The second installment of my now monthly column, this is the skinny on my favorite NYC restaurants that I dined at in December. Read on for all for all of the juicy details.

Blue Ribbon Sushi – Admission: I haven’t really gotten into sushi until this past year. Call me crazy, call me late on the band wagon, I’ll take it. Blue Ribbon has been on my list for a while, as it is an arbiter of high quality sushi in NYC, and I had a wonderful experience there. Spring for the specials here, and rely on your waiter for guidance – the menu is dense. Ours recommended the raw octopus with matcha salt special, classics such as the hamachi tataki, which is essentially a hamachi tartare with a raw quail egg, and all were fantastic (along with incredible nigiri).

Lighthouse – This “it” Brooklyn spot was the perfect place to post up at the sunny bar for brunch with a friend on a Saturday morning. We shared the ceviche, which was light and flavorful and delicious, and also the green omelette stuffed with spinach, pickled onion, feta, and topped with avocado. Check this spot out if you’re looking for a healthy-ish brunch spot that still feels hearty.

Cosme – This high-end Mexican dining experience has been on my NYC restaurant bucket list since it opened, and I finally made it there this month. This isn’t a chips and guac kind of spot (don’t even ask), but what you will find is a beyond-phenomenal uni tostada, the freshest cobia al pastor, and large format make-your-own duck carnitas tacos that left me dreaming about them for days on end. Don’t miss this place for a “treat yoself” kind of evening.

Sugar Fish – Waiting for 2+ hours for a new restaurant is not normally my idea of a fun evening, but I had heard nothing short of rave reviews for this LA-based sushi spot and so I made an exception for Sugarfish. We put our names in at around 5:45 and was told there would be a 90 minute wait, but let me tell you, every minute was worth it. This was the best sushi I have ever had, period. I did the “Trust Me” tasting, which consisted mostly of nigiri, with a bit of sashimi and hand roll thrown in, and it was simply phenomenal.

Little Owl – The quintessential neighborhood restaurant, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more idyllic corner in NYC. Go for brunch, grab a coffee while you wait, and enjoy simple, classic, homey dishes such as mini meatball sliders (they’re famous for these), onion soup, and a selection of fresh eggs. Nothing here reinvents the wheel, but it’ll satisfy your brunch craving and is one of the coziest spots in the city.