Uncategorized | Goodies First

Jun 24

Time Out New York Eating & Drinking Guide

Delia’s
Lounge | 9224 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Flourishing in the shadow of the Verrazano Bridge, Delia’s is a little
like Saturday Night Fever’s Tony Manero: cocky, but likeably earnest.
Nine-dollar specialty martinis scream “big city,” while Brooklyn
accents, such as valet parking and a larger-than-life Mona Lisa over the
bar, remind you that you’re in Bay Ridge. Godiva chocolate liqueur, Stoli
Vanil and heavy cream flow freely, but don’t worry about looking effete.
In these parts, even the young Travoltas grooving on Eminem sip key lime
martinis and share plates of chocolate-covered strawberries.

Peggy
O’Neill’s | 8123 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Pink Houses, Bad Medicine, the Unforgettable Fire…It sounds like
the makings of an ’80s jukebox, but these are just a few of the cover
bands that perform most Saturday nights. Despite wind machines and echo
effects, the bar is unlikely to draw a crowd beyond the usual Bay Ridge
singles, but you get the feeling that’s fine with them. The music tributes
aren’t only for the pros–during Monday-night karaoke, anyone can belt
out bygone Top 40 tunes. The rest of the week, this Irish pub feels more
like a typical sports bar: TVs are blared, beer is swilled, and darts
and pool are de rigeur.

Sunny’s Bar
| 253 Conover St, Brooklyn, NY

Lore-choked McSorley’s and the White Horse Tavern may get the attention,
but an evening at Sonny’s feels like history in the making. On weekends,
this unassuming wharf-side tavern buzzes with intrepid curiosity seekers,
a mix of middle-aged and new-generation bohemians (the latter distinguished
by their cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon), and the odd salty dog (canines, not
sailors). Despite the nautical feel, you’re more likely to hear bossa
nova or bluegrass than sea chanteys. This is the East River, after all

Rising
Cafe | 188 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY
On some nights men nearly outnumber the gals at this easygoing lesbian bar.
Folk and bluegrass lovers show up for the live music, while neighborhood
families fill up on ribs and fried chicken. The Southern cooking is complemented
by down-home touches such as 1940s farmhouse furniture and a big metal tub
filled with Red Stripe and Brooklyn Lager. Lest you forget this a women’s
meeting place, Tilt-a-Girl mixers are held on Tuesdays.

Basta
Pasta
37 W 17th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-366-0888). Subway:
F, V to 14th St; L to Sixth Ave; N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St-Union
Sq. Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm, 6-11pm; Sat, Sun 6-11pm. Average main course:
$23. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Originally part of a

Tokyo-based chain, Basta Pasta draws a predominantly Asian clientele to the pink-linened

dining room, facing an open kitchen. Seared foie gras perched atop a brilliant saffron

risotto cake mimics a luxe piece of sushi (it’s too small but dazzling). Mussels, clams,

shrimp and squid are bathed in tomato sauce and piled over spaghetti; lobster salad with

snap peas and a lemon aioli is charmingly springlike, and a nice preface to heftier entrées

like grilled sea bass or braised short ribs. Service is gracious and personable, and

thank-yous from the staff abound.

Cafe
Centro
200 Park Ave at Vanderbilt Ave. and W. 45th St (212-818-1333). Subway:
Average main course: $25. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

At this sprawling brasserie, looks matter. Rotisserie chickens spin in a giant

hearth; the curved, glass-enclosed kitchen demands attention; and streamlined light

fixtures create a clubby feel. Chef Franck Deletrain’s menu is heavy on surf and turf for

the expense account crowd. Nods to Morocco include a just-sweet-enough chicken b’steeya

with a hint of orange-flower water and garnished with spiced candied almonds. Raw-bar

choices are popular, as are meaty crab cakes and the butter topped filet mignon. Many of

the showy desserts are crowned with arabesques of spun sugar. A more casual meal is

available at the moodier adjoining Beer Bar.

Cafe
Lalo
201 W. 83d St between Broadway and Amsterdam Aves (212- 496-6031).
Subway: . Average main course: $9. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Carbophobes, beware:

You’re in serious sweet-tooth territory. Upper West Siders and tourists mob this café,

especially on weekends. Brunch is served until 4pm daily, and light sandwiches and salads

are always available. But the real draw is the sugary siren song of display cases packed

with cookies, brownies, cakes, pies and more. Art Nouveau posters, exposed-brick walls and

French windows attempt European flair, though many of the desserts are unabashedly

American, from apple brown Betty to chocolate-covered Oreo cheesecake. It’s no surprise

that scenes from the syrupy Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks comedy You’ve Got Mail were

filmed here.

Cyclo

203 First Ave between 12th and 13th Sts (212-673-3957). Subway: L to
First Ave. Average main dish: $13. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Although less

trendy than the newer Bao and Boi, Cyclo is hardly a pho-slurper’s hole-in-the-wall.

Soothing pale hues and unobtrusive New Agey music allow quiet conversation, and the food is

mellow too: Papaya salad is more peppery than spicy, its piquancy balanced by salty dried

beef strips. Fresh DIY summer rolls require a deft hand (to manipulate the

sugarcane-skewered grilled shrimp with the accompanying pile of vegetables, herbs and

fragile rice-paper wrappers), but the results are worth the effort. Chilean sea bass,

cooked in a clay pot with creamy bean curd, eggplant and lemongrass, is hearty without

being heavy.

Docks
Oyster Bar
633 Third Ave at 40th St (212-986-8080). Subway:. Average main dish:
$23. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

The cacophonous, multilevel space almost feels like a glorified chain

restaurant (it is, sort of—there’s an uptown location). But Docks is a notch above places

that serve bottomless baskets of popcorn shrimp. This is a candlelit, white-tablecloth

affair (with a buzzing bar scene). Oysters are from Maine and British Columbia. Fried

scallops and fish are surprisingly light (the accompanying shoestring fries, however, can

be overdone). The creamy, tart key lime pie is ideal for cleansing a breaded and battered

palate.

Galanga

149 West 4th St between Sixth Ave and Macdougal St (212-228-4267). Subway:
F to West Fourth St. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Chopsticks? Broccoli in the curry? These are red flags to purists—but it would be

a mistake to write off sleek little Galanga. Ambient drum ’n’ bass and menu oddities like

lychee fried rice, merely veil the real deal. Tell your server that you want spice, and

there’ll be no pandering. The seafood salad of mussels, shrimp and squid is dressed with

just the right amount of sugar and lime, a perfect foil for the slow, creeping heat.

Curries, too, are appropriately rich with coconut milk and properly topped with the

shredded wild-lime leaves that are all too often omitted in Thai restaurants.

Good
World Bar and Grill
3 Orchard St between Canal and Division Sts (212-925-9975). Subway:
F to East Broadway; B, D to Grand St. Mon-Fri 4pm-4am; Sat, Sun 11am-4am.
Average main course: $16. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

The occasional
shuttle bus to Ikea might be as close as most New Yorkers come to sampling
Swedish food. But there’s more to the northern European cuisine than

cafeteria-style
meatballs and lingonberries. Good World’s no-man’s-land location on the
cusp of Chinatown and the Lower East Side doesn’t deter anyone from seeking
out the stylishly scruffy alpine lair. Mismatched school chairs and moose
head above the bar lend appropriate quirk to the former barbershop. The
grill aspect is more apparent during lower key hours. A DJ-driven, clubby
scene sets in weekend nights and can make for claustrophobic dining, at
best. Many would be inclined to supplement the creative beer and aquavit
selection with tapas-style offerings like mustard sauced gravlax, lime
and chili marinated salmon cubes and herring served four ways. However,
ambitious mains are also worth more than a bite or two. Hearty, braised,
cinnamon and cardamom spiced lamb shanks with rich porcinis, parmesan
potatoes and rosemary spiked jus are satisfying. Morels, chanterelles
and truffles make woodsy appearances in many dishes, and beets and capers
gives the requisite burger added zing. Desserts aren’t afterthoughts,
a parfait constructed of Kahlua flavored ice cream studded with bits of
Dajm (a Swedish candy similar to Skor) and candied lime out-cools faux
Nordic Häagen-Dazs, any day.

Izalco
6405 Roosevelt Avenue
718-533-8373
Cross Street: Between 64th and 65th streets

Pupusas
are quintessentially Salvadoran, and this whimsically decorated Woodside
restaurant serves wonderful examples. Take in pictures of the namesake
volcano and clay-tiled indoor roof inhabited by fake iguanas and an armadillo
while trying the stuffed, grilled corn cakes. Choose from chicharron,
cheese, frijoles or revuelta, a mix of all three. Curtido,
a pickled cabbage slaw (sometimes available with papaya), thin, lightly
spiced tomato sauce and a bottle of Suprema beer are necessary accompaniments.
This isn’t light fare; easily sharable meat-based entrees are served with
rice, beans, cheese, sweet plantains and corn tortillas. Simple and satisfying
res con salpicon, beef soup, is a weekend favorite.

La
Bonne Soupe
48 W 55th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-586-7650). Subway:. Average
main dish: $13. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

This midtown bistro

is full of French country charm (red-and-white-checked tablecloths, exposed beams,

waitstaff with accents). The clientele is perhaps less authentic: shoppers, out-of-towners

and solo-dining old-timers. Cheese fondue, quiche, crêpes and omelettes are satisfying, but

the raison d’être is, of course, the namesake bonne soupe. Whether you’re in the

mood for classic cheese-topped French onion or smooth and creamy tomato andalouse,

you can get your bowlful à la carte, or as a prix fixe meal with bread, salad, an

unmemorable dessert and even a glass of house wine for just $13.95.

Pravda
281 Lafayette St between Prince and Houston Sts (212-226-4944) Subway:.
Average main dish: $16. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

The staircase opens

into a cavernous subterranean brasserie that almost resembles a Cold War–era movie set.

Everything is just so: a cement ceiling, riveted metal, stainless-steel toilet seats.

Stylish couples and the Soho working class sit in curved red banquettes and leather

armchairs, sipping from colorful martinis. The bloomin’ onion on the menu may give you

pause, but your fears will be laid to rest by snacky Soviet fare like spinach and cheese

piroshki and blini with a choice of fish. Smoked sturgeon scattered with dill and

accompanied by a dollop of crème fraîche is a toothsome choice. Caviar is, of course, found

in various guises, including an unorthodox application atop smoked-salmon pizza. Sturdier

eaters can choose chicken Kiev or beef goulash. The bracingly bourgeois molten chocolate

cake is hard to say nyet to.

Remi
145 W. 53d St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-581-4242). Subway:.
Average main dish: $24. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Deep-black risotto,

colored by squid cooked in its own ink, is a typical Venetian dish, and it’s frequently a

special here. But the lively, playful space—designed by architect Adam Tihany—is your first

clue that Remi isn’t too bound by tradition. Chef Francesco Antonucci’s cichetti (Italian

tapas), presented in whimsical angular plates, include fried stuffed olives and marinated

octopus. His tuna-filled ravioli is a classic, and gnocchi with baby goat is spiked with

olives and artichoke hearts. Semifreddo and gelato grace the dessert menu, but why be

predictable? Choose the chocolate-banana tart.

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Jan 28

Latina Clips

Latina.com Local
Lowdown

809
Sangria Bar & Grill
112 Dyckman Street
212-304-3800
Cross Street: Between Post and Nagle avenues
www.809restaurant.com

809 owner
Cirilo Moronta is banking that Inwood is ready for an upscale take on
Caribbean classics. The clubby restaurant, named for the DR´s area
code, borrows from more than Santo Domingo. Dainty arepas topped with
a trio of shredded chicken, pork picadillo and ropa vieja are among recommended
starters. The seafood-heavy menu includes the show stopping pargo relleno,
a whole red snapper stuffed with seafood risotto and a lightly spiced
coconut-tomato sauce. The mix and match churrascaria will appeal to carnivores
who want to choose their cut of meat, side and sauce. The pulsing upstairs
lounge going strong Thursday through Sunday draws crowds. If you´re
looking for a quieter meal, head downstairs—on a recent weeknight,
a prime ivory leather corner banquette was filled with a family, newborn
and toddlers in tow, proving that you don´t need to be famous to
get the VIP treatment.

Alma
Grill
134 East 48th Street
212-593-8387
Cross Street: Between Lexington and Third Avenue

Alma Grill is the handiwork of music mogul Ralph Mercado yet isn't strictly
Latin American in style. Cream tones, rich brown accents and metal beaded
curtains give the impression of a tasteful hotel, which makes sense since
the stylish restaurant is attached to a Midtown Radisson and primarily serves
its guests. Luckily, the food rises above corporate blandness and should
attract a broader clientele. Guaranteed favorites like steak frites and
roast chicken are available but creative flair can be found in tuna glazed
with rum and served with citrus salsa and quinoa salad, as well as lobster
ceviche punched up with Thai chiles and passion fruit. Don't pass up the
Alma trio, showcasing of mini versions of crème brule, coconut flan
and buttermilk panna cotta.

Barzola
197 Meserole Avenue
718-381-4343
Cross Street: Between Humboldt Street and Bushwick Avenue

This mirrored
to the max Ecuadorian eatery on a residential Bushwick avenue bustles,
even in the traditionally Puerto Rican enclave. The seaport city of Guayaquil
is represented by a ceviche-heavy menu. Deep bowls of octopus, shrimp
or black clams (when they're available) swim in a blush-colored soup of
lime juice tangled with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. The broth is a
reputed hangover cure, though if you order Pilsener, the national beer,
the healthy properties might be counteracted. Humitas—sweet,
cornhusk wrapped cheese and corn tamale—are a welcome change from
also popular starches: rice and plantains.

Bonita
338 Bedford Avenue

718-384-9500
Cross Street: Between South 2nd and 3rd streets
Bonita
has been given the Williamsburg treatment. By retaining the original retro
charm of a former Latin eatery, and keeping the subway tiles, counter
stools and glowing comida criollas sign intact, Mexican food
has been made hip. The menu is short and sweet, focusing on tacos and
burritos. Daily specials like guajillo roasted pork shouldn't
be ignored, though. Guacamole mashed in a molcajete the size
of a wash tub, and Baja-style fried fish tacos with chile mayonnaise have
won over locals. And the three table salsas: verde, chipotle and pico
de gallo, are all fresher and spicier than you might expect in this Brooklyn
enclave.

Buenos
Aires
513 E. Sixth Street
212-228-2775
Cross Street: Between avenues A and B

Argentinean
beef is what´s for dinner at this often-packed East Village steakhouse.
Diners can choose from eight different cuts of grilled meat or make like
a hungry gaucho and order the parrillada teeming with sweetbreads,
short ribs, skirt steak, kidneys and two types of sausage. Vegetables
are offered in the form of perfectly crisped french fries, ensalada
rusa—a potato salad with green peas, carrots and mayonnaise—and
baked spinach and cheese empanadas. South American wine is an obvious
choice, though a bottle of Quilmes beer feels right when soccer matches
are being broadcast on overhead televisions.

El
Castillo de Jagua
113 Rivington Street
212-982-6412
Cross Street: Between Essex and Ludlow streets

Savor a
rapidly disappearing segment of the Lower East Side at this Dominican
stalwart. Florescent lights, linoleum, big portions and low prices are
all part of the package. Old timers huddle over steaming bowls of hearty
sancocho at the counter while the occasional newcomer stops in
for a Cuban sandwich and a bottle of Presidente. Early birds can have
mangú for breakfast: the mashed plantains are served with
eggs, fried cheese and salami or a gut-busting combination of all three.
Just like an old-fashioned diner, coconut and chocolate cakes are displayed
on covered glass pedestals near the cash register.

Chiles
& Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
54 Seventh Avenue
718-230-7700
Cross Street: Between Lincoln and St. Johns places

This diminutive
Park Slope restaurant that opened in early 2007 boldly states, "We
are not a Mexican restaurant." Instead, they've declared their allegiance
to the regional cuisine of Oaxaca, which translates to rich, complex moles
in three styles: negro, verde and coloradito.
All can be applied to chicken breast, stewed pork or grilled vegetables.
The classic thick, burnished negro mole contains over twelve ingredients,
including chocolate, sesame seeds and plantains. In their effort to strive
for authenticity, ancient beverages like champurrado, a warm
corn and chocolate concoction, is offered, and guacamole is optionally
served topped with fried chapulin—yes, grasshoppers!

Citrus
320 Amsterdam Avenue
212-595-0500
Cross Street: 75th Street
www.citrusnyc.com/citrus/citrus.html

Latin and
Japanese food smoothly co-exist at this cavernous Upper West Side restaurant
washed with orange accents. If it's too tough to choose between shrimp
fajitas or tempura, the ultimate roll combination is the perfect compromise.
Raw fish is paired with mango, avocados and bananas, wrapped in seaweed
and served with spicy dipping sauces like creamy wasabi, chipotle and
scallion soy. Dessert can be skipped in lieu of a key lime pie cocktail
composed of Absolut vanilla, pineapple and lime juice in a sugar-rimmed
glass.

Flor's
Kitchen
170 Waverly Place
212-229-9926
Cross Street: Between Sixth and Seventh avenues
florskitchen.com

Venezuelan
food is scarce in the city, and fading fast—Flor's Kitchen shuttered
their East Village location in February 2007. The surviving cozy bi-level
West Village spot is a diverse and date-friendly nook. Start with quintessential
arepas or simply make a light meal out of the stuffed corn cakes. Substantial
dishes like pabellón criollo, saucy shredded meat served
with maduros and black beans, are also available. Cachapas, sweet,
gooey, corn-studded pancakes topped with melted paisa cheese are worth
the estimated 15-minute wait.

Gonzalez
y Gonzalez
625 Broadway
212-473-8787
Cross Street: Between West Houston and Bleecker streets

Sure, this
impossible-to-miss cantina is cheesy figuratively and literally, but sometimes
you're in the mood for nachos, neon lights and a giant sombrero. Avoid
the pricey guacamole and stick to Mexican-American favorites like carne
asada burritos, enchiladas suizas or decadent drinking snacks like jalapeño
kisses, cheese and shrimp stuffed poppers wrapped in bacon. Gonzalez y
Gonzalez boasts NYC's longest bar—margaritas are almost standard
issue on every table. The festive décor and biweekly salsa lessons
draw crowds from nearby NYU, as well as the Angelika Film Center around
the corner.

Itzocan
Bistro
1575 Lexington Avenue
212-423-0255
Cross Street: 101st Street

In
2004, brothers Anselmo and Fermin Bello parlayed their behind-the-scenes
cooking talent into their own ambitious Mexican-French restaurant, incongruously
placed in Spanish Harlem. The shoebox-sized corner bistro romances couples
with a candlelit vibe featuring folk art, Frida Kahlo paintings and, oddly,
an '80s greatest hits soundtrack. Unctuous goat cheese flan spiked with
jalapeño and epazote, spicy seafood pozole, rich with
oregano, hominy, mussels, firm snapper and jumbo shell-on shrimp, exemplifies
their Franco-Hispanic style. And their desserts, like the tequila chocolate
cake with brown sugar ice cream, are reason enough to squeeze your way
into this welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Izalco
6405 Roosevelt Avenue
718-533-8373
Cross Street: Between 64th and 65th streets

Pupusas
are quintessentially Salvadoran, and this whimsically decorated Woodside
restaurant serves wonderful examples. Take in pictures of the namesake
volcano and clay-tiled indoor roof inhabited by fake iguanas and an armadillo
while trying the stuffed, grilled corn cakes. Choose from chicharron,
cheese, frijoles or revuelta, a mix of all three. Curtido,
a pickled cabbage slaw (sometimes available with papaya), thin, lightly
spiced tomato sauce and a bottle of Suprema beer are necessary accompaniments.
This isn't light fare; easily sharable meat-based entrees are served with
rice, beans, cheese, sweet plantains and corn tortillas. Simple and satisfying
res con salpicon, beef soup, is a weekend favorite.

Malagueta
25-35 36th Avenue
718-937-4821
Cross Street: 28th Street

Show
up early for Malagueta´s Saturday-only feijoada, the Brazilian
national dish of stewed black beans, pork, sausage, ribs and bacon served
with collard greens and farofa (toasted manioc flour)—it
frequently sells out before dinner time. This candlelit white tablecloth
café on a quiet Astoria corner melds the tropical moqueca de
camarao, a Bahian-style shrimp stew with palm oil, peppers and coconut
milk, with dishes you wouldn´t expect on the streets of São
Paulo, like lombo de porco, pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes
and bacon vinaigrette. For a sweet finale, chocolate mousse is just as
popular as manjar, their coconut pudding.

Margon
136 West 46th Street
212-354-5013
Cross Street: Between Sixth and Seventh avenues
www.margonrestaurant.com

Midtown's Cuban-style, Dominican-run holdout hasn't changed in years.
Three brown vinyl stools facing three foil-wrapped sandwich presses greet
you as you squeeze into the entryway. A long row of steam tables filled
with a changing roster of daily specials stretches out to the left. Lunchtime
hordes line up for aluminum containers of pernil or tripe with rice and
beans, but the star might be the toasty sandwiches Cubanos: roasted pork,
ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard are warmed and flattened into compact
torpedoes and the inclusion of unorthodox salami slices add extra oomph.

Mojito
82 Washington Avenue
718-797-3100
Cross Street: Between Park and Flushing avenues
mojitocubancuisine.net

Housed
in the ground floor of luxury lofts on a gritty block near Brooklyn's
Navy Yard, Mojito seems deliciously out of place. A Cuban cigar box motif
blends with the exposed pipes, cement floor industrial-chic, and attracts
Clinton Hill denizens and Pratt students in droves. The freebie garlic
bread with three piquant dipping sauces promises good things to come.
Gently priced ropa vieja and chuletas don't disappoint,
though a less conventional entrée-sized mojito churrasco salad
overflowing with grilled chicken, mango, white cheese, avocados, tomatoes
and fried onions is a satisfying alternative for the rice and bean averse.
Tumbler-sized mojitos are powerful: you've got fifteen—yep, 15—different
rums to choose from!

Palo
Santo
652 Union Street
718-636-6311
Cross Street: Between 4th and 5th avenues
www.palosanto.us

Occupying
the ground floor of a Park Slope brownstone, Palo Santo exudes folksy
chic. Chunky wooden furniture, colorful mosaics and Andean murals lend
a handcrafted touch, while the inventive food also carries a personal
imprint. Half-Haitian chef and owner Jacques Gautier melds Caribbean and
South American flavors into an ever-changing collection of dishes that
are prepared in an open kitchen flanked by bar seating (patrons in these
perches can order a $45 chef´s tasting menu). Expect things like
seafood asopado, a soupy rice, and obscure herbs that might give
a botanist pause. Duck medallions in mole sauce are accompanied with a
black bean-topped corn cake graced with fronds of Mexican papalo
and pepicha. Don´t forget a full wallet—the establishment
is cash only.

Pardo's
92 Seventh Avenue South
212-488-3900
Cross Street: Between Grove and Barrow streets

Peruvian chicken chains are nothing new in NYC, but this
West Village poultry purveyor is the only one straight out of Lima. To
the delight of homesick South Americans, the first U.S. outpost opened
in December 2006 and has been doing brisk business with all nationalities.
Marinated in 14 secret ingredients (likely including indigenous huacatay),
pollo brasa is unquestionably the main attraction. Tacu tacu,
rice and bean croquettes, yuquitas, yucca fries and knobby Inca
corn on the cob are choice sides, and tiny ramekins of mayonnaise and
pale yellow aji sauce arrive as dips. Brave souls should investigate anticuchos,
grilled beef heart slices on skewers. A list of cocktails is worth a look,
from traditional frothy pisco sour to the thoroughly modern Piscopolitan.

Pasita
47 Eighth Avenue
212-255-3900
Cross Street: Between Horatio and Jane Streets
www.pasitanyc.com

The glowing
wood-fired oven is a focal point in this welcoming West Village wine bar
decorated with dangling lamps and swank decades-old Spanish magazine ads.
Thin, charred-edge pizzas topped with ropa vieja and manchego
or shredded chicken and crema fresca might belie Pasita´s South
American roots, but Venezuelan tapas called pasapalos also complement
the reasonably priced list of South American and Spanish vino. Red pepper
and cumin-covered cheese puffs, tequeños or arepitas,
mini corn cakes with guasacaca (an avocado salsa) and nata cheese
pair up nicely with a glass of fruity Zolo Malbec from Argentina.

Pio
Pio
264 Cypress Avenue
718-401-3300
Cross Street: Between East 138th and 139th streets

The Bronx branch of one of NYC's favorite Peruvian pollo
specialists is an airy Mott Haven escape. Lilting acoustic guitar and
saffron colored walls decorated with Incan glyphs attract extended families
that linger over the generous matador combo. The plates just keep on coming,
along with a whole rotisserie chicken and a delicious green mayo-based
chile dipping sauce. Expect a whirlwind of rice and beans, avocado salad,
tostones and salchipapas, a loco mix of french fries and
frankfurters. (Why didn't anyone think of that before?!) Earthenware pitchers
of fruit-laden sangria complete the well-rounded meal.

Real
Azteca
1013 E. 163rd Street
718-860-1566
Cross Street: Between Simpson Street and Southern Boulevard

This tiny
Hunts Point taqueria could easily go unnoticed, and since it's
not in a particularly Mexican neighborhood, traditions aren't strictly
adhered to. Atypical items like shredded lettuce and tomato come default
on tacos and hamburgers are even on the menu. But the griddle filled to
capacity with quesadillas is a tip-off to their specialty: Tortillas are
crafted from fresh masa and pressed before your eyes. Fillings include
mushrooms, huitlacoche or chile strips and are held together
with melted muenster cheese. Real Azteca's owners hail from Michoacán
in southern Mexico, and their weekends-only birria, a spicy goat
stew, is a hallmark of the region.

Sabrosura
1200 Castle Hill Avenue
718-597-1344
Cross Street: Gleason Avenue
www.sabrosurarestaurant.com

Bronx accents
mingle with Spanish and Chinese at this nautically themed Castle Hill
institution. As Chino-Latino joints dwindle, this crowd pleaser keeps
churning out old-school fusion like avocado adorned chofan, chicharron
and chicken studded fried rice. Plantains and yucca get equal billing
as lo mein and linguini on the laminated picture menu. Inventions such
as inside-out mofongo—formed into a bowl shape and filled
with creole-sauced meat or seafood—are the result of owner Nelson
Ng´s seven years in the Dominican Republic.

Salud!
Restaurant & Bar
142 Beekman Street
212-566-2220
Cross Street: Front Street

Lazily whirling ceiling fans, plantation blinds, and congas in the corner
might make you forget that you´re steps away from the South Street
Seaport. This slice of Miami on the East River draws hungry shoppers and
an after work crowd seeking mojitos and Pan-Latino tapas. Artfully plated
tasting portions of maduros filled with spicy beef and Monterey jack, Ecuadorian
shrimp ceviche and lobster tacos are snacky options, while full-sized entrees
like seafood paella and grilled Argentinean skirt steak will satisfy larger
appetites. Live Cuban jazz fills the small, multi-tiered space on Tuesday
and Thursday nights.

San
Antonio Bakery #2
36-20 Astoria Boulevard
718-777-8733
Cross Street: 37th Street
www.panaderiachilena.com

Owner Ruben
Guzman, is practically Astoria's ambassador to everything Chilean. Everyone
receives a warm welcome, even if there's not a South American bone in
their body. Substantial, baked empanadas filled with chopped beef, green
olives, raisins and hard boiled egg are a good starting point. Completos,
hot dogs topped with avocado, sauerkraut, mayonnaise and tomatoes are
presented on a little red plastic stand and can be found on nearly every
table. Lomitos and churrascos, pork and beef sandwiches
come with similar toppings on chewy freshly baked rolls. The front glass
case is lined with dulce de leche treats like alfajores, meringue
covered cookies. Don't forget to try a can of Pap, a Chilean papaya soda.
If you're curious where San Antonio #1 is—that's in Long Island,
where all of the baking is done.

Sofrito
400 East 57th Street
212-754-5999

When you consider that in New York, finding Puerto Rican
fare that's not served from steam tables at a lunch counter is rare, you'll
soon realize that the moderately-priced sit-down restaurant Sofrito is
quite unique. When you consider that it's restaurateur Jimmy Rodriguez's
latest venture, it makes perfect sense. Jimmy brings glitz, punchy cocktails
and sweeping chic to an otherwise subdued Sutton Place street. Flaky pastelitos
are a great way to start, and since you can choose beef, chicken, shrimp
or vegetable fillings, no one's left out. Boricua delights have been prettied
up and the mariscos are irresistible. Try the creamy seafood
stew teeming with shrimp, crab legs and served with tostones
on the side or the crispy red snapper bulging with coconut rice stuffing.

Sophie's
Cuban Cuisine
73 New Street
212-809-7755
Cross Street: Between Beaver Street and Exchange Place
www.sophiescuban.com

A Peruvian
family, the Lunas, have modernized the classic Latin lunch counter into
a successful chain—their fifth location opened March 2007 in midtown.
Sophie's filling and reasonably priced beans and rice combos appeal to
all strata of office workers, it's nearly impossible to snag a seat between
noon and 2 pm and the take-out line is consistently long. The unmistakable
scent of roasted pork wafts onto the sidewalk, and must be the reason
why the pernil is a menu mainstay, Monday through Friday. Other
specials like stewed goat and oxtails are only available select days of
the week. Cubanos are also a hit and a quick snack can be made of the
fried empanadas displayed in the window.

Tacos
Matamoros
4503 Fifth Avenue
718-871-7627
Cross Street: Between 45th and 46th streets

Sunset Park is teeming with taquerias, and Tacos Matamoros
is a Fifth Avenue favorite. Jukebox ballads serenade families and couples
in the sparsely-furnished dining room. Pint-sized tacos are only a buck
a pop, so take advantage and experiment with fillings! Pork al pastor
sliced from the twirling spit is a stand out, but don't shy away from
tripa or lengua. Hearty tortas and cemitas
are safe bets and simple platters of grilled bistec with tomato-speckled
rice and cotija-sprinked beans are satisfying. You won´t find cervezas
on the menu, but sweet horchata and tangy tamarindo
are on tap.

Tapeo
29
29 Clinton Street
212-979-0002
Cross Street: Stanton Street
www.tapeo29.com

What's
a wine bar without snacks? Tapeo 29, secluded behind a heavy unmarked
door on a Lower East Side corner, provides tasting flights of wine with
appropriate Spanish accompaniments. After choosing between red or white,
you'll be given three generous glasses and an equal amount of cheeses
or tapas. Your wedges might include murcia, a goat cheese with
a wine-soaked rind, smoky idiazabal and sharp cheddar-like
mahon. Tapas range from simple olives and grilled garlic shrimp to
bacon-wrapped dates and chorizo braised in cider. Diners can sit at the
prominent U-shaped bar or share tables against the brick walls of the
dimly-lit room.

Tierras
Colombianas
8218 Roosevelt Avenue
718-426-8868
Cross Street: Between 82nd and 83rd streets

Jackson Heights has Colombian options galore, but this
roomy, booth-only diner can almost guarantee that no one leaves hungry:
its speciality, Bandeja campesina, is a quick introduction to
the cuisine and practically serves as breakfast, lunch and dinner in one!
An oval platter barely manages to contain layers of steak, sweet plantains,
soupy red beans, white rice, strip of chicharron, arepa, eggs sunny-side
up and avocado slices. Daintier options include soups of the day like
Saturday's chicken or Wednesday's ox tail served with an arepa. Frothy
fruit batidos are refreshing and lulo (similar to an
orange) is muy Colombiano.

Ureña
37 East 28th Street
212-213-2328
Cross Street: Between Park and Madison avenues
urena-nyc.com

In early
2006 Dominican chef-owner Alex Ureña opened his avant-garde Spanish
namesake in the Flatiron district. The narrow room draped in hushed cream,
brown and burnt sienna tones attracts upscale clientele and foodies seeking
creative flavor pairings. Texturas de foie gras is a decadent
triple threat. Paté is presented wonton style with plum puree,
in a terrine with cocoa and chocolate and mixed with yogurt and currants
in a tiny cup. Cubes of glistening suckling pig crown wilted lettuce and
shiitakes and are surrounded by green apple puree and truffle sauce in
the cochinillo confitado. Sparkling cava makes perfect sense
with the elegantly quirky fare.

La
Vuelta
10-43 44th Drive
718-361-1858
Cross Street: Between 10th and 11th streets
www.lavueltabistro.com

This Latino
bistro is literally a beacon on an otherwise desolate stretch in Long
Island City. Reasonably priced lunches appeal to nearby Citibank workers,
but at night things get more ambitious. Local art enhances the brick walls,
DJs play world beats and deep house on Friday nights and their garden
patio is a warm-weather option. Country-hop with Argentinean skirt steak
with mashed potatoes and chimichurri salsa or tropical grilled shrimp
with coconut rice and pineapple jalapeño mojo. Brazilian cahaça-laced
caipirinhas go along with nearly everything.

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Jan 28

Writing Samples

Nymag.com
Restaurant Reviews

A
Fan Ti
AJ Maxwell's
Athens Tavern
Bistro Desaret
Brasil Coffee House
Cafe Noir
Caffe e' Vino
Cherin Sushi
La Casa del Pollo
Chao Thai
La Dolce Vita

Empire
Szechuan Village
Engeline's
Grand Sichuan House
Grayz
Great Burrito
Happy Family
Ihawan
King
5 Noodle House
Lucky Mojo
Mazzat
My Kitchen
Om Tibet
The Park Room
Palm Court

Pomaire

Potluck
Poodam's
Reds Produce
Ren Ren

Schnitzel Haus
Sheng Wang
Time Cafe
Tokyo La Men
Le Train Bleu

Village Pizza
Wok to Walk

Wondee
Siam

New
York Post

Best 10 Websites to Get You Started Going Green
Eco-friendly spots on the web

Stand
and Deliver
Guide to the Red Hook ball field vendors, plus how to eat a mango Latino-style
Top
25 Influentials
Annual list of the top New York Latino movers and shakers
Food
of the Mayans
Discovering culinary treats from Southern and Central America
'Dog'
Days
Where to find South American hot dogs (part of a summer food guide)
Some
Like it Hot
A sample of the best spicy sauces on the shelf–from mild to positively
volcanic
Real-deal
Meals
Don't get conned by counterfeit Latin cuisine, try these bona-fried feasts
The
Food of Love
These aphrodisiac entrees will spice up your Valentine's Day
Strange
Brew
This new Mexican concoction is creating quite a "buzz"
Gotta
Empanada
The Latino turnover moves away from meat fillings

Soccer and Tacos
Visit this Red Hook Park if your
goal is sampling scrumptious snacks

Pecking Order
A battle of the best Latin birds
Party
Down in Chinatown
Ring in the Lunar New Year with a downtown bar binge
Booze Run
Find the perfect drinking spot to watch the marathoners trot
Block-toberfest
Enjoy the best of the wurst in one Queens neighborhood

Latina.com
Local Lowdown

809
Sangria Bar & Grill
Alma Grill
Barzola
Bonita
Buenos Aires
El Castillo de Jagua
Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen

Citrus
Flor's Kitchen
Gonzalez y Gonzalez
Itzocan Bistro
Izalco
Malagueta
Margon
Mojito
Palo Santo
Pardo's
Pasita
Pio Pio
Real Azteca
Sabrosura
Salud! Restaurant & Bar
San Antonio Bakery #2
Sofrito
Sophie's Cuban Cuisine
Tacos Matamoros
Tapeo 29
Tierras Colombianas
Ureña
La Vuelta

Time
Out New York
Eating and Drinking Guide

Basta
Pasta
Cafe
Centro
Cafe Lalo
Cyclo
Delia's
Lounge

Dock's Oyster Bar
Galanga
Good World Bar and Grill
La Bonne Soupe

Peggy O'Neill's

Pravda
Remi
Rising
Cafe
Sunny's Bar

The
Village Voice
Close-Up On:

Sunset Park, Brooklyn [text]
[web]
Ridgewood, Queens [text] [web]

Contact Me
krista.garcia@gmail.com

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Jan 13

Latina.com Local Lowdown

809
Sangria Bar & Grill
112 Dyckman Street
212-304-3800
Cross Street: Between Post and Nagle avenues
www.809restaurant.com

809 owner
Cirilo Moronta is banking that Inwood is ready for an upscale take on
Caribbean classics. The clubby restaurant, named for the DR´s area
code, borrows from more than Santo Domingo. Dainty arepas topped with
a trio of shredded chicken, pork picadillo and ropa vieja are among recommended
starters. The seafood-heavy menu includes the show stopping pargo relleno,
a whole red snapper stuffed with seafood risotto and a lightly spiced
coconut-tomato sauce. The mix and match churrascaria will appeal to carnivores
who want to choose their cut of meat, side and sauce. The pulsing upstairs
lounge going strong Thursday through Sunday draws crowds. If you´re
looking for a quieter meal, head downstairs—on a recent weeknight,
a prime ivory leather corner banquette was filled with a family, newborn
and toddlers in tow, proving that you don´t need to be famous to
get the VIP treatment.

Alma
Grill
134 East 48th Street
212-593-8387
Cross Street: Between Lexington and Third Avenue

Alma Grill is the handiwork of music mogul Ralph Mercado yet isn't strictly
Latin American in style. Cream tones, rich brown accents and metal beaded
curtains give the impression of a tasteful hotel, which makes sense since
the stylish restaurant is attached to a Midtown Radisson and primarily serves
its guests. Luckily, the food rises above corporate blandness and should
attract a broader clientele. Guaranteed favorites like steak frites and
roast chicken are available but creative flair can be found in tuna glazed
with rum and served with citrus salsa and quinoa salad, as well as lobster
ceviche punched up with Thai chiles and passion fruit. Don't pass up the
Alma trio, showcasing of mini versions of crème brule, coconut flan
and buttermilk panna cotta.

Barzola
197 Meserole Avenue
718-381-4343
Cross Street: Between Humboldt Street and Bushwick Avenue

This mirrored
to the max Ecuadorian eatery on a residential Bushwick avenue bustles,
even in the traditionally Puerto Rican enclave. The seaport city of Guayaquil
is represented by a ceviche-heavy menu. Deep bowls of octopus, shrimp
or black clams (when they're available) swim in a blush-colored soup of
lime juice tangled with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. The broth is a
reputed hangover cure, though if you order Pilsener, the national beer,
the healthy properties might be counteracted. Humitas—sweet,
cornhusk wrapped cheese and corn tamale—are a welcome change from
also popular starches: rice and plantains.

Bonita
338 Bedford Avenue
718-384-9500
Cross Street: Between South 2nd and 3rd streets
Bonita
has been given the Williamsburg treatment. By retaining the original retro
charm of a former Latin eatery, and keeping the subway tiles, counter
stools and glowing comida criollas sign intact, Mexican food
has been made hip. The menu is short and sweet, focusing on tacos and
burritos. Daily specials like guajillo roasted pork shouldn't
be ignored, though. Guacamole mashed in a molcajete the size
of a wash tub, and Baja-style fried fish tacos with chile mayonnaise have
won over locals. And the three table salsas: verde, chipotle and pico
de gallo, are all fresher and spicier than you might expect in this Brooklyn
enclave.