sips and nibbles

Some samplings of the nosh-spots I've visited the past couple of weeks:

Suspiciously quiet on Third Ave between 18th and 19th Streets is Ponty Bistro, which touts French, African and Mediterranean fusion cuisine on their website. The art on the walls signal a Moroccan vibe and funky orange pillows decorate the booth seats. Once for an after work snack I ordered their cheese plate and a kick-in-the-mouth martini. Their daily special is 2-for-1 (though at $12 it's more like 2-for-2) and they come in intriguing flavors: ginger, chocolate, passion fruit, raspberry, and apple. I've also been to Sunday brunch, where the talented/sexy duo Across Madison performs original tunes with trusty guitar and flute. I ordered the scrambled bruschetta (eggs on French baguette with goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and basil pesto), which was filling and fantastic. It came with warm hashed potatoes that they called home fries. Mr. Daniel got the maple crushed French toast that came with a sweet sugary Nutella. We were both happy and chewing and listening and smiling. The prices are fair but a bit high at dinner. My only complaint about the brunch bill was the $3 per cup of tea. Really? Oh, and Dan saw a cute little mouse under a table.

Last week I met Dan's Gram and Gramps for lunch at Jackson Hole, which is apparently a dive bar by night and decent Murray Hill burger place by day. Patty (aka Grandpa) worked up in the 40's for Bell Atlantic back when that was still around and he's been bugging me about this place since I've started working in the city two years ago. We met at the Third Ave joint, and it was just as Patty remembered: cramped, noisy, but extremely friendly and yummy. Both grandparents indulged in the daily special: cheeseburger and fries, while I chose a mushroom, broccoli, and onion sandwich with cheese. It was warm and steamy on a toasted bun, but I had to eat it like a casserole with a fork and knife. We were all fat and happy.

On a whim Shakira and I stopped at the Belmont Lounge on Irving near Union Square for a TGIF happy hour session. Inside it was sort of dark and intimidating, but Rihanna was on the speakers, so it was all good. we were seated outside in the "garden" that had to be navigated with care as it was crowded with twenty-somethings and flimsy wire tables. Happy hour specials included the basics: house wine, draft beer and well drinks. We each got a glass of Merlot and split the spinach & artichoke dip and root vegetable fries. The dip was cheesy, thick and irresistible. The fries were so-so; more like flavored, sticks of fried air. Service was a little slow and hard to grab as waitresses slipped in and out of the "garden"--only visible for a few precious seconds. We were presented with another round of drinks by accident because the "waiter doesn't speak English", and they were hastily taken off our table when I said we didn't order them. You just don't do that with wine--cheap or not!