, everyone rushes to try out the new kid in town. At 10:30, the restaurant was almost full and very lively. We waited about five to ten minutes, but were enjoying the atmosphere. The Times noted the pizzas, which included breakfast version in addition to the lunch and dinner varieties. I cannot think of a restaurant in Norfolk that has a breakfast pizza, so I knew that is what I would choose, but it was hard as quite a few other breakfast dishes and pizzas sounded superb. Nikki noticed the raddicio, citrus and pancetta salad, so we began there. This is not a dinner salad, but more of an appetizer to share or combine with a small pizza. I do not eat pancetta, but it was easy to pick around and the salad was extremely refreshing. Radicchio, honey infused orange slices, sunchokes, pecorino and a light dressing, something of a vinegar base. This was an ultimate combination for a refreshing salad. I had not had sunchokes before and I have certainly been missing out on this delicious vegetable. Sunchokes look almost like a mushroom, but are chewy and chocked full of flavor. I am now on the hunt for this item and this is another dish Nikki plans to replicate, lucky for me.

For the entree course, I settled on the Spinaci breakfast pizza, topped with spinach, grana, mascarpone and egg. Nikki ordered the Salsiccia, which came topped with bacon, sausage, egg and white cheddar. The pizzas are on a thin crust and a small is very managable. If you are hungry, opt for a large. For a reference, the small and large are both larger than Fellini's small and large sizes and the breakfast pizzas are less in terms of cost. I also spotted the Frutta, another breakfast pizza topped with sugar, cinnamon, pears and pecorino. The waiter brough that after our entree pizzas and we each sample some and I packed the rest for the road. I like it a lot, but it is more of a dessert to share than a meal. To really make the most of the meal, I had to spy the dessert menu. A newer addition, the **hazelnut torte, caught my eye and I am glad it did. The 'torte' was the consistency of a very soft bread, generously topped with hazelnut pieces and paired with granita, cream and a light, carrot based sauce. The combination sounded so novel and the taste was astonishing. The torte part was not very sweet so that it did not overpowered the rest of the flavors. This was a light, moderately sweet dessert that would I believe most would enjoy.

Burgers are served only after midnight (supper) and if you do not crave a pizza, there are daily specials, such as duck, goat meatballs and lets not forget the roasted grapefruit with muscovado sugar & mint in the morning. Pasta, lamb, roasted mussels and a NY Strip all appear on the menu as do various types of proscuitto.

Pulino's is bustling with energy and table service is very good, but this is not the venue for a quiet meal. The noise level is excitingly loud and bounces off of the subway tile walls and rustic brick interior. You can enjoy the constant hum of conversation from others. The only complaint we had was that the bartender did not warn Nikki that you cannot purchase alcohol in NYC before noon. We do not remember this from our prior trips, but its possible, we did not eat before noon on those trips. Nikki ordered one of the three or four bloody Mary's offered and the description included vodka, but he never told her that before noon, they are all virgin. She paid the $11 sticker price, plus tip, at the bar and was about to order another round at the table, when the waiter asked her if she knew they were virgin until noon. We were both shocked, not at the alcohol law, which is also in effect in North Carolina (not surprising there, but in NYC, really?), but at the fact that the bartender did not inform her when she ordered the first drink. $11 for tomato juice and spices is a bit extreme. During the 'virgin hours', these drinks should be half of the price of the full on beverage, or even less. That is just taking advantage and we were thankful the waiter was nice enough to let us know before we had a $25 bill for more tomato juice. Shame on you, Pulino's Sunday brunch bartender but thank you **, our nice and helpful server.

Pulini's is very busy during Sunday brunch and word on the street is it is also busy during dinner, so call and see if they will take a reservation or be prepared to wait at the bar (watch out for the drinks on Sunday mornings!). The restaurant is open from 8:30am-2am and the menu breaks down by time, breakfast, brunch, mini lunch, lunch, late lunch, dinner and supper, so you can go any time and try some of the fare. Pulino's is located in Nolita at 282 Bowery @Houston , New York, New York 10012.

Alex

Pulino's is featured as one of New York City's top 10 Summer Hot spots. To view the slide show Click Here.

www.pulinosny.com
*Website is under contruction, but menu is available here http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/pulinos-bar-pizzeria/menu

The Red Cat - New York City

I came here for a late night dinner on the last Saturday in January after a show. Reservations are needed and we had one for 10:15. It was standing room only at the bar when we arrived at 10. We had arrived early and after only 5 minutes we were seated. That's nice because for some reason a drunk at the bar thought one of my friends was interested in talking to him. She wasn't! Tables are tight and this place is loud. No real insulation to absorb any noise with their wooden floors, walls and tin ceiling. For some reason this just ads to the ambiance. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable.

They have a nice wine selection and a few interesting cocktails. One friend ordered the Cherry Masher cocktail. It was delicious! For a restaurant whose website plays Willie Nelson, I was a bit surprised that the bar lacked Jack Daniels. I was offered Jim Beam as a substitute, which in my opinion is a poor substitute at best. I'm pretty sure I made a face of some sort. Oh well, Makers Mark filled in as his second suggestion. On the plus side, they had fantastic marinated cherries for my Manhattan. They made the drink.

For dinner I ordered the Pan Roasted Salmon, with warm Brussels sprout salad, carrot ginger puree and walnut pesto. I don't even like Brussels sprouts. They were delicious! Clean plate club. My dining companions ordered the mussel appetizers, Fontina macaroni, herbed french fries, oven roasted cauliflower. I could go back just to work my way through the appetizer and vegetable menu.

Service was excellent, prices very reasonable. I would not hesitate to go back here again or recommend to anyone needing a dining option in or near the Chelsea neighborhood.

_Laine

The Red Cat
227 10th Avenue
(between 23rd St & 24th St)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 242-1122

Mon-Thur 5PM-11PM
Fri-Sat 5PM-12AM
Sun 5PM-10 PM

Lunch Tue-Sat 12PM-2:30PM

Fred's at Barneys - New York City

The food or people watching? It's hard to decide which is better at Fred's, because both are so darned good! Two weekends ago I had a late lunch with two of my college buddies at Fred's. The restaurant was packed, but we were able to get a table in under 15 minutes, which was just this side of miraculous. This is supposed to be a place where celebrity sitings frequently occur, but we didn't spot any that day. Who cares? The food was awesome! Fred's has a very nice lunch menu. I had trouble deciding what to order because so much of it was appealing to me.

To begin my meal, I ordered a glass of 2007 San Bonifacio Pinot Grigio. Theirs is not an overly extensive wine list, but there are certainly sufficient and varied options for most any diner. I started with the Sautéed Chicken Livers appetiser. I am so sorry that I neglected to take a photo of this. It was a work of art! Sautéed chicken livers stacked high on a crostini, covered in port wine sauce. This was rich, but so delicious. I shared it with my friends and still had more than enough for myself. If you like liver, GET THIS!

For my main course I had the Lobster Club. This is a sandwich to make Dagwood drool. Heaped full of lobster, bacon, lettuce and tomato on 7 grain bread with garlic mayo. I don't know the origin of the bread, but it made the sandwich as it was some of the most flavorful bread I have tasted. The sandwich is served with Belgian pomme frites, elegantly served in a pilsner shaped glass. Wow, even the fries are excellent.

I saw a lot of salads come out to tables and they looked beautiful. Extra care is taken with presentation. No skimpy portions at Fred's. If you have a hearty appetite, this is the place to go. Prices are a little steep, but it is Barneys and it is New York city. Make an online reservation directly with Fred's or through Open Table if you know this is where you want to dine. I would imagine that Fred's is also a great place to grab dessert and coffee. I was too full to indulge further, but If I'd had any room left, I would have tried their Profiteroles. Next trip!

_Laine
Fred's at Madison Avenue
Open for Brunch, Lunch and Dinner
Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 8pm
Sun: 11am - 6pm

Felix: The Last Meal

Ah, Felix. I love Felix, as does Nikki. We stumbled on this lovely French bistro a few years ago when we were walking through SOHO...in reality, I was dragging Nikki in every fun shop I could find, since there are a lot! We stopped in for a drink and a break but already had plans to eat in Little Italy (at a place that highly disappointed Nikki and I have yet to live that one down). We vowed to eat at Felix the next time we were in SOHO. And here we were, our last day in New York and in need a a last good meal. Felix was the destination. We hopped on the E train and headed back to SOHO. Felix is so much fun - all of the tall windows open to a almost an outdoor cafe, very airy and bright in the daytime and then dim (the right kind of dim) in the evenings. The service is wonderful, the other diners are interesting and the food is excellent. Nikki ordered the cheeseburger and pommes frites and I ordered the cheeseburger topped with an egg and pommes frites. Both came with a small green salad, drizzled with a light vinegerette, which is always a nice addition. I love a little salad with my burger. Excellent, excellent, excellent. For a 'last meal', this was perfect. Felix had some business lunchers and a group that looked like travelers. Funny, we started our trip at a French bistro, cheeseburgers and pommes frites and ended that way too. While some might say 'why would you order a burger'...well, because these burgers are not of the usual mediocre quality you find most places. And because we wanted to - and that is all that matters (with anything, of course!). Going for the 'last meal' excuse again, I had to order dessert...and Nikki had already seen the Profiteroles come out and she knew that is what I should order. Wow, were they good. These were filled with vanilla ice cream (often, it is filled with custard). We were very full, as Felix does not scrimp on the portions. Our waiter reminded me of a French Adam 'MCA' Yauch of the Beastie Boys and I definitely love the BB crew. The burgers were both around $17, which is well worth it in my book. Felix is a great spot for a drink, lunch or dinner. Their website is currently under construction but check back soon or just get over there for a drink and a meal.

Felix is located at 340 West Broadway, New York NY 10013.

~Alex

http://www.felixnyc.com/

La Rivista Ristorante and Wine Bar: 20 Years and Counting

Our last dinner for this NYC trip - sad, but at least we had a really good Italian meal. After foraging the American Museum of Natural History for four and a half hours (and still not seeing everything) and then having a trying experience at Bloomingdale's (the shoe department customer service has gone caput - and I told them Nordstrom would have found those shoes and mailed them to me!), we were beyond tired and very hungry. We wanted something not far from the hotel, so we could stagger back after dinner. Though we had dined on Italian the previous night, Nikki and I had no problem choosing this cuisine again, and had made it back to Restaurant Row. It is one of our favorites. We were greeted by the owner's son and I overheard him tell another diner the restaurant had been there about twenty years. Sounded like a promising meal. La Rivista had relaxing lighting and a very appetizing menu. Nikki and I started with Crostini Di Polenta Con Funghi (roasted polenta with mushrooms ragu) and it was phenomenal. It was a larger portion, so ample to share. I ordered the Ravioli Alla Salvia (goat cheese ravioli with cream and sage). I wanted something with cream and this dish hit the spot. The ravioli was homemade and the sage was not too heavy. A little of that spice goes a long way. Nikki ordered Fettuccine Fresche Al Ragu Bolognese (fresh fettuccine with bolognese meat sauce) and was equally pleased. I sampled hers and agreed. A lot of meat in the sauce and more fresh, homemade pasta. To top it off, we ordered the chocolate mousse cake and it was the perfect ending to a great meal. Very rich, but that's exactly how I like most things. The portions were generous and the prices reasonable.

If you are in Midtown, I definitely recommend La Rivista Ristorante, located at 313 W 46th Street, between 8th & 9th, for lunch or dinner Monday through Saturday.

~Alex

Click Here to view the Menu

Zevin, The Unknown

Prior to heading to the American Museum of Natural History, Nikki and I decided we needed lunch. This was good thinking on our part since the museum was a great, yet lengthy experience (I mean that in a good way). We had taken the subway uptown and decided to walk down Columbus Avenue to see what the Upper West Side had to offer for restaurant fare. We saw sushi, a few Tex-Mex places, Italian and then Greek. I definitely could have eaten Italian AGAIN, but let Nikki talk me into Greek, which I also enjoy. I just have a bad habit of getting hooked on something and eating it day after day. Into Zevin we went. We arrived right around noon and were the first of the lunch crowd. First of all, Zevin had excellent bread with olive oil. It reminded me of foccacia which I adore. The menu had a variety of Greek dishes but there were also two pre-fixed lunch specials and to have some variety in addition to trying a few things, Nikki ordered one of the choices and I the other. Mine began with a bowl of red lentil soup and Nikki's started with a plate of hummus. Now, I am not one to jump for hummus, but this was fantastic. A LOT of flavor. The soup was good. I did squeeze too much lemon in it, so make a mental note not to do that. The second course consisted of a fava bean dish in a tomato base with potatoes, carrots and celery for me and a Mediterranean salad for Nikki. I really enjoyed the fava bean dish. It was a cold dish and reminded me of Gazpacho. For the entree, I selected grilled salmon with vegetables (squash, zucchini, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower) and rice. The salmon was perfect. The vegetables were so-so. Steamed and not a ton of flavor. The rice was fine, but nothing too exciting. Nikki ordered the 'grilled meat' plate which was grilled chicken patties and grilled beef patties and the same vegetables and rice that came with my dish. She enjoyed it. I tasted the grilled patties and they were a little too 'grilled-tasting' for me. I would rather not taste the grill itself. My assortment also came with a dessert, baklava with a little whipped cream and a honey-soaked apricot. Not something I ever would have chosen, but it was pretty darn good. The baklava was not too flaky and that apricot was so full of flavor.
I mentioned in an earlier review that we enjoyed not being rushed, but the service was a little slow for our liking, especially since we were the first table to arrive and it was not extremely busy. We needed to get to the museum! The trick is that I cannot find Zevin anywhere online, but it is located on Columbus a block or two down from the American Museum of Natural History (the rear entrance is on Columbus). I probably would not rush to eat here again, as it was just 'fine' in my book. You do get to watch the Upper West Side walk by - lots of nannies, kids and kids in strollers. The kids were dressed to the nines with matching rain boots and umbrellas. Do visit the museum - that is a delightful treat.

~Alex

Da Rosina: A First Glimpse of Restaurant Row

After our afternoon break, we strolled around a bit and then headed to dinner. I had been down 46th Street the night before and hawked a few restaurants, so Nikki and I decided they were worth a try. 46th Street is also known as Restaurant Row, which has quite a few restaurants, Italian, Brazilian, sushi, Tuscan steak and something called Bourbon Street that I would recommend staying away from. It looked very touristy and was super noisy. 46th Street reminds me of Little Italy in NYC and Little Italy in San Francisco, where restaurateurs greet you on the street to sell you on their particular locale. We approved of Da Rosina's menu and headed inside. I started with Mozzarella Caprese and Nikki had the Insalata Cesare. She was very pleased with her salad. The mozzarella was great, but the tomato was a little bland. For my entree, I ordered the Tortellini alla Panna (homemade tortellini filled with ricotta cheese in cream sauce), which was very good. I actually chose pesto sauce over the cream sauce, which ended up being a great choice. The pasta being homemade makes a big difference. Nikki ordered the Linguine alle Vongole (linguine with fresh clams in white sauce). She said it was a little watery and she prefers the clams diced in the pasta, rather than in the shell. She was not disappointed, but prefers her way of making it. Lastly, for dessert, I ordered the Chocolate Mousse cake and Nikki had the Tiramisu. Both desserts were excellent and homemade. We must have had four waiters after the host seated us. We noticed this in a few restaurants. A lot of help and service. Da Rosina was a very tightly run operation and everyone was exquisitely friendly and helpful. A good Italian meal in a nice atmosphere...there is not much better in regards to dining out. Da Rosina is located at 342 W. 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 serving lunch and dinner daily.

~Alex

http://www.darosina.com/

Algonquin Hotel: A Taste of Midtown Manhattan's Social Life circa 1902

Sunday afternoon, we saw 33 Variations with Jane Fonda and Colin Hanks. Great play about a Dr. (**) (Fonda) who struggles to write her last monograph about Beethoven's thirty-three variations on **'s waltz while dealing with the unavoidable complications and demise of ALS. Hanks plays the love interest of Fonda's only daughter. I highly recommend this show. After the play, Nikki and I decided to have a drink and an afternoon snack at The Algonquin Hotel. Opened in 1902, The Algonquin became the social scene as 'New York’s social life was moving from downtown ballrooms to what has become today’s soaring Midtown'. Famous literary figures, cabaret singers and other celebrities and socialites have made this hotel historical. Nikki ordered a gin martini up with a twist, of course. She is against anything 'light' or faddish when it comes to drinks - no fruity drinks for this connoisseur. I ordered the black and white cake. It was smooth and creamy with just the right amount of everything. Their appetizer menu in the lobby lounge area also included lobster macaroni and cheese. I have made a note that I have to order that during my next visit. If we had not been planning on dinner soon, I surely would have jumped on it. Not that the cake was logical, but I had to have something there. It is a great place to sit, have a drink, snack and/or dinner and relax. The hotel is beautiful and in that old, classic way. I would like to stay there for a visit as well. The Algonquin is located at 59 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 and has two dining rooms, a bar and the lounge. The Oak Room Supper Club serves dinner and often has entertainment (Jazz Brunch on Sundays!). The Round Table serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Blue Bar offers bar fare and lots of drinks from 11:30am - 1am daily. Lastly, The Lounge, the restored Algonquin Lobby, with writing desks and Edwardian furniture in deep jewel tones, serves tea, coffee, cocktails and lighter fare from noon until 4pm and continues cocktails into the evening. Definitely visit The Algonquin Hotel during your next Manhattan visit.

~Alex

http://www.algonquinhotel.com/

The Little Owl: A Favorite of the Village and Lou Reed

If you are looking for a wonderful meal in a quaint, non-touristy locale, visit The Little Owl in the Village. My mom had read an article on the Owl and decided it was our type of spot. After purchasing winning (we scored front row seats to 33 Variations with Jane Fonda and Colin Hanks the day of the play!), we hopped on the 1 train and headed from Midtown to the Village Sunday morning for brunch. Upon arrival, the small restaurant was full, but there was only a ten minute wait. The hostess said we could wait outside on the benches under the awnings or we could 'wait right up there'. She pointed to the corner of the restaurant to indicate 'up there' and it was a two-step waiting seat, almost like a balcony window but you climbed a three-step ladder to get up there and you were looking down at everyone eating! We had to have our photo taken up there because it was so funny. There were pillows and you could order drinks while you sat...'up there'. You could squeeze three to four people up there but two sat very comfortably. We ordered drinks and waited less than ten minutes and our table was ready. Seated by the window, we were able to watch the Villagers walk their dogs or take strolls on this semi-rainy Sunday. The rain does not slow down New Yorkers! I chose the Gravy Meatball Sliders, made with beef, pork, veal and pecorino, and the Asparagus endives and vinaigrette. Nikki* had the Poached Eggs fontina sausage buns, greens and Hollandaise and the Cheddar Grits. The sliders were absolutely wonderful, that melt in your mouth flavor. The asparagus was also splendid, the endives, potatoes and scallions gave the vegetable a taste twist I had not experienced previously. Nikki was very happy with her poached eggs and cheddar grits. The atmosphere was very enjoyable and apparently, Lou Reed dines there from time to time. Another bonus! My only complaint (and I should have known or asked) was the price of soft drinks...$4 and they did charge you for refills. It is soda and just a little ridiculous. I should have ordered a shot for that price. I would have certainly had more bang for my buck. While in Norfolk, I would boycott a restaurant that charged this for a soda (I NEED a diet Coke in the morning!), it is New York and my leniency is greater. I highly recommend The Little Owl. Try to sit in the waiting area 'up there' - it is a great way to see what everyone else is eating and it might help you choose your meal. I eyed the sliders from 'up there' and knew right then that those would be my selection. Hoot-hoot over to The Little Owl.

~Alex

The Little Owl is located in the Village at 90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014 and serves lunch and dinner during the week and brunch and dinner on the weekends. View their menus at http://thelittleowlnyc.com/

Cercle Rouge: Tribeca and a French Brasserie

Upon arrival New York on Saturday, Nikki*, my mom, and I jumped into planning mode. We decided a ride on the Staten Island Ferry followed by a nice lunch at The Little Owl was our plan before we had to head to God of Carnage with James Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels that evening. We made it over to Staten Island and back, passing Lady Liberty and admiring the Manhattan skyline (you will be able to climb up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty beginning July 4th - mark your calendars). Departing the ferry, we found ourselves in a Romanian festival outside the Customs House in the Financial District. What fun - there were many vendors showcasing kabobs, corn cakes, falafel and other amazing choices, clothing, jewelry and other items. Of course, I had to stop and check everything out, so that delayed us a bit and we also saw a church from the ferry and wondered if it was the church that became such a moving focal point right after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. This was not that church, but after walking a few short blocks we did come to St. Paul's Chapel (see St. Paul's Chapel entry below). After our time at St. Paul's, Nikki and I stopped in an Irish pub around the corner to take a breather (aka beer break) and decide what our next move was. We had missed brunch at The Little Owl, but we knew we had spent our time more wisely. After a beer or two, we set off towards Tribeca in hopes we would find a restaurant on the fly that was to our liking. We passed a few that looked good, but nothing that made us want to run in and order. Finally, we spotted Cercle Rouge, a lovely French bistro. Since we love bistros, we knew this was the place. It was absolutely charming inside and while it was hard to decide at first, we both settle on the burger and pommes frites. I must admit that we spied burgers at another table and decided that we each HAD to have one (we did a lot of food-hawking on this trip). Furthermore, it was around 4pm and we had not eaten all day, so we needed something fulfilling. The burgers looked scrumptious! We both settle don Gruyere cheese, so I can only review one plate, but trust me, it was worth it. We also had a side of the creamed spinach which was made with a very light cream and a lot of garlic - very, very good. Service was very good - everyone was the opposite of pushy, which is a nice change from some restaurants that want to throw you out the second your food hits the table. Full and happy, we relaxed a moment before heading back to Midtown. I highly recommend Cercle Rouge but maybe not if you are in a rush. I think this is a relaxed staff and your meal might take a bit, but remember, good things come to those who wait! I was on vacation, so my usual impatient nature was on the back burner.

Located in Tribeca, Cercle Rouge services lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.

~Alex

Unlike me, my friend Alex does not look for child friendly places to dine. In fact, she probably prefers places that ARE NOT. However, when researching this restaurant my attention was peaked when I noted that Brunch is held on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, it is accompanied by a magic show with balloon giveaways for kids. I can only assume that Alex overlooked this feature...

_Laine

http://www.cerclerougeresto.com/

Saint Paul's Church: Unwavering Spirit

While this is not a restaurant review, I must take a few moments to mention St. Paul's Chapel. Entering the graveyard, you see tombstones so old that the engraving is no longer legible. The church yard and the church itself are beautiful. Built in 1766, St. Paul's is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use and the home to an extraordinary eight-month volunteer relief effort after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Nikki and I spent some time going through the church and I cannot describe what comes over you upon entering the church. Unwavering Spirit, a new interactive exhibit, honors that ministry and its legacy of love and compassion. This exhibit shows the strength, courage and enormous outreach that those rescue workers and volunteers put forth September 11, 2001 and the days, weeks, months and years following. If you visit New York, I encourage you to visit St. Paul's Chapel.

~Alex

http://www.saintpaulschapel.org/