O perfil de CaribQueen

This Italian place was right by my hotel and has a nice outdoor garden dining area with a little pool. The food was pretty good, particularly the bruschetta appetizer that was sort of like a deconstructred version of what you expect, with the usual tomato/onion topping served alongside a hummus-like bean paste. I went with the waitress's recommendation of balsamic and olive oil marinated grilled chicken with artichole and gorgonzola sauce on the side. I'd give the dish a 3.5 but not a full 4. I tasted the lasagna as well and that was delicious. Overall the menu reads like a standard 3-4 star Italian joint but the quality and freshness of the food brings it to a full 4 star choice. If I'm ever in SLC again I may very well be back.

I stayed at this very comfortable three-star hotel on the island of Santorini (Thira) for a few days in April. It is within a reasonable walking distance of about 500m to the Caldera and Fira, the centre but as both routes to the centre include some steep walking you do need to be prepared with comfortable shoes, and hydrated if you’re visiting in the very hot summer months.

In some ways it’s more of a B&B than a hotel but the property is large enough, with at least 10 rooms/suites, that it’s not stiflingly un-private. The owners/managers of the place are a nice couple that also prepare and serve breakfast in the dining and reception area each morning. The property is nicely decorated, and they have good pictures on their website that are fairly representative of what you can expect if you book.

Fun for the whole family!

I felt like a kid again on a recent trip to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. The set is amazing, the familiar songs will have you singing along in a jiffy, and I’m hard pressed to think of anyone that I know that wouldn’t enjoy themselves at the show. The cast is excellent and the theatre itself is beautiful so it’s a great night out if you have kids in tow, whether you live in Manhattan or are just visiting, I would put this on my top 10 recommended shows to check out on Broadway. I see a list coming in the near future!

Once you see the menu for this place you’ll understand why it’s worth the wait. Dulce de leche French toast is just one of the things that had me trekking downtown for brunch, which is no mean feat when you’re coming from uptown on a hungry stomach… and in weekend traffic! If you’re already in the downtown area, it’s a no-brainer to hit this spot up for either Saturday or Sunday brunch. And if you’re NOwhere in the vicinity, do yourself a favour and look up the menu (if you can’t take my word for it that is!), and you’ll be happy you did as you, too, hungrily make your way here. Another big upper, is that they have pitchers of brunch drinks at bargain prices. Particularly lovely if you go with a (small) group and share a gigantic mimosa pitcher. Great great stuff.

Calle Ocho is simply superb. It’s an upscale Cuban/Latin restaurant on the Upper West side that I always recommend to visitors to NYC. There’s really no better place to sample both traditional Cuban fare and more modern takes and twists on Latin classics. They have 5 or 6 different mojitos to choose from, even more types of sangria, and their list of appetizers are especially inspired, arguably even the best part of the menu.

I’d recommend the Datiles (bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates) as one of their best appetizers that cannot be missed, and any of their ceviches are a good choice too. As a main course, they have duck cooked two ways, with a sweet and tangy cherry sauce that is excellent. The atmosphere is great as well, with the gorgeous high-ceilinged inner dining room that is warm and buzzing no matter what night of the week you visit. It’s a good place to celebrate, well anything really.. but is not too pricey that you can’t just go for, say… a random Wednesday night treat.

This hotel is a great alternative to staying the pricey Midtown hotels. It’s located on the Upper West side of Manhattan, just a block from the subway, close to good shopping and and restaurants.

The rooms are clean, well-maintained, and tend to be priced well below similar quality hotels further downtown so you get much better value for money, even though the rooms aren’t huge. They do have suites available as well so worth checking them out if you’re planning on sharing a room.

One cautionary note, don’t go for the breakfast option if you’re offered it at an extra fee because the restaurant downstairs is decent for dinner, and maybe even lunch, but breakfast was a big letdown when i stayed here. Much better off going to one of the nearby cafes or restaurants that line Amsterdam Avenue.

Tom’s restaurant has done well with it’s Seinfeld fame. The exterior is a thrill to any fan that sees it for the first (or 10th) time, and they’ve got the interior decorated with caricatures and photos of the Seinfeld crew, even though the series was filmed in a different location and the interior is not at all the same.

Truth be told though, that beyond its tv fame, late opening hours, and typical greasy spoon American diner fare, there’s not much else that’s special or noteworthy about this place. The milkshakes are ok, hot chocolate ok, sandwiches ok… the basic drift is that I can’t say I’ve had anything worth writing home about from Tom’s. But if you’re up late partying/studying and you’re in the area, it’s certainly a life saver on an empty stomach.