Stuffed

Was that Katie Holmes three tables away? Nah, we couldn8217;t spot a short man 8216;tom-tomming8217; around her.

Like most Japanese restaurants, Nobu can be quite intimidating. But the Jap-style interiors by Hollywood8217;s fave interior designer David Rockwell and the animated guests are rather calming. Lucky for us, it was restaurant week in NYC and most good restaurants offered a prix-fixe three-course lunch. We ordered an assorted sushi platter and their signature sweet black cod marinated in miso. For dessert, a mango mousse laced with green sorbet and mascarpone cheese, served in a champagne flute. Shunali says we8217;d better buy jeans one size bigger.

Negrils
362W 23rd Street
Nearest subway: 23rd St
Price per head: 30
After spending a sunny Sunday window shopping in Greenwich Village, it was Negrils8217; reputation for delish cocktails that brought us here. The yellow-toned Caribbean restaurant is named after a beautiful seven-mile beach stretch in Jamaica. Roger pronounced Ra-jah, in all gayness takes us to our table and suggests their renowned mango mojitos. We order a corn and avocado salad and a combo plate instead. There are Calaloo Rolls sauteed calaloo cabbage and carrot in a wonton, their famous Jerk Chicken, bammie, cod fish fritters and chicken skewers.

Roger suggests some really hip 8216;8216;divey8217;8217; clubs in Chinatown and Mott Street. 8216;8216;It8217;s where all the rich kids go, but you8217;ll never know,8217;8217; he hints at the Chanel sunnies mine and Louis Vuitton bag Shun8217;s. The 29-year-old also tells us he8217;s actually 8216;8216;very rich since he sold his modelling agency last year8217;8217;; his friend owns Negrils and he just works here for the drinks.

Asia de Cuba
237 Madison Avenue, between 37th and 38th St
Nearest subway: 42nd St, Grand Central
Price per head: 50
It8217;s currently NY8217;s hippest restaurant and bar, and we were lucky to get a dinner table in spite of making a reservation the same morning. In the madly experimental world of fusion, this mix of Cuban and Oriental hits the spot.

Asia de Cuba8217;s designed by French genius Phillipe Starck. Like most Starck restaurants, its white cloth, white drapes and one quirk if you8217;ve been to Paris, you couldn8217;t have missed Kong, his funky terrace-top Oriental dig on Pont Neuf8212;a cheesy waterfall display at the foot of the long, bar-style table.

We opt for a quieter round table and order a pitcher of Caipirinha to begin with. A delicious calamari salad their speciality with bananas, palmhearts and chicory in an orange dressing follows, along with Crab Croquettas and pan-seared tofu with chickpea and tomato salad. The portions are huge and we doggy bagged the Roast Lime and Garlic Duck. Back home in Williamsburg the next morning, we had it for breakfast.

Tao
42E, 58th Street
Nearest subway: 59th St
Price per head: Restaurant week special, 20
It was our last day in NYC and our last shop-hop down the chic Fifth Ave. After browsing through Bergdorf Goodman and FAO Schwarz, we took a left to where the old Palace movie theatre was. What stands in its place is Tao, a place every New Yorker8217;s been to, at least once. Which is why it8217;s always packed with Midtown corporates and Park Ave princesses the restaurant8217;s situated between the upscale Madison and Park Aves. It8217;s also a favourite with the Sex and the City girls.

At 12,000 sq ft, Tao is NYE largest restaurant. Double that with a gargantuan 16-ft Buddha that can be seen from anywhere in the restaurant and you get the big picture. The food is pan-Asian and tress cher.

I8217;m having bamboo-steamed vega dumpling, phat Thai and chocolate and raspberry wontons with vanilla ice cream. Shunali orders the Tao Temple Salad, Soy Ginger Glazed Salmon and a fresh fruit and tangerine sorbet. And oh, we are wearing one size plus today.