Trip report - Brooklyn and Manhattan eating (nothing terribly fancy)

[Sze in Budapest]

Brooklyn:
Prime Meats - Great ambience, lovely braised beef.

Alma - Prawn ceviche out of this world. Fajitas tender and juicy. Fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline on the roof.

Frankie's 457 - The ricotta and tomato gnocchi was a good example of simple is sometimes best. Ravioli in parmesan soup a little sweet for my taste. Linguini with fava beans excellent. Would've liked to try the sandwiches but they'd run out of bread. Also, I'm mystified as to why they have such a large waiting area in the back - why not turn them into tables? Lack of staff?

Buttermilk Channel - Went for brunch. I had the ABC grilled cheese - smoky and interesting. The pecan pie french toast looked like cake! Service is fast and furious.

Cafe Luluc - On a friend's recommendation, I had the pancakes, and must agree they redefine pancakes for me. Cake-like in the middle and crispy around the edges.

Grimaldi's - Queued for about an hour. Pizza was good, though I think when you've waited a long time your expectations are rather high. It's freezing in there; do they blast the air-con to make sure you eat and get out of there pronto?

Zaytoon's - I loved the lentil soup.

Cobble Hill Coffee Shop - Everyone really friendly, and great home fries (they must fry it in bacon fat or something, right? It tastes so wonderfully meaty).

Pacifico - Great open space at the back to while away the afternoon on happy hour margaritas and nachos.

Manhattan (mostly Asian):
Ippudo - WOW best ramen I've had outside of Japan. We tried the classic (first one listed on the menu) and the one in pork and chicken broth; after being subjected to so many noodle soups that taste more or less the same, it's so refreshing to have totally different flavours in the broths. Would definitely have gone more often if not for the thought of the queue.

Congee Village - Don't have the xiao long bao. But the preserved egg and salted chicken congee bubbling in a claypot really hit the spot.

Saigon Bakery - Those Vietnamese sandwiches are ginormous. We had the chicken and pork; I liked the chicken better, though the pork 'jerky' was good too. Funny that I was never impressed with bahn mi in Vietnam itself, but it's got more pizazz here.

Pastis - Provencal scallops lovely but so heavy. I could hardly get through the rest of the meal. Not sure I would order the lobster sandwich again; the lobster got lost in the focaccia and peppers. Very lively atmosphere; a nice start to a night out.

Red Egg - Average dim sum I'd say, though the lamb and pork ribs were good. It's also weird that a dim sum place wouldn't have congee!

Nyonya - Respectable Malaysian fare. Kangkung belacan the first time better than the second. Fish head curry and Hainanese chicken pretty good, as was the fried egg with oysters. Wouldn't get the satay again. Curry mee with yong tau foo satisfied my laksa craving but really, the best laksa I've had in recent memory is in Bon Ton in Langkawi, Malaysia, and nothing comes close.

Wonjo - We ordered bibimbap, a soupy beef dish and a spicy tofu dish (sorry a friend ordered and I don't remember the names!) - all good. Paying the bill became a debacle of sorts, however. There was some confusion about some people paying cash, and some cards, and the tip got lost in translation. It ended fine, but really I have no idea still what the problem was.

Places I didn't get to: Sripraphai, Fatty Crab (has anyone mentioned that this is the name of a pretty well-known no-frills seafood place in PJ and Klang in Malaysia?), Shabu Tatsu, Lucali's.