Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

yes they are--was just there on Friday night and the waiters told me--i scooped ed levine?!

porterhouse or how (& where) i came to love it--bistecca alla fiorentina

oven roasted

prune is good for lunch as is via emilia and . joe's shanghai is fun on a blustery day for soup dumplings and getting to know your fellow diners. maybe try lupa for lunch too.

wow if you have that kinda cash to spend on dinner you could really go wild in this city. any of the columbus circle "mall" restaurants would probably do you right. jean-georges is pretty phenomenal for dinner (and they have a $25 lunch deal); cafe bouloud and daniel are an occasion as is wallse, spice market is cool...del posto's food is good but the space sort of creeps me out--it's very funeral home-ish.

i am hungriest at lunchtime. i can see why spaniards and italians eat big during the day and then siesta time. wish we americans had siesta. i work near a lot of great restaurants so a few times a week i bop over to taim, via emilia or pio maya--i find if i eat a big lunch i'll only eat edamame or crackers or something small for dinner. if i pack a lunch it's usually leftovers-- today thai red curry and a salad or sometimes i'll buy a baguette on the way to the subway and bring a tomato, some brie and some salami with me.

I too dig Blue Ribbon Bakery's basket but I also like the simple rosemary focaccia from Via Emilia...oh yes I love the cornbread basket at Amy Ruth's and if you ask nicely they'll bring you more!

Chez Janou
2 rue Roger-Verlomme, 3e--Le Marais
Métro: Chemin Vert
Phone 01-42-72-28-41

Turner Fisheries at the Westin Hotel in Boston (Copley Place)
I know it sounds weird but they have the greatest clam chowder; eat at the bar--I used to go alot as a child with my folks!
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/dining/attraction_detail.html?propertyID=1035&attractionId=29182

parker's maple barn in mason nh has the best doggone breakfast. maple smoked baby back ribs for breakfast? it's #300 in that 1000 places to eat before you die book..
http://www.parkersmaplebarn.com/

creamy delicious new england ice cream at kimball's farm in jaffrey, nh; don't get a large--they're too big!
http://www.kimballfarm.com/location_directions.html

this place is okay. it's better than the rest of the thai restos in the 'hood. i've lived in this neighborhood forever and am so sick of people complaining about the lack of a restaurant scene there...though the immediate food offerings are limited, you can walk up to harlem in 15 minutes and have such amazing, diverse food. if you want to sit on top of a billion restaurants go to the east village with the rest of the herd. i found the portions at thai market really really TEENY. i wanted to get a slice after eating there--not a good sign.

slop sloppy joes

unfortunately i haven't found anything in my hometown of nyc to rave about. i love franklin fountain in philly (mint chip) and kimball's farm (anything! but black raspberry or moosetracks especially) in jaffrey nh with other locations in westford and carlisle ma

ding dong is in morningside. as is the abbey pub. night cafe is fun. note people will talk to you at these places, not necessarily hit on you. especially in a neighborhood bar. especially considering how much this 'hood has changed in 10 years; but you will always find the local character (or 5) at these spots.