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.