I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/25 I Just Want To Eat! 4/24/25

Diner 24 in NYC, NY

Opened in May last year, Diner 24 is trying to differentiate itself from an unfortunately dying breed of diners in the city. How? By serving big portions and crazy milkshakes. So I had to check it out and left perplexed: not that I was surprised that the huevos rancheros would just be ok in a diner (yes, they were and interestingly, our neighboring table ordered the same and the presentation was a bit different, with avocado on top; probably forgotten by the kitchen on our side), but I found that the 12oz double smashed burger they were offering, although it looked dry at first, was really good. The meat was juicy and nicely caramelized, with crispy bits on the outside. However, the onion ring that was on top of the patty was a bit soggy, as were the fries that were the worst I had in a long time. Then came the milkshake. I settled for the Oreo s’mores one that was topped with an ice cream bar and cake pop (not a big fan), and decorated with fudge and sprinkles. When it came to the table, the toasted marshmallow just fell down immediately on the plate, so I cannot even say what it is supposed to look like. It either sat there before being served or they heated the ice cream while toasting it, causing this slide. The shake in itself was not as expected: the ice cream bar was tasteless and I could not find any pieces of Oreos. The $22 price tag was not worth it and I had better Oreo milkshakes for a lesser price.

Cakes and milkshake display at Diner 24 in NYC, NY

Oreo S’mores milkshake at Diner 24 in NYC, NY

So, I was a bit disappointed, even if the burger was good. Diner 24 is not a place I would love to go back to.

Enjoy (...)!

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Diner 24 - 283 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/24 I Just Want To Eat! 10/11/24

The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

If you have never been to The Tin Building, you are truly missing an incredible experience. This food market from Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is superb, with my favorite spot being their bakery that proposes delicious items, similar to what you would get in France. My favorite is their brioche au sucre that is better eaten there, as the sugar will fall in the bag on the way home, and their pain aux raisins, that is sticky, flakey and buttery, with a bit of almond paste in it and a perfect amount of raisins. Simply delicious! But I would not miss their almond croissant that is fantastic, their buttery and flakey croissant, and their chocolate croissant that is filled with Valrhona chocolate, not some cheap chocolate bar for sure.

Brioche au sucre at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

Almond croissant at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

Croissant at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

Pain au chocolat at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

Pain aux raisins at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

They also have a bunch of pastries and cookies, but I admit that paying $18 for a Paris-Brest that is one of my favorite pastries is not something I would do. However, their $5 chocolate chip cookie or linzer raspberry cookie are to die for.

Linzer raspberry cookie at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

Chocolate chip cookie at The Bakery at The Tin Building in NYC

So, no wonder why this is my favorite spot at The Tin Building: everything is delicious and, as you enter your nose is filled with that buttery smell that can only open your appetite. The only problem is that everything looks so good and so, you do not know what to order! Price wise, these items are between $4.50 and $6 that is reasonable considering prices elsewhere and the quality of these items. I highly recommend this place!

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Tin Building - 96 South St, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 10/8/24 I Just Want To Eat! 10/8/24

Shalom Japan in Brooklyn

Shalom Japan in Williamsburg is an interesting find: there, married chefs and owners Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi created a menu that merges their two cultures, Jewish and Japanese, giving a nice twist to both cultures, the most representative dish being their matzoh ball soup ramen that is made of chicken broth, wood ear mushrooms, scallions, nori, soy marinated egg (it is an add on), Mandel for some crunch and matzoh ball (I asked for a second one). This is a genius move considering the two dishes have commonalities: noodles and chicken broth. tasty and filling, I highly recommend this dish if you go there. For a more classic ramen, you can opt for the sesame temomi mazemen that is a cold soup served with shiitake mushrooms, shishito peppers, cucumbers, Shiso and you can also add a soy marinated egg to it. I admit that I prefer hot ramen, but found this really good, refreshing in fact.

Matzoh ball ramen at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn

Sesame Temomi mazemen at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn

For dessert, we could not miss their chocolate banana bread pudding that could have had more chocolate and was not as moist as I would have liked.

Chocolate banana challah bread pudding at Shalom Japan in Brooklyn

Overall, we had a nice meal at Shalom Japan: the food is interesting and most importantly, good. I would definitely go back to try other dishes like the wagyu pastrami sando or lox bowl.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Shalom Japan - 310 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

I Just Want To Eat! 9/22/24 I Just Want To Eat! 9/22/24

You cannot miss the Lobster pasta at Avra Estiatorio!

Years ago, I have tried the lobster pasta at Avra Estiatorio, a fancy Greek restaurant with several locations in New York and since then, I have been drooling just thinking about it. The last time I went there, they were offering the dish for market price at $75 a pound, plus $20 for the pasta that I thought was a bit pushing the envelop as they could have thrown the pasta for free for anyone ordering lobster! Anyway, we went there on a weekend for lunch and I saw it on the menu for $64. So, I decided to go for it. Served with linguine in a light tomato sauce, there was a lot of lobster and they sure know how to cook it. It is not a huge dish and an appetizer was welcome. We decided to share the fried saganaki (do not expect them to flambe it at the table, shouting “Opa” as the flames go up though). The cheese was sublime, crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. I would mention that they brought us some hummus and homemade pita and cracker that I ate while sipping my mocktail, the Greek Sunrise, made with lime, orange, pineapple, soda and grenadine. Sadly, Jodi got their Greek salad that was expensive and disappointing, the tomatoes being mushy.

Lobster pasta at Avra Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Hummus and pita at Avra Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Greek salad at Avra Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Greek Sunrise at Avra Estiatorio in NYC, NY

Needless to say that I had no room for dessert…But I was glad I got to go back to Avra Estiatorio to get that lobster pasta that is a must have if you love lobster.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Avra Espiatorio - 1271 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/24 I Just Want To Eat! 9/6/24

Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Smashed burgers are becoming a trend. It’s true that because of the way they are cooked, the taste will be a bit more pronounced, especially when the edges are slightly crispy and caramelized. So, after 7th Street Burger (my least favorite) and Dipped’n Smashed (my top burger joint) opened, I thought that would be it. This was until Mashed Burgers opened a couple of weeks ago, replacing Bareburger that suddenly closed. So we had to try it. The decor at Mashed is colorful and you cannot...

Arcade games at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

So, after ordering on their point of sale (I love when they have those, so you can take your time to order and can see the various options offered for your burger - with extra sauce, extra cheese, no onion, etc), we sat at the table, waiting for them to bring our food. I admit that, when my double OKC burger came to the table, I did not find it that appetizing, the sauce looking like it sat a bit before being served. Made with shaved grilled onions, American cheese, pickles and Mash sauce., I thought the burger was quite good, juicy for sure, the bottom of the bun being a bit greasy. Jodi got their Mash Impossible burger, without onion, that had more or less the same ingredients as mine, with American cheese, pickles and Mash sauce. This was also good, although for me, a double patty is preferable so the ratio bun to meat is in favor of the later.

OKC burger at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Impossible burger at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

With it, we had some fries that were crispy, but definitely not my favorite, and some delicious onion rings that I am always looking for when having a burger.

French fries at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Onion rings at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

I also got an Oreo cookie milkshake that had big pieces of cookies on top, but needed more ice cream as very milky.

Oreo milkshake at Mashed Burgers in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, this was good, but I admit that I still prefer Dipped’n Smashed. This would probably come second with Shake Shack. I will have to go back to try their foot chicken sandwich and their churro that is an interesting dessert they are proposing there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mashed - 515 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/24 I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/24

Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

Don’t be mistaken by its name: Byrd is not specialized in cooking volatiles many ways, but is a nod to the American polar explorer, Richard Byrd, with their logo being the Arctic Tern. Yes, it is Byrd with a “y”. Located off the beaten path, it is one of those fancy restaurants in Hoboken that are worth a little walk. There, Chefs and owners Ehren and Nadine Ryan serve an array of interesting dishes to share or not, starting with snacks like their bbq'd Matake mushroom skewers smothered in soy caramel glaze that are a must have, and so is their chef's midnight snack that is sourdough bread topped with (lots of) brie and pickled red onions. Less successful is their lemon labneh that had too much lemon in it that completely overpowers the dish.

Sourdough and brie at Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

These “snacks” are perfect with a drink and they have a nice selection of wines or cocktails. I tried both their Negroni that you can have with gin or bourbon (I chose the latter) and their Grenache Rose, a cote du Rhone Domaine de la Bastide. Jodi. got their Non #1, a non-alcoholic beverage made with raspberry, chamomile, and Murray river salt, as well as their lemonade.

Grenache Rose, Cote du Rhone at Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

For their entrees, we tried their roasted cauliflower served with tahini sauce, hazelnut gremolata and herbs, as well as their NY strip that was topped with herb butter. The steak was quite good, cooked as ordered, but I was a bit disappointed by the skin on fries that were certainly frozen. The most surprising dish was their duck leg confit with red curry sauce: the duck was superb, the skin slightly crispy and the meat falling off the bone, bathed in a delicious sauce and accompanied by green beans and rice.

Roasted cauliflower at Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

Dessert is not to be missed, although their dessert menu is small. The best is their chocolate mousse that is served with olive oil madeleines: interestingly, they put a dollop of olive oil on the chocolate mousse, that was quite nice, pairing well with the chocolate. Their homemade chocolate chip cookies are also good, with lots of chocolate chips in it, but I wish they served it with a small glass of milk…

Chocolate mousse and olive oil madeleines at Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate chip cookies at Byrd in Hoboken, NJ

Our meals at Byrd have been pretty good. This is a great place for a nice dinner and I wonder if they will open for brunch as I am sure they would offer a unique menu, as unique as their dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Byrd - 800 Jackson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/24 I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/24

Sushi and Co in Time Square

I don’t know if you have noticed but there are more and more Japanese restaurant that are based on the principle of make your own box rather than just taking some pre-made items. Sushi and Co is one of them, with already three located in the city. The one I visited opened several weeks ago in the heart of Time Square in New York City.

So, first you need to decide which option you want to make your own. There are definitely lots of choices, from making your own teriyaki bento (that I did with air baked salmon teriyaki, avocado salad, eel avocado maki and shrimp tempura maki), sushi and roll box (2 rolls, 4 nigiri sushi and a salad), or 4 roll box (4 rolls and a salad) that is apparently their most popular with the sushi mix and match (3 rolls and a salad). Then you pick the rolls (California, spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, tuna and avocado, Philadelphia, yellowtail, shrimp tempura, eel and avocado or vegetable) or the nigiri (tuna, salmon, shrimp, yellowtail, gold tuna - that is tuna with a gold leaf on top- or eel). For salads, you can pick between avocado (that I always choose), mixed greens, edamame, seaweed or sashimi.

Sushi teriyaki mix and match at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Sushi teriyaki mix and match box at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Avocado salad at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Eel avocado maki at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Air baked salmon at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Shrimp tempura maki at Sushi and Co in Time Square

You can also choose their Omakase box where you have to pick 8 nigiri or sashimi, as well as a salad. So, I went for all the choices they had (6 of them: tuna, salmon, tuna with gold leaf (not really necessary), shrimp, eel and yellowtail) and picked another eel and salmon, with an avocado salad.

Shrimp and yellowtail nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Salmon and tuna with gold leaf nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Salmon and tuna nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Tuna with gold leaf and salmon nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Eel nigiri at Sushi and Co in Time Square

You can also just order rolls like avocado rolls or vegetable dumplings that are pretty good.

Avocado rolls at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Vegetable dumplings at Sushi and Co in Time Square

Overall it was good, but I thought some of it was a bit pricey. Still, the fact that you can mix and match makes choices quite unlimited and so, exciting. I would not mind going back to try their soup or special rolls.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sushi and Co - 1407 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 8/5/24 I Just Want To Eat! 8/5/24

Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Paris Baguette opened few weeks ago in Hoboken. This South Korean bakery that opened in first location in 1988 proposes a French inspired offering. But I admit that I would probably not go there for a croissant or chocolate croissant that are good but would be better with more butter, preferring more their pain aux raisins or their chocolate twist that is slightly crunchy and buttery, their sugar twist, their Pastéis de Nata that is a Portuguese egg tart, or, more French, the palmier that is one of the best I had, being buttery and nicely caramelized. They also have their own interpretation of the Cronut, an hybrid between a croissant and a donut, created years ago by Chef Dominique Ansel. Theirs was filled with a delicious vanilla cream and topped with a lemon cream and some zest: fantastic. I should also mention their sticky milk buns that are presented in a small loaf of deliciousness.

Croissant at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pain au chocolat at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pain aux raisins at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Croissant donut at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Sugar twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Sticky milk bun at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Palmier at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Pasteis de nata at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

My least favorite is the almond croissant that has almond cream in it, quite liquid and not as good as frangipane, and their jumbo twist that is topped with a crunch rice topping and cinnamon sugar. Not as good as the sugar twist that reminds me a beignet called a chichi that I used to eat in France.

Almond croissant at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

Jumbo twist at Paris Baguette in Hoboken, NJ

I still have a lot to try at Paris Baguette, including their…baguette. We tried to go there for lunch, but thought that their offerings are more limited, for example the only salad that day was a salmon salad and no vegetarian sandwich. I will try again!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Paris Baguette - 1000 Maxwell Ln, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Sponsored post: Damascus Chef Knife from Sakuto

I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/24 I Just Want To Eat! 7/29/24

The Kitchen Table at The Modern in NYC

Adjacent to The Moma, The Modern is probably the most underrated two Michelin stars restaurant in the City. I do not know why. Anyway, we were looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary when we saw that they offer a unique experience that any food enthusiast would appreciate: a table in the kitchen that gives you an inside look to what happens in the kitchen. I have been to Michelin star kitchens before, from Noma in Denmark to Maison Pic in France, without forgetting Eleven Madison Park, and have always been impressed by the calm and organization of the kitchen staff, only disturbed by tickets being called, followed by a “oui” Chef shouted in unison. It is simply mesmerizing and the kitchen at The Modern is no different: organized in three sections: dining room, pastry and bar room, the 30 or so staff there were working like a well oiled machine while 30 other people where preparing the next service (we went for lunch).

The $345 menu is a suprise: they ask you for any dietary restrictions and anything you do not like, but that’s it: Executive Chef Thomas Allan and his team will decide what to serve you with some classics like their eggs on eggs on eggs or their dry aged duck, each dish being like a piece of art carefully crafted. Here is what we had:

They started by bringing us an amaretto flavored kombucha from Brooklyn to prepare our palate, as we were waiting for our drinks. We also got a mocktail for Jodi (Ko-Pilot, made with a non-alcoholic Duche de Longueville sparkling cider, Yuzu, maple and sea salt) and cocktail for me (First World, made with Mezcal, Falernum that is a Caribbean syrup, vermouth, verjus and green chartreuse, that is what made me decide to go with this cocktail, lemon and fleur de sel that was on the side of the glass). I also had, later in the meal, a nice 2022 Roger Belland Chassagne Montrachet that was a bit of a bet as I did not know what they would serve, but could not resist a pinot noir!

Amaretto flavored Kombuchar at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Ko-Pilot mocktail at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

First World cocktail at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

2022 Roger Belland Chassagne Montrachet wine at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Then started the 8 course menu that was more 10 with the add-ons…Here is what we had with, on the left, the vegetarian dishes for Jodi:

Amuse bouche:

Beets and lovage:

Hiramasa or yellow tail and elderflower:

Hiram's or yellow tail with elderflower at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Beluga lentils eggs on eggs on eggs:

Asparagus, green tomatoes, avocado ice cream and burrata:

Asparagus green tomatoes and burrata at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Endive with grilled sugar snap peas and morel mushroom broth:

Endived with sugar snap peas at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Caviar eggs on eggs on eggs:

Chilled lobster, green tomato, avocado ice cream and burrata:

Chilled lobster green tomatoes and burrata at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Sea bass with grilled English peas and mushroom broth:

Sea bass with English peas at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Agnolotti with artichoke, sorrel and black truffle from Australia, a treat from the Chef:

Agnolotti with artichoke and black truffle at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Grilled Summer squash with poached cherries and chanterelles:

Grilled Summer squash at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Confit eggplant with squash blossom and saffron:

Confit eggplant at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Dry aged duck with poached cherries and summer squash:

Dry aged duck at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

American Wagyu beef with creamy chanterelles and parmesan:

American Wagyu beef at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Frozen Almond with cucumber and passion fruit to clean our palate:

Frozen almond with cucumber and passion fruit at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Raspberry and pistachio ice cream compliment of the Chef:

Raspberry and pistachio ice cream at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Dark Chocolate tart with blueberries and sunflower:

Dark chocolate tart at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Cheesecake ice cream, strawberries, brown sugar:

Cheese cake ice cream at The Kitchen Table at The Modern

Last, they brought us some banana toffee that were the last thing I could eat after such meal. Everything was delicious, my favorite being the duck that was perfectly cooked, the skin being crispy and deliciously fatty, as well as the pasta that surprised me, not because of the truffle, but because, when I heard “artichoke”, I was not sure what to expect. Being in the kitchen you can of course expect a top notch service, but it was even better: this was true hospitality, everyone making us feel comfortable, in a setting that was not stuffy at all. I definitely recommend it if you can afford it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Kitchen Table at The Modern - 9 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 7/8/24 I Just Want To Eat! 7/8/24

Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Replacing City of Saints, Koocheh Coffee, opened few weeks ago in Hoboken. In Persian architecture, a Kucheh or Koocheh is a narrow alley that suits well this small place for sure. At Koocheh coffee, you get classic offerings of a coffee place, but there are few additional choices that are worth trying: chai that you can see more and more on menus, that, even if made from a syrup, is quite good, and their turmeric latte that Koocheh’s owner, Babak Moghaddam, told me is made with turmeric imported from his native Iran. Turmeric drinks has a quite interesting taste: creamy, earthy, very slightly sweet, some say that it taste like chai that is not the case at all. When it comes to pastries, they get theirs from Baltazar: croissants, chocolate croissants, almond croissants, etc.

Breakfast at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

Almond croissant at Koocheh Coffee in Hoboken, NJ

After Bwe, this is the second “persian coffee shop” in Hoboken. It is always nice to see family owned shops opening instead of another corporate one. Koocheh Coffee is a nice addition to the neighborhood and I wish Babak all the best for his business!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Koocheh Coffee - 1320 Bloomfield St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/24 I Just Want To Eat! 7/5/24

Carmine, family style dinner in Times Square

Italian family style restaurants always remind me when I brought my family who came from France for our wedding to Tony Di Napoli for a welcome dinner. We not only had fun with my family singing what I would just call classic French celebratory songs (I will not give more details but you can guess that there was some good ambiance in the restaurant), but the food was delicious (if you go, get the meatballs). So, I was looking forward to going to Carmine in Times Square. We were 7 people and had to wait just a bit for a table, the big restaurant being packed. Packed and loud, very loud, to the point that dessert was not even an option for me: I just wanted to get out! And it was not the only issue: we were a bit pushed to order more food than what we needed, our waiter, who by the way did not check on us after we were served, telling us that the eggplant parm we ordered was small, more like a side, that was not true at all. At least you can bring food home, but I do not like this kind of dishonest method. The eggplant parmesan was just ok, and I preferred the chicken marsala, or the appetizers we had previously: fried zucchini that is always a decadent way to eat that vegetable, or the spiedini all romana that is a roasted Italian loaf that is toasted and covered with melted mozzarella cheese in a capers, anchovies, basil and white wine reduction. At least we had good company, but I admit that Tony Di Napoli remains my favorite for Italian family style in Times Square.

Fried zucchini at Carmine in Times Square

Spiedoni alla romana at Carmine in Times Square

Eggplant parmesan at Carmine in Times Square

Chicken marsala at Carmine in Times Square

Enjoy (…)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Carmine - 200 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/24 I Just Want To Eat! 7/1/24

Uncle Momo, French-Lebanese restaurant in Jersey City

Uncle Momo in Jersey CityUncle Momo in Jersey City

We passed in front of Uncle Momo many times and decided to try that place for brunch on a Saturday. The result? We went back several times for lunch and dinner, the food being very good. We mostly tried their Lebanese dishes, some being served with their house made pita that is superb and is a must have (you can order it for $1), perfect with hummus or babaganouj. If you are vegetarian, they do have a falafel platter (these falafel are light and crispy), but my favorite is the Momo’s breakfast that is composed of two eggs over easy, served with hummus, tabouleh, labne, home fries and mixed greens. They also do propose other eggs dishes, like the Parisian Omelet, or crepes, that are pretty good, made with quinoa flour that has a nice slight nutty flavor, but, a classic not to miss is their French toast: the challah bread is slightly crispy on the outside, soft and custardy, topped with fruits and accompanied with creme anglaise and maple syrup.

Falafel platter at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Parisian omelet at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Crepes scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Breakfast platter at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Crepe scrambled eggs and Swiss cheese at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

French toast at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

My least favorite there was their regular pitza that, celebrate what some say is the origin of pizza: in Naples, pita was thrown into wood fire ovens to clean them and someone had the idea to put tomato sauce and cheese on top and serve it. No, the pizza was not as good as what you would get in a pizza shop: the sauce is a bit bland and the tomato sauce, that is what I always look for in pizza, lacking robustness. Maybe the ones with lamb and chicken are better and tastier, but it did not make me want to try more.

For non-vegetarian, they also have a wide range of dishes. if you are not sure what to try, the mixed grill is a good way to try their grilled chicken, lamb chops, Lebanese sausage and lamb kebab. Everything was delicious, tasty and juicy, but my favorite is their Lebanese sausage, or Makanek, that reminded me of mergez sausage, although it was made with ground beef instead of lamb. Served with hummus, pita and fries, it is a dish I would get over and over. I should also mention their lamb kofta kebab, that is made as a sandwich, wrapped in their delicious pita with tahini and onions: I recommend it if you love lamb.

Mixed grill at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Lamb kofta kebab sandwich at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

This place does not have a liquor license, so it is BYOB, but they propose few mocktails that are refreshing, like the virgin mojito or Pina colada. For brunch, they do offer classics: espresso, macchiato, americano, or mint tea, but also serve a decent chai or Turkish coffee, and an interesting baklava coffee that I found too sweet.

Iced Americano at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Turkish coffee at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Baklava coffee at Uncle Momo in Jersey City

Now, you are probably wondering if they serve desserts. They do, but, each time, we were full and we only tried their Muhalabia that is a milk pudding that has the consistency close to a panna cotta, made with milk, heavy cream, rice flour, orange blossom, topped with a blueberry sauce and pistachios. Soft and light, not too sweet, it was a perfect way to end a meal.

Hopefully, with all these photos of delicious food, you understand now why we went many times to Uncle Momo. This place is worth a trip to Jersey City, being located few blocks from the path train. It is great for brunch or dinner. They have a large menu and we will for sure go back to try more!

Enjoy (I really did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment! Merci!

Uncle Momo - 289 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/24 I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/24

Scallion pancake sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

With its scallion pancake sandwiches, Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn, has been all over social media, people raving about the Taiwanese American sandwich fusion. So, I decided to try it. We went early right before Memorial Day, thinking that many people would be away. Wrong: the place was packed, we got lucky and found a seat inside. We ordered at the counter and it took a bit of time to get our food, the staff bringing it to you after identifying your order with the number they give you at the cashier that you place on your table. I got the mortadella egg sandwich, mortadella being one of my favorite Italian sausages. The egg sandwich, squeezed between a scallion pancake that was perfectly layered and deliciously greasy, was composed of an omelet, a nice amount of havarti cheese, mortadella and pickled peperoncini. I admit that I should have asked without the latter as they overpowered a bit the delicious bite I was getting and proceeded to remove them from my sandwich. The first bite was divine, even after burning a bit my hand as the sandwich was hot and greasy: you first get the crunchiness and greasiness of the scallion pancake that had a nice char, then the pillowy omelet that, with the melted cheese, balanced perfectly the saltiness mortadella. Delicious!

Mortadella egg sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Mortadela egg sandwich at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

Jodi got their veggie milk bun that was also quite good, the omelet being once again well made, sitting on top of a delicious shiitake mushroom cake and havarti cheese. Not as good as the scallion pancake, but a good alternative.

Veggie milk bun at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

I also got some cold soy milk that was sweet (tian doujiang) and they brough us some fried dough that we did not order and thought at first that was a mistake with our oder. It was a bit boring and could have been better if rolled into some cinnamon-sugar.

Fried dough at Win Son Bakery in Brooklyn

The food at Win Son Bakery is good and I understand why people are raving about it. Is it worth a trip to Brooklyn? Probably not. You can wait for their Manhattan restaurant to open to try this as they announced few weeks ago that they will soon have an outpost there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Win Son Bakery - 164 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206

I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/24 I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/24

Pink Taco in Times Square

Have you ever eaten in a disco, the music being so loud you can’t even hear what other people are saying? That is what I felt when I had dinner at Pink Taco in Times Square. They describe themselves as a “trendy eatery/bar with a rock 'n' roll vibe, serving Mexican fare, including tacos & margaritas”, that is for the most part correct, but the rock n’ roll part is more than a vibe. Good music, but so loud, that you just want to eat quickly and leave (at least that is how I felt). The thing is, the food took forever to come, and then came at once: house margarita, guacamole and chips (these could have come first), Mexican corn, fried lobster tacos and vegetable fajitas. Overall, the dishes were good: the guac, although small, was fresh and well seasoned; the lobster tacos were crispy and well cooked, not greasy, with a nice kick from the mango-habanero salsa (I should mention that they came with rice and beans). The Mexican street corn was good, but spicy, with a nice char, and the vegetable fajitas, that also came with rice and beans, decent.

House margarita at Pink Taco in Times Square

Chips and salsa at Pink Taco in Times Square

Mexican corn at Pink Taco in Times Square

Rice and beans at Pink Taco in Times Square

Vegetables fajita at Pink Taco in Times Square

Rice, beans and tortilla at Pink Taco in Times Square

Fried lobster tacos at Pink Taco in Times Square

Dessert was a bit of a let down: we decided to try their tres leches churro, thinking that merging two of our favorite desserts would create an amazing combination. That was not the case at all: it looked really good, but the churros were heavy and doughy, with a pink tres leches sauce that did not help. This was not good at all.

Tres leches churro at Pink Taco in Times Square

Although most of the food was good, I was a bit disappointed by Pink Taco. Too loud for my taste and the food is not worth having a headache…

Enjoy (…)!

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Pink Taco - 7 Times Sq, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/24 I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/24

Tapas at Sala Astoria

We were going to the Museum of the Moving Image in Long Island City, when we stumbled upon Sala Astoria a restaurant with a large tapas menu. Great place I have to say, with so many choices for vegetarians and non vegetarians. Of course the tortilla espanola is a must when having tapas and theirs is superb: moist with the egg very slightly runny, smothering the perfectly cooked potatoes and onions.

Here are the other dishes we tried:

Pan tumaca: a toasted rustic bread topped with fresh grated tomato, olive oil, garlic and salt. Simple, it was very good, the fresh tomato being used like a spread.

Queso de cabra con miel: fried goat cheese topped with caramelized onion and served with honey. This was delicious: first, you could say that anything fried is delicious. As you bite, you get the crispiness of the shell that was not greasy, and then the sweetness of the caramelized onion and honey balancing perfectly the goat cheese. I definitely recommend this dish if you love goat cheese.

Pulpo a la plancha: grilled octopus with a confit of russet potato, covered with salsa verde. The octopus was perfectly cooked with a nice char.

Gambas al ajillo: shrimp cooked in olive oil with garlic, hot pepper and parsley. This came piping hot, the olive oil still bubbling. This was quite good, but I got a sense that I would be protected for few years from vampires, if you see what I mean…

Ensalada verde: mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, macaroni almonds and almond dressing. Good, they offer it as a side, that was quite a generous portion.

For dessert, we had the churros that was served with a chocolate sauce. They were good, but I admit that I had better.

Overall, the food at Sala was very good. This definitely a place to know if you are in the area or decide to go to the museum that was a great experience, especially with their Exorcist exhibit…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sala Astoria - 34-39 31st St, Queens, NY 11106

I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/24 I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/24

Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

When Morelia Gourmet Paletas opened in Hoboken, I was really excited! I love ice cream, so combined with whatever topping you can put on top, this is heaven. The ice cream at Morelia is simply delicious, made fresh everyday, and creamy. When you go there, you first pick your paleta from their large selection, that you can then dip and cover with the topping of your choice: dark chocolate, white chocolate, crunchy hazelnut, cookie butter for the dips and Oreo crumbs, peanuts, pistachio, almonds, M&M’s, rainbow sprinkles, Graham Crackers, toasted coconut flakes and more for the toppings. My favorite? The white chocolate sauce, covered with Graham cracker, and topped with condensed milk.

They have many flavors, some with a filling inside, like the dulce de leche with dulce de leche filling that definitely works, the creamy ice cream balancing the sweetness of the generous filling, or the banana filled with Nutella that would satisfied people who love this chocolate hazelnut deliciousness; those with no filling are still delicious, my favorite being the Sicilian pistachio and one of their best sellers, the cookies and cream with pieces of Oreo cookies. For an even more decadent ice cream, try their chocolate fudge brownie that has a delicious brownie inside. For more classic flavors, you can get their coconut paleta that is vegan, or lime sorbet.

Sicilian pistachio at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Cookies and cream at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Dulce de leche at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Banana filled with Nutella at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate fudgy brownie at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

Coconut at Morelia Gourmet Paletas in Hoboken, NJ

With so many flavors, dips and toppings, each visit can be different and the combinations are endless: this is the kind of place where I never get tired to go to!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Morelia Gourmet Paletas - 932 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/24 I Just Want To Eat! 5/28/24

Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

If you are looking for a place for breakfast or brunch that proposes insane dishes and milkshakes, Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold is the right place for you. As you enter, you get the sense that this will be a bit crazy, the decor, with its fully functional carousel and sign in the back, setting the tone. Sure, you can get plain pancakes, waffles or French toast, but, looking at the menu, you will be intrigued and probably want to order something decadent. To start, check out their milkshakes: you can get a classic vanilla or chocolate one, but their “ultimate insane milkshakes” are not to be ignored. I tried their Oreo cookie cake milkshake that had a piece of Oreo cookie cake literally on top! After this and a banana French toast I ordered, I just needed to lay down…On a lighter note, I also tried their Hazelnut coffee dream, made with vanilla ice cream, Nutella, milk and Nescafe, a perfect combination for Nutella and coffee lovers, even if Nescafe is a bit light for me!

Oreo Cookie Cake milkshake at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Hazelnut coffee dream at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

So, the French toast is not my favorite: I wish it was more eggy and less dry, but their pancakes are really good, quite fluffy. I also liked their waffles, choosing their Oreo Nutella one that is baked with oreo cookies and topped with vanilla ice cream, oreos, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, peanut butter and nutella. This really decadent waffle was superb, but you need some savory sides if you do not want to crash considering the amount of sugar you are ingurgitating…Sausage or eggs will do it.

Pancakes at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Coconut pancake at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Banana French toast. at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Oreo Nutella waffle at Brownstone Pancake Factory in Freehold, NJ

Whether you want a crazy meal or not, Brownstone Pancake Factory is worth trying. Their menu is quite large with also burgers, omelets, quesadilla and more. So I guess, I will have to go back to explore more…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brownstone Pancake Factory - 3445 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728

I Just Want To Eat! 2/29/24 I Just Want To Eat! 2/29/24

The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

The Burger Temple in Weehawken is an interesting place: located in an old bank (you can see the vault in the back) and with a cool decor, it is not just serving burgers, but also Colombian dishes like arepas or empanadas.

We went there for the burgers that look fantastic on their electronic menu, to the point that I was not sure what to order. I finally went for the Bank burger, that is made with two beef patties, cheddar cheese, onion rings, pickles and house sauce. Looking decadent and quite appetizing, I loved the crunch that the pickles and onion rings gave, the former adding some nice acidity, but found the meat to miss the mark, lacking some char and taste.

The Bank burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

Jodi went for the Ivy burger, a veggie burger accompanied with lettuce (she also replaced the bun with lettuce), tomato, smashed avocado, onion rings and TBT sauce. This was a pretty good veggie burger, not mushy, tasty, the onion rings adding some texture to it.

The Ivy burger at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

We also got some fries, but I have to say that they were not that great. I wished we had onion rings instead.

Fries at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

But the reason I would go back at The Burger Temple is their milkshakes: their Nutella milkshake was very good.

Nutella milkshake at The Burger Temple in Weehawken, NJ

So, besides the milkshake, I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the burger there, the expectation being high considering the name of the restaurant. Nevertheless, I might go back there to try some of their Colombian dishes.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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The Burger Temple - 3522 Park Ave, Weehawken, NJ 07086