NYC Tastes

NYC is filled to the brim with oyster happy hours. If you happen to love Blue Point oysters then your golden, that's the oyster of choice at 90% of these happy hour spots.  But if you don't love Blue Points and crave a different selection of East and West Coast at a reasonable price, then head to Zadie's Oyster Room in the East Village. This bright, cherry little spot on East 12th has a small but excellent list of both wine and beer with $1.50 Chefs Choice Oyster and sparkling beverages half price from 5:00-7:00 each day. I've had everything from Big Rock Petite of Cape Cod to Moonstone of Rhode Island and Fanny Bay of British Columbia.   In addition to the oysters Zadie's has some wonderful small plates perfect for sharing like the Deviled Eggs with bottarga and creamy Smoked Trout Pate served with thick sliced brown bread.  This is the perfect spot for just about any seafood lover be it date night, solo or with a group of friends.  Zadie's neve...

I have a favorite new spot in the city and it's so good I want to keep it all to myself. But that would be a shame because everyone should really check out the incredible food and drinks at ROKC- Ramen, Oysters, Kitchen and Cocktails. This tiny little spot tucked away on the ground floor in Hamilton Heights looks unassuming from the outside.  But don't let those looks fool you; inside the bartenders are whipping up some of the best cocktails in the city like the incredible Thai Tea.  Made with cachaca, condensed milk and absinthe this is every bit as creamy and refreshing as the original Thai Iced Tea with a cute little quail egg on the side filled with an extra shot of liquor. The Pineapple cocktail doesn't look like much from this picture but it was literally on fire upon arrival with red and blue flames shooting up from the tropical blend of vanilla, lime and pineapple on top. This place has a cocktail for just about any palate and th...

There's no shortage of oyster happy hours in the city but for a truly great  experience I highly recommend heading to Zadie's, Chef Marco Canora's cozy little spot in the East Village. From 5:00-7:00 Monday thru Friday a selection of drinks are offered for half price including a choice of red, white, sparkling, fortified, cider or beer and a rotating daily oyster.  On my last visit I enjoyed a wonderful Melon de Bourgogne paired with some creamy Big Rock Petite oysters from Massachusetts. In addition to the incredible happy hour Zadie's boasts seven different oyster preparations including baked, steamed, pickled, fried and poached.   Each style comes with a variety of toppings and there are also larger plates like Crab Cake Sliders and Clam Chowder for those looking for more than just slurping bivalves. Save room for a little something sweet at the end; each meal closes out with an oyster shell filled with salt water taffy. Zadie's Oyster Bar 413 East 12th ...

I've been eating oysters nonstop since our return from Boston and the incredible  Row 34 .  One of my first stops back in NYC was Upstate where the fabulous oysters went so quickly I couldn't even get a picture.  But we were with friends which was a great excuse to also share some new dishes like the Crab Cakes.  Crispy outside, grease free and accompanied by an arugula salad dressed with habanero honey.  OMG...my spicy sweet addiction has found another love. I highly recommend the trout if it's on the special board; dressed with a light citrus sauce glaze that gave just the perfect amount of acidity to the fish. Of course the Seared Scallops with mushroom risotto is always worth an order.  This restaurant is so spot on and guess what...they just opened up a new place right around the block with more seating, more seafood and online reservations.  Welcome Edwin & Neals to the hood! Upstate NY 95 1st Avenue New York...