Mermaid Inn, 96 2d Ave (btwn 5th and 6th)

I came to The Mermaid Inn for the first time with a friend who sadly I've lost touch with, but who I will always think of whenever I dine here. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the restaurant is split in half with a few steps and a narrow hallway, with the front of it being a typical "New England Seafood Restaurant", while the back is reminiscent of a glass covered version of a typical crab shack in Maryland.

The food is standard, no frills New England serving everything from catfish to salmon, shrimp to escargot (including a few dishes for non-seafood diners such as short ribs and roasted chicken). The atmosphere is always loud enough to keep dining companies occupied, but quiet enough for conversation. In the summer, they open the windows in the back and the front so it's fantastic for Second Avenue people watching, which is my personal favorite. They also do not put any endangered fish on the menu, which you have to respect them for. Your meal will end with a fortune telling fish (like a mood ring, but in the shape of a thin plastic fish) and an espresso-sized cup of chocolate pudding, since they do not have a dessert menu. You'll walk away with meal that is healthy, the chef pulls the reign in on his use of salt, which few in New York seem to do these days, and for seafood, wallet friendly.

WHAT TO BITE? Happy Hour and a Half, $1 clams, or if you're dining in the evening try the Rainbow Trout, $23.

Paquitos, 175 3rd Ave (btwn 16th & 17th)

Mexican food growing up was either when mom had taco night, or if the family happened to be in Connecticut and stopped in at Pancho Gringos. When I left for college, I was introduced to "fast-food" Mexican (I didn't have Taco Bell until I was in my 20's) when Chipotle joined my culinary conquests. It was wonderful, and I even made sure to stop at the ONLY one in Manhattan, at the time, when I was home over winter/summer break. The line would go out the door, even when they weren't giving out free burritos, and it still does today. This is not a post to hate on Chipotle, I will forever love you, but you lack nachos and sometimes, that's what I want with my tacos.

For some reason I was dying to have a good tamale and decided to try the hole in the wall next to my apartment, because my hole-in-the-wall Chinese place had turned out exceptionally well. Paquitos, with a few locations in the city (link goes to the one in the East Village that has a full bar and outdoor seating) was exactly what I was looking for. I went in for a tamale and came out with a small Mexican-American feast. Their pico de gallo is the freshest, most flavorful topping I've ever had and their menu, only about half of it is shown online, is always growing. The portions are massive, a burritos and nachos can easily serve two, and they are absolutely accommodating when it comes to substitutions. Oh and the sweet plantains, though they don't always have them, are done just right. It's a no frills place that has exactly what you're looking for, even if you didn't know you were looking for it. The Third Avenue location has ample seating inside, and although I usually eat at home, you could definitely sit there and devour your food, I don't think anyone would mind.

WHAT TO BITE? Carne asada burrito, $6.75 and nachos (add pico de gallo!), $3.95.

Spice, 1411 2nd Ave. (btwn 73 & 74)

I love spicy food. It might not love me back, but I enjoy eating spicy food all year round. One of my standard dinner spots is Spice. They are located in just about every neighborhood in the city and provide an affordable meal in a slightly-trendy setting. While all of the locations varry in size and location, the one I frequented the most was while was living on the upper east side. Definitely able to seat a large group of people but also small enough to remain intimate. Their biggest location in just south of Union Square on 13th Street, but be forwarned there is likely going to be a wait thanks to all those NYU kids.

Spice also has some fantastic drinks. A lychee martini is around $5 and worth every penny, unless of course you don't like lychee. Spice is also good for a group where one person might not like thai but is willing to try it, as the menu is pretty expansive.


WHAT TO BITE? Crispy Calamari Salad, $6 and Drunk Man Noodle, $11

Paprika, 110 St. Marks Place (btwn 1st and A)

Gnocchi might be one of my favorite dishes in the world, but hardly one of my favorites in this country. So often they are too dense, too starchy or flavorless. Paprika surprised me. A Northern-Italian inspired menu that brought simple mountain food to the East Village. Typically I eat Southern-Italian food because those flavors are more recognizable and thus more prevalent in American cooking, but up North, they know what they are doing. Especially when it comes to the gnocchi.

Paprika is a small restaurant, so I wouldn't bring the whole office here, but it is on a quiet tree lined street away from the annoying NYU kids getting piercings in god knows what places. The restaurant has an Italian charm to it, like you just came in from hiking in cinque terre and you're starving for dinner. What Paprika serves you is a dish that has layer upon layer of flavor. It's simplistic and complex at the same time, comforting and inviting. If a bowl of pasta could wrap itself around you instead of vice versa, this is the place I'd come.

WHAT TO BITE? Homemade Gnocchi with Prosciutto, Sage and Tomato Sauce, $12.50.

Cafetasia, 85 Avenue A (btwn 6th & 7th)

After checking out the Hester Street Fair one Sunday afternoon, a friend and I were walking back to my apartment when it looked like the skies were about to open Noah's Ark style. We ducked into a cute looking Asian restaurant with some of the lowest prices I've seen outside of Chinatown and decided to have lunch. As the rain beat down for the next hour, we dined on a delicious meal of flavorful meats and noodles, and have both been back numerous times since.

Cafetasia has two locations in Manhattan. I've been to both (the other near Washington Square Park) but this review is going to be for a birthday dinner I had at the East Village location recently.

I hate birthday dinners for to most part because there are too many people (and often time too many 'new' friends) to object to splitting the bill evenly. It's not that I'm a cheap person when it comes to my food. I think I've made it abundantly clear that I like going out to dinner, but I don't think it's appropriate for the person who ordered the dancing shrimp appetizer, the prime rib and downed an entire bottle of wine to pay the same as me with my mesclun salad with toasted walnuts and goat cheese. I didn't order the salad because I'm senor cheapo, I wasn't terribly hungry. I didn't refrain from drinking because I'm a penny pincher, I just need to go home and function after this dinner. And then comes paying for the birthday girl. This isn't Applebees and we're not in high school anymore. Though I understand it's easier to divide by 15, it's just as easy to pass the check around, split the alcohol bill by the number of people who actually drank and divide tax and tip evenly. We're adults. Math isn't that hard.

Moving on to Cafetasia. As usual, some members of the group arrived upwards of 45 minutes late, but they were very accommodating and let us sit at the table, filling our water glasses and waiting patiently until the banquet sized table was ready to order. For the most part, they did a great job with getting out this massive order (one appetizer was served late with the rest of our meal) and the prex fixe $13 dinner included: soup, salad, two fried spring rolls, three dumplings and dipping sauces, an entree, and a dessert. I also brought cupcakes, which they were nice enough to keep in the fridge and serve at the end of the meal, complete with dimmed lights, a candle, and accompanied by a disco/techno blend of "Happy Birthday". No, we did not have a private room for this, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the diners enjoyed the show.

The restaurant itself is in an industrial space with mirrors on one side, and a large metal bar on the other and the tables can be pushed together to fit anywhere from 2-50 people. All in all, it's a great place to have a birthday dinner where your diners won't walk away $90 poorer and resenting the day your mother brought you to this earth.

WHAT TO BITE? Chicken Basil Udon, $9.

SIDENOTE: The other Cafetasia is on 8th Street (btwn University Pl. and Greene St.) and has a different vibe (and a shorter happy hour). The tables are more communal, a little difficult to get into if you're wearing a dress, and there are gothic candelabras around the room. It's darker, more romantic and less industrial (although the bathrooms are unisex and strange) but still has the same great value and attentive service.

The Smith, 53 3rd Ave (btwn 10th & 11th)

Some friends of mine celebrated NYE here last year, and since their meal I had been wanting to try it. Numerous times I walked bye, the table wait pouring out into the street. What was so great about this place? And where were they proposing to fit all these people? Once I had my first meal here, I finally could answer those perplexing questions. Not only is the bar menu fantastic in complementing their food, but you have a generous portion for the right price. And there are two floors.


To me, The Smith is comfort food. I went here the night after I passed the New York bar exam for a burger and fries (and a few too many passion fruit mojitos). I've dined here with a large group of friends and devoured the skate and a side of brussel sprouts. I've even sat at the bar with a friend and indulged in mac and cheese a few too many times.


I would recommend this place for anything from a large group (who wants to fork over $90 on a birthday dinner?) to a date, to a picky eater, to a food snob. There is likely something on the menu to fit any appetite... or budget.

WHAT TO BITE? Skate a la plancha, $21 with a side of brussels sprouts, $5.