This week in the Times, Bruni goes to Shorty’s.32 and Smith’s, awards each restaurant one star. Says that at both, “Skill, standards and a few well-chosen grace notes lift what might otherwise be favored neighborhood charmers into a slightly loftier league.” Loves the chicken and all side dishes at Shorty’s, though says the chef is “overly fond of wet fish and wet food.” Um, yuck. At Smith’s, says the lamb and lobster are the way to go.

Also in the Times, Peter Meehan goes to Café Katja for $25 and Under. Finds the Austrian food simple but tasty, with lots of meat options that are good for snacking and good to drink with, which the restaurant accommodates with six beers on tap.

Alan Richman goes to T-Bar Steak & Lounge (pictured) on the Upper East Side for Bloomberg News, and about the nicest thing he has to say about it is “The food is OK.” Hates the noise, the décor, the wine list, the crowd, and the bathrooms, and while he does like three of the desserts, says that two of those three weren’t executed properly.

Paul Adams visits Community Food & Juice for the NY Sun, where he likes the comfort food and says brunch is worth the wait. “The eatables span a broad enough range to please most appetites," he says.

In the Daily News, Restaurant Girl two-stars 21 Club. “Where some classics are concern, the kitchen coasts on autopilot,” she says, despite the recent promotion of John Greeley to chef. However, “many menu warhorses have stood the test of time,” particularly the sirloin and the pommes soufflés, and she likes a number of the chef's new menu additions, like the mixed grill of game.

In the blogs, the Amateur Gourmet loves Kefi; Vittles Vamp visits Kim Paris Vietnamese Grill; Writing with My Mouth Full is at Noble Food & Wine; NYC Nosh goes to Adrienne’s Pizzabar; and Salli Vates stops by Del Posto.

Photograph of T-Bar Steak & Lounge from Bloomberg News