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15 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
Even though it's a beautiful Monday out there we still were feeling the inability to make the hard decision of where to go for lunch or even what to have so we took a short stroll around the block to our favorite hidden gem of a restaurant, Zero Otto Nove, for our usual meal of salade di tonno and the carmanuccio pizza. As usual, treated liked queens.
16 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
It looks like the name is not the only thing transitioning at Lenny's. As they move to Lenwich by Lenny's, they have transformed the space at 23rd St as well. I don't know if the other locations will or have followed suit, but it was a pleasure to walk into Lenny's last week to pick-up our sandwich. The system is still a little chaotic, but at least the waiting area is brightened, a little larger and definitely a cheerier place to wait.
1291 Third Ave, NY, NY 10021
Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Not in our regular lunching neighborhood but sure wish it were
M. was shocked that I had never had the burger at JG Melon, and when I took that first bite, I too was shocked. It's a New York burger experience like going to Corner Bistro and having a messy one on paper plates. In every bite of the burger at JG Melon I could taste the decades of char that had accumulated on the grill. The crunchy exterior, juicy interior and super soft bun make for a superior burger. Definitely worth going, especially if you're in the 'hood already.
14 E. 23rd St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Once in a solid while
Last time the blackened salmon over collard greens at Live Bait took us by surprise. On the second tasting it's firmly moved into a solid meal every once in a while. I wish we could find something else on the veggie side to accompany the salmon entree share. We tried an extra order of collard greens but the side dish doesn't soak the flavors as much as it does under the salmon. And, I even hesitate to say this, but there was actually too much bacon.
10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10019
Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: Rarely
We tried to have a last minute birthday lunch for M today at the Hudson Hotel but were turned away because of a private party. Which normally would have been whatever, but I actually called yesterday for a reservation and was told they only take reservations for parties over 6 and that at 1pm I should have NO PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. Probably that could have been a true statement if they weren't closed for a private party. I was so annoyed I decided not to speak until we sat down to an actual lunch, many minutes later at Landmarc. Where we all had terribly dressed salads. Wimpy and barely dressed, we left half the promising chopped salad on the plate. Maggie did very much enjoy the lardons in her frisee though. All in all an epic birthday lunch fail except for the very lovely company of M and her gal pals.
30 W. 26th St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: A - Excellent
Visits: As much as we can
You know Hill Country BBQ has this funny ticket system, where the hostess gives you a paper ticket and you have to present it at the various stations. When you leave, the cashier tallies and rings you out. It is a really great system when you're having a huge office lunch with lots of people and everyone wants different things but no one wants to get stuck with someone else's indulgences. It's not so awesome when you just want a chocolate chip cookie. Which we stop by often for. Today the hostess led us over to the dessert station, went behind to get us a cookie while we stared in awe at the tray filled with the most beautiful chocolate chip cookies. Normally there is a jar behind the cashier so we don't get the full effect but we were drooling.
48 W. 27th St, NY, NY 10001
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Often
The lentil bowl is still good at the Bombay Sandwich Co., though the board says "French lentils" and online says "Yellow lentils". You can clearly see which it was. Me personally I have a slight preference for the brown ones but don't mind the yellow either.
15 E. 18th St, NY 10003
Rating: C - Average
Visits: Once in a while
We walked over to Tarallucci for dessert and were disappointed to see the bar emptied of sweets but as M. had already committed to walking through the front door to check, the hostess assured us there were still desserts to be had, though none were in sight. And sure enough, the server pulled out trays and trays of pastries from behind the bar to show us.
8 W 18th St, NY , NY 10010
Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
For no particular reason, I'm sure, we usually get sat in the back or upstairs at Ootoya. Today we were upfront, just behind the bar, where I feel they always like to put the Asian ladies who come dine with their adorable little pudge face babies.
174 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Not as often as we should be going.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are meatloaf days at Eisenberg's. Truthfully it could be the best diner meatloaf out there but it would just make us miss The Stage's meatloaf. And speaking of The Stage, they only need a small handful more of donations to help out with the fees it is costing them to try and reopen. Donate here. It's a worthy cause, if only for the pierogi's alone. #savenyc
Rating: A - Excellent
I wonder, is it possible to make a bad batch of rice krispies treats?
45 E. 18th St, NY, NY 10003
Rating: 2 - Super Happy
Visits: Often
We love Old Town. Our meal of hot dogs and chili is also pretty much the precise opposite of the meal we had at Haven's Kitchen the day before.
109 W. 17th St, NY, NY 10011
Rating: C - Average
Visits: First time
The flavors are nice, but the lack of proper moisture makes this coffee cake meh at best.
109 W. 17th St, NY, NY 10011
Rating: 4 - Just Fine
Visits: Once in awhile.
The freshness of the food at Haven's Kitchen is always enjoyable but we can't help but feeling a little ripped off. $11 for a soup and salad combo could be fine, but when the portions are as small as you see below, something seems off.
101 W. 23rd St, NY, NY 10011
Rating: B - Above Average
Visits: rarely, in the city
You would have to be hiding under a rock today or sworn off social media to not know that it was #nationaldonutday. We tried a couple of our local places only to find lines of people waiting for their free donut or a chance to win free donuts for a year or whatever. We finally ended up at the little Dunkin Donuts on 23rd just west of 6th Ave. Sheesh. On the bright side, they were giving away free donuts with a coffee purchase so they must have been cranking out new donuts all day long and the ones we had were as good as it gets.
12 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Gradually moving to our regular list
Koa is growing on us. The interior remains too large and a little too posh for lunch but $15 lunch sets that include a salad, spring rolls and a nice bowl of ramen or a huge plate of chicken is a pretty good deal.
41 E. 78th St, NY, NY 10021
Rating: A - Excellent
Visits: Too far to be more frequent.
I stopped by the French Embassy's new French/English bookstore, Albertine, today and as I walked toward the subway on the one block north of my normal route, I passed by Lady M. I knew it was in the Upper East but not exactly where so the sight of those beautiful cakes pretty much stopped me in my tracks. Lady M makes the famed, and delicious, mille crepe cakes but the strawberry shortcake called to me instead. It's so rare to find a really well done strawberry shortcake with the lightest of cream layers.
1123 Broadway, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Regularly
This beautiful looking fried chicken sandwich at Hill Country Chicken is as good as it looks, which is to say really, really good. The menu is a little tweaked at Hill Country, but essentially the same. I do love the big diagram explaining the difference between Mama El's and Classic, as I wonder every single time which it is I prefer (Mama El's).
22 E. 21st St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visits: Frequently
Something was off about the green beans at Homes Kitchen today, but that did not prevent us from enjoying our meal.
5 E. 20th St, NY, NY 10012
Rating: C - Average
Visit #: 3
In brief: A good solid choice for afternoon sweet.
64 W. 22nd St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: B - Above Average
Visit #: 3
In brief: This time M. goes for coconut pecan and is veeeery pleased. I stick to peanut butter and am satisfied. 
15 W. 21st St, NY, NY 10010
Rating: 3 - Feeling Good
Visit #: 11
In brief: We finally try something new at Zero Otto Nove! 
It's hard not to want our usual shared pizza and salad combo at Zero Otto Nove, but per their recommendation, M. has the linguini con vongole and I try the radiatori in cartocci. Stellar choices! It's not a cheap option if you're looking for inexpensive pasta, but if you're looking for really good food, Zero Otto Nove is a sure bet.
