The New York Sensational 7

I thought I'd try something different stylistically for my blog and give you a run down of the top 7 places from my amazing adventure in New York this past week.  I even went ahead and included a short review, a rating (out of 5 stars) and a description on who to take there.  Enjoy!

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CAFE LALO (☆)

With a pretty interior & chic lighting scheme, there is no doubt in anyone's mind why Cafe Lalo was chosen to be part of the classic movie, 'You've Got Mail'.  The twinkling Christmas lights adorning trees outside and the wide array of treats displayed in the counter are enticing to any passing pedestrians.  I went with the espresso chip milkshake with chocolate syrup and was not disappointed.  Still not up to par with the Med's milkshakes but an acceptable substitute if you are in New York.  Overall, it's the perfect place to end a date or catch up with great friends.  Make sure to check the schedule for when there is live music as well!

 WHO TO BRING HERE: friends & family who have seen 'You've Got Mail'; any date who has a sweet tooth

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SERENDIPITY 3 (☆)

Home to the famous 'Frrrozen Hot Chocolate' that in my opinion was over-rated and over-hyped.  My friend correctly defined it as a mediocre Starbuck's frappacino minus the caffeine.  Opt instead for the Coward's Portion of the Banana Split which was absolutely phenomenal.  There will be a long wait no matter when you go so come prepared to kill time in either Dylan's Candy Bar or Bloomingdale's down the street.  All dishes come in huge portions which is always nice so be prepared to share.  Once you see the interior you will understand why celebrities like Andy Warhol & Lana del Rey love to visit this place!

WHO TO BRING HERE:  movie fanatic friends; younger female crowd; out-of-town visitors who are in NYC for the first time

Coward's Portion of the Banana Split

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

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NOBU FIFTY SEVEN (☆)

Japanese fusion restaurants are trending on the restaurant scene and it's easy to understand why! Nobu Fifty Seven has a classy interior, attentive staff and a fabulous menu.  The Black Cod with Miso was the perfect combination of mild cod flavor and sweet hints of miso paste.  Japanese miso is high in nutritional value; a single serving contains multiple essential vitamins, minerals and proteins.  The Yellow-Tail and Salmon tacos were spicy enough to draw interest from the taste buds but not too spicy to distract from the original flavorings of the fish.  My personal favorite, the Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy sauce, was absolutely fantastic and I would definitely order it again.  The restaurant also has a great list of desserts & I would recommend both the Pistachio Kabosu Yuzu and the Banana Soy Toban.

WHO TO BRING HERE: business clients; family; special occasions


Yellow-Tail & Salmon Tacos

Banana Soy Toban

Pistachio Kabosu Yuzu

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LEVAIN BAKERY (☆)

Waiting 45 minutes for a single cookie at first seems like a ridiculous thing to do on a cold Saturday afternoon.  But it is slightly less ridiculous if you are visiting the famous Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side.  My friend raved about the thick, moist cookies here and I was eager to try one.  The line stretched down the street but we had the new Taylor Swift album to keep us amused as we slowly froze to numbness.  Oddly enough, Taylor herself is a huge fan of Levain Bakery.  Once inside, we were enchanted by the strong aromas of chocolate, cinnamon and freshly baked bread.  Although originally toying with the idea of oatmeal raisin, I opted for the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip.  The cookie was the size of a scone but with an impeccable softness and a crunchy composition that is unmatched by any cookie I have consumed before.  Definitely worth the wait if you are in town.

WHO TO BRING HERE: friends who you can make idle conversation with during the wait
(PS: Look at the menu before you go to smooth out the process & wait time) 

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OTTOMANELLI CAFE ()

It is no secret that my favorite places to blog about are hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve amazing food at extremely low prices.  Most of these restaurants are recommended to me through friends and I continue the cycle by writing about them.  Ottomanelli Cafe is a little Italian restaurant on the Upper East side that would be easy to overlook.  It is slightly below ground and its exterior is underwhelming.  My friend Emily had bragged on a place where a passer-by would potentially question the restaurant's legitimacy and health rating.  Needless to say, I was intrigued.

I can now say without a doubt that this is one of New York's best Italian restaurants.  We each had the Spaghetti Bolognese and I've never had a better rendition of this traditional dish.  The sauce was both creamy and meaty but with the perfect dash of fresh Italian spices.  The food is served with complimentary garlic bread that is top-notch and never-ending.  We split the Fried Calamari appetizer which came out freshly fried, hot and tender.  Ottomanelli's is also BYOB so customers don't break their bank on drinks and can bring their own bottle of wine instead.  Overall, the pricing was extremely reasonable and you can make several meals out of one entree.  

WHO TO BRING HERE: friends, family, anyone who enjoys phenomenal Italian food

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JACOB'S PICKLES ()

Need a hip new brunch place on the Upper West Side? Definitely check out Jacob's Pickles and be prepared to wait because chances are, five other people were thinking the same thing.  There may be a long wait time but the food here is definitely worth it.  A little bit different than the traditional chicken & waffles, the chicken + pancakes is a must-order here.  It comes with a HUGE portion of freshly-fried chicken with soft, savory pancakes.  The service here is very friendly and the interior reminded me of a hipster lumberjacks cabin.  The perfect place to brunch with friends!!
WHO TO BRING HERE: friends who brunch

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SMÖRGÅS CHEF at SCANDINAVIA HOUSE (☆)

If you are at all interested in Scandinavian food, this place is a MUST visit.  Located on the first-floor of the Scandinavia House, this restaurant has everything that I love.  I had the Norwegian Gravlaks Smørrebrød, a traditional open-faced rye sandwich with scrambled eggs and fresh laks.  The smørrebrød was accompanied by a potato salad and fresh greens salad.  For beverages, the House has a wide variety of lingonberry-flavored drinks ranging from mimosas to soda.  The coffee here is also strong and the perfect accompaniment to any meal.  (Norwegians are one of the top consumers of coffee world-wide)  The gift shop is nearby and has a multitude of Scandinavian goodies to take home as gifts or dessert.  If you have extra time before or after the meal, check out the free art exhibit on the Third Floor.  When I was there, it featured Icelandic artists and the modern landscape.  

WHO TO BRING HERE: family, friends, dates
(Tip- make reservations in advance for busy times)

Norwegian Gravlaks Smørrebrød

A Great Place to Brunch


Third Floor Exhibit