Okay, I just can't help myself. I had to pass along info about a couple of restaurants that we enjoyed when visiting NYC last year.

Italian food would just about always be my first choice when I get to pick where we are dining. Doug is more of a steakhouse or sushi kind of guy, but he also enjoys Italian/Mediterranean food as well.  It can be, IMHO, difficult to find good a Italian restaurant though. We scored big time when someone
told us about Patsy's in the theatre district of Manhattan. I still wasn't sure about it when we got there, since it is in a bit of a touristy area. I was a happy girl and I haven't stopped craving it since eating there!

Patsy's Italian Restaurant,
Inc.

Our Original and Only Location

236 W. 56 Street

(between Broadway and Eighth Avenue)

New York, NY 10019

For reservations call: (212)
247-3491

We had:

Caesar Salad

VEAL PICCATA

Sautéed with butter, lemon, basil, and white wine

Another great place was  Lupa Osteria Romana. It is considered to be more Roman than Italian.

LUPA

170 Thompson Street

between Houston
St.

and Bleecker St.

New
York, NY 10012

(212)
982-5089

It is one of Mario Batali's (with partners) restaurants. It was very affordable, tasty and a fun little place. We started with a Ricotta
Gnocchi with Sausage & Fennel. I was so happy it didn't matter much from here... I had the Veal Saltimbocca which was very good, but OMG... Doug had a fantastic pork shoulder... Pork Shoulder with Rose Petal Glassato. I am not sure if it still on the menu, as I believe it changes seasonally. It was seasoned with a rub and slow cooked... It was so good that I would consider flying to NYC just for this meal! We had a nice bottle of Italian wine... can't remember what at this moment. The server helped us with the wine, since we don't know Italian wines as well as US wines. Not at all a stuffy place... perfect after a long tourist-walking the city kind of  day.

We were also given a generous gift card to the Danny Meyer Restaurant group by some restaurant friends who wanted to treat us to a nice meal in NYC... we chose the Union Square Cafe and didn't regret it for a moment.

Union Square Cafe

21 East 16th Street

NYC, 10003

212-243-4020 

 
www.unionsquarecafe.com

USC received a  Zagat Survey's #1 ranking as New York's Most Popular Restaurant for an unprecedented seven years. I can see why..

We had:

USC’s Grilled Marinated Filet Mignon of Tuna with Gingered Vegetables and Wasabi-Mashed Potatoes.

Grilled Lamb Chops Scotta Dita with Potato-Gruyère Gratin and Sautéed Insalata Tricolore 

Clos De Cure Red Bourdeaux  

House Made Ice Creams and Sorbets

 
After typing this, I am ready for another NYC trip! Sorry for the ramble!