Grilled Baby Octopus Salad
The bracing acidity, the kick of peperoncini chile flakes and the smoky char of the crispy baby octopus make this...
Grilled Wild King Salmon
Why in the world, you might wonder, would one rave about a king salmon dish out of landlocked Reno, Nevada?...
Oyster Slider
Leave it to The Dutch to concoct the most addictive habit of the year: oyster sliders! Breaded in cornmeal and...
Oysters
Where better to find oysters than at Grand Central Oyster Bar? It’s in the name for goodness sake! But that’s...
Maison Premiere Oysters
I love oysters, especially freshly shucked raw ones, so it’s no wonder I love Maison Premiere. The atmosphere of Williamsburg’s...
Sashimi
I love many dishes at Omen, but the sashimi special platter is my staple favorite. I always order it. I...
Lobster with Coriander Broth
Decadence! There’s no better adjective to describe the deliciously rich lobster with coriander broth at Le Perigord. As the lobster...
Baby Eel Salad Over Arugula
I tried angulas, baby eels, a traditional Basque dish, while in Madrid and was instantly hooked. Now I just light...
Uni Tempura
Whether it’s the uni yuba cocktail or the uni and white shrimp roll, we already know that they have a...
Bacalao Fried Rice
The bacalao fried rice at Macao Trading Co. is a worthwhile venture to match all the fun cocktails from the...
Tagliolini Allo Zafferano con Sugo Piccante di Granchio (thin homemade noodles with spicy crabmeat and light tomato sauce)
This is another classic that I return to over and over, the tagliolini with spicy crabmeat and tomato sauce at...
Maryland Crab Cakes w/ Baltimore Sauce
I’m not quite sure how I missed the crab cakes at The Grand Central Oyster Bar all these years. It’s...
New England Clam Chowder
This is just one of many favorites of mine at Pearl. Chef Rebecca Charles’ New England clam chowder is THE...
Soft Shell Crab Summer Roll
The soft shell crab summer roll is a special on Café Asean’s menu that shouldn’t be missed. A great variation...
Pepper & Salty Shrimp
The pepper and salty shrimp is Phoenix Garden’s signature dish. Its Chinese name is “gold medal pepper and salty shrimp,”...
Uni Ikura Soba
Fall (specifically October and November) is prime soba season! This is when “new” soba — fresh soba noodles made from...
Renkon No Hasamiage (deep-fried stuffed lotus root w/ chopped shrimp & Japanese leek wrapped in shiso leaf)
The renkon no hasamiage at Taro Sushi is quite a surprise. When it comes to pre-sushi appetizers, it’s best not...
Khaum Jep (Thai shumai or dumplings)
These Thai-style dumplings at Arharn Thai in Astoria are surprisingly the best tasting shumai I’ve had! With ground chicken, shrimp,...
Peperoncino Spaghetti, bottarga di muggine, dried bonito, shrimp oil and pepper cress
As you are well aware by now, I am a bottarga (dried and pressed fish roe) fiend, and I love...
Spaghetti con Bottarga (spaghetti w/ bottarga di tonno, parsley & pepperoncini)
Cured and pressed fish roe, or bottarga, is well-known in Greece, and on a recent trip there I enjoyed it...
Freshly Made Fish Cakes w/ homemade tartar sauce
Instead of Asian fish cakes that are usually fried pieces of sliced fish paste, Orhan Yegen’s latest seafood restaurant, Sea...
Oktapodi Sharas (octopus in red wine marinade over charcoal)
I’ve tried the grilled octopus at about eight Greek restaurants in the City this month alone and without a doubt...
Cieche alla Pisana (quickly sautéed baby eels)
You don’t see baby eels on the menu often, and this is quite different from the eels you find on...
Sushi (omakase)
Sushi at Sasabune is a true joy because the fish is extremely fresh while the restaurant is relaxed and unpretentious....
Spaghetti (w/ chilis, mint & 1 lb. lobster)
The spaghetti is cooked to a perfect al dente, so that there is actually a bite to it. It’s hard...
Honah Thanh (Seafood Dumplings in Soup)
Two to three gigantic seafood dumplings are served in broth. The combination of Chilean sea bass, shrimp and crabmeat is...
Seafood Egg White Fried Rice
Fried rice should not be brown or adulterated with soy sauce in the cooking process. It should be as white...
Pan Bagnat
Pan bagnat is basically salad nicoise in sandwich form. Margot Patisserie’s pan bagnat is perfect with tuna, slices of hard-boiled...
Sushi
If you can’t sit in front of owner/sushi chef Yasuda-san, change your reservation to when you can. Not only are...
Sushi
Got an expense account? Then head on over to Midtown for a treat at Kuruma Zushi. The fish is fresh...
Linguine w/ Clams, Pancetta & Hot Chilies
After having this linguine, I craved it for four weeks straight. While it seems like a rather straightforward pasta —...
Lobster Roll
Pearl’s lobster roll is the standard to which I hold all lobster rolls. Served in a hot dog bun, the...
Fish Tacos
Mooncake’s menu is a fusion of Asian and Western foods. The fish tacos are more like Peking duck, substituting the...
