WednesdayJun 23,2010
The West Branch, I went there twice for dinner and 1 time for brunch. Like this place more and more. Nothing fancy on the menu; but they do the normal food just a tad better and tastier.
YUM
In pictures is the asparagus with poached eggs, baby squid (super tende) with spicy tomato sauce, and duck schnitzel. It was yummy yummy yummy.
And Dan and I went there for brunch last Saturday, the Cuban Sandwich is the better that I’ve had in a long time!!!
The West Branch Restaurant — 2178 Broadway ( + West 77th Street) — 212.777.6764
SundayMay 9,2010
Anthony Bourdain was eating the Prime porterhouse cut at Porter House New York; Dan (the husband) said he wants a damn good piece of steak. So off we go.
I was not happy when I first walked in; I was expecting a more sophiscated crowd.
However, the better part is, next time I can wear jeans and chow down that steak even more comfortablly.
The wine came a bit slower than the appetizer (really really good Steak Tartar); the waiters are not as attendative as I like for restaurants at this price level.
The Prime PorterHouse Steak medium rare was perfectly cooked. A bite of that steak, I’m happy; and I know I’ll be back again. The Truffle Mashed Yukon Gold is out-of-the-world good. But I won’t order the creamy spinach again; the cream sauce was very running.
No room for dessert … next time … 
Porter House New York, 10 Columbus Circle 4th FL, 212.823.9500
FridayMar 12,2010
It has been a cold cold winter. This little heart inside my cappuccino always gives me a smile then warm me up from my palm.
I fell in love with Joe The Art of Coffee few years ago at the Waverly Place location.
So happy now they have quite a few locatons all over town to warm me up.
Joe The Art of Coffee
Upper West Side - 514 Columbus Avenue (off West 85th Street)
Greenwich Village - 141 Waverly Place (off Guy Street)
East Village - 9 East 13th Street (off 5th Ave)
Midtown East - 44 GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
SundayJul 5,2009
Always love this little spot on the way to the office …
Very French — good bakery goods, great coffee, very small space, very hidden
Try to see if you can find it when you are in Upper West Side
Cafe Margot - 2109 Broadway
SundayJun 14,2009
Really Belgium, though I don’t drink beer.
Love the homemade pate and Bitterballen which are tiny deep fried beef meatballs (see pic) and their frites are really good with homemade mayo.
Dan’s sad that the moulé is not sizable as he expected, but we have yet to find a sizable moulé place in NYC.
LOVE how small this place is and how cozy and relaxing it feels.
The service was great!!!
B. Cafe West — 566 Amsterdam Avenue (between 87th St & 88th St) — (212) 873-1800
SaturdayApr 25,2009
It’s surprising to me that I even looked at Josie’s menu. I don’t intentionally look for healthy food to eat; I care more for what I crave for … Josie’s West always provides tasty and comforting treats.
I LOVE their watermelon lemonade, spicy black bean dumply (picture), butternut squarsh soup (picture), and their grilled tofu with vegetables ~ YUM YUM YUM … Their portion could be a big larger, yes, even for me. But the taste is just perfect and soothing for a very tired soul.
p.s. I like the food on the Upper Westside better than the one on Upper East Side …
Josie’s West, 300 Amsterdam (W. 74th Street)
Josie’s Kitchen, 1614 Second Ave (W 84 Street)
Josie’s East, 565 Third Avenue (E 37th Street)
SaturdayApr 4,2009
Yes Yes, this picture is another result of eating happily - eating fast - forgot to take picture first Polly incident when she sees food. LOL
Besides their fabulous scones, I love going to Alice Tea Cup for breakfast on weekdays. It is very quiet, very cozy, and not crowded. You feel being pampered sitting in any of their location on a morning … time slows down too …
I love Mauritias (black tea with a hint of vanilla that goes so amazingly well with cream) to go with any breakfast items. My favorite scones are the buttermilk or ham and cheese scones.
Alice Tea Cup (3 locations)
102 West 73rd Street (off Columbus Ave)
156 East 64th Street (off Lexington Ave)
220 East 81st Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
TuesdayFeb 10,2009
All of a sudden, all these good coffee locations start popping up all over the places on Upper West Side - they make Polly a very happy working girl! Yeah!
The new comer is Aroma Expresso Bar! Really really perfect iced Americano (my favorite)! Moonhee said the food there is good too. Will try soon!
Cheers with a good cup of coffee ~ meet with me there soon?
Aroma Expresso Bar, 161W 72nd Street
SundayJan 4,2009
Nice Matin, one of the newer Upper West Side casual spots we visit often.
My favorite dish is the smoke salmon with soft scrambled eggs with crème fraîche and chives (pic). They just make it perfect. And they have strong coffee (black for me) that goes perfect with any breakfast items.
During Sandra’s visit, she tried their hot coco (pic) and loved it too!
Also love their Tuna Tartar, Steak Frites … the normal bistro fairs ~ YUMMY!
Nice Matin, 201 W 79th St (Corner of Amsterdam Ave), (212) 873-6423
MondayNov 3,2008
Dark Chocolate Covered Corn Flakes ~ these are my favorite chocolate treats from Jacque Torres Chocolate. So happy that the Upper West Side store opened … or I used to go to Dumbo (Brooklyn) to get this.
Of course, many of you have or will receive their variety chocolate gifts as well ~ don’t you just love to open that box of chocolate to start the adventure after dinner?
Jacque Torres Chocolate
66 Water St, Brooklyn - (718) 875-9772
285 Amsterdam Ave at 73rd St, NY
350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston), NY - 212.414.2462
FridayOct 31,2008
I know I know ~ I usually post pictures of the dishes I liked and ate.
But this time, I was eating a bit too fast ~ oops ~
This is the 2nd time Dan and I went there. The first time, we tried the Sunday Suppa. It was a fixed menu 3 course meal. It was perfect portion and perfect flavor. We both remembered really good Berkshire pork loin.
This time we went a la cart with Elyse and Anthony ~ LOVED the special gnocchiin cream sauce with shave black truffle ~ Lamb’s tongue was soft and tasty ~ loved pistachio crusted duck ~ and loved that halibut with butternut squash sauce that is just so Autumn but refreshing ~ we shared 2 desserts - apple confit and banana bread pudding. All the food was prepared with great ingredients and amazing creativity based on seasonal availability. The dishes are not exotic too much that you don’t feel like eating them.
You gotta give this a try - Dovetail, 103 W 77th St (off Columbus Avenue)
WednesdayOct 22,2008
YUM! It finally opened on Upper West Side. The Shake Shack!!!!
The line is always so long in Madison Square Park location, I was always too hungry to wait (yes yes I am too hungry to wait for any line anywhere )
Lucky night: wrapped up work early, line was not too long, Dan and I even got seats! We got Shack burgers, fries, and an UWS Concrete!
I do apologize for not having that wonderful juicy burger on the picture. It smelled so wonderful when waiting on line, I was starving, and poof, the Shack burger was gone 
Shake Shacks
Upper West Side - 366 Columbus Ave (Corner of W 77th Street)
Madison Square Park - SE of Madison Square Park (Madison Ave and E 23rd Street)
