TENTAZIONE PANINI FROM VIA QUADRONNO

The Tentazione panini from Via Quadronno on the Upper East Side is another standout sandwich in the restaurant's arsenal.  On their fresh baked bread, shrimp, arugula, and smoked mozzarella is wrapped in prosciutto.  The prosciutto and shrimp balance each other out well and the smoked mozzarella adds a nice creaminess along with the crunch of the arugula.  At $13.50, I'd expect that the sandwich would be damn good; but you'd be hard-pressed to find such quality ingredients for less.  Dine-in or grab a panini to go since Central Park is just around the corner.


VIA QUADRONNO
25 East 73rd. Street
between Madison & 5th Ave.
New York City, NY 10021
Phone: 212.650.9880
http://viaquadronno.com

PIG'S HEAD CUBAN SANDWICH FROM CANNIBAL

Cover your eyes vegetarians, the pig's head Cuban sandwich from Cannibal in the Flatiron area might just be your worst nightmare and a carnivore's dream.  Slow roasted pig's head is chopped up and spread over house smoked ham, creamy gruyere cheese and pickles to make the most innovative Cuban you've probably ever had.  The beer list at Cannibal is just as impressive as their array of meats.  The sandwich pared really well with a Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse.  And if pig's head ain't your thing, they have plenty of sausage and kielbasa platters to choose from as well.

CANNIBAL BEER & BUTCHER
113 29th St.
212.686.5480
http://thecannibalnyc.com/ 
 

KOBE BEEF BURGER FROM ZAITZEFF

Ah, Kobe beef burgers.  There's definitely some extra flavor going on with Kobe beef that's akin to crack.  The meat is juicier, more flavorful, and doesn't feel as heavy in your stomach after regular beef.  Zaitzeff is the place to go for a reasonably priced 1/4 pound Kobe burger at $9.25.  It's topped with the lettuce, tomato and caramelized onions, but a Portuguese muffin is substituted in place of a standard bun.  The muffin holds up well with the greasy patty and has a sweetness that gives the burger a nice balance.  Add some kick-ass sweet potato fries and you have a good lunch at any of their locations.

ZAITZEFF BURGERS
Murray Hill, Financial District and East Village Locations
http://zaitzeff.com/

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI FROM ETHOS

Ethos is a standout Greek restaurant in Murray Hill.  Their thalazomezes appetizer, which is a mixture of char-grilled octopus, calamari, and shrimp, is always a good choice.  But if you're looking for a just simple souvlaki at $7.00, then Ethos will deliver.  The worst crime in a souvlaki is dry over-cooked chicken, but Ethos makes theirs moist and flavorful with a blend of spices.  Even though it's sacrilegious, I'm not a tzatziki fan and prefer the sandwich with Melitzanosalta, a blend of whipped eggplant with herbs.  

ETHOS RESTAURANT

• 495 3rd Ave, New York 10016
• (Btwn 33rd & 34th St)
• Subway Directions

(212) 252-1972


http://www.ethosrestaurants.com/

POACHED SALMON ON A BAGUETTE

Westville Restaurant is a solid, upscale diner in Alphabet City.  I've usually only gotten their burgers on a Portuguese muffin, but this last time I decided to try their poached salmon on a baguette.  Instead of the standard lemon dill dressing, I got a homemade chipolte mayo instead.  While nothing was wrong with the sandwich per se, nothing was exciting about it either.  Who only puts lettuce on a sandwich with nothing else?  Give me tomatoes, or caramelized onions, or something else for $10 bucks.  I will say that Westville's fries are fantastic and pretty much make up for a snoozefest of a sandwich.  The fries are greasy, and crispy, and impossible to eat just one.

Westville Restaurant (East)
173 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Corner of 11th Street
Phone: 212-677-2933, 212-677-2033
Daily 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
http://www.westvillenyc.com/

VEGGIE BURGER AT FIVE NAPKIN

In the past few years, Five Napkin locations have sprouted up in NYC and all over the country.  Their burgers are solid.  Burger Joint, Shake Shack and even Five Guys have the edge on them for an upgraded fast food burger, but their veggie burger is definitely one of the best in the city.  Since I'm mostly a carnivore, if I'm eating a veggie burger it has to have some substance.  Five Napkin's beet-heavy patty more than makes up for the loss of meat.  Piled high with lettuce, tomatoes, bread and butter pickles, and their 5N Sauce (basically thousand island dressing), the burger is moist and flavorful.  The taste of beets is definitely present, but even if you're not a beet fan this burger might turn you into one.  Add some shoestring fries and you have a solid lunch or dinner.  The only veggie burger in the city that I'd rate higher would be Hillstone's, another beet-rich patty that's a drop crispier and thicker.

Multiple Locations
http://5napkinburger.com/

MILANESE AT VIA QUADRONNO

If you're on the Upper East Side and have a hankering for the kind of panini you'd get in Northern Italy, then Via Quadronno is the place for you.  They have an all day menu of about two dozens special sandwiches that range from paninis with wild boar prosciutto, to a smoked ham with three cheeses and tabasco.  The Milanese is one of their stand-outs.  Generously filled with bresaola (air-cured beef), rucola, and hearts of palm, the sandwich is as rich and luxurious as its $13.50 price tag; but it's filling and decadent enough to eat as a once-in-a-while treat.  The bresaola is juicy and flavorful and contrasts well with the spicy rucola and tangy hearts of palm.  They have a full dinner menu as well, which I assume is just as good as their paninis.

VIA QUADRONNO
25 East 73rd. Street
between Madison & 5th Ave.
New York City, NY 10021Phone: 212.650.9880

Email: info@VQNYC.com