Saravanaa Bhavan

81 Lexington Avenue corner of 26th Street 212/684.7755 about $45, with one drink, with tip ♥ The Dr. remembered a suggestion he received from one of his co-workers for some dosas in Murray Hill but the name escaped him; all he knew was that it was long and unpronounceable. Luckily we caught a glimpse of ...

Rayuela

20. August 2008 Lower East Side, South American, Spanish 0
165 Allen Street between Rivington and Stanton 212/253.8840 $103 each for a group of 8, with 3 bottles of wine and tip ♥ As soon as we walked up the steps to sit at our 8-person table, I thought Rayuela had promise. It was a bit too dark to read the menu without holding it ...

The Mermaid Inn

13. August 2008 American, Upper West Side 0
568 Amsterdam Avenue between 87th and 88th Streets 212/799.7400 about $70 for two, with two beers, with tip ♥ I’ve never been big on moderation and that’s why a lot of the time, I find myself eating and drinking too much and paying way more than I can afford. At The Mermaid Inn, the Dr. ...

Bar Boulud

06. August 2008 French, Upper West Side 1
1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th Streets 212/595.3034 about $60 each for two, with drinks, with tip ♥ The first time we tried to eat at Bar Boulud, we chose to sit outside with the theater crowd. We were looking at the menu when the heavy wind hit, taking fragile wine glasses with it, shaking ...

Hearth

30. July 2008 American, East Village 2
403 First Avenue corner of 12th Street 646/602.1300 about $80 each for four, with drinks, with tip ♥ ♥ I don’t think I’ve met a more sincere maitre d’ than the petite woman at Hearth. We didn’t have reservations when four of us stopped by. We were hoping to get seated at the kitchen pass, ...