Italian Comfort at Tony Dinapoli's

When people, including myself, think of the words "best," "New York" and "food", the results are usually all the same: Italian food. New York's italian food can never be beat by any place in the world, other than it's motherland, Italy. Sometimes it can be hard to pick and choose a place to get a great Italian meal since there are so many in the city. My friend and I decided to go to our favorite place: Tony Dinapoli's.

Tony's is a great homestyle Italian restaurant where all the dishes are served family style. The portions are huge and can usually serve up to three people, making the prices very reasonable and a great spot to go out and split an entree or two with some friends. My friend and I first glanced painstakingly over the wine list and I finally decided on a glass of Tony's Straw Bottle Chianti for $7. We ordered our favorite appetizer, the mozzarella and tomato salad for $16.95. There was so much for the two of us but we basically ate it all. Plump slices of tomato with mozzarella and shredded basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar made our mouths water. For an entree we wanted something cheesy, which meant their baked ziti napolitano for $19.95. The plate was hot, steamy, cheesy and delicious. The ricotta melded perfectly with the sweet sauce. Other dishes we have had over the past that are amazing is the rigatoni with vodka and mushrooms and "Tony's shrimp," which is their famous appetizer. It's bruschetta of crispy sliced bauguettes with marinated shrimp on top. Definitely worth trying!

What makes Tony's a great bargain is that with all the food comes massive leftovers. My friend and I got our leftovers separate to go and I got ao whole other dinner out of it! My friend and I went to the quieter Tony's location on Second Ave. and 83rd St. but there is also a two story Tony's on 43rd. St. btw. 6th and 7th Ave. It's a great place to go grab something to eat with friends before a Broadway play since there is hardly ever a wait and the portions are fantastic.

Until next time, happy manga!!

Bianca

Warming up with Celsius

Since I was a young girl, my cousin and I would both begin celebrating Christmas the day after my cousin's birthday (September 1st). We were inseparable and would prance around our houses, singing Christmas songs every single day until December 25th. This drove both our mother's incessantly crazy, to the point where a simple rule emerged: Christmas could be celebrated once Halloween is over.

Well, Halloween is over and that means it's officially time to begin my countdown to my favorite holiday of the year. I kicked off this celebration by heading over to one of my favorite restaurants to get into the spirit: Celsius Lounge located within Bryant Park.
Celsius is modeled to look like a Canadian Lounge, equipped with enormous heat lamps surrounding it's outside patio so onlookers can watch the ice skaters that grace the Park's ice skating rink. There is also an indoor area, which is very modern and club like inside.

I went to Celsius last year and fell in love with their fondue. My friend and I ordered our own fondues, which made the Christmas like scenery the more enjoyable. My friend ordered the cheese fondue with mini baguettes for a mere $13.50 while I ordered the cheese fondue with apples, pears, and some mini baguettes for $15.50.
The cheese was a melted swiss that was intimately presented by our own personalized fondue pots. Be not fooled, the prices sound pricey but the fondue is super filling, which means it definitely passes as an entree. Macaroni and cheese, caesar salads, and tomato grilled cheese take up the bulk of the menu. It's delicious easy to make food presented at its best.
There are also some marvelous alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks to accompany the fondue: including hot chocolate and hot apple cider with cinnamon schnapps for $10! Be sure not to drink too many of those before you enjoy the free ice skating at Bryant Park.

Until Next Time, Happy Eating!

Bianca

Burrito 101

If I could pick any sort of ethnic food group I could live on for the rest of my life, it would be Mexican food. Although many may argue I've never had true mexican food since I've never traveled to the south western part of the United States, I will say "New York" Mexican food is absolutely out of this world. Therefore, instead of my usual blogging about a certain place, I've decided to blog about my three favorite places in New York City to grab Mexican food.

1. El Sombrero is located on the lower east side (108 Stanton St., to be exact) and has a great intimate dimly lit setting with candles is perfect for going on a cheap date. The restaurant is decorated with authentic Mexican style paintings along with a sombrero, of course. There's the courtesy chips and salsa as well as cheap yet strong margaritas. A small marg is only $4 and worth it! I always opt for a chicken and cheese burrito which comes in a huge portion for only $10.00. The food tastes very authentic and fresh, with all items only the menu ranging $14.00 and under. With the lower east side being one of my favorite Manhattan spots, after dinner at El Sombrero take your date or group of friends to Pianos on 158 Ludlow Street. They have great music every night and a young hip crowd with well made drinks. Shows are every night, every day of the week and are usually $8 to watch bands play in the showroom. There is also a lounge act which is upstairs and usually free. Every Monday night in the lounge act there is "Smart Ass Rock 'n Roll Trivia" and every Tuesday night there is even a "Guitar Hero" party! It's definitely a great atmosphere and a great excuse to find new bands and music to listen to.

2. Blockheads is located in various parts of the city and each one tastes as delicious as the next location. Their frozen margaritas are $3 every day no matter what! My favorite is the Black Flower which is half sangria, half frozen margarita. I usually mix it with a coconut frozen marg. Their quesadillas as absolutely huge and can usually last two meals worth. I opt for the quesadilla grande for $9.95 with has melted monterey cheese, black beans, salsa cruda, spanish rice, guac, and sour cream. My other suggestion is to go here for lunch. They have $8.95 lunch specials that come with a soda, chips and salsa. This place has become a weekly treat for me because of how inexpensive and delicious it is.

3.Chipotle, again like Blockheads is a big chain. I usually go to the one in midtown on 53rd btw. Third and Lexington because it's closest. The burrito bowl is a great option because its the contents of everything you want for in a burrito without all the bready-ness. A burrito bowl usually ends up being about $8. While it's my favorite place to go, I would say go for an informal lunch date with a friend because with chipotle you wait online and there aren't waitresses who take your order. Therefore, it's not really the "classy night out" type place but the food is something to try out. You must be wondering, what's my burrito bowl of choice? Chicken, rice (I love the cilantro mixed in with the rice!), pinto beans, lettuce, mild salsa, sour cream, cheese and a nice helping of guacamole. Is this making you hungry yet?

Until next time, happy eating, and let there always be peace, love, and guacamole!

Bianca

An Ode to Bar Food

I promised myself I wouldn't write another blog about greasy, unhealthy food, but last week when my friend begged me to go to a bar in the village with her to watch the Red Sox game, I couldn't resist. Phebe's is a tavern/bar located on 359 Bowery. It's quaint atmosphere is a great after work/after school place to hang out, and most notably it was a great place to watch the Sox game in the World Series. With knowledge of Boston being a huge rival with New York, I was skeptical that this bar would actually be a bar filled with Boston fans, but I was surprised to see the bar completely filled to the brim with the fans. I watched them scream and cheer at every possibly moment, and more importantly I got to taste their amazing bar food. If you come to Phebe's on Monday through Friday from 4-8pm there is half price on all appetizers. My friend and I split this heaping pile of nachos which came out to $4.95! We stuffed our faces and our belly's just in time for the game to start. However, the lingering aroma of buffalo wings got the best of us. On Mondays and Wednesdays, there is a pitcher special. If you buy a pitcher you can get wings for only 10 cents each! We bought a pitcher of bug light and munched on these amazing and meaty wings. The bill came out to only $25 for the both of us and we left- her happy the Red Sox won and me leaving happy because of my buzz and delicious food. Of course there are many other great bars in the city with great bar food, but this bars great deals and great sporty and hospitable atmosphere is a place I will definitely be returning to.

Until next time, happy eating!

Bianca

Drag Dining at Lips

It was my mother's birthday last week and I didn't know where to take her to celebrate, until she suggested Lips. Lips, located on 2 Bank Street, isn't any old restaurant. It's actually a restaurant where your servers are none other than fabulous drags queens! I've been to Lips once before, but Diva Thursdays was quite a spectacular experience.
Every Thursday night, the Lips ladies put on a performance where they dress up as various famous divas that lip sync and dance for the crowd. My mom and I saw Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Madonna, and Cher closed the show, with Joan Rivers as the announcer.

(From Left to Right: Joan Rivers, our waitress Ginger doing her best Bette Midler impression, and Ginger getting "up close and personal" with a customer; Below: Cher serenading the crowd)

Besides the crowd pleasing "waitresses" is the $8.50 famous Frozen Cosmopolitans (I had two and was feeling tipsy!) and the food. Surprisingly the food is extremely tasty and not overpriced considering the show is free (except for a $10 entertainment fee on Fridays and Saturdays). My mom and I split the $7.95 "Paulina" chicken fingers that came with a chipotle mayo dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was awesome. When it came to entrees, I chose the "Gloria Wholesome," salmon with white wine tarragon butter sauce served with jasmine rice and baby greens (19.95) and my mother stuck with the "Mirkala Crystal"- Chicken and sauteed mushrooms in parmesan cream sauce over fresh spinach fettucine ($15.95). My mom raved about her pasta and I loved the pan seared salmon with the rice and the light baby greens. I ended up feeling full without feeling stuffed for cake.

(Left to Right: Paulina, Gloria Wholesome, Mirkala Crystal)
We ordered the Chocolate Sin cake ($6.50) and Ginger came out with a cake and crown for my mom to wear. After Ginger seductively danced on my mom, we all cheered for her and we split the most amazing chocolate cake ever! The night definitely ended on a positive note and it was a birthday to remember.
A suggestion for anyone interested in Lips: make a reservation a week or two in advance. It gets extremely packed but it is well worth checking out. Lips throws different themed parties every night. Next time I go, I'll definitely check out Wednesday nights, otherwise known as "Bitchy Bingo" night.

Until next time, Happy eating!

Bianca

I've Got Soul..at Amy Ruth's

Fall has finally hit full force. With the cold air and leaves falling, it was a perfect outing on this lazy hazy Sunday. My friends and I decided to catch an early dinner at the best soul food restaurant in Manhattan: Amy Ruth's. Amy Ruth's has been opened since 1998 on its 133 w. 116th St. address and caters to everyone from family, friends, to celebrities such as John Legend and Denzel Washington!

This is a great place to experience the authentic soul food cuisine. It's also a place that will give you a food coma afterwards. The best time to go is on Sundays, around two or three in the afternoon. It's got a good crowd and this food can serve as your breakfast, lunch and dinner because of the great helpings and huge portions.

My friends and I were starving so we quickly glanced over and salivated over the menu. Everything sounded incredibly but a friend of mine and I decided to order the "Terry Rivers" which was honey dipped fried chicken that came with any two sides of your choice. My other friends chose on a platter of waffles with fried catfish, the fried seafood platter, and fried chicken platter. Before our main courses came out, we munched on the best corn bread I have ever had. The bread was extremely soft, fluffy, and free!

When our main courses came out we almost jumped for joy. The aroma is this homey joint can make any full person hungry again so needless to say we were famished. Here is a depiction of the honey dipped fried chicken. I ordered the mac and cheese and green beans sides while my friend ordered the mac and cheese with mashed potatoes and gravy. All of this food was only $13.95 each! My chicken was a really generous size and the drizzled honey made it more worthwhile. All of the food prices were no higher than $16 a course which made it a cheap yet delicious place to go. My other three friends were also satisfied with their meals, and while we were getting ready to take a nap and unbutton our jeans, we couldn't deny ourselves dessert.
Depicted is the peach cobbler ($4.50) and the red velvet cake ($5.00) complete with cream cheese icing. We also ordered the creamy banana pudding with nilla wafers ($3.00) but it disappeared before I even had time to take the picture! The dessert portions were perfect for the five of us, and we left Amy Ruth's with only dropping $25 per person on the bill. Amy Ruth's is definitely the perfect place to catch up with friends in a laid back and friendly atmosphere with only the best comfort/soul food.
Afterwards, you and your friends might want to check out the Harlem Shabazz Market, on 116 st. btw. Lenox and Fifth Avenues (right down the block from Amy's). It's an outdoor lot filled with African clothing, paintings, jewelry, pottery, etc. and is run by Africans who are complete in their kente clothing. It was interesting to see all the African instruments and jewelry that were made by the Africans on the premises. My friend and I both bought this really neat snake necklace for $10. It's definitely a place worth stopping by to experience African culture and find some really unique and cheap jewelry.

Until next week, happy eating!

Bianca

Vynl

One of the best places to catch up with a friend is at the diner. Even Sex and the City shows the girls meeting at least once a week at their favorite diner to catch up on their lives as well as their favorite comfort food. Needless to say, a close friend and I opted for some comfort last night at our favorite diner. However, Vynl is not just any old diner. Located on 78th and second (there are three other locations in the Upper West Side, Chelsea, and Hell's Kitchen) we sat in a booth and enjoyed the scene. Vynl is a diner that mainly absorbs itself in the music scene.
There were obviously vinyl recordings lining the disco ball glittered walls along with various memorabilia such as New Kids on the Block dolls and Spice Girls lunch boxes. Sitting down, our waiter created us with some Vynl vinyl album menus. The drink menu always post a problem because everything sounds so great and all the names are funny to say. There's the Fiona-Appletini, The Purple Rain, but naturally my friend and I chose the Pearis Hilton, which consisted of ketel one, pear liqueur, and pineapple juice. It was really strong and so delicious that I next decided on trying the "Who's-da-man-go?" which was a take on a mango mojito (my favorite). For $8 each on a well made drink, it was worth having more than one, and it was worth the smile on my waiter's face when I told him I wanted a "Who's-da-man-go?"

The food on the menu is unique as well. Besides the usual diner foods, there is also Thai and Asian stir fry on the menu that always smells amazing, but my friend and I always stick to our usual faves. I ordered the caesar salad with salmon topped with harissa paste. Harissa paste has this nice spice and kick to it that made my taste taste even better, and for only $11.75 it was really worth it. My friend always gets the grilled cheese with tomato that comes with a pickle and homemade potato chips that comes to only $5.50!


Even though we were stuffed we definitely were in the mood for something sweet. The dessert menu was so tempting, and since each dessert was only $5.50 each, we decided to split the banana bread pudding. It was coconut banana bread pudding with whipped cream, berries, and caramel sauce that was so amazing we didn't even bother taking a picture and it was seriously scarfed down in two minutes!
Towards the end of the night, we had to go to the bathroom, which is one of the my favorite places (no, I'm not weirdly obsessed with bathrooms). The bathrooms are noted as "Halls of Fame" where each restaurant has different bathrooms that worship some of the greatest of all time pop and rock stars. My friend situated herself in the Madonna bathroom while I was in Beyonce. Each bathroom plays songs from that particular pop star. My bathroom was playing songs from Dream Girls, with a Beyonce doll encased in the wall and on the opposite wall was a huge mural of Beyonce.

Vynl is definitely a place you can spend all night hanging out and getting drinks with your friends, listening to music and joking around with your humorous waiter. Hope you enjoyed the blog, foodie friends.
Until next time, happy eating.

Bianca