Weekly NYC Blog Post - 4.4.2013

CHELSEA

The Cabanas at Maritime Hotel
I always see a line outside this random door at the Maritime and I could never figure out what it was for.  Turns out it's this almost secret backdoor entrance into The Cabanas, a fun indoor-outdoor bar/club on one side of the hotel.  I loved the look of the place with the plants, checkered beachy lounges and the pizza I had there was excellent!  I was there for a work event so obviously liked the people there.  I've heard that it can be a weird crowd otherwise but I can't say for sure.  It was nice enough that I would probably check it out again on a "regular" night although probably not worth waiting in line?

Photo Credit: Maritime Hotel Website

EAST VILLAGE

Balade
I bought a Livingsocial deal for this place because I've walked by it a few times and though it could be a fun girls night out dinner.  The interior is adorable with low lighting and live music.  Turns out all the things I wanted on the menu like the lamb chops and the fish weren't part of the deal (LAME).  The deal included two apps, four entrees, four desserts and a bottle of wine for four.  It was enough food but sort of hit or miss.  And the service was TERRIBLE.  I felt like our waitress couldn't give two sh-ts about us.

We started with a free bowl of Zaatar which is a spice mixture of dried wild thyme, sesame seeds and sumac which was kind of weird delicious.  I can't begin to describe the flavor but it was herby and sweet and so good on pita.  Highly recommend.

The grilled halloume cheese with grilled Cypriot cheese slices, tomatoes and cucumber was pretty lackluster and the desserts (we ordered most of the dessert menu) where all TERRIBLE.  The Nutella pancakes were soggy, the baklava was hard and both the ice cream and mousse-esk custard tasted like soap.  Not soup, SOAP.

The one redeeming dish was my entree order of hummus beef shawarma with tomatoes, scallions, parsley, sumac and onions.  It came with pickles and Tahini Sauce.  It was a large portion, the beef was well cooked, and the hummus had a lot of flavor.

Overall not a terrible experience but I don't really need to go back.  And it's definitely overpriced if you don't walk in with a deal.

Photo Credit: Balade Website

Mamoun's

This week seems to be all about the middle eastern/mediterrean because I also stopped by Mamoun's St Marks location on Sunday for a quick pita.  I tried the falafel (onions, parsley, garlic and spices) with lettuce, tomatoes and tahini and the shawarma.  The falafel one was good and only $3.00!!  It's mostly a take-out place but there are places to sit and the guy behind the counter was chill.  Not the best food I've ever had but good for what it is!

Mini Thai Cafe
I've now ordered takeout from this place twice so I can't speak to the restaurant experience but takeout has been quick, delicious AND cheap.  I ordered the chicken satay, veggie dumplings and the pad thai for a whooping $20 and that was plenty of food for two people.  The chicken shredded right off the stick (instead of being chewy and hard like a lot of satay) and the peanut sauce wasn't too "peanut-y" which I appreciated. The dumplings could've been a little crispier on the outside but were still good and the pad thai was outstanding both in portion size and price.  I will for sure order from them again.

 Photo Credit: Mini Thai Cafe Website

Ugly Kitchen
I feel like this place is a "work-in-progress" place.  It has everything it needs to be really great but just needs some polishing.  What's funny is that I was debating with my guy friend about how I really wanted to watch the NCAA playoffs at a bar that also had good food, good music and above all good cocktails.  He said no bar has TVs AND good cocktails.

We then randomly walked past Ugly Kitchen which appeared to have both!  What a win!  So, turns out the cocktails (we ordered the spicy mango and the ginger mint mojito) were sub pare.  Not BAD, just not good.  It tasted kind of watered down with juice and not very fresh.  Almost like they used mango juice from a jug.  But the inspiration behind them is right on track!  They just need to step up their game.  Same in the food department.  The menu SOUNDS incredible but the execution is just a little bleh.  The ugly pork buns weren't bad but weren't memorable either.

They've got the atmosphere and the music and the vision... they just need to take it from good to great.  I have hope for this place but also high expectations for next time I come back.  Come on owner!

 Photo Credit: Ugly Kitchen Website

Yuca Bar

My last review on Yuca Bar continues to hold its water.  I loved this place when I ate there in person and their takeout managed to astound me yet again.  To start, I will feeling SUPER lazy on Saturday and desperately wanted pancakes.  I figured 7A would be the best bet (literally next door) and they neither deliver nor do takeout.  Screw them.  So I called Yuca and one of the managers offered to deliver for me because they were having a slow morning (they don't normally do this).  That was going above and beyond and was SO nice of him.  HUGE points.

Not only that my food came fairly quickly and was just as good as it is in the restaurant (again keep in mind I live right by it).  I had the "Pankekes" (plain pancakes with tropical fruit and dulce de leche butter rum and maple syrup) and the Scrambled Egg Burrito (burrito with chorizo, jalapeno jack cheese, onion and tomato).  The pankekes were still warm and the syrup was sweet and thick... so warming.  The burrito was HUGE, hearty and hit the spot.  I saved the second half and ate it the next day and it was STILL good.  This place amazes me.  Top spot.


LOWER EAST SIDE

Max Fish
Saturday was NOT a good day... it was "Line Day" in the LES apparently.  We couldn't get into anywhere (granted we had a large group).  So we defaulted to Max Fish which I thought was pretty fun!  Certainly lively.  I think their PBRs are $4 too which is a nice change to the expense of LES elsewhere.  I wasn't in a great mindset that night but I still thought this place was pretty fun.  I might venture back!

Photo Credit: 43magazine.com 

MIDTOWN

Campbell Apartment
Another one of those random places that I've heard about but never managed to make it to.  It the former office and salon of John W Campbell, a tycoon from the 1920s.  It's since been converted into a cocktail club but has retained the original look of the salon.  I had a work event nearby and had to step in even just for one drink.  The place is SUPER yuppy but the bar itself is BEAUTIFUL.  Not sure I need to go back but you should stop in if nothing else just to make a circuit and check out the interior.  Again breathtaking architecture and design.  Don't need to go back but it's definitely a hit once.

Photo Credit: NYMag.com

On a side note, CA is located in Grand Central Station and there is only one entrance.  It's at the SW corner of Grand Central.  Below is a map to try and help you but you might need to wander a bit to find the correct door.

La Fonda Del Sol
On my way to Campbell Apartment, my coworkers insisted on stopping in here for drinks.  We ended up getting food as well and I was impressed with both my drink and two of the dishes.  One was the blistered shishito peppers with sea salt and Spanish olive oil.  Simple, done everywhere, but done well here.  The really winner was the Fig Montadito with Mita crema and orange honey on country bread.  The figs were HUGE, juicy and the orange honey added the perfect amount of sweetness.  Pretty sure I forked anyone who tried to share with me.  I'd come back just for that dish.  In terms of atmosphere it was pretty generic.  Some attractive suited people there for happy hour but meh.

Photo Credit: Fonda Del Sol Website

 

 
St Andrew Pub
Another work event (it must be that time of year), and I have to say.  Irish pubs don't really do it for me but the chicken fingers and sliders certainly did.  No need to come back but wouldn't hate it if I had to.

Photo Credit: St Andrew Website

WEST VILLAGE

Sotto 13
Sotto 13 was my very first Yelp Elite event!  The restaurant is gorgeous - clean lines, cool lighting fixtures, and rich mahogany (in the words of Ron Burgundy).  Granted it was a Yelp event so I feel like they were on their best behavior but the staff was extremely pleasant.  Sadly I thought the food and cocktails were only decent.  Probably falls into the category of "glad to have tried it; don't need to come back."

Photo Credit: Sotto 13 Website

(Sort of) Weekly NYC Blog Post 9.27.2012

With all the "specialty" blog posts recently it's been awhile since I've talked about food/drinks in NYC so here's your update.  I've been trying to delve into new areas of interest (cigar bars) and new neighborhoods (Little Italy).

EAST VILLAGE

Caracas Arepas
Okay I don't mean to sound like a jerk but I don't really get what all the hoopla is about this place.  It seemed crazy crowded when we got there at 7pm but we were seated almost immediately.

Photo Credit: Reina G from Yelp.com

I started with the Tostones Mochimeros which are fried green plantains topped with mojito mayo, a squeeze of lemon and white cheese.  I also added the table "sauce" for some added spice.  I felt like the plaintains were sort of crunchy like a cracker rather than a fried fruit and the toppings were kind of bland before I added the table sauce.  Good but not great.

Then I ordered the Los Muchachos arepa with grilled chorizo, spicy white cheese, jalapenos and sauted peppers.  Obviously it was meant to be hot but outside of the hotness there wasn't any other flavor.  I couldn't even tell what was in the dish without re-reading the menu.

Last up was the La de Pernil arepa with roasted pork shoulder, tomato slices and spicy mango sauce.  I thought this was much more balanced in terms of flavors but needed more than just meat and tomato to really round it out.  Oh and did I mention it took FOREVER to get our food?  I don't know.  Maybe my expectations were too high.  Not a bad meal but I don't need to go back.

Coopers
I wandered into this bar to meet up with friends to watch the football game around 2pm on a Sunday.  There was a fair amount of people around and a huge projector screen set up but still plenty of room to sit which I liked.  They had a good menu of craft beers including Hitachino White which is a favorite however my friends said the mussels and fries was sub-par so hard to say whether you should eat here or not.  We only hung out there for awhile but I like the look of the place, the waitress was super sweet and attentive and the general atmosphere was friendly and unpretentious.  I would definitely go back.

  Photo Credit: Coopers Website

The Immigrant
So this place was a little stressful at first because it fits very few people and my friend that I was with felt that there were a lot of open spaces which didn't sync with the fact they told us we had to wait for a spot.  Finally after some terrible communication skills on the bartender's part we ended up at the front table by the window (the best seat in the house).  After that squabble ended we had a lovely time and the service was great.  We didn't eat here; we just shared a great bottle of white wine and chatted.  I would come back here maybe at a time/day when it's less likely to be crowded although you could probably find a slightly less pretentious, equally delightful, tucked-away bar elsewhere in the East Village.

Photo Credit: Immigrant Website

 
Northern Spy Food
So this restaurant is suuuper interesting.  The first time I went I walked in on a special dinner they were doing; the theme was "Tomato."  You are supposed to reserve a table for this (4 courses for $50 a person) but they had an extra spot so we decided to stay and try it out!  I'm sort of bummed because I'm positive I took pictures of each course but they seem to have disappeared from my phone.  I at least snagged the menu so you can see the types of dishes they offered.  All four courses were tasted fresh, unique and delicious.  I was extra impressed how they could create four dishes all incorporating tomatoes that could all taste so different!

• Gazpacho with cucumber, red pepper and tomato sorbet
• Fried green tomatoes with peekytoe crab, corn and purslane (they held the crab for me)
• Heirloom tomato lasagna with fresh pasta, cottage cheese and spinach
• Tomato linzer torte with raspberries and lemon balm ice cream

I have since been back to Northern Spy Food for brunch over the past weekend and had another great experience.  This time I will also add that the service and the playlist are both GREAT.

 

Photo Credit: Northern Spy Food Website

I ordered the lemonade seltzer drink which is one of the best drinks I've had EVER (non-alcoholic), the biscuits, the bacon, and the pickled eggs.  The biscuits were a little oily and strangely hot in some parts and cold in others but overall they were good especially with the delicious jam that goes with it.  The bacon was a little "floppy" for me but I still ate around the fatty parts.  Lastly the pickled eggs came and they were PINK!  So crazy looking and very strange tasting (still not sure if I liked it or not) but it was fun to try something that looked and tasted so ridiculous.  If you want a culinary adventure I would order them.  I will definitely be back to this restaurant.

Royale
I came to Royale on a Sunday for a birthday party.  The birthday girl had reserved a table on the back outdoor patio which had access to one large flat screen showing football.  I really like the laidback atmosphere of the place - we ended up taking up a lot of space to play Apples to Apples and other boardgames (it was a princess themed party).  I also ordered the chicken fingers which come with BBQ sauce and honey mustard.  They were strange looking (were the size of actual fingers instead of the large flat pieces you usually see) but very tasty.  The breading was very light and the chicken tasted fresh.  Their onion rings were also amazing as they were mostly onion rather than breading and HUGE.  Oh and the Royale Burger is also sloppy, juicy deliciousness.

On the flipside the bloody marys here are TERRIBLE.  I ordered one and could barely take more than a sip and then ordered a second one assuming it was a fluke.  That one was equally as bad.  I recommend going with Bud Light - it never fails me.  I would definitely come back to take advantage of the patio again (the waitress was really nice too) to watch football.

Photo Credit: Yelp.com

Three of Cups
I met up with one of my friends on a lovely NYC day where the raining was pouring in buckets onto the streets.  My friend had to wring her socks out on arrival...twice!  So we were definitely in the mood to cozy up in the bar and chow down on red wine and piping hot pizza.  We were not disappointed.  We split the Sopressata pizza with Italian dried sausage with mozzarella and asiago cheese, onion and cherry peppers.  It was slightly spicy, super cheesy and crispy!  SOO GOOD.  I will definitely be back here.

 

Photo Credit: Three of Cups Website

Yuca Bar
I feel like Yuca Bar is my new "Cafeteria," that place I should've gone to the moment I moved to the East Village yet had never managed to get to.  Well boy have I been there now and I ate my face off.  I don't know what it is about college football and Bud Lights but boy do they make me crave Mexican food.  The place also has a super fun, lively atmosphere without being too hectic.

Photo Credit: Yuca Bar Website

I started off with the taquitos de carne which was skirt steak in soft tortilla topped with pico de gallo and cilantro cream. BUENO.

Then I moved on to the "albondigas" also known as Spanish meat balls in chipotle-tomato sauce topped with melted cheese.  BUENO.

And I finished with the arepa con carne which was a corn cake topped with shredded beef fricassee and drizzled with sour cream. MUY BUENO.

I will definitely be back here over and over and over again.


HELL'S KITCHEN

Hudson Terrace
Last December we had our holiday at the Hudson Terrace bar which was nice (for a work event) but I had never been to the actual terrace.  I had the "pleasure" of checking it out last Friday and I think I lasted maybe two seconds.  You either need to be 18 years old in a super slutty dress or 40 years old and looking to mack on 18 year old hookers.  I sadly no longer fit that description and felt immediately overwhelmed by the youthful shrieking going on around me.  However I did manage to try out the grapefruit mixed drink which was delightful.  Feel free to try this place out if you fit in the over/under age range or go DRUNK.  I will probably pass on this place moving forward.  Good luck!

LITTLE ITALY

Puglia
Okay I don't even know where to start with this one.  My friend suggested we go there because HE had a friend in town for her birthday and she loves musicals.  So somehow we end up going to Puglia for dinner because there is a man named Jorge who gets behind the keyboard and plays his own original song called, The Napkin Song.  When this plays you jump up on your chair and wave your napkin in the air.  It is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen - reminiscent of the shenanigans that occur at the dueling piano bar in historic San Diego.  We gorged on Italian food and wine with occasional interludes from Jorge.  It makes for an awesome birthday although the food isn't anything super special.  Also a great introduction to Little Italy.

 

MIDTOWN

Tenpenny 
After so often the managers from my work get together for a dinner and for this dinner the restaurant of choice was Tenpenny.  We had to order from a prix fixe menu which I was actually excited about because there was an appetizer, entree and dessert that sounded like they were right up my alley.  The first course was crispy artichokes with lemon aioli and hickory-smoked trout roe.  Deliciously crispy.
 

The next course was "fried chicken" with polenta, kalamata olives, spinach and tomato buerre blanc but the resulting presentation was REALLY weird.  The chicken was in chunks wrapped in fried dough that was fairly burnt.  The polenta came in squares with a weird jelly filling and the spinach was just lopped on the side by itself.  It was just not what I was expecting and not very good at that.  Pass on this course.

The final course was chocolate caramel mousse with espresso anglais and toasted hazelnuts which was creamy, chocolately heavenly.  The chocolate stick was an extra awesome touch.  Positive points on this one.

Overall the service was decent (it was a large group so I expected less personal attention) and the pretzel bread they serve is really yummy.  The one thing I highly recommend staying away from are the mixed drinks.  I ordered "The Ocelot" which is herradura blanco, jalapeno-lime cordial, aperol with a splash of soda.  It was TERRIBLE.  Like I almost spit it back up.  GROSS.  AVOID AVOID AVOID.  Worst drink I've ever had.  So overall gotta say that I don't need to come back although I do think there are good things on the menu so you should try it!

Photo Credit: Tenpenny Website

WEST VILLAGE

Bar and Books
This place makes me feel like I'm in an episode of Mad Men.  The entire place is made of what appears to be "rich mahogany" and red leather.  The smokey smell of cigars permeate the air mixing with the sweet aroma of port.  I could and have spent hours here and will go back again even after waking up smelling like an ashtray.  Get classy New York.  Hit up Bar and Books.  You will probably see me there...

Photo Credit: Bar and Books Website