I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/15

Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I had Café Noir, a Mediterranean restaurant located in TriBeCa on my list and we decided to go there after an event at Jodi's school. We arrived there after 9pm and, surprisingly, the restaurant was not packed. Yes, I was surprised considering how crowded all the other restaurants were on a Friday night.

Dining room at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Dining room at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I like the decor at Café Noir, very bistro, but with a Mediterranean touch, and was pleased to see that the lights were not too dim when we arrived, until ten minutes later, when the darkness filled the room. Yes, I like to see what I eat on top of the difficulty to take good photos without flash.

The menu there is Mediterranean, with a variety of dishes from Europe and North Africa, such as the squid ink paella or the couscous. After ordering, our waiter asked us if we wanted some bread that took a while to come: that was a sign, the kitchen being very slow...

Bread basket at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bread basket at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

We decided to share few dishes. First was a fantastic warm goat cheese, topped with rosemary and honey and served with grilled bread.

Warm goat cheese at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Warm goat cheese at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

This is definitely a dish I recommend If you like goat cheese. Not only did the pairing with honey work perfectly, adding some nice sweetness to the dishes, but I also love the fact that the two main components melted and mixed, giving an incredible taste.

We also shared a small salad, served with white anchovies, that had nothing to rave about, but gave us good conscience, being probably the only healthy dish on the table.

Small salad at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Small salad at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Next was the Mediterranean mezze. It was composed of marinated artichokes with grilled peppers and olives, quinoa tabbouleh, tomato marmalade, eggplant purée, mint feta yogurt and house made garlic flatbread.

Mediterranean mezze platter at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Mediterranean mezze platter at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

We really thought, based on the description on the menu, that there would be a nice amount of food: we were wrong! It is definitely overpriced, for a dish that I definitely would not recommend, but it was nothing compared to the Café Noir couscous that was for sure not worth $28.

Couscous at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Couscous at Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I mean, it had one house made merguez sausage, three pieces of chicken the size of my pinky, and a very negligible amount of lamb. Although I liked the semolina and chickpeas, I thought the veggies were bland. So disappointing...

We did not order dessert, not wanting to stay another hour there. So, no, I would probably not go back at Café Noir, finding the food expensive and not that great. I think there are much better options in TriBeCa, like Petrarca, The Odeon or Da Mikele by Luzzo's.

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/15

Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York

I recently went to Patzeria Family and Friends, an Italian place located few blocks from Times Square, in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. It was for lunch and the place was empty. I think I went there a long time ago, looking for a restaurant after a movie, and the experience was not that great. But, hey, it was a while back and I was ready to give it another chance. Looking at the decor, you can really see the influence of Times Square, with all the posters from popular shows decorating the walls.

Dining room at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York — Dining room at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York

For close to $10, they offer for lunch an entrée and a soda, a fairly common formula for that area.

Garlic bread at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York — Garlic bread at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York

After eating some delicious warm garlic bread, I got my dish: the antipasto salad.

Antipasto salad at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York — Antipasto salad at Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York

I rarely order salads, but it was too warm outside to order pasta...thet salad had peppers, olives, ham, prosciutto, salami...It was a good salad, especially if you like this kind of charcuterie.

The lunch at Patzeria Family and Friends was good, and the service courteous and efficient. I might go back for dinner finally!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/15

Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

Luscious Thai is a cheap Thai restaurant located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This quite small place offers a lunch special for $9.95, where you get an appetizer and an entrée. But, contrary to a lot of places, you have few choices for appetizers, from dumplings to a salad, with of course the usual Spring rolls that I decided to pick. Yes, usually, you have one or two choices, not more.

Luscious Thai is a cheap Thai restaurant located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This quite small place offers a lunch special for $9.95, where you get an appetizer and an entrée.

Dining room at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York — Dining room at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

But, contrary to a lot of places, you have few choices for appetizers, from dumplings to a salad, with of course the usual Spring rolls that I decided to pick. Yes, usually, you have one or two choices, not more.

Vegetable Spring rolls at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York — Vegetable Spring rolls at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

I liked their Spring rolls that were not greasy and had just enough crust, so I could taste the veggies inside.

Then, I went for my favorite: chicken curry massaman that I asked mild.

Chicken curry massaman at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York — Chicken curry massaman at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

Rice at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York — Rice at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

Served with rice, it was a nice portion, tasty, with a nice little kick. However, I left the potatoes that had a weird taste...

Not surprising, I ordered a Thai iced tea that was delicious and very refreshing.

Thai iced tea at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York — Thai iced tea at Luscious Thai in NYC, New York

This lunch special at Luscious Thai was a very good deal and I am curious to try some other dishes; I'll definitely go back for more!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/19/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/19/15

Cheap eats: Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Chili Thai is the kind of neighborhood gem I love to discover. Located in Hell's Kitchen, few blocks from Times Square, it proposes for lunch a very cheap deal: the lunch menu starts at $6.90 with an appetizer and a main dish.

Dining room at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Dining room at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

For $12, I got:

A Spring roll (tasty and not greasy, but very hot):

Vegetarian Spring rolls at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Vegetarian Spring rolls at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

A chicken massaman curry, my favorite Thai dish. It was delicious, with a little kick.

Chicken curry Massaman at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Chicken curry Massaman at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

Rice at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Rice at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

And a Thai Iced Tea:

Thai iced tea at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York — Thai iced tea at Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

I really liked my meal at Chili Thai and for the price, it was definitely worth it. Would I go back? Definitely, and this time, I would try some other dishes like the Panang curry or the pad Thai.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/15

Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

We passed Black Iron Burger few times and had in mind to go there, thinking that they probably serve killer burgers. Well, I should mention that they are few steps from a Five Guys, so the competition must be fierce! Black Iron Burger is setup like a bar, with TVs and blue lighting that I feared a bit as I do not take any photos with the flash...

Dining room at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York — Dining room at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

Instead of going with their signature burgers, we decided to build our own. Jodi went for a single patty with swiss cheese and pickles.

Burger at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York — Burger at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

I went for a double patty with blue cheese, Swiss and caramelized onions.

Blue cheese and Swiss burger at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York — Blue cheese and Swiss burger at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

The way the burgers were presented was a bit sad, although mine looked better than the one Jodi had. On top of that, I was glad to have a double patty as the ratio bread / patty was definitely unbalanced in favor of the bread.

Taste wise, it was ok, nothing to be dreaming about and I admit that I was a bit disappointed considering that this is a place for burgers.

We also ordered some onion rings as a side that looked also sad, but were very good, especially with the ranch sauce.

Onion rings with ranch dressing at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York — Onion rings with ranch dressing at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

I should mention that I went for an oreo cookie milkshake with my burger: it was pretty good!

Oreo cookie milkshake at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York — Oreo cookie milkshake at Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York

Black Iron Burger was just ok: I prefer Five Guys that is few minutes away. Too bad: I really wanted a good burger that day!

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/15

La Sirene, French Restaurant in Soho

I was really excited when I got invited to a press diner at La Sirene, a French restaurant located in Soho, couple of minutes from the subway. I met the Chef and Owner, Didier Pawlicki, at Le Village last December (below is a photo of Chef Pawlicki in kitchen of Le Village).

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Opened in 2007, La Sirene serves classic dishes from the South of France, some of the dishes being in fact served at Le Village, such as the coq au vin or the banana brûlée. Located next to its third restaurant, Taureau, La Sirene is a casual place that reminds me some of the places I loved so much when I was living in Paris: intimate and welcoming.

Dining room at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Dining room at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Kitchen at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Kitchen at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Decor at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Decor at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Menu wise, the French food lovers will definitely find a dish to satisfy their appetite: they have escargots, foie gras, ravioles (French mini-ravioli that are amazing), mussels, paté, cassoulet, magret de canard (duck breast)...And the dishes I tried were pretty good! I got of course the Escargots à la Bourguignone, 6 snails smothered with a butter and garlic sauce that was divine and perfect either with the escargots or simply with their homemade bread.

Escargots à la Bourguignone at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Escargots à la Bourguignone at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

bread at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — bread at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

The second appetizer I tried was the Sepios sautés à la Provençale sur un lit de salade or Sautéed Baby Octopus with garlic, parsley, olive oil , tomato and mushrooms:

Baby octopus at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Baby octopus at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

The octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery and definitely reminded me the South of France.

The last appetizer I tried was the Tartelette de Chèvre Frais aux Echalottes, Truffes, Raisins Confit et Voile de Vieux Gruyère or Baked Goat Cheese tart with Shallots, Truffles, Grape and a Veil of 180 days Aged Swiss:

Goat cheese tart at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Goat cheese tart at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

I liked it, although I admit that I did not taste the truffles, but loved the fact that they were generous with the amount of cheese.

For the entrées, I tried the following:

Onglet Poêlée, à la Luchonaise or Butter Only Seared Hanger Steak, Roasted Garlic, Parsley (this is their signature dish):

Hanger steak at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Hanger steak at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Magret de Canard Gras Montmorency or seared Rohan duck breast, topped with sweet and tart Michigan’s cherry sauce:

Duck breast at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Duck breast at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Carre d’Agneau au jus de truffes or Frenched rack of lamb with white wine rosemary and truffle au jus:

Rack of lamb at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Rack of lamb at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

My favorite was definitely the hanger steak that was cooked perfectly and so juicy. I also liked the magret de canard, although I would have liked it pink; but I have to say that their cherry sauce is phenomenal and gives another dimension to the dish. The first two dishes were served with some potato au gratin that was so good I wish there was more and would have liked to see it offered as a side. There were other vegetables served with our entrées: carrot purée, Chayote (a Mexican vegetable), butternut squash and cauliflower.

Vegetables at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Vegetables at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

I should mention that with the meal, we drank some house wine (Pinot Grigio and Bordeaux):

House wine at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — House wine at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Of course, we could not leave without trying some desserts.

The tarte tatin (upside down apple cake):

Tarte tatin at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Tarte tatin at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Tartelette aux Fraises:

Strawberry tart at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Strawberry tart at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Choux Chantilly (made with homemade whipped cream!):

Chou with whipped cream at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Chou with whipped cream at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

Profiteroles:

All of these desserts were spectacular, but I admit that the profiteroles was my favorite. It is a big plate, perfect to share for sure, although I am to sure how one can resist the creamy ice cream, succulent chocolate sauce made with Caillebaut chocolate, the light house made whipped cream or the delightful choux. I guess I just drooled just describing it...

Decaf espresso at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York — Decaf espresso at La Sirene, French Restaurant, NYC, New York

I finished the meal, full and satisfied, with a decaf espresso. La Sirene is definitely a restaurant to know: charming with some delicious food. They have a 3 course prix-fixe from Sunday to Thursday, 5pm to 6:30pm that is worth noticing. Would I go back? Definitely! I already have my next meal there in mind: foie gras, tournedos rossini (filet mignon topped with foie gras) and the fondant au chocolate (dark lava cake). Chapeau Chef Pawlicki!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/15

Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

You may think that Pad Thai is a Thai restaurant. Well, you are half right: it is a Thai restaurant that serves also Japanese cuisine. Yes, that sounds weird, but they have a nice Japanese cuisine menu that includes the usual sushi and sashimi, bento boxes...But we were not going there for that and sticked to some Thai dishes.

Of course, I started by ordering a Thai ice tea, a must have in this kind of restaurant.

Thai ice tea at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York — Thai ice tea at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

Then, we ordered the Spring rolls, also called Po Pia Taud, that were served with a Thai sweet and sour sauce.

Spring rolls at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York — Spring rolls at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

They were pretty good, pipping hot, not too greasy and tasty.

For my entrée, I went for my favorite dish: chicken curry massaman.

Chicken curry massaman at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York — Chicken curry massaman at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

I asked to have it mild and it had a slight kick that I really liked. This was a nice portion that came with some white rice. It might not have been the best curry massaman I had, but I admit that I enjoyed it.

Jodi ordered string beans that were sauteed with soybeans, garlic and bean curd. That was good: I love when string beans are soft and it was the case at Pad Thai.

string beans at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York — string beans at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

For dessert, we decided to try their mango sticky rice. The sticky ice, bathed in coconut milk, was delicious. However, the mango was not ripe...Too bad!

Mango sticky rice at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York — Mango sticky rice at Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York

So, it was ok. Pad Thai is not a must have, but is conveniently located, few blocks from Penn Station. So, in case you are craving Thai food before hopping on a train, this might be your spot.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/11/15

Dinner at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Then came our entrée. At first, Jodi ordered some dal makhni, but the waiter told her that it was medium spicy and that anyway, I would have some in my dish. So he suggested that she picked a different dish, a gesture that I truly appreciated. So she went for the saag paneer, a dish made with spinach and cottage cheese.

For her Birthday dinner, Jodi wanted to go to Tamarind, the elegant Indian restaurant located in TriBeCa. We went there last year, for Restaurant Week, and had an amazing experience. The decor is spectacular: very high ceilings, modern and very elegant, not at all over the top.

Entrance at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Entrance at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Bar at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Bar at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

This time, we were seated in the Lotus Room instead of the main dining room.

The Lotus Room at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — The Lotus Room at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

We were pleased to be far away from the crowd, the noise level being definitely acceptable, until a large party arrived...

We started off the evening with a complimentary puff pastry that we dipped in a sauce that had ginger, as well as other spices that I admit I had difficulty to identify.

Puff pastry at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Puff pastry at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Sauce at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Sauce at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Then, we shared the vegetable samosas:

Vegetable samosas at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Vegetable samosas at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Served with mint and tamarind sauce, they were deliciously crispy and not spicy at all, with a nice filling made of potatoes and peas.

I also could not resist trying their chili crab, a dish I only saw at Baluchi's.

Chili crab at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Chili crab at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

This dish, composed of jumbo lump crab meat, chilies, tamarind and garlic was definitely spicy, but so good that I was going back for it, even if my mouth was on fire. Fortunately, I had a mango lassi to help...

Mango lassi at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Mango lassi at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Saag paneer at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Saag paneer at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I am not a big fan of spinach, but admit that I liked it, especially the cheese (paneer) that seemed to be home made.

On my side, I went for the tandoori mixed grill, composed of lamb chop, shrimp, tandoori chicken, tulsi kabab (boneless chicken, tandoori spices, basil), Punjabi tikhe (Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, roasted whole spices, jalapenos, ginger, garlic), black lentils (dal makhni).

Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Lamb chop in Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Lamb chop in Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

Dal makhni from Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Dal makhni from Tandoori mixed grill at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

That was a fantastic dish and my favorite was definitely the lamb chop that was perfectly cooked. The chicken, in all the different versions it was served, was also delicious, tender and moist, with a nice char and incredible favors coming from the spices used. I definitely recommend this dish if you love tandoori and meat, although know that they also have a seafood version that looks amazing.

Mushroom and truffle naan at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Mushroom and truffle naan at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

With the mixed grill came some naan, but we also decided to try their mushroom and truffle naan bread too. The aroma of truffle oil was very appetizing and the naan were spectacular: fluffy, slightly charred, perfect to eat with the saag paneer or dal, instead of rice, of just like that, without anything.

We could not resist ordering desserts. Jodi decided to order a coconut mousse bomb, that was like a pineapple cake deconstructed.

Coconut mousse bomb at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Coconut mousse bomb at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

On my side, I went to the usual gulab jamun, these cheese balls that are fried and dipped in a sugar syrup.

Gulab jamun at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York — Gulab jamun at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York

I have to say that the desserts were disappointing and could have contributed to finish on a high note, the rest of the meal being delicious. I was so disappointed with the gulab jamun: first of all, they could have put 3 of them; second, they were way too sweet and I needed to drink a lot of water after that! On Jodi's side, the coconut mousse was good, but the cake that accompany her dessert was quite dry...

Despite that, I still consider Tamarind to be a great place and highly recommend it, if you want to go to an elegant Indian place: the food was simply fantastic.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/9/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/9/15

Brunch at Elysian Café, Hoboken, NJ

Going to The Elysian is always a challenge as this popular Hoboken restaurant is always crowded and it is often that a line would form outside on week ends, specifically for brunch. Owned by Joyce and Eugene Finn who also operate Amanda's, another popular spot, it is the oldest continually operated restaurant in the city. The adventure started in 1895, when the restaurant opened as Dillenger & Jeffson's. During the prohibition, it went from a restaurant to an ice cream parlor and hair salon. I am not sure when they took that name that sounds French, but is not.

I went there for dinner quite a while back and we did not plan to go there for brunch when we passed next to it on a Sunday, a little after 11am. As there seemed to be seats available, we decided to change our plan and eat there.

I love that place: the decor is antique, with molds on the ceiling, old furniture and a vintage chandelier. Their menu is French, but for brunch, it is more American as the concept of brunch is not really known there.

I started off with a fresh squeezed orange juice that was quite good, not watery with the taste of orange diluted.

fresh squeeze orange juice at Elysian Café, Hoboken, NJ — fresh squeeze orange juice at Elysian Café, Hoboken, NJ

I admit that I was expecting a bread basket, maybe with muffins while we waited for our food, but it never came...

We just ordered an entrée. Jodi went for the omelette au fromage:

omelette au fromage at Elysian Café, Hoboken, NJ

There was definitely a lot of fontina cheese in it, but, unfortunately, the eggs were slightly overcooked and dry.

On my side, I hesitated between the lobster roll and the eggs Benedict. I finally went for the eggs as I wanted a brunch dish.

Salmon benedict at Elysian Café, Hoboken, NJ

It was salmon Benedict in fact, the salmon being on top of an English muffin and topped with a poached egg that was also overcooked.

At that point I was a bit disappointed as I love when the yolk is runny and I can dip the salmon and muffin in it, while it mixes with the Hollandaise sauce, creating an interesting combination.

With our dishes, we decided to order French fries over Lyonnaise potatoes. And I have to say that they were pretty good, not too greasy and a bit crispy.

I have mixed feelings about this place after this brunch: they have a nice menu, with good prices, but the execution was not there that day. I doubt that it was because of the number of orders coming at the same time as it was not that crowded at the time we went. Who knows...
Would I go back? Maybe for the burger or croque Madame...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/7/15

Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

I think I have more chance booking a trip to Greece than getting a table at Uncle Nick's in Hell's Kitchen. Well, in fact, it is what I thought, having tried few times to go there, until I saw their location in Chelsea. Uncle Nick's is well known: good food in a casual ambiance, far from the trendy Avra Estiatorio or the more elegant Molyvos, that is, according to one of my Greek colleagues, the best Greek restaurant in New York.

Dining room at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Dining room at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

We went there on a Friday and the place was packed, but there were still empty tables. Service there was courteous and very efficient, serving dishes to customers adding a little folklore, like for the saganaki where they shout "Opa" at the moment they pour the ouzo on the flaming cheese. Ok, I admit that I missed this one as we were talking and I did not realized the wait staff came with our order. So, by the time I grabbed my camera and turned it on, the huge flame was gone...

Saganaki flambee at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Saganaki flambee at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

The saganaki was fantastic: it was gooey and chewy at the same time, not too salty. Sublime! This is a dish I always enjoy in a Greek restaurant and definitely recommend it.

Saganaki at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Saganaki at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

We then shared a small greek salad or Horiatiki.

Greek salad at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Greek salad at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

It was of a good size for $9 and was very appetizing with all the vibrant colors of the vegetables. There were tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, as well as olives and grape leaves, topped with some feta.

We also tried their mixed grill, that was composed of Fried zucchini, eggplant and peppers served with scordalia dip.

Grilled vegetables at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Grilled vegetables at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

A scordalia dip is made with potato and garlic. And there was a lot of garlic...

Then, I could not resist the Octapodaki or grilled octopus, smothered in oil and vinegar.

Grilled octopus at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Grilled octopus at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

The octopus was well cooked, not rubbery at all, but I wish there was a nice char on top and less vinegar.

Last was the house made baklava.

Baklava at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York — Baklava at Uncle Nick's, Greek Restaurant in NYC, New York

Not the best I ever had (the one at Molyvos is fantastic), but good and a nice way to finish the dinner. I liked my meal at Uncle Nick's and the ambiance of the restaurant. I would certainly go back, maybe this time to try their moussaka or some grilled fish.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/5/15

Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Rue 57, French for 57th street used to be one of my favorite spots when I came to the U.S. many years ago. I used to order their Le château seafood platter for two for myself...so, when I went back, I thought it would be a good idea to order it, although I was not alone.

Le Chateau, seafood platter, at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Le Chateau, seafood platter, at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Lobster and shrimp at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Lobster and shrimp at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Clams at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Clams at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Oysters at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Oysters at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

It is a big platter, full of clams, mussels, oysters, shrimp and a lobster in the center. I loved it: carefully prepared, it tasted fresh and the shrimp and lobster were perfectly cooked.

As an entrée, I decided to go for yellowfin tuna tartare, served with ginger juice, avocado and cucumber. This was another great dish: fresh and refreshing, with a nice acidity, I loved the pairing of the tuna and avocado.

Yellowfin tuna tartare at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Yellowfin tuna tartare at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Yellowfin tune tartare at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Yellowfin tune tartare at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Last was dessert. I tried the crème brûlée, that was pretty good, but not that original, as well as the Grand Marnier bread pudding that was fantastic (it is made with dried cherries and chocolate chips).

Creme brûlée at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Creme brûlée at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

Grand Marnier bread pudding at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Grand Marnier bread pudding at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

I should mention that I chose a glass of Sauternes with my meal...

Sauternes wine at Rue 57 in NYC, New York — Sauternes wine at Rue 57 in NYC, New York

I really liked my lunch at Rue 57; their seafood is delicious and worth trying, being the main ingredient on their not so French brasserie menu. If you are looking for a restaurant midtown Manhattan, this might be your spot...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/15

Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

After a couple of years feeding the avid crowd of lobster rolls at Pier 13, Luke's Lobster set foot in Hoboken and opened on May 15th. It replaced a pizza joint that seemed to be always closed and was definitely a questionable business choice, considering the number of pizzerias in the area. The pizza place was preceded by a frites joint that unfortunately did not have the same success as Pommes Frites in the East Village. Why do I think that Luke's Lobster will do better? First, there is no other lobster place in the area, solely restaurants serving their own version of the divine sandwich. Second, it is Luke's Lobster and if they keep the same quality, it will surely be a hit. Third, they reorganized the place so there are seats inside and outside. It is in fact slightly bigger than their flagship restaurant, but a tiny bit.

Decor of Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Decor of Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

We went there on a Sunday night and the place was reasonably crowded, few people taking their order and eating it in the park. We decided to stay inside, where the air conditioning was blasting.

Jodi does not like seafood, so we were glad that they proposed a grilled cheese.

Grilled cheese at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Grilled cheese at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

She decided to go for cheddar cheese over American. It was a decent grilled cheese, definitely not amazing and just an option for people who do not like lobster, crab or shrimp.

On my side, I went with the combo called Taste of Maine, that, for $22, came with half lobster roll, half crab roll, half shrimp roll, two crab claws, a pickle, chips and a soda.

Taste of Maine at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Taste of Maine at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

Chips and soda at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Chips and soda at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

It was a good deal considering all of this, but do not imagine that you will end up with large claws: they were definitely small.

Crab roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Crab roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

Shrimp roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Shrimp roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

Lobster roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Lobster roll at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

Crab claws at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ — Crab claws at Luke's Lobster in Hoboken, NJ

My favorite was the lobster roll and then the crab roll, that were delicious, with lot of meat on a buttered bun that was fantastic. I love the fact that they do not smother the seafood with mayonnaise, so you can taste it. My least favorite was the shrimp roll that I found bland.

Although this was a no-surprise meal, I am glad that they opened in Hoboken and hope they will be successful. Well, not to the point it will be impossible to go there though...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/15

L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village

The Chef, Gabe Thompson is not unknown to me as we recently went to one of his other restaurants in Manhattan, L'Apicio, where we had a fantastic dinner. In fact, the menus at the two places have a lot of similarities. And for sure, we knew we would not pass on desserts as his wife, Katherine, is the pastry Chef and not only did we have amazing desserts at L'Apicio, but, when they appeared on the TV show The Best New Restaurant, she blew away the diners and the judges, Tom Colicchio being the host and head judge, each time with a different dessert.

We ended up at L'Artusi thanks to my brother Hervé who sent me a voucher for my birthday. I had this restaurant on my very long list and we were planning on going there for restaurant week, but had to cancel, so I was thrilled to have an occasion to go there.

Bar at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Bar at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

Kitchen at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Kitchen at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

We went at 8pm on a Friday and the place was packed. We saw couple of people trying to get a table without any reservation no success, the long wait being probably prohibitive. I should mention that when we left, there was a line at the entrance. It is a fairly large place, with a bar where you can dine and some tables overlooking the kitchen located in the back of the room. We got a table upstairs, where I noticed a private room that seem to also be their cellar. I really got lucky, because our table was right below two small lights and, when they dimmed the lights, we were not too much affected. It was not only important for the photos, but also because I like to see what I eat...

Menu at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Menu at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

I was in the mood for a glass of wine and chose a red from Tuscany: Rosso di Montalcino, Collemattoni, 2013.

Rosso di Montalcino, Collemattoni, 2013 at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Rosso di Montalcino, Collemattoni, 2013 at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

It went very well with the dishes I picked. We had to choose between the crudo (raw with tartare and ceviches), verdura (salads), pasta, pesce (fish) and carne (meat). The size of the dishes is supposed to go crescendo, but, ordering a pasta and a meat was definitely fine. The pasta I chose was the house made tagliatelle with bolognese bianco (meaning no tomato sauce) and Parmesan.

Tagliatelle with bolognese bianco at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Tagliatelle with bolognese bianco at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

That was a fantastic dish: the tagliatelle, larger than what I am used to, were so good and perfectly cooked, bathed in a bolognese sauce that was very comforting.

My second dish was the quail. I admit that I hesitated between this dish and the octopus, but rarely see quail on a menu, so went for it.

Quail a la plancha at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Quail a la plancha at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

The dish was small and I would have probably expected two little birds as the size was supposedly larger than the pasta dish. But in fact, I would have liked more, not because of the size, but because it was succulent. The quail itself had been butterflied, leaving only few bones to take care of. And that taste: quail is hard to cook as it can easily be overcooked and end up dry. At L'Artusi, it was so moist, with the skin perfectly seasoned and a slight heat from the chilies. It was served with pickled ramps and baby fennel.

Jodi decided to order two of the smaller dishes. The first one was the spring pea salad, composed of English peas, snap peas, poppy seeds, walnuts and yogurt.

Spring pea salad at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Spring pea salad at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

It was quite good and I appreciated the texture of the dish, the peas being a bit on the crunchy side.

But the best was definitely the roasted mushrooms, served with pancetta, ricotta salata and a perfectly made poached egg.

Roasted mushrooms at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Roasted mushrooms at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

This was very good and understand that, usually, Jodi does not like poached eggs: she inhaled it!

After a phenomenal meal, we could not miss the dessert from pastry Chef Katherine Thompson and decided to share the olive oil cake and the chocolate budino, an Italian chocolate pudding. Because of a large party, desserts took time to come, so our waiter offered me another glass of wine and comped the desserts, apologizing for the wait. This is great service and the kind of gesture that would surely make us want to go back.

But, back to the desserts. The olive oil cake was the best, even if the pudding was delicious, it surpassed it. There was no need for the raisins marmalade or crème fraiche mousse, as it was definitely standing on its own. The pudding itself was dense and very chocolatey, perfect for chocolate lovers.

Olive oil cake at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Olive oil cake at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

Chocolate budino at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York — Chocolate budino at L'Artusi, Italian Restaurant in the West Village, NYC, New York

We had a great time at L'Artusi and I understand why this place is so popular: not only the food is spectacular, but the service is outstanding, making the whole experience memorable. I highly recommend that place!

Enjoy (I did)!

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