Il Brigante - southern Italian cusine

II Brigante

214 Front Street
New York, NY 10038
Telephone:  212.285.0222

Website:      ilbrigantenyc.com

Hours: 

Lunch        Monday - Friday       12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
                   Saturday - Sunday    12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Dinner      Sunday - Thursday    4:00 pm - 10:30 pm
                   Friday - Saturday       4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Bruschetta - $12

Insalata de Pomodori - $13

Salmone al Vino Bianco e Capperi - $26.

On a fine, cool and warm Friday July 26th evening I met up with my friend Michele to venture out to have a meal at the South Street Seaport and selected Il Brigante to entertain our taste buds.

The Bruschetta which was is a classic italian dish, the tomatoes you could tell where fresh off of a vine, touch of garlic on a toasted french and nicely toasted with a bit of a crunch bread.  So good.  

The Insalata de Pomodori, of course,  the tomatoes were  from the vine with Campari tomatoes, fresh with red onions, oregano and extra virgin olive oil.  It just kept getting better.  Very good.

Now the main dish, Salmone al Vino Bianco e Capperi.  It was wild fresh salmon, lemon, capers and served with perfectly seasoned roasted potatoes and string beans.  

As their website states II Brigante was created with the goal of replicating the traditions and taste of southern Italian cuisine which never having cross the Mediterranean sea, but being on a journey of kicking my shoes off under the table if the food is good (southern thing) and enjoying every bite, lets just say I'm looking forward to eating my way through Italy.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience".

                                                                                                                 James Beard

#ilbrigante  #newyork   #seaport   #food  #italianfood  #delicious  #fresh  #relax   #lunch    #dinner   #foodphoto   #primeribs  #swordfish  #seafood   #pizza   #desserts   #goodeats

Joe's Pizza - New York - family owned pizzeria since 1975

Joe's Pizza 
124 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10038  

Telephone:   212.267.0860
Website:      joespizzanyc.com

Hours:  

Monday              10:00 am - 3:00 am
Tuesday              10:00 am - 3:00 am
Wednesday        10:00 am - 3:00 am
Thursday            10:00 am - 4:00 am 
Friday                  10:00 am - 5:00 am
Saturday             10:00 am - 5:00 am
Sunday                10:00 am - 3:00 am

Lunch time any day.

Cheese pizza - $3.00 a slice

Lunch time, had to wait awhile because of the line.  This pizza parlour is not large, it has 2 small round pedestal tables in the middle, 3 middle size counter tops that seat 6-7 on one side, 3 in the window and 4-5 on the other side.  I like the crust, sauce to cheese was a little tangy with a touch of sweetness from the cheese.   Customer service is quick and friendly.  The pizza is freshly made because nothing sits around due to the fast turnover.  When I returned the following week I asked for the sicilian pizza end piece please.  It's crust was thick, crispy and chewy.     

Joe's Pizza has been around since 1975 and was established by Joe Pozzuoli who is from Naples Italy, yes the birthplace of pizza.  Joe's Pizza has several locations throughout New York.  Their first restaurant was located at the corner of Carmine and Bleecker street.  The last I checked, Joe is 75 years of age and still owns and operates his restaurants.

Things that make you go umm for my next visit, regular pizza or sicilian.  You can rely on every time you go the dough is fresh and reliable.        

Stop by and say hello to the guys behind the counter as you wait for your slice of pizza.

#joespizza   #newyork   #financialdistrict  #pizza   #tasty  #popular  #good  #goodpizza  #popular  #comfortfood  #enjoy   #siciliansquare   #fastfood   #newyorkmagazine  #food

Babbalucci - wood burning oven pizza

Babbalucci
331 Lenox Avenue (between 127-128th Street)
New York, NY 10027

Telephone:  646.918.6572
Website:      babbalucci.com

Hours:  

Sunday                 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Monday                11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tuesday                11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wednesday          11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thursday              11:00 am - 12:00 am 
Friday                   11:00 am - 12:00 am 
Saturday               11:00 am - 12:00 am    

Happy hours        4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Margherita pizza - $13.00

                                          

Upon arrival I noticed a wood burning oven and I made up my mind right away that I was going to have a pizza, what kind, I had no clue.  Once seated and after looking through the menu I had a brilliant idea.   Of course, the Margherita pizza stood out, so I placed my order.  

I actually watched my pizza come directly from the oven to my table.  Once it was placed in front of me, I allowed it to cool off a little, well just a little but the aroma, my goodness.  Do you remember the movie "Little Shop of Horrors" and in the movie there is a line that the plant Audrey II says "Feed Me Seymour?"  Well.  That is exactly what my stomach said but exchange the name. Yep, yep it sure did.

The tomato sauce on the thin crust pizza was fresh covered with melted mozzarella and topped with basil.  Babbalucci works with Harlem Grown to grow fresh organic basil.  You can tell by  the taste.  

Babbalucci's was a welcome treat that fuses the old work and adds new world flavors in an ambience that is so relaxing, inviting, and warm.

Take a chance and visit Babbalucci, you will not be disappointed.

#babbalucci   #newyork  #harlem  #pizza  #goodfood  #social  #atmosphere  #friends  #family #enjoy #woodburningoven   #scottishsalmon  #shortriblasgana  #goodeats #fresh  #food

Hudson Garden Grill - New York Botanical Garden

Hudson Garden Grill 

New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10458

Telephone:   718.817.8700
Website:      nybg.org/visit/dining/the-hudson-garden-grill

Hours:

Sunday               11:30 am - 6:00 pm

Monday              Closed

Tuesday             11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Wednesday       11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Thursday           11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Friday                11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Saturday           11:30 am - 6:00 pm

Bar service, coffee and light snacks - 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Avocado fries with lemon za'atar - $11.00

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with sweet corn succotash and chorizo cilantro caper remoulde - $28.00

Roasted Halibut with spring peas, fava beans, marble potatoes & citrus - $28.00

Strawberry hibiscuss sparkler - $6.00

On a bright and very sunny day, my friend Michele & I met at the New York Botanical Garden.  As we were strolling, sitting, chatting, walking, ohing and ahing at the plants, the trees, the chipmucks, yes they have chipmucks.  Albert!!  They are small and stripped with cute pudgy cheeks and bushy tails with large glossy eyes.  Did you know that they use their cheeks for pouches? 

We have never had avocado fries so we decided to try if for our appetizer.  It was good.  You could taste the avocado and it was lightly battered. 

I had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and it was made with real fresh lump crab meat.  It could have used a little more seasoning, but by adding the remoulade it made it more tastier.  The sweet corn succotash was seasoned very well. 

Michele's dish was the Roasted Halibut and it was very fresh, light and well seasoned.  The combination of spring peas, marbled potatoes and fava beans were well paired. 

The Strawberry hibiscus was not sweet and but very smooth.  Quite tasty.

The Hudson Garden Grill is located inside of the picturesque New York Botanical Garden.  This is a farm-to-table restaurant and their sources come from Hudson Valley farms and other regional producers.  It has high ceilings, large windows and a picturesque view that sits in a beautiful and nature location that allows you to relax and enjoy not only the food but the surroundings.

#nybg.org/visit/dining/the-hudson-garden-grill  #bronx   #newyork  #garden  #goodfood    #soups   #salads   #desserts   #burgers   #farmtotable  #locallysource  #lovely  #comfortable    #fullservice   #startersandshares   #landscape   #food   #fresh   #bronxbotanticalgarden