State College with young people

For special meals Harrison's is our new favorite. It is in the Hilton Garden Inn, not the best room in town but the food is high quality. Lots of choices on the menu.

We like Cozy Thai, Herwigs and Faccia Luna as well but none are all that special.

Another suggestion is Spats, decent food, fun atmosphere (kind of a speakeasy) and it has the plus of being downtown, so you can see the sites/action on College Avenue in the evening.

mb luvs SBH in Pennsylvania

Some Suggestions Needed Please

Thanks Kathryn, Amy's looks perfect.

Any thoughts on the dinner?

mb luvs SBH in Manhattan

Some Suggestions Needed Please

Thanks....maybe I wasn't clear that the coffee/light bite was for breakfast. We plan to eat light in the AM and then do a lunch/brunch later in the day.

mb luvs SBH in Manhattan

Some Suggestions Needed Please

We are coming to NYC in a few weeks for my birthday and are looking for a few suggestions. We get to the city about 3-4 times per year so are somewhat familiar but always looking for the next great place!

Wondering if there are any good place for coffee and a light bite in the area near the hotel (8th Ave and 44th St)? Or near the MOMA, as we are planning to see the Diego Rivera exhibit first thing Saturday AM.

Also I would like to do Italian for my birthday dinner on Saturday night. Thinking maybe a pasta tasting menu (husband will have to go along b/c its my big day LOL!) I've looked at Babbo, Scarpetta, Ciano, and Ai Fiori. Favorites? And do you recommend the wine pairings?

Last question is about reservations. Most places seem to be 30 days out correct? But Babbo is a month prior to the day. Just want to make sure I have it right, once I settle on a place.

Thanks!

mb luvs SBH in Manhattan

State College--never found a good restaurant!!!

We live here and agree there are not too many good places and none that are "upscale." Stick with ethnic or mid-range. Facia Luna is good for wood-fired pizzas and some of their pastas are decent. We eat at My Thai frequently and have had some decent dishes at Fuji Jade Garden next store too. Spats is OK and the Corner Room has decent sandwiches.

Harrison's gets good reviews but we haven't eaten there in years.

The Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks is probably doing some of the best and most consistent food in the area but its about 15 miles out of town in Milheim.

mb luvs SBH in Pennsylvania

Restaurant Suggestion in a Fun Area

Thanks again for all the suggestions, especially what to order at Etete. We are definitely going on Saturday with a bar tour of 14th and U St before and after.

We might hit Alexandria on Saturday afternoon and are thinking of lunch at The Majestic.

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Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

mb luvs SBH in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Restaurant Suggestion in a Fun Area

Thanks to all for the many suggestions. Both Masa 14 and Estadio look great but since we we are doing Jaleo on Wednesday I thought it would be too similar. I love Greek but it looks like Zaytia would be small plates as well....

Since we basically live in a culinary desert in terms of both quality and choice I was hoping for something unusual and fun. If it was just me, I would definitely do Ethiopian so that is what I am leaning towards. Many suggestions for Etete...would that be a good choice for first-timers? We will need lots of guidance in ordering. Alnd do I need a reservation?

Finally, is Church Key connected to Birch & Barley? I am holding a 7:00 PM reservation for Birch & Barley but am not thrilled with the time. I have heard good things but was looking for something different.

Again, thanks for all of the help so far!

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Masa 14
1825 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

mb luvs SBH in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Restaurant Suggestion in a Fun Area

I'm coming to DC to attend a conference with 3 colleagues. We have reservations for Jaleo (arrival night- near hotel) and Central (Friday night.) For Saturday we are hoping to go to a fun area with lots of restaurants, bars, etc to check out before and after dinner. What are your thoughts on Alexandria (Old Town), Georgetown, Dupont Circle? Close to the metro is a plus, we are staying in Crystal City.

Two of us are adventurous eaters... and the others said they are willing to try something different. I see Ethiopian is well regarded in DC, but have never tried it. Thoughts on this? Other ethnic suggestions?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

mb luvs SBH in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

St Barths in August!

Great suggestions in the above email... I will add a few thoughts. Many of our favorites are closed but you will not go hungry.

We love Santa Fe for lunch and dinner. The food is very good and the owner Manu is just wonderful. Try the tomato tart for a starter. Lunch is fun because of the views.

Eddy's is one of our favorite places on the island, its kind of an Asian/Creole fusion place. Dinner only and no reservations. The papaya salad and specials are very good. Chocolate nems for dessert are to die for. The owner's father is Marius of Le Select fame.

Harbour Saladarie has reopened for about a year in a new and very pretty location. We loved their duck breast. Nice harbor location.

We were also saddened that Au Port is gone. I will never forget dinner there after the carnival parade. It was raining but the hard core were still dancing and playing music. Le Sapotillier restaurant and tree are gone for good, its now called B4 and getting decent reviews.

Isola if you are interested in Italian food on a French island. The food gets raves but the space is more NYC than SBH. Also above Gustavia is a new and beautiful restaurant whose name I can't remember. Its expensive but has great sunset views. Used to be La Mandala....

I love the take away things from Petit Colombe, a bakery with several locations on the island (in Colombier just above Flammands, Lorient and Gustavia.) Go early for breakfast and pick up sandwiches, salads and pastries for lunch. Kiki et Mo in St Jean and Bouchon in Lorient are also good for take away, pizzas, panninis, etc.

Le Creperie is open when many places are not and has good crepes (obviously), omelets and salads.

Have a great trip, SBH is my favorite island!

mb luvs SBH in South & Central America & the Caribbean

Thanks from a Lurker!

While I don't think I posted any questions here I did read the forum regularly before our trip to Paris in late June. We ate at many recommended places and enjoyed them all. I am not good with meal details but will share where we ate and our overall impressions.

Our favorite Paris lunches were at Le Comptoir du Relais, Le Pre Verre and Le Petit Marche. We did Nicoise salads at Comptoir as it was so hot. Le Pre Verre had a lunch special of a small and succulent capon on potatoes with some kind of terrine with beans for a starter. Both were good but we ended up downstairs, which wasn't a great room. I can't remember our lunch at Petit Marche but we loved the area and sitting outside people watching was fun.

We had a great dinner at Ze Ktichen Galarie and LOVED the tasing menu at Le Gaigne (with wine pairings a true bargain.) At ZKG I had zucchini flowers with clams and a risotto with peas. My husband loved his Thai bouillon and pork noir. The tasting menu at Le Gaigne featured a sardine with avocado mousse, mushrooms and omelet with an onion relish (my fav) and pork and blood sausage (husband had mine...) Each was matched with a wine. Dessert was strawberries and chantilly cream with a strawberry liquor.

I picked up a recommendation for L'Aromatik which was near our hotel. We really liked this place for the food and local vibe. One night we were craving pizza and found Le Comedienne in the Latin Quarter. Good service and an amazing amount of food for the price.

Thanks again to all the regular posters who provide suggestions and advice. I also visited a few suggested blogs. There are so many amazing restaurants in Paris, I don't know how you keep up with them!

mb luvs SBH in France

St Barts for a week

Great suggestions above....here are some more:

For breakfast don't miss Petit Colombe bakery, several locations with amazing pastry and good lunch items for beach picnics.

A classic/don't miss lunch is a "cheeseburger in Paradise" at Le Select. The food is just OK but the atmosphere is fun.

Do Brasil has a great lunch and is on Shell Beach

Eddy's for French/Asian and Pirpiri Palace for classic French and BBQ are our two favorites for dinner on the island. They are both locally owned places.

Off the beaten path I would recommend Wishing Well (Chez Rolande) in Flammands for Creole. Cash only.

Even though the island is small you will NOT go hungry for good food!

mb luvs SBH in South & Central America & the Caribbean

St. Bart's restaurant recommendations

Correction: PaCri is still open

mb luvs SBH in South & Central America & the Caribbean

St. Bart's restaurant recommendations

La Mandala is closed....now called Bonito and its getting good reviews. Nice decor but expensive. Pretty sure PaCri is gone but I'sola is very popular if you want Italian. I also recommend the new Harbour Saladerie (yes, in the Jao location.)

mb luvs SBH in South & Central America & the Caribbean