Picture it: a house made of monfongo…walls made of garlic and mashed green plantain and each room a different savory addition like a chicharon bathroom, a bacalao bedroom and a pernil living room. No? Well, venture over to the real La Casa del Mofongo and take your pick, or one of the other menu items. The dream is real!

Le Chéile is a Gaelic phrase meaning “together” and, together, there is no place you’d rather be than this traditional Irish pub perched within a stones throw of the George Washington Bridge. Craving bangers and mash? Come here. Need a Sheppard’s pie to warm your cockles? Come here. Fish and chips? Irish stew? You know what to do!

Lolo’s might be the new kid on the block, but, man, do you want to be invited over for dinner! And you are every night (except Monday). Try one of their seafood steampots or sandwiches using housemade bread called ‘bake’. Add the lot of housemade condiments while you unconsciously sway your hips from left to right to the sounds of reggae music before doing your “happy food dance”.

Tokyo meets Santo Domingo without the need of a plane, boat or an MTA train, for that matter, at this fusion sushi joint. Yes you can get miso soup, edamame and spicy tuna rolls. However you are not living unless you try one of the inventive house rolls that include ingredients like bacalao, yucca fries and plantains. “Salud” and “kanpai”!

Go south of the border on Dyckman. This is not just any Mexican restaurant. Papasito turns up tacos with short ribs, turns out quesadillas with lump crabmeat and lobster and turns on your taste buds with everything else. Enjoy dining al fresco over fresh guacamole and specialty cocktails. Now kick up your heels and shout, “Ole”!