Weekly NYC Blog Post - 6.18.2012

Hey what do you know Blogger deleted my post again!  I'm about to switch systems because this is just getting ridiculous...

CHELSEA

Pounds and Ounces
I went here last night and the food was delicious!  It is very scene-y which you wouldn't think from the sign outside but it wasn't hard to get a table for two. You must check out the mural in the back - it's amazing. 

 Photo Credit: Pounds and Ounces Facebook page

We weren't that hungry so we opted for the bite-sized apps like the deviled eggs and the tuna bites.  The eggs could've been a little spicier but were still good and the tuna was very spicy with fresh fish.  Overall liked both of these but not the best versions I've ever had.

The Mac & Cheese Croquettes tasted exactly like toasted mac n' cheese and were really good.  Not sure the sauce did much for them though.

 

The Ribeye Sliders with bleu cheese, balsamic teriyaki and caramelized onions on an onion loaf were the big seller - super saucy and rich and tasty - YUM.

 

EAST VILLAGE 

Cafe Mogador
This place is SUPER cute and very East Village.  The wait wasn't too horrible for brunch on a Sunday and they had pretty solid Bloody Marys.  I had the spinach, goat cheese and diced tomato omelet which was really good but could've used a little more goat cheese.
 

 Photo Credit: Foursquare.com

Franks
I didn't even realize this was where I was eating until I asked the name of the restaurant.  It's small with cool knick-knacks and signage.  We sat outside on a weekday and didn't have to wait at all.  We shared the burrata mozzarella which I didn't really like because the cheese was too chewy but the tomatoes were perfectly ripe and delicious.  For an entree I had the rigatoni ragu with pork sausage which wasn't too spicy and had lots of meat - almost too much for me!

 

LOWER EAST SIDE

Beauty and Essex

 Photo Credit: Beauty and Essex Website

It was "go big or go home" Wednesday at Beauty and Essex and we ordered a ton.  I've been here for drinks but have never tried the food although I'd heard amazing things.

We started with the sashimi of tuna (Tonnato Style) with lemon zested olive oil, crunchy chorizo and sea salt which was good but not particularly memorable (you are about to see a theme here).

 

These were probably the second best things we had - bruschetta essentially.  We tried the whipped ricotta with roasted pumpkin, crispy sage, pumpkin seed oil and fig balsamic and the avocado, lemon and espelette.  The ricotta was delicious and the bread was nicely toasted (I like my toast a little burnt) but the pumpkin didn't really add much.  The avocado one just tasted like avocado paste.  Both had the beginnings of being really good but were missing that extra layer of taste.

These were my two favorite items - the charred shishito peppers and the grilled cheese, smoked bacon and tomato soup dumplings.  The peppers were piping hot in a nice sauce and the dumplings slid right off the spoon and were a mixture of amazing flavors that almost tasted like mac n' cheese as opposed to grilled cheese.  I think I stole about three of these...

While it was a beautiful presentation and all of meat, the heritage baby back ribs (Cuban style) with guava glaze and pickled green papaya slaw were also kind of tasteless.  It's so weird how all the dishes are beautiful but don't have much flavor.  So strange.  The papaya slaw was actually the most flavorful part!

Last and probably least were the oven braised chicken meatballs with sheeps milk ricotta and wild mushroom truffle.  As we know I'm not a huge fan of mushroom and now I'm not a huge fan of chicken meatballs.  The ricotta was the only winning part of this - some of the best cheese I've had... wonder where they buy it from.

My overall impression was the venue is really cool and our waitress was AWESOME (super sassy) but the food was like a top model - beautiful to look at with not much to keep you around.  I'll be back from drinks but probably not for dinner.


DL (old Ludlow Manor)
So the rooftop of the Ludlow Manor is now call the Down Low and will probably be changed to something new next week but despite what they are currently calling it this place was really cool.  The drinks are outrageously expensive ($7 HAPPY HOUR Bud Lights??) but the venue was like being in a tropical greenhouse lit with really cool lights.  It was peaceful but trendy and not too crowded.  Also you can just lounge around on giant couches without buying bottle service (that's a new one).  I'd come back just for the amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

 Photo Credit: DL Website

WEST VILLAGE

Half Pint
Randomly ended up here late night to meet up with friends and was starving.  Ordered the chicken pot pie which was smoking hot and mouthwatering.  Pretty sure I burnt all parts of my mouth because I couldn't wait to eat it.  I was not disappointed.

 Photo Credit: Half Pint Website

Highlands
Another one of those bars I've probably walked past nine million times and just realized was there.  The design of the venue is really cool, the crowd is chill even on a Saturday and the drinks looked good even though I didn't have one.  I will have to come back and investigate this one more since I was only there for a hot second.

Photo Credit: Highlands Website

Meme
Another place I've walked past a bunch but have always wanted to try.  Finally hit it up for dinner on Sunday and was not disappointed.  We got a seat immediately although unfortunately not outside.

The arugula and pomegranate salad with toasted pistachio, goat cheese and aged sherry vinaigrette was light, refreshing and very flavorful.  They included lots of tops (which you can't really tell here) which was nice because I'm not a huge fan of lettuce haha.

Also the fried artichoke starter with shaved manchego, baby greens and two sauces was also light and quite good.

And lastly the sangria was mighty tasty.  Overall I was really impressed with this place.  It's lowkey, doesn't take itself to seriously and is quiet so you can have good conversation.  Also it's nice to have a light dinner option in your back pocket for when you've had your fill of New York Italian.

Tortilla Flats
Another place I've been wanting to go to and now that I have I never need to go back.  This place is ONLY for partying and partying HARD.  The drinks are pretty terrible and not very strong, the food (I had Enchiladas verde) is terrible and the place is so crowded and loud that unless you are wasted all you want to do is leave.  Just saying.  Seen it.  Don't need to go back.

Weekly NYC Blog Post - 1.16.2012

So I've had a ton of people visiting this week and have thus been gorging myself on AMAZING food. Take a look at some of the top foodie places in NYC to indulge your sweet and savory tooth.

GRAMERCY / FLATIRON

Eataly
Mario Batali's famous Eataly is a market and restaurant in one. Literally every Italian item you could possibly want can be found here from meats, sauces and pastas to chocolate, gelato and cheeses. I haven't eaten at any of the restaurants because I heard they weren't the best but that the retail items are definitely worth it. Next time I go grocery shopping (which is never) this is going to be my new #1 choice. Anyone coming to NYC needs to take an impromptu tour through it.


Gramercy Tavern
Gramercy Tavern feels like walking into old New York even though it's only been around since 1994. The restaurant is wrapped in murals by Robert Kushner and the service is impeccable. It's on the bucket list for NYC dinner but we went for lunch. We shared the burger and pear salad both of which were excellent although not necessarily "inventive." I really liked it but probably don't need to go back. Everyone should experience it once though.


Pipa
Officially in the top rankings of my NYC restaurants, Pipa is a very romantic restaurants with low lighting created by tons of chandeliers juxtaposed by exposed brick and seashells. The food is Spanish tapas and delicious. We had the Bistec flatbread (grilled skirt steak, goat cheese, tomato, red onion, cabbage, chimichurri, and jalapeño), the beef meatballs (sofrito, green pepper demi-glaze, crème fraiche, and tomato), the catalan spinach (sautéed organic spinach, figs or golden raisins, and olive oil) and finally the tres leches (coffee genoise, banana ice cream, dulce de leche foam, dark chocolate espresso beans, and cocoa powder).

The flatbread was amazing with the steak perfectly cooked and the bread not too soggy. The other ingredients combined to make this a mouthwatering dish. The meatballs literally melt in your mouth (yeah I said it). Don't let them take the dish away after you're done - the sauce makes a great dip for bread. The catalan spinach was also tasty but not as memorable as was the tres leches (I hate banana so they exchanged this for another scoop of coffee genoise). Regardless I would definitely come back here (although since then I've eaten at their sister restaurant ABC Kitchen which is even better so hard to say).


Union Square Cafe
This place felt like the brunch spot of a trendy grandma or the perfect place for a bridal party but I loved it. When you walk in there is a bar of whiskeys the color of worn musical instruments. Absolutely beautiful. We went for lunch and my dish was delicious. I had the butternut squash tortelli with cranberries, balsamic, and sage brown butter. The tang of the cranberries and the sweetness of the brown butter paired perfectly and the butternut squash wasn't too sweet which is often the case. I also tried the butternut squash soup and the lasagna bolognese with ricotta, pioppini mushrooms, and pesto, both of which were excellent. The lasagna was one of the prettiest dishes I've ever seen. I will definitely be back here for brunch.



LES

Beauty and Essex
So this place got me excited at first! You walk into what looks like a pawn shop and then walk through the back door into a multi-level lounge/bar/restaurant. The decor is very very cool but the clientele kind of sucked. We didn't stay long...probably thanks to the whiskey shots. I might wander back at some point but hard to say.

PKNY
I would've walked by this place assuming it was abandoned if it weren't for the massive line outside. Luckily, the bouncer and I had a great convo about the trials and tribulations of living in Compton and he let us in without a wait. Thank you USC. This place may teeter on having a "C" rating but I kinda liked it!



MIDTOWN

Yakitori Totto
So I'm a bit of a Japanese food snob having been to Japan and lived in Los Angeles, which I contend has some of the best Japanese food in the U.S. That being said, Totto was tasty!!!

Yakitori for those of you who don't know are essentially skewers of different foods. We also had a couple other dishes as well. Everything we tried was really good but I ranked them from favorite to least anyways.

1) Harami Skirt Steak
2) Maguro Zuke (tuna sashimi in garlic-flavored soy sauce)
3) Kawa (chicken skin)
4) Tori Dango (steamed rice dumplings with chicken meatballs inside)
5) Amakara Age (sweet spicy deep-fried chicken)
6) Bacon-wrapped asparagus

The restaurant itself is inconvenient because it's in Midtown and rather standard in terms of decoration but I will definitely come back for the food anytime I'm in this area again.

Photo Credit: Totto Website

SOHO

The Dutch
I've passed this place a ton of times and FINALLY had a good reason to go. The setup is pretty trendy, the music loud, the bar crowded, but it's a fun scene. I will be the first to admit that I was pretty hungover when we came here which is a huge bummer but even with that "hanging" over my head I can say that my dish, the pecan duck with celery and organic dirty rice and the brussel sprouts with bacon and horseradish were SO good.

I also tried the spaghetti with black kale carbonara and a farm egg and the heirloom cauliflower with pear and sage which were both good as well but not the best I've ever had. I do like how you smash/stir the egg into the pasta though - that was fun. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling that great and didn't get to try the dessert here which I'd been really excited for so I will definitely be back - probably for drinks and dessert rather than dinner since the wait is ridiculous.


NOLITA

1534
So I found this place by walking down the street, seeing stairs leading into a basement and walking down them. Sorry Mom; that happened. This bar is tiny, dimly lit, feels like a speakeasy (yes another one of those) and has STRONG drinks. My favorite part about it are the Bar Rules:

1. You must enjoy yourself here.
2. Do not take yourself too seriously.
3. Do not sit quietly at the bar. You must engage in conversation.
4. We drink to be merry not to be boring.
5. If a beautiful woman/man is by themselves, you must attempt conversation and attempt courtship
6. When an awesome power ballad is playing you must sing along
7. Never pass up a free shot from a staff member
8. Finally, bad decisions are celebrated here not condemned. . .No judging.

Photo Credit: Ashley S. on Yelp.com

TRIBECA

Locanda Verde

Ranking right up there with ABC Kitchen (that review is coming next week) and Pipa, this restaurant combines homey with classy. It also featured some of the best individual dishes I've had in New York like the sheep’s milk ricotta with sea salt and herbs, the lamb meatball sliders with caprino and cucumber (some people order these as dessert) and the tagliatelle with bolognese.

I also tried the Locanda salad of bitter greens, dried cherries, hazelnuts and smoked speck and the fire-roasted garlic chicken (you can actually order this for one person FYI) which were also good but not my favorites. The chicken was almost too garlicky for me. We topped the night off with La Fantasia di Caramello for One which features caramel gelato, sour apple sorbetto, pieces of apple, gingerbread croutons and peanut brittle with coffee caramel drizzled on top. The gingerbread croutons were AMAZING - I kept rooting around the bowl to find them all.

Yet another great date option (if any boys are reading this figure it out!) or a fun birthday restaurant.