Ethnic food, from Italian to Thai -- Newsday.com

January 16, 2008

Noodles and more noodles

In the East Village, it's hard to walk a block without passing a noodle bar. Considering that these low cost restaurants serve tasty fare in huge portions, it's no surprise that they've become so popular.

January 9, 2008

Family-style dinners -- with or without the family

While you might want to take a break from your family after the holidays, family-style dining can still be lots of fun. Whether it's big bowls of pasta to pass around, appetizer-like dishes to share or endless salad bar selections to choose from, restaurants that cater to serving groups help keep up the convivial feel of the night. So grab some friends -- or family, if you dare -- and dig in at one of these places:

October 24, 2007

Pumpkin season: where to indulge a seasonal taste

So much more than a squash, the colorful pumpkin is now in season. The familiar orange gourd, thought to originate in North America, lends itself well to a variety of preparations, both savory and sweet. And though I¹m sure you¹ll still crave classic pumpkin pie, here¹s where you can taste pumpkin in other culinary creations.

September 26, 2007

Great risotto

While risotto can include anything from spring vegetables to summer berries, fall is an especially appealing time to dig in, thanks to the bounties of the autumn harvest. The creamy concoction serves as a base for bigger things when ingredients such as squash, corn and mushrooms are added. Here are some of our favorite risotto combinations around town this season:

August 29, 2007

Steak frites to die for

While you can¹t throw a stone without hitting a French bistro in this town, the same can¹t be said for a quality serving of steak frites. This en francais version of meat and potatoes calls for soft, fall-off-the-bone-tender beef, and thin, crisp fries. Here's where to get them.

October 31, 2007

Oriental Garden

In the normal course of events, I would not have gone to Oriental Garden. The place specializes in Cantonese food - a style of cooking I have always equated with the dreary shopping-center Chinese places I remember from an unsophisticated childhood. If I'm going to eat Chinese, I want the fiery flavors of Szechuan, the intricate tastes of Hunan. Not what I always thought of as the Chinese equivalent of Midwestern mall food. But a friend recommended the place, so I went.

May 9, 2007

Britain's best: Fish and chips

Despite what you may think about British food, this classic battered dish proves the English can make some delicious eats.

June 13, 2007

Mexican food to count on

There¹s no shortage of places to get Mexican food in these parts, but most of them are about as authentic as Sanjaya Malakar¹s take on Besame Mucho. If you're looking for U-shaped tacos with shredded Kraft cheese, you¹ll want to steer clear of these authentic Mexican places.

February 27, 2007

Where to get great lasagna

When winter bites hard as it has the past few weeks there's nothing like lasagna for supper. Here's where to get it.

November 24, 2006

Where to go for latkes

As they used to say, "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's." And you don't have to be Jewish to love latkes. This is the season to eat them, so we've listed seven restaurants where you can get them.

November 29, 2006

On a roll with sushi

New Yorkers are island folk, and we love fish. Here are some of the city's most popular sushi restaurants, both creative "fusion" style and traditional Japanese.

August 10, 2006

Great Tacos

The burning question is: Can you get a decent taco in New York? The prevailing wisdom says no. Now, we know the BQE isn't the PCH and Woodside isn't Santa Monica. But, hey, sometimes a fish taco is just a fish taco. Here are some worth a try.

July 10, 2006

The best spaghetti in the city

Is there a soul who doesn't weaken at mention of the word: 'spaghetti'? Whether you're talking silky carbonara or rustic puttanesca, spaghetti with cream and mushrooms or spaghetti the way you loved it at seven--with meatballs and red sauce, here are amNew York's choices for best in show. For readers' picks, click here.

February 15, 2006

Mangia!

The city's favorite foods often come with an Italian accent. Whether you crave Northern Italian or Sicilian; homey pastas or sophisticated entrees, there's a restaurant for you. Here are 10 places we love.

February 13, 2007

Dumplings for the New Year

With celebrations of the Asian New Year in full swing this week, what better way to get into the spirit of the holiday than by getting out and taste testing some delicious dumplings. Most New Yorkers have a favorite place they go to for their fix of these tasty meat- or vegetable-filled morsels. Here are a few of ours:

Getting Gallic

So, you haven't gotten to France this summer. Make the best of things with a Gallic dinner -- or, for that matter, breakfast -- in the city. Here are some of our favorite Frenchified places, all over town

Thai to die for

Everybody has a favorite Thai place. Here are 10 whose cooking and style move them well above the neighborhood storefront.

Where to feed a Soprano

Tony's a Jersey boy, but there are plenty of places in the city that serve up the kind of hearty Italian food he's partial to. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Pasta, pasta, and more pasta

Spaghetti, tortellini, ziti. Fusili, lasagne, rigatoni. With meatballs, with anchovies, with lobster. With red sauce, with carbonara sauce, with clam sauce, with alfredo sauce. However you look at it, pasta is one of our favorite foods. Here's where to find it.

Ethnic food, from Italian to Thai