sammy's noodles is pretty dependable. i even make them deliver all the way to me in the east village.

Does anyone know where I can buy sugar skulls for Day of the Dead?

winebar is overrated, overpriced, and selection is mediocre. try:

bar veloce (always a great standby for dates and such)
grape and grain (great ambience, great music, nice people)
jadis (great space, small but nicely selected wine list)
the tasting room
tarallucci e vino (there's one on 18th and one over on 1st ave, both are really mellow cute spaces, with nice food and nice selection of italian wines)

tarallucci e vino, 18th bet 5th and broadway.
yummy!

i'm a fan of all of the above....

by the way, the tenders at death&co are totally into 'custom' cocktails too. they will do whatever, just talk to them!

if you get there on the early side, there is a good chance you could at least sit at one of the bar area tables. and actually, the babbo bar is one of the most pleasant bars to dine at in the city. and the bartenders are very gracious hosts. so it wouldn't be such a bad thing!

that said....i've had my best dining luck on mem day weekend and fourth of july....because everyone has fled elsewhere. so your chances are better this weekend than most other weekends.

to the above inquiry, yes mudtruck offers soy options.

9th street espresso is definately among my favorites. they just opened a new location in the front of center stage company on 13th between 3rd and 4th. (yes, its still called 9th street espresso)

starbucks always tastes bad to me. it always tastes a little bit burnt, or metallic, or dirty or something. but, everyone has different tastes. union square options for avoiding starbucks, tisserie or even whole foods upstairs.

i had an outstanding dinner at chubo on clinton last night. i found it to be a great atmosphere, and really nicely done menu and wine list. intimate, but not so dark you can't see each other. very nice.

coffee. my faves are:
oren's - many locations
domo - west village
9th ave espresso (on 13th between 3rd and 2nd ave)

lil frankies, la pizza fresca, otto for $10ish brick oven pizzas.
il buco for lunch serves great panini's under $10 each.
bar veloce also $10 and under panini.

perhaps upstairs at beacon.

hearth and perilla get my votes.

i've had more inconsistent meals at cru. one time i remember all of the food across the board being way too salty. don't get me wrong, i eat there alot and love it. but for me, i've had more magnificent actual food at hearth. i wish they still had the sea urchin with celery root soup. i still get cravings for it! by the way the crudo app at hearth is way better than the hamachi at cru. last time i was there, our group ordered seconds....after our entrees!!

landmarc time warner center.
lupa, back room.
inoteca, downstairs.
insieme, (i think they open their private room on the 1st of june)

Eleven Madison Park over Per Se any night of the week. Food and wine are exquisite and service better with less pretense.

Babbo is really great. If you haven't already, its wonderful.

My underdog in town is Hearth. The food is absolutely magnificent, great wine list and exceptional service. The appetizers were so good, that my group ordered a second round of apps!!

veritas and emp are amazing.

BEST octopus in town.....perhaps the world.
mint love letters, and pumpkin lune are terrific.
really, you can't go very wrong, whatever leaves you salivating is what you should order.

the pastry chef is ridiculously great! if they still have the rosemary cake on the menu, its delightful. savory + sweet :)

hearth, cookshop, il buco are my current favorites. i had a REALLY delicious dinner at la pizza fresca the other night.

oh, how could i forget! love the kale and seaweed dish.

love tisserie! i have to stop myself from eating 3 meals a day there.
pain quotidien is always dependable.
i've had a nice sandwich or two at wichcraft on 20th.
also second tarallucci e vino, dinner there is also super.

pong also just opened up, and the "insiders" are saying good things about it.
i would definately second, third, and fourth degustation. be sure to call ahead.

i also had an unbelievable experience. the chef is clearly incredibly talented.
we started with a half bottle of champagne at the bar....perfect start to the evening.
i highly recommend the fern/truffle ravioli, and the shrimp entree. both desserts that my table shared where UNREAL. the goat cheese tart and the choco-cake. i don't know where they found their pastry chef, but best desserts i've had in a long time!

i booked my next table before i left the restaurant.

I am a huge fan of EMP and CRU -- the main (very attractive) draw to cru is of course their epic wine list and extensive cellar of older vintages of burgundy and piedmont wines. If you are a wine geek, or want to be one....by all means it is a truly great experience. I would also recommend my underdog, Hearth. who's food (as much as it breaks my heart to say a bad word against cru) is much better. the wine list is very well put together with some awesome stuff, only not quite as extensive.

EMP all the way!! the food is truly amazing, new chef is a superstar!!

i'd skip casa mono.
second pure food and wine.
would add: la pizza fresca (east 20)
friend of a farmer (irving and 18?)

la pizza fresca - e. 20s
tried this one for the first time last week...awesome!!

lupa - west soho
frank - 2nd ave bet 5th and 6th

sfoglia is super. also a fan of etats-unis.

landmark time warner center has 2 private rooms which seat up to 150 people each. they also have AV capabilities.....in case you want them!

tour on 15th street and 7th ave. really good food, nice atmosphere, open late so they won't be hussling you out the door. nice wait staff, good wines by the glass. and if its a warm evening, you might be able to nab a sidewalk seat.

i love that place, despite what they say.

its best to order small plates family style and pass them. their small plates are their stregth.

great wine list too.