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01/08/109:00 am

The 20 Best Dishes of 2009

Cane Rosso makes the cut
Erin Kunkel

No longer in a pre- or post-holiday stupor, we finally feel we've got the clarity to reflect on a year of eating. It took some sifting through our notebooks, some brain jogging, some staring off into space: And then it all came back to us with the shocking clarity that only memories of delicious meals can conjur up. Some of these dishes are from new restaurants, and some from old favorites. Either way, they all defined a moment.

JESSICA'S TOP 10

Obliterate shopping hunger at Tropisueño
Courtesy of Tropisueño

To those of you who are braving Union Square holiday shopping I say, Godspeed! I also say don’t forget to stop for lunch.

Here are my picks for the best inexpensive lunches in the Union Square area:

Muracci’s Japanese Curry and Grill

08/13/092:35 pm

Free drinks? We're in. Bring five friends for cocktails after work to Tropisueno, and you (the host) get to drink for free for the entire evening. Round up some buddies and get yourself smashed on Manuel's margaritas.

06/01/09 11:50 am
Restaurant Website: http://www.tropisueno.com

There’s not a whole lot of Latin flavor to be found right next to the Four Seasons, but this Mexican restaurant is straight from Central Casting, with heavy wooden furniture, punched tin lanterns, woven curtains and colorful bouquets of paper flowers. By day, the restaurant operates as a taqueria, while at night it puts on its finer-dining hat, with a full menu and table service.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>At lunch, choose from the usual suspects—tacos, quesadillas and burritos among them, all a good notch above average. Come dinner, choices expand to include ceviche, albondigas (meatball soup), a superb chicken mole and other substantial plates, many of which are served with rice and beans. Margaritas here are made with fresh juices and rimmed in spicy salt.</p>
12/08/0812:47 pm

Dodge the cold once you've had your ice skating fix and head to newcomer Tropisueno on Yerba Buena Lane where you can sample Jaliscan specialties and cocktails.