bistro les amis

chk pls:

$92 w/tip, 4 diners, $23/person

nice little bistro w/outdoor seating perfect for people watching. my steak frites was ok but others around the table were happy with their order.

from the menu:

• chicken paillard
  
• hangar steak
  
• steak frites
  
• salmon

notes:

• ordered my steak medium rare but came out medium well
  
• dill sauce resembled some sort of butter sauce

bistro les amis

180 Spring St. at Thompson

212.226.8645

sripraphai

chk pls:

$81 w/tip, 3 diners, $27/person

a bargain for the authenticity and the amount of food.

from the menu:

• papaya salad w/squid, shrimp & mussels
  
• beef noodles in dark soup
  
• pork leg w/mustard greens over rice
  
• fried red snapper w/chili & basil sauce
  
• shrimp wrapped in eggroll skin
  
• fried pork & crab (resembles deep-fried shumai)
  
• pad see ew
  
• singha beer

notes:

• definitely the most authentic thai place i've had in NY. lives up to the hype
  
• pork leg and fried snapper are highly recommended
  
• not much for atmosphere but the outdoor patio has been decorated with flowers and "cocktail umbrella" parasols
  
• cash only, no resy

sripraphai

64-13 39th Ave. nr. 64th St. in Queens

718.899.9599

buenos aires

chk pls:

$88 w/tip, 2 diners, $44/person

overall a disappointing dining experience for the price. 

from the menu:

• ensalada tropical
  
• mollejas a la provenzal (sauteed sweetbreads)
  
• morcilla (blood sausage)
  
• chicken empanadas
  
• flan
  
• postre balcarce (caramel cake in meringue)

notes:

• amazing empanadas but that's about the only highlight
  
• sweetbreads contain a chewy membrane that made it tough to eat
  
• blood sausage had some rubbery tendon-like chunks that threw off the mouthfeel
  
• the flan and the balcarce rank among the worst desserts i've had
  
• inept service

buenos aires

513 E. 6th St. b/t Ave. A & B

212.228.2775

caffe falai

chk pls:

$36 w/tip, 2 diners, $13/person

good price for the quality of food and decent service. great spot for coffee and dessert.

from the menu:

• polpettine vitello
  
• gnocchi

notes:

• highly recommend the gnocchi
  
• try the flourless chocolate cake for dessert
  
• perfect for bombolini w/your morning coffee

caffe falai

265 Lafayette St. below Prince

212.274.8615

pinche taqueria

chk pls:

$14 w/tip

decent and quick mexican option if you're in the neighborhood. nothing special.

from the menu:

• deep-fried rolled steak tacos
  
• carnita taco 
  
• bottled water

notes:

• deep-fried rolled tacos are good
  
• no silverware, just plastic

pinche taqueria

227 Mott St. b/t Prince & Spring

212.625.0090

'inoteca

chk pls:

$84 w/tip, 2 people, $42/person

i've dined here past 2am around 30 times. always gentle prices for the quality and quantity of food. i ordered way too much on this particular visit. usually breaks down to $25-30/person including a bottle of wine and tip.

from the menu:

• truffle egg toast w/bottarga (thick toast w/egg in the middle)
  
• heritage foods wagyu beef bollito (beef sandwich)
  
• polpette (meatballs)
  
• gamberoni (shrimp wrapped in bacon)
  
• glass of salice salentino, negroamaro

notes:

• excellent small dishes and panini
• big wine list w/several good reds in the $35-50 range
  
• service is consistently good
  
• few items on the menu changed after the exec chef left to man bar milano. avoid the new polenta

'inoteca

98 Rivington at Ludlow

212.614.0473

jack's luxury oyster bar

chk pls:

$420 w/tip, 4 diners, $105/person

highly recommend the five-course $50 tasting menu. simply amazing. you can easily keep your chk to $50-60/person w/tip and wine if you order from the menu.

from the menu:

• 3 five-course tasting menus
  
• fruit de mer six ways (chef selection of 6 different raw bar dishes)
  
• some sort of beef dish (we were really drunk so don't quite recall)
  
• clams and chorizo
  
• sea bass
• 2 bottles of ceja sauvignon blanc 2006, napa

notes:

• five-course tasting menu is amazing
  
• fun to watch chef brendan mcHale at work in his tiny setup
  
• small, quaint dining room and bar

jack's luxury oyster bar

101 Second Ave. b/t 5th & 6th

212.979.1012