tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71253785795437655212012-01-27T18:11:16.244-08:00A guide on the New York restaurant scene, focusing on little-known restaurants in Manhattan and the Outer Boroughs. The blog's owner is also the founder of <a href="http://www.hiddenboston.com"><u>Boston's Hidden Restaurants</u></a>, a Boston-based Web site, and <a href="http://www.bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/"><u>Boston Restaurant Talk</u></a>, a related blog. The site's owner has been to some of these restaurants, but also lists many that he hopes to try. Feel free to post reviews!Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.comBlogger701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-13147925831883002902009-05-14T12:56:00.000-07:002009-05-14T13:15:12.740-07:00

Manhattan is one of the greatest cities in the world for finding elegant, classy, high-end dining spots. But not everyone is looking for that kind of dining experience, which is why places such as the Portofino Grille in the Upper East Side can come as a breath of fresh air. The Portofino Grille, which sits on First Avenue between 63rd and 64th Streets, is a colorful old-school Italian restaurant

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-14538433983630709252009-04-22T13:12:00.000-07:002009-04-22T13:28:04.574-07:00

So we return to City Island here on this blog, as this Bronx neighborhood is in of itself a hidden gem that the vast majority of visitors to New York City never get to see. Earlier, we had talked about a seafood restaurant on City Island called the Lobster Box; this time around, we are also talking about a seafood restaurant (Sammy's Shrimp Box), and it just happens to be on the same street and

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-220381386952248502009-04-16T12:49:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:07:19.032-07:00

The West Village of Manhattan is a restaurant lover's dream, with nearly every kind of dining spot imaginable along its narrow, charming streets. And one part of the West Village that is perhaps visited a bit less--and hence an area packed with hidden gems--is the northwestern section of the neighborhood that borders the Meatpacking District. Within this area, and near the end (or beginning!) of

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-17866352565245985482009-04-14T12:22:00.000-07:002009-04-14T12:37:38.356-07:00

Staten Island may not seem the type of place that would have upscale or higher-end restaurants, but it does indeed have a few here and there mixed in with the chains and cheap eats places. And one that is considered by some to be among the best is a spot in the Dongan Hills section of the borough called Carol's Cafe. This cozy, comfortable spot located in the eastern part of Staten Island

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-66415038707869332072009-04-10T13:11:00.001-07:002009-04-10T13:27:38.663-07:00

When it comes to hamburgers, fresh is almost always better, which is probably why Joe's BestBurger (their spelling, not ours) in the Flushing section of Queens gets such good reviews for their burgers. But it's not the only thing that is fresh at this local favorite; the cheese they use is fresh, as are the veggies they put on their burgers. And the fries are handcut, which is also a big plus. In

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-21923251184206567772009-04-09T12:09:00.000-07:002009-04-09T12:28:24.113-07:00

Brooklyn, and New York in general, has restaurants that you will not find anywhere else. Where, for instance, would you find a dining spot that specializes in Senegalese cuisine? Indeed, there is such a place in the Clinton Hill section of the borough called Joloff that has been around since the mid-1990s, and is very well regarded by various critics and newspapers.Joloff is a small dining spot

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-19390784668791334922009-04-08T11:55:00.000-07:002009-04-08T12:13:23.123-07:00

Like burgers? Well, you're not alone. But where can you find a good burger in Brooklyn? Sure, there are a number of excellent pizza places, tremendous Italian restaurants, and all kinds of ethnic dining spots, but places with decent burgers sometimes seem to fly under the radar in this borough. One place that comes to mind is an American restaurant in Williamsburg called DuMont Restaurant. Now

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-37985820691315816502009-04-07T14:01:00.000-07:002009-04-07T14:14:49.628-07:00

So by now, we have covered nearly every type of cuisine imaginable in New York City...or have we? Well, perhaps not--we still have a few to cover, including Filipino food, and thanks to a hidden gem in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, we are able to cover that right now. The restaurant we are talking about is called the Kuma Inn, and while it isn't exactly a household name in Manhattan, it is

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-61076401469998078522009-04-02T13:58:00.000-07:002009-04-02T14:14:05.873-07:00

One of the nicest sections of the Bronx is a neighborhood just off of Route 95 on the eastern edge of the borough called Pelham Bay. It is mostly a middle-class community with attractive tree-shaded streets and a large number of single-family houses. It is also home to a handful of restaurants, including the Pelham Bay Diner. Located just northwest of where Route 95 intersects the Hutchinson

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-63584889297535877972009-04-01T12:38:00.000-07:002009-04-01T12:59:51.322-07:00

Authentic Mexican food can be great, but sometimes you just want food that leans more toward the Tex-Mex side of things. Unfortunately, for many people, the only nearby options for this kind of food are chain restaurants, some of which are not good at all. So that may be partly the reason why 5 Burro Cafe in the Forest Hills section of Queens is such a popular place with locals. It is an

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-12591287213277242832009-03-26T13:06:00.000-07:002009-03-26T13:23:02.242-07:00

While much of the best traditional thin-crust New York-style pizza is found in the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, both Queens and Staten Island have their share as well. And one place near the eastern edge of Staten Island called Salvatore of Soho can claim to be one of the better spots, partly because the owner used to make pizzas at one of the best pizza joints in the entire

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-38886233821882153332009-03-24T13:07:00.000-07:002009-03-24T13:24:49.782-07:00

A little while back, we mentioned the classic soul-food joint Sylvia's, which is in the Harlem section of Manhattan. Well, there is another Southern-style dining spot about 10 blocks south of Sylvia's that is also certainly worth mentioning. Indeed, Amy Ruth's Restaurant gets the same kind of rave reviews from people that Sylvia's does, and is just one more of many excellent restaurants in this

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-80274316311903718872009-03-23T13:32:00.000-07:002009-04-08T12:13:57.978-07:00

Mill Basin is one of seemingly countless neighborhoods within the Brooklyn borough of New York City. It is pretty far out in the borough, near the southwestern edge of Brooklyn and northeast of Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island, all of which are a good distance from Manhattan, But Mill Basin is still a pretty densely populated place and has a number of restaurants in the area, one

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-68034022405581701332009-03-20T12:04:00.000-07:002009-03-20T12:20:41.659-07:00

Being a restaurant reviewer, I rarely go to the same place more than once, especially when I'm outside of my hometown of Boston. But there are a few spots that are repeat places for me, including a nice little coffee shop/diner on the Upper West Side of Manhattan called the Viand Cafe. There is nothing outstanding about this place, but to me, it is a classic New York City breakfast and lunch spot

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-48045333873493074672009-03-19T12:10:00.000-07:002009-03-20T12:03:56.968-07:00

The South Bronx generally isn't known as a dining destination (and in fact is a place that many people try to avoid because of its dubious history), but there are some interesting dining spots here and there, including an old-fashioned Italian restaurant that has been around since the early 1950s. And while the Venice Restaurant may not be in an area that folks visit while in New York, it is a

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-69213952102920170782009-03-17T09:15:00.000-07:002009-03-17T09:29:39.540-07:00

Manhattan has countless Irish pubs, many of which have the authentic feel of watering holes across the pond on the Emerald Isle. But some are "more" authentic than others, and one place in the city that gets rave reviews for its authenticity is Molly's Pub and Restaurant on Third Avenue near Gramercy Park. Molly's, which has been around since 1960, is the real deal, with sawdust on the floor, a

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-27415893842564979072009-03-13T13:20:00.000-07:002009-03-13T13:41:49.254-07:00

Queens has a fairly large Romanian population, with many living in the Sunnyside section of the borough (just east of Manhattan, along Queens Boulevard). And not surprisingly, there are a number of Romanian restaurants in the area, including one with a mix of authentic Romanian cuisine and traditional entertainment called Casa Romana.Located right on Queens Boulevard, Casa Romana is easy to get

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-59295032072328722292009-03-09T13:10:00.000-07:002009-03-20T12:21:15.114-07:00

Manhattan seems to have a good number of nearly every type of restaurant one can imagine, but when it comes to Lebanese cuisine, there seem to be relatively few choices. Fortunately, there are a few options for Lebanese food, including a place that gets a lot of positive reviews called Byblos Restaurant, which is in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan. Byblos is a fairly spacious restaurant with

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-46354491538600392542009-02-19T13:21:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:32:10.570-08:00

A little while ago, we mentioned a Polish restaurant in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn called Karczma. Well, as we had mentioned in that posting, Greenpoint is home to a good many Polish people, so you would think that there would be other Polish dining spots in the area. Well, there are, including one just north of McCarren Park (and a few blocks south of Karczma) called Lomzynianka

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-53558843723546877792009-02-19T09:51:00.000-08:002009-02-19T10:04:35.500-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, there are many reasons to visit Staten Island. Its tree-shaded streets, open spaces, beautiful waterfront views, and interesting shops and restaurants make it a borough definitely worth checking out. And speaking of restaurants, there is one on the west side of the island (very close to New Jersey as the crow flies) that is a must for lovers of historic dining spots

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-40011671252488354142009-02-12T13:12:00.000-08:002009-02-12T13:28:34.846-08:00

Many, if not most pizza lovers who are familiar with Brooklyn probably know of such classic joints as Grimaldi's, Totonno's, Di Fara, and Spumoni Gardens. But buried within the streets of this enormous borough are some real neighborhood standouts that remain under the radar. One such place is Johnny's Pizzeria, an old-fashioned pizza joint in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn (between Bay

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-67136051527818179702009-02-10T12:55:00.000-08:002009-02-10T13:05:27.429-08:00

There are some truly great seafood restaurants in Manhattan, but many of them are so popular that it is nearly impossible to get a seat unless you have reservations. But if you are ever in the Lower East Side of the city, there is a seafood place that receives some very high praise and yet is far enough away from the crowds that it is possible to get a seat there on a moment's notice. The

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-12426528342366900612009-02-06T09:32:00.000-08:002009-02-06T09:53:11.348-08:00

There are finds, and then there are finds. And Il Toscano in the wealthy outer regions of Queens (Douglaston) certainly seems to be one. This Northern Italian restaurant is popular mainly with locals from this beautiful part of Queens as well as other sections of Long Island's North Shore (including the aptly-named Gold Coast). It is an attractive, intimate little restaurant that has been around

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-90333621669810037902009-02-03T13:41:00.000-08:002009-02-03T13:56:59.751-08:00

The Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan is kind of the "great unknown" to many visitors, even though it makes up a large section of the island. But to some, Harlem seems like a bit of a rough place, and one that tourists need not go to. This could not be further from the truth, as there is so much to see and do in this neighborhood, including museums, historic churches, interesting nightclubs, and

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-32912633655451741902009-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:002009-02-02T12:52:31.599-08:00

Even though much of New York City is located on or near the water, it is not as easy as you might think to find a restaurant with good water views, especially if you are looking for a casual, inexpensive place. But there is such a restaurant on the east shore of Staten Island called Cole's Dockside, and its views are indeed quite impressive.Cole's Dockside which has both indoor and outdoor dining

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-63205267698587966732009-01-30T12:56:00.000-08:002009-01-30T13:13:11.817-08:00

As much as some diners shrug off old-fashioned Southern Italian restaurants in favor of more upscale, refined Northern Italian dining spots, sometimes people just want to have a heaping plate of chicken, veal, or pasta at a reasonably-priced, unpretentious red-sauce joint. And if you happen to be in the Bronx, you have seemingly endless choices, including a local favorite in the East Bronx (in

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-44479106356653077222009-01-29T13:58:00.000-08:002009-01-29T14:15:15.406-08:00

The Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is sometimes seen as a section of the borough to avoid, but "Bed-Stuy" has a lot to offer, including a number of interesting dining spots that also happen to be off most people's radar. One example of this is a French-African restaurant called Le Toukouleur that would probably be hugely popular if it were in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn Heights. But

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-67446096415923106412009-01-28T13:11:00.000-08:002009-01-28T13:25:41.119-08:00

I just returned from another trip to Manhattan and went to several good restaurants. But perhaps none stick in my memory as much as a cozy little Italian restaurant on the edge of the West Village called Gaetana's. This dining spot, which is located near the Hudson River at the corner of Christopher Street and Greenwich Street, is quite an impressive place, but it gets little coverage in

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-64631647523691412512009-01-20T12:32:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:46:48.383-08:00

Way, way up in the Bronx, about as far as you can go and still be in New York City (and indeed right at the Yonkers border), is a close-knit Irish neighborhood called Woodlawn. It is a place full of Irish bakeries, pubs, and restaurants, and is a fine place to grab a burger and a Guinness while listening to traditional music. One such place is The Rambling House, a truly authentic Irish pub and

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-91783607484265200422009-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:002009-01-15T12:50:44.677-08:00

Let's face it; while most restaurants can be classified in one or maybe two categories, there are some dining spots for which it simply can't be done. Take Cheburechnaya in the Rego Park section of Queens, for example. Is it Kosher? Middle Eastern? Bukharian? Russian? Uzbek? Tajik? Well, the case can be made for any/all of these categories of cuisine. But no matter how you categorize

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-38764139837408806592009-01-13T13:27:00.000-08:002009-01-13T13:42:04.855-08:00

It wasn't all that long ago that and much of the section of Lower Manhattan called "Alphabet City" was seen as a place to stay away from. But much of this part of the East Village has greatly improved, and some parts are now quite popular with locals and tourists alike. And along with the improvements to Alphabet City are an influx of interesting restaurants, including a Cuban dining spot on

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-79532434880907137222009-01-12T12:18:00.000-08:002009-01-12T12:30:09.202-08:00

Thanks to an acquaintance of mine who grew up in Brooklyn, I have been concentrating on that borough of late, and this entry is no exception. Gargiulo's Restaurant, in his opinion, is a can't-miss place, and while it is anything but hidden to Brooklyn locals who have been coming here for years and years, folks outside of Coney Island and the rest of the borough might not know much about it. But

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-15313364465710111982009-01-09T13:22:00.000-08:002009-01-09T13:38:45.203-08:00

Many people tend to think of Greek restaurants as casual, cheap eats types of places that often do counter service or, if not, then perhaps sitdown service in little informal dining rooms. But in New York City, there are a number of upscale and high-end Greek restaurants that go way beyond the typical chicken lemon soup, spinach pie, grape leaves, and moussaka that the more casual Greek dining

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-17068106024522796282009-01-02T13:07:00.000-08:002009-01-08T13:25:18.960-08:00

Many of the restaurants that we mention within this blog feature cuisines that people might not be familiar with (and hence, are hidden gems in part because of this). And Lakruwana in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island certainly fits into this category. Lakruwana, which is located on Bay Street (a short distance south of the St. George Terminal where the ferry to Manhattan departs), is a

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-39994889089258273212008-12-19T14:49:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:21:45.536-08:00

Brooklyn has literally hundreds of Italian restaurants spread out over its many neighborhoods, with some, of course, better than others. And La Piazzetta, Restaurant and Bar, which makes its home in the Williamsburg neighborhood of the borough (right next to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway) appears to be one of the really good ones. La Piazzetta is located in a close-knit old-Brooklyn neighborhood

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-31331191537940225112008-12-14T12:17:00.000-08:002008-12-22T12:36:36.944-08:00

Not all of the best Italian restaurants in New York City are located in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Take, for example, Roberto's in the Belmont section of the Bronx (also known as Arthur Avenue, Fordham, and Little Italy). If this classic Italian dining spot were located in Manhattan, it would probably be much better known. But relatively few out-of-towners visit the Bronx, even though it has some

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-28394731932369052952008-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:002008-12-15T13:46:37.712-08:00

The Astoria neighborhood within the Long Island City section of Queens is a bustling area that is home to countless restaurants, including a number of Greek dining spots as well as some Eastern and Central European restaurants. In the latter category is a Czech restaurant on 24th Avenue that has the last original outdoor beer garden in the six boroughs of New York. The Bohemian Hall and Beer

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-84270740713736413352008-12-06T13:34:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:54:27.534-08:00

Hell's Kitchen might sound scary to people from out of town, but it is no longer the tough, gritty neighborhood (and yes, at times scary) place that it used to be. But while there has been some gentrification, Hell's Kitchen hasn't become the "in" place that neighborhoods such as TriBeCa and NoHo turned into. So it remains a secret place in some ways, with a lot of interesting points of interest

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-91344258147868754862008-12-04T17:42:00.001-08:002008-12-12T06:16:29.560-08:00

Sometimes folks who are visiting Manhattan (or who live there!) just want to go to a completely unpretentious, reasonably-priced restaurant without having to resort to a takeout place or a noisy college hangout. And while Manhattan has plenty of every kind of restaurant imaginable, including low-key, unflashy dining spots, sometimes it is difficult to find one if you don't know where they are. So

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-70678986258802241502008-12-03T13:24:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:55:52.055-08:00

The Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn is an interesting neighborhood with great water views, quiet side streets, and a downtown area that feels like a small town in some ways. But few would call Sheepshead Bay a true restaurant destination, especially compared with other sections of Brooklyn. Yes, there are some cozy neighborhood spots, but for diners looking for a wide variety of places to eat,

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-49102545043601792008-12-02T13:07:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:56:35.793-08:00

Have you ever been to Riverdale? Unless you live in New York (and even then it's not a guarantee), you probably have never heard of the place. Riverdale is a part of New York that feels nothing like the rest of the city. Indeed, parts of this Bronx neighborhood feel more like Westchester County or Southwestern Connecticut with its large homes, elegant shops, and tree-shaded streets. But Riverdale

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-24701847949225027402008-11-30T18:26:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:57:12.818-08:00

In our last post, we mentioned how the Bronx and Staten Island are in many ways the lesser-known of the five New York boroughs, though to be fair, the Bronx goes get its fair share of visitors. Staten Island, however, does not; it seems in many ways more of a suburb than a part of New York City. Because of this, visitors to the area often miss out on an area that has many points of interest, as

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-25720867060762482022008-11-25T15:58:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:57:51.420-08:00

Most visitors to New York City tend to stick to Manhattan, with a smaller number going to Brooklyn and Queens. Meanwhile, Staten Island and the Bronx see relatively little in the way of tourism and business travelers, which is a shame, as both boroughs have some real finds, including City Island in the Bronx. City Island is more like a seaside village than a part of the biggest cities in America.

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-2531197028311098352008-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:59:41.583-08:00

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's wealthiest neighborhoods and is a bit trendy in places, but it wasn't always this way. And there are still pockets of old Brooklyn in this charming area, including some old-fashioned Italian restaurants such as Tonio's Italian Cuisine, a little-known spot on 7th Avenue in the heart of the neighborhood. Tonio's is a family-owned dining spot that sticks to the basics

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-2111333669600897662008-11-03T13:53:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:00:39.715-08:00

Portuguese restaurants, while plentiful in parts of neighboring New England (especially around Fall River, New Bedford, Providence, and Cambridge), are relatively difficult to find in and around New York City. But there is a Portuguese dining spot in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens called O Lavrador Restaurant that has quite a local following.Just a short drive from JFK Airport, O Lavrador is

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-23465144296454828722008-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:01:48.922-08:00

The East Village of Manhattan has so many restaurants that it is tough to keep track of them. Many of the restaurants in this slightly gritty (and very quirky) neighborhood are small, cheap eats kinds of places. And Paul's Da Burger Joint on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place is certainly fits into this mold.Paul's Da Burger Joint (which has a sign in the window stating "NYC's Best Burger") is all

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-63659161339506488802008-08-29T06:34:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:02:44.641-08:00

Manhattan has nearly every kind of cuisine imaginable within its city streets, but....New Zealand? Yes, there is actually a restaurant in the Big Apple that features New Zealand-style food. It is called Nelson Blue, and it is located in the South Street Seaport district of Lower Manhattan.Nelson Blue is a restaurant and bar that resides in one of Manhattan's most touristy neighborhoods, yet it

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-20994527909515490012008-06-14T09:04:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:03:26.199-08:00

In our last entry, we featured a Polish restaurant in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. This time, we head a bit north (or south, cuisine-wise) to a Czech and Slovak restaurant called Zlata Praha in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.Zlata Praha is a relatively little-known restaurant that does, however, attract famous Czechs (such as the former NHL hockey player Dominik Hasek) when they happen

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-11621685386816954112008-05-18T08:39:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:04:10.597-08:00

Even in a city as large as New York, some types of food are relatively hard to find, and one of these seems to be Polish cuisine. There are a few Polish restaurants scattered through Manhattan and the other boroughs, however, including a dining spot called Karczma Polish Restaurant in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn.Greenpoint has a fairly large polish population, so it would seem like a

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-27280187510889775352008-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:04:52.616-08:00

Over the past few weeks, I have been to a rather interesting restaurant called Trinity Place a couple of times, once for food, and once for drinks. This Lower Manhattan dining spot, which is located at the corner of Broadway and Cedar Street, is nearly invisible from the outside, but once inside, what a place it is in terms of atmosphere. Situated in an old bank vault, the huge vault doors remain

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-20325993113812992602008-02-21T06:59:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:05:39.668-08:00

Chinese restaurants generally aren't thought of as places that are stylish and elegant, but in Manhattan, a number of such places exist, including a relatively little-known restaurant at the corner of Lexington Avenue and E 51st Street in Midtown East called Mr. K's. Spacious, comfortable, and upscale in feel, Mr. K's is the type of place that folks remember after dining there.Mr. K's features

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-62639447048834107502007-08-09T14:10:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:08:06.414-08:00

All-you-can-eat buffets can be hit-or-miss. But sometimes they can be downright incredible, such as the buffet I had last year at the Taj Mahal in the Dupont Circle section of Washington, DC. And the lunch buffet at Salaam Bombay, a classy-looking Indian restaurant in the heart of Tribeca, sounds as though it might just be that type of memorable food experience.Salaam Bombay is located in a part

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-59946682518844967372007-07-23T13:57:00.001-07:002008-12-11T14:11:33.080-08:00

Manhattan is full of upscale and high-end restaurants, but many, if not most of them are pretty popular and tend to get crowded often. But there is an elegant, charming Northern Italian restaurant called Il Valentino that is just east of the hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan that has somehow stayed under the radar for the most part.Il Valentino, which is inside the Sutton Hotel on East 56th

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-20110396051433796452007-07-12T14:18:00.000-07:002008-11-26T08:36:18.646-08:00

On one of my trips to New York a few months ago, a family member of mine from Manhattan introduced me to what I think is one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. It is called Topaz, and it is right in the heart of Midtown, though the street itself (West 56th) is relatively quiet. Topaz is a bustling place when people are getting ready to see shows nearby, but it isn't well known, and so it

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-12635272933758758242007-07-02T14:01:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:11:59.827-08:00

I have been to Grimaldi's in Brooklyn, and every time I hit a new pizza place that is supposed to be "the best" or "the one and only place to go for pizza," I leave the place saying, "Well, it was no Grimaldi's." But now, I am hearing (and reading) about a place in the East Village that may rival Grimaldi's. It is called Una Pizza Napoletana, and it sounds very good, indeed.The pizza at Una Pizza

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-47078471220823822462007-06-25T14:09:00.000-07:002008-03-11T13:13:16.086-07:00

NOTE: Sucelt Coffee Shop is now closed.As noted several times in this site, the West Village of Manhattan has no shortage of great eating places, some of which are not well-known at all. And one that is particularly little-known is a tiny place called Sucelt Coffee Shop on 14th Street near 7th Avenue.Sucelt is unusual in the fact that it is a coffee shop that specializes in Latin American cuisine

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-72677832868324709772007-06-23T08:02:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:13:18.965-08:00

I don't get to eat Venezuelan food very often, especially considering that I live in Boston, where there are only 2 or 3 Venezuelan restaurants in the entire city. But New York has more than a few, including a place called Caracas Arepa Bar that sounds rather interesting.Caracas Arepa Bar looks like a very small place, which is common for restaurants in the often-cramped, crowded East Village.

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-4095028729675375812007-06-23T07:55:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:15:38.645-08:00

It seems that every time I go to New York, I always end up walking past Moustache, which is a shame, considering that the one time we went to this Middle Eastern restaurant, it was outstanding. This tiny West Village dining spot has some truly delicious dishes, including terrific hummus, heavenly falafel, and tasty and fresh pita bread, among a number of other dishes.There are so many dining

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-15120733888382133142007-06-21T14:24:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:16:35.418-08:00

Supposedly, Freddy's Pizzeria in the Whitestone section of Queens has some very good pizza, but you wouldn't know it if you talked to a friend of mine who grew up in the neighborhood. According to him, the calzones are the thing at Freddy's, and they are especially good on Friday night.Some locals also call the place Angelo's, as Angelo used to own the place (his son is running it now, from what

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-15053545160335148042007-06-20T20:05:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:17:22.827-08:00

I am not a huge fan of tapas, but I'll try it every now and then, and there is one Spanish restaurant in the Chelsea section of Manhattan that supposedly does it better than most, and is not very well known. The place is called El Cid, and it is a Spartan place that seems to be known only to the locals. In addition to tapas, El Cid also serves Spanish entrees for those looking for a full meal.If

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-44856448168780130192007-06-19T14:28:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:18:10.791-08:00

Press 195 is a dining spot on Park Slope in Brooklyn that specializes in panini sandwiches. For those who don't know what a panini is, it is basically a grilled, pressed sandwich with various ingredients inside, including meats, cheese, and veggies. I am a huge fan of paninis, so I am kicking myself for not having gone to Press 195 last month when I was in Brooklyn for a few days. Hopefully next

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-52876410505407881332007-06-19T14:20:00.000-07:002007-06-19T14:25:09.627-07:00

Old John's Luncheonette in the Lincoln Center area of Manhattan is a favorite of one of my family members who lives in the Upper West Side. And though I've only been there twice, I can't say that I disagree with him. It is a terrific place for breakfast.The French toast that I had at Old John's was tremendous, though perhaps not quite as good as that of the Popover Cafe in the Upper West Side.

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-64113439487714551902007-06-19T14:13:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:19:15.206-08:00

Here is a true hidden gem in Brooklyn (that is, a hidden gem for those who live outside of the area). Locanda Vini E Olii is a cozy, intimate little Italian restaurant that is housed in an old pharmacy on Clinton Hill. The cuisine is more Northern Italian than Southern Italian, and includes such dishes as grilled free-range chicken, braised pork, and organic whole wheat fettucine.Please let me

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-66565919196095475422007-06-19T14:03:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:19:51.797-08:00

NOTE: Vittorio Cucina is now closed.The West Village of Manhattan is full of interesting restaurants, including one I mentioned yesterday (Wild Ginger) as well as several I've already been to (Moustache, Marinella, the White Horse Tavern, etc.). One restaurant that looks interesting is Vittorio Cucina on Bleecker Street. The pasta is made fresh daily at Vittorio Cucina, and the menu has a number

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-86781065346268890582007-06-18T19:18:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:20:48.586-08:00

We almost went to Wild Ginger in the West Village a week ago, but ended up at the excellent Grano Trattoria instead because we were running out of time. But I still want to get to Wild Ginger, as it has gotten some very good reviews, and is in one of my favorite parts of Manhattan. If anyone has tried Wild Ginger in the West Village, let me know what you think. I appreciate it!Here is the address

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-47139869951958083952007-06-18T19:07:00.000-07:002007-06-18T19:14:02.548-07:00

We stopped by a terrific Kosher restaurant in the Midwood section of Brooklyn a few weeks ago. Adelman's Kosher Deli was a diamond in the rough, as we were just about ready to give up on finding any breakfast place in this bustling Brooklyn neighborhood.The interior of Adelman's is a bit unusual, with framed baseball cards and other baseball items lining the walls of the place. Being a baseball

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-48013627039676769502007-06-18T14:31:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:22:24.857-08:00

Another restaurant I have been reading a little about is the Nomad Restaurant in the East Village of Manhattan. They have a combination of French and North African cuisine, and the prices seem to be pretty good, with most entrees being around $15 or so. And judging from the photos I saw, The Nomad looks very intimate and cozy, so it should be a good place to go on a date. The tajines (stew with

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-21340678563050663162007-06-18T14:25:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:23:20.151-08:00

I have been reading a bit about a place in the Diamond District of Manhattan called Avi Taam-Tov. It sounds like it is a bit like the Diamond Dairy of New York Restaurant, which is in the same neighborhood; both are literally hidden from the general public, and both specialize in Kosher food. And while the Diamond Dairy of New York is in the back of a jewelry store (one flight up, overlooking the

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-64793259306333905052007-06-18T12:48:00.000-07:002008-12-11T14:24:24.840-08:00

I haven't been to Da Nico in the Little Italy section of Manhattan for awhile now, but boy, do I ever still remember the pizza at this restaurant. While not quite the best pizza I've had in New York City, it was perfectly fine, with a thin crust, a slightly burnt bottom, a tasty sauce, and cheese that was browned just right.There are literally hundreds of restaurants I want to go to in New York,

Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127881562140186385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125378579543765521.post-58397535392237923932007-05-24T06:52:00.000-07:002007-05-24T06:57:42.708-07:00

Hello, all! I am the founder of Boston's Hidden Restaurants, a Boston Web site that describes top Boston restaurants that aren't well-known. I also created Boston Restaurant Talk, a blog that discusses the Boston restaurant scene in general.This blog is really going to be a combination journal/Q and A site that will hopefully help folks learn about top little-known restaurants in New York City,

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