Dress, Dine & Sparkle

TAO, this hip and happening Asian Fusion restaurant that celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Madonna, Beyonce and Jay-Z frequent, sure was packed so luckily I went with someone who knew the secret of getting a seat right away. Otherwise, we would be waiting an hour, at least (even with reservations). We made our way upstairs, and headed all the way to the back where there were a couple of seats available at the intimate sushi bar (where you can order from the regular menu).

Tao is spacious and beautiful, made to look like a majestic Asian temple. There is a huge 16-foot Buddha on the lower level that “floats” above a virtual reflecting pool and artifacts from China, Japan and Thailand accenting the entire space.

We shared our starter of salted edamame which was delightfully addicting, until we were served our customized smoked salmon roll. Normally I wouldn’t touch sushi (you will learn I am not an adventurous foodie and I do not do raw fish) but since I was famished, decided to try it. Now if you aren’t a sushi fan, Tao New York is definitely the place to have it. Inside the roll was caviar, avocado, crispy onion with this amazing sweet and spicy sesame sauce. I actually enjoyed the roll and the flavors came together nicely, and could tell that everything was fresh.

Our main course was the Peking Duck which I’ve had numerous times in China, but never in New York City so I was very excited to finally try it here. There was plenty to go around for the both of us and the duck skin was extremely crispy, the way it should be. I wrapped the skin, a couple of pieces of duck, cucumber and onion strips, along with hoisin sauce which was a little salty but utterly delicious. The flavors came together nicely, however the pancake itself was a little too thick and the vegetables didn’t have enough crunch to them. Also, the duck meat was hidden underneath the skin and there wasn’t enough of it… For the price of $36 a person, they could’ve been more generous with the duck meat.

Though I enjoyed the experience of Tao, to be perfectly honest, I would only go if I knew my bill would be taken care of (and it was this night). The service, quality, and taste of the dishes were not high enough to qualify the expensive costs. However, it would be worth it to try during special deals such as Restaurant Week.

Address: 42 E 58th Street.

I have been wanting to dine at this West Village gem for awhile now and finally had the chance to tonight, with one of my friends who has a fashion blog: Disciples of Haute. Though it’s a bit far from most trains and all the way by West End, it was worth it. Perry St oozes with class, and has a beautiful interior with a delightful view of the Hudson.

We started off with bread and a delicious amuse-bouche of a Roasted Potato Soup with truffle emulsion and potato chips that warmed us up for the rest of the meal. For the appetizer, we had goat cheese fondue spring roll and a nice salad to go with it which helped to clean my palate. I normally am not overly fond of goat cheese, but in this dish it was very good- A great flavor and loved the crunchiness of it.

The main course of braised short ribs with green apple reduction, were done just right. It was the kind of meat that is so tender that it comes off right away and melts in your mouth. It was full of great flavors and incredibly juicy.

Dessert was the simply divine Molten Chocolate Cake with vanilla ice cream, accented with shortbread crumbs! The cake was warm, oozing with high quality chocolate and I tried to savor each little bit. Even though I was already quite full, the molten chocolate cake was so perfectly delectable that I managed to finish it all. We were given a truffle as the very last piece to this masterpiece of a meal.

Overall, Perry St is a spacious and intimate spot with clean modern decor and impeccable service, with great New American dishes that have delicious pairings of flavor.

Address: 176 Perry Street.

One of the best kept secrets in Manhattan- The View – located on the top floor (48th) floor of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It is the only revolving restaurant (and yes, you can feel it move… slowly) in the city. And it’s truly beautiful, high end and well laid out. The view, of course, is spectacular and even better as it gets darker and you can see the sparkling lights and colors of Midtown.

The first time I came on a date with a European businessman and I’m forever grateful that he introduced me to this spot. I tried the Baked Apple drink (non-alcoholic) and it was truly delicious. It did, in fact, taste like baked apple pie. We also partook in the buffet dinner and dessert – Pastas, meat, salads, rice dishes, cheese, chocolate fountain, fruit tarts, mini cakes – and everything tasted divine.

This time, I came with 2 girlfriends for Restaurant Week. All of us ordered different appetizers. I tasted the Yukon gold potato and leek soup with chive creme fraiche and it had a good flavor- the potato and leek were mashed which was different from the expected. However, I thought mine was by far the best. I had chosen Gnocchi with pancetta, baby spinach, butternut squash, parmesan and chive butter. It was cooked to perfection, hearty, and savory.

For our main course, we all ordered the grilled skirt steak. It was delectable –  well made, crisped just right and the mashed potatoes with baby carrot and green bean were great complements. The steak dish also came with herb butter which added to the flavor.

As for the dessert, this is where the View lost points for me. The chocolate red velvet bar, while in theory sounds amazing, was more of a cake-like consistency and a bit dry. I wasn’t able to discern a red velvet flavor, and the citrusy accents on the side didn’t really go with the chocolate. The best of part of the dessert was the Cafe Brulot ice cream which tasted faintly of brandy, coffee, clove and all spice.

All in all, a lovely experience with decent service, strong delightful flavors and an amazing View of Midtown Manhattan in a romantic and light atmosphere.

Address: 1535 Broadway at 46th St.

I discovered Restaurant Thalia through a mediocre date that quickly turned into awkward, however the food more than made up for it. The spot was stylish yet approachable and friendly with a great ambiance. Thalia was celebrating Restaurant Week so it was a no-brainer for me to order from that menu.

For the appetizer, I ordered the smoked beef carpaccio which is a bit off-track from what I normally order but was pleasantly surprised. It came with a soft poached egg, baby arugula, crispy cannellini beans and red onion. The flavors were exquisite and well meshed. Just the right amount of saltiness, and the egg yolk broke over the ingredients adding a richness to everything.

The main course of herbed gnocci was a carbohydrate delight. The consistency of the gnocchi was perfect, and the basil pesto sauce with manchego cheese was full of flavor. There was also lamb bolognese on top was quite wonderful, which I would’ve liked more of. I do admit, the meal was very heavy and I was only able to finish less than half but that just meant I could savor the rest for lunch the next day.

Dessert was the toughest course for me to choose. I was wavering between the chocolate dulce de leche bar or strawberry trifles with chocolate cake & strawberries. We had to flip a coin for me to actually decide and I was still not confident about it being the right choice. However, I did well to finally ordering the chocolate dulcce de leche bar which was served with vanilla ice cream. This bar was simply delectable, divine, delicious! Sweet, chocolate-y, caramel-y with a thick and melt in your mouth consistency.

If you have the chance, you must try this. Better hope it wasn’t only around for Restaurant Week!

If you go, sit in the lounge area which is sexy, comfortable, and happening.

Address: 828 8th Avenue at 50th St.