The "yeas" and "nays" of New York City: Part 2 of 4 -- Bon Appetit

Happy New Year y'all!!  Continuing the blogging segment on our New York overview, today we want to talk about dining options.

There are no less than a million choices of cuisine, restaurants, experiences, price-points, etc. available in New York City.  Save up your calories for months in advance as you are in for a true culinary experience.  Every celebrity chef that has appeared on the Food Network owns a restaurant in the city and every ethnic cuisine you possibly wanted to try is available as well.  We experienced fast-casual, casual, fine dining and everything in between.  Some restaurants are considered "New York standards" while others you would never hear of outside of where we lived.... All were great in their own right.

Dining

• For a true New York diner experience, visit the "Market Diner" on 11th Avenue at 42nd Street in Hell's Kitchen and sit at the bar.  Jimmy and Billy will take great care of you!
• Do plan to eat brunch on Sunday at one of these places:  The David Burke Kitchen (ask for Laurence to be your server) or CookShop BUT make reservations weeks in advance.
• Want real French food?  Go to Le Perigord and splurge for dinner.  It is a fine and fabulous restaurant that has been in Manhattan since 1964 owned by the same family!
• For excellent and authentic Spanish tapas, go to Nai Tapas in the East Village and ask for "Unue" to be your server.
• Venture to Harlem and visit Marcus Samuelsson's eatery called "Red Rooster Harlem".  We went for Saturday brunch but were told Sunday Brunch or Monday dinner is the best time to dine!
• For a more casual, American-inspired French cuisine, go to Anthony Bordain's old stomping grounds at "Brasserie Les Halles "...absolutely awesome food and service!  We loved this place!
• If romance is in order, splurge for dinner at “One If By Land, Two If By Sea”.  Gayland and I dined for our 1^st wedding anniversary and enjoyed the atmosphere, price fixe menu choices and service.
• Use Yelp to help find restaurants to visit in the city.  Though there is not a basic platform that provides a base point for judgment, you can get a fairly good feel if a restaurant is worthy of your time.
• Use your calories to indulge in a cupcake in the city.  I indulged in a few and they were delicious (and from different bakeries).

Bon Appetit!!