Good NYC Eats.

Where do I begin when it comes to eating in NYC?  As you might imagine, our dining options were endless and our indecision frequent.  But we managed to find some fantastic eats.

One of our favorites was Schnitzel Glatt Kosher Express (not my photograph below), where we noshed on the American and Italian schnitzels (with everything).  M. and I separately enjoyed $5 rice platters from one of the many halal carts, too.

A trip to the city wouldn't be complete with out a trip to Koreatown, where we lunched at Mandoo Bar, a tiny eatery that specializes in Korean dumplings (loved the women rolling the dumplings in the window). There, we ordered the pork and vegetable-filled fried dumplings, beef fried rice, and bulgogi bibimbap. One word:  Yum.

To further legitimize our dining in city, we enjoyed bagels at Daniel's Bagels, located in Murray Hill/Midtown. It was a nice walk from our hotel, taking us past Grand Central Station, across Park Avenue.  And equally convenient to our Saturday morning destination, the Empire State Building. Plus, A. and her smiles were getting a lot of attention from the employees, who were waving and smiling at her through the old-fashioned glass bakery counter.

We're not done yet . . . On Tuesday night, we met my former roommate/friend I. near Washington Square/West Village for dinner at Otto Pizzeria, a Mario Batali restaurant.  We had delicious appetizers and I loved my arugula and prosciutto pizza, créme fraiche/salty caramel gelatto, and wine (can't remember the name, but it was so good that I scribbled it down on our receipt), plus the noise level was perfect for our hyper-excited, screeching A.

With S., we went to an awesome restaurant nestled almost under the Brooklyn Bridge, appropriately named The Bridge Café. M. had the buffalo steak, S. the vegetable stratta, and me, the crab cakes.  And again, more yummy wine.  A., for her part, enjoyed her sweet potatoes and screeching in her highchair.  Side note:  the restaurant has an interesting history (read it on their website).  Let's just say it wasn't food they were serving back in 1794 . . .

Finally, we couldn't leave out a visit to the Syracuse-based Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, newly established in Harlem.  When M. was consulting in Rochester way back when and I was in law school in Syracuse, we both - though separately and without knowing the other was so close by - loved this place.  So, it was only appropriate we go to the Dinosaur while in the city.  Still love it, especially the wings and Syracuse Pale Ale.

Still so, so much to explore food-wise in the city.  I had hoped to return to Chinatown and Little Italy.  Plus, we were so enamored with the Schniztel, that M. and I could make an entire trip out of tasting the area's schnitzel joints.  Next time, next time.  We must continue this food tour . . .