Staten Island Advance - December 28, 2006

Eat your heart out, Islanders
From haute cuisine to hot dogs, AWE's foodie whips up the best the borough has to offer

By Pamela Silvestri

Advance Weekly Entertainment

Oh, what fun we've had chowing down in the borough over the last year! But the critic's hat is off for a moment to share some happy thoughts on our Island's beautiful inventory of restaurants.

While Staten Island certainly has its fair share of good Italian eateries, newcomers are bringing more diversity to the dining scene. For instance, Zest recently opened in Rosebank to offer upscale American fare. Our shores also have been graced with a Vietnamese place, Pho Mac at 1407 Richmond Ave., Graniteville; 718-982-9292. And the Asian trend continues to make waves through the borough with Xin's pan-Asian menu -- at 2071 Clove Rd., Grasmere; 718-818-8387-- and Hokkaido Japanese restaurant at 3295 Amboy Rd., Oakwood; 718-980-0880.

This year, our roundup introduces a "Golden Fork Award." It is a way of giving a general thumbs up to restaurants offering attentive service, commendable environs and good food presented with notable consistency.

In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday. Thank you for reading...
 

BEST VIEWS...

5. Ruddy & Dean 44 Richmond Terr., St. George; 718-816-4400
 

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Staten Island Advance - December 19, 2006

Fine Restaurant Disproves 'Everything's Better in B'Klyn'

My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at a restaurant that reminded me of just how great it is to be a Staten Islander. In the times of everyone saying, "Everything is better in Brooklyn," being a native Staten Islander is looked down upon.

The restaurant is Ruddy & Dean on Bay Street. [sic] Yes, it is on Staten Island, but it is one of the best restaurants I have been to.

We had the fried calamari, which is the best I have ever tasted, and shared the porterhouse steak, which was so tender I cut it with a fork! They knew it was our anniversary and were happy for us. The service was impeccable and the food was definitely something to write home about, obviously.

I just wanted to let the rest of the Island know that there are places on this side of the bridge that can hold their own and make the people who say that everything is better in Brooklyn think twice.

Jaclyn Rinaldo

Rosebank