In motion

Trading is to career as food is to dating.

Places I've tried recently:

JG Melon (burgers, upper east side, $, +++): One of the best burgers I've had in new york. People complain about the size of the burger but at this point you're paying for quality, not quantity. If you're hungry I highly recommend skipping the cottage fries side and just getting two burgers. Seriously.

Yoshi Sushi (Japanese/sushi, east village, $$, ++) Not just your normal sushi place, though the rolls and other dishes you typically find at places like these are very good. They also have quite a few creative dishes involving sashimi, like the raw tuna taquitos and volcano, which are similar to the appetizers you'd find at a high end americana type place in terms of presentation and style. Small but good to go with friends. Food is a little salty but still.

El Paso (Mexican/tex-mex, upper east, $, +) Much more reasonably priced and seemingly more authentic than places like Dos Caminos or Arriba Arriba, it's sort of like Mama Mexico but slightly less selection and cheaper. Guacamole is very good.

MarkJoseph's steakhouse (steakhouse, financial district, $$$, +) This trip completed the Luger circuit that I started earlier this year with a visit to Wolfgang's, a place which I still prefer to the other stops (Luger's, Ben and Jack's, and this place). Definitely give this place a nod over Ben and Jack's, although it's almost as far away as Luger's. Porterhouse was great, sides and appetizers were average, place was completely empty on a Friday night so fast service.

Tehuitzingo Deli (mexican, hell's kitchen, $, ++) The tacos here are completely amazing and max out at 3 dollars each. They're the authentic style tacos with the double soft shell wrap and the meat finely minced - you can get everything from straight up beef to chorizo to crispy pork ears. I'd say there almost as good as Toloache (although they don't have soft shell crab here) at around 1/2 the price. They won't win any awards for the setting (beat up stools crowded in the back of a tiny grocery store) but they are 100% legit.

Craft (Americana, flatiron, $$$, +++) Food here was amazing, although it started off stronger than it ended. That being said, the entrees (we had three different types of meat including short rib and fish) were very solid and I think it's just that the creativity and uniqueness of the appetizers plus their deliciousness was an overwhelming start to the meal. I'd definitely come here again despite the prices, although there are many of these types of places I want to try (see list below).

Places I need to try:

Mexican: Maya, Rosa Mexicana, Zona Mexicana, Pampano Taqueria, Zarela, Mercadito, Mexico Lindo, Caracas Arepas Bar

BBQ: Blue Smoke

Steakhouses: Keen's, Dylan Prime, the Palm Tribecca, Striphouse, Spark's, STK

Japanese: Yasuda, Tomoe, Haru, Yakitori Totto

Fusion: Momofuku Ssam, asia de cuba, buddakan (nyc edition), double crown

American: Gramercy Tavern, Blue Hill, Gotham Bar and Grill, Veritas, Irving Mill, Aureole, Market Table, Blue Ribbon, Perilla, Little Owl, Hearth, Porchetta, Momofuku Ko, DBGB, Standard Grill

Fish and Chips: A Salt and Battery

Italian: Babbo's, Il Mulino, Minetta Tavern, Cipriani

Seafood: Pearl Oyster Bar, Mary's Fish Camp

Fried Chicken: Mama's fried chicken, Pink Teacup

Burgers: Rare, Corner Bistro

French: Butter, Balthazar