Brains and Bugs: Edible Halloween Thrills
Updated: October 14, 2008
Revelers can't live on candy alone, especially those who have passed the ripe old age for trick-or-treating. The rest of us have to get our thrills somehow--so check out these six highly regarded restaurants serving freaky foods that make for a hair-raising first bite.
Good but Ghoulish Grub
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Chez Napoleon
Read Reviews365 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019 (map)
Make like a zombie and lurch over to this classic French spot for some brains ... calf's brains, that is. The food is prepared by the owner's grand-mere, but don't be lulled into thinking you're safe--if "Shaun of the Dead" taught us anything, it's that even nice elderly ladies can be among the undead.
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Casa Mono
Read Reviews52 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003 (map)
Mario Batali is not afraid of a little dinner-time shock value--we at Citysearch mourn the loss of Babbo's dish of duck testicles. Thankfully, his Spanish outpost serves up duck's hearts and cock's combs that aren't for the faint of heart.
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Ba Xuyen Inc
Read Reviews4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (map)
The odor of the durian has been compared to vomit, skunks and rotten eggs. This Brooklyn banh mi favorite offers it in the form of a milkshake for the truly brave.
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Ollie's Restaurant
Read Reviews2957 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 (map)
Think that $10 will limit you to the duller realms of cuisine? Think again--this popular Chinese spot offers pig's intestine and stomach and chicken gizzard for less than a sawbuck. Also of interest is the sauteed pork uteri with fresh garlic, a dish that would send Dracula scrambling.
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Toloache
Read Reviews251 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019 (map)
Normally, restaurants try to avoid bugs in their food, lest they get paid a visit by the Department of Health. Not this new Mexican cantina--order the Chapulines and the crunch in your taco will come from crispy grasshoppers.
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Sel et Poivre
Read Reviews853 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021 (map)
Beware of scaring off your date with this classic French cuisine. Get free frogs legs with your meal at Frog Leg Happy Hour from Oct 14-31, Monday through Friday, 4pm-6:30pm, in honor of the ghoulish holiday.
