Mercat

was utterly, utterly disappointing. this resto is like a very handsome foreigner. then you sleep with him and find yourself dissatisfied.

the the bread rubbed with tomato was tasty. it was the only thing that was worth $4. the jamon serrano was too salty. the mao cheese was nice, as was the small bunch of grapes and the quince paste. the calamarcet was too salty. the fideus was outright fishy. and the tortilla was abysmal, i have no idea what caramelized onions were doing in there. they were too sweet.

the wines were lovely, the room was lovely, but really, you can't eat ambience.

Tournesol

I love eating dinner at 5:30.

The sauteed calamari was paired with beets, which was an unusual combination. Both were tasty, although not necessarily together.

The hake was nice but the presentation was a bit strange. It may have fared better in one of those shallow bowls instead of a flat dinner plate. It felt precarious to eat.

The texture of my hangar was weird. The best way I can describe it is that it seemed pan seared for a minute and then nuked. The meat was gray. I was a bit leary.

The frites were unspectacular. Not crazy about shoestring.

blt fish

all the blts have an excellent starter bread situation in this case a very garlicky roll with melted cheddar. briny oysters. mussels shoestring fries excellent calamari. The jonah crab legs were mealy. Lobster rolls had chopped sweet pickle I think and I quite liked the bread on the lobster roll, even though I also love a soft hot dog roll.

Room4Dessert

Worth every calorie. Intelligent dessert.

Had a chocolate financier with grapefruit goo, apple galette, cold chocolate on a stick, some kind of chocolate goo with a chocolate tuile spoon thing. And petit fours. Divine.

I don't ever want to order dessert anywhere else again.

READ THIS AND STOP AKSING ME: Memorable Food in NYC

A list of the foods that I have, or I would, order again and again:

1) The wings at the now defunct Taku, Boerum Hill
2) Pizza at Lombardi's, Nolita
3) Cheeseburger with "The Works" and fries at Burger Joint/Hamburger with the pickle and fries at P.J. Clarke's, Midtown
4) Ramen with Berkshire Pork at Momofuku, East Village
5) Sul Long Tang and kimchi at Gam Mee Ok, K-Town
6) Pork and Chive Dumplings at The Good Fork, Red Hook
7) Chicago Dog at Shake Shack, Flatiron/a hot dog from Walter's in Mammaroneck
8) Miso soup at Hasaki, East Village
9) Fish or pork taco at La Esquina, Nolita
10)Bagels at Murray's Bagels, West Village

Finally. The Little Owl.

The Little Owl
thelittleowlnyc.com
90 Bedford St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 741-4695

It was tasty.
The bathroom was adorable. Rick James on the wall. An unusual faucet.
There was no wait, because we ate at the bar at 645.
I had a big glass of cava.
The meatballs sliders were delicious.
The porkchop was probably 3" thick, and perfect.
I get it.
I can't wait to go back and not be let down.