Waikkiki Wally's

Waikiki Wally's - 101 E. 2nd St (1st Avenue and Avenue A) - Hawaii Fusion
More an alphabet city haunt - and probably not that authentic. But a fun establishment, brought to you by the people who own Lucky Cheng's. I'm personally fond of Waikiki Wally's - with an appreciation of its two great claims to fame: 1) It's only one of two places where I know I can find Poke. 2) Their Coconut Kiss drink is positively great!

Cecil Cafe Crepe

Cecil Cafe Crepe - 135 First Avenue (St. Mark's and 9th) (Fusion/Japanese)

A cute little creperie, located between St. Marks and 9th. Like many Japanese influenced boutiques, the space is small, classy and pristine - sure to catch your eye as you wander along first avenue. Which is a good thing, since CCC is not well advertised on the net (as of this writing, there were no postings in either citysearch or menupages. Averaging around $7.00 per item, CCC serves crepes both sweet and savory - medium sized, delicate wraps filled with ingredients ranging from capers, ham and/or tuna to ice cream, sweet red bean and/or cream. (Not all at once of course...capers and ice cream? Oh blechhh!) Both sides of the spectrum are tasty, though none transcendant. But the crepes themselves are light, and enjoyable...with a texture that proved the most memorable aspect of the trip for me. So if you're in alphabet city, you should stop by and pick up a wrap. You might really enjoy it.

Zenith

Zenith - 311 W. 48th Street (Vegetarian)
A well meaning restaurant - offering vegetarian/vegan cuisine in midtown west. Despite a menu full of colorful descriptions (from Green Pyramid to Fireworks Squid), the food is bland, unmemorable - and suspiciously similar to neighboring Zen Palate (straight down to the complimentary bottle of wine, delivered with each order.) The staff seems genial - and the presentation is nice. But ultimately, it's taste that counts - and Zenith just doesn't make the grade.

Momofuku Ssam Bar

Momofuku Ssam Bar – 207 2^nd Avenue (13^th Street) (Fusion)

Located on the edge of the East Village, this newly opened restaurant has created a bit of a buzz, offering a fusion menu filled with grilled rice cake, raw oysters, sake, and their signature wraps, loosely based on Korean Ssam (lettuce leaves, filled with spicy meat and rice.)

Breaking with tradition, Momofuku’s version offers a more customizable/ have-it-your way experience. In addition to lettuce, diners may choose flour tortilla or grilled nori wraps - filled with a choice of meat or tofu, and supplemented with extras such as kimchi, edamae or bean sprouts. The result is an impressively large wrap (which holds together admirably, despite the generous portions.) Delivery speed is equally impressive. Though decorated with an upscale sensibility, Momofuku works at a fast-food pace, delivering the goods within ten minutes, tops.

The only downside is the price – running $9 for a flour wrap, and $12 for traditional lettuce. But the result is tasty. No match for a good Banh Mi, but your stomach will be happy – and pleasantly full.

Rice to Riches

Rice - 115 Lexington Avenue/28th Street (Pan-Asian) (A Seamless Web Review)

A popular mid-town restaurant, known for Pan-Asian/Eclectic cuisine. Though never officially on my list, I've read many glowing reviews of Rice, praising both the food and the affordability. Thanks to Seamless Web--and another late night at the office--I finally gave Rice a try - ordering a full selection of appetizer, entree and dessert.

The appetizer? Carrot rice balls - basic maki rolls made with brown rice, and topped with green salad. Not bad...though a little dry. Served with a side of sticky rice, the Thai coconut curry was wetter, with a mild, pleasant flavor. Hardly awe-inspiring (though the leftovers made for a great breakfast the next day.) The dessert was perhaps best (and closest to authentic) - a Thai banana leaf wrap, filled with sticky rice and plantain....definitely the most authentic item of the meal.

Ultimately the food proved competant, and pleasant enough for a casual meal. But is Rice memorable, and worthy of extra praise? Not to my mind. (or taste buds). But then, at Seamless Web there's always Sushi Time...and that's good enough for me.

Gobo

Gobo - 1426 3rd Avenue (80th and 81st)/401 6th Avenue (Waverly Pl and 8th Street) (Vegan/Asian)
A graceful vegetarian haunt sucessful enough to have spawned 2 locations - one in the west village, the other on the upper east side. Decorated with clean lines and pristine bamboo, Gobo is clearly upscale - as are its prices (averaging from $8 - $18 per plate.)

For veterans of the veggie scene, the menu offers few surprises - plates of brown rice, dumplings, protein stir-fries and medlies. Sadly, the flavors skew towards bland - from the (understandably) subtle spinach dumplings to the Sesame Protein Nuggets (washed with the mildest of sweet and sour sauces.) At least the beverage options look promising - offering a full range of choices from smoothies to bubble tea.

But the overall effect has an empty feel - resulting in a restaurant which is elegant, streamlined - but lacking in flavor, or individual personality. Given its looks, it's really too bad. Because who needs another Zen Palate clone?

Sacred Chow

Sacred Chow - 227 Sullivan Street (Bleecker and W. 3rd) (Vegetarian)
Located in the west village, a small, quirky vegan restaurant specializing in tapas and assorted quick bites (such as soups, salads, smoothies and sweets.) The tapas--which take front billing--are numerous, ranging from orange blackstrap BBQ Seitan (chewy, shredded and tasty) to Indonesian Root Vegetable Latkes (particularly good, with a quirky, addictive flavor.) Divided into Protein and Complex Carb subcategories, other small plate options include soy meatballs, curried broccoli and roasted indonesian tempeh.

For those who miss their morning eggs, Sacred Chow also does brunch - featuring sumptuous tofu omelet spreads (decorated with Sicilian tomatoes), Tofu Scrambles with biscuits and gravy, and even waffles (with flax seeds, nonetheless.) All good tasty options...though arguably overpriced, with small plates running $5.00 and over (and well, they're really small) - and brunches costing more than $10.00.

Fortunately, the crowning glory at Sacred Chow is clearly the sweets, with particular praise for the Velvet Triple Chocolate Brownie. Sweet, moist and spectacular, this dessert equals Blossom's chocolate ganache - at about half the cost. So skip the plates and go straight for dessert. You, your wallet - and particularly your tummy - will be glad that you did!

Red Bamboo

Red Bamboo - 140 W. 4th Street (6th Avenue and McDougal)
For the food obsessed, the area around West Fourth Street is hard to beat. Culinary treasures abound, and transportation is amazingly easy, with quick access to the A,C, E and D.

Those with Asian and/or vegetarian leanings will be particularly pleased - faced with a delicious range of options including Roll and Dough (on West 3rd), Vegetarian's Paradise 2 (on West 4th) and Red Bamboo, a vegan/vegetarian restaurant specializing in multi-ethnic comfort foods, from Roti Canai to Creole Chicken.

A small space, the decor at RB is a touch classier than Vegetarian's Paradise (located right next door.)

But the philosophy of both establishments are similar - expansive (and somewhat expensive) menus, focusing on mock meat dishes, many with Asian themes. The results are tasty and genuinely close to meat, with enough chewy/meaty texture to impress carnivores and vegetarians alike. Though mushy, the Seoul Pancake (Panjeon) wasn't bad - an eggless version good enough to satisfy Korean cravings. Then there's the Barbeque Chicken - a stroke of genius, smothered in sweet sauce...and authentic down to the bone (made from a wooden skewer.) The only bad choice of the evening proved to be the dessert - an overly large Brownie Bottom Cheesecake slice with a leaden texture and slightly artificial aftertaste. Both overall, the menu holds much promise, offering options from Caribbean Jerk Seitan to Salmon Teriyaki. And the wide range of choices is perfact for groups, where everyone has their specific tastes and preferences.

Which is better? Given a choice, I'd choose Vegetarian's Paradise first...it's a little more "comfy" (read, less "elitest" atmosphere), and they've got (great) ice cream for dessert. But Red Bamboo is a definite class act - offering yet another reason to head to the Village.

Miya's Sushi

Miya's Sushi - 68 Howe Street, New Haven, CT (Japanese/Ethnic Fusion) (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!)

Miya's Sushi has been on my go-to list for quite some time. Ever since that fateful day that my husband brought home the menu - a hefty sized booklet, marked by the largest list of veggie sushi that ever I'd seen - as well as myriad seafood options, appetizers, colorfully named sake cocktails...and even a dessert roll called "seven deadly sushi" (a deep fried, one bited wonder made with banana, peanut butter, blueberries, chocolate and ice cream.) Mixing sushi roll philosophy with unexpected flavors, Miya's offerings include ingredients such as Ethiopean berebere sauce and injera, mango chutney and miso/avocado. (Okay, not all in the same maki roll. Now that would be crazy!) Over 15 pages long, the menu is filled with wonderfully creative names, such as Rikki Tikki and Voompa Rolls - and even includes footnotes in the back, explaining the background of some of the (more) exotic dishes on the list.

Recently, we took the plunge - braving both traffic and bad weather for the trip out to New Haven. Arriving 10 minutes late on the reservation, we settled down at the table - more than ready for a taste of the menu, and a celebratory birthday dinner. (Whatever you do, don't ask how old.) Needless to say, it was worth it.

As is the natural way of such things, drinks came first...a wonderful sampler of seasoned sakes, including Dragon Lady (with ginger, lemongrass and honey), Emerald Witches Lips (infused with green pinecone) and Ultraviolet Kisses (ume sake, best distinguished by it's overwhelming salt flavor, somewhat reminiscent of...um, never mind.) But best of all, there was Chinese Firecracker Sake - made with citrus and hot chili pepper - a pinkish red drink hotter than cinnamon gum, with a wonderfully addictive burn (winning it an immediate place in my list of all-time favorite drinks.)

And then there was dinner. With so many options to choose from, we feared missing out and chose two bleu plate specials - featuring seven seafood rolls and twelve assorted veggie bites (including options such as killer faux squid, ginger eggplant teriyaki roll, and the hot-headed cowgirl roll (a coconut covered roll made with cream cheese, papaya, and burdock.) Though there were definitely favorites, the meal didn't disappoint, filling us both to bursting. (My only regret - that the rolls and drinks weren't individually labelled, making it difficult to identify or remember the name of each item. ) We even chatted with chef Bun Lai - son of the eponymous Miya. Creative and energetic, Bun was happy to discuss the menu...even offering to veganize the veggie rolls, where needed.

We left Miya's happy - determined to come back for samples of rolls that we had not tried. Though somewhat high in price, the food was clearly worth the cost* (even for me, the queen of cheap.) A small price to pay for a night of true Asian fusion - done *right* for a change (unlike most NYC sites, which pretend to diversity and fail miserably.) As for the drive to New Haven - not so bad, given the payoff. And if it keeps crowds away from my seat at the table, all the better. Conneticut, here I come.

* Prices at Miya's do run steep, with rolls costing between $3 - $15. Normal for NYC...but worthy of note, for those on a budget.

** Miya's - Part Two: In the beginning of October, we ventured to Miya's yet again - introducing a friend from Boston to the fusion world of Miya's Sushi. This time around, I have to say that I didn't find the rolls *all* that intriguing. Creative, yes. Filling? Definitely. But just a tad bit bland...paling in comparison to Sushi Time's Ume Crunch Rolls (perhaps my all time favorite, located conveniently in mid-town Manhattan.) But my friend loved the dinner, and the Firecracker Sake still proved to be specular. And Bun? He's still the absolute best. So if you're in the area, give Miya's Sushi a shot, and decide for yourself. :)

Sweet N' Tart Cafe

Sweet N' Tart Cafe - 76 Mott Street (Other locations include 20 Mott Street, and Flushing, Queens) (Fusion)

I am so glad I found this place!

The 76th Mott Street version (the Cafe) is a small, hidden nook down a flight of stairs. With the small tables, sitting across from a stranger for your meal, it has an sleek, modern cafeteria feel. And its a treasure trove of exotic snacks. They have sago drinks, blood congee, meals with duck tongue, snow frog jelly, you name it. It's a little more expensive than usual for me (my snacks are usually $1.50 or less), but more than reasonable for the average person. At an average cost of $4.00 per item, it's very much worth it. The Restaurant is 20 Mott Street - it's bigger, with a bigger selection of stuffs such as ice cream, and more entrees. I kind of like the Cafe better - it has a more inviting vibe. But they're both worth a visit. 3.75 stars!

2/21/06 Update - It appears that Sweet n' Tart is gone, replaced by a new bubble tea type cafe. (It took me a while to realize the big new sweet and red sign was pasted over the place that Sweet n' Tart used to be. The restaurant down the street is still there...but the cafe? Kaput. What a shame. But - eventually I'll try the new place, and let all and sundry know the verdict.

Fusion Crepes

Fusion Crepes - 125 Bowery (Fusion Asian Fare)
Located at the corner of Bowery and Grand - a fantastic little nook serving sweet & savory crepes - many with an Asian bent. On the savory side, creative menu items include salmon or sardines, potato curry crepes and spam and cheese (9 alternatives in all). Dessert options include classic nutella/fruits and ice cream wraps (including durian flavored, yum!) For group noshes, there's even a a $40.00 cake - featuring 20 layers of stacked crepes, loaded with fillings of your choice. (Regular menu items are priced reasonably, running around $5.00 for savory, $3-4 for sweets.) On my visit, I found myself actually preferring the savory crepe, called Nippon No Aji - a spectacular blend of tofu, mushroom, bonito flakes, okonomiyaki sauce and seaweed. But go for yourself - and try one of each. For me, this place is an instant favorite - and those ooey-gooey crepes really hit the spot!