Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

i second Mercadito, also Mesa Coyocan in brooklyn - but if you want the same food in Manhattan - go to Barrio Chino - not much different and the chef used to work there. But Barrio Chino is pretty small and you might have to wait for a table.
A really underrated place is Palador on 34th street - it's really quality food and authentic and romantic.

peter pan bakery - yum dougnuts!!

the email doesn't work. . . .to get the zagat

ehh - it wasn't that great of movie. admit it. it was kind of boring. . . .

there was post awhile back for a pasadilere - french pizza with caramelized onions, olives, anchovies & goat cheese. it's amazing!
also, just reduce anchovies and add to red sauce and it really kicks up the flavor so you have an instant homemade tomato sauce with pasta!

maybe you should save the photograph of pigs' blood for 'after the jump' . . .

or even better - i saw it at the kips bay food emporium - coincidentally they are featuring viennese food right now. so funny that i just saw this there!

i've worked in many restaurants and it's always been a rule - take the money and don't say a word. you wouldn't question an exceptionally large tip by asking someone - 'are you sure you meant to leave this?' so the same rule should apply that you don't question any other amount. preaching to the choir a bit on this one as i'm sure everyone is this column, as a general rule, tips appropriately. in the end, as a server that's just part of the deal.

i'm not a baby hater either - but here are some points to consider:

if you don't have additional income to cover a babysitter, maybe you should be cooking at home and saving money. what about the notion that eating out is something special and should be reserved for special occasions? maybe some parents should teach their children the value of the 'dinner' table at home with the family, rather than eating out.

who wants to eat an expensive meal with a baby in her lap? i certainly wouldn't want to try to weilding a knife and fork while reaching over a baby's head. it just doesn't occur to me that i could enjoy a dinner out if i had to tend to a child. i would much prefer to be in the comfort of my own home.

and lastly, having been a server and worked in the restaurant industry, i supposed i'm biased after having cleaned more than enough tables post child-dining. i don't wish that upon anyone.

clementine souffle. too many clementines, but not enough knowledge of how to make a souffle.
turned into something more like scrambled egg a la clementines.

chocolate with mint - anything

new york strip is the only way to go.

the best is a seat for lunch at the bar at balthazar. you never who you might meet and it's always a bustling atmosphere. i've never gone wrong.