I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/29/15

Bangkok City, Thai restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Bangkok City is a Thai restaurant located on the main street, Washington, in Hoboken. It is a fairly big place, and they offer a basic Thai menu, if it was not for the frog legs that I had there from time to time...Yes, not that many French restaurants serve them, but Thai restaurants often do (I think they call it Kha Gob). But, also often, you can taste that they have been frozen as they get this fishy taste that is so recognizable.

Dining room at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, as usual, I started by ordering a Thai Iced tea that looked great with the condensed milk not fully mixed in it. It also tasted good by the way...

Thai iced tea at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

We then ordered vegetables dumplings for appetizer. They were good, but I thought the shell was a bit too thick.

Vegetable dumpings at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Vegetable dumplings at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

For her entrée, Jodi ordered Pad Ma Kua, a vegetarian dish made of sauteed eggplant with black bean sauce and fresh basil leaves, a fairly successful dish, especially if you like eggplant.

Pad Ma Kua at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, not surprisingly, I went for the chicken massaman, my favorite curry.

Massaman curry at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

I was glad that there was a right balance of curry and veggies as sometimes there is too much of the latter. But this one was real good.

Mango sticky rice at Bangkok City in Hoboken, NJ

Dessert was a bit disappointing...We ordered mango with sticky rice. The mango itself was very good and perfectly ripe. But, the sticky rice would have been better with some coconut milk as it was a bit bland.

Despite that, I thought that Bangkok City was not that bad. Not the best in Hoboken, but still good (I prefer Sri Thai or T Thai). Would I go back? Maybe...

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/25/15

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

I was really looking forward to going to Ruth's Chris in Weehawken for two reasons: first I love Ruth's Chris that I consider one of the best steakhouses I ever been to (and trust me: I went to many); second because somebody told me one time that the Midtown location was good, but not the others. So, it was a way to see if this place was consistent across locations.

Weehawken is a fairly small city, conveniently served by a ferry that will bring you there from NY in close to eight minutes. You wonder how such a big place like Ruth's Chris would end up there; well, it is right next to a Sheraton Hotel and also benefits from the parking of the shopping center, allowing diners from the cities around to come without any headache about parking. We went on a Saturday and it was packed for sure.

Dining room at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

The restaurant is fairly big, with an elegant decor and a nice light as it benefits from the large windows that are all around.

Bread at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

As we sat, they brought us a loaf of bread with some whipped butter. I was surprised as most of the steakhouses will bring you a bread basket that has all sorts of breads, like pretzel, Italian sticks...But not there: just some warm and crispy bread that I had to stop eating, thinking about what was coming.

Jodi passed on the appetizer, but I could to resist ordering their blue crab cakes.

Blue crab cakes at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Like the steaks, they came on a pipping hot plate (500 degrees - see the bubbles on the photos). They were made of jumbo lump and did not have any filler that would overshadow the delicious taste of the crab. There was for sure lots of butter and I guess it is one of the characteristics of Ruth's Chris steakhouses: they cook dishes in butter, lots of butter and if you are on a diet, you'd better go somewhere else (although I am sure you can find steamed vegetables on the menu...). In fact, when Jodi got her petite filet mignon, there was still on top of it some butter in the process of fully melting.

Petite filet mignon at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

On my side, I ordered a petite ribeye. Yes petite size, 12 ounces, that is not something you do not see often and is a perfect portion, but still at a steep price ($45).

Petite ribeye at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

When the steak came, besides the sound of the sizzling dishes that make you look around each time you hear it, wondering what people ordered, there was this delicious smell of meat and butter that made me want to skip taking photos and get a first bite right away. Both steaks were very tender and tasty, the ribeye having of course a stronger taste and being delightfully fattier.

Temperature wise, it was not exactly what we ordered: Jodi wanted a medium steak and got it more on the medium rare side, but as the steak continued to cook on the 500 degrees plate, it was not an issue. On my side, I wanted it medium rare, but it was slightly on the medium side, but still delicious as my empty plate attested.

To accompany my ribeye, I decided to get a glass of Pinot Noir, Au Contraire, Sonoma Coast, California, that had a bold taste perfect for the meat I was eating.

Glass of Pinot Noir at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Last was dessert, that we decided to share: warm apple crumb tart.

Apple crumb tart at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weehawken, NJ

Made with Granny Smith apples, it was cooked in an amazing buttery crust with a thick streusel crust on top that I ate with delectation. The two crusts were very addictive and I had to pace myself not to over eat. The apples were perfectly cooked, soft and sweet, perfect with the vanilla ice cream that was slowly melting.

We had a fantastic dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Weekhawken and I definitely recommend this place if you are in New Jersey or live in New York and want a change of scenery.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/23/15

Breakfast and treats at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

After trying the chocolate Babka at Breads, near Union Square, I kept dreaming about what else they could have that would be as delicious. We went few times back and tried different things that convinced me that it is one of the best bakeries in New York. I know: it is a big statement, but I stick to it.

Double espresso at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

For sure, their espresso or tea will not make the difference. But, if you try for instance the rugelach, then it is like the babka: a revelation.

Chocolate rugelach at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

We chose the chocolate one that was flaky and very chocolatey. They come by pair, but I would not have minded a full bag!

Then, there is the cinnamon roll that is one of the best I have tried so far.

Cinnamon roll at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

The chocolate chip cookie is good, chewy with lots of chocolate, but not at the level of the one at City Bakery.

Chocolate chip cookie at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

The only deception was the almond chocolate croissant. Well, first I should say that I wanted an almond croissant, but they did not have any. So as I really wanted to try their marzipan that they ship from Germany, I decided to try the chocolate almond version. It was heavy and had lots of marzipan in it. It was flaky and buttery, but the combination of chocolate and marzipan was too sweet.

Chocolate almond croissant at Breads Bakery in NYC, New York

Too bad they did not have the almond croissant. Well, I guess this gives me a reason to go back to Breads Bakery. No, to be honest, I do not need a reason: it is simply delicious.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/15

NY Lobster Club Truck in NYC, New York

Lobster roll might be the almighty sandwich for me. Seriously, who got such an idea to make a sandwich with lobster? Well, in fact I do not care that much about that and surely care about where to find a delicious roll. I believe the first time I tried a lobster roll was at The Red Hook Lobster Pound truck during a food truck festival at South Street Seaport. It was buttery (there was butter on the roll and the lobster was poached in butter, Connecticut style) and I admit that I prefer it this way rather than with mayonnaise. So I was definitely excited to try the NY Lobster Club truck.

Classic roll at NY Lobster Club Truck in NYC, New York

But my excitement was short: when I opened the box, I saw a tiny roll and, although there were claws, I found there was not that much lobster. I mean all the ingredients were good, but it was not worth the $16 I paid. The roll, toasted was deliciously buttery, but the lobster looked dry and lacked taste, being slightly over cooked. I was for sure disappointed and for me, it does not measure up with The Red Hook Lobster Pound or Luke's Lobster. Too bad...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/15

Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

You should have seen our faces when we saw Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market! We heard about this ice cream parlor from Jodi's cousin, Rebecca who recommended it. We went a couple of times and, each time, we got some amazing creamy and rich ice cream.

Cones at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Jodi went for the sugar cone, while I went for a bowl, too scared to get some ice cream on my shirt...And I have to say that a scoop is a generous amount of ice cream! What I like about Ample Hills Creamery is the originality of their flavors. I have two favorites:

Snap Mallow Pop: that is advertised as a deconstructed rice krispie treat: made with marshmallow ice cream and buttery Rice Krispie clusters.

Snap Mallow Pop at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Sweet cream and cookie that is in fact cookies and cream.

Sweet cream and cookie at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Jodi got the vegan coconut chocolate ice cream that she loved. I have to say that it was good dark chocolate, but I still prefer the first two...

Vegan coconut chocolate ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery at The Gotham West Market in NYC, New York

Ample Hills Creamery is definitely one of my favorite ice cream joints: their ice cream flavors are original and phenomenal. I definitely recommend it if you love rich and creamy ice cream. And you know what? I will go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/15

The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ

It has been a while since I wanted to try The Chicken Factory in Hoboken. It is a small place that serves Korean dishes besides their own version of wings and drumsticks, smothered either with a soy and garlic sauce or a sweet and spicy sauce. For instance, they have bibimbap, bulgogi, japchae or Haemul Pa Jeon that is a seafood scallion pancake. Then, if you are vegetarian, they do have few options for you: vegetarian bibimbap, garden salad, coleslaw, kimchi, etc.

Counter at The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ

This is a very casual place, with only few tables inside and outside. You definitely do not go there for the decor (I was going for the chicken!).

I ordered the wings and drumstick combination, with a mix between the two sauces, curious to see how the sweet and spicy sauce was. When it came, it looked very appetizing and indeed it was fantastic!

Wings at The Chicken Factory in Hoboken, NJ

The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist, smothered by a coating slightly crunchy and addicting to a point where you would try to get every pieces of it on the chicken bone. The sauces were very good, but my preference went to the sweet and spicy sauce that had a nice heat to it. And there, no blue cheese sauce to appease your mouth.

The Chicken Factory is definitely a place to know if you love chicken wings. I would probably go back there to try some other dishes, but I admit that I may finally re-order these wings that were succulent.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/15

Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Far from K-Town, Kori is a Korean restaurant that is a true finding in Tribeca. I like their statement:

In Korean, KORI means “connection,” which represents our vision of connecting healthy Korean cuisine with New Yorkers in the finest way possible.

Yes, it is an elegant Korean restaurant with an elevated menu. Not a big place for sure and you'd better have a reservation.

Far from K-Town, Kori is a Korean restaurant that is a true finding in Tribeca. I like their statement:

In Korean, KORI means “connection,” which represents our vision of connecting healthy Korean cuisine with New Yorkers in the finest way possible.

Yes, it is an elegant Korean restaurant with an elevated menu. Not a big place for sure and you'd better have a reservation.

Dining room at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Kitchen at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

As a started, they brought us a salad in a spherical bowl that caught my attention more than what was inside...As well as kimchi, seaweed and what I think was pickled turnip.

Salad at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Banchan at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Then, we ordered some veggie dumplings that were pretty good, but I cannot remember the name (damn it!).

Veggie dumplings at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

For her entrée, Jodi chose the mushroom bibimbap that came pipping hot in a stone bowl, the rice continuing the cook and creating a delicious crust.

Mushroom bibimbap at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

On my side, I went for the bulgogi stew that was simply fantastic!

Ribeye and mushrooms at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Bulgogi stew at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

The marinated ribeye came on the side, with mushrooms and scallion. They then poured them in the very hot broth that was in a very hot stone bowl too, from where emanated a delicious aroma. In couple of minutes, the beef was cooked and I literally inhaled that dish that was succulent. It came with rice that absorbed the delicious broth that now had the taste of meat. This is definitely a dish I recommend.

Rice at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

For dessert, we decided to go for roasted rice cake sticks with green tea ice cream.

Rated rice cakes at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

Green tea ice cream at Kori, Korean restaurant in TriBeCa

That was a great dessert: first the rice cakes were awesome, a bit chewy, and perfect dipped in the honey that came with it. Then, the green tea ice cream, although bitter, was deliciously creamy. A hit!

I really liked our dinner at Kori and would certainly go back: the food there was very good and comforting and the service courteous and efficient.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/15

Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

I admit that we hesitated before going for lunch at Casual Thai in Hoboken, a delivery few years ago going wrong from the time it took to get our food to the food itself not being good. But I was thinking that sometimes, deliveries do not give justice to restaurants; for instance, pizza is not as good when delivered as it usually steams in the box. Same for burgers or hot sandwiches.

Dining room at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

So, we went on a Sunday, for lunch. The place was not that crowded and I guess they had limited staff that day, because our food took a long time to come. Decor wise, it is nice, with a Buddha at the entrance that definitely sets the atmosphere.

I started off with my favorite drink: a Thai iced tea that was delicious and, fortunately, did not have too much ice in it.

Thai iced tea at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

Then, we decided to share the vegetable spring rolls.

Vegetable Spring rolls at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

They came very hot and were quite good, with a good proportion of shell versus veggies, but with unfortunately too much pepper in it.

For her entrée, Jodi went for Pad Woon-Sen, that is glass noodles with vegetables and tofu, a pretty good dish that is sweet and savory.

Pad Woon-Sen at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I got the chicken massaman.

Chicken Massaman at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

White rice at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

It was good, but a bit difficult to eat in the little bowl they gave (they removed my plate) and with too many vegetables compared to the succulent curry sauce. With it came some white rice.

For dessert, we ordered my favorite: mango with sticky rice.

Mango sticky rice at Casual Thai in Hoboken, NJ

The presentation was beautiful. The mango was perfect, ripe and deliciously sweet, but the rice, although good, was missing some coconut milk that would have made this dish successful.

I am a bit on the fence with Casual Thai, the food being just ok. I think that restaurants like T Thai or Sri Thai are any way much better options...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/15

Brunch at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

If there is something for which Sarabeth's is known for, it is its brunch. Believe it or not, but I never went there and only tried some of their jam that you can find in some supermarkets. So, we decided to go to the one in TriBeCa on a Sunday. We had of course a reservation as the place was packed.

After sitting at our table that was located in the back, we ordered our food as well as beverages: for Jodi, a tea, and for me the Four Flowers Juice, made with orange, pineapple,
banana & pomegranate juice.

Four flowers juice at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

Jodi decided to try their garden omelette, composed of mushroom, green peas, zucchini, cheddar. Eggs and omelettes are coming with a choice of muffin, scone, toast or croissant. She decided to pick the croissant that was pretty good, flakey and buttery.

Garden omelette at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

As far as the preserves that came with it, we only got an orange marmalade that was fantastic; but it was such a small portion...

orange marmalade at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

The omelette itself was good: fluffy and not dry, there was lots of vegetables in it, but not enough cheese for my taste. On my side, I decided to go for the salmon benedict.

Salmon benedict at Sarabeth's in TriBeCa

The benedict were really good: the yolk was perfectly runny and there was a delicious Hollandaise sauce smothering it, where I dipped the delicious muffin that was in the bottom.

I should mention that we also shared a muffin basket that was just ok. The muffins were regular size and I thought they would have a nice selection of mini ones. There were pumpkin, corn and bran muffins.

The brunch at Sarabeth's was overall good, but I admit that I expected better. It is not cheap, but you pay for the name and location. Would I go back? Probably, but this time to try their crispy chicken and waffle or their burger.

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/15

Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

How did I end up at Dallas BBQ in Times Square? I simply wanted to eat BBQ and my favorite, Southern Hospitality, was full. I think I should have gone to Brother Jimmy's, although it was not really in the area where I was...I mean, the service at Dallas BBQ was very good, being courteous and efficient, but the food did not meet my expectations and I kind of left me still craving some delicious ribs...

Dining room at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I went to Dallas BBQ long time ago on the Upper East Side, but I cannot remember that experience, that is probably a bad sign. This was big, with and industrial feel, packed with tourists and moviegoers in search for good food to eat.

Beer at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I got a Stella Artois beer, just 10oz, 20oz being too many back and forth trips to the restroom. Strangely, they gave us a straw...

Straws at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

I chose their classic combo, composed of fried chicken (with honey glaze), ribs and fried shrimp. It came with quite good corn bread and I decided to pick a baked potato over fries and onions, a sort of fake healthy choice that felt good on my conscience.

Classic combo at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

The plate looked a bit like a mess and it was a bit tough not to have food fall on the table while cutting the chicken. So I methodically started with the fried shrimp that were fairly good: well cooked and crispy. Then the chicken that I admit was delicious too. The last part was the ribs that I was keeping for the end. They were so disappointing: dry and not at all falling off the bone. At least, the generous amount of sauce helped, because I was so looking forward to it.

Ribs and crispy shrimp at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

Fried chicken at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

They brought a tangerine and pineapple cupcake for dessert, a special for Halloween. That was just ok, the frosting being a bit weird. But you know what? It was a nice touch anyway.

Cupcakes at Dallas BBQ in Times Square, NYC, New York

So, my dinner at Dallas BBQ was definitely not that great, New York offering many options for great ribs that were for me the main reason I picked the combo. Next time, I'll pass...

Enjoy (...)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/5/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/5/15

Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Meaning everything is fine in French, Tout Va Bien is a family restaurant that has been serving a classic French bistro menu since 1948. It is a small place with a decor quite cluttered iwith so many French artifacts all over, from photos to littles statues, to soccer club flags, as well as the French songs playing in the background (Charles Aznavour when I went there), creating definitely a certain atmosphere close to what you would find in some restaurants in France.

Dining room at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Decor at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Menu wise, they really have all the classics: escargots, foie gras, soupe à l'oignon, coq au vin, etc...as well as crab cakes that day as a special (they have few daily specials presented on a chalk board).

Daily specials at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Soupe å l'oignon at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Crab cake at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For appetizer, I decided to order the escargots. I could have ordered 12, but, as you know, I am a pretty reasonable guy, so I only went for 6.

Escargots at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

They came pipping hot, still sizzling, with a delicious buttery smell emanating from the dish. I loved it: simply made (butter, garlic and parsley), the sauce was very addictive and I kept dipping my bread in the butter. I wondered at that point if one should not just serve butter with garlic and parsley, without the escargots, as an appetizer.

Bread at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For my main entrée, I hesitated between the veal liver and the veal kidney. I went for the later that was served with mashed potatoes and haricots verts. For the sauce, I had the choice between vin blanc (white wine), Bordelaise or moutarde (mustard). I chose mustard and definitely did not regret it. I should mention that they were generous with the amount of sauce on the plate and I was close to dipping my bread in it when I remembered that I also wanted dessert...

Veal kidneys å la moutarde at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

This was a fantastic dish: the kidneys were perfectly cooked medium rare, with a pink center, and perfectly cleared, so not tough at all. And that sauce was deliciously creamy. This is definitely a dish I would recommend and I am curious how the other sauces are.

Know that if you are not really fans of the creepy meats, you can try their filet mignon that looks appetizing or their fish dishes (below a red snapper provençal that was a fail special).

Filet mignon at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Red snapper provençal at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

I paired my meal with a glass of Bordeaux, but, of course, they have other selection, not all French (Malbec for instance).

Glass of Bordeaux at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

For dessert, I went for the poire belle Helene, made with canned slices of pears, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. They have kind of similar dessert with peaches (peche melba).

Poire belle Helene at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Peche melba at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

Good dessert, but I admit that I would have been even more pleased if they had an ile flottante or floating island, or even a tarte tatin that is one of my favorite desserts. Otherwise, they have the classics: creme brûlée, chocolate mousse...It was perfect with a double espresso.

Double espresso at Tout Va Bien, French Restaurant in NYC, New York

So I was really pleased with my meal at Tout Va Bien: the food was really good and the atmosphere enjoyable, with a nice service. I would definitely go back there an this time get that veal liver!

Enjoy (I did)!

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I Just Want To Eat! 11/3/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/3/15

Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

I was thrilled when I heard that Del Frisco's Grille would open in Hoboken end of September 2015. We decided to go there for brunch and then dinner to check it out. It is a fairly big place, with a view to the kitchen and pass that is in the back, a view that I always find interesting, especially in that place, where you could see the staff lining up, waiting for the dishes to be ready and giving the last touch, like the brush of mix of salt, pepper and butter on the steaks.

Dining room at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Interestingly, it was not that crowded for brunch, but when we went for dinner, it was packed, from the dining room to the bar area. Service wise, it was good, although a bit over the top, probably because it was close to their opening and they wanted to make sure patrons would have a good time.

In terms of food, they have quite a large choice. For brunch, we skipped eggs and decided to order:

Guacamole:

The Ahi tacos:

Ahi tuna tacos at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

The banana foster French toast:

Banana foster French toast at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

It was just ok: the guacamole was missing salt and the chunks of avocado were to big, giving the impression to eat an avocado salad rather than guac. The tacos were good and I loved the idea of using ahi tuna paired with a delicious spicy citrus mayo (I recommend it). The banana foster French toast was good, but missing some rum sauce (and adding syrup kind of throw the dish off), and there was not enough banana.

Steak knife at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

For dinner, I was excited to try the steaks. Jodi went for the filet mignon (8oz that is a perfect size for her), ordered medium.

Filet mignon at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

I went for the ribeye (16 oz), ordered medium-rare.

Ribeye at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

When they bring the steaks to the table, they ask you to check that they were cooked at the correct temperature: it is the first time I have seen this. The steaks were good; not the same quality as Dino & Harry's or Zylo, but still. They had a nice char, were tender and deliciously juicy. Unfortunately, they had too much salt and pepper (remember the brush at the pass mentioned above) and, after a while, it kind of overpowers the meat, even if you remove it with the knife.

Entrees are coming with sides. Jodi got the fries that were crispy.

French fries at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

I got the mash potatoes that I did not like as it contained too much scallion.

Mash potatoes at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

With the steaks, I got a Pinot Noir Meiomi 2013 from California, a nice pairing with the bold taste of the ribeye.

Pinot noir Meiomi at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Last was dessert: Jodi went for the coconut cream pie. It was one of the rare times she was disappointed about it: too much chocolate shavings overpowered the coconut.

Coconut cream pie at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I ordered the Nutella bread pudding, replacing the coffee ice cream with vanilla ice cream. This was disappointing too, the taste of the Nutella being minimum and the bread pudding being dry...

Nutella bred pudding at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

Nutella bread pudding at Del Frisco's Grille in Hoboken, NJ

So I was a bit disappointed after our meals at Del Frisco's Grille, especially the dinner, as I was looking forward for the steak. Would I go back? I do not think so...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Del Frisco's Grille

Address: 221 River St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Phone:(201) 653-0195

I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/15 I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/15

Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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

Eating at Tikka Indian Grill is like traveling far away from the trendy Williamsburg neighborhood. The food there is amazing, especially if you like spices and discovering flavors and aromas that will astonish you during the entire meal. There, owner and Executive Chef Mallika Khan, who is from Bangladesh, crafted a menu inspired from her mother's recipes, covering many parts of India. We unfortunately did not get a chance to meet with Chef Khan, but we chatted a bit with co-owner Syed about the food (and the importance put on the quality of each dish served), as well as Bangladesh and India.

This place just opened on October 22nd 2015, replacing another Indian restaurant called Spice Garden. I love the decor of Tikka Indian Grill: modern and subtle, with one wall with beautiful photos (amazing colors) to remind you that you are in an Indian restaurant.

Dining room at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Table at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Spices at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Foodwise, we had a festival and avoided spicy dishes like the lamb vindaloo I tried few years ago and made me sweat like Ben Stiller in the scene in the Ethiopian restaurant in Along came Polly.

Papadam at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chutneys at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

They first brought us some papadam, an Indian cracker that I always found addictive. It was served with onion chutney (Left on the photo - slightly spicy), cardamon chutney (center) and my favorite: tamarind sauce. We also got a mango lassi that was delicious and not watered down.

Mango lassi at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For appetizers, we got different dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian:

Samosa chaat, a typical street food, made with chunks of samosa, chickpeas, tamarind sauce and yogurt. This is the perfect dish if you like mixing sweet and savory. It has a subtle kick, but the yogurt and tamarind tame down the spiciness.

Samosa chaat at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second vegetarian dish was Sabji Tikka.

Sabji tikka at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It is composed of grilled paneer cheese, mushrooms and potatoes, also grilled. I admit that I did not really care about the potato, but the paneer was fantastic. Often, it is kind of rubbery. At Tikka Indian Grill, you will get one that has a texture similar to farmer cheese rather than firm tofu.

Paneer at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For non-vegetarian dishes, we got first the Tawa lamb kebab or pan fried minced lamb.

Tawa lamb kebab at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

It was quite good, especially for people who, like me, love lamb, as it had this bold taste particular to that meat. Eating it, I thought they should serve it with raita though, the patty being a little dry, but I realized, writing this post, that it was supposed to be served with an apricot chutney...

The last appetizer was Paanch Shoran Jingha or shrimp with five spices.

Paanch Shoran Jingha at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This was one of the most flavorful of the appetizers and I am not sure what spices they put there, but I did not leave any shrimp on the plate...And I should mention that the shrimp, were perfectly cooked and of a nice size.

Then, came the entrees.

Entrees at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We asked for a tasting size as we wanted to try different dishes and did not want to waste, so what you see on the photos in the bowls is smaller than usual.

First, there was my favorite: chicken tikka masala.

Chicken tikka masala at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The chicken was perfectly cooked and not dry, smothered by an succulent sauce that I literally inhaled, trying to restrain myself considering we had other dishes on the table.

The next dish was chana masala, curried chickpeas that had a little kick. A delicious dish that I suggest if you are vegetarian...or not.

Chana masala at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I then was looking forward to try their dal bukhara. I love dal that I rediscovered in India last year, being more accustomed to watered down versions in the past, so, not so thrilled about it. But when dal is made with cream and butter, that is another story. And guess what: at Tikka Indian Grill, they use cream, lots of cream, that makes this rich dish one of my favorites.

Dal Bukhara at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last dish on the table was the lamb chops that were marinated in spices and then grilled. Another dish for lamb meat lovers.

Lamb chops at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

When we thought that the next course would be dessert, Syed proposed to try other specialties of the restaurant...

The first dish was chicken korma, that is chicken smothered in a creamy nut sauce.

Chicken korma at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second one was chicken saag tikka, skewered chicken served in pureed spinach.

Chicken saag tikka at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last one was Rogan Josh or lamb curry.

Rogan josh at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

All of these dishes were scrumptious and so flavorful. I am not a big fan of spinach (except a la creme), but the chicken saag tikka with its creamy spinach sauce is definitely a dish I would re-order.

To accompanied our dishes, we tried their delicious naan that was fluffy with a nice char, as well as some basmati rice.

Plain naan at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Basmati rice at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

For dessert, we then had kheer or rice pudding:

Kheer at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

As well as gulab jamun, these milk balls that are deep fried and then dipped in a sweet syrup.

Gulab jamun at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Both desserts were good and not too sweet, especially the kheer. I loved the gulab jamun that had a dense texture, although I would have liked a bit of the sugar syrup in it.

Seeds at Tikka Indian Grill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

We definitely had a good time at Tikka Indian Grill. The food was amazing and I am still salivating while writing this post. This is a place to know if you live in Williamsburg, but also in the city, the commute from Union Square being as long as if you were going from there to the Upper East or West side!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

ADDRESS: 185 Grand Street
(btwn Bedford Ave & Driggs Ave.)
Williamsburg, NY 11211
PHONE: 718-768-2262
OPENING: October 22, 2015
WEBSITE: www.tikkawilliamsburg.com