I guess that after Chef Dominique Ansel created the buzz with his Cronut that he was selling with limited quantity, causing very long lines around the block of his bakery in Soho, this has proved to be a good recipe for success. Is it what The Hive in Hoboken tried to do with its cinnamon rolls? Maybe. What is sure is that they have been quite successful! These cinnamon rolls are only available on the weekend, with a limited number, selling within one hour apparently. So we had to try it to understand what the craze was about. I admit that the first time we did not realize it was only offered on the weekend and went on…
Last Saturday, I was invited at Kings of Kobe in the Newport Mall, in Jersey City. Let’s first clarify one thing: there is no Kobe beef there, but rather American Wagyu, served in different forms: steaks, burgers, hot dogs or chili. Located across from the Cheesecake Factory, Kings of Kobe is fairly big with, on one side, a large bar, and the other, the dining room where upbeat music is played while you are waiting for your meal.
It’s been a while since I wanted to try Dim Sum Sam in Times Square. We went a couple of times and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. From outside, you would think that it is a small place, but it has a large dining room in the back as well as upstairs. This is more a casual spot where you will order at the counter and they will assign a number. You then go to the dining room, passing the kitchen with peking ducks hanging, where a TV will…
Continuing to explore to Tin Building by Jean-George, we decided to try The Frenchman’s Dough, the chef’s French take on an Italian restaurant, serving pasta and pizza, the latter cooked in a wood fire oven that you can see in the back of their open kitchen.
Shokudo opened in March 2020, right at the beginning of Covid 19, that is quite courageous, although I am sure that they wanted to open earlier, but getting permits from the city can be challenging and they not have had any other choice. So, why having another Japanese restaurant in Hoboken, Robongi, Yeung II, Sushi Lounge or Illuzion already feeding the Hobokenites hungry for sushi?
I discovered Aux Merveilleux de Fred many years ago, thanks to my friends Caroline and Arnaud, at a time where this fantastic shop was not yet in New York. The merveilleux is a cake that originated in Belgium, that consist of two light meringues that sandwich some whipped cream and are also covered in whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. Chef Frédéric Vaucamps, Fred, decided to…
We like to explore the area near Grove Street in Jersey City as there are plenty of interesting places to try there. So, that time, we decided to go for a brunch to South House, a huge place that serves a Southern fare.
We sat in their front area that had this nostalgic atmosphere, with all these paintings on the wall and the wooden doors that gave me the impression I was going into a farmhouse, especially after seeing the milk cans that are used for tables.
It’s been a while since I wanted to try Jollibee, a Filipino chain with over 1,500 stores worldwide that opened its first location in the United States in Daly City, California on June 13th, 1998, and then opened a large spot in Times Square in August 2022. But it is not in Times Square that I tried it, but in Jersey City, a quieter location for sure!
I am not sure how many BBQ places Hoboken needs, having already House of Que and Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque. But, I will not complain, to the contrary as I love Barbecue and Mighty Quinn’s is a great place to get some awesome slowed cooked meat.
What I love about this place is the variety of starters that are great for sharing or trying many dishes rather than settling for the usual curry or noodles. Here is what we had there:
Of course, I went for my usual Thai Iced Tea that I love!
We were going to South Street Seaport for an art show and were looking for a place to eat where I found Tajin, a Mexican restaurant located few blocks from the World Trade Center. This was the wrong choice unfortunately as we will discover it…
From what I understand, Sophra means in Turkish, a table set to eating a meal. And this was a nice meal that we had at Sophra Grill Midtown East. This casual place is a hidden gem that offers a wide range of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes.
I started our meal there with Ayran, a yogurt drink that has a slight salty taste, very similar to doogh that you would get in Persian restaurants.
Chili vs Cafe China seems to have been a story for some time, people confusing sometimes the two places. In fact, Chili is located where Cafe China used to be before deciding in 2021 to move two blocks away to a bigger location. Soon after, several former employees opened Chili and there has been a bit of a dispute as Cafe China accused Chili to copy their menu. I admit that when I saw the menu at Chili, I saw few similar items like the tea smoked duck, that made me think that it was owned by the same people.
Laree Adda in Jersey City was not really our first choice when going to Grove street, our first target being closed when we arrived. So, as we love Indian cuisine, we decided to give a try to their Pakistani / Indian casual eatery. This is not a table service restaurant: you order at the counter and they will bring the food once ready. So we decided to try few things there, especially their curries. For me, it was their chicken tikka masala that was good, but did not have enough…
It’s been a while since we went to Momosan, the ramen and sake joint from Chef Morimoto. So we decided to go there on a Friday evening and sat at the bar, preferring these seats from the communal tables that are in the back. And when sitting at the bar, you cannot miss all these bottles with Chef Morimoto on the label.
Jersey City Heights has some great finds and Los Tres Chilitos (the three chilis) is one of them. Serving Mexican cuisine, it has a quite extensive menu that can be a bit overwhelming, with some many dishes and options that it is endless. For instance, I got their enchiladas that could be with pollo (chicken), carne asada (grilled steak), quesillo (Oaxaca cheese) or vegetales (vegetables), and then with three types of choices: verde, roja, mole. So I ended up with chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. Served with refried beans and yellow rice, it was very good, not that I am an expert in mole. Still, that sauce, made with chocolate was delicious, not too rich and comforting.
Emma’s in Jersey City, right outside the Journal Square Path station, is truly an incredible find. We passed few times in front of it, but never imagined that their food would be so delicious, if it was not from someone Jodi knows who mentioned it casually. They opened right at the beginning of Covid that has been a bit of a challenge and is very courageous and we went there few times, seeing their menu evolve. They serve Southern cuisine and even smoke meat. Regrettably, at the time of the post, they do not have anymore their slow smoked BBQ St Louis Spare ribs that…
We were looking for a place Midtown for a dinner on a Friday evening when we stumbled upon Parker & Quinn, a restaurant located in the Refinery Hotel. Big, bright and not too loud, the kind of places I like.
This place that serves an American fare proposes some interesting cocktails, not just the classic ones. So I got tempted by The City is Mine, an original cocktail made with Great Jones bourbon,…
I discovered Black Barn few years ago and I have to say: this is one of my favorite places in the city for brunch or dinner. Their menu is mouth watering with so many interesting options that you would want to order every single dish. On top of that, you sit in a place with a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful decor that matches the name of the place, i.e. a barn, but without the smell!
I discovered Dim Sum Garden recently, thanks to one of my colleagues, Alex who recommended it, but with the caveat that he thought it was expensive for dim sum. I had to see it myself. The place is bright with few booths that I admit are not that comfortable…The way it works is that you will mark with a pen your selection and the dishes will come as they are ready. One of the original dishes is their sampler that is beautifully presented in a wooden tray that separates
After trying the T Brasserie in the Tin Building, our next stop was their vegetarian restaurant, Seeds and Weeds, on the second floor. Nice place, spacious, with lots of light, the green color and wood decor rendering perfectly the theme of the restaurant and giving a zen atmosphere to it.
We started off our meal by ordering beverages. Jodi got the same Cherry and yuzu carbonated soda she tried the last time, and I got the “red juice” that is made with beets and…
It’s been years since we had a meal at Cafe Fiorello on the Upper West Side. I discovered this place when a colleague of mine referred it as the best pizza in NYC. The rectangle crust at the time (not anymore) was good, but what I loved there was their open face lasagna, Parmesan ravioli and their chocolate mousse bucket that was always a treat.
So we went back last Saturday after a…
There are few places in Hoboken I would go for dinner in a heartbeat. Anthony David’s is one of them. The restaurant from Chef Pino who also owns Bin 14 Uptown is a true gem, serving succulent food for brunch or dinner, although, if I had to pick, it would be brunch where this place is usually packed.
Contrary to Bin 14, plates are larger, less crafted for sharing, and, strangely, they seem made for a more formal dining as opposed to Bin 14 that has a more casual feel. For brunch, I love their…
Few months ago, the owners of Barbes, a French-North African restaurant located Uptown Hoboken that serves delicious tagines and couscous, decided to open a French restaurant where the closed restaurant Cucharamama use to be. So we went there on a Friday evening, to check it out. The decor at La Boheme is great, with the very large black and white photos of French celebrities like Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardo, Serge Gainsbourg or Eddy Barclay, giving a bit of a nostalgic atmosphere to the place.
Jacques Brasserie used to be my favorite French restaurant when we were living on the Upper East Side and it has been 9 years since our last visit! So we decided to go back there for a lunch on a weekend. The place looks like what I remember: brasserie feel with a decor that would make you think that you just travelled across the ocean in a restaurant in Paris, besides the music being more international!
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, simply known as Jean-Georges, opened a month ago a high end market at South Street Seaport, the Tin Building. This gigantic market proposes various restaurants serving French, Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisine in the middle of a busy market place where you can get vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, cookies and all sorts of delicacy that would make you want to move in.
When Il Laboratorio del Gelato opened mid-July in Hoboken, I did not know what to think. I went to their spot on the Lower East Side many years ago and, although I thought it was an interesting concept, I never really craved it. The concept? Making hand-crafted gelato with unique flavors like olive oil, malt, buttermilk, cardamon, tarragon, mint, etc.
Dear Maud opened in July in Hoboken and I surely wanted to try this eatery. Our first attempt was on the Friday before Labor Day, thinking it would be quiet. We were wrong: the restaurant was not only busy, but they were blasting music that is something I really cannot stand while having a meal! So we went back for brunch the following Sunday. Quieter, but with still loud music, we decided to give it a try. Entering the place, we soon realized how big it is with the back area that seemed to be quite spacious and the bar area, also large, with its impressive bar that dominated the room. To start our meal, we decided to get…
When Plaka Souvlaki opened on Newark avenue, I was quite excited, not being too excited by Surf Taco, its predecessor, but more because I love Greek food and heard that they were serving souvlaki that is meat cooked on a skewer, not to be confused with gyro that is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. My favorite meat? Lamb!
We were looking for a restaurant for brunch on the Upper East Side when we found Who’s Jac W.?, wondering what the somewhat cryptic name was all about. Is it Jack? is W for Wife? My curiosity stopped when we looked at the menu and decided to give it a try. It is a spacious restaurant, with a cozy feel, but going at the beginning of service might not be the best idea as they were still setting up things…
We passed many times in front of Great Jones Distillery Co and it was time to check out the only active whisky distillery in Manhattan, opened 100 years after prohibition. We went for dinner and so did not get a chance to visit the distillery or even the lounge, but, as we entered, we could not miss the large copper pot that dominates the shop where you can buy some of their whisky as well as various merchandise like glasses, books, hats, etc.
Jack Austin’s in Weehawken closed its doors several months ago and has been replaced by Beneci’s, an Italian restaurant that we decided to check out. Most of the decor from the previous restaurant was gone, except these funny dog lamps that I guess they could not resist keeping. But I admit that the restaurant feels like a hotel restaurant and it is not just because of the fact that it is adjacent to the Sheraton.
Last Saturday, we were walking on the Upper East Side, after spending few hours at Museum of the City of New York in Harlem for a retrospective of New York music from 1980 to 1986, featuring Madonna, Blondie, Run-DMC, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, John Zorn, Liquid Liquid, etc. So, as it was hot outside, we were looking for a new ice cream shop to try and found Sedutto, a small ice cream parlor with so many flavors that it will keep your head spinning. Imagine: they have regular ice cream (I counted 43 different kinds), sorbets (3 flavors), soft and hard yogurt, as well as spiked ice creams from…
We were in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, looking for a place for brunch when we stumbled upon Le Gamin (the kid in French), a French restaurant that just celebrated 30 years (they opened on Bastille Day 1992). I was excited to try this place because there were several classic dishes that I wanted to try. So, I started with escargots, snails bathed in a delicious garlic and herb butter sauce, that is what makes this dish awesome. So, yes, I could not resist dipping the fresh baguette they put on the table, forgetting what this was doing to my arteries!
We were looking for a place to eat on a Saturday on the Upper East or West side of the city, when I suggested to Jodi to go to Uno Pizzeria and Grill to get some deep dish pizza. I did not even finish my sentence before she said yes, pizza being one of her favorite dishes…Uno is quite known when it comes to Chicago style deep dish pizza as it is said that it is there, in 1943, that Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo, descendant of Neapolitan immigrants, decided to create an Italian-American version of Pizza.
My favorite spot for deep dish pizza in New York City is Emmett’s a small joint located Downtown Manhattan that we discovered many years ago while watching a food show on TV. There is something about this place that I love: some sort of nostalgia from the decor (love the bar with its bills from all over the world) and run down tables, with a warmth not just from the place but also from its staff that makes you want to go back. Their deep dish pizza is a must have and our favorite is the…
Have you ever wonder how donut should be spelled? Is it donut or doughnut? According to grammar.com, “More exactly, "donut" is the US spelling and "doughnut" is the spelling used more frequently in the UK”. Whatever it is, I love doughnuts, cake or yeast, classic or with a twist. So, as we were in Greenpoint, we decided to try Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop, a popular place that has fed hungry patrons since the 1950s and was even featured in Spiderman: No Way Home,…
Going to The Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia is like stepping in the past to indulge some old time ice cream, with some people thinking that this place has been opened for decades if not centuries, being maybe the oldest ice cream parlor in America where possibly, Benjamin Franklin used to go. It’s true that the owners have done a good job creating a place that truly looks ancient: from the decor to the way staff is dressed (by the way, they call them Jerks with an old meaning that does not mean how we would interpret it today!), and even some old time flavors. But, in fact, The Franklin Fountain opened…
Going to Philadelphia, there were few things we wanted to do, one of them was to have a cheesesteak and, our plan was to go to Geno’s, but the 100 degree weather made us want to go indoors. So, I looked up on the internet if there were more choices at the Reading Terminal Market to try something new as last year we went to Carmen’s Famous Hoagie. That is how I found Molly Malloy’s, a pub that sits right in the middle of the market. So, going there had few advantages:
We were looking for a restaurant in Philly’s city center that would be opened after 10pm on a Saturday evening, after an opening at MK Apothecary where Jodi had several paintings. In New York, this task would be easy, with so many choices that your selection would be based on your food craving. Not in Philly. Many restaurants were either already closed or would close at 10pm. I was not really into room service, so we decided to eat at Del Frisco’s Grille that was right next to our hotel. I am not going to lie: there could be worst choices and at first, I was eying their steak section. But, as it was pretty late, I decided to go lighter (dessert included as I admit that I have my own perception of what a light meal is).
Each time we go to Philadelphia, we treat ourselves at Vetri cucina, the amazing restaurant of Chef Marc Vetri who is one of Philly’s top chefs. Going to Vetri is such an experience: located in a townhouse, it is as if you were invited to someone’s house. The decor is warm and the perfect setting for an intimate dinner where you will be able to hear your conversation, even if there is music in the background (well, Jodi noticed the music, I did not!).
Indian food is one of these cuisines that we often crave and with the closure of Soul Curry in Hoboken, we did not have much in the city, Karma Cafe not being a favorite. So, when Empyrean Indian Kitchen and Bar opened, we immediately ordered food for delivery and were impressed by the food there. So, it was time for us, many months later, to dine in there and, similar to our deliveries, we did it more than once…The dishes at Empyrean Indian Kitchen and Bar are a festival of flavors whether you want it spicy or mild, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Every meal starts with the papadum, these crackers…
We were in Green Point, Brooklyn on a Sunday, looking for a place for brunch when we stumbled upon Le Fanfare, an Italian restaurant with a neighborhood feel. It was not that crowded when we arrived early, if not for a party in the patio. I immediately loved the decor, designed by Milan artist and architect Giuseppe Amato, that sets this place apart: on the left were wooden booths were we sat; on the…
Sparks Steakhouse is one of these places that are part of the history of New York, like Keens, Peter Luger or the Old Homestead. Not that it is that old, but it is a major player in the New York food scene, to the point that when it announced in 2017 that it would close its doors because it could not reach an agreement with its landlord, everyone was stunned. Fortunately, they were able to…
We were craving Chinese food and had to be midtown, so I thought that Dim Sun Palace would be a good spot for us. But not the location on the Theater District that can be really busy, we went to the one on 56th street. The place was packed, but, fortunately, they have a second floor that was quieter.
I discovered Cafe China several years ago, as I was going through the restaurants in New York with one Michelin Star. At the time, I was not that impressed by the food, but admitted at the time that it might have been because of the choice of dishes we made. So I was curious to see how this would be this time, and admit that this was very good, with a very speedy and courteous service! Here is what we had:…
We were craving Chinese food and decided to stop by Chinatown for lunch on a Saturday. Our original target was full with a long wait, so we finally ended up at Joe’s Ginger on Pell Street. The restaurant was a bit busy so I thought that, probably, that little known secret about this place was out: this is the sister restaurant of Joe’s Shanghai, a popular place in tourist guides, made famous by its "Xiao Long Bao", these…
We found El Rio Grande, a Tex-mex restaurant located Midtown East, while looking for Mexican food in that area. Their menu looking pretty good, we decided to give it a try. We went on the Friday before the 4th of July, the place not being that busy, probably because people were traveling. As we entered, we could not miss the over the top decor, with the oversized cowboy boot and the bison with wings that was hanging on top of the bar…
Located close to Grand Central, Dock’s Oyster Bar is one of those seafood institutions that seafood lovers must visit. This restaurant that boasts an impressive dining room offers an incredible menu where the fruits de mer (seafood in French literally meaning fruits of the sea) are celebrated in various ways: raw, cooked, in sushi or in pasta are few examples. A good way to experience it is by starting with one of their seafood platters. The Royale plateau is perfect for two, but I admit that I could…
When Eleven Madison Park announced that they would switch to a plant-based restaurant, a lot of people could not believe it, thinking that it would be a mistake. I was not one of them. Don’t get me wrong: I am a non-vegetarian, but also appreciate a good vegetarian or vegan meal. I think that there is a place for everybody’s choice and sometimes the label put on something seems to stoke a fire, even in the culinary world. Think about it: a margarita pizza is vegetarian.
As Jodi’s friend, Jackie, was visiting for Alaska with her daughter, we ended up at Alice’s Tea Cup on the Upper West Side. It’s been a while since we went to this whimsical place, the last time being for their afternoon tea. As you can guess, the name comes from Alice in Wonderland and, if you did not guess before going, you get a hint as you enter the restaurant, although the first thing you get is the smell of the delicious cookies and scones that they sell.
So I was curious to see their menu and immediately saw one item that made me want to try it: the Hang 10 burrito that is a Cali burrito. I never had a Cali burrito until I traveled to San Diego and had one at Lucha Libre, one of the known restaurants there. Simply put (and hopefully not insulting anyone), it is a burrito where the rice has been replaced by French fries. It was made with chopped steak, lettuce, Jack cheese…
I recently saw a post from Hoboken Girl saying that the best burger in the city is at 10th and Willow Bar and Grill. So I had to check it out as for me it is between Antique Bar & Bakery and O’Neals, but you never know!
We decided to go on a Sunday for brunch. The place was empty at the time we went and we got the impression they did not care much for us, maybe because we did not order alcohol. Who knows? So it took a while for our order to be placed. We started off with their fried goat cheese balls.
Have you ever been to a restaurant and have this feeling that things are not going to go well from the get go? This is what happened when we went for dinner at Terra in TriBeCa, after going to the New York Academy of Art for an exhibit where Jodi had a painting. It started with the host who barely said hello and apparently did not like the fact that I asked for a table that was not next to the sidewalk. Then, a first waiter came and took our order for drinks (I had a Mint Julep), before a second one came for the same thing. When we told…
We discovered Franklin Social two weeks ago, simply by seeing on Instagram that they had the 1947 beer on their menu. I know: it is weird because usually you go because you see a particular dish on social media, but no, this was this awesome beer that I discovered last year...
Located few blocks from Grand Central, Sinigual is a great Mexican restaurant: good ambiance and exciting menu come to mind when I think about this place that is quite big…
It has probably been 17 years since I have been to Sorrento’s, an Italian joint that serves large subs. So, as we were going to Freehold, I had a special request: to go to Sorrento’s for lunch. I admit that when we arrived, I did not recognize the place, not that it mattered much, as long as their menu was still mouth watering. And it was! Imagine: they serve subs with a bunch of meat, like ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, prosciuttino, chicken, roast beef or capicolla, that you can complement with cheese, and combine together in any way you prefer, making their 18 inches sandwiches even more decadent (yes…
There are few places in Hoboken where I would go for seafood. Halifax of course, at the W Hotel, and then The Stingray Lounge that I discovered few years ago. Located on the North part of Hoboken, they offer some delicious dishes that would satisfy any seafood lover: lobster, shrimp, crab or oysters to name a few. If you are vegetarian, it might be a bit more challenging, although they do not make a fuss about, like some restaurants would and I truly appreciated that they removed the meat from their cheese and charcuterie platter and did not charge us the full price that is often what restaurants do.
Beer gardens (biergarten in German) are great places for a comforting meal and it is really good to have Pilsener Haus and Biergarten in the North part of Hoboken. Interestingly, the crowd on weekends is made of families for lunch and early dinners, that is the crowd I prefer, usually quieter…Of course, going there, you expect beer and they have a large selection of beer on tap, in bottles or cans, as well as wine, ciders and sodas if you do not like beer.
I admit that my knowledge of Indo-Chinese cuisine has always been limited to very few dishes like Mandchurian cauliflower that is one of my favorites. So I was curious to see what Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City was proposing. According to Wikipedia:…
I had Gran Morsi on my list of places to try for quite some time and, as Jodi went to an open studio at The New York Academy of Art, we decided to meet for dinner there. The place was nice, although a bit dark, making it challenging to see the menu, and we got to sit at a table in a corner, the kind that I always love, allowing us to sit next to each other and watch the dining room (people…
I am not sure what is the star of the show at Handcraft Burgers and Brew, the sister restaurant of Croton Reservoir that is next door. The burgers are amazing, not made with frozen patties, juicy, with a nice char. Although, I would go with the double patty so there is a good proportion with their amazing brioche bread. But the brews are also quite interesting as they…
I discovered Don’s Bogam few years ago, thanks to Jodi’s cousin, Jessica. This Korean BBQ place is great: good food, great drinks and courteous staff, a trifecta that makes for a perfect evening.
Eating at a Korean BBQ, there is always the excitement of getting the banchan, these small plates they bring at the beginning of the meal, with kimchi being usually the only sure thing you would get. And unless you ask, it is sometimes difficult to recognize what the dishes they are bringing are, or how…
It’s been a while since we have been to Bryant Park Grill and so, we decided to go for dinner on a Friday evening. The weather was nice but not enough for us to sit outside, so we ended up in the dining room, enjoying the noise level that I would love to see more often in restaurants.
When going to Gallagher ‘s, I always remember the first few times I went there: disappointing. But then, after they changed ownership and renovated the restaurant that clearly needed a new decor, I went back and was blown away. Not only did the place get a fantastic makeover, the food there has always been outstanding. Here…
I heard about the afternoon tea at Prince Tea House, so we decided to try as we were on a quest to try all the afternoon teas in the city. Interesting place for sure with a chic decor that is perfectly suited to the theme of this place.
We discovered Turkish Cuisine in Hell’s Kitchen few years ago and have been raving about their cotton candy dessert for some time. So, it was time to go back. Ok, the name is not that original, but at least you know what that this is a Turkish restaurant! We went on a Friday evening and the place was packed! I admit that I did not recall the decor that was full of little dolls and…
When people ask me what the best ramen place in NYC is, my answer is simple: Ippudo. I have been to this place for so many years and not once have I been disappointed.
It is a great experience. First, as you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed in Japanese (that always makes me think about an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm), and you are…
I really do not remember how many times we tried to go to Battello, an Italian restaurant located in Jersey City, with breathtaking views of the New York skyline. Well, weekends are more for private parties so we decided to go on a Monday a couple of months ago. Definitely ideal as there were not that many people, they sat us in the covered patio where we could admire the view while enjoying a delicious meal.
I cannot believe that it has been 2 years since we went to Basta Pasta, the US outpost of an Italian restaurant that opened in Japan in 1985, that I discovered few years ago and remains one of my preferred Italian restaurants in the city. Always packed, the menu there is amazing with so many mouth watering dishes that you are not sure what to get and just want to order the entire menu.
It’s been a while since we wanted to go back to Maiella, an Italian restaurant we discovered few years ago. So, as we were in Long Island City to see the opening of Peter Drake, the Provost of the New York Academy of Art and an amazing painter, we decided to make a reservation there, on a Saturday evening. Well, we went around 6pm and the place was not that busy and I enjoyed the fact that we could have a quiet dinner, until they started to increase the volume of the music and people started to come, large tables filling up with people ready to celebrate birthdays and other kinds of events.
We were looking for a place to eat near Bryant Park when we decided to try the new location of La Pecora Bianca. Although it was a Tuesday, we decided to still reserve a table: I am glad we did as the place was quite packed…and loud! The noise level in restaurants is definitely something I will never get used to, but we really wanted to try their menu.
I started off by ordering a negroni from…
We discovered L’Adresse a while back and decided to go back for dinner on a Friday as we were looking for a place close to Bryant Park. I remembered that I had a good meal there and was curious to know if they were still good considering that they opened a second location in the City, a sign that I took as a success for their venture.
The place was not that crowded and I really…
We were exploring the Financial District when we stumbled upon Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill at The Lowell, a luxurious apart-hotel. I knew Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken and was always curious to try this venture, having seen plenty of photos on Instagram that seem to showcase delicious food. We went on a Friday evening and, although the place was not that packed when we arrived, it changed as the evening went, the dining room filing up very quickly…
We decided to explore the Financial District when we stumbled upon Mezcali, a Mexican restaurant that opened few months ago. So we decided to book a table for the following Friday. Well, a Friday is always busy and this place was no exception: our table on the ground floor was located close to a table of screaming diners (the four of them sounded like there were hundred people, the alcohol not really helping), as well as a large table of corporate folks going there for a drink before the week end. We were there so there was no turning back, especially as I wanted a particular dish that I…
For a celebratory dinner, we decided to go to Porterhouse in Columbus Circle. We had a deal with Jodi: I would get my steak and she would get the dessert that she has been eyeing for some time…
To celebrate, we got two cocktails: the penicillin (Japanese whisky, honey, lemon, ginger and laphroaig 10 years myst) and a margarita…that was not what we originally ordered.
It’s been a while since I wanted to try Cha kee, a Chinese restaurant that opened in September 2021 in the heart of Chinatown. there, Executive chef Akiko Thurnauer (formerly of Mission Chinese, En Japanese Brasserie, Nobu Tribeca), crafted an interesting menu, far from the classic Chinese cuisine you usually find: no vegetarian dumplings or scallion pancakes. In fact, the menu is quite limited if you are vegetarian, so it was a bit of a challenge for Jodi. Not for me.
I discovered Pepolino in TriBeCa many years ago. This Italian restaurant has been there for some time, that is no wonder when you tried their food. Comfy, it reminded me some of the delicious dishes we had in Italy, like their pappa Al pomodoro, a soup made with tomato, garlic and bread. A peasant soup that is very comforting.
Another classic is their melanzane e scarmoza that is made with thin slices of eggplant topped with smokey mozzarella. Good, with a nice smokiness, I just wished that the eggplant would have been more cooked since it was bit…
I recently discovered Osteria La Baia, an Italian restaurant that opened a couple of months ago in Midtown Manhattan. I was not sure what to expect, but the few times I went there, I was blown away: great service and delicious food are the two impressions that remain…
You may think when reading the title of this post that I made a typo in the name of the restaurant, especially when seeing a mural of a tiger in the back of the dining room, but it is not the case. The Y replaced the I, as nod to The Tyger, a poem by the English poet William Blake, published in 1794 as part of his Songs of Experience collection. At The Tyger, Chef Paul Donnelly, crafted a menu with dishes from Southeast Asia, but with his own modern interpretation. We liked it so much that we went twice, two weekends in a row…
We are looking for a place to eat for brunch near Grove St in Jersey City, when I stumbled upon The Ashford, a sports bar. That’s usually not the type of places I would go to, my noise tolerance being a low, but, when I saw that they had a loaded croque madame on their website (it had fried chicken in it), I could not miss it.
The place is quite big, with multiple floors and a rooftop, and of course, large screens all over…
We were craving dim sum and planned to go to Jing Fong in Chinatown when we realized that this place closed, apparently temporarily, the only location still open being on the Upper West Side. Smaller than its sister restaurant, this place was packed and we could only have a seat at the bar, opposite to the counter that had a view on the kitchen. I wonder if it explains why it took them so long to come get our order…
It’s been a while since we wanted to try Domodomo in Jersey City (although know that they do have a location in New York City). From the outside, the place looks amazing with its dark front and the dining room that can host close to 100 people is spacious with, interestingly, the sushi counter totally blocked from the kitchen view that is quite unusual as people like to sit at the counter to see the Chef preparing sushi and sashimi. They do serve an Omakase at specific hours and then, the eight seats reserved for this dining experience, can see the Chef preparing the sushi, otherwise, outside of this, they also cannot see…
Newark Avenue in Jersey City has some great Indian restaurants and our lastest discovery was Honest, a vegetarian place that serves street food.
The dining room looks like a cafeteria and I admit that I was not sure if we should order at the counter, but, quickly, a waiter indicated to us that he would take our order at the table…
I love Johnny Rockets! This burger joint with its 50’s vibe never gets old. As soon as you enter the restaurant, it is like going back in time, bringing memories of movies and TV Series I saw when I was a kid in France. Especially one of my favorites, the sitcom Happy Days, that I used to watch with my sisters and brother, not missing one episode. Good job for a place that only opened in 1986 in Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles: you would have thought that it started in the 50’s and was…
We were looking for a place to eat downtown when we stumbled upon EAK Ramen that we passed by multiple times and always wanted to try. I love ramen that has been a never ending trend in the city for many many years now: perfect on a cold day, comforting and delicious. So we decided to try the American outpost that started in Japan.
When Baar Baar opened a couple of years ago, everybody wanted to try this Indian gastropub where Chef Sujan Sarkar proposed a menu composed of a modern interpretation of regional dishes. So it was time for me to try and we decided to try it on a Saturday evening, for an early dinner. Yes, I like early dinners: first, of course, I can roam around the place and take photos, but I also like the quiet. So I did my thing at Baar Baar and was quite happy to be able to because their decor is stunning, cozy with a beautiful mural next to the bar.
We passed in front of White Mana Diner many times, but did not know the history being this tiny diner that sits in the corner of Manhattan Avenue and Tonnele Avenue in Jersey City. This place was built in 1939 by Paramount Diner, a company located in Oakland, NJ for the 1939 World Fair and is the sister restaurant of White Manna in Hackensack. Both diners take their name from the biblical food, manna, but lost an “n” because of a mistake when manufacturing the sign! It is said that this is in this place that the slider was invented. Surely, when you step in, you have the impression it is…
Their afternoon tea is fairly classic: you get scones, sandwiches and sweets, but instead of just a choice of tea, you can opt for coffee or hot chocolate. Of course, you can also have champagne for an additional fee. Interestingly, as we were eating our way through, the waiter came to our table and asked if we wanted some more! Trust me: I had enough food there!
We have a sort of tradition with our friends Gary and Jen: first a Museum, then brunch. So this time, we went to The Whitney Museum for the Jasper Johns exhibit and then ended up at High Street on The Hudson, a place that seemed quite popular, so I was glad that we had a reservation.
From the get go the waiter told us that they only serve regular coffee: no espresso in sight.
There are two places that I love for steak in Hoboken: Antique Bar and Bakery with their amazing dirty ribeye, and Dino & Harry’s, a steakhouse named after Dino Panopoulos and his father, Harry, who have owned it since 1991. This place was also used in the movie The Trial of the Chicago 7, representing the Haymarket Tavern where protesters clashed with the National Guard. So we were a bit overdue, and I did not regret it! The food there was amazing. Here is what we had:
I found Sonnyboy, an Australian Café, while looking for a brunch place on the Lower East Side. I was not sure what to expect to be honest, but was quite glad I found it. Not that big with tables spaced enough in these times of Covid, it has a cool atmosphere and a great service.
Menu wise, I am not sure what an Australian brunch would be so I would say that it is international. To share, you can opt for their banana bread that is quite good with salted…
We were walking from Jersey City to Hoboken when we noticed a small place on Grove street with what appeared to be mismatched china tableware on the table. We were wondering if it was a tea parlor or something of that sort and a quick search gave us the answer: Dullboy is a cocktail bar. Taking its name from a line in The Shining, the terrific book from Stephen King, forever associated with Jack Nicholson’s performance, it comes from the line: « all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy », meaning that if you do not have time off work, you are both bored and boring. Well, Dullboy is…
I had Casa Mono on my radar for some time now and we finally made it for brunch. This Michelin star restaurant serves dishes inspired from the Costa Brava where the Chef, Andy Nusser, grew up. In fact he grew up in the fishing village of Cadaques that I visited when I was a kid during a memorable trip with my Dad and my brother. This place is where Salvator Dali lived for more than 40 years and there is a museum with his art that I can still picture.
For years, each time I was raving about the cheesecake at Junior’s, people were talking about The Cheesecake Factory. So, when I discovered that there was one at the Newport Mall in Jersey City, I could not wait to check it out.
We went on a weekday that I was off and surely our…
When I learn that Myron Mixon was opening a BBQ place where Soul Curry, my favorite Indian restaurant in Hoboken was, I was really looking forward to it. I met Myron Mixon aka the “winningest man in barbecue” and four times world BBQ champion in 2017, at an event organized by McCormick. We talked a little bit and when I told him that what we call barbecue in France is grilling, he told me: "when you go back to France, tell them that there is an old guy in America that is telling them that grilling is barbecue". I still…
With a last name like Vongerichten, I am sure people always compare you to the most known in the family or at least always make a reference as I am going to do it in this post. But you cannot not mention that Jean-Georges’ son, Cédric is, with his wife Ochi, the owner of Wayans, a restaurant located in Nolita that serves Indonesian cuisine with French influence…
I always loved delicatessen: there is something homey and nostalgic about these places, the only annoyance being the tourists invading obnoxiously places like Katz’s Delicatessen. Kosher or not, they have quite a classic menu, more geared towards the non-vegetarian than the vegetarian, cold cuts and all sorts of meats being the star. So yes, I was excited to go to the 2nd Avenue Deli. This time, we decided to go to their location on the Upper East Side on…first avenue.
We were walking around the mall at Hudson Yard, looking for a place to eat when we stumbled upon Miznon, an Israeli restaurant that replaced Bel Campo who had to close their doors because of a scandal. The place is big and they kept the same decor at Bel Campo besides few changes to make it their own. Interestingly, lunch was sit down but not dinner: we ordered, pick up and found ourselves a comfortable booth.
Dominique Ansel Workshop is like the laboratory of a mad scientist who is trying to find a secret formula. Items change on a regular basis with sometimes some of them being available only through the weekend. I wonder if it is not to test them and see if people would buy them before proposing them in his bakery.
Porter is an Gastropub in Port Imperial, Weehawken, that I had on my list for a while, thanks to one of my colleagues who raved about this place that opened in the Winter of 2020. There, Chefs Christopher Lim and Tara Glick crafted a modern American menu that caters to a wide range of diners, vegetarian and non vegetarian, made in the open kitchen. Accessible from the NY Waterway Port Imperial Ferry Terminal and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, this is both a restaurant and a bakery and cafe called…
I discovered Muteki Ramen last year, as, loving ramen, I could not wait to try some of these noodle soups that they offer, the ramen scene in the Mile Square city being limited to Japanese restaurants having few offers on their menu and Vivi Bubble Tea and South Street Fish and Ramen downtown. Muteki opened in September 2020, during Covid and I admit that I mainly knew them from delivery and just decided to go check their restaurant after they messaged me on Instagram, offering a complimentary lunch to thank me for the shoutout I did previously on social media for this place.
It’s been a while since we wanted to try the afternoon tea at The Plaza Hotel in New York City: this is a must do, although pricey. We went on a Monday I was off and it was perfect: not too many people, quiet, the way I like! It was our first time at The Plaza and the doorman made sure we had a good reason to get in: you are either a patron or a guest to enter in this iconic place that is stunning, especially in this time of the year, dressed with Holiday decorations…
I am not sure how I feel about the Elysian Cafe in Hoboken. This place has been open since 1895 and that is quite a while, continuing to serve an hungry crowd, lines always forming outside. The Elysian calls itself a French bistro, but, putting French names on their menu and a very limited number of dishes like the steak frites or French onion soup, I would qualify it more as…
Serving Mexican food, Orale has quickly conquered the Hoboken crowd from day one. It is probably because of the creative menu they offer with only few standard dishes like, of course, guacamole (although they propose the classic one but also ), but most of their dishes have a twist making their menu unique. The decor, colorful and cozy, with its Mexican soda walls that are…
Jersey City has quite few gems and Lokal is surely one of them. I discovered this place back in September 2019, for their Grand Opening and we recently went there a couple of times for dinner. The place did not change if not for the outdoor dining that is probably the only benefit diners got from Covid: the floor to ceiling windows provide an unobstructed view of the…
We passed by Los Cuernos in Newport few times and so, as we love Mexican cuisine, we decided to give it a try on a Friday evening. Surprisingly, this place was not packed and, as the weather was nice, we decided to eat outside and drink as well, I decided to try their house margarita that is apparently made with their house tequila. Nice and a great price as only $8 (this was not a happy hour).
It’s been a while since we went to Black Barn, north of Madison Square Park and, as we passed in front of it, we decided to plan a visit for brunch, their outside setup being quite nice. So here we are, a couple of years later, ready to see how their menu evolved but also if we would have a better experience than before (dinner was great, but not brunch - this was before Covid).
If you like hot cocoa and French pastries, there is one place you cannot miss in Paris: Angelina, near the Louvres Museum. This spot that opened in 1903 is a little gem where the highlight of their menu is their hot chocolate that has been their recipe for success for many years. Even in the hot weather, you cannot resist it. So, when I heard that they were opening an outpost in New York, near Bryant Park, I was excited (beware that there is…
It’s been a while since we wanted to try Buvette in the West Village, but I admit that seen the lines of people waiting there with no possibility of reservation was a turn off. So, on a Monday I was off, we thought that it would be a good moment to try, people working. For sure the line was much shorter and we got our table in less than 10 minutes, showing up at 11am…
Instagram can be a great tool for restaurants as you get free advertising thanks to the photos they post or that their diners post. So, it is thanks to Instagram that we decided, last minute, to go to Sona for brunch. We had no plan that day and then I saw a photo from Chef Hari Nayak: it did not take us long to reserve a table and be on our way…
We passed in front of 12 Chairs Cafe in Soho many times, intrigued by the line in front of it as I never heard about this place before. The name comes apparently from the time their small cafe had only 12 chairs, a thing from the past considering that they expanded, with even a restaurant in…
Several weeks ago, Jodi went to Laduree with her friends Greg and Fletcher. She of course had to tell me what people ordered and that made me want to go back there. So, on Columbus Day, we decided to go back, myself being eager to get that vol au vent I had the last time we went.
As it was a Holiday, there were not that many people and…
I have always been a fan of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, loving their steaks that they cook in butter and bring in a 500 degree plate to your table, sizzling, like hearing angels singing in your ear. But know that, unlike most of the chains, they are not consistent from one location to the other. I like the one…
I am a big fan of Brooklyn Chophouse. Funny enough, when I mention that place, people think that it is located in Brooklyn when in fact in it downtown Manhattan, close the the World Trade Center.
What I like about this place is their interesting menu that has Chinese food and steak! Interesting combination that they execute well. Although I was tempted to get their ribeye the last time we were there, we decided to stick to Chinese cuisine, sharing most of the dishes. Here…
I discovered Dulce de Leche thanks to one of my coworkers who brought the signature cake (aka the house cake) from this Argentinian bakery located in Jersey City and raved about the various items they offer. After tasting that cake (that yes, had dulce de leche in it), we…
We discovered Aunt Jake’s few years ago and loved their concept: they make homemade pasta and understand that sometimes diners would like to order a dish but the pasta might not be what they like or they do not see a sauce they love. So, what they do is that they propose a create your own concept where you can pick a type of pasta and a sauce. We were there for brunch and I surely did not need to do that because they had squid ink bucatini…
We were walking in Newport, looking for a place to eat, when we stumbled upon Fire & Oak in the Westin Hotel. At that point, we were not expecting much, thinking that a restaurant in a hotel would not offer an incredible meal, but that was ok, as we just wanted to sit down and relax after…
Going to Wild Ink in Hudson Yard was not our original plan. We wanted to go back to Miznon for dinner, but they did not have table service and we just wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere. So we roamed around the mall and ended up finding this place on the fifth floor. With its great view of the river and the Vessel, this place was quite busy, with few groups celebrating events and one of the dishes we saw the most passing by was their Peking duck that I would have loved to try, but they…
I sometimes crave Thai food: comforting, flavorful and not always spicy, Thai cuisine offers a nice selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. So, as we were in Long Island City, we decided to try Tuk Tuk, a local restaurant that takes its name from the three wheeled taxi that you see in many Asian countries.
Italians have Eataly and the French have Le District, a market that opened in 2015, located near The World Trade Center that offers classic French delicacies such as bread or cheese. I admit that, I heard about it in the past but waited until we went to L’Appart few months ago before deciding to explore this place, regretting that I did not go earlier. Depending from where you enter, you can end up in the supermarket that had lots of French products, most of them overpriced unfortunately, or on the food court side, starting with crepes that are not good, Bar Suzette in Chelsea Market being a better option.
I was really excited when we got to go to Saar Indian Bistro Midtown Manhattan: this place is one of the many restaurants of Chef Hemant Mathur who I met few times in the various places he opened in the city, some of them unfortunately closing such as Haldi. This Michelin starred Chef knows how to give a modern twist to Indian cuisine and eating his food is always a festival of flavors. We started our meal with some snacks and a mango lassi that is my go to drink when eating Indian food: nicely sweet, it is a good way to cool your mouth when on fire…
When I think that Craft, one of the restaurants of celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio, has been opened since 2001 and I only tried it in 2019! I was sad to see Colicchio and Sons and Craftbar closing in fact, two restaurants that showed the difference between hospitality and good service and it is only after talking to one of my friends who loves Craft that we ended up there for dinner on a Friday. For once, we ended up in a place where we could enjoy a nice conversation without screaming to the top of our lungs.
I love BBQ and had House of Que in Weehawken on my radar for a while. It is a bit far but a nice walk on the river front or, if you live in New York, the ferry ride from Manhattan to Port Imperial can be a convenient and nice way of discovering this area. House of Que is big, with lots of light and two bars to serve a horde of thirsty patrons, the second bar being in a it, surrounded by oversized TVs. You certainly don’t go to House of Que for a romantic dinner and lunch might be better if like me you like to eat without noise canceling headphones.
This is my second time at Pizzeria Sirenetta, a busy pizza place with an outdoor area on the Upper West Side. We went last year but I never blogged about it although I took photos of the delicious food we had for brunch. So, one Saturday, as we were in the area, we decided to have dinner and sat on their terrace. As it was before 7pm that we ordered, we benefited from their happy hour (5pm to 7pm Saturday and Sunday) and started by ordering some drinks. Of course, a …
I love tacos and recently discovered Oxido, near Times Square: this place opened last January and in an outpost of their first location that opened in Chelsea in 2015 where Chef Jesse Perez gives a modern twist on Mexican classics. Tacos, burritos and bowls are proposed there and you would think that you are at Chipotle the way your order is made, at the counter, from left to right, picking whatever ingredients you would like to create your dish, some free and other with a surcharge, often modest. But the comparison stops there.
I often talk about Morandi, one of my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. Although not truly Italian like Pastis or Balthazar are not truly French but still a good rendition by Keith McNally. Scene-y, crowded and loud. We recently where in Chelsea and decided to go there for an early dinner. I started the meal with a house cocktail: the Lo Scosseze, made with Adberg whisky, Drambouie liquor and black walnut. Apparently not that many people order it because they do not like peaty whisky. Well, on my side I loved it.
We were walking on 14th street when we passed by in front of Hao Noodle, an outpost of Hao Noodle and Tea by Madam Zhu’s Kitchen that we discovered previously. We decided to go there for lunch on a Saturday, craving Chinese food and were so delighted by the food there that we came back the following week for dinner..
Founded in Fukuoka, Japan by Tetsushi Mizokami, Uncle Testsu’s cheesecake opened in New York a couple of months ago. I noticed it after seeing a line in front of a small bakery with an open kitchen where somebody was making what I learn later was madeleines. I admit that I never had or even knew that there was such thing as a Japanese cheesecake, a treat totally different from the heavier version we know (and yes, Junior’s is still the best for me). No, Japanese cheesecakes are fluffier and eggy: a…
It’s been a while since we wanted to go to Socarrat Paella Bar but I admit that I was a bit put off by the fact that they only serve paella for a minimum of two people. Between Jodi being vegetarian and me not wanting to try a non-vegetarian paella, it did not work. So we finally decided to go for their tapas, me, salivating each time I was seeing a large paella pan passing by, imagining I could dip my fork in it without people knowing.
When I heard Jersey Mike’s opened where Fran’s Deli used to be, I was really excited to ty it, loving subs that I discovered in this country. Not that we do not have sandwiches in France, but subs are slightly different, especially the soft bread that is a big part of it.
Last Saturday, I was invited to try Rabbit Rabbit Tea, a place that serves bubble tea, a kind of tea that became popular in Taiwan in the 1980s and whose creator is unknown. It has since conquered the US and Rabbit Rabbit Tea has made its way from California to New York, housed in the location of a Chinese restaurant (Xiang Xiang Noodle). The rabbit is often associated with luck and there is this superstition in Britain and North America wherein a person says or repeats the words "rabbit", "rabbits" and/or "white rabbits" aloud upon waking on the first day of a month to get good luck for the whole month. So, I wonder if it is from that that the name of this place came from…For sure the logo is fun.
I heard of Belcampo thanks to fellow blogger Johnny Prime who is a reference when it comes to meat and attended a camp there, before discovering that they have an outpost in Hudson Yards. At the time when more and more people become vegetarian, many because of the way cattle are raised, Belcampo shows how raising animals for consumption can be less hazardous, controlling the food chain from A to Z, without any middlemen and under strict rules. Raised in their farm at the base of Mt Shasta in Northern California (25,000 acres), the animals are fed without any hormones and additives and it shows.
It is not that often that you see a Georgian Bakery and restaurant opening and when Chama Mama opened last Spring, it got people talk (I am talking about the Eastern European country). Replacing a Cuban restaurant in Chelsea (El Paraiso), Chama Mama is a casual place with in the kitchen in the middle, visible from the dining room and exhibiting their « tone », a very large clay oven that apparently every Georgian home has (in a smaller version) and where they cook bread most of the day (this one uses gas).
Last Saturday, I was invited at Lokal in Jersey City, for the restaurant opening. I know: when people think about New Jersey, they wonder if they need their passport, but, in fact, between the ferry from the World Trade Center to the path train to Exchange Place or Newport, it is very easy to go there and you can enjoy delicious food while admiring a breathtaking view of Manhattan.
We were in Jersey City recently, trying to go to the DMV where the line was as long as a CVS receipt. So, although we decided to go back another time, we chose to eat around and found a Filipino place called Max’s Restaurant. Why not? Jodi was ok to go there as long as I was not getting a balut. Deal. I did not know going at Max’s Restaurant that they have more than 200 locations internationally, mostly in the Philippines and quite a few in North America (17 at this time). Opened in 1945 in the Philippines by Maximo Gimenez and now a family run restaurant empire, it is known for its fried chicken that I skipped as I was going to eat chicken that evening too and was curious to try the pusit sisig, a dish made of …
I have never been a fan of Gallaghers, the famous close to a century old steakhouse with its meat locker where they dry age their cuts visible from the outside, like a tourist attraction. But my last visit might have changed my mind. It is true that I went there years ago, before the change of ownership and complete revamping, making it more upscale but keeping a certain charm and authentic feel. Impossible to miss if the open kitchen in the back where the magic happens and I was surprised to see their grill where they cook the meat over hickory logs.
When I received an invite to dine at Alley 41, a Sichuanese restaurant in Flushing, I realized that it has been years that we have been saying we should go in that area to try some authentic Chinese cuisine, but we never went. So I gladly accepted the offer and we went on a Friday evening. Its owner, Mr Yao Hua comes from the Sichuan province and immigrated in the US in 1999. Here, he worked in various restaurants before opening Alley 41 in 2017, doing its best to keep the flavors authentic and shipping 80% of its ingredients from the Sichuan Province in China.
It’s been a while since we wanted to go to The Dutch, one of the many restaurants of successful restauranteur Andrew Carmellini (Lafayette, Locanda Verde and Bar Primi to name a few). So, as we had a cooking class at Atelier Sucré (éclairs and cream puffs) in the West Village, we decided to book a table for brunch.
This big place that proposes an American fare was packed for sure, not just the dining rooms but also the bar. Food wise, there are few interesting dishes they offer like the donut tree that seems decadent, but the flavors proposed not that great for me, so we passed. And I was …
We recently went to Pico Taco, a small taco joint near the path train in Hoboken. Yes, small, bright with only few tables on each side and the counter in the back where you will place your order. Opened in May 2019, Pico Taco makes their own tortilla, claiming that they use fresh ingredients, although, when I asked what fish they used for their crispy fish taco, they said “frozen tilapia”. I admit that at that point I hesitated (not just because the fish is frozen, but also because…
It’s been a while since we wanted to dine at La Pecora Bianca and we finally decided to go to this bright and inviting restaurant with few locations in Manhattan. We picked the one Midtown East that was not that packed when we arrived. I like the decor that is not overdone but you could wonder if you too should come there dressed in white.
I wanted to go to Osteria Francescana for a while, mesmerized by the avant-garde cuisine of acclaimed Chef Massimo Bottura whose innovative mind comes out pretty well in the Netflix’s series Chef’s Table. Opened in 1995, Osteria Francescana rapidly gained popularity, climbing the ladder of the 50 World Best Restaurants (3rd in 2013 and 2014, 2nd in 2015 and then 1st in 2016 and 2018). Rapidly but not without struggling at first, the restaurant was rejected by Italian patrons who thought that the dishes served did not represent Italian classics and were even treasonous. It is only …
We were leaving the Uffizi Galery in Florence when we saw a horde of people sitting wherever they could to eat a huge sandwich glutinously. So we followed the line and ended up in front of All’Antico Vinaio, a popular sandwich shop that had, the same week, a pop up in New York, in front of Otto Enoteca. Opened in 1991, this place serves sandwiches made with a bread that is baked during the day, and prepared to order.
Our friend Allan who has been living in Florence for the past three years suggested to try Pizzeria Antica Porta, a place loved by locals with few tourists like us who you would think got lost. Located in the outskirts of Florence, on the road to Rome, outside of what used to be city walls, this place might be small in space but it is big in flavor.
We got lucky, had a table quickly and could not wait to try their pizza. We chose two: the Quattro formaggi and the margarita with mozzarella di buffala.
We discovered Trattoria Borgo Antico in Florence 5 years ago after finishing a walking tour in Piazza di Santo Spirito, right in front of the Santo Spirito Basilica and were really looking forward to going back there. We went back in fact for a dish that I love there and was kind of déjà vu: the linguine alle vongole or linguine with clams in a white sauce. There are few things I need for this dish to be successful: pasta well cooked, lots of well cleaned clams (who likes to chew on sand?) and the right amount of sauce (and of course a good sauce). Well I got all of that to the point that …
On our first evening in Florence, we looked up for best pasta in the city and found out Osteria Del Gatto e la Volpe (the cat and the wolf), located via Ghibellina, a charming street few blocks from the Duomo. The comment on the website where we found it said that it was one of the last typical Italian restaurants and the rustic decor seemed a reminder of the past (although not so old in the city as it opened in 1979), but …
Am I going to be loco of Loquito in Hoboken? I know this is an easy way to start this post when you know that Loquito is a diminutive of loco that means crazy in Spanish. Loquito opened few weeks ago on Washington street, result of the cooperation of Chef Stephen El-Hassan, co-owner of O’Bagel, his sister Helengrace and Sammy Abdo, co-founder of Michigan’s Jersey Bagel and Deli. With a name like Loquito, you would expect a taqueria, but the mention “tacos arabes” below the name on the awning makes you wonder what kind of tacos they serve. At first,…
Food is stronger than common sense: why did we decide to go to such place as The Rag Trader when we know that we hate noisy places, preferring quieter ones so we can enjoy a nice conversation while having a great dinner? This place kept popping up on Opentable.com and their menu was mouth watering, offering lots of dishes to share inspired from a wide range of cuisine. When we arrived, we realized our mistake, the place being packed and loud, but had few minutes of hope when they told us our table was upstairs. Yes, I thought that maybe upstairs was quieter, more geared towards diners.
We passed in front of Taco Dumbo few times and decided to try it on a Friday evening. This casual place with a busy bar was packed and we were lucky to find a seat after the ordering at the counter.
The tacos and guacamole came fairly quickly at our table, but I had to ditch the classic margarita I ordered, realizing that they forgot it in my order. The guacamole, house made was pretty good, with chunks of avocado, but needed a small bit of salt. It was not bland though, but the tacos were! Bland and dry were the beef short-rib and the rotisserie chicken Tinga that I was really looking forward to as I love rotisserie chicken.
Some may say that I am a bit stubborn, continuing to dine in Times Square hoping to find the Holy Grail of food. There are some nice places I enjoy there like Junior’s or Tony di Napoli, so who knows? Well, for sure, for Italian food, Pasta Lovers is not at the same level as Tony di Napoli I mentioned before. The food is decent but you are not going to drool just thinking about it. We went there on a Friday evening and the restaurant was surprisingly not that full. I started with a Spritz the was definitely not the best I ever had and wondered how you can screw up that drink!
We had Cecconi’s in Dumbo on our radar for a while. Each time we went to that area, we saw this place full with sometimes a line at the door. Little we knew that this Italian restaurant had locations in many places like West Hollywood, Miami, Istanbul, Barcelona, Berlin and London. I did not imagine before eating there that it was so huge, but the best is their waterfront seating that offers stunning views of Manhattan and the Manhattan bridge.
Habanero Blues is back! After changing the concept to American Hall, a beer hall serving classic American dishes, the Reisenbach brothers decided to bring back the Mexican cuisine in this huge and amazing space, keeping the arcade room in the colorful downstairs area. I admit that I was looking forward to having dinner there, some of the items served there being delicious and not often offered on menus, like the Esquites en Vaso, a Mexico City street style corn made with chipotle aioli, cotija cheese and cayenne pepper. Unfortunately, it was not anymore offered, but we could enjoy their classic guacamole that is quite good: well seasoned with chunks of avocado as I like it (who likes a soupy guacamole?).
Since it opened, Hudson Yards has been the focus of many articles and Instagram posts, whether about the views, The Vessel or the restaurants. Often crowded, the mall there has many places to eat, from reasonable to expensive. On the latter, Estiatorio Milos sits on an upper floor (you have to climb some beautiful stairs from the bar to the dining room), with stunning views worth seeing at sun down.
We recently went to Legacy Records, a place located in a new condo in Hudson Yards. I admit that I was looking for a place at the newly opened Hudson Yards area and did not check the address until the day of our brunch, discovering, fortunately beforehand, that it was not where I thought it was. No, located in the Henry Hall Hotel, Legacy Records is for sure off the beaten path and I would have never discovered it if it was not thanks to Opentable. I was excited to go, thinking that the decor would relate to an old record label but it was not the case, bringing a bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, the decor there is beautiful and elegant, quite huge in fact, with an impressive horseshoe bar.
I noticed Junzi Kitchen a few weeks ago, as they opened their doors few steps from Bryant Park. This fast casual place serves noodles and bings, these Northern Chinese thin crepes (also called Chun Bing) that I tried for the first time at Mr Bing in Urban Space Vanderbilt. I was excited to try it, although feeling the pressure in this type of restaurants to give my order quickly, people waiting behind me. Not that it was crowded though, but I thought it might have been because they opened recently in a location that is probably not ideal.
I had DaDong, a fancy Chinese restaurant few steps from Bryant Park on my list for a while and was convinced to go there after hearing a conversation in the street from three friends of Asian descent claiming this was the best Chinese restaurant in the city. Famous in China for sure, where chef Dong Zhenxiang opened more than 15 locations devoted to Peking Duck, a dish that duck lovers should appreciate: it is made of thin slices of duck served with a crispy and fatty skin. I could eat that every day, but it is not that often that restaurant serve half a duck and getting a whole one would only work if going with friends, Jodi being vegetarian...
We passed in front of Woodpecker by David Burke so many times that we decided to try it last Friday. For sure, the location is a bit forgettable, on 30th between Broadway and 5th, a bit off the beaten path and that might be why it was not that crowded when we went. Too bad because I found the food quite good and very interesting, not classic, with only few options for vegetarians though. This place has a nice atmosphere and although I found the service a bit spotty, surprisingly considering it was not that crowded, I would come back. Here is what we tried:
It has been a while since we went to Dafni Greek Taverna across from Port Authority and I admit that I totally forgot to post about our last visit. So, as we were looking for a place very close to this area because we were meeting Jodi’s cousin Rebecca , we booked a table for a dinner. The place was not that crowded (it was a Wednesday), and the waiter found a way to mix up dishes a bit, mistake that I would put on his difficulty to understand my French accent, although I was showing him the items we we were ordering on the menu.
We hear a lot about Mediterranean diet, so I took that dining experience as a way to improve our health, dessert included. Here is what we had:
We had a plan to go to the Whitney Museum Biennial exhibit but I admit that I was more thrilled about what was coming next: the brunch at Untitled, the restaurant on the side of the Museum (you do not need to go into the museum to go there). I cannot believe it has been two years that we went there and I was looking forward to eating two things: the burger and the cookie and milk that Chef Suzanne Cupps proposes.
Dining at Bar Boulud, one of the many restaurants of acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud, never disappoints: the food is great and a perfect representation of classic French dishes, like the cassoulet that has become more popular in New York the past few years, with even an annual competition where the best Chefs across the country are dueling over a very comforting dish for the title of best cassoulet in New York. This competition is called The Cassoulet War, a perfect name for a dish that was created during the 100 year war between France and Britain, in Castelnaudary (South West of France), with duck confit, pork shoulder and sausage while the city was besieged and people were asked to bring whatever ingredients they had to prepare a stew and feed the soldiers.
There are not that many restaurants that have a unique way of doing things that sticks in your mind. When people ask me about a life changing dining experience, I often think about Noma, where Chef Rene Redzepi showcases unusual ingredients that Mother Nature has to offer like moss or flowers. In New York, I think about The Marshal in Hell’s Kitchen, that cooks all the dishes in their wood fire oven (they do not have a regular oven, so even the S’mores are cooked in there) and in Hoboken, there is Antique Bar and Bakery, downtown.
Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies? I discovered them in France, when I was a kid: my brother made some at school, but it was really something we saw on TV, not that mainstream, that appeared few years later at the supermarket. Then, coming here, I had a revelation at Levain Bakery, on the Upper West Side: they serve the kind of cookies that make you want to lay down. They are big, heavy, chewy, with tons of chocolate. Sweet but not overly. My next cookie adventure was at City Bakery where I got the chance to try freshly made cookies that were so delightfully buttery that you refuse to share them.
As we were planning to go see artists in Dumbo for open studios (check out one of my favorites, Peter Drake that we never miss to visit), I was happily tasked to find a place for lunch. As Jodi loves pizza even more than I do, I looked up for a pizzeria and found Love and Dough on Pearl street, just few blocks from the Brooklyn Bridge. This place has a nice feel with lots of old black and white photos of Italian actors and actresses and the smell of their brick oven that sits in the back of the dining room. They offer Neapolitan pizza, made with flour imported from Napoli and apparently make their own pasta that I will have to try in our next visit.
It’s been a while we have been to The Kati Roll Company, a restaurant that serves these delicious street food wraps that originated in Kolkata, India. There are many variants, but, at The Kati Roll Company, they are made by wrapping warm paratha, a type of Indian flat bread, around a variety of meats, vegetables and cheese. But I would not compare them with wraps that you can find anywhere else: these are so flavorful that one is not enough, even if some are spicy…We went on a Saturday, at 7pm, and the place was already full. I should even say packed and we got lucky because our friend Caleb got a table and was able to resist the various attempts by hungry customers to storm it
We were looking for the best ice cream in Chicago and a quick Google search brought us, on a rainy day, to Cone Gourmet Ice Cream, a family run ice cream parlor with an Irish theme (between the “Lick me I’m Irish and ice cream flavored in Jameson whisky - that I did not like - or Baileys, you cannot miss that). That place has its charm and is cozy, with a neighborhood feel. However, I found the flavors to be a bit too much out there and wished they offered classic flavors like hazelnut.
We were looking for a breakfast place when we stumbled upon Mindy’s Hot Chocolate in the Revival food hall: this small place serves a bunch of mouth watering goodies besides bagels and we liked it so much that we went twice, our experience at Le Pain Quotidien being quite disappointing over the week end (yes, this place is closed Saturday and Sunday, so we had to find a backup…).
On our first day in Chicago, we looked up donuts places and stumbled upon Firecakes Donuts, a shop with a few locations in the Windy City. It is with excitement that we went to their Hubbard street location in the River North neighborhood and I was surprised to see a very small place with no seating area. This is the kind of joint where you truly get overwhelmed by the many tempting choices in front of you, knowing that you will probably go only once as a visitor. So we decided to try three donuts and not just two: there were a sprinkles donut, a buttermilk old fashioned and a honey glazed donut.
With a name like Goddess and The Baker, you can expect incredible food and so we decided to try this place for breakfast and then went back later on for a treat in the afternoon. The place is not that big and seems to be quite popular to the point that it can be challenging to get a table, especially if the tables outside are not an option because of the rain (and it rained a lot as we were visiting the Windy City).
With its one Michelin Star earned since 2011, Sepia has been feeding Chicago diners a seasonal menu working with producers who use sustainable practices. This West loop restaurant is a true gem for sure and we were glad we could get a table on a crowded Saturday. With a near perfect service, although overwhelmed as the evening went and the dining room filled out, we had a great time and ate delicious food as you will see below.
You may find that Fat Rice is too off the beaten path to go there but not going would be a serious mistake. Surely, when you think about Chicago, especially when you are a tourist, you are more inclined to try the deep dish pizza that the city has to offer and I admit that if we would have not seen the season finale of Top Chef in Macau (the finale was in Macau, not us unfortunately, although I visited this place many years ago) last March, we would not have gone there.
We were supposed to meet our friend Alison for a brunch on Sunday in Chicago and Jodi booked a table at The Dearborn, a restaurant serving an interesting brunch: it is not everyday that you see a place serving bone marrow and soft scrambled eggs! It did not take me long to want to try this dish, intrigued by this unusual pairing and its description: Parmesan gratin, crusty bread, cheese eggs, fresh herb salad and chipotle sauce.
For our last evening in Chicago, we decided to go for an early dinner as we wanted to watch the finale of Game of Thrones at 8pm, worries that otherwise we would have this last episode spoiled by social media and news outlets, rightfully so. Our choice was Giordano’s, near Millenium Park that boasts lots of pictures of people lifting slices of their deep dish pizza with long, very long strings of cheese attached to it. When we arrived, we thought that we would have to wait a long time, people waiting outside, but, they just announced 15 to 20 minutes of wait time that was quite surprising and reasonable.
After our disappointing lunch at Pizzeria Uno, I admit that we were a bit anxious to find a good deep dish pizza in Chicago. Not that we thought it was impossible, but, being there few days, we really wanted to go to a good place that would erase our past experience. And we did. After a walk to the Navy Pier, we looked up pizza places and ended up at Gino’s East, a homegrown chain that serves an amazing pizza. I know that the term chain gives a negative image of the place, but, in this case, it should not. They have places in quite few cities, except unfortunately New York, but who knows, maybe one day!
When searching for the best deep dish pizza in Chicago, I saw some recommendations for Pizzeria Uno and, at first, ditched it, because I thought it was a chain. But then, i read that this is this place that created the deep dish pizza back in 1943. At that time, the owner of the restaurant, Ike Sewell, decided to create a hearty meal by combining, on a pizza, large quantities of ingredients, like vegetables, meats and cheese. That is what you get when you order the Numero Uno, …
Located on the Upper East Side, Heidelberg is one of the last German restaurants in Yorkville, reminiscent of the German neighborhood this area used to be. Next to Schaller and Weber, the old school German market, it has kept, some opening in 1936, its rustic and comforting atmosphere, serving a fairly large menu where pork is the star. But no worries: if you are vegetarian, they offer several options like the popular giant pretzel, that I wished was served with a cheese sauce rather than just mustard or the potato pancakes, these crispy thick patties made of grated potato, onion and garlic that are fried, traditionally served with apple sauce. Perfect to share.
There are places like that that mark your memory because of their originality. Brooklyn Chop House is one of them. The name surely indicates a meaty meal made of steaks and burgers, but it also surprisingly offers Chinese dishes. Not so surprising when you know that the person who runs the place, Stratis Morfogen, was one of the people behind Jade Sixty, a restaurant on the upper East Side with the same concept that had to close due to a water main break (too bad because I did not get a chance to visit it!). I tried the ribeye at Brooklyn Chop House and was blown away: their meat, aged 50 to 60 days is tasty, tender and juicy. And they surely know how to cook it!
I often tell people that I love so much coffee that it is probably this dark juice that is flowing through my veins. I have been drinking coffee since I was a teenager: I love the smell of the freshly ground beans and the strong taste an espresso has, but not the bitterness that is sometimes in the bottom of a cup. So it was with excitement that we went to The Mill few times as we were in Long Island City. This quaint joint with its rustic feel serves artisanal coffee, sweets and sandwiches in a relaxed atmosphere. They have good espresso and macchiato, but if you are not into coffee, you can opt for a tea. In term of sweets, …
When I think about creative desserts, I immediately think about Spot Dessert Bar in the East Village. This place is amazing and proposes truly original desserts crafted by Iron Chef of Thailand, Chef Ian Kittichai, like the matcha lava, a warm dark chocolate cake filled with matcha ganache and served with matcha green tea ice cream, or the Golden toast, a warm crispy honey buttered toast served with strawberries, and condensed milk ice cream (this is so buttery!). We recently went back after Jodi saw their coconut monkey bread on Instagram. This dessert is a monkey bread covered in fall spices, thai tea drizzle served with coconut milk ice cream. It comes sizzling hot and they will pour the Thai tea on top of the coconut milk ice cream. This was quite good, but not as good as…
Its been a while since we went to Two Little Red Hens on the Upper East Side, but, as we were having lunch with our friends Jen and Gary at Heidelberg, next door to it, we decided to stop by for dessert. And what a treat! This tiny place has so many delicious desserts that it was hard to choose and I went from thinking about ordering the banana cream pie, then the pecan pie and finally settled for their NY cheesecake that was very good, not as good as Junior’s (less dense also), but worth trying, with…
It’s been a while since we had Vietnamese cuisine and we were looking for a place to eat in Brooklyn before an errand when we saw Hanco’s a casual Vietnamese eatery that serves bubble tea, pho and banh mi. Empty at first, it started to get busy especially with a young crowd attracted by not only the food but also the price. This is a casual place, so you order at the counter and then your number is called in the back, where you will get your tray and can sit either in the front or in the small upstairs dining room. I was not so interested in a bubble tea that is a bit gimmicky and hesitated between a Thai iced tea and a Vietnamese coffee, both containing condensed milk.
With roots in Southwest of France, Chef Sébastien Pourrat succeeded in creating with Cocotte, a unique tiny spot serving delicious French-Spanish cuisine. Tiny restaurant with portions as big as the place though, keeping alive the reputation French restaurants often have (small portions). But it is not about quantity but more quality and there is something about this place that makes you want to go back: good food, nice atmosphere that makes it the perfect neighborhood hideout. Service is good, at the exception of one waitress that definitely spoiled the last time we went there and dealt with various issues with a definite lack of professionalism; fortunately, the rest of the staff was not like that. Dinner at Cocotte is quite good, but I rather go for brunch that serves amazing classic dishes like the œufs brouillés or scrambled eggs that can be served with mushrooms (champignons - Jodi’s choice) or chorizo with the possibility to do half and half.
Farm to Burger: what an interesting name at a time where the farm to table restaurants are considered more and more by diners who want quality food and are worried about the effect of processed or unnaturally fed produce. Grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free are more commonly displayed on menus and Farm to Burger prides itself on offering its patrons quality ingredients that are locally sourced. Opened in December 2018 in the Aliz hotel next to Port Authority Bus Terminal, it is a bit hidden. I admit that I thought it was a small place, maybe like Burger Joint in the Parker Méridien, but it is not: this 90 seater is big with a decor supposed to represent a farmhouse.
When it opened last year, Frenchette was the most talked about restaurant opening and remains a difficult place to get a reservation unless you are ready to eat really early or late at night. I was wondering what Frenchette means, thinking that it could be a term of endearment for French cuisine or some minimalism, until I discovered that it is the title of a song from David Johansen released in 1978 with one paragraph saying:
“Want you to come in my kitchen and not my kitchenette.
Want you to come in my dining room, not my dinette yet”.
Starbucks is elevating its coffee shops with Starbucks Reserve, an elegant and sophisticated version that opened in NYC last December, right next to Chelsea Market. Already popular amongst New Yorkers, this 23,000 sqft place is amazing: two stories if not counting the downstairs floor where the bathrooms are, where a bar, sandwich and pastry stations feed an hungry crowd with some delicious food still casual but tasty, and Italian inspired. Sandwiches are made with breads from Le Pain Quotidien with a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices like the…
We recently made it to L’Appart, short for L’Appartement (Apartment in French), one of the restaurants of Le District, a French food hall located near the World Trade Center. You may not notice it when going from The District Garden (their supermarket) to The District Market with its stations and bar, as it is tucked in a hallway, like a gem that only the gourmets know. As soon as you open the wooden doors, you are greeted by David Coucke, The Maitre D’, with a house cocktail (it was a lychee, ginger and rose cocktail that was delightfully spicy) and introduced to the team, like when you go to a dinner with some friends and the host makes the introductions.
It’s been a while since we went to Felix and I admit that my motivation to go there was to try their cassoulet that won best cassoulet in 2016 and 2017. Cassoulet is a white bean stew that has gained popularity in the US after D’Artagnan, the purveyor of meat and poultry started to organize and annual cassoulet war in New York. Historically, it is said that cassoulet was created in Castelnaudary (South West of France), with duck confit, pork shoulder and sausage while the city was besieged and people were asked to bring whatever ingredients they had to prepare a stew and feed the soldiers.
Offshoot of Indie Food & Wine, located in the Lincoln Center, Indie Lic is a cool casual place in Long Island City where the owner lives. Yes, there is definitely this cool vibe in this medium sized space that is filled with light, thanks to its large windows and its communal table in the center for people who do not mind eating with their neighbor. I would not go there for a full meal but more for small bites for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the choices being quite diverse between vegetarian and non-vegetarian, salad or sandwiches. For breakfast, I recommend their steel cut oatmeal that is cooked with cinnamon and milk, topped with sliced banana (a good amount), almonds (for some crunch) and maple syrup.
When Rebecca, Jodi’s cousin, asked to find a place with pancakes for brunch, we ended up going to Sugar Factory in the Meatpacking District, a place we wanted to go to for a while now. Yes, there were other places but not with time available on Opentable or Resy. When we arrived, it was clear that a reservation was necessary as people without were turned down and in fact, we got seated in a corner hard to reach for the staff, 30 minutes after our reservation. They were definitely overwhelmed despite the fact that we could see available tables upstairs. Sugar Factory is a big place for sure with a fun decor from candies to big chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, without forgetting the photos of celebrities who had a meals there or let’s say more what makes them popular: giant crazy milkshakes like the one with a mini cheese burger squeezed on top, or the goblets, these big sugary drinks full of liquid nitrogen to give a dramatic effect.
I do not remember when was the last time I had Udon noodles, probably when ordering Japanese food from a small joint, not as impressed at the time by it and preferring the more classic ramen. Until I discovered Tsurutontan, a Japanese chain that is trying to conquer NY diners’ stomach. They started with a bold move in 2016, by invading the space left vacant by Union Square Café and have now a second location Midtown where we had lunch recently. Big space for sure with the open kitchen in the back.
When we went to Thalia few years ago, it was for brunch as I saw that, at the time, they had a creme brûlée French toast that was really good but that they since ditched, replacing it with a Nutella one (not a bad replacement in fact). At that point, we thought it would be great to go back for dinner and it took us until this last Valentine’s Day...Not that we celebrate but we just wanted to go to a quiet place, far from the crowd and ended up there: good choice because it was not that crowded and I kind of understood why. This new American and sushi place has simply the atmosphere of a restaurant that would be in a hotel, not so surprising as it is in the theater district, but still.
I discovered Sticky’s Finger Joint in 2012 on the Food Network when they participated to the show 3 Days to open with Chef Bobby Flay. I still remember that the main discussion was how to make their menu appealing, having chicken fingers on the menu not being enough and encouraging them to showcase their sauces. It makes sense: you can get chicken fingers that are as good in lots of places, MacDonald’s included, but Schnipper’s being better, but what could make a difference and entice you to go there? So they listened, developed their sauces and have now 7 locations, the last one being on 41st between 6th and Broadway that I recently visited.
Is Times Square changing, with the addition of better restaurants? I admit that I have food some good and bad ones there and was curious to check out Dos Caminos, located next to the W hotel, that has been there for a while now. located in the heart of the busiest tourist place in New York, Dos Caminos is a two floors restaurant: the first floor looks very casual, but the room downstairs looks much better, with its large bar serving more than 100 sorts of tequila and cocktails like margarita (I prefer the classic, not frozen, especially in winter) that you can sip while sharing a delicious guacamole made to order.
Taking its name from an Island in the Southern coast of Korean and also meaning skills, talent and ability, Jeju Noodle Bar was awarded this year a coveted Michelin Star. So I had to visit it. We went on a Tuesday and that place was packed, so I was glad that we got a reservation otherwise we would have waited a while.
We recently discovered Blend, a restaurant serving Latin cuisine in Long Island City (LIC). The first time we went there was for brunch and we surely had to go back for dinner. I like this place which is quite big, because of the variety its menu proposes, with dishes from Latin America, like a puzzle made of specialties from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba or Peru. Varied and well executed. Here is what we had:
When Porter Collins, the new venture from Chef Pino who gave us Bin 14 and the amazing Anthony David’s opened on the corner of 15th and Willow in Hoboken, it seemed to be a sign of a reviving industrial area. Unfortunately the place closed several months after and it could have given a black mark to this location, until Orale, a Mexican joint apparently popular in Jersey City opened. With its beautiful space covered in colorful street art and its wall of fluorescent Jarritos bottles, it seems so far that it is the perfect theme for the Hoboken crowd.
It’s been a while since I wanted to go to Esca, an Italian restaurant located in Hell’s Kitchen, few steps from Port Authority. There, Chef Pasternak serves an incredible menu that is seafood focused and with limited choices if you are vegetarian, odd for an Italian restaurant as you can make a great vegetarian pasta dish quite easily.
When you think about a Beer Garden, you think about that particular smell in the dining room that is a mix of beer and sausage, and the heavy comforting food with a giant pretzel as a must have. That is what Hoboken’s Pilsener Haus and Biergarten has to offer. The best time to go? Before 6pm when families are the main crowd, the place not being that crowded and still with an acceptable noise level. Hoboken’s Pilsener Haus and Biergarten is very big and kind of stands out in an area still evolving from the industrial era to a more residential neighborhood.
We finally made it to Jungsik, the 2 Michelin stars restaurant in TriBeCa. Yes, we booked few times but had to cancel for various reasons, but this time we were set to go, the cold not scaring us. Beautiful place with a modern and elegant decor not stuffy at all.
As we were looking for a place to eat after a solo exhibit from one of Jodi’s friends, Patty, trying to go back home before the announced storm that fortunately did not happen, we stumbled upon Empire Diner, an upscale retro diner serving an elevated fare. For sure, the mural on top of it from Eduardo Kobra called "Mount Rushmore of Art" and representing famed artists Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat attractedour eyes as we walked on 10th avenue.
If you step in Tuscany Steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan, you would never guess that it is a Steakhouse and would more be inclined to think that it is an Italian restaurant, the masculine decor of classic steakhouses being totally absent. But it will stop there: as soon as you get the menu, you understand where you are but cannot not help but notice some Italian dishes here and there that set the tone. But then you are not sure what to do: Italian? Steak? Both?
As Jodi was part of an exhibit in Henry street in Brooklyn, I proposed to have dinner nearby and found Sociale, an Italian restaurant that has been opened since 2013 and serves a contemporary cuisine. The place is not big and has the kind of atmosphere that makes you think it is your typical neighborhood restaurant, an atmosphere that I love. Food wise, we were there for a treat; here is what we had:
We recently ate at Saju Bistro, a French restaurant located in Times Square. Nice decor, warm, I truly appreciated that some of the tables have space in between so you do not have the impression to dine with the neighboring table, even if I would not mind if they would pick up our check.
Hoboken has great places for brunch. The last one we discovered in December was Grand Vin Kitchen and Bar. It was the same day as Santa Con and we were glad to see that they barred people participating in this annual pub crawl event, making this place quiet and enjoyable. Serving Italian and American fare, Grand Vin has a very interesting menu for brunch that makes it interesting and the kind of place I would go back to for sure!
Named after a popular shopping street in Singapore, Bugis Street serves pan-Asian cuisine as well as some classic American dishes. Located in the Millennium Hotel in Times Square, it was our destination as we were looking for a restaurant not to far from Port Authority.
Named after the famous Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, Mifune is a Japanese restaurant located Midtown East that serves an interesting menu. Yes you can get sushi and sashimi there, but I encourage you to try their other dishes that show a certain creativity.
We were walking on Jackson avenue in Long Island City, on our way to a restaurant when we noticed Bierocracy, a Central European beer hall. As it started to rain hard, we changed our plan and thought it could be nice to go there for lunch, dinner being probably packed and noisy. And we were half right: the place started empty but they had two parties: one on one side of the bar room and another one in the back, where they have a private room.
Our last meal in San Diego was at Salud! By San Diego Taco Company, a popular Mexican restaurant located in Barrio Logan. Crowded inside with a long line outside, I was really excited to try it. And I was even more when inside, the decor being really beautiful with its murals that are tattoo inspired and the car hoods on the wall.
For our last lunch in San Diego, we decided to go light as we planned an early dinner with our friends Ciara and David, before our flight home. So I found this seafood place that had a couple of vegetarian options for Jodi called Ironside Fish and Oysters. Located in Little Italy, this restaurant is quite big and has a beautiful sea themed decor, especially the wall full of piranhas…
We were really excited to be able to get a reservation at Juniper and Ivy, the restaurant of Top Chef alum Richard Blais where Executive Chef Anthony Wells creates a very creative menu that would for sure excite the culinary curious...unless vegetarian. I wish restaurants were keeping their menu online up to date because Jodi was excited to try their pasta with truffle, but unfortunately it was not there, their menu changing on a regular basis and the waiter did not really come back with options besides what was there written. So I left glad I got to try that place; Jodi was less enthusiastic than I was...Here is what we had:
I passed in front of Mad Dog and Beans Mexican Cantina few times in the morning and was not sure what to expect from it and thought that going on a Friday before a major Holiday would be a good idea, expecting less people and so, less noise. I was wrong: as we entered the restaurant to inquire for a table, we ended up in a dark setting with a noise level that was definitely not for me…Fortunately, they had tables outside and the weather was still adequate for an outdoor dinner.