Let's get to the meat of the matter and, even though I have been to 5 restaurants since last Thursday, I have to say the best meat I have had is the duck at Dovetail. Pistachio crusted and ridiculously succulent with a sweet plum sauce duck breasts,I was practically licking the plate! The thing is everything that I ate at Dovetail was amazing..really from the homemade corn bread (the outer texture of a scone, the inner warmth and moistness of a biscuit and the taste of corn bread!) to the brioche bread pudding--bliss.

Others in the line-up:
Centolire: expensive Italian on the UES with great food, comfortable environs and lots of couture. I'm making fun but it is really quality food I just think the size 20 font that the menu is printed is makes it quite clear that this is not for me at the current stage of my life.

Mermaid Inn: Good for a neighborhood dinner in that is fine and comfy but my skate wing was overcooked and the oysters tasted a little too fishy.

A Voce: The pasta is still top notch--pumpkin ravioli is a highlight if you like things sweet--but i really think they over do with with sauce on the meatballs. Yes, it is their signature dish, yes the sauce is good but it is possible that you could be eating a golf ball under all of it..I missed the taste of that fried little ball of meat!

Inoteca: Still wonderful and so charming. The bruschetta is not a glorified crouton with toppings it is a slap of bread that is crispy yet still with some give in the middle, like a hammock that holds delicious topping--prosciutto, pesto, ricotta, you name it. A special the night i went was a warm duck salad with lentils, i could have had it as my own main course and I might have had I not seen the longing eyes staring at the plate as I served myself.


Synopsis: Should you have a special event go to Dovetail. Have a date and extra time on your hands to wait an hour for a table go to Inoteca.