I love coconut desserts, but there aren’t many noteworthy options in Manhattan. That’s why I jumped at Smith and Wollensky’s coconut layer cake. Considering the massive slice of cake – topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and served with a curl of crispy shortbread cookie – the $10 price tag is fairly reasonable for a Manhattan steakhouse. Unfortunately, bigger does not equal better. The citrus-flavored rum sauce beneath the cake felt out of place and I was disappointed by the standard frosting and lack of coconut between the layers of soft cake. It wasn’t a bad dessert, it just didn’t make me weak at the knees. Save your space for steak and lobster.

Smith and Wollensky’s Link 49th Street & 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 753-1530 Open Daily for Lunch Monday – Friday at 11:45am, Dinner 7 nights per week 7pm-11pm, Wollensky’s Grill open 11:30am-2am daily

• What: While the beef is almost as delicious as Burger Joint’s, Goodburger offers all the toppings you wish the Burger Joint had. Thanks to Lil NYC Food Guy, I discovered the pleasure of a char-grilled cheeseburger (white & yellow cheddar standard), cooked to order, and covered in crisp bacon and sweet, crispy onions. The toasted bun and shoestring fries are standard, letting the burger take center stage.
• Cost: $9.00 (Cheeseburger $6.75, Bacon $1.75, Crispy Onions $.50)
• Where: 4 Locations in Manhattan
  
• Website: http://goodburgerny.com/
• Inside info: The bacon and onions were plentiful but tasted pre-cooked.

It all looks delicious but two elements of this pie shined above the rest, read on for the essentials.

The Cheese & Pepperoni

By far the two strongest elements of this pie, the healthy offering of fresh mozzarella covered the pie evenly and combined with the slightly spicy pepperoni to provide the salty flavor the crust lacked.

The Crust & Sauce

The first time I ate at Angelo’s, the crust and sauce were a little off. The sauce, as you can see below, had too much oregano while the crust lacked flavor. On my second trip, the flavors of both the crust and sauce were spot on. The pie would have been perfect if it had been left in the coal oven to crisp up for just a few moments longer. If you see a lot of oregano on your pie, sprinkle some red pepper and grated Parmesan cheese on your slice to balance the flavor.

Conclusion

All the ingredients, including the fresh basil, combine to create a really enjoyable pie that’s worth the price and deserving of the crown, for now, of Midtown’s best pizza.

Angelo’s