Order The Ribs at Latitude 29; Amici's Parm & Truffle Fries Rule

This week Helen Freund reviews chef Chris Shortall's Polynesian bar fare at tiki mecca Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29 this week: "A number of sandwiches provide good fodder for soaking up one too many cocktails, and the best is the Hawaiian Cuban."  But for a real kick get the St. Louis-style pork ribs, which are glazed in a "soy reduction that adds slow-building heat with each bite but doesn't overwhelm the flavor." [Gambit]

Tom Fitzmorris hands +1 hipness points to Italian Magazine Street eatery Amici, but alas, the star rating seems to be missing again this week: Chef Chad Matrana turns out various Sicilian-Creole hits with excellent handmade sauces, but T-Fitz prefers the #1 Essential Dish, "house cut fries with parmesan cheese & white truffle oil" (what, NO calamari!?) and wood-fired pizzas, as much as the "solid" classics. Beware generous portions and low-lying light fixtures that bring out the hissy Fitz: "They always seem to be right in my face." [CityBiz, sub req]