Dining Etiquette. . . ?

I recently came across a fabulous little column at the NY Times called Dear FloFab, a diner's journal on etiquette both at home and when dining out by Florence Fabricant. It's smart, savvy, and a bit snappish. She writes with a hint of haughty elegance that conveys a certain dismay at the fact that today, most restaurant patrons, and home dinner party guests don't have a clue about manners while dining. It's right up my alley.

Seriously, though, what has happened to people's manners as they indulge and imbibe? Is everyone in such a rush to get through the meal that they forget to savor the experience, as well as act like civilized adults?

On the flip side, a little while back, there was a two-part series (also in the Times) written by a restaurateur serving as an instruction guide for restaurants (not the diners this time) on how to conduct themselves properly. It circulated among my foodie friends like wildfire. Just the name of it alone, 100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do set the tone for the piece. These were some of my favorite (I won't even say 'suggestions,' because truly they were really) mandates:

8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.
32. Never touch a customer. No excuses. Do not do it. Do not brush them, move them, wipe them or dust them.
78. Do not ask, “Are you still working on that?” Dining is not work — until questions like this are asked.

FloFab expressed a similar view on that last rule as well:

Q. What is the proper response when the waiter asks, “Are you still working on that?”

A. Sigh. I prefer to ignore the question. The waiter usually asks it when it’s not obvious that the entire table has completed a course. If everyone has finished I would probably say, “You may clear the table.” Otherwise perhaps the response should be, “No, we’re still slaving away.”

While that may be a bit over the top, it sure as hell gets the point across! It's a pet peeve of mine that waiters are forever clearing the plate of one member of the table before the others are finished. It creates an unnecessarily awkward situation if the finished diner feels like they devoured their food, while the remaining patron appears slow and may feel the need to rush through the rest.

[As a little sidebar on the topic of waiter etiquette, here's another critique, this time from Jezebel, of waiters who treat the mere act of women ordering dessert- one of my favorite things to do mind you- as naughty and sinister. Guess that makes me a dessert-loving vixen!]

Turning back to the 100 Things piece, while some commenters rejoiced, many others gave the author a lot of flack, claiming his restaurant would surely turn out an uptight and unfriendly venue. Perhaps, but isn't there some common ground here? Can diners and restaurant folks not meet in the middle, and both sides offer up a little common sense and proper etiquette?

This is especially important to consider on a date. Little touches like pulling out a chair, not talking with your mouth full*, or waiting to eat until your date's meal arrives too (if tragically, they are not simultaneously delivered to the table, See #60 above), never fail to impress.

(*One would think this is self-explanatory. I've been on dates before. It's not. FYI, my trick is to say, "Pardon me? I couldn't understand what you were saying just then." If he or she doesn't take the hint, move on to the next one!)

So the next time you're out on a date, put some effort into more than just selecting a romantic location, by also following up with your own class act. A little dining etiquette goes a long way in making a lasting impression.

Hungry For Love NYC Takes a Road Trip!

This weekend, my sweetheart and I took a road trip upstate to the Red Hook/Rhinebeck area of New York. I highly recommend this as a little getaway for anyone looking for a change of pace and scenery from NYC life. Since this is a food-oriented blog, I of course want to focus on some of the delicious meals we ate while up in Red Hook.

As part of our stay at the darling Red Hook Inn, we seized the opportunity to partake in an intimate dining experience with their renowned chef, and co-inn proprietor. The b.f. and I were told to select our dinner entrees the day before our meal, so that Nabil, the chef, could purchase the ingredients that day. Talk about fresh food. When we headed down to dinner, we were delighted to discover that we were the only diners that evening, in a room that seats less than a dozen guests. It was like nothing we'd ever encountered before, a beautiful, but quaint dining room with soft music playing, and romantic candlelight at our table. I couldn't help but compare it to those episodes of Millionaire Matchmaker, where the millionaires reserve the entire restaurant to impress their dates. We were both entranced by the lovely ambiance.

Our first course was a Mediterranean salad with fresh chopped vegetables, seasoned with a delicate yet savory blend of herbs. It was more flavorful that most salads have any right to be. Next, we were served an incredible homemade soup of carrot, parsnip & ginger. Leaning more toward a puree, it was healthy and delicious, particularly demonstrating that you don't need heavy cream bases to win over a soup nut like my sweetie. While we dined, we also indulged in warm bread, and our own bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (byob worked out fantastically).

For the main course, he had chosen the filet mignon au poivre (well done) and I opted for the salmon fillet. I had a lengthy discussion with the chef the day before about possible sauce and seasoning options for the salmon (since I don't care for pesto, their usual offering). We agreed upon a light, tomato based sauce for the fillet. It arrived with couscous, honeyed carrots and asparagus. While I felt that the sauce turned out a little too thick and heavy for the fish, the salmon itself was tasty, as were the other side dishes. My b.f. happily devoured his steak, cooked just as he requested.

Finally delivered to our table, was, in my opinion, one of the best parts of the meal, the dessert. Homemade warm apple pie accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream. I was in heaven. The apples were moist and the crust was flaky, and the whole dish melted into my mouth much too quickly.

Overall it was a wonderful dinner, expressed in both the quality of the food, the attention to details, and the attentive service throughout the meal.

I can't conclude this post without a nod to the breakfast upon which we feasted the next morning. Most bed & breakfasts offer some sort of standard spread for their guests, perhaps muffins, toast, croissants, coffee and the like. We never expected to first be escorted out to the backyard by the chef who pointed out the hens which had produced our forthcoming eggs. Now, I find that omelets can often be hit or miss, too loose and falling apart, or so well done that the edges appear charred. I love to enjoy a firm, but gooey-insided egg white omelet. Nabil whipped up two savory egg white omelets with a little American cheese and some of the same vegetables and herbs we relished the night before. The result was just as indulgently flavorful as our dinner.

The bottom line is, if you're looking for a quaint yet elegant b&b to enjoy a weekend getaway, check out the Red Hook Inn. Besides the delicious meals, we also loved our room (spring for Room 5- it's definitely worth it), as well as the private outdoor hot tub. Pat and Nabil are so attentive and thoughtful, I highly recommend this inn.

Finally, two other worthwhile restaurants in the area are the charming Tavern at the Beekman Arms- connected to the oldest inn in America! Historic and a pretty decent brunch. I enjoyed my french toast with cinnamon and sugar, while he had another delicious omelet. We also had dinner at a new restaurant in Rhinebeck called Arielle. More French/Provençal than Mediterranean (as it tends to be described), but a rather unique experience nonetheless. I adventurously tried the 'forage' plate appetizer: herbs and vegetables gathered locally by the Culinary Institute of America students. Certainly different! The pasta pomodoro was fresh and authentic tasting. Plus, like many of the local attractions, the atmosphere was both rustic and romantic. Both restaurants are set right in the heart of Rhinebeck, a very pretty area to explore as well.

Bon Appetit & Happy Travels!

Decoding the $$$$

Money talks, especially when it comes to picking a good restaurant.

We here at Hungry For Love NYC literally just stumbled onto the key for the price breakdowns over at MenuPages, after previous endless seeming searches for this very cipher yielded fruitless results. Eureka!

This is their key for price per average dinner entree:
$ = Less < $7
$$ = $7.01 -$12.00
$$$ = $12.01 -$18.00
$$$$ = $18.01-$25.00
$$$$$ = Greater > $25

Meanwhile, the folks at NY Magazine's restaurant search feature, prefer the more tasteful, subtle, and frankly "If you have to ask darling, you can't afford it" ranking system of:

$$$$ = Very Expensive
$$$ = Expensive
$$ = Moderate
$ = Cheap

Now, I love NY Mag, but really? As we say, Thank you Captain Obvious.

Finally, Hungry For Love NYC's own restaurant recommendation feature offers the following price points, appearing to fall somewhere in between:

• $ (Up to $10 each)
• $$ (Up to $25 each)
• $$$ (Up to $40 each)
• $$$$ (Up to $75 each)
• $$$$$ (No limit)
  

I was starting to feel astonished at my own seemingly gold-plated system in comparison to MP, until I realized that their price is "per entree," whereas we are the bigger picture of "each," which frankly, can include an app, an entree, and maybe some dessert or a drink for good measure. Phew.

Bottom line is, your best bet is taking a look at the menu itself to get an idea of costs. It also helps to look at photos of the restaurant, if available. Then you'll know what kind of dining situation you're about to get yourself into, be it $$$$ = Expense Account or $ = Keeping It Real.

The Way To Your Date's Heart is... With An "A" for Effort, Not a "P" for Perfection

Preparing a meal for your date or significant other can be a very intimate experience, with both potentially wonderful and disastrous outcomes.* I've learned over the years that it's not about the "perfect outcome," but about the effort you put into creating a meal and a nice ambiance for dining together at home.

*Let me just note here that cooking together is often even more fun, but that's a separate entry.

A few weeks ago, I went about cooking a big overblown meal (I don't do 'simple') for my sweetie. Now it came out delicious- in his humble opinion. But I thought it wasn't my best work, because I'd previously made a better version of the finished product- a vegetable lasagna. However, instead of just rolling with it and being thrilled that he happily gobbled it up, and asked for thirds, and fourths... I kept second guessing myself (out loud no less!)- how it would have turned out better if only I'd prepared it differently, or cooked one ingredient a bit longer, and so on. My self-critique didn't jive with the vibe of the meal. Finally, when he told me that he was just amazed that I took it upon myself to cook for him, and that was all he cared about, I realized that a 'home-cooked meal' is not just about making restaurant-caliber food, but also about creating a memory together. A little sentimental perhaps, but then again if you've got a great guy or girl on your hands, they won't be dwelling on whether your eggplant was a bit tough (guilty as charged), but the effort you put into preparing that meal, and savoring the image of dining together afterward.

So the other night, as I prepared to attempt another dinner, I decided to go a little easier on myself. This time, I whipped up chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms, artichokes and scallions, acorn squash with brown butter, cinnamon and honey, and broccoli rabe in olive oil and red pepper, plus some stuffed mushrooms to start off the meal. I tried to have more fun making this dinner, even as I undertook foods I'd only seen before on restaurant menus. I was proud of myself for sure, when the acorn squash turned out sweet and delicious, and the rabe (first blanched, then sauteed, quite a project!) was flavorful, but I also knew that if I messed up a bit, my guy wouldn't mind. Of course it doesn't hurt that he has a hearty, adventurous, and (thankfully) forgiving appetite. In the end, he appreciated the effort I put into creating our dinner, and this time, I was as wowed with the results as he was. Only not just with my own cooking, but with my more relaxed approach which culminated in an even more enjoyable evening together.

Recommendation Roundup!

Hey fellow foodies,

Here are a few of this week's recommendations which were requested from our readers. Enjoy and keep them coming!

Burger joints, UWS, $$
5 Napkin Burger just opened a new branch in the old Ollie's space at 84th/Bway. It usually garners rave, or at least high-end, reviews.

For a little more substance, and a little less style, give Shake Shack a try at 77th/Columbus. Be prepared for a bit of a wait though, depending on the day/time you go. They have delicious custards & concretes as well.

Another choice is Toast, with a fun, casual vibe, plus it's known for its burgers.

Finally, you can't go wrong with a low key American bar & grill staple like Firehouse, it's a neighborhood favorite.

Indian, downtown, (up to) $$$$$

Banjara- supposed to be a stand out in the midst of Indian Row in the east village.

Brick Lane Curry House- a nicer & bustling Indian spot.

Madras Mahal and Chennai Garden are a couple of popular vegetarian options to consider as well, located in Gramercy.

Chinese, UES, $$
Cafe Evergreen- garners much praise for its dim sum & varied menu selection.

Wa Jeal- known for spicy, Szechuan food.

Shanghai Pavillion- seems to be an UES favorite for Chinese, though on various foodie sites, it draws very strong opinions, in both directions... could be exciting to give it a try.

Thanks again to Hungry For Love NYC readers for your requests. Submit your restaurant recommendation request, and your dining hot spot results could end up in the blog next!

More Blog Shout Outs!

Thanks to NYC Foodie for the awesome food blog shout out! Show him some love & check it out here:

NYC FOODIE "FOODIE WEBSITES" OF THE WEEK:
BEYOND THE DISH AND HUNGRY FOR LOVE

Cocktails & Daydreams - Part 3

Part 3 of the series on how choosing the right venue for drinks can create a lasting and favorable impression on your date.

Wine bars
Wine bars have definitely swept the city by storm. Here are a few worth checking out:

Buceo 95- 201 W 95th, b/w Amsterdam & Broadway
I love the red coloring at this bar, it's very romantic. Plus there's something quite intimate and almost conspiratorial about leaning over a narrow, tall table to whisper to your date. They have a delicious menu full of light bites worth indulging yourselves in. The owner is known to check in with the patrons as well. A great blend of seductive and comfortable, which is a hard balance to find indeed.

Bowery Wine Company- 13 E. 1st, b/w Bowery & 2nd Ave.
A nice little downtown find, an oasis of style in the middle of the East Village bar scene. Plenty of seating and room near the bar as well to chat up your date while sampling some great wines. And the grilled three cheese panini is quite tempting.

Clo Wine Bar- Time Warner Center, 4th Floor, in Columbus Circle
Imagine if Sadé and James Cameron (a la Avatar) got together and had a child. And that child was a wine bar. Now you've got the uber-modern Clo where you select your wine of choice via an interactive menu screen that doubles as the long communal table. Very slick indeed, especially when the wine dispenses after you insert your 'wine card.' Be forewarned, it is a tight fit. At least it's right in the bustling TWC, so you and your date can pop around to some shops afterward, or pick up some pastries at the Bouchon Bakery downstairs.

Here are a couple of new Hell's Kitchen wine bars that I haven't been to yet, but are on my immediate 'to try' list:
Ardesia- 510 W 52nd, b/w 10th & 11th
A modern and light twist on the typical wine bar, attracting good buzz so far. Plus it has the always coveted outdoor seating.
Xai Xai- 365 W 51st, b/w 8th & 9th
This dark and rich South African wine bar is relatively new to the area. Just walking by the spot makes you want to wander inside and taste the exotic vintages offered.**
**Here's an interesting little anecdote I just uncovered about Xai Xai- apparently if you're on a bad date there, the waiter will help you out by making a move right under your date's nose! My friend was there a little while back on a mediocre first date. Her dud of a dude made a trip to the bathroom, and the server slyly picked her up in that very small window. When her lackluster Casanova returned, the waiter informed him that he would be escorting the lady to dinner shortly thereafter. Her date yielded, and off they went. Talk about cojones!

NEW! Need A Restaurant Recommendation?

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Granola Bars & Gut Instincts

One thing I've learned over the years about dating is that sometimes a guy or girl you are not so crazy about can do something sweet or considerate for you, and you can't help but feel completely horrified, indifferent, or just put off by it as sickeningly saccharine. But a different guy or girl, who you're feeling "into," does something the slightest bit nice, or even kinda wacky, and you find yourself mesmerized, excited and wowed. What's the difference, you may wonder? Chemistry, plain and simple. An important part of dating is trusting your gut instincts, and recognizing when there is that certain spark between you and your dating partner. Here's an example:

A few years ago, I had just started dating this nice young man. He was a bit quirky, true, but he was also smart and funny. One day he was at my apartment and ravenously hungry. Never one to be lacking snacks in my own home, I offered him a granola bar out of a brand-new box which was meant to serve as my week's worth of workday treats. The next thing I knew, he had gobbled down almost the entire box of bars. I was a little peeved, but seeing that he was genuinely, and even neurotically, apologetic, I decided to let it go.

The next day, he called me up at work, and said he had something to deliver from his office to mine, which was actually located down the street. I had no idea what to expect, and was intrigued as to what it could be that required him to messenger it over personally. A few minutes later, there was an urgent knock at the door to my corridor. I opened it, and observed my gentleman caller, standing there in the doorway. He quickly thrust a bulky inter-office envelope into my arms, and called over his shoulder, "Sorry, I've got to run back to a meeting!" as he dashed away. Now my curiosity was fully piqued. I opened the official looking package, and found inside a colorful gift-wrapped box with a bow and all. Tearing into the paper, I unveiled ... a new box of granola bars. I started to laugh so hard that tears were running down my face. Now that was quite an impression.

As I recounted the story over and over to my amused friends, I thought about how, if I had not already been interested in this guy and feeling a connection to him, that anecdote would have quickly evolved from a sweet story instead into one of mild dating horror. "What??" my skeptical friends would exclaim. "He tracked you down at work and showed up with some weird wrapped up box of granola bars?! What a nut job!" However, because I already thought he was charming in an unconventional sort of way, his little stunt was right up my alley. I later learned that he not only sought out the exact type of granola bars I had sacrificed to his growling stomach, but had them professionally wrapped in a gift shop to present them to me in their full and deserving glory. The excitement in his voice was both clearly evident as well as contagious as he described his quest.

Looking back, I'm glad I gave that nice, eccentric guy a chance, because you can't fake chemistry between two people, nor can you create it out of thin air. The bottom line is, you might not be able to change whether you are attracted to, or intrigued by someone. But one way you may realize that you are, is if you find yourself over the moon about the quirky little things that they do for you. And a chance at that kind of creative and fun relationship is worth all the granola bars in my pantry.

Cocktails & Daydreams - Part 2

Part 2 of the series, exploring unique places to take your date that will leave him or her wanting more.

Bars Where You Can Have Fun
Who says a date in NYC always has to be a formal, sit-down experience? It can be just as great to have a more engaging and interactive evening together. Here are a few options, ranging from the laid back scene to upscale entertainment.

Dive 75- 101 W. 75th, b/w Columbus & Amsterdam
I would be derelict in my duties if I neglected to mention this high spirited dive bar on the UWS. It is well known in the neighborhood for their wide selection of games. Because everyone knows, nothing impresses your date more than beating him or her 3 times in a row at Connect Four. While you're there, sample some of the wide variety of beers on tap, and feel free to order in food from surrounding restaurants.

300 New York @ Chelsea Piers- Pier 60 at West 23rd & West Side Highway
Who knew bowling could be this posh? Sure, I know I said these are fun, casual bars, but still, it is bowling we're talking about. If you have to change your shoes while on a date, you might as well do it in style at this sleek bowling alley, or as 300 calls it, their bowling "concourse." Ooh la la indeed.


Carnival- 110 University Pl, b/w 12th & 13th
Relatively new on the scene, this trendy bar features grown-up versions of old-fashioned carnival games and intoxicating beverages like boozed-up sno-cones. Splurge on some of the games and impress your date by winning a stuffed animal or a real goldfish!





Crocodile Lounge- 325 E. 14th, b/w 1st & 2nd Aves.

Every beer comes with a free personal pizza! And there's skeeball! And an outdoor backyard patio! What else is there to say?

What are your favorite games bars & lounges in New York City? How about the most fun or silly bar game you've ever played on a date?

Blog Roll!

Hungry For Love NYC makes its first appearance on another site's blog roll! Check out Life With Food and Drink, which has definitely inspired me to have a cupcake & dessert-related entry very soon :)

Dating, On a Diet

Let me start my saying that I believe this story to be true, as it was told to me directly by the person to whom it happened. However, the more it gets re-told- and believe me, it does- the more it develops into the stuff of NYC Urban Dating Legend.

Boy meets a nice-seeming girl on a very popular dating website. They hit it off and arranged a first date, settling on a Mediterranean style restaurant. Like many NYC venues, it was cozy, with the tables set close together. As the waiter comes over, the young lady immediately asks for extra plates and a new set of silverware, which she thoroughly wipes upon their arrival. They proceed to order an array of food to share, including various salads, pita bread, rice and the like.

When the meal arrives, the girl pulls out of her previously ordinary-looking, mild-mannered handbag, a... wait for it.... Weight Watchers scale and a set of measuring spoons. Yes. Really. She then begins to scoop out portions of the different foods, and carefully weighs them on the scale, before depositing them onto the extra plates. This continues for several minutes, while the guy just observes, quite stunned at the spectacle before him, because his female companion has offered no explanation or commentary to accompany her actions. Not only is the guy watching, but at the table next to them, two men on a date are equally mesmerized by the weigh-in session taking place. Once she finishes her measuring, the young woman excuses herself briefly to the ladies' room. Our gentleman friend is flabbergasted to say the least. Is this how women act on a date these days, he wonders to himself. Then, unexpectedly, one of the men to his side leans over and asks, "Where'd you find this one?" The guy replies, naming the dating site. "Ahh," the men respond, knowingly. "Have you considered coming over to our side?"

As you may have guessed, this was their first, and only, date.

What is the moral of this story you ask? First of all, Don't Do This!! Ok, phew, that's over with. Now let's get down to business. There are plenty of ways to maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle while dating happily. If Superman could disguise himself as Clark Kent with the simple assistance of a pair of Foster Grants, you can date and diet simultaneously.

Maybe you can squeeze in a work out before the date, or first thing the next morning. Or try eating a lighter lunch, if you know you hope to share a dessert with your new sweetie that night.

When you're on the date itself, some good healthy food options include:

Sushi (try Momoya for fresh food & outstanding service, or Natsumi where you can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in their romantic lounge area)

Vegetarian/Vegan (delicious Wild Ginger has 2 inviting locations, while adventurous diners might enjoy the upscale, raw Pure Food and Wine)

Tapas (share sangria and small, yet satisfying dishes at Sol y Sombra, or revel in the glittery chandeliers overhead while you dine at Pipa)

Now, let's step back and look at the bigger lesson here. When you go on a date with someone, especially a first date, you don't have to reveal everything there is to know about you right up front. Hold back on some details about yourself, and save those crazy stories that your close friends love about you for a bit later. Why not let a little mystery and intrigue pervade the air?

Some examples?

• You have an older brother who lives in Washington, D.C.? Great! He's married to a controlling harpy who ruined your parents' anniversary party last spring by boozily toasting your father and his mistress? Not so good.

• You're in charge of a big project at work that you're really proud of? Lovely. When you finish the project you're going to rub it in the face of those good-for-nothing colleagues who couldn't even be bothered to ask if you wanted to join them for lunch and... Maybe not.

It's not only important to be upbeat on dates, but it's perfectly acceptable, and in fact better, to be a little discreet at the beginning of a relationship. That's not to say that you shouldn't be yourself and share things with your date. But there's plenty of time to let the getting to know one another part of the relationship unfold. That's the fun of it, discovering what makes your mate tick. And it works both ways. You'll want to learn more about your date, and he or she will be intrigued by all the things you haven't said yet.

So try it out for yourself. Give your dating style its own diet, and hold off on some details about yourself, for a few more dates anyway. Maybe then, you can pull out your own Weight Watchers scale.

Cocktails & Daydreams - Part 1

Much has been said about what the type of drink a man or woman imbibes says about their personality. Beer guzzling gals come across as "the guy's girl" and willing to kick back. Men who prefer their whiskey neat may have a leg up on their apple martini drinking competition. Heck, a recent social study breaks down personality types based on how you hold your drink.

I have a different theory when it comes to choosing your beverage while on a date. Sure, some daters may rate you based on your preferences, but in my opinion what really counts is where you take your date, and the amount of effort you put into planning that evening out.

You want your companion to be thinking about your great date well into the next day, and sharing his or her excitement with others. By giving them a date to remember, you will not only create a good time, but also ensure that he or she is eagerly awaiting the next time you see one another.

It's important to choose a location that has the right ambiance for the type of evening you're aiming for. Here are some suggestions to help you create the perfect date mood, that leaves a lasting impression.

Snazzy, sophisticated cocktail lounge
In the first part of this series, we'll take a look at some sultry bars made especially for a special occasion date, for when you really want to knock someone's socks off:

Brandy Library- 25 N. Moore, b/w Varick & Hudson
This place is the epitome of swanky. The lights are dim. The walls are lined with volumes of high end cognacs and whiskeys. The bartenders and servers take great pride in helping you select the perfect drink. This lounge is a conversation starter and will make your date rave to his or her friends afterward. (They also offer tasting classes, and complimentary samplings on Sat late afternoons.)

Campbell Apartment- 15 Vanderbilt Ave, attached to Grand Central Terminal

Prepare to sweep your date off of their feet when you whisk them away to this classic old New York venue. Once the former office of John Campbell in the 1920s, it has since been converted into your perfect cozy and glamorous date spot. You will not be disappointed by the decadent cocktail choices and the deep toned decor of this hidden locale. Note that you have to enter through the outside of GCT... after navigating the 2nd floor of the train station for 15 min, I learned that one the hard way.

Also worth mentioning:
The Dove Parlour- Romantic, Victorian feel, this Village lounge's Silk Road Margarita with cinnamon-infused tequila is to die for.
PDT- You have to enter this quasi-speakeasy through a phone booth from the adjacent hot dog shop.

A final note. Here's one more worthy contender, and a particular favorite of mine: Shalel Lounge. This underground UWS bar is cavernous, dark* & romantic. In fact, it's practically known as a make out den, full of nooks and crannies meant for couples. This was confirmed by the Shalel bartender I spoke to earlier tonight, who cheekily told me that part of his job is to regulate "hijinks" among the bar patrons. Sweet. Could serve as a nice place to grab a nightcap at the end (or just the beginning??) of a great date.

*I mean really dark. The pictures above received the benefit of a a serious flash. This place is all about the atmosphere.

Brunch a Go Go!

(Updated! New pics below!)

I like to think of Brunch (note the capital "B") as the official pastime of NYC, specifically of the Upper West Side, but hey let's not be single minded here. Brunch can make or break your weekend. It can provide heady water cooler fodder for equally discriminating foodies come Monday morning. And let's face it, it's delicious.

New York is filled with dozens of worthy Brunch spots. Often you will see groups of gal pals sipping mimosas, or a young person discreetly nursing a hangover while entertaining those pesky parents who thought nothing of arriving for a visit at 11 a.m. on a Sunday morning. But Brunch provides a wonderful, and slightly different, date option for those willing to see their sweetie in the broad daylight. Plus you can drink during the day!*

*On Sundays, libations are withheld until after 12 noon, but Saturdays are a free-for-all. Bring on the early morning booze.

So let's get the ball rolling. Here are a few of my favorite Brunch spots, and the reasons why you should make them your own.

The Scenester Brunch
Jane ~ 100 W. Houston, b/w Thompson & W. Bway
Four words: Vanilla bean french toast. I admit, I'm partial to FT, and I've made it my part time job to find the richest, most decadent in the city. Jane wins. They have a very similar menu to the former glorious Neptune Room of uptown fame. Every brunch order comes with your choice of several delicious complimentary cocktails, such as the "White Peach Bellini" or "Raspberry Champagne Cocktail." Plus the scene is pretty bustling and hip, with music a bit trendier and louder than your average bruncher may be used to playing throughout the restaurant (though this is SoHo we're talking about here). You might have to pay close attention to your date, or learn to read lips. All the more reason to lean in close. Be prepared to wait, like most decent brunch spots. But this one is worth it. Your date- may I suggest 2nd date?- will appreciate your selection.

The Spirited Brunch
Calle Ocho ~ 446 Columbus, b/w 80th & 81st
One would never suspect from walking through the colorful, glossy bar area & entry way, that Calle Ocho is home to a cavernous main dining room. This choice is great for groups, but not off-limits to couples by any means. Steer your date over to the free unlimited sangria bar to break the ice, even before you order your meal. Savor some of the warm breads delivered to the table and enjoy the vibe. The food is tasty and flavorful, though the portions a bit small, perhaps to make up for the aforementioned free & flowing bevvies.

The Brunch On The Go
Grab some egg (whites!) & cheese bagel sandwiches from 72nd Street Bagel, scones from Alice's Tea Cup, or some rich hot chocolate from Jacques Torres*, and stroll over to the park surrounding the American Museum of Natural History to enjoy each other's company al fresco and people watch. Perhaps, if you're lucky, there will be a street fair to savor as well.

*J.T. hot choc works just as well at their Dumbo location where you can enjoy the great view from the newly renovated Brooklyn Bridge/ Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park nearby.

Worth The Wait? You Decide...
This wouldn't be a fully satisfying brunch post without paying homage to those NYC landmarks that draw brunchgoers literally lining down the block. All delicious. But hey, it's your date. You could always bring a laptop and watch a dvd together, or play 20 questions while in line.
SaraBeth's West, East, South (Who knew there were so many SaraBeth's?)
Clinton Street Baking Company- Pancake Month is legendary here.
Good Enough To Eat- I finally had the patience to wait in line- and the good fortune for it to be a relatively short wait- for that pumpkin french toast (the only one to my knowledge in NYC). Not bad.
Cafe Lalo- Tiny or cozy? Loud or exciting? Your call... remember to point out to your date that You've Got Mail was filmed here!

Honorable Mention

I could go on and on about brunch, but here are some other worthwhile locales that you and your date will enjoy.

Community Food & Juice- Uptown organic food decadence; their omelets are legendary, and the hot buttered cider is positively sinful- next time I'll try it with the rum.

Whym- Tasty Hell's Kitchen meal
Elmo- Vibrant & buzzing Chelsea scene

What's been YOUR favorite brunch date?

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