SR Approved - Favorite Foodie Spots

Cupcakes - Baked By Melissa

We all are often bombarded with a slew of "the hottest places to eat..." lists compiled by strangers. Sometimes these are so on point that it’s scary while other times it makes you go… O_o

Well we've decided to come up with our first of many lists featuring some of our favorite places to eat yummy nosh and sweet treats in New York City:

In need of a scrumptious choco-fantasy…check out Varsano’s for raspberry truffles and Max Brenner for an orgasmic choco-experience. Max Brenner serves up delectable chocolate in everything from martinis to waffles! Fall in lust with these chocolate-heaven treats.

Feeding your sweet crave for cakes, pastries, cookies, pies and more..oh my! This was a tough one – with way too many to choose from in our arsenal, here are the top contenders, Billy’s Bakery (lots of love goes into the frosting – watching the bakers whip the frosting is almost magical!), Baked by Melissa (for those watching their waistlines – try these cupcake bites from the red velvet to peanut butter cup– a new location on 7^th Avenue & 37^th Street is set to open this Spring!) and Sweet Melissa Patisserie (this ‘Melissa’ serves up everything from ginger snap cookies to mini pies to ice cream plus light breakfast and lunch).

Sweet honorable mentions to web-based patisserie specialists – Annie Mae’s Cheesecakes & Moore (NYC) and Sweet Sylvia (Minnesota)!

Waffles & Chocolate - Max Brenner

Spicy Thai on the East Side…check Khao Sarn II on 2^nd Avenue. As you watch the cars whiz by coming from or coming off of the FDR Drive in this cozy, quiet restaurant taste the delicious tofu soup, chicken satay, ginger chicken and other decadent dishes plus the awesome cocktails (Spicy Thai Magarita!?!).

Vietnamese with Ease….check Saigon Market on University Place in Union Square. Let your palate be your guide. This was SR’s Chantè first taste of Vietnamese cuisine, specifically the Bo Luc Lac – beef teriyaki with veggies and brown rice) and certainly won’t be her last.

An oasis in a brownstone….check II Cafe Latte. In the middle of a winter’s eve, their hot chocolate, lattes and teas, never disappoint. Located on Lenox Avenue nestled amongst the historic brownstones of Harlem this place is a gem. They also serve a tasty brunch, lunch and dinner as well as dessert treats.

For cheap yummy eats with a smile….check Beyond Thai Kitchen. The Synch ladies regularly stop by this place for the Thai cuisine (the menu is literally a book of a thousand selections) and great service! We’ve had almost everything on the menu from their shrimp rolls, calamari, coconut shrimp, Thai salad, mixed veggies with jasmine rice, shrimp dangerous, salmon mango and Pad Thai (just to name a few).

A place to chillax with the girls/guys…check Negril Village (Caribbean) and Havana Central (Cuban). The Synch ladies along with a few close friends ate, laughed and cried at both of these delectable spots – the martinis and sassy happy hour cocktails flowed (try the Matusalem Cuba Libre at Havana Central), while a smorgasbord of dishes were feasted upon (try the paella at Havana Central and the red snapper at Negril Village)

Like music, visual arts, dance and spoken word, the Synch ladies believe that food is just as much a part of the cultural arts and in some cultures it’s the focal point. From time to time, we will bring you news of a dope eatery that we dubbed an SR-Approved spot.

Bon Appetite!

>> Be sure to check our foodie reviews on Yelp at chante.yelp.com