Locanda Vini E Olii, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Here is a true hidden gem in Brooklyn (that is, a hidden gem for those who live outside of the area). Locanda Vini E Olii is a cozy, intimate little Italian restaurant that is housed in an old pharmacy on Clinton Hill. The cuisine is more Northern Italian than Southern Italian, and includes such dishes as grilled free-range chicken, braised pork, and organic whole wheat fettucine.

Please let me know what you think of Locanda Vini E Olii. This is yet another Brooklyn restaurant that I need to get to someday.

Here is the address for Locanda Vini E Olii:
Locanda Vini E Olii
129 Gates Avenue
Brooklyn (Clinton Hill), NY, 11238

The phone number is:
(718) 622-9202

And here is the Web site for Locanda Vini E Olii:
http://www.locandavinieolii.com/

Vittorio Cucina, West Village [CLOSED]

NOTE: Vittorio Cucina is now closed.

The West Village of Manhattan is full of interesting restaurants, including one I mentioned yesterday (Wild Ginger) as well as several I've already been to (Moustache, Marinella, the White Horse Tavern, etc.). One restaurant that looks interesting is Vittorio Cucina on Bleecker Street.

The pasta is made fresh daily at Vittorio Cucina, and the menu has a number of interesting items, including gnocchi, beef and spinach ravioli, fettucine with pesto, and saffron risotto.

Please tell me what you think of Vittorio Cucina if you have already been there!

Here is the address for Vittorio Cucina:
Vittorio Cucina
308 Bleecker Street
New York (West Village), NY, 10014

The phone number is:
(212) 463-0730

Wild Ginger, Manhattan (West Village)

We almost went to Wild Ginger in the West Village a week ago, but ended up at the excellent Grano Trattoria instead because we were running out of time. But I still want to get to Wild Ginger, as it has gotten some very good reviews, and is in one of my favorite parts of Manhattan.

If anyone has tried Wild Ginger in the West Village, let me know what you think. I appreciate it!

Here is the address for Wild Ginger:
Wild Ginger
49 Grove Street
New York (West Village), NY, 10014

The phone number is:
(212) 367-7200

And here is the Web site for Wild Ginger:
http://www.wildginger-ny.com/

Adelman's Kosher Deli, Brooklyn (Midwood)

We stopped by a terrific Kosher restaurant in the Midwood section of Brooklyn a few weeks ago. Adelman's Kosher Deli was a diamond in the rough, as we were just about ready to give up on finding any breakfast place in this bustling Brooklyn neighborhood.

The interior of Adelman's is a bit unusual, with framed baseball cards and other baseball items lining the walls of the place. Being a baseball fan, I loved it!

The food was excellent at Adelman's. The corned beef omelette has some mighty fine corned beef in it, while the beef knish, kasha varnishkes, and potato pancakes were all better than any similar items I've had in the Boston area.

I'm glad we found Adelman's; it was pretty much an accidental find, but certainly a good one.

The address for Adelman's Kosher Deli is:
Adelman's Kosher Deli
1906 Kings Highway
Brooklyn (Midwood), NY, 11229

The phone number is:
(718) 336-4915

Nomad Restaurant, Manhattan

Another restaurant I have been reading a little about is the Nomad Restaurant in the East Village of Manhattan. They have a combination of French and North African cuisine, and the prices seem to be pretty good, with most entrees being around $15 or so. And judging from the photos I saw, The Nomad looks very intimate and cozy, so it should be a good place to go on a date. The tajines (stew with herbs and spices) sounds really good, as does the couscous and pastilla dishes.

Again, if anyone has been to The Nomad, let me know what you think. Thanks very much!

Here is the address for The Nomad:
The Nomad
78 2nd Avenue
New York (East Village), NY, 10003

The phone number is:
(212) 253-5410

And here is the Web site for The Nomad:
http://www.nomadny.com/

Avi Taam-Tov Restaurant, Manhattan

I have been reading a bit about a place in the Diamond District of Manhattan called Avi Taam-Tov. It sounds like it is a bit like the Diamond Dairy of New York Restaurant, which is in the same neighborhood; both are literally hidden from the general public, and both specialize in Kosher food. And while the Diamond Dairy of New York is in the back of a jewelry store (one flight up, overlooking the store through a plexiglass window), Avi Taam-Tov is on the third floor of a building in the Diamond District, with little in the way of signage indicating that the restaurant is there.

If anyone has been to Avi Taam-Tov, I would love to hear what you thought of the place. Post a message here if you have a chance. Thanks!

The address for Avi Taam-Tov is:
Avi Taam-Tov
46 W 47th Street
New York (Manhattan), NY, 10036

The phone number is:
(212) 768-8001

And here is the Web site for Avi Taam-Tov:
http://nytaamtov.com/

Da Nico, Little Italy (Manhattan)

I haven't been to Da Nico in the Little Italy section of Manhattan for awhile now, but boy, do I ever still remember the pizza at this restaurant. While not quite the best pizza I've had in New York City, it was perfectly fine, with a thin crust, a slightly burnt bottom, a tasty sauce, and cheese that was browned just right.

There are literally hundreds of restaurants I want to go to in New York, so I'm not sure I'll be back to Da Nico anytime soon, but if I end up being in the immediate neighborhood, there are few places I'd rather go than Da Nico.

The address for Da Nico is:
Da Nico
164 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10013

And the phone number is:
(212) 343-1212

And here is the Web site for Da Nico:
http://danicorest.com/