Pio Pio

UWS - 94th & Amsterdamn / Hells Kitchen - 10th Ave Between 43rd and 44th

Murray Hill - 34th Between 2nd and 3rd / UES - 1st Ave Between 90th and 91st

Peruvian

When I first moved to the City, I asked a friend to suggest a good cheap restaurant. He recommended Pio Pio. He gave me a taste and I’ve been hooked ever since. Similar to the taste Bobby Brown gave Whitney Houston, it was to die for...Too soon?

Anyways, call me insensitive but the Peruvian chicken is about as addictive as their prices. The Matador combo truly grabs the bull by the horns. $32 for a whole rotisserie chicken, avocado salad, rice and beans, and fries topped with sliced hot dogs. $24 for a whole rotisserie chicken, large fries and avocado salad. The owners must be on crack. If you feel like “splurging,” I recommend kicking your meal off with the fried calamari.

Prices are great, but what separates Pio Pio from the rest of the rotisserie chicken world is the secret green sauce. I once tried to call up for the ingredients claiming to be allergic to practically everything, but Pio Pio wouldn’t budge. The green sauce add a spicy creamy chicken kicker and acts as a great compliment to the avocado salad. Thank you Pio Pio for filling my stomach without emptying my wallet.

Nicola's

 

UES - 84th Street Between Lexington and 3rd Ave

Italian

It would only be right to pop my blog cherry with sweet sweet Nicola’s. First post goes to my all-time favorite.

Nicola's is an old-school UES Italian staple. Since 1991, Nicola's has delivered top-notch Northern Italian family style cuisine. The restaurant is always filled but never has much of a wait. The Goodfellas family atmosphere and waiters with thick Italian accents adds some flavor to the overall experience. The owners are not about thrills. Simply delicious Italian cooking. While the restaurant is always full of life, enjoying a nice family dinner without screaming across the table is never a problem at Nicolas.

The pollo parmigiana is unparalleled. I would put Nicolas chick parm up against any challenger, ALL IN. I tell everyone I know to go here with extreme confidence that they will not be disappointed even after my overexcited hype job. The pressed pollo parmigiana fills your entire plate and comes equipped with a side of green beans. I recommend asking for a side of spaghetti and marinara sauce as well. The essence: extra marinara sauce. Yes, that’s in addition to the marinara sauce with your spaghetti. Trust me on this one. If it wasn’t weird, I would drink it out of a glass.