2 - Vegetarian's Paradise 2 [Vegetarian: Pan-Asian & Pacific Rim]

LAST VISIT: 5/2009     http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/vegetarians-paradise-2/

For vegetarian food, this place is great! Overall I like the food, however, the ambiance of the restaurant is not my favorite - it is a little dark and a little outdated. I prefer the "chicken" dishes (especially the fried ones) over the "beef" dishes because the consistency and taste seem to be more like the real thing. Their menu is large offering many items choose from.

FYI - just because it is vegetarian doesn't mean it is more healthy. A lot has to go into that fake meat for you to think that it even compares to real meat - that means oil, frying, butter, etc.

3 - Le Colonial [French Vietnamese]

LAST VISIT: 8/4/2008    http://www.lecolonialnyc.com/

My husband took me to dinner at Le Colonial for my birthday during our first summer in NYC. The atmosphere in the restaurant makes you feel like you are in Vietnam. It is a fun environment and surprising that it is on 57th Street in the city! The service is top notch and the food is delish. I have only been once, but I ordered the Com Tho Ga (organic chicken in a clay pot with shiitake, bamboo shoots, Napa cabbage and ginger seasoned rice) and the memory of the flavors was stamped on the taste part of my brain and has stuck with me. This is a great place to feel like you have escaped the city for a mini vacation while enjoying fun, creative food.

3 - Cafe Mogador [Moroccan]

LAST VISIT: 1/23/2010    http://www.cafemogador.com/

I have only been to Cafe Mogador once, for brunch, but it was some of the best brunch I have ingested. I had the Eggs Florentine and also tried a friend's Moroccan Hot Cereal - holy yummmmmmmmm!!!! I still to this day think about that meal and wonder why I haven't been back since. They have a wide selection of food and it all sounds super delicious. It's Moroccan, so of course it has amazing flavor and texture and the place matches its cuisine - it was a tasty visit!

3 - Victor's Cafe

LAST VISIT: 5/2009     http://www.victorscafe.com/index2.html

Yay for Cuban cuisine!! Victor's has awesome food and terrific service. The best thing on their menu is: Ropa Vieja (Victor's House Specialty - Shredded Black Angus skirt steak simmered in garlic, tomatoes, onions, and peppers nestled in a plantain basket). It is like a serving of hot heaven. The flavors are unbelievable!! The only downside to Victor's is its location in the city, Times Square, but once you are inside you forget all about it! For dessert make sure you have the Churros con Tres Salsas (Cuban-style doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Served with chocolate, dulce de leche and condensed milk sauces).

3 - Citrus [Latin/Asian]

LAST VISIT: 5/2009    http://www.citrusnyc.com/citrus/citrus.html

Citrus is a fun fusion of both Latin and Asian foods. They serve basil mashed potatoes with some of their dishes and they are DIVINE!!!! The atmosphere is hip and extremely cute - a great place for all ages. The food is upbeat and tasty...I haven't had anything that was disappointing. The Roasted Chicken, Poblano-Pinon Pesto & Queso Fundido Quesadilla is one of my favorites...the flavor is OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 - Woo Lae Oak (WLO) [Korean BBQ]

LAST VISIT: 3/20/2010 http://www.woolaeoaksoho.com/index2.htm

I know a few of my friends will disagree with my "2" rating for WLO. The idea of grilling your own food with friends is fun, but paying $$$$ to grill your own food seems a little crazy. The grilled food usually tends to get overcooked because you get distracted while talking with the other diners at your table. To be honest, the food is just okay...nothing to write home about. I would much rather pay one-fourth to one-half the cost and eat at a Korean BBQ place in K-Town.

3 - Nobu

LAST VISIT: 8/14/2009 http://www.noburestaurants.com/newyork/index.html

BEST Black Cod I have ever had...it literally dissolved on my tongue and my mouth went CRAZY!!!!! My husband and I were fortunate to be able to visit Nobu with a gift card in a large denomination so we were able to try many things on the menu. I was not overly impressed with the atmosphere, but the food makes you forget about everything else. It is top notch and no wonder why the prices are on the higher side. You can't go wrong taking friends to this place...if they like Japanese cuisine, they will LOVE Nobu! It has been open since 1994 and is still kickin' the good flavors!

3 - Ravagh [Persian]

LAST VISIT: 4/2010 http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/ravagh-persian-grill02/

This Persian delight was so good I forgot to get a picture before I devoured everything on my plate. A simple order of hummus, chicken kabobs with rice and steak kabobs with fries and 20 minutes later my tummy was beyond satisfied. I love this place because the menu and decor are simple. You know you are going to get great food and there is no nonsense about it. Mediterranean food is likely my favorite genre of food...and Ravagh knew how to make me fall in love.

1 - Spice Market

LAST VISIT: 1/2010
http://www.spicemarketnewyork.com/If you read my blog you know that I love Buddakan. So when I heard that Spice Market is considered a rival I put it on my "must try it" list. I have to say, I was largely disappointed. The food was nothing special and it was like they wanted a unique flavor so they used every spice in the cabinet trying to make sure the dishes had enough flavor. Well, they suceeded and got too much flavor. I wasn't too sure there was such a thing until I ate here. The atmosphere was fun and unique, but it surely didn't make up for the food. I have heard that Spice Market has gone down hill over the years and now they just cannot compete with Buddakan - I confirm, this is true.

3 - Buddakan

LAST VISIT: 3/2010 http://www.buddakannyc.com/buddakan.html

For an indescribable Asian food experience you need to go to Buddakan. The food is out of control...superior to any Asian food I have had before. The service has always been top notch; the wait staff take pride in their knowledge of the menu. Items I have tried:

- Edamame Dumplings

- Hunan Beef Bao Buns

- Shaken Chili Beef Tartare

- Scallion Pancakes (if you don't get these you are making a HUGE mistake)

- Pepper Steak Chow Fun

- Vegetable Rice

- Asian Green Stir Fry (my second favorite item on the menu)

- Szechuan Crusted Ribeye

- Charred Filet of Beef

- Glazed Alaskan Black Cod

- Sweet & Sour Chicken

It is hard to go wrong at Buddakan. The atmosphere is so chic and you will want to dress up for the occasion. I find it best to go with four or more people - it conducive to sharing!!! If you are only here for a day or two I would put this on the list for dinner!

3 - SushiSamba

LAST VISIT: 3/2010 http://www.sushisamba.com/

This is some of the most yummy food I have stuck in my mouth.

Here are some of my favorite things:

- Crispy yellowtail taquitos
- Assorted vegetable tempura
- Beef tenderloin and aji panca anticuchos

- Peruvian corn
- Neo Tokyo rolls

The mix of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine is genius and the restaurant's atmosphere is super fun. The wait staff are eager to help you order and are patient with inquiries.