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By Brittany Ho, March 31, 2010 10:44 pm

http://www.trenewyork.com/

Proprietor/Chef:

Category: Italian

Neighborhood: Lower East Side
173 Ludlow St New York, NY 10002
(212) 353-3353

spaghetti w/ sliced skirt steak

"pappardelle al ragu" - pasta w/ lamb

"carpaccio di bietola" - beets w/ fried goat cheese

"polpette di tonno crudo" - sesame crusted tuna tartare

Mood: Cheap Italian fare that’s incredibly edible.

Tastes Like: generic home made spaghetti I could make at home, but one of those nights where you are too lazy to actually make.  The appetizers stole the thunder here and outshines my pasta dish by a gazillion wads.  Loads to choose from, which made it very difficult to just pick 1-2.  We finally decided on the fried artichokes, beets with goat cheese, tuna tar-tare that I otherwise, would probably not make at home.  My ever so humble date enjoyed his pappardelle with lamb.  Fortunate for him the pasta was freshly made.  I’ve been forewarned though, so my expectation dropped tenfold.   I liked the menu selection… just have to figure out what’s fresh and what’s not fresh.  This place has got plenty room for improvement.  Hence, all the recession specials marketed here.

Must Haves: fried artichokes .. delish!! (most of their small apps are better than the entree)

Stay Away: depending on what day it is.. stay away from the tuna tar-tare …. would also advise against the spaghetti

Ambiance: I actually dig the ambiance. It was cute, intimate and enough to comfort two heartwarming souls.

Service: Kinda quick. Kinda slow. Kinda kooky. Know what I mean?

Rating: 3 stars (I left here content, what can I say)

Caveat: I guess you have to know what to order here.  They have unlimited champagne brunch specials and Monday specials for all you can drink sangrias and eat spaghetti.  I suggest you pass on the spaghetti and go for the sangria.  Be mild with the carbs, aggressive with the alcohol.

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By Brittany Ho, March 15, 2010 11:50 pm

http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/

Proprietor/Chef: B.R. American Restaurants (Stephen Hanson)/ Matthew Hughes

Category: Seafood/Brunch

Neighborhood: Union Square
31 Union Sq. New York, NY 10003
(212) 675-9500

Mood: Elegance… jazz.  Plus.

Tastes Like: smoked salmon eggs benedicte poached ever so delicately.  The palate feels the light liquid sensation of the yolk, drizzled atop with a light hollandaise sauce refreshed by the dill sitting beneath the heavyset buttermilk biscuit.  The only downside?  Buttermilk biscuit, which was a bit too heavy even for my taste.  Paired with a complementary Bellini, I would have wanted light to match with light.  Potatoes I could have lived without… a nice substitution for salad or wheat toast would have been better…but if you must insist, make them tastier and crispier.

Must Haves: NA

Ambiance: I think blue…but I really saw a lot of white.  Which is good…I hate “blue” colored establishments.  If you come here early or late enough, you will catch a terrific jazz swing … enough to get you smilin’ in the mood to enjoy the rest of your day/night.

Service: Our waiter seemed a bit stand offish, but he did his job…no other complaints.

Rating: 3 stars

Caveat: I’m not really a fan of mini-chains .. let alone regular chains…but BR Guests reminds me of American Great.  Something truly amiss, but semi-warmly gestured all the more.

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By Brittany Ho, March 1, 2010 11:41 pm

www.ippudo.com/ny

Proprietor/Chef: Shigemi Kawahara

Category: Japanese

Neighborhood: East Village
54 4^th Ave, New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0088

pickled veggies

Yamitsuki Goma Kyuri

Karaka Miso Ramen

Kogashi Miso ramen

Akamaru Modern ramen

ramen noodles w/ spare ribs

spare ribs

Mood: steamin’ hot noodles.  soup… RAMEN NOODLE SOUP coupled with some pork buns.  AMEN.

Tastes Like: it must be so bad for your health, but who cares?  it’s delicious.  the perfect ramen bowl. Almost. I ordered the chicken special… the broth kindly reminded me of a hearty chicken pot pie.  Lots of well-rounded flavors with the delicate balance of ramen noodles to offset.  My only frown was the amount of sodium I could taste on my lips.  Hence, the “almost”.  the akamaru modern is still the best tasting ramen bowl & pretty special with the pork belly and your choice of hard or poached eggs.  my personal favorite is the karaka spicy miso…. freshly grated ball of ginger with bamboo shoots and cabbage.  Get extra bakudan (spicy paste) to enhance those taste buds. you won’t regret it.

Must Haves: Akamaru modern and karaka miso, which is my personal favorite. alas, their pork buns are delicious!

Stay Away: there’s nothing I don’t like here… but the pickled vegetables could have been in smaller bites.  they were big & awkward.

Ambiance: simplistic, humble & stunning.  The Japanese culture has a way with beauty that puts you at arm’s peace. Ippudo is something of a phenomenon.

Service: efficient, as crazy busy as it gets. Duly noted.

Rating: 5 stars

Caveat: everybody knows that the wait here is extremely long.  We’re talking up to an hour and then some.  This place is classic and will remain for quite some time, unless fierce competition comes walking along.  However, the hostess will often tell you 1 hour to 1.5 hr.  They’re basically programmed to tell you that. Expect it…but make sure you come back 20 minutes prior, so you don’t get glazed on over.