Lucy Latin Kitchen (www.lucylatinkitchen.com, 19th btwn Park and Broadway near Union Square.) is one of those great restaurants to go to with your girlfriends after work for fun food and even funner drinks. Well, it could just be that that's what I did...and what most of the tables around me were doing.
First, the drinks. My watermelon mojito was utterly delish. Sweet but not syrupy, refreshing and not overly mashed. I didn't end up with chunks of mint in my mouth like I did with the mango mojito at Mercadito Grove. Maybe my next blog should be a mojito search. Anyway, Vanessa had a Gingerita that was out of this world. It was uber tasty, with a gingery kick and totally unique taste. Jenn had the frozen Strawberry Pisco Sour. What's Pisco? No idea. But it was an amazing frothy strawberry goodness...with egg whites. Ok, now that is a little weird in retrospect. Regardless, HIGHLY recommend the drinks here.
The food...good stuff, if not super duper out of this world. We ordered a series of 'tasting' options so we could get a good sample. The empanada tasting gave us two small manchego/spinach puffs, a larger crab/shrimp concoction and a larger ropa vieja (old clothes) pocket. They were all fried and quite tasty, not at all drowning in their own oil. The sauces strewn across the plate were great for adding a little extra taste.
The ceviche tasting was also good, though a bit lopsided. By far, the best of the three was the hamachi ceviche, which features a citrus marinade and shredded jicama and green apple. Simply excellent. I could have picked up the little cup and drank the acidic sauce. The red snapper with olives and capers was a little far from what I expect in a ceviche. More Mediterranean than Latin, and it wasn't my favorite. The Rainbow ceviche, an Asian-influenced option, included tuna, salmon and snapper in a soy-sesame-citrus sauce. It was excellent, but paled in comparison to the hamachi. Mwah!
The highlight of the meal may have been the lobster guacamole, worth every cent of the $19 it cost. It felt like a never-ending plate of guac, with large chunks of lobster spread throughout. It was obviously fresh, bright green with plenty of tasty cilantro and lime. The chips it was served with where light and fresh-tasting, not overly oily on the lips. It was simply delicious. I would go back for this in a heartbeat.
We wrapped it up with a side of fried plantains. Instead of the sweet, slightly mushy fruit that I love, these were quarter-inch thick, length-wise slices of not-quite-ripe enough plantains. They were unremarkable, and we could have done without.
All in all, decent food and drinks...a great after work spot. Consider getting drinks and gorging on the guac. It's worth the trip.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
New NY Times Darling - Light Horse Tavern, Jersey City
I had a meal last night that makes me not want to eat for a while. Between being SO stuffed and SO SO SO sated and deliriously happy, I want nothing to even try to top it.
Being that I'm playing the B&T gal these days, I thought maybe I should try eating on my home turf in NJ, specifically down the road in Jersey City. At the recommendation of my friend's colleague, we made reservations at Light Horse Tavern (http://www.lighthorsetavern.com/, Washington Ave, JC, NJ) for dinner on this cool Wednesday night.
Seriously. SERIOUSLY. DE-LISH. From the pack of cute guys having after work drinks at the bar to our shared dessert, this place delighted. Shall I share details? Of course.
Melissa and I were very promptly seated at a table upstairs in the loge after grabbing drinks at the bar. The waiter was attentive, save for one lapse during the meal when Meli needed some more wine, and was super helpful with the really freaking good menu. The selection featured anything from a burger to pork chops to halibut...classic American cuisine with polished twists in sauces and sides. There is a regular daily special each week (Wednesday is a giant crab cake with goat cheese ravioli), and a couple of off-page entrees. Now, if I was a real food critic, being paid to do this, we would have ordered a better variety, but here's how it went down:
We settled on the mussels appetizer, a bowl of tender mussels poached in Chimay (a Belgian beverage), shredded shallots and garlic, with tiny cubes of bacon and blue cheese that had melted into the broth. Big enough to share, with two baguette crostinis perfect for dipping, this was one of the best batches of mussels that I've had, surpassing even Monk's in Philly. The blue cheese added a tang to the broth that was unmistakably familiar, but still subtle. Meli and I said that you could have poured us a glass of the broth, and we would have drunk it, it was so tasty.
For dinner, we both had the crabcakes and ravioli. The ravioli were done al dente with delicious seasoning in the cheese. (I need to find a way of making them at home!!) Served with roasted roma tomatoes and a light tangy sauce (described on the menu as horseradish and lemon, but tasting much lighter than that), the enormous crab cake was much more crab than cake. Giant chunks of lump crabmeat melted in my mouth, and the seasoning was just right. Honestly and sadly, I couldn't finish it, though I tried valiantly. SOOOOOO good. It was one of the best entrees I've had in a very long time.
Finally, though we were stuffed to the gills, we ordered one of the specialty of the house desserts, a chocolate chip bread pudding. Soft, smooth and molded into a dainty cup, this silky bite of heaven had chocolate chips melting throughout and a small scoop of caramel gelato on top, with a thin chocolate wafer. We inhaled it, sadly enough. Yes, full as can be, but everyone knows there is a separate compartment for dessert. And this one fit right in it.
The food absolutely fits the restaurant at this place. The gorgeous space with the classic tin roofs, original artwork, large windows and well-spaced tables matches perfectly with the delicious American cuisine. It feels open and airy, but still comfortable with candles twinkling on the tables, bar and antique-looking furniture scattered around the rooms. It just feels good. And tastes good, of course.
Btw, check out the NY Times review of the place at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/10dinenj.html?ref=nyregionspecial2
Being that I'm playing the B&T gal these days, I thought maybe I should try eating on my home turf in NJ, specifically down the road in Jersey City. At the recommendation of my friend's colleague, we made reservations at Light Horse Tavern (http://www.lighthorsetavern.com/, Washington Ave, JC, NJ) for dinner on this cool Wednesday night.
Seriously. SERIOUSLY. DE-LISH. From the pack of cute guys having after work drinks at the bar to our shared dessert, this place delighted. Shall I share details? Of course.
Melissa and I were very promptly seated at a table upstairs in the loge after grabbing drinks at the bar. The waiter was attentive, save for one lapse during the meal when Meli needed some more wine, and was super helpful with the really freaking good menu. The selection featured anything from a burger to pork chops to halibut...classic American cuisine with polished twists in sauces and sides. There is a regular daily special each week (Wednesday is a giant crab cake with goat cheese ravioli), and a couple of off-page entrees. Now, if I was a real food critic, being paid to do this, we would have ordered a better variety, but here's how it went down:
We settled on the mussels appetizer, a bowl of tender mussels poached in Chimay (a Belgian beverage), shredded shallots and garlic, with tiny cubes of bacon and blue cheese that had melted into the broth. Big enough to share, with two baguette crostinis perfect for dipping, this was one of the best batches of mussels that I've had, surpassing even Monk's in Philly. The blue cheese added a tang to the broth that was unmistakably familiar, but still subtle. Meli and I said that you could have poured us a glass of the broth, and we would have drunk it, it was so tasty.
For dinner, we both had the crabcakes and ravioli. The ravioli were done al dente with delicious seasoning in the cheese. (I need to find a way of making them at home!!) Served with roasted roma tomatoes and a light tangy sauce (described on the menu as horseradish and lemon, but tasting much lighter than that), the enormous crab cake was much more crab than cake. Giant chunks of lump crabmeat melted in my mouth, and the seasoning was just right. Honestly and sadly, I couldn't finish it, though I tried valiantly. SOOOOOO good. It was one of the best entrees I've had in a very long time.
Finally, though we were stuffed to the gills, we ordered one of the specialty of the house desserts, a chocolate chip bread pudding. Soft, smooth and molded into a dainty cup, this silky bite of heaven had chocolate chips melting throughout and a small scoop of caramel gelato on top, with a thin chocolate wafer. We inhaled it, sadly enough. Yes, full as can be, but everyone knows there is a separate compartment for dessert. And this one fit right in it.
The food absolutely fits the restaurant at this place. The gorgeous space with the classic tin roofs, original artwork, large windows and well-spaced tables matches perfectly with the delicious American cuisine. It feels open and airy, but still comfortable with candles twinkling on the tables, bar and antique-looking furniture scattered around the rooms. It just feels good. And tastes good, of course.
Btw, check out the NY Times review of the place at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/10dinenj.html?ref=nyregionspecial2
East Japanese Restaurant: So So Sushi Experience
I’m a little delayed with this entry, but alas, here it is.
Sunday afternoon, I ate one of the great guilty pleasures in life – movie theater popcorn –while watching Ocean’s 13. (Though this isn’t a movie blog, I will give a brief overview: funny writing, good comedic timing, cute flick. You don’t see an Ocean’s movie without knowing how it will end. However, the one-liners, delivered in a charming deadpan by attractive people in great clothes…good stuff!!)
But I digress. It’s been so long since I had the popcorn that I can’t recall when they moved the butter to a DIY operation. And DIY I did. Not too much, just enough to get a taste of that so-bad-for-you buttery goodness. Hey, we all have to venture down the truly unhealthy path once in a while.
After the flick, my girlfriends and I made our way to East Japanese Restaurant, a kaiten (conveyor belt) style sushi restaurant at 366 3rd Ave, between 26th & 27th. Review: Eh. The experience is great…attentive wait staff constantly refill your water glass and tea cups, and there is a never a lack of ginger or wasabi, as small vats sit on the table. An array of nigiri and maki, as well as dessert items, roll past on a conveyor that goes by the tables and the sushi bar. As my friend Charlotte mentioned, it’s a fun place to take a sushi newbie.
The rolls are by far better than the nigiri pieces. California, Spicy Tuna, Philadelphia, etc etc etc. Just grab and go. However, the pieces of sushi were on the less fresh side on this particular Sunday afternoon. Not to the point of making me or one of my dining companions ill, but definitely not the crisp flavor that you can find up the street at my favorite sushi joint, Choshi. The best nigiri piece I had was the wasabi masago, which was delightfully, sinus-clearing spicy. I just love the feeling of the little masago-thingamajigs popping in my mouth!!
Price range from $2.25 - $4.50 and the variety is impressive. You end up with a stack of plates that are color coded to reflect the price, so when you’re done, the waitress picks up the plates and quickly calculates your bill. It’s similar to the dim sum method, and nearly as cheap. For three of us to eat until we were pretty darn full, we only rang up a $40 tab…far cheaper than I can rack up myself at some of the showier sushi places. (Note: the do special Tuna and Salmon nights on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, where the fish of the day is even cheaper. If only I lived closer…)
So, for a quick bite, fun little experience and OK, if not great, sushi, stop on in.
Sunday afternoon, I ate one of the great guilty pleasures in life – movie theater popcorn –while watching Ocean’s 13. (Though this isn’t a movie blog, I will give a brief overview: funny writing, good comedic timing, cute flick. You don’t see an Ocean’s movie without knowing how it will end. However, the one-liners, delivered in a charming deadpan by attractive people in great clothes…good stuff!!)
But I digress. It’s been so long since I had the popcorn that I can’t recall when they moved the butter to a DIY operation. And DIY I did. Not too much, just enough to get a taste of that so-bad-for-you buttery goodness. Hey, we all have to venture down the truly unhealthy path once in a while.
After the flick, my girlfriends and I made our way to East Japanese Restaurant, a kaiten (conveyor belt) style sushi restaurant at 366 3rd Ave, between 26th & 27th. Review: Eh. The experience is great…attentive wait staff constantly refill your water glass and tea cups, and there is a never a lack of ginger or wasabi, as small vats sit on the table. An array of nigiri and maki, as well as dessert items, roll past on a conveyor that goes by the tables and the sushi bar. As my friend Charlotte mentioned, it’s a fun place to take a sushi newbie.
The rolls are by far better than the nigiri pieces. California, Spicy Tuna, Philadelphia, etc etc etc. Just grab and go. However, the pieces of sushi were on the less fresh side on this particular Sunday afternoon. Not to the point of making me or one of my dining companions ill, but definitely not the crisp flavor that you can find up the street at my favorite sushi joint, Choshi. The best nigiri piece I had was the wasabi masago, which was delightfully, sinus-clearing spicy. I just love the feeling of the little masago-thingamajigs popping in my mouth!!
Price range from $2.25 - $4.50 and the variety is impressive. You end up with a stack of plates that are color coded to reflect the price, so when you’re done, the waitress picks up the plates and quickly calculates your bill. It’s similar to the dim sum method, and nearly as cheap. For three of us to eat until we were pretty darn full, we only rang up a $40 tab…far cheaper than I can rack up myself at some of the showier sushi places. (Note: the do special Tuna and Salmon nights on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, where the fish of the day is even cheaper. If only I lived closer…)
So, for a quick bite, fun little experience and OK, if not great, sushi, stop on in.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Mercadito Grove: Tasty plates to share
So, after having munched on the mashed potatoes and whatnot in the afternoon, I still had a late dinner to go to last night with my friend Carolyne. Shout out, girl, it was good to see you!!
We headed at a friend's recommendation (thanks Jamie!) to Mercadito Grove, a cevicheria on 7th Ave at Grove St. in the West Village. We didn't call ahead, figuring that at 9:15 on a Friday we wouldn't need to, and were seated at an outdoor table in just a few quick minutes. Aside from the ridiculously loud talker sitting next to Carolyne at the next table - and hollering into his cell much to the chagrin of his companion - and the busboy trying to take the guacamole before we were done, it was a pretty decent dining experience.
We each had mango mojitos, which were somewhat underwhelming. The mint was almost too mashed, and kept ending up in my mouth when I was trying to sip. Chunk of mango were great, but more nectar and less fruit would have improved it.
Sidebar: How stupid is the idea of having the car insurance Cavemen on TV? Ugh. (Sorry, commercial caught my attention)
We ordered three of the orders that are designed for sharing. First was the mango guacamole with chips that were a little greasier than I would have liked. The guac was super flavorful - bites of mango and lots of spice. Not sure if it was cumin or something else, but it was good. Second, we had the scallop ceviche. Excellent. I could eat a vat of it...and it's not bad for you!! With tomatoes, red onion, avocado and ample citrus, the ceviche was fresh and delicious. Served with more of the chips. Finally was the ancho chili rubbed pork mini-tacos. Four to a plate and SO good. They were smoky and spicy and tangy all at once. Chunks of pepper and pork in these delicate little 2" diameter corn tortillas. Excellent.
This is one of those places that I'd like to go back and try all the ceviches. The table next to us had a sampler, and I nearly reached over and took some. All in all, a nice dinner with fresh, tasty food.
We headed at a friend's recommendation (thanks Jamie!) to Mercadito Grove, a cevicheria on 7th Ave at Grove St. in the West Village. We didn't call ahead, figuring that at 9:15 on a Friday we wouldn't need to, and were seated at an outdoor table in just a few quick minutes. Aside from the ridiculously loud talker sitting next to Carolyne at the next table - and hollering into his cell much to the chagrin of his companion - and the busboy trying to take the guacamole before we were done, it was a pretty decent dining experience.
We each had mango mojitos, which were somewhat underwhelming. The mint was almost too mashed, and kept ending up in my mouth when I was trying to sip. Chunk of mango were great, but more nectar and less fruit would have improved it.
Sidebar: How stupid is the idea of having the car insurance Cavemen on TV? Ugh. (Sorry, commercial caught my attention)
We ordered three of the orders that are designed for sharing. First was the mango guacamole with chips that were a little greasier than I would have liked. The guac was super flavorful - bites of mango and lots of spice. Not sure if it was cumin or something else, but it was good. Second, we had the scallop ceviche. Excellent. I could eat a vat of it...and it's not bad for you!! With tomatoes, red onion, avocado and ample citrus, the ceviche was fresh and delicious. Served with more of the chips. Finally was the ancho chili rubbed pork mini-tacos. Four to a plate and SO good. They were smoky and spicy and tangy all at once. Chunks of pepper and pork in these delicate little 2" diameter corn tortillas. Excellent.
This is one of those places that I'd like to go back and try all the ceviches. The table next to us had a sampler, and I nearly reached over and took some. All in all, a nice dinner with fresh, tasty food.
Rescued from the Humidity by ASPEN
I forgot how much I dislike the humidity of the mid-Atlantic summer. That persistent stickiness, particularly when walking through the city, is just irritating. But all the more excuse to try a new bar, which is what I did yesterday.
After spending an hour with NY's finest, trying to get an accident report from a fender bender, I got a call from my friend Melissa to meet in the Flatiron for a drink. We stumbled upon Aspen (http://www.aspen-nyc.com/, 22nd btwn 5th & 6th), and wandered into the bar. Dark panelled, ski-lodge looking in front, as the name implies, and bright and warm in the restaurant-focused back, this place maybe a new favorite.
We sat at the bar and ordered drinks that were appropriately strong for a tired Friday afternoon. It's not a big happy hour place, so at 5:30 or so, there were only a handful of people in the bar, giving you the undivided attention of the great bartender. In need of munchies, we asked for menus, and the bartender (bartendeuse for a woman?) was helpful in pointing out some options that would satisfy the vegetarian diet of my friend. The food is tapas style - small plates - but with a gourmet southwestern flair. We settled upon two small plates for our little happy hour buffet, the Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Tamale and the Mashed Potato Sampler.
Seriously. Good. Stuff. I was shocked to find a random bar with such good munchies! The tamales came two to a plate, piled with a bunch of tortilla strips, and were delish. The mushrooms offered a gentle meaty flavor without the heaviness of beef or pork, and the goat cheese imparted that great goat tang. The yellow mole added a smokiness flavor without overpowering the dish.
But the real winner were the Mashed Potatoes. Now, I confess that I love mashed potatoes, but these were particularly good. Piped onto the plate in three elegant mountains paired with three separate dipping sauces in lieu of gravy, these were phenomenal to the taste. First was the wasabi potatoes with a ponzu dipping sauce, which were just spicy enough without the taste being wasabi-centric. Really good. The second, yellow potatoes with beurre blanc were just about average. The butter was rich and tasty, but it was the only one of the three that didn't stand out. Finally, my favorite, the mashed sweet potatoes with a mojito sauce. I love sweet potatoes anyway, but these weren't crazy sweet like yams...just right. The mojito sauce - a delectable combination of garlic, onion, lime, oregano and fresh parsley - was an unexpected delight to dip tiny bites of potato in. The sweet/sour blend...just tasted great. I wish I could come up with more creative words but really, it was just that good.
This place has great drinks, great food...and a spare room for parties with a big table in the middle. Great option for dinner, drinks or anything in between.
After spending an hour with NY's finest, trying to get an accident report from a fender bender, I got a call from my friend Melissa to meet in the Flatiron for a drink. We stumbled upon Aspen (http://www.aspen-nyc.com/, 22nd btwn 5th & 6th), and wandered into the bar. Dark panelled, ski-lodge looking in front, as the name implies, and bright and warm in the restaurant-focused back, this place maybe a new favorite.
We sat at the bar and ordered drinks that were appropriately strong for a tired Friday afternoon. It's not a big happy hour place, so at 5:30 or so, there were only a handful of people in the bar, giving you the undivided attention of the great bartender. In need of munchies, we asked for menus, and the bartender (bartendeuse for a woman?) was helpful in pointing out some options that would satisfy the vegetarian diet of my friend. The food is tapas style - small plates - but with a gourmet southwestern flair. We settled upon two small plates for our little happy hour buffet, the Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Tamale and the Mashed Potato Sampler.
Seriously. Good. Stuff. I was shocked to find a random bar with such good munchies! The tamales came two to a plate, piled with a bunch of tortilla strips, and were delish. The mushrooms offered a gentle meaty flavor without the heaviness of beef or pork, and the goat cheese imparted that great goat tang. The yellow mole added a smokiness flavor without overpowering the dish.
But the real winner were the Mashed Potatoes. Now, I confess that I love mashed potatoes, but these were particularly good. Piped onto the plate in three elegant mountains paired with three separate dipping sauces in lieu of gravy, these were phenomenal to the taste. First was the wasabi potatoes with a ponzu dipping sauce, which were just spicy enough without the taste being wasabi-centric. Really good. The second, yellow potatoes with beurre blanc were just about average. The butter was rich and tasty, but it was the only one of the three that didn't stand out. Finally, my favorite, the mashed sweet potatoes with a mojito sauce. I love sweet potatoes anyway, but these weren't crazy sweet like yams...just right. The mojito sauce - a delectable combination of garlic, onion, lime, oregano and fresh parsley - was an unexpected delight to dip tiny bites of potato in. The sweet/sour blend...just tasted great. I wish I could come up with more creative words but really, it was just that good.
This place has great drinks, great food...and a spare room for parties with a big table in the middle. Great option for dinner, drinks or anything in between.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Catching Up: A Retrospective
I’ve been thinking about this whole blog thing for a while, if only to get my favorite restaurants down somewhere so I don’t forget them. So I think I’ll use one entry – this one – at the start of the blog to make a laundry list of my favorites and with quick ‘reviews’. Then I can do longer ones if and when I go back and can actually remember what I ate!! Besides, I’m trapped in a window seat on a plane and SO don’t want to do work.
Tia Pol, 22nd & 10th, Manhattan
Tiny, itty-bitty little tapas bar with about 10 tables and 6 seats at the bar, but a local favorite in Chelsea. When Jenn and I went, we made reservations for 6 p.m. on Sunday and already there were some people waiting for tables. GREAT sangria, that just kept coming out of that seemingly little jug! The chorizo sausage was spicy and rich, but the best plate we had were the ham croquetas. No joke, we got a second order, even though we weren’t exactly starving. Crisp on the outside, smooth and creamy on the inside. 150% better than the ones at another tapas favorite (Sala 19) in NY. My mouth, despite still being full from last night at the Cosmopolitan, is actually watering as I write. This one is a winner.
Obika Mozzarella Bar, via Prefetti, Rome, Italy
Yes, Rome. Roma. Sigh. I was recently on vacation with some friends in Rome and the place was listed in someone’s guidebook. Three of us went for lunch on a Monday, and found a bright, almost California-esque environment with a combination of locals and tourists, enjoying a leisurely lunch. The house white was excellent…but then again, to my uneducated palette, house wines in Italy and France often exceed the $12 glasses of Sauvignon I get in NY. Subscribing to the ‘when in Rome’ philosophy, we ordered a degustazione dei mozzarella…five different types of mozz on a bed of greens with pine nuts and raisins scattered on top. OMG. I was in cheese heaven. There were three fresh ‘balls’ of varying firmness and saltiness, a smoked ball that was a little overly smoky but good, and a bowl of burata, a creamy shredded mozzarella combined with a ricotta like cream. Great on the bread provided. I’m dreaming of going back. My spinach/mushroom salad that I got as a main course was standard, with crisp fresh veggies and walnuts. Good enough, not that I was still hungry after the mozz. My friend’s couscous looked good, with chunks of sun dried tomato and raisins, but her boyfriend’s ‘new potato salad’ was actually covered with shredded tuna fish. Read the Italian menu closely…he doesn’t like tuna!!
Matyson, 19th St, Philadelphia
OK, so I have to confess. I haven’t been in over 2 years, but I still refer people here, and it continues to come back with raves. A little BYO that opened near my old apartment, this place is run by a husband and wife team. He’s the chef, she does the pastries. And do they ever ‘do’ food. For the life of me I can’t recall what I ate, only that was just that good. I love BYOs…being able to bring you own bottle, and then spend your money enjoying the food. That’s my type of place.
Court Street, 6th & Washington, Hoboken, NJ
Good, if not great, local restaurant with an excellent Sunday brunch deal. $8.95 gets you a good meal…your choice from a laundry list of brunch options, Irish Soda Bread (at least I think that’s what it was), and coffee. According to a friend, they make a pretty great Bloody Mary, but I can’t attest…never did drink much in the morning. I had the spinach quiche, which was good…I quite enjoyed it. Vanessa, who I was with, had an omelette that looked pretty good. All in all, not bad for the price.
Elephant & Castle, 7th & Greenwich, Manhattan
Hands down one of the best, comfiest, burger joints MI’ve been to. Thanks to Melissa and Derek for introducing me to it. I always end up with the same thing – a drink and a goat cheese and spinach burger that ends up falling apart from the slippery sautéed spinach, but tastes so good regardless. Accompanied by crispy fries. Tiny tables squished together make me long for a cold, snowy night so this can legitimately be the comfy shelter that it feels like. This place is one of my favorite standbys.
Café Orlin, St Marks Place, Manhattan
My favorite brunch place, and not just because of some funny memories. Though the service has suffered in recent years – we were served the wrong order and argued with about it – the food is still great. I had a goat cheese omelette, served with their standard breakfast potatoes and warm, crispy rye bread that you can only find in NY. Great coffee, fresh squeezed OJ…somehow it just makes you feel good. Be prepared to wait on a weekend once the NY morning sets in.
Koi, West Hollywood, CA and Bryant ParkHotel, Manhattan
Yep, I bought into the over-priced sushi and scene and love it. Just before I moved out of LA, my friend Ginny and I went here…when in doubt, hit the sushi bar. As late as 7 on a Friday night you can usually walk in and find a seat there. Making a reservation is absolutely necessary for tables though. Even beyond the near collision between Ginny and a very skinny Nicolette Sheridan, dining with her boyfriend Michael Bolton, the night was good. Service at the sushi bar is great…no pushy chefs trying to shuffle you on your way, and access to the complete sushi and specialty menu. Try the crispy spicy tuna. They take the nigiri sushi rice, four pieces, and lightly pan fry it til crispy, then top it with spicy tuna, like what is in a roll, not a slab of fish. Add a sliver of jalapeno and some soy, and this is seriously the bestestest fish. Ginny’s favorite was the baked crab hand roll…buttery snow crab and rice wrapped in soy paper. Simply delish.
OK, getting tired, so here are some quick ones…
Spice, 10th & University, Manhattan
Cheap standby with good, fresh Thai food. Great prix fixe lunch under $10. Try the spring rolls.
Café Spice, Various, NY/NJ
Good Indian food, great buttery garlic naan.
Karma Cafe, Hoboken
Speaking of Indian, this is my favorite around. Excellent food, good service.
Aroma, Hoboken
OK Chinese and sushi. Pretty fresh, very reasonably priced, fast delivery.
City Bistro, Hoboken
Good food. GOOD. On the higher end of the Hoboken establishments, but my ultra rich red-wine-steak-chocolate-for-dessert dinner was well worth it. Delightful.
Blue Fin, Times Square
Yeah, I know, Times Square is a tourist hell hole. Agreed. But I still like this place. The lobster avocado salad is crisp and fresh.
Thalia, 8th Ave @ 51st, Manhattan
Eh. So so. Over exuberant waitress. OK food in ginormous portions. Overpriced for the quality.
Mesa Grill, lower 5th Ave, New York
LOVE Bobby Flay’s restaurants. I’m such a Food Network groupie. Super rich, manly southwestern fare. The ancho rubbed pork tenderloin was sooooooo good, esp with the rich sweet tamale as a side. My brother’s venison was perfect and his friend’s steak was gone before we could ask how it was. Didn’t try the desserts, we were so full from dinner.
Bar Americain, Theater District, New York
Bobby’s newest one…good, and we didn’t really experience it all. Chowder made with sweet potatoes instead of white was great. Clams were a little small, but the oysters made up for it. Mussels in a wine sauce made for a great meal. Again, passed on dessert to make it to a show. (Incidentally, go see Spring Awakening!!)
Best Martini – French Martini, Balthazar, NY
Best Fries – Belgian Pomme Frites at Monk’s, Philadelphia
Best Airline Food – Virgin Atlantic
Best Pizza – Town Spa, Stoughton, MA (don’t expect NY-style…this is Greek-style, single person pies. Ham & pineapple rocks)
Best Cannoli – Mike’s Pastry’s, Boston
Best Farmer’s Market – Santa Monica, CA, Saturday a.m.
Best Gourmet Burger – Father’s Office, Santa Monica
Best Fish Taco – Rubio’s, CA
Best Beer Selection – Sunset Bar & Tap, Allston, MA
Best Chain Restaurant – Bertuccis
Best Local Favorite – Penny’s Noodles, Chicago, IL (I’m going in a few weeks when I’m there, come hell or high water)
Best Sushi – Hide Sushi, West LA, CA
Best Random Find – Taipan, Westport, CT (nothing authentic about it, but so damn tasty)
Best Soft Serve – Murmac’s in Stoughton, MA or Stew Leonards, various
Best Greek Hole-in-the-Wall – Effie’s, Philadelphia (bring a bottle or two and order a gazillion appetizers)
DON’T GO HERE
Mama Mexico, Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Ugh. Yuck yuck yuck. And yet, I’ll end up going back because it’s close to work and can seat a group. Maybe it’s the couple of years spent living in SoCal, but I just can’t get used to this place. For some reason, the food is drenched in sauces, softening perfectly crispy taco shells and tostadas. The saving grace might be the guacamole, but try to remember to tell them to use a little less garlic. Between that and the onions, you’ll end up breathing dragon breath for the rest of the day. It’s also overpriced, but I guess they can get away with that in that area.
Tia Pol, 22nd & 10th, Manhattan
Tiny, itty-bitty little tapas bar with about 10 tables and 6 seats at the bar, but a local favorite in Chelsea. When Jenn and I went, we made reservations for 6 p.m. on Sunday and already there were some people waiting for tables. GREAT sangria, that just kept coming out of that seemingly little jug! The chorizo sausage was spicy and rich, but the best plate we had were the ham croquetas. No joke, we got a second order, even though we weren’t exactly starving. Crisp on the outside, smooth and creamy on the inside. 150% better than the ones at another tapas favorite (Sala 19) in NY. My mouth, despite still being full from last night at the Cosmopolitan, is actually watering as I write. This one is a winner.
Obika Mozzarella Bar, via Prefetti, Rome, Italy
Yes, Rome. Roma. Sigh. I was recently on vacation with some friends in Rome and the place was listed in someone’s guidebook. Three of us went for lunch on a Monday, and found a bright, almost California-esque environment with a combination of locals and tourists, enjoying a leisurely lunch. The house white was excellent…but then again, to my uneducated palette, house wines in Italy and France often exceed the $12 glasses of Sauvignon I get in NY. Subscribing to the ‘when in Rome’ philosophy, we ordered a degustazione dei mozzarella…five different types of mozz on a bed of greens with pine nuts and raisins scattered on top. OMG. I was in cheese heaven. There were three fresh ‘balls’ of varying firmness and saltiness, a smoked ball that was a little overly smoky but good, and a bowl of burata, a creamy shredded mozzarella combined with a ricotta like cream. Great on the bread provided. I’m dreaming of going back. My spinach/mushroom salad that I got as a main course was standard, with crisp fresh veggies and walnuts. Good enough, not that I was still hungry after the mozz. My friend’s couscous looked good, with chunks of sun dried tomato and raisins, but her boyfriend’s ‘new potato salad’ was actually covered with shredded tuna fish. Read the Italian menu closely…he doesn’t like tuna!!
Matyson, 19th St, Philadelphia
OK, so I have to confess. I haven’t been in over 2 years, but I still refer people here, and it continues to come back with raves. A little BYO that opened near my old apartment, this place is run by a husband and wife team. He’s the chef, she does the pastries. And do they ever ‘do’ food. For the life of me I can’t recall what I ate, only that was just that good. I love BYOs…being able to bring you own bottle, and then spend your money enjoying the food. That’s my type of place.
Court Street, 6th & Washington, Hoboken, NJ
Good, if not great, local restaurant with an excellent Sunday brunch deal. $8.95 gets you a good meal…your choice from a laundry list of brunch options, Irish Soda Bread (at least I think that’s what it was), and coffee. According to a friend, they make a pretty great Bloody Mary, but I can’t attest…never did drink much in the morning. I had the spinach quiche, which was good…I quite enjoyed it. Vanessa, who I was with, had an omelette that looked pretty good. All in all, not bad for the price.
Elephant & Castle, 7th & Greenwich, Manhattan
Hands down one of the best, comfiest, burger joints MI’ve been to. Thanks to Melissa and Derek for introducing me to it. I always end up with the same thing – a drink and a goat cheese and spinach burger that ends up falling apart from the slippery sautéed spinach, but tastes so good regardless. Accompanied by crispy fries. Tiny tables squished together make me long for a cold, snowy night so this can legitimately be the comfy shelter that it feels like. This place is one of my favorite standbys.
Café Orlin, St Marks Place, Manhattan
My favorite brunch place, and not just because of some funny memories. Though the service has suffered in recent years – we were served the wrong order and argued with about it – the food is still great. I had a goat cheese omelette, served with their standard breakfast potatoes and warm, crispy rye bread that you can only find in NY. Great coffee, fresh squeezed OJ…somehow it just makes you feel good. Be prepared to wait on a weekend once the NY morning sets in.
Koi, West Hollywood, CA and Bryant ParkHotel, Manhattan
Yep, I bought into the over-priced sushi and scene and love it. Just before I moved out of LA, my friend Ginny and I went here…when in doubt, hit the sushi bar. As late as 7 on a Friday night you can usually walk in and find a seat there. Making a reservation is absolutely necessary for tables though. Even beyond the near collision between Ginny and a very skinny Nicolette Sheridan, dining with her boyfriend Michael Bolton, the night was good. Service at the sushi bar is great…no pushy chefs trying to shuffle you on your way, and access to the complete sushi and specialty menu. Try the crispy spicy tuna. They take the nigiri sushi rice, four pieces, and lightly pan fry it til crispy, then top it with spicy tuna, like what is in a roll, not a slab of fish. Add a sliver of jalapeno and some soy, and this is seriously the bestestest fish. Ginny’s favorite was the baked crab hand roll…buttery snow crab and rice wrapped in soy paper. Simply delish.
OK, getting tired, so here are some quick ones…
Spice, 10th & University, Manhattan
Cheap standby with good, fresh Thai food. Great prix fixe lunch under $10. Try the spring rolls.
Café Spice, Various, NY/NJ
Good Indian food, great buttery garlic naan.
Karma Cafe, Hoboken
Speaking of Indian, this is my favorite around. Excellent food, good service.
Aroma, Hoboken
OK Chinese and sushi. Pretty fresh, very reasonably priced, fast delivery.
City Bistro, Hoboken
Good food. GOOD. On the higher end of the Hoboken establishments, but my ultra rich red-wine-steak-chocolate-for-dessert dinner was well worth it. Delightful.
Blue Fin, Times Square
Yeah, I know, Times Square is a tourist hell hole. Agreed. But I still like this place. The lobster avocado salad is crisp and fresh.
Thalia, 8th Ave @ 51st, Manhattan
Eh. So so. Over exuberant waitress. OK food in ginormous portions. Overpriced for the quality.
Mesa Grill, lower 5th Ave, New York
LOVE Bobby Flay’s restaurants. I’m such a Food Network groupie. Super rich, manly southwestern fare. The ancho rubbed pork tenderloin was sooooooo good, esp with the rich sweet tamale as a side. My brother’s venison was perfect and his friend’s steak was gone before we could ask how it was. Didn’t try the desserts, we were so full from dinner.
Bar Americain, Theater District, New York
Bobby’s newest one…good, and we didn’t really experience it all. Chowder made with sweet potatoes instead of white was great. Clams were a little small, but the oysters made up for it. Mussels in a wine sauce made for a great meal. Again, passed on dessert to make it to a show. (Incidentally, go see Spring Awakening!!)
Best Martini – French Martini, Balthazar, NY
Best Fries – Belgian Pomme Frites at Monk’s, Philadelphia
Best Airline Food – Virgin Atlantic
Best Pizza – Town Spa, Stoughton, MA (don’t expect NY-style…this is Greek-style, single person pies. Ham & pineapple rocks)
Best Cannoli – Mike’s Pastry’s, Boston
Best Farmer’s Market – Santa Monica, CA, Saturday a.m.
Best Gourmet Burger – Father’s Office, Santa Monica
Best Fish Taco – Rubio’s, CA
Best Beer Selection – Sunset Bar & Tap, Allston, MA
Best Chain Restaurant – Bertuccis
Best Local Favorite – Penny’s Noodles, Chicago, IL (I’m going in a few weeks when I’m there, come hell or high water)
Best Sushi – Hide Sushi, West LA, CA
Best Random Find – Taipan, Westport, CT (nothing authentic about it, but so damn tasty)
Best Soft Serve – Murmac’s in Stoughton, MA or Stew Leonards, various
Best Greek Hole-in-the-Wall – Effie’s, Philadelphia (bring a bottle or two and order a gazillion appetizers)
DON’T GO HERE
Mama Mexico, Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Ugh. Yuck yuck yuck. And yet, I’ll end up going back because it’s close to work and can seat a group. Maybe it’s the couple of years spent living in SoCal, but I just can’t get used to this place. For some reason, the food is drenched in sauces, softening perfectly crispy taco shells and tostadas. The saving grace might be the guacamole, but try to remember to tell them to use a little less garlic. Between that and the onions, you’ll end up breathing dragon breath for the rest of the day. It’s also overpriced, but I guess they can get away with that in that area.
On the Road: The Cosmopolitan Cafe, San Francisco
As I type, I'm hanging out in my San Francisco hotel room, still achingly full from a very good dinner at The Cosmpolitan Cafe (121 Spear St., San Francisco http://www.thecosmopolitancafe.com/index_cos.cfm) Somehow I think my brand new Joe’s Jeans are going to be less comfortable tomorrow than they were yesterday.
After negating slew of recommendations from Vanessa (thanks, buddy!!), I came across this restaurant on the new-and-improved CitySearch. On a side note: What took CS so long to provide the ' you might also like' recommendations?
My close college friend (Hilary) and I made same-hour reservations, walked around the Ferry Building for a little bit, then headed to the restaurant at 7:30 on Wednesday night. Conveniently situated just off the Embarcadero at the foot of the financial district, the restaurant has a low key after-work crowd, scattered between the bar and the dark toned, well-windowed dining room. It looks something like a combination of NY steak house and hotel lounge. They even had a live pianist, playing just loud enough to hear, but not so loud that we couldn’t have very serious girl talk. I think the music is nightly, Weds through Sat, but check the website for details.
We were seated immediately by the super friendly hostess. Our fantastic waiter, Patrick, was prompt and polite, offering suggestions and pointers on the menu. He knew the wines by the glass well, and shared at the onset which desserts needed to be pre-ordered because they are made from scratch. What gave away my passion for dessert? Especially those made from scratch!
My friend and I got glasses of wine (Matua Sauvingnon Blanc for me….so good Riesling for her) and shared the Calamari and Artichoke Fritto Misto. A little heavy on the fritto and light on the squid, but very tasty. The batter was crisp to the point of falling off the fork, and it was served with both tartar and sweet and sour sauce, but none of the more traditional marinara. I’ve never seen artichoke hearts done like that, and they were very good, but I would I have liked a liked thicker pieces of calamari.
For entrees, we ordered two of the waiter’s recommendations - Pan Seared Rare Yellow Fin Tuna with Jasmine Rice Salad for my friend and Sauteed Dayboat Sea Scallops, Oxtail Risotto Black Trumpet Mushrooms, White Truffle Oil for me – and shared both of them.
DEEE-LISH. The three scallops were perfectly tender with none of that slight fishiness that comes from having been stored over time in a restaurant fridge. The risotto was rich and creamy, and the shredded oxtail on top provided a nice meaty taste, without being overpoweringly greasy. (Incidentally, what is oxtail? I choose to believe it’s just good ol’ beef, but I’m guessing not. That will be my next wiki search.) I don’t know for sure what truffle oil added to the dish, other than $5, but it sure tasted yummy. One of the best risottos I’ve had in a long time, but certainly not something you can eat every night. Hmm...I should try making risotto at home sometime.
Hilary’s tuna was excellent. Fresh and firm, with none of that nasty mealiness from some of the sushi restaurant back home in Hoboken. It was coated in an herb mixture that added a little salty and some crisp flavor and seared very slightly, leaving all the flavor of the fish. The Jasmine Rice salad was cool without being chilled, with the rice kernels, as Hilary put it, not totally overcooked, giving it an almost nutty texture. The Ponzu sauce lightl
y surrounding it was an excellent addition, but the pieces de resistance were the tempura’d pea pods stacked artfully on top with a tasty wasabi sauce drizzled over them. SOOOOO good. Crispy but tender, utterly tasty. I couldn’t help by steal an extra off her plate. Now that…that I could eat every day.
And onto dessert, as if we were even slightly hungry. We had already put in an order for the Chocolate Bread Pudding…more on that in a sec.
Sidebar: Hil and I went to undergrad in Boston, home of Mike’s Pastries, the best Italian pastry shop in the North End. As freshman, my folks had taken us there, and introduced my Nebraskan roommate to cannolis. Whenever our folks were in town, we ended up there. Gotta love Mike’s cannolis. And so it was only natural that when Hil saw the Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cannolis with a warm fruit compote on the menu she had to order it.
I give the cannolis a 6 – good for a restaurant, but certainly not North End material. Two pieces with light wafer-thin shells, o.k. filling sitting on more compote than there was pastry. So so. The Bread Pudding – 10 10 10 10 10. I can honestly say this might be one of the best desserts ever. It’s no wonder CitySearch named Cosmpolitan the dessert spot in SF. Light and fluffy on the outside with local chocolate gently melted in the middle and a delicate scoop of ice cream on top. It was music to my over-stuffed tummy. The chocolate was not over done, just enough to get a taste on most bites, and the ice cream added a little richness to the fluffy bread. Unreal.
The bill – not terrible. $63/each, including tip and tax. Made even better by the fact that I was traveling for work!
On the whole – SO good. It’s a great, easy option in SF with excellent service and yummy food. Easy street parking or garages nearby. Highly recommended.
After negating slew of recommendations from Vanessa (thanks, buddy!!), I came across this restaurant on the new-and-improved CitySearch. On a side note: What took CS so long to provide the ' you might also like' recommendations?
My close college friend (Hilary) and I made same-hour reservations, walked around the Ferry Building for a little bit, then headed to the restaurant at 7:30 on Wednesday night. Conveniently situated just off the Embarcadero at the foot of the financial district, the restaurant has a low key after-work crowd, scattered between the bar and the dark toned, well-windowed dining room. It looks something like a combination of NY steak house and hotel lounge. They even had a live pianist, playing just loud enough to hear, but not so loud that we couldn’t have very serious girl talk. I think the music is nightly, Weds through Sat, but check the website for details.
We were seated immediately by the super friendly hostess. Our fantastic waiter, Patrick, was prompt and polite, offering suggestions and pointers on the menu. He knew the wines by the glass well, and shared at the onset which desserts needed to be pre-ordered because they are made from scratch. What gave away my passion for dessert? Especially those made from scratch!
My friend and I got glasses of wine (Matua Sauvingnon Blanc for me….so good Riesling for her) and shared the Calamari and Artichoke Fritto Misto. A little heavy on the fritto and light on the squid, but very tasty. The batter was crisp to the point of falling off the fork, and it was served with both tartar and sweet and sour sauce, but none of the more traditional marinara. I’ve never seen artichoke hearts done like that, and they were very good, but I would I have liked a liked thicker pieces of calamari.
For entrees, we ordered two of the waiter’s recommendations - Pan Seared Rare Yellow Fin Tuna with Jasmine Rice Salad for my friend and Sauteed Dayboat Sea Scallops, Oxtail Risotto Black Trumpet Mushrooms, White Truffle Oil for me – and shared both of them.
DEEE-LISH. The three scallops were perfectly tender with none of that slight fishiness that comes from having been stored over time in a restaurant fridge. The risotto was rich and creamy, and the shredded oxtail on top provided a nice meaty taste, without being overpoweringly greasy. (Incidentally, what is oxtail? I choose to believe it’s just good ol’ beef, but I’m guessing not. That will be my next wiki search.) I don’t know for sure what truffle oil added to the dish, other than $5, but it sure tasted yummy. One of the best risottos I’ve had in a long time, but certainly not something you can eat every night. Hmm...I should try making risotto at home sometime.
Hilary’s tuna was excellent. Fresh and firm, with none of that nasty mealiness from some of the sushi restaurant back home in Hoboken. It was coated in an herb mixture that added a little salty and some crisp flavor and seared very slightly, leaving all the flavor of the fish. The Jasmine Rice salad was cool without being chilled, with the rice kernels, as Hilary put it, not totally overcooked, giving it an almost nutty texture. The Ponzu sauce lightl
y surrounding it was an excellent addition, but the pieces de resistance were the tempura’d pea pods stacked artfully on top with a tasty wasabi sauce drizzled over them. SOOOOO good. Crispy but tender, utterly tasty. I couldn’t help by steal an extra off her plate. Now that…that I could eat every day.
And onto dessert, as if we were even slightly hungry. We had already put in an order for the Chocolate Bread Pudding…more on that in a sec.
Sidebar: Hil and I went to undergrad in Boston, home of Mike’s Pastries, the best Italian pastry shop in the North End. As freshman, my folks had taken us there, and introduced my Nebraskan roommate to cannolis. Whenever our folks were in town, we ended up there. Gotta love Mike’s cannolis. And so it was only natural that when Hil saw the Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cannolis with a warm fruit compote on the menu she had to order it.
I give the cannolis a 6 – good for a restaurant, but certainly not North End material. Two pieces with light wafer-thin shells, o.k. filling sitting on more compote than there was pastry. So so. The Bread Pudding – 10 10 10 10 10. I can honestly say this might be one of the best desserts ever. It’s no wonder CitySearch named Cosmpolitan the dessert spot in SF. Light and fluffy on the outside with local chocolate gently melted in the middle and a delicate scoop of ice cream on top. It was music to my over-stuffed tummy. The chocolate was not over done, just enough to get a taste on most bites, and the ice cream added a little richness to the fluffy bread. Unreal.
The bill – not terrible. $63/each, including tip and tax. Made even better by the fact that I was traveling for work!
On the whole – SO good. It’s a great, easy option in SF with excellent service and yummy food. Easy street parking or garages nearby. Highly recommended.
What is "It Just Tastes Good"?
What is this, you may ask? It's a whim. I'm an amateur foodie who loves going out to eat and loves to write. Put the two together and you get this blog.
And the name? I don't claim to be the all-knowing diner...subtle nuances are often lost on me, wine lists are gibberish, and I have student loans that make dining out too often a scary proposition. But I know when it just tastes good.
Read if you want, ignore if you want. I don't claim that my opinion matters that much! Feel free to respond, make suggestions or join me. Guest post if you'd like. Pass it along to whomever you want. This is just my little hobby/experiment, and I'm honored you're reading my words.
And remember....go where It Just Tastes Good.
And the name? I don't claim to be the all-knowing diner...subtle nuances are often lost on me, wine lists are gibberish, and I have student loans that make dining out too often a scary proposition. But I know when it just tastes good.
Read if you want, ignore if you want. I don't claim that my opinion matters that much! Feel free to respond, make suggestions or join me. Guest post if you'd like. Pass it along to whomever you want. This is just my little hobby/experiment, and I'm honored you're reading my words.
And remember....go where It Just Tastes Good.
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