Sure there's menupages.com & nymag.com (chock-full of opinions), but wouldn't you rather get restaurant advice from someone you know and trust...someone like your Mama Lunch Belle? The Lunch Belle has done her homework and made a list of restaurants and quick-stops for nabes all over NYC. As with most of The Belle's lists, this one is ongoing. You're welcome (in advance)! *For restaurants without links, please refer to menupages.com or nymag.com for addresses, phone numbers and further information.

• Bar Americain: Bobby Flay's midtown American serving great French onion soup, fresh shellfish and a damn good pork chop~beautiful digs
• BLT Market: Laurent Tourondel puts the chic in to farm-to-table cuisine at his newest outpost of the BLT line~casually elegant atmosphere, splendid service, great food and one of the best addresses in town 
• John's Pizzeria: One of the city's most famous pizza joints serving whole pies & "No Slices!"
• Island Burgers & Shakes (delivery): Making one of the city's best burgers cooked to your liking~thick and juicy with tons of add-on ingredients~unfortunately, they don't make fries
• Uncle Nick's: Decent Greek with great flaming cheese and grilled meats~festive atmosphere
• Angelo's Pizza (delivery): Fantastic pizza that's definitely one of The Belle's favorites in town
• Sarabeth's Central Park South: There is something so charming and comforting about this traditional American serving fantastic breakfasts and brunches (note that I haven't had lunch or dinner here)~just make sure you get here before the crowds do; think 10 a.m. to be safe
• Yum Yum Bangkok: Super cheap Thai with a wonderful prix-fixe menu
• Toloache: Authentic and delicious Mexican food served in a casual atmosphere
• Ruth's Chris: I know, I know it's a chain! However, Ruth's makes the world's best sliders (think filet mignon on buttery garlic bread)~great bar with homemade potato chips~what's more to love?
• Hell's Kitchen: If you like your quesadillas made with goat cheese and huaticochle (corn fungus) OR if your idea of Mexican food doesn't include nachos, cheese enchiladas and crispy beef tacos, this haute and chic Mexican is for you
• Norma's: Serving NYC's most extravagant and indulgent breakfast with items like the famed $1000 omelete~beautiful and modern atmosphere within the Le Parker Meridien Hotel
• Serafina Broadway: Consistent, decent and reliable Italian~locations across Manhattan
• 44 & X Hell's Kitchen: Bright, airy and modern restaurant serving haute-American comfort food~wonderful salads, steaks and sides
• Philly Slim's Cheesesteaks (delivery): Greasy, tender, salty and cheesy at the same time...what else could be as sinful as a Philly Cheesesteak? Paired up with fries/onion rings and Tasty Kake, this is one killer combo!
• Daisy May's BBQ USA (delivery): Tender, juicy and lightly fatty brisket; ribs; yummy side dishes
• Scarlatto: Tasty Italian served in a charming atmosphere~make sure to try their ultra rich and luxe macaroni & cheese
• Wu Liang Ye: The Belle's favorite Chinese in town~serving both Americanized and authentic cuisine which translates in to "something for everyone"
• Kellari Taverna: Head here for a drink, some light mezze and the gorgeous environment~DO NOT head here if you're wanting great Greek food and wonderful service (it's too bad that they couldn't excel in all areas)
• Molyvos: The Belle's first Greek food experience in NYC~fantastic fare served in an upscale setting
• Westway Diner: Solid diner once frequented by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld
• Chelsea Grill of Hell's Kitchen: Bar food served in a casual setting~home of the best seasoned fries in town and contender for the city's best burger~crappy service
• Kashkaval: Cheese and gourmet market with a small restaurant in the back~wonderful cheese fondues
• Carve: Made-to-order sandwiches and salads with fierce ingredients~low-carb friendly items as well~take-out or delivery
• El Centro: From the people behind "Hell's Kitchen," comes a much more casual and Tex Mex joint~great ritas and food menu
• Cascina Ristorante: Charming neighborhood Italian~great atmosphere and legit prices
• Hudson Cafeteria: Get the prix-fixe lunch with mac n' cheese and the butterscotch bread pudding~you won't be wowed by the food, but you will be wowed by the uberly cool atmosphere which makes the meal worthwhile
• Westside Cottage II: Neighborhood Chinese serving your favorite Americanized standbys~eat-in, take-out or delivery
• Barbetta: One of the most gorgeous garden settings in the city~perfect spot for a light summer meal surrounded by green tranquility~the atmosphere highly outshines the food
• Mangia (delivery): Sandwiches, salads and soups made with fresh and high quality ingredients
• Just Salad (delivery): Make-your-own salad concoction with a plethora of fresh ingredients
• Tulcingo del Valle (delivery): The Belle's favorite authentic Mexican food in town~this is the real deal, folks!
• Cafe Spice: Tasty Indian served in a pleasant setting
• BG at Bergdorf Goodman: The Belle's favorite "ladies who lunch" destination~gorgeous atmosphere with light fare that's perfect for an afternoon of shopping/trying-on clothes
• Marseille (French/Mediterranean)
• Nizza (Coastal French/Italian)
• City Lobster (Seafood, steaks) 
• Ardesia (wine bar, tapas)
• Gazala Place (Druze, Middle Eastern)
• Empanada Mama (Latin American)
• Xie Xie (Asian sandwiches)
• Dafni Greek Taverna
• Heng2 (Thai)
  

To see all of my pics from this amazing adventure, click *here*

People always ask me how often my parents, who reside in Texas, come to NYC to visit me.  “Um, they come here about once every 1.5-2 years.  Honestly, they think NYC sucks and would prefer that I meet them out West.” You can imagine the shocked looks and questions I receive after stating my answer.  But it’s true, my parents get sick and tired of seeing the same old sights, sitting next to hobos on the subway, and getting treated like shit (well, compared to Texas).  I, on the other hand, am not bothered by that stuff at all.  I love everything about NYC, even amidst all of its grit, claustrophobia and attitude.

So I bet you’re wondering: how does my parents’ dislike for NYC tie in to a culinary walking tour of Hell’s Kitchen?  You’re just going to have to read the rest of this post to find out!

Inspired by a recent trip to Italy, my friend, Moira Campbell, decided that it was time to ditch “Corporate America” and start her own business combining her two favorite pastimes: eating and traveling.  Having fallen in love with her own neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen, Moira wanted the rest of the city/tourists to understand why its gritty western avenues and crowded restaurant blocks kept her on the streets seeking out delicious food in the most unlikely places.  And with that, “Rum and Blackbird Tasting Tours, Adventures in Eating” was born.  First line of business on Moira’s proverbial plate? “A Taste of Hell: Hell’s Kitchen Tour,” promising adventurous eaters an unforgettable guided walking tour filled with handmade food and some very infamous Hell’s Kitchen history. 

*Note* Prior to your scheduled tour date, Moira will ask you to disclose if you have any allergies or follow a specific diet (vegetarian, kosher, vegan, etc.), as tasting plates are pre-arranged. My fellow group of “kids that Jewish grandmothers would not be proud of” remained open to whatever tasty treat (be it pork) was in store for us.

On Sunday morning around 11:30am, I met Moira and my friends, Dana and Adam, on the corner of 50^th Street and 8^th Avenue.  After handing us each a bottle of ice-cold water and a map depicting the order in which we’d taste our way through the neighborhood, the four of us began pounding the pavement.  As I reviewed the list of the culinary destinations we were about to visit, I realized that out of the seven businesses mentioned, I had only been to one!  The reason that is so strange/embarrassing is because I lived in the ‘Kitchen for two solid years!  Looks like I had some serious catching-up to do.

So here’s an idea of how our 3-hour tour worked: at each of the seven spots visited, Moira had previously been in touch with the restaurant/shop.  Upon our arrival at each, a table was set up for the exact number in our party, and at most of the venues, our “tastes” were presented immediately.  We spent about ten minutes at each spot before heading to the next. 

Numbered by exact order visited:

 

1.    Empanada Mama’s corn-flour ground beef empanada: This was unlike any empanada I’ve tasted (if you’ve never seen an empanada, visualize something along the lines of a fried pie or calzone).  Its maize-colored, corn-based exterior was thicker, denser and slightly harder than the greasy, thin pie dough-like versions that I’m typically used to.  The spicy ground beef filling was perfectly seasoned and gristle-free.  While I couldn’t tell you exactly what they consisted of, both of the accompanying red and green dipping sauces acted as the final piece of the flavor trinity (the corn envelope and fragrant meat being the other two).      

2.    Island Burgers and Shakes’ black & white milkshake: OK, so of all of the spots listed, this was the only one that I’ve actually been to (via delivery).  While I’d never had one of their shakes until the tour, I can say that IB&S makes one of the city’s best burgers.  Only draw-back?  Since the restaurant is so tiny, they don’t have a fryer.  What does that mean?  No fries, no onion rings, etc.  Fortunately, the milkshakes *almost* make up for that character flaw.  Each of us received a glass (not much larger than a shot glass) that had been doused with a splash of chocolate syrup and filled with homemade (from a local source) vanilla ice cream.  This was truly the liquid version of NYC’s own black & white cookie.  

3.    Gazala Place's boureka: I did not believe in heaven, or much else for that matter, until I tasted the boureka from GP.  Imagine, if you will, a circular croissaint measuring 3" wide and 1" thick stuffed with handmade goat's milk yogurt (with the consistency of ricotta cheese) and sour, brined grape's leaves (Can someone confirm if what I ate were grape's leaves?  It's just my guess.).  Instead of making the croissant-like outer envelope of the boureka with butter, Gazala uses solidified olive oil.  If you've not yet tasted this flaky treat for yourself, I would run sprint, not walk, to this humble storefront.  I'm telling you, this pastry changed my negative outlook on life.  Yes, it is that excellent.

4.    Xie Xie’s sweet glazed pork bun: This restaurant has been on my short list of places to check out because of the one-too-many incredible things I've heard about their Asian twist on the traditional New England-style lobster roll.  On this visit, though, we came to sample Xie Xie's sweet glazed pork bun.  Before we were served, I was praying that the Chinese sandwich wasn't going to be stuffed with pork belly...because just like my ex-boyfriend, I'm completely over that crap.  To my oh-so-pleasant surprise, the bun was filled with succulent pieces of gristle-free pulled pork, sprigs of cilantro, and a molasses-colored sweet glaze bursting with notes of soy and hoisin.  Pure perfection. 

5.    La Rosita’s chorizo taco: Believe it or not, this unassuming Mexican deli/restaurant was my least favorite stop on the tasting tour.  While the taco was authentic and homemade (2 warm corn tortillas stacked on top of each other), the chorizo (Mexican sausage) was frightening to look at with its artifical red coloring and even more frightening to taste.  After nearly choking on one-too-many rubbery bits, I couldn't fathom taking another bite of the greasy, gristly mass of bi-products.  Just the memory of this makes me dry-heave.  Blech!

6.    Biscotti di Vecchio's assorted biscotti: Sadly, this was another let-down.  We received baggies filled with four cookies, two chocolate-pistachio and two vanilla-cranberry.  Perhaps I'm biased because I've eaten L'Ecole's fresh-out-of-the-oven-biscotti, but I found these to be dry and stale-tasting.

7.    Poseidon Bakery’s alfali: I love any dessert soaked in honey, so this Greek delight was a major shoe-in.  Imagine a piece of baklava shaped like a wheel of brie cheese, with the phyllo dough completely enveloping the sweet's nutty interior.  There was a burst of liquefied honey in each and every toothsome bite.  To. Die. For.

For $49, I learned more about my old neighborhood's unique history, tasted delicious foods from around the world, got 2-mile's worth of walking/exercise, and had a great time with my friends.  Upon speaking with my mother shortly after the tour, she made a brilliant, and quite shocking (for her, the NYC hater, that is), point: this is the kind of activity that locals, first-time NYC visitors and experts alike will enjoy!  "We must do this the next time I'm in town," she gushed.  And I could not agree more.  There is no better way to get a more delicious and authentic taste of the Big Apple.

xx,
TLB

P.S. For menus and addresses: http://www.menupages.com/
P.S.S. Mass transit directions: http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork