10 Days in Manhattan- the Food Highlights (Long)

Haven't been back to the city for almost a year so it was nice to go and chill and see friends and family. Had a nice width and breadth of dining experiences- Here are the best:

Spasso(Hudson St. in W. Village)

Great new Italian-It is everything that Esca would like to be( I am not a fan of Esca at all btw-four trips couldn't crack me). It is not as warm and cordial as Babbo but the fresh ingrediants and light room really give a polished, energetic, yet easy feel. Apps were the shaved brussel sprouts with radish, gorgonzola, pickled onion, bacon, and poached egg(fantastic) and the Jerusalem Artichoke soup. For the mains we had Spaghettini with mosciame(salt-cured tuna loin), hen egg, and breadcrumbs; and the Ricotta Gnocchi with oxtail ragu. All were fantastic. Definitely worth the visit if new Italian intrigues you.

Zoma- Ethiopian on Frederick Douglas between 112th and 113th. Harlem is definitely a changing neighborhood. Many more restaurants and bars open by Morningside Park. This Ethiopian is among the best I've had. The decor and ambiance is above the usual Ethiopian, but the food still delivered even if the portions were more nouveau than usual. I tried the kitfo for the first time which I enjoyed(although not as good as the steak tartare at Chez Josephine:). The Doro wat was very good and the injera was spot on if not a little more sour than usual. with The Harlem Tavern(also good), Bier International, and the Park 112(average to good) all in the neighborhood, it is becoming a small destination.

Buddukan- I hadn't been there in a few years, and surprisingly the food was the best I've had there. The Edamame dumplings were simply amazing, delivering a richness and fullness usually only felt by fois gras(not kidding). The Salt Cod was also the star of the evening- one of the best pieces of fish I've had to be quite honest. Everything else including the pork belly and Dungeness Crab fried rice were good if not stellar.

Unexpected Greatness Alert: Dil-e Punjab Deli on 9th Ave and 20th or 21st. 24 hour Indian deli that serves only vegetarian and is amazing. Got it at 2am after getting schnockered and had to work your way through the Indian cab drivers that inhabit it on late nights/early mornings. Delicous chickpeas, red beans, spinach etc, and cheap as hell. The samosas were the only disappointment. If you're a fan of Indian give it a shot for a meal sometime.

Also hit up Marseille on 44th and 9th (still a great place that does better than average on food), Chez Josephine(which is always an experience- in the middle of dinner a 3 piece brass band came in and rocked the house)which satisfied my Parisienne escargot and tartare cravings, Hand tossed noodle shop in Chinatown, Cowgirl Hall of Fame(the only real disappointing meal I had), and New York Burger Company -which was great and showcased sauces and their own creations. And a few others here and there that were just okay. Good times. Sorry so long, but a lot to cover.

ETA: RA'd for moving to the food board. Wrong board- Yep I did it.