Got back Sunday, but yeah cold and rainy Thurs & Friday
Restaurants:
Nom Wah Tea Parlor: Dim Sum... It's just ok, chances are it's not better (or possibly as good) as places you might have at home. But it feels old and authentic and hit the spot after flying in early. I was the only gringo in the joint.
Foul Witch: Really good 8/10 Focaccia & cultured butter with the Testa... fucking great. Scallops also great. Skip the Lobster Linguini, would have had the Pork Collar but pine nuts fuck me up and I didn't want to risk it. Arrived a bit early so pregamed at the The Library next door. Would do that again too.
The Mansion (diner): Nice place to sit and easy to hit before The Met. Pricey for diner fare, clean bathrooms, and relaxed vibe. Sinatra XM playlist was a bit on the nose.
Il Passatore (Brooklyn): Felt a little dumpy and thought I'd made a mistake. But, the staff are all Italian from Italy and I relied on them to guide us a bit. Best bang for the buck. Suppli Al Telephono not as good as in Rome, but this is the first place I've seen it in the States. Ravioli di burrata was very good. Had some sort of Pepper Gelato and it was great. Awesome place to hit before heading over to Brooklyn Steel
Sake Bar Decibel: Food is ok/good, but made better by the Sake. Cool vibe. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes grungy but authentic. You have to look for this place, you'd never just stumble onto it. But you should go IMO
One other note, I was a bit worried about dress code. We were packing light and the weather was crap. It wasn't close to an issue anywhere we went, but as you can see above, we didn't go anywhere fancy. ymmv
Also big shout out to the folks (plural) walking around rainy cold streets in socks and Crocs...