We EAT.

New Yorkers like to eat.  We take pride in it; not just in the act of eating itself, but in the feat of finding a restaurant that our friends haven't heard of or been to before.  A place we can write about on Facebook or take pictures of and post to our blogs (ummm what? who, me? nooo) or tell our non-New York family members/friends about.  Ok, maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I really do think this desire to discover something cool/novel/exclusive is something most New Yorkers have in common (from my statistical studies, of course).  Like a bragging right of sorts.

Let me just try to describe this feeling to you: a few weeks ago when I purchased the Jan. 2-9th edition of New York magazine, I got a slight high when I saw it contained a list of the top 101 restaurants (according to Adam Platt). I literally took out my highlighter and permanent marker and began circling places I wanted to eat and jotting down the dates or occasions next to restaurants I had visited. It was like I was literally devouring the list.  I then texted anyone I had ever mentioned any of these restaurants to (prior to seeing them on the Platt list) to let them know I called it.  Funny, right? A little sad, you say? (please, don't judge). 

Perhaps I'm making myself out to sound a little more superficial and food-snobbish than I actually am. Truth be told, I've only been to 2 of the restaurants currently on the list (A Voce - #27, and The Four Seasons - #52), and 2 of the ones on the 2006 list (Tia Pol - #80 in '06, and August - #91 in '06).  Before seeing the list I had determined to go to Per Se (#3),  Eataly (#40), and Lincoln (#88) as seen on my Bucket List in my first post.  That means I was in the know on a total of 7 restaurants of the top  101... a whopping 7%! Are you impressed yet??

My point in all this is that it makes total sense that New Yorkers would thrive on on testing out unique eateries.  This city isn't filled with the chain restaurants that plague the 'burbs (with the exception of Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, and Hardrock in Times Square).  There are tons of unique hole-in-the-wall places where we meet our friends and laugh and have wine and food and live.  Hence eating is one of my favorite things to do in the city. Yea, hence.

My all-time favorite restaurant that I have been to in New York is The Four Seasons (#52). Matt, my love, took me here for our first Valentine's Day dinner in February 2010. Sadly I don't have a picture of it, but it was truly the best dining experience.  The chairs at each table were placed adjacent to one another so I could snuggle up to my honey while eating. There wasn't even any music playing, which made it all the more romantic hearing the murmur of conversation throughout the dining room.  Matt and I also received a special treat here, but that's a story for another post :)  And of course the food was delicious.  If you are in the city and have the pleasure of eating here, I would highly recommend it:  http://www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com/index2.htm

The same quietness and sophistication that I love about The Four Seasons is what draws me to the new Lincoln Restaurant (#88) at Lincoln Center (http://www.lincolnristorante.com/).  I'm secretly hoping I get to go there this Valentines Day (wink wink Matty Boy).  This picture doesn't do it justice, but I try to make a habit of snapping photos of restaurants I hope to visit just so I don't forget. I highly suggest this practice if you're forgetful like me.

A couple others I've captured on the ole iPhone for future reference: Beauty & Essex (I keep getting rave reviews but have yet to go) and Pink Pony (just looked cute)...

 

Ahhh, ok now that we are done with all those words, here is a pictorial of some of my favorite moments over good eats with great people.

Gallo Nero - One of the best Italian joints in Hells Kitchen. This was my 25th birthday dinner in 2009, when I was just falling in love with this place. 

And here it is again, over 2 years later...just as good :)  Beware though, sometimes the scented candles are a little overpowering and give it a funny smell. 

Cafeteria - It took me forever to get here, but I finally did this past summer, 2011. The mac 'n cheese platter was delish, but not better than the raspberry lemonade. (Lindsay, how was the pickle?)

Caliente Cab - Per Jeff's insistence, we all had a blast here. The margs were spot-on, the guac was just right, and the company was perfecto (that's Spanish for perfect, right?).  CAUTION: do not go if you have motion sickness...you can feel the subway rumble beneath you while you eat. It makes for an authentic experience, though :)

                                        

                                          

                                                     

Rosa Mexicano (Lincoln Center) - This has been my favorite place for guacamole for a long time, though I think they are starting to slack a little. Nonetheless, it's still a classic and their pomegranate margaritas are amAzing. Matt and I went here for a casual 2nd anniversary celebration in August 2011. <3  We were brave and tried bone marrow for the first time. I was not a fan (I'm sure that disqualifies me from receiving any food connoisseur honors).

                   

Pepe Giallo - Jill and Lindsay's date restaurant.  A tiny little Italian spot. Quite scrumptious. Heather enjoying some wine. Ty, Jill and Heather. Me, Matt and Lindsay. 

∫BIlly's Bakery - Not a restaurant. Banana cupcakes. The end. (Sister Meg, me, Lauren S., Jillian, Jaclyn)

Claudio's (Greenport, Long Island) - So this one is cheating since it's not in Manhattan, but it was a quaint nautical restaurant with the best New England clam chowder I've ever had.  Matt liked it too.

Adjisai - Local sushi joint in Hell's Kitchen. One of Jill's summer fun birthdays :) 

A nameless Tapas place - The name escapes me but it was an awesome tapas place (any help with the name, Ty?) for Jill's birthday this year :)

Southern Hospitality, Hell's Kitchen - This one is more restaurant-y than the UES version, but downstairs was practically a nightclub! We went here in December 2011 for Ty's birthday. We got hit on by a table of Europeans.. it was a strange but fun dinner.

Hell's Kitchen Mexican - One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in, you guessed it, Hells Kitchen.  Short commute, good food, tasty margs.  What more could you ask for?!  My 27th birthday, Sept. 2011 pictured below.

Nameless Vegan spot, the Village - Jill what's the name?? I can't remember, but what I do remember is the vegan cheesesticks and the cupcake....mmmm.

Phewww! Well that was a long one folks.  What are your favorite eateries (in NYC or elsewhere)?  Goodnight!