Amber, 1406 3rd Ave (@ 80th)

One of my good friends gets excited every time Amber is mentioned. I sometimes forget in the city of sushi places every corner, how good the sushi is at Amber. Some complain that it's expensive, but good sushi should be a few bucks more. When I go out for sushi, especially when I don't know the reputation of the restaurant, I get a roll, just in case the fish isn't so great, the other items can mask the taste (or lack thereof). When I go to Amber, I get sashimi because the fish is that good. If I get sushi a la carte, it's also fantastic because they put a small amount of rice under the perfectly cut piece of fish (Alton Brown would absolutely approve!)

I went last night for dinner and went for the sushi a la carte, spanish mackrel, salmon and yellowfin. Last night the salmon was wonderful, nay I should say it was beautiful. Note, the rock shrimp tempura, which I've had only a handful of times but was craving last night was a little disappointing. I've also gone to Amber's sister restaurant, Aquamarine where I almost always get the Yaki Udon, not because the sushi is subpar but because the udon is so wonderful. I've been meaning to try Amber's udon but the sushi is just so superior (and the groupons to eat there that appear so frequently) make it such a treat.

The decor in all of the Amber restaurants range, but it's definitely on the trendy side, a little dark and comprised usually of some sort of natural element, be it a giant stone waterfall or exotic plants an flowers. It's great for a date, with friends, with family, with large groups or small. Enjoy some tea, enjoy the lovely staff, and most importantly, enjoy the sushi!

WHAT TO BITE? If you can't take advantage of the great lunch special, try the sushi/sashimi a la carte, most traditional pieces average $3

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