Valerie S.'s Profile

Wowed by the summer of 2011 superhero movies? Feeling like a quick flight from the land of the digital? Check out Midtown Comics.

Easy to miss at its upstairs location in Midtown Manhattan -- despite a Superman logo displayed in a window above Lexington Avenue -- the shop offers a wide selection of comic books and knowledgeable staffers who will share storyline details and character developments.

They'll even track down specific issues for shoppers from the large number of comics cramming racks and shelves. They will inquire as to which cover illustration is preferred for an issue when there's more than one. They will sound an alert if related titles are due out soon. It's the kind of service that was once common in specialty shops around New York, but has become distinctive.

A loyalty program brings a discount of $20 each time a customer spends $100 for comic books or other reading matter in any of the three Midtown Comics shops in Manhattan.

New issues hit at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Comic book titles include: DC The New 52, Batman, Avengers, Captain America, Thor, Flash, Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Superman, Fantastic Four, Wonder Woman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Wolverine, among many others.

If you leave something behind because you're distracted by the riot of comics, graphic novels, books, magazines, action figures, T-shirts, and caps, ask if it's in the shop's Lost and Found. One of my purchases was resting there safely, after I'd left it behind while checking in at Foursquare, taking the elevator downstairs, and walking a few blocks.

To what lengths will people go for Ippudo's firm, flavorful ramen? A couple visiting from Boston in December told me they'd arrived in New York on a Friday, a day earlier than their last visit, so they'd be sure to get in. They'd missed out in their previous attempt.

Neither a hyped Japanese brasserie nor a revived ramen craze brought this effort. Originally from Japan, the two had eaten in the island nation's Ippudo restaurants, which number 43; they were fans intent on eating at the New York branch.

It is with similar determination that Ippudo's local patrons wait in the lounge to be seated in the East Village hot spot that spills out into the street at night and can command 20-minute waits at lunchtime. Reservations are not taken.

Reasons to keep returning despite the crowds:

* Arguably the best ramen in New York City. My favorites: Tori Ramen and Shiromaru Hakata Classic. (Ippudo was ranked #2 in January 2012 in the Village Voice's "NYC's 10 Best Bowls of Ramen.")
* Culinary adventures such as the shishito peppers appetizer. Each jalapeno-like, lightly fried pepper surprises with a taste that can be mild or hot or killer. Diners can indulge in two taste sensations beyond the peppers themselves -- a squeeze of lemon and a dip into yuzu salt.
* Eclectic musical soundtracks that sometimes reach back to the 1970s and 1980s.
* A wide variety of sake that stops short of being overwhelming.
* The chance for a solo diner to be seated immediately at the communal tables or the mostly dinner counter, despite a big crowd.
* Interesting conversations with strangers at the communal tables, like the one I shared with the Japanese natives.

A go-to for outstanding coffee beans in Manhattan. Oren's secret? It won't settle for less than high quality. If a bean on the menu fails to meet the standard, the demanding team of world traveling tasters and buyers at the small chain of coffee shops will skip it. It would then go off  the menu, perhaps to return another time.

Oren's also pays attention to small details that can make a big difference. It held the price of a 12 oz. cup of coffee under $2 until this year, when the sharply rising cost of the commodity finally brought the $2 mark. (Owner and founder Oren Bloostein posted a letter to customers, explaining coffee price hikes.)

Best of all, Oren's Daily Roast has the capacity to surprise. The best coffee I have ever experienced came from beans at Oren's, an Ethiopia Sidamo that tasted like raspberry and cherry. The promise of another such bean alone could be enough to make a coffee lover keep returning.

Eating at Jack is like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes it's elevating, other times it falls off. There can be a few twists and turns, too.

The $10 lunch special added this year is a good bet. It brings a main course, soft drink, and choice of soup, salad, or frites. The seasonal pumpkin bisque on offer now is outstanding. A 7-grain sandwich of warm, thinly sliced, Black Forest ham, melted brie, and apples today was well done.

Jack's service -- originally knowledgable and cordial -- is inconsistent. Today it was subpar. Only one other table was occupied in the dining room, yet the waits for my order to be taken and for the food itself, were surprisingly long.

Lunch was delivered hit-and-run fashion, and no one asked if I wanted anything else, despite the presence of the server, two busboys, and a hostess. How about some mustard for the ham and cheese sandwich?

A wine list that was notable for its quality and value has diminished, but a good glass can still be found. It is hit or miss where it once was reliable, much as the neighborhood bistro itself.

Nanoosh quickly made my regular rotation when it opened in Greenwich Village in 2010. Then something happened. The Middle Eastern food's quality began to yo-yo.

Hummus that once was delicious tasted saturated with tahini, no matter how many requests to the contrary. The satisfying combination of tuna salad, hard boiled egg, lettuce, and chopped vegetables began turning up with too much mustard/mayo dressing, rendering it a soggy unappealing mess.

Since then, the salad has improved and the tahini has become less overwhelming in the hummus, though it still changes and dulls the taste of the pureed chickpeas.

Unlikely highlights of the Middle Eastern cafe include the warm pita bread that accompanies soups and salads; organic mushrooms and onions, and a complimentary dish of olives and pickles, upon request.

The lemonade and iced tea are promising, but they are pre-sweetened and not as refreshing as they could be.

Eating at Nanoosh is one of those 3-star affairs that could easily drop to 2 stars or rise to 4. In the meantime, the cafe serving Middle Eastern plates, wraps, and salads remains a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Contrary to its mall vibe, the roomy Starbucks at Astor Place is one of Manhattan's best. The coffee is consistent. The food is fresh. The staff is helpful. Plus, there's free Wi-Fi and it's easy to score a chair, even though the cafe tends to be busy.

Caffeine hounds beware: Recently, Starbucks' signature drip coffee, Pike Place, has been weak and watery. Four cups of sub-par Pike Place, served in two straight visits, leaves one wondering if this is the odd phenom or a downslide. The lackluster drip brew recalls the early Decaf Era. Sanka, anyone?

It's the small things that set Yuba apart from the pack.
The 6-part sushi bento box is an unusually good value at $10.
The dumplings are very good -- and are served hot.
The staff is cordial.
A chef's glass of sake was offered to this first-time diner.
Yuba's East Village cool is a welcome surprise after glimpsing the (favorable) Michelin review displayed in the front window.

Joe the Art of Coffee at Grand Central Terminal serves a consistently superior cup of coffee. Joe's current seasonal blend -- Brazil, Guatemala, and Costa Rica -- makes a rich, refreshing iced coffee. Perfect for a 65-degree November heatwave.

Bonus points: Joe Grand Central will let you cup a taste. The staff is usually accommodating and friendly. The seasonal blends change about 4X a year and are based on what's best to be had in those times.

The fresh frozen yogurt, fresh fruit toppings, and friendly staff are all above average.

So is the helpfulness of the staff. It's refreshing to be offered samples without asking and encouraged to add more toppings to the frozen yogurt on offer.

One gripe: The uncovered trash can aside the front door ought to be placed elsewhere. This practice can now be described as an annoying trend in the Manhattan of the 2000s, where it had been seldom seen before by this native.