A few little gems

I have been meaning to write about some of the cool resturants I have had the opportunity to enjoy in the city.  I will be bringing this section  of my blog "A Few Little Gems" once a month.



PONTY BISTRO in Gramercy
218 Third Ave
Btwn. 18th and 19th street
NYC
www.pontybistro.com



A great little bistro that mixes the  French Mediterranean and African influences and culture of the two chefs.  The food is just delicious.  I mean, they have Duck Confit Omelets for Brunch, for crying out loud!   I have yet to taste anything that was bad, the services is great. They are very attentive and the cocktails are tasty too.  They have 2 for 1 happy hour cocktails. It is small place but you will love it.  Great for Dates, night out with the ladies and small birthday parties.



LIDO in Harlem
2168 Fredrick Douglas Blvd. (at 117 street)
www.lidoharlem.com/




This place truly is a little gem in Harlem. I have known about it for over a year now.   Its known for its crazy bottomless mimosas brunches but outside of that, its also has an amazing dinners and cocktails menu.    The cocktails are, so far, the best I have had on the Golden Mile of restaurants on Fredrick Douglas.  A few things about LIDO, when you walk in, you immediatley feel, like your downtown. The atmosphere, just makes you feel as if your not in Harlem. Not that there is anything wrong with the World Famous Harlem, but sometimes you want to get away. Get a lovely meal out of the neighborhood. Except you don't have to leave it.  Second thing about LIDO is that the menu sounds good, but then you have your meal and its EVEN BETTER!   The  its also a lovely space to met up with friends or date.


MAIALINO in Grammercy
 2 Lexington Avenue
 Grammercy Park Hotel
 http://www.maialinonyc.com/




Really lovely Italian Trattoria at Grammercy Park Hotel.  They are alwasy busy for Brunch (which is sooo good like everything else).  They make whole pigs and cure their own bacon btw.  The services is wonderful.  They also have a private room that fits 20 for parties.  You have to be aware that they get booked months in advance  for that big dinner/party room.  So plan ahead.



ASTOR ROW CAFE
404 Lenox Ave
New York, New York
Harlem




Great little spot to have a cup of coffee, study, have a meeting, do some work, have a little meal.  The staff is really friendly.  The spot is really laid back and open.  Its also cool that they have a DJ on Sunday and Tuesdays.

Ethiopian Delight

Ethiopian Delight

I mistakenly removed this blog. Forgive me.  I also noticed that Yelp now has made it easier to find Ethiopian restaurants on their site, since I first posted.  So here is a link to YELP with details of directions etc. to these places in the city 

It has been toooooo long since last I have posted. I am currently working on a number of projects. However, I want to get back into the swing of things and write about my current obsession. I'm having or have been, for the last few months, a lustful obsession with Ethiopian food. I dream of Injera, the stable bread that accompanies all dishes. ( It resembles crepes but has a softer fuller and slightly tangy taste.) I dream of the collared greens , the split peas and oh the lamb, the beef tartar and chicken. As I have obsessed with this wonderful food from East Africa.  I have put up a link to Wikipedia if your not familiar with this very aromatic and spicy food.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_food

I have had Ethiopian in DC, Maryland, Philly and New York City.  I don't think you could ever go wrong with Ethiopian food.  If you like spicy and very aromatic foods that is. Its always delicious and great to have with others.  Having that said, there are some places that knock your socks off and others that are good but are more geared for the American palate.   Here are my take on the places in NYC.  I am aware that there are a few more places for me to try and will be reporting back on those. But, for now, these are the best places I have tried in the City. Bati and Queen of Sheba where the best.  Hands down, out of all the resturants I have tried period.  That includes, DUKEM in Washington DC btw.  DUKEM is considered the best Ethiopian resturant in DC, but I did not taste that when I was there.  But I like to give places a second chance so I plan to revist.  There was two more places I tried last time I was in DC but, I did not take down their information.  But I also know, that the food was good but not good enough for me to remember.  :(

NEW YORK CITY

BATI 
Ft. Green, Brooklyn

 747 Fulton Street,
 (Between Elliott Pl & Portland Ave)
 Brooklyn, NY 11217 
T. 718.797.9696

www.batikitchen.com

So Far best I have in the city.  Queen of Sheba was my world until I tasted Bati.  It was really close but Bati won hands down.  Only issue they don't give you enough food as compared to most other Ethiopian restaurants I have  been too.  But it still slap your mama good!

QUEEN OF SHEEBA
Hells Kitchen

650 10th Avenue

btwn. 45 & 46th Street

NY,NY 10036

http://www.shebanyc.com/

Great food.  It gets really busy during the weekend.  The food also seems to be even richer and more delicious on the weekends too.  So get a reservation!  Considered the best in the city and they ain't lying, but for me Bati, was  even better.

The Following Places, are all good but the Majority are geared towards the American palate.  

MESKEREM

Greenwich Village

124 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012

(212) 777-8111

MESKEl

Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West

468 W 47th St
New York, NY 10036

(212) 399-1949

Massawa

Morning Side Heights

1239 Amsterdam Ave
(between 120th St & 121st St)
New York, NY 10027
Neighborhood: Morningside Heights

(212) 663-0505

http://www.massawanyc.com/

Loved the Honey Wine I had there. They serve both Eritrean and Ethiopian.   

ZOMA

Harlem

2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd
New York, NY 10026

(212) 662-0620

http://www.zomanyc.com/

Zoma has a great interior and a friendly atmosphere.   Cash and American Express only.

AWASH

East Village

338 E 6th St
New York, NY 10003

(212) 982-9589

http://www.yelp.com/biz/awash-new-york-6

ABYSSINIA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

Harlem

268 W 135th St
New York, NY 10030

(212) 281-2673

http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/ethiopian

Small little place on 135 street between Fredrick Douglas and Adam Clayton Powell. You can take the 2, B, C train there.   Lovely owners and staff.  You can also buy Injera (bread for your meals) there as well.  

WASHINGTON DC

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

Washington DC

1114-1118 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor

(202) 667-8735

http://www.dukemrestaurant.com