Lunch at Savoia

****UPDATE - Savoia has sadly closed. 6/3/15****

I was recently invited to have a meal at Savoia (277 Smith Street, between Sackett & Degraw Streets, 718-797-2727), an Italian Restaurant in Carroll Gardens run by the Nazzarro family.  Savoia offers a range of dishes, from Bruschette, Salads, Pastas and Meat dishes, but perhaps they are best known for their pizzas.  Delicious combinations entice, such as the Pere e Zola, which comes with Mozzarella, Pear, Walnuts and Gorgonzola, or the Pizza Rustica with Mozzarella, Fresh Ricotta, Sweet Soppresata and Sauteed Spinach.  I've had their pizza before, so this time I decided to try something different.

My sister and I went for lunch, which is a slightly different menu than dinner, and I decided to start with the Mozzarella Fior di Latte and Tomato appetizer, which is basically a Caprese Salad.  The mozzarella was delicious - slightly sweet, creamy and melt-in-your-mouth good.

I also ordered the Valtelina Sandwich (with Bresaola, Artichoke, Parmigiano, Arugola & Lemon Dressing), which comes pressed so everything is warm and melty.  This was a fantastic sandwich.  The bresaola was bold and salty, the artichoke & arugola provided a little bite and the dressing added a bit of tang.  A very flavorful and hearty dish.

My sister chose the Fresh Trofie with Pesto, String Beans, Potatoes and Pine Nuts. All the ingredients were perfectly balanced, the pesto garlicky and evenly coated the pasta.  The potatoes were an interesting addition, but the texture made sense and added a nice depth to the dish.

We decided to try the Nutella and Banana Pizza for dessert.  The menu said it came with Hazelnuts but it came with Walnuts instead. I think that worked better than hazelnuts which might have been overkill with the nutella.  I was pretty full at this point, but this pizza was so yummy, I easily finished my half. The nutella was melted, the banana slices were perfectly ripe and the walnuts added a lovely crunch.  Mmmm.

Savoia is a great restaurant with something for everyone.  The food is great quality and nicely prepared, the interior is cozy (there are two rooms, one purely a dining room and one has a bar in it, and there is sidewalk seating as well), and the service attentive without being overbearing.  I highly recommend it!

Lunch at Van Horn

****UPDATE - Van Horn has Closed. 6/3/15****


There's been a ton of press covering the opening of Van Horn, (231 Court St., between Baltic and Warren Streets, 718-596-9707) the new much-needed sandwich shop in Cobble Hill. I went recently, excited to try the much talked about Fried Chicken Sandwich and check the place out. I don't know what other people have been eating, but my lunch companion and I were disappointed.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich does look impressive, and comes with a large dollop of zesty slaw, however the meat was on the dry side and fairly tasteless as well. My friend had to get extra sauce on the side to juice it up, and at $12, it's quite a steep price for a mediocre chicken sandwich.



We also got a side of Mac 'n Cheese. This, too, was disappointing. It was more like a wedge of pasta casserole, and had the powdery taste of a mix rather than real cheese. For my lunch, I chose the BLT, which was good. The bun was toasted with garlic aioli, and while the fillings were minimal, they were tasty.



All in all I found Van Horn underwhelming. The space is nice, simple and clean, with a number of tables plus a bar with seating. I will go back to try some of the other items on the menu (Pulled Pork perhaps), but I'm not racing back anytime soon. Oh well.

Lunch at Chavella's

Near the old Jewish Hospital on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights that was converted to apartments about 5 years ago sits Chavellas (732 Classon Ave., between Park Pl. & Prospect Pl., 718-622-3100), a Mexican restaurant with a narrow, wooden front porch that beckons you to come, sit, have some food. I went recently with a friend for lunch and was happy with what we discovered.

We started out with fresh Guacamole (natch!) and crispy corn tortillas. It was delicious - fresh, with chunks of tomato and cilantro sprigs. And the crispy corn tortillas were excellent. It was a bit pricey though.



I really wanted Horchata, but they were all out. Boo. But they did have Fish Tacos! The Pescado was full of flaky white fish, cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle salsa. Drizzled with a little lime juice and...perfection! I also got the Carne Enchilada taco with pork, cilantro, pineapple and habanero. Whoo, that was spicy. The pieces of pineapple were a really nice touch and the meat was well seasoned, but the spice was too much for me.



My friend got an assortment of three tacos - the fish, Verduras (with roasted zucchini, squash, mushrooms and peppers, topped with lettuce and guacamole) and the Hongos con Rajas (mushrooms, poblano peppers and crema fresca). The veggies were plentiful and tasty, but the mushrooms and peppers was a bit underwhelming. Overall, very good.



It seems like a decent spot if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there.

Savory Treats at Little Buddy Biscuit Company

For the longest time I thought Little Buddy Biscuit Company (635 5th Avenue, between 17th & 18th Streets, 718-369-6355) was just a dessert place with amazing cookies & cupcakes, but no! I went there recently and discovered that they have all sorts of savory treats like Pot Pies, homemade Hot Pockets and even some vegan stuff! They make their Hot Pockets in cute shapes like crescents and triangles and stuff them with delicious cheeses and veggies. I ordered one with mushrooms and one with artichoke hearts.



The artichoke one was my favorite. It was tangy & zesty and had chunks of artichoke in it. It was seasoned nicely and worked well as a savory treat. The mushroom one was less interesting to me - it was slightly on the sweet side and was too mushy in consistency. It would have been nicer if there were some slices of mushrooms inside instead of a mushroom puree. The dough was on the thick side, and a bit chewy; I was expecting something a little lighter and flakier. I'd like to try their Pot Pies, as I've heard great things about them. For now, I'll stick with the cookies, which are fabulous!

Lunch at Iris Cafe

Everybody is talking about Iris Cafe (20 Columbia Place, between State St. & Joralemon St., 718-722-7255). Having only opened this past November, it's already won the honor of being New York Magazine's pick for Best Cafe! Located on the cutest, smallest, quietest block in a small corner of Brooklyn Heights, the space itself is also terrific. Big and airy and quaint, there's plenty of space to hang out to sit and eat or read the paper. Even the little bathroom is sweet, with wildflowers in glass bottles and a window looking out onto the ivy-covered wall supporting the BQE going past. I went by one late afternoon with a friend to grab lunch, and we were both happy with our experience. The staff were super friendly and happy to be there, and you can get market-type stuff like eggs, butter and milk!

I ordered the Avocado and Cheddar Sandwich on Whole Grain Bread, with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and a spicy Aioli mayonnaise. The bread was lightly toasted and the warmth enhanced all the flavors. Packed with quality ingredients and coming on a big sheet of brown paper, it was a most delicious and beautiful dish!



My friend went the Salad route and got one with Sliced Boiled Egg, Ham, Cucmber, Walnuts and Corn. Fresh, crispy and flavorful, she enjoyed every bite and polished it off within minutes.



I couldn't resist getting a little dessert for later, and chose the Black Bottom Cupcake. It was good, but I would've liked more of the cream cheese stuff that you can see on top. It was light and fluffy, but a bit too subtle tasting, whereas the cheese was sweet and tangy but was so concentrated on top not enough of it went around to the rest of the cake.



A MINOR blip in an otherwise terrific experience. Can't wait to go back in the morning for an Egg Sandwich and Coffee.

Brunch at Press 195

Everything aligned over the weekend and resulted in a delicious Brunch in a backyard garden with the sun shining. Yay! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll finally have some real Spring! So, yeah, Press 195 (195 5th Avenue, between Union St. & Berkeley Pl., 718-857-1950) has the cutest garden area out back that has a whole bunch of tables, including one really big picnic table that could seat 8. We headed straight back there, plopped ourselves in the sun and surveyed the menu. Holy Panini! There are a million to choose from (OK, 40 hot panini to choose from, and a handful of cold pressed, lightly toasted sandwiches). I went with the #31 - Turkey, crispy bacon, Monterey Jack, tomato, chipotle mayonnaise and guacamole. Mmmmm! It was perfectly spicy, so flavorful, so crispy and crunchy. The slices of cucumber were a little underwhelming - more vinegar & peppercorns please! But that panini...delish!



The boyfriend got #21 - Turkey & Fontina cheese with a cranberry and roasted pear chutney. This was good too, but so sweet in comparison to my savory & spicy pick. It was hard to really pay it proper attention. Great idea with the chutney though, right? And really, anything with melted cheese is going to be good.



The waitstaff were all friendly and competent, and we saw some salads being delivered to nearby tables that were HUGE. Definitely interested in going back and trying one of them. So, now that the warm weather is coming, head over to Press 195 to hang out in the backyard and eat some delicious panini. They even have dessert panini with nutella and banana! P.S. Hi Gina!

Mexican Brunch at Papacitos

I love Greenpoint. I especially love walking around and exploring, which is what I got to do last weekend during the wonderful Spring-like weather, and along the way I developed a hankering for Mexican. Luckily, there are a number of options along Manhattan Avenue, and we ended up at Papacitos (999 Manhattan Ave., between Green & Huron, 718-349-7292), a fun, loud, colorful spot that offers "Mexican street food in Brooklyn".

We started out with some Chips & Guac (naturally). The chips were greasy, and some weren't cooked all the way, but I liked how thick they were, and super crunchy. The guacamole was SPICY!!! It was chunky too, with red onions, green peppers and lots of Jalapeño. Whoo! It was good though; I kept going back for more.



My boyfriend ordered the The Papa Benny with Poached Eggs, Picadas Stuffed “ Mesca cake” with Black Bean, Chorizo, Chipotle Hollandaise & Avocado Pico De Gallo from the Brunch menu. The eggs were perrrrr-fectly poached! Not a runny bit in sight. The Mesca cake was delicious, the chorizo provided a touch of spice and the sauces were strong and flavorful. Yum! And look at that gorgeous presentation of all that color in the orange bowl on top of the blue plate.



I decided to get two tacos, one with Tilapia and one with Carne Asada. The tilapia was tender and flaky and so tasty with a little fresh-squeezed lime juice. The carne asada was served in plentiful cubes, flavorful and not at all tough. Both were topped with a dollop of sour cream, chunks of tomatoes and a sprinkle of cilantro and served in two, small corn tortillas.



I liked Papacitos, although their new stereo system was not working properly (so I was told) and the bass was pumping so loudly I developed a headache during our meal. Hopefully they'll figure that out soon, I'm really curious about their dinners. Anyone been?

Lunch at Al Di La Trattoria

I had some time off recently, so I was able to enjoy lunch with a friend at Al Di La, (248 5th Avenue, at the corner of Carroll St., 718-636-8888) one of the best restaurants Park Slope has to offer. The main dining room is spacious and a little funky, with bottles of wine, dark tin ceilings and a pink vine design painted on the walls. It's country Italian food at it's best - simple, uncomplicated meals with quality ingredients and flavorful results.

My friend started with Soup of the Day, made with a basic tomato broth, filled with tasty, meaty, little clams, tomatoes, basil and garlic it was delicious and surprisingly filling.



He also got an order of the Ravioli made with Winter Squash, brown butter and sage. It was light and delicious, albeit very buttery, with just a sprinkling of grated Parmesean on top.



The dish I chose was my favorite though. A bowl of creamy polenta in a broth with tomatoes, kale and sliced porcini mushrooms and a perfectly poached egg resting on top. It was amazing! The intermingling of all the flavors and textures worked perfectly, and it was filling without being too heavy. I've been thinking about it ever since!



Al Di La Trattoria is such a delightful place with comfort food at it's simple best, in a cozy, comfortable space.

Lunch at Mile End

So, everybody's talking about Mile End (97A Hoyt Street, between Atlantic Ave. and Pacific St., 718-852-7510), the new Montreal-style deli in Boerum Hill that sells bagels driven down from Montreal every Friday, and in-house smoked and cured meat. Um, really? 100 bagels catch a ride from 450 miles away every week and people actually buy them for $3 a pop? I'm sorry to be such a stinker about the whole thing, but that really makes me raise one of my eyebrows in questionable disdain. I went over there recently to see what all the hype is about.

The space is -small-. Three or four tables and a counter with as many stools cram the space - outside which crowds wait on the weekends. The staff is super friendly and I felt welcomed, always a nice thing when going into a new place for the first time. They were out of the Ruth Wilensky (salami pressed on an onion roll), so I ordered the Smoked Meat Sandwich (all of the meat, fish & vegetables are house pickled, cured, and smoked using local, pastured, line-caught & sustainable ingredients whenever possible). Two slices of soft, pillowy Rye bread contain a large pile of the fatty, smoked meat. Mustard is smeared on the bread to provide some bite.



It was a big sandwich, but not ridiculously so, and at first I thought I'd only eat half, but it was so tasty I ended up polishing it off in one sitting. But soon, my stomach made me regret my decision. I have a pretty steely stomach, too, so I'm not sure what this says about this sandwich. I don't think the meat was bad, it just ended up hurting! I just don't get the rabid following Mile End has already established within a few short months time. The menu is so small, and what's on it is slightly different versions of the same thing, so it feels even smaller. I do hope they succeed, maybe they can add a veggie option to the sandwiches, and maybe they can find a better way to deal with that bagel situation!

Lunch at Superfine

Over the years, I have tried to go to Superfine (126 Front St., at Pearl St., 718-243-9005) a number of times. It was either closed for vacation, there was a private party, or some other weirdness that prevented me from trying it out. Well, everything changed this past weekend, when the stars were aligned and Superfine was open when I went to have lunch (Brunch is only served on Sundays). We were given the Bar Menu which is limited - some soups, a sandwich or two, but no salads. The light is gorgeous with the late afternoon sun pouring in, and the space is interesting, with a bar right when you walk in, and seating up a few stairs to your right and at the rear.

We started with some Butternut Squash Soup. A rich orange color, it was thick, creamy and nicely flavored - a little earthy & nutty.



We then ordered two plates of assorted goodness to share. The Antipasto Plate came with segments of cauliflower, marinated slices of red pepper, Soppressata and the most amazing slices of portobello mushroom I've ever had! Three crusty slices of bread accompanied the plate as well with assorted olives in the middle.



The best however, was the Cheese Plate. Large slices of Manchego, dry, sharp Cheddar and the most buttery, creamy Brie in the world. It was heavenly. Slices of apple and pear joined the cheese and bread, as did a dollop of honey, which I thought was a nice touch. In the center sat a ramekin of roasted almonds. It was wonderful and easy to share.



I'm eager to get back here for the famed brunch, and maybe even for dinner. The bar looks like it'd be a fun spot to have a drink or two as well. Yay Superfine!

Sandwiches at Brooklyn Standard

I read about the Brooklyn Standard Deli back in March on Brooklyn Based and have been itching to check it out ever since. The still-new shop bills itself as the new bodega, offering the neighborhood everything it needs - convenience, food (both made to order and packaged), snacks, drinks, even condoms and smokes, but with the majority of their products being natural, organic and as local as possible. They use organic milk in their Stumptown coffee, and boast a whole line of vegan dishes to choose from, in addition to meaty breakfast and lunch deals and various pastries and desserts. I also saw a huge selection of sodas made with real sugar, not nasty high fructose corn syrup.

We got The Greenpoint (seemed fitting) which is Ham, Broccoli Rabe, Pepper Jack Cheese, Fresh Arugula and Arugula Oil on Grilled Foccacia. It was sooooo good! Melty, spicy cheese, salty ham, delicious bitter greens and a nice, soft bread, grilled to greasy perfection.



I also made sure to get a Cloud Cookie - a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie that so soft in the middle it's almost melting. It was so rich, it lasted me two days!



We also had a Stumptown latte that was pretty good, and cheaper than most of the other places serving Stumptown. I loved Brooklyn Standard and would go there many times a week if I lived in Greenpoint.

Sandwiches at Building on Bond

Yes, the Atlantic Antic was weeks ago, but the pleasant memories linger, especially when one is thinking about the B.B.Q. Pork Sandwich Building on Bond (112 Bond St. at the corner of Pacific St., 718-852-0301) was serving from their stand on the corner of Atlantic & Bond, just a block away from their storefront where they're open from Breakfast until Dinner serving all manner of yummy treats in a beautiful, sun-drenched space.

This incredible sandwich though, is made with braised pork, apple jicama slaw and red pepper aioli on pretzel bread. The pork is super cooked down, in all it's brown, tasty juices which run down the sides of your mouth when you take that first bite. The pretzel roll is a nice touch, with big crystals of salt, but is a bit on the dry side. I could have used a bit more pork on this sandwich. The Jicama slaw is also great - a nice, crunchy, refreshing bite to cut the heavy meat.



No need to fret, this sandwich is a regular on their lunch menu, so it's not just at street fairs that it's available. Served with a spear of dill pickle, this sandwich is quite the treat.

Lobster Rolls at Farmacy

There's been a lot of movement in the last few months at the corner store now known as Brooklyn Farmacy, (513 Henry St., at the corner of Sackett St.). The soon to be soda-fountain and produce stand may also be a once-in-a-while lobster roll shack as well. Coming home from the Atlantic Antic yesterday, hungry and tired with sore feet, the chalk writing on the sidewalk pointed the way to the Farmacy for Lobster Rolls, $8 each, or two for $15. You could also get claws and tails for $4 or $6, but the rolls called our names. We got two because neither of us wanted to share, and we were happy we did.



Sorry about the missing bite - they were too good to resist before snapping a picture! Lovingly placed on a bed os lettuce, the sweet, succulent pieces of lobster mixed with scallions, celery, mayo and herbs made for a delicious mid-afternoon treat. Made with sort-of sweet hot dog rolls that were soft and pillowy, we were totally satisfied and settled in to a happy cat nap on our sun-drenched couch afterward. Mmmm. The best. We were told that they were fresh from Maine, and the new owner was heading back there this week, so keep your eyes out for more sidewalk signs next weekend for your Lobster Roll!

Lunch at Calexico

So, I had to try out Calexico (122 Union St., between Hicks St. & Columbia St., 718-488-8226) for myself, and I have to say, I was disappointed. Yes, the Crack Sauce is delicious, but the rest of the food just didn't cut it. On top of the mediocrity, the food delivery from Sysco & IBP in the middle of our meal really turned me off. Maybe it's left over from college cafeteria days, but mostly it's my knowledge of what these huge corporations mean in terms of food quality (low) and cost to the environment (high), not to mention how the animals on these "farms" are treated. There is so much good food available, it's a shame that this place isn't buying from a local butcher, or a local produce grower. Everybody seems to love this place, and maybe I'll get some flack, but I've gotta stick to my guns here.

I ordered a cheese & bean taco and a tofu quesadilla. The taco comes on two soft corn tortillas and was pretty good. Drizzled in crack sauce (a thick, creamy, spicy mayo concoction) and served with a wedge of lime, this might be the only thing I'll get here again. The tofu quesadilla had very firm chunks of tofu wrapped inside a crisp tortilla. Yes, you can dunk it in a big dish of the sauce, but that's all I ended up tasting.



My boyfriend got the Pulled Pork Quesadilla and a Tofu Torta (a sort of grilled sandwich/panini-type thing). The pulled pork was gross. Oily, not flavorful and did not go so well with the sauce. The Tofu Torta again was stuff with bland, hard chunks of tofu. I understand the point of this place is the meat, but I keep coming back to the source of that meat and my stomach turns. There was also air conditioner drip landing in a puddle on the table next to where we were sitting that didn't look like it was being addressed. What's up with that? Maybe they'll wise up and start buying better quality ingredients, but until then I'll take a pass on Calexico.

Lunch at Eat

I'm sorta confused as to what this place is called now. For years my boyfriend and I used to go here when it was Eat Records, the pancakes, eggs and bacon were the best and crates of the real deal lined the walls while off-beat avant-garde music filled the space. Now it seems to be known as just Eat (124 Meserole Ave., between Manhattan Ave. & Graham Ave., 718-389-8083) and there are only a few crates of records there, but what remains is pretty awesome. If you do a search online, "Eat Coffee LLC" comes up, but I understand they don't sell coffee to go anymore, much to the chagrin of online commentators. I spoke with the waitress a little about the menu and was told all of it is based on what's available at farms both really nearby (Rooftop Farm) and sorta nearby (upstate a little). Eat also hosts a CSA with the produce from the upstate farm and the chef creates the menu around what's freshest and in season. What you get is really good, tasty, quality food in a relaxed, comfortable environment.

There are appetizers, crostini, soups and sandwiches to choose from and everything sounded really enticing. I started out with a green salad made with greens from the Rooftop Farm, two kinds of radishes and topped with cheese from Consider Bardwell Farms (love them!). It was slightly bitter, really fresh and very flavorful with a light dressing of lemon juice and olive oil. I highly recommend it!



I also got the special Bahn Mi sandwich made with boiled eggs, carrots, parsley and daikon. The bread was crusty, and the ingredients just popped! So fresh and bright and yummy.



My BF got the Frittata made with asparagus that was gorgeous AND delicious to boot. Served cold, with a small salad on the side, it's perfect for a hot summer day.



I was sad to see Eat Records go, and they definitely went through some growing pains, but it's current iteration is wonderful and I hope more people go there to support a true local, community-oriented business!

Pupusas in Red Hook

Eat It: The Brooklyn Food Blog turned one year old this past weekend and I'm celebrating with a contest! To enter, write about your favorite restaurant or meal in Brooklyn and email it to EatItBrooklyn (at) gmail (dot) com; don't forget to include photos! Two lucky winners will each receive a copy of the new book out by Andrew Coe called Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States and will have their submission published here on Eat It! Special consideration will be given to those who write about Chinese food! Contest ends August 3rd!

Great days involve great food. Great food does not have to be eaten at a fancy restaurant, or any kind of restaurant actually; it can be purchased from a truck and eaten with your hands at a wooden picnic table in the shade on a hot, muggy afternoon. That is exactly what I did yesterday and it was pure wonderfulness.

After a lazy swim at the Red Hook pool and cooling off in its crystal clear blue waters, a friend and I ambled over to the Red Hook Ball Fields at the intersection of Bay St. and Clinton St. to get some lunch from one of the vendors selling all manner of yummy food - grilled corn, flautas, tacos, chicharron, plantains and, of course, pupusas. I ordered one Bean & Cheese and one with Pork & Cheese, which are served with the tastiest pickled slaw & onions and doused with sour cream and hot sauce. Pupusas are small rounds of corn meal stuffed with a variety of fillings. The best is when some of the cheese spills out and gets toasted by the grill it's cooked on so it gets browned to a crisp. There are a few vendors that sell pupusas, I pretty much pick the one with the shortest line! This time I ordered from Soler Dominican and found them to be terrific.



I also make sure to get a big cup of juice while I'm there as well. My favorites include Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Tamarind and Horchata (made from rice, almonds & cinnamon), but you can also get lime & lemonade, pineapple juice and mango juice. So refreshing, sweet and delicious!

Sandwiches from Esposito's Pork Store

Eat It: The Brooklyn Food Blog turned one year old July 18th and I'm celebrating with a contest! To enter, write about your favorite restaurant or meal in Brooklyn and email it to EatItBrooklyn (at) gmail (dot) com; don't forget to include photos! Two lucky winners will each receive a copy of the new book out by Andrew Coe called Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States and will have their submission published here on Eat It! Special consideration will be given to those who write about Chinese food!


I had a craving for Roast Beef sandwiches the other day and thought I'd try getting it at G. Esposito and Sons Pork Store, (357 Court Street, between President & Union, 718-875-6863) the place with the big fiberglass pig outside, waving to passersby, beckoning them to come in. Inside, dry sausages of all sizes hang from the ceiling and all sorts of goodies fill the shelves.

My roast beef sandwich came piled high, and I ordered it with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, salt & pepper on a roll. It was one of the best Roast Beef sandwiches I have ever had. It was perfect. Tender meat, good roll, well seasoned. Lovingly made as well by the mean behind the counter. It so hit the spot. I ate half before I realized I needed to take a picture!



My BF ordered the sweet Sopressata sandwich with provolone, lettuce, tomato & mustard. This was great too, with thinly sliced provolone, delicious meat, on a crusty sesame seed roll.



I highly recommend this place if you're desiring deli sandwiches - there's more to this place than pork!

Lunch at Fanny

Fanny (425 Graham Ave., between Frost & Withers, 718-389-2060), is a nice little spot on an unassuming stretch of Graham Ave. with a sweet, sun-dappled backyard. Sitting underneath the grapevines out back lends your meal a very 'European Afternoon' feeling. It's lovely, and the food was delicious as well.

My friend and I shared everything, and each dish was ample enough so that there was plenty of each to split in half. They were offering a special Brunch (on a Tuesday afternoon!) of Poached Eggs atop toasted country bread, with sauteed spinach, three grilled shrimp and a yogurt-tarragon sauce which sounded too good to pass up. The eggs were indeed perfect, as was the spinach - wonderfully seasoned and cooked just right. The bread was crusty and sourdough-y and the shrimp were excellent. It all tasted so good, neither of us bothered with the sauce.



We also split the Fried Fish sandwich with tartar sauce and a side salad. There were two big pieces of fish, lightly breaded & fried, flaky & tender and the salad (with buttery lettuce & other greens) was superbly dressed with lemon, salt & pepper.



I really enjoyed the meal, the service and the place itself, and am eager to get back to try out dinner!

Pizza & Ice Cream!

While I tend to steer clear of places that have long lines outside them, Grimaldi's Pizza (19 Old Fulton Street, between Front St. & Water St., 718-858-4300) is so good, I might have to make an exception more often. If you arrive at 11am, you can be sure you'll be a part of the first wave to be seated when they open at 11:30am. Inside, it's a bustling place, with red & white checked tablecloths, photos and newspaper clippings about Frank Sinatra lining the walls in frames, and about 8 waiters, all running this way and that, trying to get everybody's orders in. The huge oven can be seen from all the tables and you can watch while your pizza is made to order.



There's a lot of hype about this pizza, but I believe it stands up to all the hyperbole with delicious, well-made, tasty pizza. The crust is perfect, crispy & thin, but still just doughy enough, and never soggy. The cheese is so fresh and has the best melty consistency, and the sauce is well-seasoned and not sweet at all. This pizza has pepperoni slices on it which are the smaller version, but slightly thicker than usual pepperoni slices and spicy enough to add a little heat. Fresh basil leaves dot the entire pie. Of course, they have lots of options for other toppings. Also, if you can't stand the lines, you can call in your order and pick it up to go.



Afterward, if it's a nice day, take a walk down to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory at 1 Water Street (or 2 Cadman Plaza West, depending on your map) for dessert (718-246-3963). There are usually 6 or 8 flavors on the menu and all are available on a cone, in a cup or made into a milkshake. It's some of the creamiest, most delicious ice cream out there, made even better by the lovely views of the Brooklyn Bridge from the pier.



These cones are displaying a single scoop of the wonderful coffee ice cream on sugar and wafer cones. Deeee-licious!