Dan Shapiro

Grotta Azzurra

177 Mulberry Street

NY NY

Times are tough, especially in the restaurant business. Saturday night in Little Italy and there were many empty tables. Grotta Azzurra was doing only slightly better than some other restaurants on Mulberry Street. And the reason is SERVICE.

The most frustrating thing is to try to contact your waiter when the restaurant is empty and your waiter is talking to other waiters, but not at Grotta Azzurra. Our waiter was attentive and when he didn't know the answer, he got back to us immediately. The plates came out on time and in good order and in a romantic restaurant that is important.

The décor of Grotta Azzurra is simple and classic, dark wood and white tiles, you are immediately transported a classic Italian restaurant, large displays of famous Italian sculptures dominate the dining room.

The menu is large at Grotta Azzurra and the portions are even larger. The Calamari was tender and not greasy, the salad had plenty of Radicchio, and the Filletto di Pompadori, homemade parpadelle with tomato sauce, cheese, pancetta and onions was immense and superb.

Grilled Vegetables were nicely done and the Shrimp Oreganata was just so. Alas, the Veal in my Saltimbocca was tough; the sauce was the same as the di Pompadori and while good this is a big no, no.

The decaf cappuccino and the decaf espresso to die for. Dessert was a blueberry cake with real blueberries and ice cream, Yum!

Dinner for two $110

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Bollinger's Family Restaurant

282 Main Street Farmingdale, NY

(516) 501-4990

Approx hrs 8:00a.m. -10:00p.m.

There is a mythical place in American culture called "the malt shoppe". It is where teenagers come after school to safely meet, giggle and gossip. It is where old men come to have their morning coffee and announce their continued existence to their long time friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, there is no such place in NYC. We are all to hurried, or to scared of perverts to allow our urban children to participate in this rite of passage. Also real estate is too valuable to allow a malt shoppe parking and the space it needs.

By accident, I stumbled across a malt shoppe; it is Bollinger's in Farmingdale, NY. It is clean and perky and some of the waitresses actually have pigtails and smile. Bollinger's serves burgers, ice cream, malts, egg creams and finger food. The only concession to the modern world is wraps and selection of packaged herb teas. The food is simple, but fresh. You can actually see them cutting up your salad instead of scooping it out of a plastic bag. The servings are large and the décor is brand new 1950's! Bollinger's is not for sophisticated dining, but it is a "blast from the past" and it will bring a smile to your face without giving you heartburn

Lunch for two is $35 including tip.

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A Vegetarian Feast at a meat restaurant-A Restaurant Review

Tanoreen

7704 Third Avenue,

Brooklyn, NY 11209

718 748 5600

There are a lot of small ethnic restaurants in Brooklyn, some are better than others, but occasionally one stands out. Tanoreen is a Middle Eastern Jewel in Bay Ridge. A storefront, with rather indistinguishable decor you could easily miss Tanoreen.

However, there is something special going on inside - the Food. More particularly the appetizers, yes, you can get kabobs at Tanoreen, while tasty, they are commonplace.

What I am proposing, is a dinner made of their hot and cold appetizers, sort of a Middle Eastern Smorgasbord. With a spread of Baba Ghanoujh, Cauliflower Salad, Tabbouleh, Vegetarian Grape Leaves for starters with wedges of Pita bread, you can satisfy your palate without damaging your wallet or arteries.

But I am not finished; your second course should be the hot appetizers, i.e., Sambosek- a Middle Eastern Samosa, and Falafel.

If your still hungry, and I doubt it. The Eggplant Napoleon is delight to the eye and the taste buds. Slices of crispy eggplant layered with Baba Ghanoujh and topped with tomato basil salad.

Perhaps, the most surprising thing about this feast is that no item exceeds $9!!!

Warning on weekend nights Tanoreen is packed, sometimes reservations work, not always and parking, well parking is ..... After all this is Bay Ridge

For more see www.ditmasestates.com

Casa Calamari

8602 Third Avenue

718-921-1900

I hate warming trays!

When I walk into a restaurant for the first time and I see warming tray, my first reaction is to walk out. Foods left sitting in warming trays loose all texture and remind me a very bad junior high school cafeteria.

Casa Calamari has warming trays as you come in and all I wanted to do was walk out! But, my friends persisted and my health insurance is still in effect so I said o.k.

The décor is simple and clean, sort of an office workers lunch place. The service was friendly and actually knowledgeable. There is some confusion in that there are at least three Casa Calamari's in Brooklyn. I do not know if they are related.

What surprised me was the food! If you are careful to order the daily specials, not on the warming trays, the food is actually good.

The Lasagna was fresh and plentiful. It needed a little more seasoning, maybe some oregano.

You can tell if Lasagna has been sitting, the edges dry up and the sauce de-emulsifies (there is a reddish water on the plate). My bet was that the sauce was made fresh and maybe even with real tomatoes (I found real tomatoes seeds in the sauce).

The calamari and linguini was also good although I like mine to have some more heat and again the portions were large and inexpensive.

Main courses are about $ 12; there is a three course dinner menu with a glass of wine for $25.

If you can find a parking space in Bay Ridge, Casa Calamari will do nicely.

for more see www.ditmasestates.com