Guac Tacos & Tequila opened September 16th on National Guacamole Day, in the East Village, 179 Avenue B between 11th & 12th St. (212) 254-4822. http://www.guacnyc.com

11 types of Guacamole, hence the namesake, 10 types of Tequila. Authentic Mexican Cuisine, fresh ingredients with tons of flavor. Recommended: Guacamole Trio Sampler, Tacos: Steak, Shrimp, Grilled Chicken, Cactus. Traditional Mexican Dishes: Chicken Mole. Good Portions and Lively Ambiance!

Giacomo Pizza

Harriette Pizza

Adoro Lei is an interesting combination of an Italian Eatery with a specialty in Pizzas, including the Highly Recommended, Henriette: (Sweet Cocoa Zeppole Pie/ Jacques Torres Cocoa & Chocolate Ice Cream/ Fresh Cream/ Berries/ Chocolate Drizzle.thanks to collaboration with Jacques Torres and the Giacomo: Savory Cocoa Crust Pie/Jacques Torres Cocoa & Nibs/ Home Made Mozzarella/Bacon/Fig Puree/ Gorgonzola/Caramelized Onions.

Come for the food, stay for the fun with extensive list of cocktails and wines with in-house DJ. 287 Hudson Street New, NY 10013 (646) 666-5096 http://www.adorolei.com

Soup Dumplings

Peking Duck

Scallion Pancake

Chicken in Peach Sauce

Crispy Whole Seabass

China Fun is a classic Chinese Restaurant located on the Upper East Side. A long time neighborhood favorite that serves up an extensive menu of Chinese dishes and Japanese offerings, However it tends to specialize in Cantonese Cuisine. Favorites included the Soup Dumplings, Peking Duck, and The Crispy Whole Seabass topped with Scallions and Ginger. 

China Fun 1221 second ave. New York, NY 10065 (212) 752-0810 http://www.chinafun-ny.com

Ola Exterior

Ola Specials

Empanadas

Tuna Tartare & Guacomole

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

Ola VivaBar, a latin infused restaurant owned by a family, synonymous with Italian food, the Inzerillo brothers (Sal, Rosario, and Joe), who own the UBER popular Italian eatery, Salvo’s next door.

Headed by Peruvian chef Antonio Acuna. Dishes served from Mexico, Peru, El Salvador and Guatemala. Authentic latin food which is pretty rare in this neighborhood with a lively vibe, good wine and cocktail list and beers on tap. Favorites: Empanadas, Ceviche, Tuna Tartare, and Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce served with rice, beans and grilled mexican corn. 

Leave room for dessert: Tres Leche Cake, Dulce De Leche Cheescake, and the Coconut Flan are must haves!

Ola VivaBar  453 east 78th st. New York, NY 10075 (646) 767-9970 http://www.olanyc.com

Red Stars Bliny Caviar & Sour Cream

Chocolate Bliny

 Teremok, a popular Moscow fast food chain just opened their second NYC location in less than a year. Specializing in Blinis, crepes that are filled with savory and sweet fillings, Russian soups, salads and desserts.

Using simple and fresh ingredients that resemble a Russian grandmother’s recipes from back in the day, favorites include The Red Stars( Caviar & Sour Cream) Bliny, and the Chicken Pot Pie Bliny. The “Borscht Soup and the Russian Salad “Olivier are authentic Russian dishes to try. Our favorite Sweet Bliny was the Chocomok Dark Chocolate and the Dulce de Leche with Apples. Other popular desserts are the “Syrniki” small russian style cheesecakes filled with a choice of sweet fillings. 

Teremok 555 6th avenue New York, NY 10011 (917) 472-7322 http://www.teremok.com

The restaurant scene on the upper west side is seeing a resurgence with modern, unique eateries popping up. Tessa, headed by Executive Chef Eric Cope fits the bill with a mostly Mediterranean menu of dishes like Grilled Branzino, Rabbit Cavatelli ,and  Long Island Duck. 

Rolling out a new lunch menu recently with dishes like the TESSA Linguini, our favorite,  an innovative take on cacio -de -pepe, featuring  Tasmanian pepper & lemon, parmigiano basil crunch and parmigiano foam and the Bruised Kale and Marcona Caesar with shaved parmigiano, squeezed lemon and a focaccia crunch. For meat lovers the TESSA Burger is made with prime angus beef, pancetta, fontina cheese, tomato, caramelized onion and Rosemary fries. 

Ahi Tuna Sanwich

Burrata, Beets, Watercress, Hazelnuts

Focaccia Flatbread

Tessa Linguini

Vanilla Pannacotta

The dishes can be paired with a curated wine list of 16 varieties of wine by the glass, 10 beers on tap, and a selection of refreshing cocktails . The intimate and comfy setting along with outstanding food and friendly and efficient service make TESSA a must try for lunch, dinner or cocktails.

TESSA 349 Amsterdam Ave. Bet. 76th & 77th St. (212)390-1974 http://www.Tessanyc.com

Burke & Wills is not your typical Upper West Side restaurant. Delivering adventurous cuisine all the way from Australia combined with seasonal specialties and original artisan cocktails, Burke & Wills delivers a unique experience in a neighborhood filled with lovely but typical restaurant choices.

Owned and run by Australian expats Tim Harris and partner Matilda Boland, they offer several different experiences under one roof, a casual bar, an exclusive cocktail lounge  and The Manhattan Cricket Club on the second floor.

A recently revamped Brunch menu showcases a build your own Bloody Mary Bar where choices range from the original spicy formula with lemon, celery and olive to the fancier option of the works plus with bacon and a shrimp skewer.

Recommended brunch specialties include The Avocado Smash with tomato, frisse, pickled onions and feta cheese.($10), The Swagman’s breakfast for the really hungry customer, 2 eggs, hanger steak, pork belly, roasted mushrooms and potatoes.($20) and the Pancakes with berries and candied walnuts($16).

The dinner menu offers more adventurous options such as a Kangaroo Burger with tomato jam, arugula, and pickled onions. The roasted salmon is a healthier choice and a favorite with heirloom beans, kalamata olives, and lemon nage.

Kangaroo Burger (Dinner)

Roasted Salmon Heirloom Beans (Dinner)

An extensive Australian wine selection is available to pair with the seasonal menus as well and creative cocktails invented by renowned mixologist Greg Seider. The “Beds are Burning” concoction is a spicy cucumber margarita with Arette Blanco tequila, lime orange bitters, fresh cucumber and Thai chili agave.

Burke & Wills 226 west 79th st. (646) 823-9251

Open 7 days a week for lunch, brunch, cocktails, and dinner as well as a late night lounge. Call for complete details or visit www.burkeandwillsny.com 

Esperanto is a lively, feel good latin- inspired restaurant located on Ave C in downtown NYC. Live music and entertainment including flamenco dancing are part of the experience. The cocktail menu strongly focuses on Caipirinhas, as it should, because it is a brazilian/south american restaurant.

Roasted Corn with Queso

Ceviche Trio

Carne Grelhada

Pork Cubano sandwich, with Slow-Roasted Pork, Ham, Swiss Cheese and Mojo Sauce( lunch only)

Banana Flambe

The food is a fusion of Latin American cuisine. Our dinner began with chips, pico de gallo, and guacamole a house favorite and a must try. Followed by a ceviche trio that was very flavorful mixing seafood, red snapper, was our favorite, with heavy lime juice, citrus, and mango. 

The most popular entrees are Feijoida, a traditional pork and black bean stew served with white rice and sautéed collard greens ($22), the Moqueca, a brazil seafood stew made with a choice of snapper or shrimp or both with coconut milk, ginger and cashews served with white rice ($24).

Our favorite was the Carne Grelhada, a marinated hanger steak, cooked medium rare, chefs choice, served with rice/ beans/guacomole and chimichurri sauce ($26).

Esperanto 145 Avenue C and 9th street. New York, NY 10009 (212)505-6559

EsperantoNY.com

Da Tommy Osteria is a charming Italian Restaurant located in the West Village. With a tavern like feel the comfy space allows guests to relax and enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine including homemade pastas made onsite. A wonderful selection of Italian wines are available along with a varied cocktail menu to complement the meal or if you are relaxing at the bar for the evening.

Beets and Goat Cheese Salad

Grilled Octopus

Trofie Al Pesto

Branzino

Tommy the owner is a young and charming Restaurateur who chose a tasting menu for us of some of his favorite dishes. We started with the beet salad with fresh goat cheese. Followed by a zucchini cake with truffle fondue that was delicious, I’m usually not a big fan of zucchini. The grilled octopus was cooked and seasoned perfectly. 

We tasted a few homemade pastas, but the downright favorite was the award winning Genovese style  “Trophie Al Pesto” by chef Alfio Longo. The Pappardelle ai Funghi with homemade  Pappardelle, Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Truffles is a must try.

For the entree the “Branzino al Forno” is highly recommended. Pan roasted Sea Bass with olives, capers, vegetables, in a white wine sauce. Other chicken, steak and seafood options are also available.

As requested we left room for dessert. The Creme Brûlée was creamy and light and the Tiramisu was baked just right.

Da Tommy Osteria

14 Bedford St. (212) 675- 9080

daTommy.com

Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse on 5th ave is a richly wood paneled traditional Steakhouse that was started by a group of waiters from famed Peter Luger’s Steakhouse. With The logo “Experience a Steakhouse like no other” puts pressure to deliver a unique and satisfying experience for the guests.

A large space in the heart of midtown Ben & Jacks is know for hosting many private and corporate functions upstairs as well as charity benefits to give back to the community. A family business with a rich history and a desire to deliver top quality food and service.

tuna tartare

Baked Clams

Surf & Turf

Filet Mignon

Tiramisu

Meats are the specialty here and quality “Prime” cuts are grilled to perfection using very little seasoning to not take away from the natural flavor of the aged meats. We started our meal off with a very fresh yellowfin tuna tartare and baked clams. Followed by a rich and cheesy french onion soup, a must try. For the seafood lover Seafood platters are available and can be customized to include shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, clams and more…

For the entree we chose the Surf & Turf. The lobster tail was huge and the filet mignon, medium rare, was tender and full of flavor. My companion also had the lobster but chose to try the 12oz Sirloin instead and was very satisfied with the steak. The restaurant specializes in Porterhouse steaks that can be served for 2 to 4 people.

As a side dish the Lobster Mac’ Cheese is highly recommended, made with quality cheese and chunks of lobster. Sautéed Spinach adds a little “green” and healthiness to the meal.

Dessert was a creamy creme brûlée and a traditional tiramisu accompanied by freshly brewed coffee and a dessert wine. An extensive wine and cocktail list is available and wine pairings are suggested by the experienced waitstaff.

 Ben & Jack’s serves lunch and dinner daily and private rooms are available for corporate functions, rehearsal dinners, bachelor/bachelorette parties, holiday parties and more…

Ben & Jacks Steakhouse

255 5th avenue New York, 10016

(212) 532-7600

http://benandjackssteakhouse.com

Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge recently opened on The Upper West side and is an extension of the very successful boutique & bar in the food hall of The iconic Plaza Hotel. A much larger space than the Plaza here guests can sip champagne and dine at the bar or can recline on royal blue banquettes.

The Visionaries behind Olma and the idea that Caviar should be made accessible to everyone, and not to a select few are hospitality veterans Edward Eliachov and his partner Igor Eliachov who is president of Olma Food (www.olmafood.com), a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of the finest caviars since 2001.

The concept is that caviar should be available for purchase in single servings or platters and not in the usual per ounce way. At Olma a $5 dollar tasting is possible with a blini topped with Salmon Roe Caviar. To splurge a bit a single serving of Beluga is available for a reasonable $32.

Our tasting included The Caviar platter, which is highly recommended and included a tasting of Salmon Red, Paddlefish black, Hackleback, White Sturgeon and Russian Osetra Karat and Beluga. Arranged in price starting lowest on the left and ending in the top of the line Beluga on the right.

In addition Olma carries plenty of other dining options like salads will grilled chicken, mango duck or prosciutto, varies paninis like arctic char, salmon lox, and foie gras and more….

Caviar Pizza

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Interior Olma

To complement the Caviar and other delicacies a cocktail menu is emphasized using only top shelf premium brands. Popular cocktails include the Moscow Mule, Rye Manhattan, Basil Martini, and the Uptown. In addition there is an extensive red and white wine list and a Champagne menu featuring Dom Perignon, Krug, Veuve Cliquot, Cristal, and Ace of Spades. Non- alcoholic options include a complete Italian Espresso bar and and a selection of fine green, white, and black teas.

Olma Caviar Boutique & Lounge 420 Amsterdam Avenue at 80th St. (212)390-0708 

http://www.olmacaviar.com