3 - Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

LAST VISIT: 6/13/2010    http://www.brooklynicecreamfactory.com/

HELLO - who doesn't like ice cream anywhere, at any time?!?!!? Listen, unless it is sugar free/fat free I am likely going to rate any ice cream at a 3. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory's (BICF) selection was especially creamy...perhaps the creamiest I have ever had. I decided on Butter Pecan in a waffle cone...and it was DELISH! I did have an opportunity to sample Peaches & Cream, which was also super yummy. I do have to say that the thick creamy flavor/consistency travels over to each flavor. Each flavor has it's unique taste, but there is a similar after-taste overlay in it all their creams(this was also pointed out by some friends who joined in the BICF glutenous adventure). Needless to say, it melted, contained sugar and a high content of calories and my mouth and stomach were deeply thankful!

2 - Grimaldi's [Pizza in Brooklyn]

LAST VISIT: 6/13/2010     http://www.grimaldis.com/2/Index.htm

Grimaldi's is famous for the line beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. The line, in my opinion, was super fast. I was with a group of 12 and we were seated in about 35-40 minutes. I have waited longer at restaurants in NYC when I have had a reservation! Once seated we ordered almost immediately and waited maybe 10 minutes for our pizzas to descend upon us. Grimaldi's serves a drier pizza than I like. I almost wish that I had asked for a side of red sauce so I could have dipped my pizza in it. The crust is decent and the toppings are all fresh and of good quality. Overall it was tasty stuff.

This post may or may not help solve the continued debate on the Grimaldi's vs. Di Fara's pizza. Click on this link to see my thoughts on Di Fara's. http://eatennyc.blogspot.com/2010/05/2-di-fara-pizza-in-brooklyn.html. Listen, both serve a good pizza...the ultra thin crust with a few toppings just isn't 100% my style. If I was eight months pregnant and I had a huge craving for pizza I wouldn't have the slightest idea of making my husband trek to Brooklyn for either Grimaldi's or Di Fara's. They just don't serve what my mouth/stomach require. Needless to say, others think the world stops when you eat their pizza. You have to, and should, go to both places to decide for yourself. They aren't both rated a 2 because I didn't like the pizza, they are rated a 2 because I am not convinced they serve the best pizza in the world (which is the common phrase when hearing about both Grimaldi's and Di Fara's).

In the end...I might say Di Fara's is better...even with the 8 ounces of olive oil... ;)

2 - Di Fara [Pizza in Brooklyn]

LAST VISIT: 11/21/2009     http://www.difara.com/

I know, everyone who has had Di Fara's is likely upset while reading this because I am saying Di Fara's pizza is a 2. But seriously, it just isn't the best pizza in the whole world. There was SO much olive oil on the pizza that I could have filled an 8 ounce glass. Some say that is what makes it so good, but if 8 ounces of olive oil is what makes pizza so good then it really isn't the pizza, is it? Maybe we should all be ordering a tall glass of EVOO instead of a slice...just a thought. The experience was a bit tacky too. You wait in line for this 80-year old guy to start making pizza. He takes FOREVER and before you know it, people are cutting in line and the son of the pizza maker doesn't care enough to sort it all out. I think everyone should go once and try the pizza and the experience of waiting two hours for it, but I don't think a second try is a must do!

Go here to read my version of theGrimaldi's/Di Fara's debate. http://eatennyc.blogspot.com/2010/06/last-visit-61310-httpwww.html

1 - Peter Luger's [Steakhouse]

LAST VISIST: 8/2009 http://www.peterluger.com/

Is this a joke? How is this place consistently rated as one of the top places in NYC. This place is the equivilent to one of MTV's "reality shows" - they script everything and the viewers still seem to love it and think it is real life. The rest of us just tilt our heads, krinkle our noses and give a questioning look while asking, "Really? Top steak place?" The service is horrible, but they tout that with pride for whatever reason. The waiters seem to be tortured with questions and just want you to order in excess so they can be tipped and then they proceed to boot you out. This is not the place to take dear o'l gram. She will give them a talking-to for sure!