The Dirty Little Secret at Le Parker Meridien Hotel: The Burger Joint

My boyfriend and I finally got to go to one of his favorite burger joints! Walking into this elegant hostelry, Le Parker Meridien, located at 119 West 56th Street, you wouldn’t expect to find a laid-back, world music-blasting, snug little burger joint. Hidden behind large curtains of the hotel lobby, The Burger Joint’s seclusion and interior make you feel like you’ve just escaped from New York and traveled to a mystical island half-way between Jamaica and Sri Lanka. The burgers are so juicy, fresh and flavorful and the atmosphere is so friendly that this spot is the perfect place to meet up with friends for brunch on the weekend and “chill”. Along with their burgers, I highly recommend their crispy french fries. For more information, click here.

Great “Hole-In-The-Wall” for a Weekend Brunch by Central Park: Via Quadronno

My boyfriend recently took me to Via Quadronno, a cute, romantic little hole-in-the-wall located at 25 East 73rd Street. This little restaurant is just a block away from Central Park. Their lunch menu is loaded with a wide variety of paninis, open-faced sandwiches, salads and some Italian-styled dishes. For those seeking something on the lighter side, I highly recommend the panini. I had the pleasure of enjoying the Barbagia panini, which is prepared with wild boar prosciutto, camembert, rucola and thinly-sliced red onion, for $14.50. The paninis also come with ingredients such as shrimp, smoked ham, paté, Genoa salami and a variety of French and Italian cheeses. Click here to view the lunch menu. One of the best parts about Via Quadronno is their gelatto. I ordered a rasberry and chocolate gelatto; however, their caramel and mascarpone is delicious as well.