Blue Bottle Coffee Rockefeller Center 03-26-2012

Location: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Use the building entrance near 49th and 5th, go downstairs to the concourse area. It's located right by 'wichcraft and ladies' bathroom. Good luck finding this place! Also cash only.

Time: 1pm

People: Effie and myself

Feelings: With my first sip of Blue Bottle coffee at the Rockaway Beach last year, I was hooked. Now conveniently, this San Francisco based coffee company opened a Midtown location, inside the Rockefeller Center concourse level. I usually avoid the concourse level since I get lost and the floor makes me slip like a seal with 6 inch heels. But for the made to order quality coffee, I would go extra miles.

This sleek and small space has two separate sections with separate registers, which confused us. Although we were unsure where to stand, we managed to successfully place the order with cute and friendly staff. It was such an experience to see the beautiful line of pour-over coffees. The baristas here really take pride in their work, creating an artful cup of coffee one cup at the time. The ever so smooth flavor really makes you appreciate everything that went into this cup.

Since tourists tend to go over to Starbucks also located on the concourse level, Blue Bottle still has a feel of a little hidden gem. Welcome to Midtown, Blue Bottle! I'll be seeing you a lot this summer over New Orleans' style chicory iced coffee.

Burger on Smith 03-24-2012

Location: 209 Smith St.

Time: 4:30pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: If you have a toddler, you hit a jackpot. Burger on Smith is perhaps the most ideal spot for people with toddlers to dine. There are cozy tables with glass sectioned walls so the kids can be preoccupied with the never ending MTA buses and cars passing by. The place is almost always empty in the late afternoon so you have the entire space to yourself and don't have to worry too much about noise levels. With the spacious dining area, I cannot think of anywhere more comfortable for parents.

With ever expanding burger scene, BoCoCa has many burger joints to choose from. At Burger on Smith, formerly occupied by an Asian fusion spot Faan, there are 12 burgers on the menu. Their famous cheeseburger even landed them a spot on Timeout's "The Best New Burgers." The burgers are about $12, and fries ($4.50-$5.50) need to be ordered separately. It is a steep price for almost $20 for a plate of a burger and fries, but the large portion answered to the price as well as local and grass-fed quality. They also offer DIY options to make your own burger combination.

CK and I shared "The Nutty Professor" ($12, nut-veggie-quinoa burger, oven roasted tomato, avocado, creamy herb sauce), which can be ordered as completely vegan. Each ingredient was fresh but slightly bland. I found out later that I could add mayo or other sauces available at $1, so that may have changed the overall flavor of the burger.

RB's ordered the special burger of the day which entailed speck, two types of mushrooms and some fragrant cheese we cannot recall. He though he should have known better going in, but speck and strong cheese overpowered the senses, and he couldn't taste much of the burger.

We also shared Garlic and Parsley Fries ($5.50), but the garlic to fry ratio was a bit off. It was overly garlic-y, and the each garlic chunk was rather big. I'm not sure if we hit on a bad day, but the execution of the dish was a little disappointing. The presentation of the side vegetable of the day, a plate of cauliflower, was questionable, but it was tasty nonetheless, and CK enjoyed it thoroughly.

You would thoroughly enjoy Burger on Smith if you:

1) have toddlers but want to enjoy quiet meals in the late afternoon.

2) like DIY burgers.

3) appreciate local or organic products.

4) like beer.

VIP @ Thai 03-10-2012

Location: 278 Smith St. BK

Time: 5pm

Feelings: HopHap has been the greasy Thai delivery staple at our household, but it seems they may have been going downhill. We decided to try another Thai place called VIP Thai, formerly known as Em Thai. The name of the restaurant is particularly peculiar, and the menu is incomprehensively extensive. 19 dessert dishes! Has anyone ever seen so many dessert dishes at a Thai restaurant? I usually stay away from restaurants with gigantic menus since I feel they are the Thai equivalent of Denny's or IHOP, but it turns out the food at VIP was better than expected.

My "Jade Noodle Soup" ($11, green egg noodle, fried shrimp dumplings in light creamy tom yum broth) was flavorful and more complex compared to what other too many Thai restaurants on Smith street offer. The shrimp was a bit fishier than I would have hoped, however. RB's drunken noodles with chicken were tasty and full of flavorful fish sauce.

Normally a finicky eater, CK also miraculously enjoyed his "Mixed Greens" ($9, garlic sauce, tofu, broccoli, string beans, mushrooms, carrots, baby corns, bok choy). The vegetables were fresh, and I felt that they handle non-noodle dishes quite well here.

The prices are slightly more expensive than other spots-- it is VIP after all, but they do offer lunch specials on weekends. It is indeed a solid addition to ever growing American Thai restaurant row on Smith Street.

BaoBQ 03-17-2012

Location: 229 1st Ave.

Time: 1pm

People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: After CK's Japanese playgroup in the East Village, we usually enjoy a quiet brunch in the area. However, today was St. Patrick's Day. At 1pm under the bright sunlight, the usually laid back East Village was amateur night (or afternoon) filled with intoxicated individuals treating the neighborhood like an amusement park. People were actually waiting in line to enter mediocre pubs. We quickly ran to BaoBQ, the new Vietnamese street food endeavor by Michael "Bao" Huynh, the man behind Baoghette, Bao Noodles, and many other Baos throughout the city. As suspected, the place was empty-- the locals were obviously staying in to avoid the screaming green people and ordering take outs from BaoBQ. Smart choice.

This cute and casual spot with shabby chic flair has a counter service as well as relaxed yet punctual table service. The adorable lady behind the counter was friendly and courteous, and she even gave us a bit of delicious home made soft serve for a taste. She was also paying great attention to CK, which we appreciated so we could enjoy our meal.

The menu is a collection of tasty Asian street food like radish cake, pork belly satay, bulgogi, Thai style rotisserie chicken as well as Vietnamese staples, banh mi and bun. As my Bun Cha Ca ($9, with cat fish satay) arrived, I was taken back by the large portion. With fresh fish, herbs and cold noodles, this is a great value. It was overall straightforward and well balanced dish with meatiness of the fish and refreshing herbaceous bowl of noodles.

RB's Ga Nuong chicken had a really nice char to the skin and was moist and flavorful inside. Although it says "spicy" on the menu, he did need to add quite a bit of ground chilies on top to satisfy his spicy urges.

Their chili lemonade had an interesting mixture of spicy, sweet and sour, and I thoroughly enjoyed the new flavor experience.

Overall, BaoBQ offers solid cheap eats that are excellent for quick bites and take out. I am envious of East Village residents--Mr. Bao, don't you think it's time to start expanding to Brooklyn? BoCoCa to be exact?

Pane Panelle 03-01-2012

Location: 305 Church St.

Time: 1pm

People: JR and myself

Feelings: As a vegetarian, it is always difficult to find non meat sandwiches. I was pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian friendly menu of Tribeca's Sicilian sandwich joint, Pane Panelle. As the name suggests, the charisma of this spot resides with panelle (chickpea fritter) sandwiches.Even a meat loving sandwich connoisseur, ALev recommends panelle sandwiches here over muffuletta or other meaty sandwiches available.

At 1pm, the take out area was packed with hungry customers, but the dining space was nearly empty. It is a perfect little spot to have a relaxing lunch if you want to avoid bustling SoHo lunch scene. The service is prompt, and I enjoyed the neighborhood atmosphere instead of other many overly hip places in the area.

I did say vegetarian friendly, but it does not mean healthy by any means. My PLT ($8, panelle, lettuce, tomato, mayo) was well executed, and the panelle was fresh and perfectly crunchy. The nuttiness from the chickpea reminded me of fried tofu. I might have preferred more artisan, hearty bread, however.

JR thought her eggplant parm sandwich ($11) was "pretty good." "Haven't met too many eggplants I didn't like!" she added.

Pane Panelle is not a trendy spot with mind blowing food, but they serve solid, comforting sandwiches that are perfect for vegetarian lunch. They are also open until 11pm with happy hour from 4-7pm, so this might be an excellent spot to catch up with your coworkers after work.

Grand Sichuan Hell's Kitchen 02-20-2012

Location: 368 W.46th St.

Time: 1pm

Feelings: Ever since Uncle Zhou and Hot Kitchen, my mouth craves that hot chili that creeps up and punches you with numbness and tingly sensations. Thankfully, one of the Grand Sichuan chains on the Restaurant Row will satisfy that craving during a lunch break. The Grand Sichuan chainlet is interesting for two reasons: it is not a cheap hall-in-the-wall serving greasy American Chinese food and it is not quite traditional Sichuan food you may find in Queens. This is Manhattan, after all and they have to pay for their insanely steep rent.

The decor is unexpected, punctuated with white and very clean with a nice outdoor seating area. The loud waitstaff and chefs confirms that I am indeed at Grand Sichuan and not some modern Asian fusion spot.

I ordered Sichuan Cold Noodle ($4.25) as an appetizer, which was mildly chewy and spicy and left me with powerful garlic breath. It is flavorful, and the messy oily sauce is fantastic. The portion is quite large for an appetizer, so prepare to share with friends. From the lunch special ($6.95), sauteed eggs and tomato soothed my garlic and chilied palate. Tomato and eggs is one of the more common Chinese home staples, but it is a rare find at restaurants. This simple, hearty dish is truly comforting and filling.

For a Midtown Chinese that is not American Chinese or Queens Chinese, Grand Sichuan is a solid, spicy fare at a reasonable price. You really can't beat $6.95 lunch special that comes with soup.

Georgetown Cupcake 02-17-2012

Location: 111 Mercer St.

Time: 2:30pm

Feelings: Do we seriously need another cupcake place in NYC? Apparently we do in SoHo. TLC's "DC Cupcakes" ladies' NYC outpost opened last month. Although in recent years, cupcakes have been replaced by macarons in NYC, I heard from my dear friend CF in DC that there is an endless wait out the door outside their DC location. From what I have seen on "Sh%t People in DC Say," cupcakes still seem to be a significant part of their lives.

At this new, spacious NYC location packed with tourists, they have 18 flavors of cupcakes daily and rotating flavors on weekly basis. The ordering system is similar to Starbucks: You place an order at the front, and wait for the box the cupcakes in the back. The decor of the place is a bit NYC circa 2000 with a huge wall covered with bright pink and overly stylized fonts. From looking at the choice of color and decor, this would be a favorite spot for many tourists and young girls who fancy Kim Kardashian shop, Dash in SoHo.

Since I loathe icing, I brought two cupcakes ($2.75 each), peanut butter and black and white, to RB and his coworkers nearby. He thought they were surprisingly moist for cupcakes. And for someone who is not fond of buttercream icing, he very much enjoyed this lighter version.

Since I work with DC folks all day, the adorable "Broadway" and "DC" fondants in one box made me smile. With the excellent, friendly service, I am certain Georgetown Cupcake will be popular among customers who would seek more elegant cupcakes and tourists who still dream of becoming Carrie Bradshaw. The tough and chic Downtown New Yorkers who prefer Alexander Wang and rustic decors may find their aesthetics a bit pedestrian, but the flavor of the cupcakes may win them over.

Soup Kiosk 02-17-2012

Location: 94 Prince St.

Time: 2pm

Feelings: RB always tells me about his SoHo/Chinatown lunch adventures, which I am always envious of, but it seems always difficult to find something quick and cheap in the vicinity of his work. At least, Midtown has millions of mediocre delis and Pret/Pax/Cosi/Hale and Hearty chains to rely on during the less than perfect weather days.

He has been frequenting the Soup Kiosk, attached to Fanelli Cafe on Prince and Mercer for some excellent vegetarian chili. With significantly better flavored soup than the food chains mentioned above, this food stand is definitely more posh than the average food truck. There are lines especially when it is cold outside, but they move rather fast. There is also a dashing young lady ladling the soup with an infectious smile. No wonder people in SoHo seem so much happier than Midtown.

I tried their vegetarian chili (small $5, $6.25 for large). You can add cheese or rice if you need to make it into more of a substantial meal. The chili tasted clean, hearty and flavorful. It was a simple bowl of soup, reasonably priced for busy SoHo workers on the go and accompanied by bread or crackers. There is nothing fancy or completely unique about this place, but the dependability and reasonable prices make this spot a SoHo classic. I am again envious that he gets to have Soup Kiosk with a pretty lady, and I am here stuck with Hale and Hearty in Midtown.