Marc Forgione

Time Out New York let us know that Tuesday night is a pork-lovers paradise at Marc Forgione. Every Tuesday, from 6- 9:00 PM enjoy all-you-can-eat suckling pig sliders. Click to read the details on TONY.

The Forklifter Visits Bar Artisanal

Tribeca offers so many opportunities for young diners to sniff out their favorite flavors in restaurants their parents enjoy, too! Just ask the Forklifter:

Sleepover season found us with just one child to take out to dinner one Friday night. Instead of the sushi-maven, we were accompanied by the truffle-hound (and I say that with love). She's also a cheese and Iberico ham fanatic--she's an expensive date. We steered her away from Corton and into Bar Artisanal. Fondue was ordered, flatbreads, ham (of course), something delicious with truffle honey, their famous mac and cheese. Nice wines by the glass (not for the truffle hound, of course). Just another Friday night in Tribeca.

The Forklifter Strikes Again- Capsouto Freres

The Forklifter chimes in about another neighborhood favorite:

Some colleagues and I had a special dinner out to celebrate the end of a successful project at Capsouto Freres- possibly Tribeca's longest running restaurant. Judging by the rest of the patrons, there were quite a few celebrations going on for a Sunday night. Capsouto Freres always maintains its allegiance to classic French cooking--a rarity these days. I'm a pushover for cassoulet and it's hard to find on NY menus. Ordering a souffle is a must; there are always several to choose from --should I be embarrassed that my table order one of each? My personal favorite was the fig with port wine sauce.

More from The Forklifter: Trattoria Cinque

The Forklifter- our dedicated reader, contributor, and restaurant lover- was out and about recently and lifted not just a fork, but a pen as well:

Trattoria Cinque has one of the nicest, most welcoming rooms in the neighborhood - and staff were no slouches either. I loved the big banquettes and huge fireplaces. It's casually sophisticated, but I was really pleased that they made my kids so welcome too. They're famous for their Caeser Salads and the concept of 5 seasonal offerings in each menu category (hence the name Cinque). There are always a few specials so the menu fills out nicely. My favorite was the super-thin crusted pizza with pear and gorgonzola. I'm thinking I should bring a bunch a friends next time and score one of the big tables in front of the fireplace.

Tofu in Tribeca

Tofu done right is a delight. A reader had this to say about a recent tofu experience:

I may have had the most ethereal homemade tofu in the city this week at Rosanjin in Tribeca. Perfectly proportioned, the tofu was accompanied by a dollop of cavier, a small mash of fruit and a light soy based sauce at the bottom of the dish. Sheer delight. The sashimi was extraordinarily fresh and tuna and sweet potato was well made. The service was warm and helpful. I will be back for the tofu.

Trattoria Cinque - Weekend Brunch and Monday Specials

On Saturdays and Sundays, Trattoria Cinque offers brunch from 11 AM to 4 PM. Choose from brunch selections like Porchetta Eggs Benedict, Panettone French Toast, and even a brunch pizza, the Pizza con Uova Strapazzate, with scrambled eggs, mozzarella and pancetta! And, how could it be called brunch without a bloody mary? There are 5 signature bloody marys at Trattoria Cinque, of course!

If you, somehow, miss the weekend brunch, don't fret. Monday nights Trattoria Cinque offers Peroni and Pie Mondays. From 5 PM- 10 PM enjoy the artisanal pizza of your choice with 2 Peronis for $20.

Pizza con Speck & Funghi: speck, mushroom, mozzarella
Pizza con Gorgonzola e Pere: pears, gorgonzola, white truffle oil
Pizza Margherita: tomato, mozzarella, basil, evoo
Pizza con Lardo: fresh rosemary, mozzarella, lard from Colonnata, Italy
Pizza Margherita con Anchovies: tomato, mozzarella, Sicilian salt-cured anchovies, basil, evoo

Trattoria Cinque - Now Open!

Five is the magic number.

The new Trattoria Cinque's menu showcases "the five best of everything in Italian cuisine, masterfully prepared yet rustic and homemade". Each section of the menu showcases five options capturing the essence of Italian fare as interpreted by Chef Mirco Grassini- and nothing is over $25! There has been some buzz about this affordable, new Italian fave at 363 Greenwich Street. You can read more on Thrillist or you can simply check out the menu, bring your five best friends and buon appetito!

Locanda Verde Rocks

Locanda Verde seems to have all the elements in place for success- Robert De Niro, chef Andrew Carmellini, designer Ken Friedman... there's just so much to talk about! Click to see what Restaurant Girl has to say in NY Daily News.

Taste of Tribeca Newcomer- Bar Artisanal

Today's the day! Taste of Tribeca 2009 will be on Duane and Greenwich from 11:30- 3:00 today! Another of our readers has written a recommendation of one of this year's newcomers- Bar Artisanal. Happy Eating!

A foodie friend invited me to Bar Artisanal the week it opened. Chef Brennan was in the house and stopping by the tables. What did I like best? This is a tough one. Pristine scallops lightly dressed in citrus and jalapeno. One scallop remained to be divided among the four of us--it was so good we cut it into 4 tiny wedges. Then, there's the cheese. If Artisanal is doing something with cheese, just order it. The mushroom flatbread (can't really call it pizza) might have won my heart. It was drizzled with white truffle honey. I confess to taking more than my share. The room is open and airy. It was hopping with people happy to welcome this uptown chef to Tribeca. Bar Artisanal is a great fit for the neighborhood.

Kori

Another offering from The Forklifter:

Tucked away on a quite stretch of Church Street is Kori, a great oasis for Korean cooking. You won't find the table-top grills here (but I'm always wary of having to do that much work when I'm eating out--the novelty wears off quickly). We stopped into Kori for lunch the other day to discover a great bargain and a newly redecorated space. First off, a bowl of steaming savory broth is brought to your table when you sit down. The lunch special is generous bento-box style. I opted for the smoky spicy chicken, which was as promised. There were dumplings, salad, noodles and rice. Ten bucks. And there were several variations. My favorite part of the meal might have been their special fruited iced drinks- incredibly refreshing and loaded with slices of asian citrus Yuzu. Perfect counterpart to the cuisine and the muggy days that await us.

Petrarca Cucina e Vino- Outdoor Seating!

A Taste of Tribeca reader (and dedicated citizen!) starts off the day at jury duty and ends it with an enjoyable meal (outdoors) at Petrarca Cucina e Vino. It is, quite possibly, the happiest jury duty tale ever told:

I was in the area serving jury duty and was released early. Deciding to celebrate a little, I set off towards a lunch in the sunshine since it was a gorgeous Spring day. After wandering into TriBeCa I saw this place as I neared Canal Street. It had outdoor seating along the sidewalk and a nice lunch menu - salads, individual pizzas, pastas, a burger etc, and also a wine list that sold a vast and interesting array of 1/4 bottles (Italian mostly.) Exactly what I was looking for! A friendly, very pretty waitress sat me outdoors at a table (I was solo), which was along a row of them that wrapped around the corner. Soon I was brought water, delicious crusty bread and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and menus. I got the lunch omelette - goat cheese and herbs, and a 1/4 bottle of a delicious white wine which I think was called Tribbiano. The omelette was perfectly prepared - fluffy and light, and it came with perfectly crispy french fries and a small salad. Sitting there, people watching, enjoying the weather and the food and wine, I practically felt like I was in Europe (although the view of the iron front buildings is pure NYC). I had a very nice lunch, the service was very good, and the prices seemed fair. The only nit pick I would have is that you can only buy wine by the 1/4 bottle - but hey that's no big deal! Recommended!

Arqua- Classic Cooking

Restaurant lovers searching for good Italian food take heart! Arqua has won the heart of one of our readers:

Once we arrived, our biggest problem was trying to decide what to have. The selections were all great (as usual). We helped to solve our dilemma by tasting each other’s orders. The food is prepared in a classic method, nothing trendy about it at all. And for me, that is a big plus! So many times, I’ll read the ingredients listed on the menu in a particular dish at other restaurants and all is great until there is that one, wacky ingredient that never before appeared in, say, pasta primavera. I believe a chef is expected to demonstrate creativity but, for me, classics can only be improved by the quality of the ingredients. And the quality at Arqua is among the highest. The venue lends itself to relaxed dining and good conversation – the hallmarks of the Italian dining experience. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the wines and suggested a great one to go with our meal. All in all, an unforgettable dinner. We’re still taking about it!

Le Pain Quotidien- Most Eco-Friendly Fast Food!

Le Pain Quotidien, which has a Tribeca location at 81 West Broadway, was written up on Your Daily Thread, an LA based site promoting green living. Apparently, Le Pain Quotidien is eco-friendly! Click here to read more.

Firefighter Chef at M1-5

Need to find the right place to go on your next Night Out? One of our readers had a great girl's night out experience and decided to share the details:

Went to M1-5 for a girls night out and had a really good time. The chef is a NY City Firefighter who won the Iron Skillet Contest and has appeared on Martha Stewart. We also got to meet Serge, the owner. They have a great bar menu and if you go you absolutely have to try Nanny's Mini Rice Balls and the Pulled Pork Sliders and the Sweet Potato Fries. The place is huge and they have various drink specials. They rent the place out for events, so if you want to have an office party, birthday party, happy hour they can set up a custom experience you would be sure to love. I can't say enough good things about the place - just go and enjoy, you won't be disappointed!!

Jerry's on Chambers Street

After Jerry's on Prince Street was shuttered to make room for a Michael Kors store, owner Jerry Joseph took an 18-month hiatus to recharge. Now he's back with Jerry's Café in Tribeca, and loyal fans of his cobb salad, mango chicken salad, and Dutch eggs with ham and gouda are flocking to the new locale. Manager Toi Tracy is thrilled that despite the relocation, seats are filled with "all the old faces Jerry's known for over 20 years," plus a new brand of tourists—the folks buying Prince Street brands at Century 21 prices. Besides homey staples like burgers, BLTs and mac-'n'-cheese, the Middle Eastern mezze plate, pan fried pork dumplings and scallop carbonara pasta add an international flair. Like the old joint, prices are kept in check and the atmosphere is classic with a little hip thrown in for good measure.

Landmarc's New Spring Menu

The pleasures of spring; a day without a jacket, blooming trees, daffodils and a new spring menu from Landmarc. Who wouldn't want a warm goat cheese profiteroles with herb and roasted red pepper salad? Salmon tartar? How about roasted rabbit with warm potato salad, capers and a mustard vinaigrette? Click here to see the new menu.

More Easter in Tribeca

There are so many options for Easter dining in Tribeca that it may be hard to decide where to go. One might entertain the idea of going for Easter brunch, taking a brief nap, then heading out for Easter Dinner!

Tribeca Grill is offering a special Easter prix fixe menu featuring 3 courses for both brunch and dinner. In addition, they are offering a special menu for children 12 and under to keep your finicky ones happy, too. You might find yourself tempted by Seared Sea Scallops with Morel & Asparagus Risotto, Black Truffle Vinaigrette or perhaps Black Trumpet Dusted Rack of Colorado Lamb with Mascarpone Polenta, Broccoli Rabe & Merguez Sausage? Personally, I am looking forward to the Raspberry Financier with Pistachio Anglaise & Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream!

Easter in Tribeca

Several Taste of Tribeca restaurants are offering Easter specials. Among the many Easter options is Chanterelle, which will be providing diners with an elegant destination in Tribeca for holiday celebrations.

In addition to chef David Waltuck’s classic and Easter-appropriate dishes on the menu such as Rack of Lamb in Cumin Salt Crust and Ravioli of Spring Greens with Tomato Butter, he will be preparing a special (surprise) holiday entrée for both his tasting and a la carte menus. Pastry chef Kate Zuckerman will be crafting decadent house-made chocolate ganache Easter eggs in lieu of her truffles, which will be offered complimentary to diners on Sunday.

Brick Oven Habit

A dedicated reader gives us the scoop on a new restaurant:

The other night, we stopped into Warren Street's new wine and antipasti bar called Brick. Actually, I think it's called Brick because they also have a great selection of brick-oven pizza. I had the Calabrese with all the stuff I love like olives and onions--a nice crispy crust too (NY pizza is sometimes too prone to flopping when you pick it up). There's a huge selection of pastas and panni sandwiches. Very strong wine and cheese selection too. Family friendly and free delivery. I think I hear a habit forming...

Rosanjin

One of our readers was kind enough to alert us to an exciting new menu at Rosanjin. It is called Ju Bako and it is "for when one doesn't have time for a two hour dinner but still feels like giving oneself a refreshing gift." The Ju Baku experience offers a tempting array of items such as Temari Sushi, Grilled Yellow Tail, and Steamed Gabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) among others. This is from our good friend:

I love this place. I have had one of the most extravagant dinners of my life here and have also had an event catered and am amazed by the quality of the food and the presentation. I just received an e-mail alert about a new offering at Rosanjin and cannot wait to try it out. Check out this special offer:

The name of this special menu is Ju Bako : ten boxes, because only ten of them are offered a day.

*Ju Bako requires a reservation and a full payment at least a day in advance.

*Ju Bako is $28 per order, not including beverage, gratuity and tax.

*Reservation for Ju Bako is available only from 6pm to 7pm

For further information or to make a reservation, call 212-346-0664.