One of the overlooked treasures of NYC is its many rooftop restaurants.  Enjoying a fabulous meal or drink while looking out at the majestic view of the city is an amazing treat.  My favorite spot to take in  the city is 230 Fifth, located on Fifth avenue between 26th and 27th Streets.   Even during the winter season, 230 Fifth is a popular rooftop location as the restaurant offers complimentary robes to keep its patrons warm (there are also space heaters, but the robes are a pretty pimp touch).

(Leave your Snuggie at home. No worries, 230 Fifth provides complimentary robes)

I’ve only visited 230 Fifth for a drink (or two, or three…) but I’ve heard great things about the chic restaurant and weekend brunch is served from 11am to 4pm. Whether you are entertaining family in the city for the weekend or headed out for a night on the town with the girls, 230 Fifth has something for everyone with one of the best views in town.

Images via 230 Fifth

One of the numerous perks of living in New York City is this town’s ability to start and continue trends that eventually leak nationwide. Food trends are no exception, and an especially great one has recently started in the city – my favorite comfort food mac & cheese! Now, nothing beats my mom’s homemade dishes, but S’MAC in the East Village comes pretty close.  S’MAC (Sarita’s Macaroni & Cheese) specializes in, you guessed it, mac & cheese cuisine.

The menu features different varieties of mac from the All- American (most like the blue box macaroni from your childhood) to Buffalo Chicken Mac – yum! So next time you are craving the comfort of home, try S’MAC and don’t be afraid to step out of your mac & cheese comfort zone.

No city does brunch quite like NYC.  Weekend brunch is one of my favorite things to look forward to after a long week. Last Sunday I was introduced to Campo and it quickly became one of my new favorite brunch hot spots. Because of the numerous options for eating breakfast till mid afternoon there are a few things I look for to determine a quality brunch location.

1.         Wait time. There are so many delicious restaurants in the city, but typically a few can be THE hot spot of the moment (especially for tourists). I avoid these spots like the plaque whenever possible. Besides, there is usually another restaurant that is just as fabulous around the corner and off the tourist radar.

2.             Relaxed atmosphere. Along with not having to wait for a table, I don’t want to feel rushed when it comes time to dine. Campo lead the pack on this front. Not only was our  three plus hour brunch relaxed, we even ordered additional mimosas after receiving our check! Which brings us to the final must:

3.         Unlimited drink specials. Campo offers an all you can drink Mimosa at brunch for only $9.90! Sold.

So enjoy your weekend brunch and let us know what your favorite brunch spots are in the city.

I’m always up to try something new, so when my friend CC invited me for dinner at her favorite new restaurant I didn’t let her dietary restrictions stop me. My lovely friend is a recent Vegan convert, and though I admire her new lifestyle, I was hesitant to partake in a dinner that did not include diary, meat or even eggs.

Candle 79 far exceeded my expectations! I could not believe the meal I was eatting was Vegan! I have to say it was without a doubt one of the best dinners I have ever had in Manhattan.  I recommend you take a walk on the Vegan side and head to 79th Street at Lexington Avenue and indulge! When you do start with the nachos, for the main course try the Spaghetti and wheat balls (they are amazeballs) and if you do not try the cannoli, you will regret it!

The Dairy Free ice cream was sensational!

I would have to say Candle 79 does more than hold a candle to the top restaurants of NYC and even better, no animals are harmed in the making of your meal.  Therefore, I’d go as far to say that this will be the most guiltless cannoli you ever consume because Vegan meals are free of calories too….right?

images via Candle 79

So A and I have been planning some epic stuff for Valentine’s day since about November of last year.  We wanted to do a girls’ night (romantic dinners are so overrated), but we were not sure how to make it more special than any other night.  Then A had an amazing idea.

Lips NYC.  You may recognize this place from the episode of Sex and the City where Samantha finds out a guy she used to date is now a woman, and he has taken her name and persona as his new identity’s inspiration.  The restaurant is full of glitz and glam, and the Lips girls perform a show every single night (bravo!).  I have to say it ranks up with one of my best slash most unique nights ever in NYC.

images via lipsnyc.com

After much anticipation, I finally got a chance to have dinner at LAVO New York. The italian restaurant and nightclub seems to be a magnet for midtown workers, and I can’t blame them.

If you  get a chance to visit,  I  recommend  the one-pound meatball with ricotta (serves 4!),  the  baked clams, the  lobster scampi  pizza and  the fried oreos (comes  with a milkshake…enough said). Just don’t plan on making it down to the nightclub after that meal.

Are there any restaurants in the city you’re dying to try?