I’m a brunch-a-holic, and the only way to trump my last recommendation, Fetch, which catered to canine’s, is to combine free drinks and live music, plus distinct dishes. Nolita House offers widely appealing specials each day, but they’re best known for their signature Boozy Bluegrass Brunch, a must-see in NYC. Take it from me, you cannot top this brunch.

Every Saturday and Sunday Nolita House has a live local bluegrass band performing from 11:30-3:30 and drinks are free with every meal. You can choose from Mimosa, Sangria, Champagne, or orange juice to accompany your lively, loud and upbeat experience. The energy this weekend was contagious enough for a party of six to order shots before noon, and I saw worse last year when SantaCon pub crawler’s stopped by.

If drinks and loud music wouldn’t draw you in, the unique menu is worth a try, especially if you’ve stuck to benedict’s and homefries every weekend. The brunch menu allows for traditional brunch options and unconventional options. After typical brunch every Saturday and Sunday

for months, my boyfriend and I were both eager to change things up. Everyone around us tried the Huevos Rancheros or the Vanilla Brandy French Toast, both of which looked tempting, but we were in the mood for eggs. I tried Mediterranean Baked Eggs over ratatouille and he got New Orleans Style Shrimp and Grits.

Both plates were unlike anything we’ve tried before. My dish was uniquely satisfying, an odd combination of tastes made perfect on flatbread. It was good enough to go outside my comfort zone and a lot prettier than scrambled eggs on a bagel. His was surprisingly good as well, and I don’t typically like grits. The shrimp was decent in size and perfectly prepared, and the grits were topped with eggs and one of three daily cheeses. Four days later he is still raving about that cheese. We paired our new finds with sangria, OJ and coffee for an odd combination we both loved.

You do have to converse loudly over the music, but it’s not impossible, and the crowd’s all the happier for it. We were sat immediately despite a packed house and squeezed into a comfy corner booth. At Nolita House you can take your time without feeling rushed, enjoy tables around you getting carried away, and leave with a full stomach. The restaurant’s decorated  to make you feel at home, and I’ve never eaten there feeling otherwise.

This location’s great if you’re downtown and want to eat before or after a Whole Foods trip or day of retail. I used to frequent the New Museum and stop by Billy’s before a wholesome meal of macaroni or pizza to recharge. I highly recommend heading that way this weekend, you’ll feel the warmth.

Location: 47 E Houston St (off Lafayette)

Prices: $30-$35 brunch for two

Contact: nolitahouse.com, 212-625-1712

Shotgun ramen.

Ramen. It is the much-lauded and decidedly un-fancy college dietary component that is as cheap as it is nutritious; while costing a mere twenty-five cents a pack (if that much), a single serving (a pack is actually two servings) boasts a whopping 36% or 861 milligrams of your daily sodium allotment. While I was known to indulge a time or two in college, I typically steered clear, opting instead for my university’s nationally-ranked, Michelin Guide-worthy food plan, replete with fresh sushi and bleu cheese crumbles by the truckload.

However, now that I’m in grad school and poorer than I’ve ever been in this incredibly expensive city, I’ve been dabbling in the wide, wide world of Ramen more than I would like to admit. But not in the way you might think.

Rather than going to my local Key Foods and stocking up by the gross, I’ve been strategically buying hefty portions of ramen (usually by the quart), laden with vegetables, my beloved Rooster Sauce and various proteins in order to keep myself satiated throughout long grad-school afternoons. Cost effective and (relatively?) nutritious, it’s also a strategy that’s kept me warm during these first few weeks of wintery weather.

Thus, when Naruto Ramen opened up in Park Slope, I was pretty pleased that I would be able to find my new dietary staple in my own ‘hood. With a shotgun-style interior, the long front room is dominated by a seat-yourself counter that wraps around a Japanese-style short order kitchen. Once saddled up on a stool of your choosing, one of the cooks will hand you a menu. For lunch, it’s as easy (literally) as “1-2-3″ with a pre-fixe menu that, for $11, lets you choose one of three ramen soups, an appetizer and a beverage (bargain!).

Knowing all too well what I was getting myself into, I opted out of the special and ordered (off the menu!) a dinner soup called TanTan (ground pork, spicy broth and fishcake) that was not unlike a Vietnamese sandwich in a bowl and a green tea.

Now, there is a technique to eating hefty portions of ramen such as this, and it goes as follows: slurp, chew, rest and repeat. Add in a third ‘r’–a bit of reading to aid in digestion–and you’re fully prepared to get the most bang for your buck. Over the course of about 45 minutes (they were probably so happy to see my arse go), I followed my foolproof method and made it most of the way through my spicy, hot and flavorful meal whilst watching the cooks deftly prepare steaming bowls for other lunch-bunchers. Overall, a highly enjoyable and filling way to spend part of an afternoon.

I do declare that I will be returning.

Location: 276 5th Ave. (between Garfield and 1st), Park Slope, Brooklyn

Nearest Subway: M/R at Union or B/Q at 7th ave.

Price: $9.50 for a bowl of ramen; $11 lunch special

Phone: (718) 832-1111

Website: n/a

I pass French Roast everyday as it’s a block from my boyfriend’s apartment. We’ve been saving it to try for brunch, but my friend Cali and I opted for proximity in this frigid weather today and gave it a shot. The corner dig draws you right in with an authentic parisian exterior. From the font on the sign to the wicker chairs sitting two-by-two at round tables, the place is adorable.

The menu is standard: soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees. We’re both sandwich girls: Cali chose turkey and cranberry sauce on rye and I chose blackened organic chicken breast on a baguette. Shamefully, we both requested fries over salad, but that is very French to be fair.

The meals weren’t spectacular, but sufficient for a lunch more about the conversation than the substance. My chicken was lean but filling and flavorful enough. Cali liked the turkey more and finished her entire sandwich, if that tells you anything. The fries and service were great and it made for a comfortable, simple lunch date.

Perks: the staff’s friendly, we ate for $11 each, there’s a full bar, and they’re open 24 hours a day. It’s easily accessible if you’re around the West Village and pretty spacious. I imagine the entrees are a bit more impressive, but they’re pricey. I say it’s worth a try, but not a must. See for yourself, especially if you’re looking for something French.

Location: 11th St & 6th Ave (also at 85th St. and Broadway)

Subways: Take the B/D/F or L to 14th St and 6th Ave

Price: $10-$15 a meal, excluding beverages

Site: www.frenchroastny.com

Nothing says you’re ahead of the holiday schedule like the Bryant Park skating rink melting in the sun today, but if you’re already itching for the Home Alone soundtrack and premature Christmas spirit like I was this weekend, stop by Rolf’s German Restaurant in Gramercy. The restaurant’s window decor alone puts Macy’s to shame and the whole interior follows suit.

Upon entering you see the room splits between a bar and dinner seating underneath an overwhelming display of evergreens. Adorned with cherubim’s, ornaments and icicles the decorations cover the entire ceiling and every wall. The bar mirrors are obstructed by a monstrous wreath and a slew of ornaments. Santa’s riding his sleigh across the room divider and angels are blowing horns from every corner. You won’t find another bar in the city as festive and decorative as Rolf’s, and the cheer is inescapable.

The menu offers a traditional German array, including plenty of Schnitzels and -wurst. I’ve only had soup to eat–a bowl of butternut squash is perfect in proportion, smooth and satisfying–but I go for the beer. The restaurant makes a separate menu specifically for Christmas, available on its website.

The bar keeps strictly German beers on tap served in large portions. (Seriously, my boyfriend and I split one.) For the holidays, everyone who stopped in tried a warm German wine served with a cinnamon stick in each glass. Both options are pricey, but worth sampling to try something different and distinctly German. The beer is strong and flavorful, and the wine is uniquely contenting. On a particularly freezing night for walking far, I was relaxed and soothed by the oddly warm, sweetened taste. The perfect amount of cinnamon made this a great late night treat.

If you’re up for a little exploring or anxious for holiday tunes Rolf’s is ideal for a brief visit. The atmosphere isn’t quite lively enough to be your main destination, but it’s a fun seasonal venture especially if you know a local German who’d appreciate it. You pay for the decor, but they’ll have you in the Christmas spirit, and it could put an end to your Bud Light streak. Happy Holidays!

Location: 22nd St & 3rd Ave

Subways: Take the 6 to 23rd or the 4/5 to 14th

Price: $12 beers, $13 holiday wine by the glass

Website: rolfsnyc.com

When I moved to this city, I learned quickly that New Yorkers take cupcakes seriously. Like, seriously seriously. As a standalone industry in the cutthroat world of baked goods, they hold quite the reputation the world over.

Magnolia was the stuff of legends with token references in Sex and the City. Two Little Red Hens–the site of my first NYC cupcake–was a game changer with its affordable behemoths and set the bar high for all ‘cakes to follow. And Crumbs has become an easy go-to with multiple locations all over the city.

The Cupcake Stop in all of its blazing, fluorescent glory.

Why these puppies hold such an allure, I’ll never know. What is certain though is that I’ve become something of an aficionado that could take any of the opinionated and well-versed Yelpers to task. Many a foodie has embarked upon this difficult journey to find the best cupcake in the city, and the aforementioned locations are well-trodden territory. I, however, will be blazing new territory, navigating the lesser-known cupcake landscape of Park Slope in my search for this neighborhood’s best.

Stop #1 is, quite appropriately, The Cupcake Stop. While it’s a shop on wheels (and the city’s first mobile cupcake shop), it’s always located outside of the New York Methodist Hospital on 7th Avenue and smack in the middle of my walk home from the subway.

While it has tempted me many a night, last night was the first time I’ve stopped. It’s uncertain to me what exactly their hours are, but I think they generally motor off around 8 when the day’s stock has been depleted. While most use the red velvet as the litmus for a shop’s overall quality, I typically go with the chocolate (in this case, ‘triple chocolate’), and they had one left for the taking at 7:55.

Like I mentioned earlier, Two Little Red Hens set sort of an unfair standard with cupcakes that could pass simply as stunted regular cakes, so this little guy looked a little lonely in his oversize container. He also got a pretty thorough shakedown, bouncing around in the bottom of my bag on the 10-block walk home; however, when I took him out, he was completely unscathed, which was a little unnerving.

The frosting certainly is something unique, and for lack of better phrasing, was as hard as a rock. I’m not sure what I would call it, but it wasn’t really frosting-like. Perhaps more like a fondant? Regardless of what the deal with its texture was, it was pretty tasty and certainly interesting. And while the cake could have been a bit moister, it wasn’t lacking in triple-chocolate flavor. In short, there was some definite potential there.

I’m going to chalk the inconsistencies up to end-of-the-day syndrome since there is always a line of people waiting to get their hands on one, and they always seem to sell out.  Moreover, it  had that homemade taste, which is refreshing in an industry laden with mass-produced impostors. On this night, I will give them a B- (and an A for effort!).

Price: $3

Hours: Er…unclear.

Nearest Subway: F/G at 7th Ave.

Phone: (718) 702-2825

Website: http://www.cupcakestop.com/

It’s only fitting for my first post to completely expose my favorite NYC eatery despite the risk of further stretching the wait. Supper, an adorable Italian go-to on the Lower East Side, is as close as I’ve come to homemade Italian since living in Florence two summer’s ago. The food is visibly and traditionally prepared directly behind bar-style seats and the ambience is warm and homey, just like Italy’s famous family-run restaurants.

I’m a sucker for the giant, hand-scripted menus, and hear each night’s specials are to die for. My favorite combo is the mozzarella and tomato starter (available on weekends, I know) with a gnocchi entree. Supper serves the best gnocchi I have ever tasted, hands down, and the mozzarella comes as a huge ball of pure cheese. The tomatoes are always fresh and the food’s served warm, right off the pan. You can watch your individual plate being prepared and will melt when you taste the pasta sauces.

I hear the brunch is great, although I’ve only gone for dinner. Supper’s the perfect spot for out-of-town guests. It’s nice, but comfortable, and distinct in a city full of checker table clothed Italian digs. It’s sister restaurants Frank and Lil’ Frankies are just as scrumptious and each unique.

I have to admit the prices are steep, I typically spend about $70 on dinner-for-two with wine, but it’s worth it for a classy night out or a special date. There are also cool rooms downstairs for big parties. I recommend reservations, but the wait is painless when taken in the bar next door. The servers are helpful recommending wine and each table is cozy and candlelit. Note: the music tends to differ from the theme, like pop stations, and it’s cash only.

156 E 2nd St. (off of Ave A)

212.477.7600

supperrestaurant.com

Open 4 pm – 12 am (1 am on Sat)

Their parents entrust me to make sure they don't die 2-3 afternoons per week.

These here are the children I babysit. We laugh, we play and we eat after-school snacks. A. (on the left) and D. (on the right) are native Brooklynites, born and raised, and have spent the entirety of their brief lives here in my humble borough. As such, they’ve procured quite the discerning palate when it comes to all things carb-y, gooey and cheesy.

Typically, we make the short trek across the street, ushered by the school crossing guard, to Pino’s La Forchetta Pizzeria at least once a week when A. has karate and is in need of some ninja fuel. They like it well enough and I appreciate it because it means I don’t have to drag an easily-distracted 5-year-old several blocks to the next-nearest pizza joint.

However, after several visits, I couldn’t help but notice that this place was always packed–and not just in the after school hours when scary groups of teenagers congregate near the front of the shop. Although I’ve had a few slices myself during the late night, post-bar hours, I thought I’d let the kids take the reigns on this one and tell me, as bona-fide pizza experts, why Pino’s is just so popular here in the Slope.

D., as the budding novelist-actress-teacher that she is, had some eloquent words for me. With her hand gesturing as if to grasp at the indescribable aura of the pizza from thin air, she thoughtfully remarked that Pino’s plain slice has got a “nice crispy crust and thick cheese.” She also appreciates the fact that it’s “convenient to school” and that “they have tons of choices if you aren’t in the mood for pizza.”

With a long string of semi-liquid cheese hanging out of the corner of his sauce-stained mouth, A. commented, “It’s yummy and they have a lot of decorations on it.”

I believe the decorations he was referring to hang on the walls…not on the pizza.

While A. gave Pino’s a rave 10 star rating, D. (like any good Russian judge) knocked them down a few notches with a respectable 7.5.

In my own experience, Pino’s is simply exactly what a slice of pizza should be. Without too many bells and whistles, this famous shop delivers a solid New York slice every time: it’s always hot, the cheese-to-sauce ratio is on-point and the crust–like a good bagel–is crunchy on the outside and perfectly chewy on the inside. And perhaps most importantly, it’s one of the few places open past the vital 11pm mark in this wholesome ‘hood.

Plain-slice-price: $2.50

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., Sun. 10am-1am; Fri.-Sat. 10am-2am

Location: 181 7th Ave. (Park Slope, Brooklyn)

Nearest Subway: F/G at 7th Ave.

Phone: (718) 965-4020

Website: n/a