But you already knew that.

Which is why you should meet Obikà, Manhattan’s first mozzarella bar. You may have already heard some buzz about Rome’s latest import. Obikà (pronounced Oh-bee-KA), from the word obiccà, means “Here it is,” in Neapolitan. And here it is, indeed. Nestled away in Midtown’s IBM Building, Rome’s newest innovation is your perfect lunch date. Minimalist and modern, the Obikà kiosk closely resembles a sushi bar. Ginsu-sharp lines, transparent glass, and a black and butcher-block color scheme all lend to a sense of sumptuous simplicity.

Then there’s the cheese. Perfect, ivory orbs sit behind glass panes, like pieces of stunning jewelry. Fresh from the farms of the Paestum and Agro Pontino regions, the prizes are the hand-crafted Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP. Choose from four varieties, ranging from the delicate tasting Paestem to the sweet and creamy Stracciatella di Burrata. The milky globes are served in either a roll form resembling tortilla-less burritos, or accompanied by simple garnishes - from cherry tomatoes to smoked salmon.

When mozza-fatigue hits, indulge in a little Sardinian pane carasau straight from Bologna, or fresh tiramisu that’d bring a tear to Batali’s eye.

All without having to exchange for Euros.


Obikà opens soon.


Obikà Mozzarella Bar
Inside the IBM Building at 590 Madison Avenue (at 56th Street)
Tel: (212) 355-2217
obika.it

And you’ve always been a fan of delivery services (especially in the evening).

So let us introduce you to a new type of late-night entertainment that really delivers… Manhattanites, meet Insomnia Cookies, the new cookie emporium and delivery service for the Dusk ’til Dawn-crowd. You might already know their story: a couple of Juniors at UPenn started baking up cookies and brownies and delivering them on campus.

A dozen locations later (all conveniently located in college towns), Insomnia Cookies is still sizzling hot. Look for their recently opened Manhattan store on West 8th Street in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Or just give them a call when the Midnight munchies hit.

Pair them with the best organic milk you can find.


Insomnia Cookies is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Evening delivery service runs from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., from 14th Street to Broome Street, and River to River.


Insomnia Cookies
50 West 8th Street (between Sixth Avenue & MacDougal Street)
Tel: 877-63-COOKIE
insomniacookies.com

Take Terroir, the new 24-seat wine bar in the East Village from the owners of Hearth and Insieme. Part wine temple, part café, Terroir (Latin for terra firma) takes its name and inspiration from wines deeply rooted in a region. Designed by the brothers of co-owner Paul Grieco, Terroir is the size of a jewel-box with a 16-seat communal table in the center.

Once you step inside, unwind with one of 24 wines available by the glass, sourced from all over the world. Get there early for the daily special from 5 p.m to 6 p.m., where you can choose from five different wines for five dollars each. Complement your vino and indulge in a small Italian menu of paninis (try the duck ham with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and Taleggio), hand-cut charcuterie plates (Iberico ham, duck prosciutto), and fried stuff (sage leaves with lamb sausage).

There’s even daily pasta and meatball specials.

And on a cold Winter day, who can resist that?


Terroir Wine Bar opens Wednesday (3/5).


Terroir Wine Bar
413 East 12th Street (off First Avenue)
(no phone available yet)
wineisterroir.com


Photo: Daniel Krieger

Yes, kitchen robots.

Sort of. That’s the story behind Rheon Café, a brand new eatery from the Tokyo-based company. Specialists in high-tech baking machines, Rheon delivers a new concept in dining: a genuine café complemented by an appliance showroom to impress the Sub-Zero and Viking crowd (you know who you are).

The real stars of the show are fresh croissants and sandwiches (view the menu) by Hisanobu Osaka, Morimoto’s former sous-chef. Indulge in Roast Duck with cucumber and special miso sauce or Prosciutto with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and sesame mayo (all served on freshly baked bread using Rheon machines, of course).

In a few weeks, the café will also roll out a special gourmet sandwich of the week and Japanese soups with fresh bread.

Technology never tasted so good.


Rheon Café
189 Spring Street (near Thompson Street)
Tel: (212) 966-7040
rheon.com

That’s just wrong.

Dessert is a gift from the gastronomy gods. It’s the best for last and it’s why you’ll be obsessed with the just opened DessertTruck. Rolling Mister Softee-style in four wheels, a tricked-out mobile kitchen, and a laptop (ThinkPad + Excel = new cash register) is partner/pastry chef Jerome Chang (a former pastry sous chef at Le Cirque), and partner/Columbia MBA student Chris Chen.

You may forget their names but you won’t forget their fine $5 desserts (served in eco-friendly containers with a smile). Resist the temptation to order “one of each” (though everything is excellent), instead try the Chocolate Bread Pudding topped with bacon crème anglaise. Chocolate aficionados will also be pleased with DT’s Molten Chocolate Cake sprinkled with sea salt and roasted pistachios. They also make a mean Apple A Day, a perfect union of slow-baked apples, crisp puff pastry, and whipped cream (order it à la mode).

And since drinks and desserts are a natural, DessertTruck is adding beverages to the menu.

How sweet is that?

Visit desserttruck.com.


DessertTruck
University Place & 8th Street (Northeast Corner)
desserttruck.com

After you’ve opened a café in your hometown (Philly) that wins Food & Wine Magazine’s Top Coffee Bar award?

If you’re Todd Carmichael and Jean-Philippe “JP” Iberti, owners of La Colombe Torrefaction, you open a fine little café on Church Street in Tribeca.

Coffee geeks mark your calendar. Starting today, La Colombe’s silky cappuccinos with hints of caramel will be served. True to the owners’ philosophy, the café will focus solely on serving excellent coffee and cappuccinos, with pastries from Petrossian.

Vintage Faema model E61 espresso machines (circa 1964) are the centerpieces of the warm, coffee-toned shop. And the imported African Bubinga wood used throughout are a reminder of the owners’ passion for the world’s finest sourced beans, and supporting the countries they came from. Nothing is “out of the box”, from each table with its unique shape, to the bar which is long and lean and meant for human interaction.

Todd adds, “The point was to make a place where one can step outside the marketing/commerce whirlpool and simply have the best coffee attainable – made by people who really know what they’re doing.”

We’ll drink to that.


La Colombe Café
319 Church Street (at Lispenard Street)
Tel: (212) 343-1515
lacolombe.com/pleasure

That’s where the culinary crew at After 8.5 comes in. At exactly 8:30 p.m. every night, the lounge area of Brasserie 8½ transforms into a late night dessert bar led by über Pastry Chef Martin Howard (named one of the country’s top ten pastry chefs two years in a row by Chocolatier and Pastry Art and Design magazines).

The menu (yes, we have it) is full of classic desserts in a range of flavors that will make you want to order everything. And there’s nothing wrong with that - the generous portions and variety in each dish are meant to be shared.

Feel like frosting after too many meetings? Go for the Cupcake Quartet with Devil’s food, red velvet, banana praline and berry vanilla cakes. Kinda hot-headed from that conference call? Cool down with the Mini Ice Cream Cones & Popsicles with strawberry shortcake and toasted coconut, featuring daily ice cream flavors such as caramel and white chocolate-green tea.

Each dessert has a perfectly paired dessert wine or bubbly, so you can truly unwind along with your sugar-induced coma.

Then wake up smiling and do it all over again tomorrow.


After 8.5 is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings.


After 8.5 at Brasserie 8½
9 West 57th Street
Tel: (212) 829-0812
rapatina.com/brasserie8

You headed to the East Village and had too many at Cheap Shots. Things got cloudy and now, you crave dessert.

Lucky for you that Cecil Café Crêpe just opened right across the street.

The playfully colored hole-in-the-wall offers a refreshingly unique menu of sweet crêpes and savory creations. Consider the delectable crêpe comforts of the Chocolate Banana (banana, chocolate sauce, banana chips and toasted almonds) or the all-American Apple Tatin (apple, caramel sauce, pie and cinnamon powder). Feeling more adventurous? Go with the Red Bean (red bean, sponge cake and soybean powder). An extra 75 cents lets you top any of the cone-shaped crêpes with vanilla, chocolate or green tea ice cream.

But if it’s savory you need, check the lower half of the menu. There’s a selection that includes Tofu Cheese Salad, Hijiki Salad and Potato Salad Prosciutto.

And Cecel is open late (2 a.m. on weekends, midnight weekdays). So, you can preempt the hangover with classy cuisine instead of burgers.


Cecel Café Crêpe
135 First Avenue (St. Marks Place & 9th Street)
Tel: (212) 460-5102

Caffé Falai, decorated in the signature crystal chandelier and white circular tile aesthetic of its predecessors, offers Falai’s tantalizing tiramisus and tarts alongside light Mediterranean fare. It’s truly a café at heart: a few items per meal and simple white café chairs.

Starting at 7 a.m., you can grab a crusty apple cinnamon turnover or crema embedded bombolone (Italian donut) to go with your morning Illy. Petite sandwiches, vegetable and cheese tarts, and delicate pastries and cakes make perfect afternoon snacks.

The real thrill of Caffé Falai is the ease at which you can sample Iacopo’s critically acclaimed dishes like Tuscan tomato and bread soup, or sensational almond pappardelle with wild mushrooms and cream.

An 8 p.m. closing time and BYOB are temporary downers, but good food and good service prevails.



Caffé Falai
265 Lafayette Street (near Prince Street) | View Google Map
New York, NY 10012
Tel: +1 (917) 338-6207
www.falainyc.com

Panino Sportivo has all you desire in a SoHo lunch spot: The shining red and white hued café looks like it came straight from Milan, and boasts 71 varieties of made-to-order gourmet sandwiches. Meats, cheeses, and fish are imported from Italy, and a special recipe for delicious, crusty panini bread has been specially developed to rival Italy’s best sandwich parlors.

Since soccer is worshiped as much as Prada in the Old World, the restaurant pays homage to European football by outfitting the space with Milan’s official team colors and the staff with stylish jerseys. You can even take in a game on the plasma while polishing off a delectable panini of Prosciutto di Parma, sliced Bartlett pears, goat cheese, arugula, and honey.

Relish the goodness in café like a true Italian, or enjoy it to go, porta via style.

Panino Sportivo
26 Prince Street (between Mott and Elizabeth Streets)
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 431-0800
www.paninosportivo.com