Upstate on First Ave and 6st

There are the jokes about how New Yorkers call everything North of the Bronx and West of Mahattan
"Upstate". Here there are hints of true upstate New York....like The Utica Club tray on the wall.
The truth is that this beer and oyster...and lobster bisque and lobster roll...emporium reflects the hop-ish barleyish and shell-ish treasures of a real map from Southampton to the Fingerlakes to Wash State. ...And just to make it interesting ,the very engaging bar administrator ,Francis, recently arrived from Aukland.

Stone Park's Chef Josh might not...

...consider mouse pancakes his "piece of resistence" but Sophie does. What better to eat when wearing your mouse ears....and on a day when you lose your second front tooth.

China Cafe 13 east37st

Lamb and scallions

Crystal shrimp dumplings

Smoked tea duck rice

Pork dumplings in chili oil

Corey says that the true test of dim sum lies in the shrimp dumplings. There China Cafe scores an A+. But the lamb with scallions and the smoked duck rice and the dumplings in chili oil brought the average up to 5.0 on a 4 point scale. The waiter was serious and for good reason ...he was serving some serious food.

ROMANS es divisa into tres partes..magnum,magnum and magnum

The Brooklyn Academy of Music is close to Romans

Kale and parmigiano

polenta and gorgonzola

We walked through the Bam Cafe and its sparkles after the movie to Vanderbilt and Dekalb in Bklyn This sleeper has a bar with stools and everyone one them seems to be touching someone else in a way that says they are about to have a Roman holiday. Romans is the date night mood setter. And for good reason; the lights are low and the food is vibrant and seductive and novel...unless you live in Roma. 

Zitos on 7av Park Slope near 8 st...heros and wine on tap

Chick pea hero? or chicken Parm? Potatoes and egg?

BYOB (BRING YOUR OWN BODY) to Pittsburgh and to Penn Avenue Fish Company

www.pennavefishcompany.com

Clams in Spicy broth

vegi rolls

Frank and Abigail

Andrew and Maureen

Tuna with coffee rub

We did. Jet Blue one hour flight and 24 hours in Steel Town. Andrew Sheehan author and KDKA reporter ran with Tim and Frank. Kristen, Maureen, and Abigail (private tour of the Warhol leader par excellance/non pariel) and I cheered. But before that we had coffee at the 21st street coffee snobs(no milk for you)>>>and then a fish feast. Penn Avenue Fish Company with great company and superb calamari in spicy broth and garlic bread and clams in spicy broth and vegi rolls and tuna rubbed in coffee and perfectly cooked. Chef Henry watched over us with guardian Angel/owner,Angela.The Greatest Race and football and Pirates in the air and the Steve Miller Band reverberating across the three rivers. Go and soak in the strip and shake hands with the big wrist- ed multitudes. Stay at the Wyndham Hotel and taste the town. 

Al Di La Blah Blah...Great

squid pasta and squid and their friends from the sea

PORK Chop on polenta bed

Market Salad

Hake

Beet and ricotta filled ravioli in butter sauce

This is a well respected restaurant in Park Slope on 5th Ave and sort of old news...except that we ate there last night for Maureen's birthday and it was so terrific that I want to be sure as many people as possible know about this gem. No reservations but don't let that deter you; worth your wait in gold.

There is a professional,warm and clever vibe here...and our waiter's sense of humor couldn't have been better aimed. He saw Jeanne's broken foot boot and as he served each item he asserted in a new way each time that "this is very good for a bad leg." He said, looking at the boot, " That was me ain 1977" and obviously remembered the importance of keeping spirits up. Al Di La? You know
...yes I know you know..but when was the last time you tasted their farro sald with mint or their squid pasta with mista pesce something? Tables are close together but its ok here to huddle and hunker down to Bonnie Doone Albarino and Primativo and crusty bread and some people you like to be with (with whom you like to be).