I was a hotel concierge for years so giving restaurant recommendations was something I did day in and out. Even now that my work is completely unrelated, people still ask me where they should eat, sometimes in New York, other times specifically Brooklyn (because I live there) or Miami (my hometown) or if they’re traveling to a place they know I’ve been to.

With that in mind, I’ve created this list, a work in progress, to keep a record of places I’ve been to and enjoyed both in New York and elsewhere. I don’t blog about every single place I go to so most of these aren’t mentioned on The Good Fork other than here. Enjoy and check back in periodically as the list grows and changes!

Brooklyn:

•        Meme’s Diner: hipster diner with modern take on comfort food
•        Olmsted: American with ingredients straight from their garden
• Win Son: Taiwanese-American
• Lella Alimentari: informal daytime Italian (go for the piadine)
• Llama Inn: modern Peruvian (read my post!)
• Brooklyn Crab: Red Hook seafood shack
• Cheeseboat: Georgian…but really cheeseboats (I blogged about it)
• Lilia: upscale Italian
• Red Hook Lobster Pound: seafood and my fave lobster roll (check it out)
• Samurai Papa: hole in the wall with the best ramen
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds: favorite pie shop ever

Manhattan:

• Uncle Boons: fun Thai rotisserie (one of my faves in the city)
• Sorbillo: legit Neapolitan pizza
• Buvette: little French bistro (a West Village staple for me)
• Simon and the Whale: little bit of everything, modern, so so so good
• Socarrat: Spanish food/tapas (and a quid ink paella I daydream about regularly
• Pig and Khao: Filipino-Thai-accented southeast Asian

Miami

• Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink: little bit of everything and some oysters
• Lido Bayside Grill: clean, healthy and most importantly delicious in a beautiful setting overlooking the bay (seriously, my happy place)
• Zak the Baker: fantastic bakery in a cool neighborhood, with a nearby cafe for light bites
• Yard Bird: southern style comfort food and great drinks (loved it from the first time I went)

Boston:

• Coppa: Italian enoteca (one of my favorite meals EVER)
• Neptune Oyster Bar: oysters and a phenomenal lobster roll (read here)
• Oak and Rowan: fancy new American (and very good)

Florence, Italy:

• Antico Noe: my favorite spot for panini (no website cause that’s how old school they are, though a couple of guys opened one in NY with the original’s blessing)
• Fuori Porta: casual enoteca with the best crostoni (An old post on the subject)
• Il Pizzaiuolo: MY favorite pizza in Florence, neapolitan style
• Teatro del Sale: cool restaurant with great food and live entertainment

Asbury Park:

•  Talula’s: seriously good pizza
•  Frank’s Deli & Restaurant: classic Jersey diner (where I was introduced to the famous pork roll)
• Porta: great pizza in a big, buzzy setting that turns into a big time hot spot at night.
• MOGO Korean Tacos: amazing Korean fusion tacos right on the boardwalk