When we ordered the Pac Man shrimp dumplings at Red Farm, we had no idea they would come out looking like Pac Man! The presentation value alone makes them worth ordering.

The pork & crab soup dumplings are not your average soup dumpling - the broth has a rich smoky flavor. The egg roll is also a riff on tradition, made with Katz's pastrami and so good.

The crispy skin chicken has a great crunchy skin and is served with garlic sauce; vegetable fried rice in the background.

The Bowery Diner

 

The Bowery Diner is a great, modern diner with an excellent brunch - starting with doughnuts! This one is orange blossom, with a delicious bloody mary behind it.

I loved the chocolate frosted doughnut oozing with pistachio cream.

 The Colombian breakfast is amazing and worth returning many times for - thick cut slices of bacon, crispy on the edges and scored into chunks; spicy sausage; fried eggs; plantain cakes; salsa; queso fresco; avocado and fried eggs. Amazing.

The burger is also a hit - thick and juicy in a buttery bun with a side of fries and a pickle.

Wagamama

Wagamama is a fun, modern Japanese influenced restaurant in London.

Spicy chicken ramen with onion, chilies, coriander and lime.

My favorite - sweet katsu curry, but with a twist. Fried slices of pumpkin, sweet potato and eggplant instead of pork.

Brumus Bar & Restaurant

Sometimes a salad is notable, like the beautiful caesar salad at Brumus Bar & Restaurant in London. Fresh greens, thick, crunchy bacon, slices of parmesan, crostini and perfectly seasoned and grilled prawns.

Terroirs Wine Bar

Terroirs Wine Bar in London is built around the concept of serving natural wines and delicious, artisan foods. The pistachio and pork terrine was amazing, with a thick, chunky texture.

The langoustines were super fresh (I saw ours moving around right before it was cooked) and simply prepared -  perfect.

The scallops were also simply prepared, and excellent - seared with a parsley sauce and served with a lobster claw tip.

A rich steak tartare with capers.

The lentil salad is a little deceptive - fantastic, but the pork belly and sausage are the stars.

 Rich, creamy Laguiole cheese from France.

Dessert is a thick bowl of rice pudding with jam.

J. Sheeky Oyster Bar

J Sheeky Oyster Bar in London is a throwback to a more glamorous era. With a long, polished wood wraparound bar, walls lined with photos of theater stars and formal bar service, it's a great place to drop by for giant, Atlantic ocean oysters and other seafood.

The Fremont Diner

The Fremont Diner has amazing comfort food in a hip farm-influenced diner in Sonoma. The figs in a blanket are poached in red wine and cinnamon and then wrapped in thick slices of tasso ham.

The Nashville chicken is spicy, fried, and served with white bread, pickles and thick, creamy mac & cheese.

A (relatively) petite chicken sandwich is crunchy, perfectly fried chicken with mayo on pickles on a bun.

And of course, no fried chicken lunch is complete with out crunchy onion rings.