Restaurants & Rachel Ray

Food is one of the attractions in Manhattan.

We are on a quest to taste the "best of" everything while we are here. Lyle is most excited about Dominican Food and Pizza. I am most excited about eating, learning, and experimenting with food from other cultures (ok, and celebrity sitings too of course).

First official siting: Rachel Ray at Merkato 55
So I am on an outing with the "restaurant enrichment group" at Merkato 55. There is a woman in our ward who happens to be a food critic (booya). She is leading this enrichment group where she picks a different regional theme each month and we meet at a restaurant to try that food. Obviously, she knows the best places to go. Well September was African food. Merkato 55 opened last February so it's still pretty new. There was a rumor the chef (Marcus Samuelsson) had already left the restaurant (who knows why), but to our misfortune it was true. Suddenly the $3 plates we had been promised to do taste tests of the appetizers and desserts were out since the menu was brand new (as in days brand new). Plan B, we all pitched in our pennies and enjoyed trying different bread, dips, salads, and TASTY desserts. So as we're sitting at our large table in the VERY loud restaurant, a girl turns to me and says Rachel Ray is sitting right next to us. WHAT? I don't even like Rachel Ray. Her voice irritates me to no end. Granted I am getting used to the horrible accent by living here, but still. Without a second thought I pull out my cell phone, put it in camera mode, and pretend to take a call whilst snapping a sideways picture of her. The lighting was very dim in the restaurant, but I HAD to get proof of my first celebrity siting! I mean, not only was it a celebrity, but it was RACHEL RAY at a RESTAURANT! Very cool. I was also very impressed with the dishes.

What we ordered without exact names: Bread baskets with hummus, olives, pickled cucumber, apricot chutney, babaganosh. Appetizers: tuna tartar with avocado and a chocolate sauce, tabouleh salad, beet salad in ras al hanout honey. Desserts: peanut butter congo bar, chia molten chocolate cake, avocado/coconut, grapefruit, and vanilla ice cream.

Sitting against the wall 2nd to right.

Totonno Pizza - received a 22 by Zagat, but I wouldn't give it that! I would give it an overall 18. The customer service wasn't great (not much is in New York), and the pizza was ok. It wasn't bad, but a 22 should taste better than that. We went here for Lyle's bday lunch, but I'm not sure we'll go back. We'll experiment with pizza around our neighborhood.


Ess-a-Bagels - received a 23 by Zagat, and we were on a strict order to try this place by Lyle's little sister Emily's pediatrician. She spent med school at NYU and LOVED this place. We went for an early Saturday breakfast and wasn't completely sold. The bagels are LARGE. Each bagel is a meal and all the bang for your buck, but personally I like a variety of different bagels which they did not provide. We'll probably try one or two more times since it is literally 2 blocks from our apartment. I won't give my score quite yet.

J.G. Melon - received a 21 by Zagat and I back that up 100%. The place is known for their burgers and that's what we got (whilst sitting in its TIGHT TIGHT quarters). You have to order the fries separate which was no big deal since the burgers weren't that expensive, but it is something you get kind of used to--ordering things separately because they don't come with your meal automatically.

Serendipity 3's - received an 18 by Zagat and I would say it was worth that because of the TERRIBLE HORRIBLE customer service and attitude by the staff. I must say the portions are out of control and I WILL be back there for some frozen hot chocolate no matter the staff or price!

Union Square Cafe - this is our most FAVORITE place yet and received a 26 out of the possible 30 by Zagat. It is the most popular restaurant in New York City and for good reason. We went there for Lyle's Celebrations - white coating & birthday and treated by his parents. We REALLY enjoyed ourselves during this meal. Not only is the staff superb, but the food is excellent. Just west of Union Square, it is conveniently located to our apartment (only a 15 minute walk). It is a little more expensive than the average restaurant, but it was worth every penny. I am excited to go back again SOON (ok, not soon).

I will continue to post the more important restaurants we try so that we can keep track of the restaurants we like, love, and hate.