So I've actually been traveling the last couple weeks (come back for a full report on my two weeks in Croatia in a week or so) so I'm just now posting some new eats in New York City. I just recently moved to the East Village so there's a bunch of great places I've discovered there and a couple Food Network chef restaurants I hit up in the past few weeks. Enjoy!
BROOKLYN
Do or Dine
I don't know how many of you are lovers of the Food Network but this season on Next Food Network Star I became completely obsessed with Justin, the young chef from Brooklyn. Such a bad ass. And then low and behold he wins! This prompted me to visit his restaurant as soon as possible before all of America decided to book a reservation (which is funny because they don't take them).
The restaurant is a little bit of a trek from the city to the Bedford/Stuyvesant area but TOTALLY worth it. The restaurant itself is a little small (bring more than four people and it might be a bit tricky to fit all of you at a table comfortably) but totally cool. It's hipster in the real way not the annoying "hipster" way. The tile floor features a skull and cross bones, the table tops are glass with flowers and other scenery underneath and if you are headed to the bathroom make sure to ask the bartender for a marker so that you can graffiti the wall (yup it's encouraged).
And when you are done loving the look of the restaurant you can begin focusing on the food which is probably the most random menu I've ever seen. My friend and I shared... the foie gras doughnut (famous), the fried chicken, the frog legs, the nachos, and the shishito peppers.
The doughnut - I'm glad I tried it but it wasn't my favorite. The doughnut was warm which was obviously a plus but I think foie gras and doughnut together is just a little too rich for me.
The fried chicken - Other people have given this bad reviews but I thought it was really tasty. It was fried the "good" way where there isn't too much breading and the ratio was a lot of chicken to two small waffles which I actually prefer. A lot of the places in LA overkill on the waffles. Lastly it had like a mango honey glaze which topped it off!
The frog legs - It was my first time having them so I can't really make comparisons but for my first foray into frog body parts I thought they were really good. Also they were cooked in a Dr. Pepper sauce which I thought was inventive and fun and still tasted great. They were also huge which I wasn't expecting and realistically tasted like chicken haha.
The nachos - The nachos were suggested by Justin himself who even after winning Star is still waiting the tables at his own restaurant which I thought was really cool. The "nachos" that came out were the strangest nachos I'd ever seen! They were really more like fried dumplings with gouda cheese inside and then covered in "nacho"-esk toppings. Regardless they were delicious!
The shishito peppers - I'm still having day dreams about the peppers I had at Blue Ribbon in Vegas so I felt bad for this dish. I thought it was an interesting idea to serve the peppers plain and then provide different powders to dip them in but at the end of the day the sea salt grilled peppers at Blue Ribbon just blew these away.
My final comment about the restaurant is that when it came to dessert, Justin very nonchalantly told us "We don't really do dessert. It's not our thing. We have assorted ice creams and serve a ice cream Snickers bar from the bodega down the street." My friend and I thought this was hilarious and ordered the Snickers. We started cracking up when it came cut in four pieces, still in the wrapper, topped with powdered sugar and a sliced strawberry. So hipster ironic haha. And it was delicious.
Overall loved this place and would totally come back. After reading some other reviews I also learned that they have an outdoor area too so I may have to try that next time. I highly recommend you try it!
My first reaction is "They have a website? How Brooklyn can they really be?" but then I remembered this bar had a taco truck inside the venue and jameson/PBR combos for like $6 a pop. My kind of party. Apparently they have live music to which is just another positive point. There's a small indoor area but it's the giant outdoor terrace that's the best part of this place. Grab a picnic table and a taco and get to drinking. Definitely need to hit this up in the daytime too.
CHELSEA
Bathtub Gin
It's been on the list forever and one of my best friends recently came to visit from LA so I took advantage of needing a place for us to share some cocktails and have her meet some of my NYC friends. Be on the lookout because the entrance looks like your standard coffee shop. Walk inside and head through the back door in yet another of NYC's great "speakeasy" bars. This one definitely tops my list though - and yes it does feature a bathtub... and some REALLY strong drinks. We also took advantage of the smores platter which was very tasty.
Scarpetta
Another one that was on my list (for those of you who read this often you know that I missed out on this restaurant in Vegas). My overall assessment was that it met expectations but didn't wow me. The burrata starter was awesome (I often feel like the cheese is too hard and it was soft and creamy).
CHINATOWN
Pulqueria
So I accidentally ended up at this joint because we tried to get into Apotheke next door which was next to impossible and we don't wait in lines. Turns out we walked into a tropical dance party instead! This place was awesome. The margaritas are strong yet tasty and they have nine million to choose from. It's small enough to be intimate but large enough to get your dance on to the great beats that are playing. I danced up a storm. Great place for a bday or bachelorette. I will definitely be back.
EAST VILLAGE
Bua
A tiny little bar that has a couple food options all of which look incredible although I wasn't there to eat. They make a MEAN pickleback though. Great place to go with your own group because you ARE the party.
Niagara
A little bit bigger of an option, also in the East Village. A little more of your standard divey bar. Good times here too.
FLATIRON
Sala One Nine
This is one of the last remaining restaurants I've been dying to try and luckily my best friend arriving from LA on a weeknight gave me the perfect excuse. I feel like decor-wise it's good to meet a friend or go on a first date because it's bustling but not too loud.
It's Spanish tapas so we shared an assortment of dishes...
Overall it was a delicious meal. My friend is fluent in Spanish and the waiter took a liking to her which resulted in free port and wine for the remainder of the meal. This place is awesome. I highly recommend.
MEATPACKING
Fatty Crab
Yes I keep on ending up here every once in awhile because it is so f-ing good. This time I did picklebacks which burned a hole down my esophagus and ordered the chicken wings which were spicy and savory. I love this place. And this time we sat at the bar and the bartender is awesome. You must go here.
MIDTOWN
Bar Americain
My other Food Network chef restaurant review is for this midtown establishment started by the famous Bobby Flay. The food was good but pretty standard in my book. The famous potato chips with blue cheese dressing really are the best thing on the menu. We ordered pasta, meatballs and an apple dessert. Again no special twist so not really my thing but not bad food by any means. The restaurant itself is very "business lunch/dinner" to me or maybe for a family graduation. They are known for their shellfish though so maybe I was just missing out on what makes this place special.
WEST VILLAGE
Turks and Frogs
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, I'm used to having a plethora of "coffee" shops which are really just hipster hangouts that serve coffee so that you have an excuse to sit around on a cushy couch and listen to music all day. So it was a slightly chilly New York summer evening and I was CRAVING a place that fit this description. Strangely Manhattan really has nothing like this. I checked Yelp and saw a couple similar type places in Brooklyn but I was wandering the Westside Highway at the time and couldn't be bothered to go that far.
That's when we wandered past Turks and Frogs. Granted it doesn't fit all the requirements (no music), but it did sport Turkish coffees, chocolates and cushy cushions in a dimly lit setting. Exactly what I was looking for. We sat around for a couple hours (we were trying to think of something that didn't involve drinking which is difficult to do in NYC on a Sunday evening) and this was the perfect answer. I plan on making this place a habit.
BROOKLYN
Do or Dine
I don't know how many of you are lovers of the Food Network but this season on Next Food Network Star I became completely obsessed with Justin, the young chef from Brooklyn. Such a bad ass. And then low and behold he wins! This prompted me to visit his restaurant as soon as possible before all of America decided to book a reservation (which is funny because they don't take them).
The restaurant is a little bit of a trek from the city to the Bedford/Stuyvesant area but TOTALLY worth it. The restaurant itself is a little small (bring more than four people and it might be a bit tricky to fit all of you at a table comfortably) but totally cool. It's hipster in the real way not the annoying "hipster" way. The tile floor features a skull and cross bones, the table tops are glass with flowers and other scenery underneath and if you are headed to the bathroom make sure to ask the bartender for a marker so that you can graffiti the wall (yup it's encouraged).
And when you are done loving the look of the restaurant you can begin focusing on the food which is probably the most random menu I've ever seen. My friend and I shared... the foie gras doughnut (famous), the fried chicken, the frog legs, the nachos, and the shishito peppers.
The doughnut - I'm glad I tried it but it wasn't my favorite. The doughnut was warm which was obviously a plus but I think foie gras and doughnut together is just a little too rich for me.
The fried chicken - Other people have given this bad reviews but I thought it was really tasty. It was fried the "good" way where there isn't too much breading and the ratio was a lot of chicken to two small waffles which I actually prefer. A lot of the places in LA overkill on the waffles. Lastly it had like a mango honey glaze which topped it off!
The frog legs - It was my first time having them so I can't really make comparisons but for my first foray into frog body parts I thought they were really good. Also they were cooked in a Dr. Pepper sauce which I thought was inventive and fun and still tasted great. They were also huge which I wasn't expecting and realistically tasted like chicken haha.
The nachos - The nachos were suggested by Justin himself who even after winning Star is still waiting the tables at his own restaurant which I thought was really cool. The "nachos" that came out were the strangest nachos I'd ever seen! They were really more like fried dumplings with gouda cheese inside and then covered in "nacho"-esk toppings. Regardless they were delicious!
The shishito peppers - I'm still having day dreams about the peppers I had at Blue Ribbon in Vegas so I felt bad for this dish. I thought it was an interesting idea to serve the peppers plain and then provide different powders to dip them in but at the end of the day the sea salt grilled peppers at Blue Ribbon just blew these away.
My final comment about the restaurant is that when it came to dessert, Justin very nonchalantly told us "We don't really do dessert. It's not our thing. We have assorted ice creams and serve a ice cream Snickers bar from the bodega down the street." My friend and I thought this was hilarious and ordered the Snickers. We started cracking up when it came cut in four pieces, still in the wrapper, topped with powdered sugar and a sliced strawberry. So hipster ironic haha. And it was delicious.
Overall loved this place and would totally come back. After reading some other reviews I also learned that they have an outdoor area too so I may have to try that next time. I highly recommend you try it!
My first reaction is "They have a website? How Brooklyn can they really be?" but then I remembered this bar had a taco truck inside the venue and jameson/PBR combos for like $6 a pop. My kind of party. Apparently they have live music to which is just another positive point. There's a small indoor area but it's the giant outdoor terrace that's the best part of this place. Grab a picnic table and a taco and get to drinking. Definitely need to hit this up in the daytime too.
CHELSEA
Bathtub Gin
It's been on the list forever and one of my best friends recently came to visit from LA so I took advantage of needing a place for us to share some cocktails and have her meet some of my NYC friends. Be on the lookout because the entrance looks like your standard coffee shop. Walk inside and head through the back door in yet another of NYC's great "speakeasy" bars. This one definitely tops my list though - and yes it does feature a bathtub... and some REALLY strong drinks. We also took advantage of the smores platter which was very tasty.
Photo Credit: Bathtub Gin website
Scarpetta
Another one that was on my list (for those of you who read this often you know that I missed out on this restaurant in Vegas). My overall assessment was that it met expectations but didn't wow me. The burrata starter was awesome (I often feel like the cheese is too hard and it was soft and creamy).
The
olive oil braised octopus with charred scallions, rice beans and
mantacato was really good although I just don't think I like octopus
that much.
My
rabbit agnolotti with peas and riesling-mustard reduction was good but
then made my stomach hurt (not sure why since I've eaten this dish many
times). Not sure if it was too rich or too many carbs?
I
then rescind my rabbit comment because I tried the duck and foie gras
ravioli with marsala reduction which was phenomenal and should've been
the richest thing on the menu. It was probably my favorite dish after
the burrata.
For
dessert we went with warm rhubarb tart with basil yogurt, macadamia
nuts and Chianti sorbet. It was SO good. All the different flavors
came together to create this sweet, sour, sugary, crunchy, melty taste.
Loved it.
The
amedei chocolate cake with salted caramel gelato and chocolate
butterscotch fell short. I feel like I can get this at every
restaurant.
Lastly
the restaurant itself was kind of standard. Nothing all that special
to it. The one thing I did like was they had belts around the mirrors
which was an interesting look. Dinner was good but for the price and
the experience I would recommend but not necessarily need to go back.
Photo Credit: Scarpetta Website
Pulqueria
So I accidentally ended up at this joint because we tried to get into Apotheke next door which was next to impossible and we don't wait in lines. Turns out we walked into a tropical dance party instead! This place was awesome. The margaritas are strong yet tasty and they have nine million to choose from. It's small enough to be intimate but large enough to get your dance on to the great beats that are playing. I danced up a storm. Great place for a bday or bachelorette. I will definitely be back.
EAST VILLAGE
Bua
A tiny little bar that has a couple food options all of which look incredible although I wasn't there to eat. They make a MEAN pickleback though. Great place to go with your own group because you ARE the party.
Photo Credit: Bua Website
Niagara
A little bit bigger of an option, also in the East Village. A little more of your standard divey bar. Good times here too.
Photo Credit: Filament F on Yelp.com
FLATIRON
Sala One Nine
This is one of the last remaining restaurants I've been dying to try and luckily my best friend arriving from LA on a weeknight gave me the perfect excuse. I feel like decor-wise it's good to meet a friend or go on a first date because it's bustling but not too loud.
Photo Credit: Sala One Nine Website
It's Spanish tapas so we shared an assortment of dishes...
We ordered the Serrano ham croquetas but they must have misheard us because we got the vegetarian ones instead. Turns out they were delicious so who cares. They were nice and hot and perfectly crispy on the outside.
The queso de cabra con miel (fried goat cheese with honey and candied onions) was far and away the highlight of the dinner. The onions add an interesting layer of flavor to the goat cheese balls. I was impressed that it wasn't too sweet too which sometimes this dish can be. We fought over who got to eat all of them.
The other two dishes were a steak with red pepper and figs with blue cheese and balsamic - both specials. The steak was well cooked but a little bland. The figs were almost overwhelmed by the blue cheese but that was held back by the sweetness of the balsamic.
Overall it was a delicious meal. My friend is fluent in Spanish and the waiter took a liking to her which resulted in free port and wine for the remainder of the meal. This place is awesome. I highly recommend.
MEATPACKING
Fatty Crab
Yes I keep on ending up here every once in awhile because it is so f-ing good. This time I did picklebacks which burned a hole down my esophagus and ordered the chicken wings which were spicy and savory. I love this place. And this time we sat at the bar and the bartender is awesome. You must go here.
MIDTOWN
Bar Americain
My other Food Network chef restaurant review is for this midtown establishment started by the famous Bobby Flay. The food was good but pretty standard in my book. The famous potato chips with blue cheese dressing really are the best thing on the menu. We ordered pasta, meatballs and an apple dessert. Again no special twist so not really my thing but not bad food by any means. The restaurant itself is very "business lunch/dinner" to me or maybe for a family graduation. They are known for their shellfish though so maybe I was just missing out on what makes this place special.
Photo Credit: Bar Americain Website
WEST VILLAGE
Turks and Frogs
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, I'm used to having a plethora of "coffee" shops which are really just hipster hangouts that serve coffee so that you have an excuse to sit around on a cushy couch and listen to music all day. So it was a slightly chilly New York summer evening and I was CRAVING a place that fit this description. Strangely Manhattan really has nothing like this. I checked Yelp and saw a couple similar type places in Brooklyn but I was wandering the Westside Highway at the time and couldn't be bothered to go that far.
That's when we wandered past Turks and Frogs. Granted it doesn't fit all the requirements (no music), but it did sport Turkish coffees, chocolates and cushy cushions in a dimly lit setting. Exactly what I was looking for. We sat around for a couple hours (we were trying to think of something that didn't involve drinking which is difficult to do in NYC on a Sunday evening) and this was the perfect answer. I plan on making this place a habit.
Posts
please keep sharing of knowledges with us.Thanks a lot for your great posting.
ReplyDeleteI love this post very much.please keep sharing of knowledges with us.
ReplyDelete