[Photo: Kathy YL Chan] It's hard to pick a flavor, just one flavor, to use in a milkshake at Il Laboratorio del Gelato. So let's make it easy—fig. They blend it up with whole milk, making for a clean,... More

[Photo: Kathy YL Chan] Dessert isn't typically the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Russ & Daughters, but don't pass them up on your next smoked fish run. From Dark Chocolate Dipped Halvah to Raspberry... More

I'll give you the bad news first: Russ & Daughters threw a herring party and you missed it. A herring party! There were seven different tables of herring snacks, each paired with a different drink. One of the tables had... More

"Xiao Ye's cuisine is typical night market fare—or what Huang likes to call 'booty call food.'" Xiao Ye's Ghost Face Dumpling, with its creator lurking in the shadows. [Photos: Joe DiStefano] Leave it to Eddie Huang, the man who put... More

[Photograph: Kathy YL Chan] This petite Pecan-Cranberry Loaf ($3.25) from the first retail location of Pain D'Avignon in the Essex Street Market has provided not just double, but triple duty for my bread cravings. First, toasted in the mornings... More

Spicy Rizzak fans, rejoice: Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop has officially reopened on the Lower East Side today. (And they've started blogging, too.) We'll be in line for lunch tomorrow! Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop 129 Rivington Street, New York NY... More

[Photo: Carey Jones] So crispy. So brown. And yet so potato-y. The skin-on French fries at Shopsin's are a fine reminder that a pile of fries can be a crunchy, oily, salty undertaking without losing their essential potato character.... More

[Photo: Kathy YL Chan] Take note! On Thursday, May 20th, from 11am to 11pm—yes, the whole day!—stop by DT Works on the Lower East Side for free sweets. Your pick from their Throwdown-winning Chocolate Bread Pudding or a scoop... More

[Photo: Kathy YL Chan] This Chocolate Crumb Cake ($4.75) isn't only gluten-free, it's also egg, dairy, and soy-free. And to top it off, agave-sweetened. (A mouthful indeed). Baked by BabyCakes on the Lower East Side, the cake has a... More

Editor's note: In "Apps Only," Ben Fishner will be eating his way through New York's appetizer, bar, and lounge menus as your guide to fine dining on a budget. He blogs at Ben Cooks Everything. Little Giant's asparagus salad... More