Dining

Bar food: Sharkeez

Bar food: Sharkeez

As any evening goes on, Sharkeez is jumping – both the location in Manhattan and the Pier Plaza version in Hermosa are full of people enjoying Mexican-styled appetizer platters, grilled chicken, salads, burgers, and other delights. The mesquite grill gets [...]

Best Ethnic BBQ: Silvio’s

Best Ethnic BBQ: Silvio’s

Brazilian barbecue is less complicated than traditional Southern barbecue; instead of the flavor layers of rub, sauce, and smoke, it’s all about the natural flavors of quality meat, seasoned with salt and the most moderate dash of herbs. Silvio’s is [...]

Best Coffee house (chain): Starbucks

Best Coffee house (chain): Starbucks

There’s a certain irony that fans of Peet’s and Starbucks get so worked up about the merits of their favorite chain – when Starbucks was founded in 1971, they bought their coffee beans from Alfred Peet, who had taught them [...]

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: The Spot

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: The Spot

The people at The Spot are proud of the fact that their vegetarian restaurant has lots of customers who aren’t vegetarians – they are meat-eaters who just happen to like the food.The flavors are as rich as any other dining [...]

Best Gourmet Burger: Simmzy’s

Best Gourmet Burger: Simmzy’s

When you order a burger at Simmzy’s, they serve it with three napkins. If the Queen of England were to dine here, she would use at least two – this burger is that juicy and delicious. The standard version is [...]

Best Thai/Southeast Asian Restaurant: Phuket Thai

Best Thai/Southeast Asian Restaurant: Phuket Thai

Phuket is a resort town in the South of Thailand, and if you go to this restaurant and ask for a specialty of the region they will suggest chicken with spicy mint. That’s a good representative of the cuisine served [...]

Best Waiter: Beau Dieda, Palmilla Cocina y Tequila

Best Waiter: Beau Dieda, Palmilla Cocina y Tequila

Pretty sure you’ll always find this guy smiling! It’s like he just can’t help it. He has a contagious smile and a spirit that oozes joy. “I feel good inside knowing people had a great experience and that I was [...]

Best independent Coffee House: Java Man

Best independent Coffee House: Java Man

Once upon a time, the big chain burger joints, restaurants, and coffee places were probably little local institutions that got very popular because they had a quality products, good ideas, and a connection to a community. Java Man is now [...]