I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/27/18

Revisit: Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

Few weeks ago, we went to one of the locations of Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen and had a great time with my nephew Valentin. So we decided to go back, but tried their other location, still in Hell's Kitchen, but closer to Times Square. I admit that the experience was not as good: they were definitely understaffed in a place that was really crowded, affecting the service there. It started with the hostess who was not very nice at first, but then apologized, to the waiter who did not even check on us (forget the bread basket and the cheese on the pasta), to the food that took forever to come, prompting us to skip dessert. It is not the fault of the staff who is being put in this situation, but such service does not make the whole experience satisfying, unless the food is exceptional and then you think that at least you got great dishes. It was not the case unfortunately. I mean the food was decent, but that was it. Such a contrast compared to the other time we went there! Well, maybe the location matters...

I started off the meal with a cocktail: the Sole di Roma, made with Aperol, Limoncello, orange juice and prosecco. This was delicious: bitter and citrusy, not strong at all.

Sole di Roma cocktail at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

Then, we decided to try their meatballs, thinking that if there are dishes that should be good in any Italian restaurant, it would be the meatballs and the tiramisu. The sauce was very good, bold, but the meatballs themselves were dry.

Meatballs at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

We then shared some pasta. The first one was the Penne Gorgonzola Noci e Picelli, that are penne pasta with gorgonzola cheese, peas and walnuts (we ditched these as Jodi does not like them). It was good: the pasta was well cooked, al dente, and that sauce was delicious.

Penne Gorgonzola Noci e Picelli at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

The second dish was the fettuccine a la Bolognese. It was my favorite dish: the homemade fettuccine was fantastic and the meat sauce superb. I found this dish very comforting.

Fettuccine a la Bolognese at Bocca di Bacco in Hell's Kitchen

So, as I mentioned before, we did not bother having dessert, not that there was really something we definitely wanted to try. We left a bit disappointed, but it does not change my opinion that the other location we tried was good. I will need to go back to confirm, or maybe, will have to check the third location they have in Chelsea to see if they are inconsistent in all their restaurants!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bocca di Bacco - 635 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/25/18

Tex-Mex food at El Original in NYC, NY

We were walking on 10th avenue when we noticed a place called El Original, a Tex-Mex restaurant adjacent to a hotel that I cannot recall the name. The place is big and I was glad we went for brunch as it looked more like a bar and I could already imagine the noise level for dinner. There were definitely not that many people for brunch, besides a group of construction workers who seemed to be regulars.

Entrance at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Bar area at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

We started off our meal with some guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips, all quite good, the guac being fresh.

Guacamole, salsa and chips at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Salsa at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Tortilla chips at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Guacamole at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Then, Jodi opted for the portobello mushrooms tacos, served with yellow rice and beans. The tacos were good and I should mention that they offer a large choice, from chicken, fish, beef or pork, mushrooms being the sole vegetarian option, but a tasty one.

Portobello mushroom tacos at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

On my side, I went for the divorced eggs, a dish composed of two sides: on one side, an egg with salsa roja, over pinto beans, and on the other side, a fried egg with salsa verde over yellow rice, all on top of a crispy corn tortilla, topped with guacamole and pico de gallo. This was good with one being spicy (the first one). I liked the fact that it was two recipes in one dish.

Divorced eggs at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Last, we went for their tres leches that was decent, but definitely not the best we had. Still, a good way to end our meal.

Tres leches at El Original in Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Our brunch at El Original was overall good: the food is quite good and tasty. This is a good place to know if you'd like a Tex-Mex brunch in that area, better than the brunch we had previously at Arriba Arriba. But that is for another post...

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! 1/21/18 I Just Want To Eat! 1/21/18

Burger at JG Melon

We recently decided to go to JG Melon with our friends Jen and Gary, a place that I have wanted to visit for a while. My sole goal was to try their burger that I heard was phenomenal. So, here we are on a Saturday, at 12pm, in a place that is already very crowded and remained that way all along. I should mention that, despite the number of hungry patrons waiting for a table, they did not rush us, to the contrary.

Dining room at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

This cash only old school pub opened in 1972 and is famous for its burgers. Beef burgers I mean, although you can get a turkey burger and if you are vegetarian, you might be out of luck as they do not have any veggie patty. Jodi went for a classic cheeseburger

Cheeseburger at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

and I went for the bacon cheeseburger.

Bacon cheeseburger at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

The burgers come with onions and lost of pickles, but no side. No, you need to order the only side available: their cottage fried potatoes that are delicious and not greasy, as if they cooked them in an air fryer. Anyway, back to the burger: the first bite was divine! Juicy and tasty (yes, it tastes like meat, the patty not being overpowered by tons of condiments).

Cottage fried potatoes at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

For dessert, we opted for the lemon pie that was just ok, the crust being a bit soggy.

Key lime pie at JG Melon on the Upper East Side

I loved the burger at JG Melon and would definitely put it on my top ten in New York, the best remaining at The Brindle Room. And if you do not like burgers, know that they serve other dishes such as an omelet or broiled fish...

Enjoy (I did)!

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JG Melon - 1291 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10021

I Just Want To Eat! 3/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/23/17

Gogi Grill, Korean restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Succeeding to Lucky Burger, The Windmill and Clem's Steaks Unlimited, Gogi Grill is the second Korean restaurant after The Chicken Factory (great Korean fried chicken). Gogi Grill is a casual eatery that I would describe as the Korean Chipotle: fresh ingredients that can be served in a bowl, salad or burrito. You can either create your own or go with one of their five dishes, one of them called the kitchen sink and having all the ingredients. On one side is a counter where you can also order ice cream or crepes, but I admit that I was not in the mood for that that day...

Dining room at Gogi Grill, Korean restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Ice cream and crepes at Gogi Grill, Korean restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

I decided to go for a bowl, with grilled chicken, shrimp, glass noodles, garlic-butter corn, spicy slaw, cheese and sriracha sour cream. I added a fried egg and topped it with katsu sauce.

Glass noodles at Gogi Grill, Korean restaurant in Hoboken, NJ

Jodi went for the salad, with tofu, glass noodles, garlic-butter corn, cheese, zucchini and squash. She also added the fried egg and topped it with the cucumber dill sauce.

As they closed the bowls with a plastic lid, it kind of screwed up the appearance of the bowls that looked really good before. There was definitely a lot of food and it was very tasty. I might have gone overboard a bit by ordering chicken and shrimp, as this was a lot. But it was quite comforting and a perfect meal for a cold weather. Hopefully Gogi Grill will stop the curse of that location and, considering how good their food is, they will probably...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Gogi Grill

I Just Want To Eat! 3/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/21/17

Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Steakhouses are pricey, but as we say, when steakhouses do well, the economy is doing well. However you do not need to spend hundreds to have a good steak, maybe not the best you ever had, but a good one. West Side Steakhouse is a good example of that. Located close to Times Square, but on the quiet 10th avenue, often not considered as an area to look for restaurants, West Side Steakhouse serves decent steaks.

Dining room at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

We went on a Friday night and the place was not that crowded, but still. Decor wise, it is not the heavy decor you find in lots of places, with leather banquettes and dark wood. I think the most noticeable thing there is would be the bottles of wine hanging on the walls.

They have a nice cocktail list so I could not resist ordering the Old Fashion, made with Bourbon, Muddled cherry and orange, sugar, Agnastora bitters. I admit that I was a bit disappointed because it tasted a bit diluted.

Old fashion cocktail at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The bread basket was low key I would say, having only small rolls and butter, but the bread was at least good. I mention this because, often, steakhouses have different kinds of breads (white, pretzel, sticks, etc. ) and I am always looking forward to it, even if I know I should not eat too much of it considering the amount of food coming.

Bread basket at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

For appetizer, I hesitated between the slabs of bacon and the crab cake. But, being health conscious as you can imagine (???), I chose the later. There were two of them, made probably with the claw, not lump meat. Despite that, I liked it and thought that for $13, it was good, not full of breading or any other filler.

Crab cakes at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Next were the steaks. Jodi went for their 12oz filet mignon that was well cooked medium, tender and juicy.

Filet mignon at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

She also ordered the béarnaise sauce that was good. Know that one order suffices for two people.

Bearnaise sauce at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for a bone-in ribeye, cooked medium rare. There again, it was tender and juicy, without tons of fat but delightfully fatty. For $35, this 16oz steak was a good deal.

Bone-in ribeye at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

For sides, we went for the sautéed mushrooms

Sautéed mushrooms at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

And the three cheese mac and cheese.

Mac and cheese at Westside Steakhouse in NYC, NY

The mushrooms were quite good, not too garlicky, but the mac and cheese could have had a thicker cheese sauce. Despite that, I liked it.

Last was dessert and we chose the key lime pie that was quite good and not too sweet as it sometimes is.

It was overall decent, especially for the price points. West Side Steakhouse is for sure not the best Steakhouse in New York but a good alternative if you are craving steaks but do not want to break the bank. Other alternatives are Le Relais de Venise that has this amazing secret sauce and delicious fries. Another one is Chex Jacqueline in Soho that proposes a $15 steak on Wednesdays: you cannot beat that!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

West Side Steakhouse

I Just Want To Eat! 3/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/19/17

Jun-Men Ramen Bar in NYC, NY

If there is one thing that makes me look forward to Winter, it is Ramen: I love that delicious noodle soup, although ramen does not refer to soup at all, but to the hand pulled noodles that are in it. There is of course cold ramen that can be appreciated during the warmer seasons, but I admit that I love the hot ones. So, my next target was Jun-Men in Chelsea. It is not a big place, but it is bigger than some of the restaurants we visited before, having a large table in the center to accommodate large parties.

Dining room at Jun-Men Ramen Bar in NYC, NY

Jodi did not feel like eating ramen, so she ordered two dishes. The first one was the shiitake bun, a vegetarian version of the classic pork bun, made with Shiitake mushroom, fried kale and mayo. This was deliciously meaty and could definitely compete with its non-vegetarian version.

Shiitake buns at Jun-Men Ramen Bar in NYC, NY

The second dish was the Kale greens salad, composed of kale, quinoa, tomato, white cheddar, corn in a roasted garlic miso dressing. It was good, especially the corn that had a nice char.

Kale greens salad at Jun-Men Ramen Bar in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the Uni mushroom ramen that was a dish without broth, so, a noodle dish to make it simple. It was made with Uni, roasted pancetta, porcini butter, truffle oil, fried shallots, scallion and parmesan cheese. Very creamy, the noodles had a nice bite and the uni was succulent.

Uni mushroom ramen at Jun-Men Ramen Bar in NYC, NY

This was pretty good and I would definitely go back to Jun-Men to try their other ramen, especially their pork bone one, and maybe their pork bun or fried chicken...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Jun-Men Ramen Bar

I Just Want To Eat! 3/17/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/17/17

Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

We were looking for a place to eat before seeing a movie in Times Square and decided to stop by Shokudo, a japanese restaurant that opened few months ago in Hell's Kitchen. The place was not that crowded for a Saturday, but I admit that we might have been a little early...

Dining room at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

We started our meal with some pork gyoza that were good, juicy and tasty, with the only negative being that I like when one side is crispier and a bit more charred.

Pork gyoza at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Jodi did not feel like eating ramen, so she went for two rolls: the avocado roll and the asparagus tempura roll. The latter was better than what I was expecting and had this nice crunchiness from the tempura.

Asparagus tempura roll and avocado roll at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Asparagus tempura roll at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

Avocado roll at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, I ordered the tonkotsu ramen made with pork broth, chashu pork, scallion, bean sprouts, red ginger, garlic oil and egg. It looked beautiful and milky and the first slurp was fine, but then I realized that there was too much garlic, way too much...That was a bit disappointing.

Tonkotsu ramen at Shokudo Sushi and Ramen in Hell's Kitchen

I am not sure what to think about Shokudo: the food was just ok and considering that there are better Japanese restaurants in the area, I am not sure I will go back soon. For ramen, Mentoku is a better place.

Enjoy (...)!

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

Shokudo

I Just Want To Eat! 3/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/15/17

Chocolate extravaganza at Jacques Torres on the Upper West Side

We were looking for a dessert and checked on google to see what was around when we stumbled upon Jacques Torres on the Upper West Side. Jacques Torres is not unknown to me as I tried his chocolate many times and even went to his chocolate factory downtown many years ago, but I do not recall having tried his hot chocolate. So, it was time to change that and that was like a revelation: his hot chocolate is the best in the city! People rave about City Bakery's hot chocolate, but I admit that I do not like it. This one, at Jacques Torres is something else: it is like melted chocolate, but without being too sweet or too bitter; yes, it is a perfect balance that makes me want to have such a place next door.

Jacques Torres on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

The location on the Upper West Side is not that big and does not have that many tables, but we were lucky to arrive at the moment two sitting patrons left. We decided to try few things there and I was surprised to hear that the bill was less than $11. Here is what we had:

A classic hot chocolate, small (perfect size for me):

Classic hot chocolate at Jacques Torres on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Flourless chocolate cake: so good, it was dense and very chocolatey.

Chocolate cookie: soft and chewy, it had lots of chocolate, but I have to give it to City Bakery for the best chocolate chip cookie.

Chocolate chip cookie at Jacques Torres on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Jacques Torres definitely knows how to make chocolate and how to serve it and I can tell you: I'll be back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Jacques Torres

I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/13/17

Brunch at Kingside in NYC, NY

It has been a while since I went to Kingside, the restaurant of Executive Chef Mac Murphy. I went there a week after they opened and I still remember their caramel pudding that was to die for (they still have it on their menu).

This time, we were looking for a place for brunch on a Saturday and went there. I was surprised to see that it was not that crowded, thinking that they probably benefit from the clients of the Viceroy Hotel it is part of. But no: there were not that many people. Well, I understood why...The food was subpar, sorry to say it. There are much better places for similar prices in New York. Here is what we had:

To start, I went for a cold pressed juice from Liquiteria. It was the Royal Flush, made with pineapple, apple and ginger, a lot of ginger...I loved it!

Liquiteria Royal Flush Cold pressed juice at Kingside in NYC, NY

Then, Jodi ordered the shaved brussel sprouts salad that was topped with gouda cheese and dressed with an oregano vinaigrette. It had lemon in it, too much of it, so it overpowered unfortunately the whole salad.

Roasted broccoli salad at Kingside in NYC, NY

With it, she got a side of roasted mushrooms that at least was delicious.

Roasted mushrooms at Kingside in NYC, NY

On my side, I ordered their breakfast pizza made with maple bacon, aged cheddar, scallion and a baked egg. I opted for it simply because I was curious to see if they would put their own spin on it. Well, that was a wrong choice: the pizza did not look good and was just doughy, not even crispy. Very disappointing.

We passed on dessert, thinking that we would have a better chance somewhere else. What happened to Kingside? I do not know and I am not sure I would ever go back there. Definitely not for brunch!

Enjoy (...)!

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

Kingside

I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/11/17

Redemption at Salvation Taco in NYC, NY - Closed

After our meal at Salvation Burger few weeks ago that was a bit disappointing and overpriced, we still decided to try Salvation Taco, another venture from Chef April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman. They describe Salvation Taco as a "taqueria and cantina featuring a menu influenced by international cuisines". International for sure when you see their Indonesian BBQ or Moroccan lamb taco (I was going for this one, but they did not have it the day I went...Bummer!).

Dining room at Salvation Taco in NYC, NY

The decor of Salvation Taco is amazing: you would think that the room you see when you enter is it, but in fact, if you go in the back, you will be surprised by the large cozy dining room that looks like a lounge, with its banquettes and comfortable armchairs, as well as the fireplace in the back that makes you want to grab a book and just sit there. They also have a room with a ping pong table that is probably more used for beer-pong than anything else...

Decor on the wall at Salvation Taco in NYC, NY

Food wise, we were not disappointed this time. Of course, we ended up getting the guacamole and chips that were very good, with the right amount of acidity and salt, as well as chunks of avocado.

Tortilla chips at Salvation Taco in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi went for the mushroom tostada, made with hen of the woods, pickled red onions, tomatillo and cilantro. It was good, the tomatillo adding some more crunch to the already crunchy fried tortilla that was in the bottom, as well as adding some acidity.

Mushroom tostada at Salvation Taco in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the fish tacos that were served with Mayan mayo and pickled red onions. The presentation itself was beautiful, with very nice colors. And the first bite was fantastic: the beer battered fish was perfectly cooked, flakey and moist, but first you get the crunchiness of the delightfully greasy batter. The Mayan mayo was good, but I found an unequal amount of it in each taco.

Last was dessert and we could not resist ordering the churros that were succulent, not greasy, crunchy, with hints of orange. Dipped in the thick Mexican chocolate, it was heaven.

This was a great meal and my apprehension after trying Salvation Burger was quickly gone: Salvation Taco, although a bit pricey, is a great place, perfect for a nice dining experience. I would definitely go back, but maybe this time for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Salvation Taco

I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/9/17

Underwest Donut at Madison Square Garden

I discovered Underwest Donuts thanks to my friend Malini, The Restaurant Fairy. This place opened in 2014 within the West Side Highway Carwash, hence the carwash donut they sell that I did not try. But we did not go to that location, rather the one they opened last December, outside of Penn Station. There, you will not get a chance to get donuts made a la minute, this place being a tiny outpost. But still, you will get freshly baked donuts.

Donuts at Underwest Donut at Madison Square Garden

I was not sure what to get and hesitated between the halva, the brown butter and the banana milk donut. I went for the latter that was succulent. Made with puréed banana and glazed with a banana milk mixture, and finally topped with a dried banana slice and a cranberry, it really has a banana taste from the cake dough to the glaze.

Banana milk donut at Underwest Donut at Madison Square Garden

Jodi went for the coconut lime one that was also very good, but I thought not as good as the other one.

Coconut lime at Underwest Donut at Madison Square Garden

I definitely liked Underwest Donuts. Their recipes are original and delicious, and I should mention not too sweet. If you like cake donuts, this is for sure a place to try.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Underwest Donuts

I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/7/17

Indian dinner at Chawlas2 in Gramercy

Last Friday, I was invited at Chawlas2, a charming Indian restaurant located in Gramercy. Taking its name from its founder, this chain that counts more than a 100 locations in India started in Uttar Pradesh, a state in India, more than 50 years ago, when late S. Attar Singh Chawla decided to improve a dish called "Kali Mirch Ka Chicken" or cream chicken, that they described as:

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

"A tender broiler is cut into bite-size pieces which are then cooked in a combination of milk and cream with a sprinkling of onions and “Methi” leaves on a slow fire till it is half done. Then, pepper which is the main spice, other spices and herbs are added to it to give it just the right taste.

The preparations is totally of milk products. No water, red chillies and any type of ghee or oil is used. The total cooking time is about 12 to 15 minutes. Though the dish is not on the spicy side, more pepper can be added for those who want it more spicier and for those who find this bland, green chillies are added to make it really “Kahara".

They first opened a restaurant in Ozone Park and, the one on Gramercy opened very recently but seemed to have attracted already lots of customers considering how busy this place was when we were there.

Dining room at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

I got the opportunity to visit the kitchen where I could see the meat being cooked in their tandoor oven and I can tell you that whatever they cook there is fantastic, keeping for instance the chicken or fish very moist.

Tandoor oven at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Looking at their menu, they have a wide variety of dishes, from vegetarian to non-vegetarian, mainly from North India, with of course some classic like butter chicken or chicken Tikka Masala that is quite close, invented outside of India and one of the most ordered / known Indian dishes. Although we were there for dinner, we got to eat from their tasting menu that replaces the classic buffet a lot of restaurants offer. Why not doing like others and propose a buffet? Because every dish is prepared a la minute, keeping the food fresh and the meat and fish not dry. For less than $24 (less than $13 for lunch with a bit less choices), this tasting is surely a good deal, combining 7 dishes, from appetizer, entree, bread and dessert . Here is what we had:

First, they brought us some papadam with three dipping sauces and chutney: mint chutney ( a bit spicy), tamarind sauce and mango chutney (deliciously sweet).

Papadam with chutney at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Papadam at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

With it, I decided to try their mango lassi that was pretty good, thick and tasty, perfect to counteract any flavor that was too spicy, although I admit that all the dishes had the right amount of spiciness, the Chef not being too heavy handed on the chili.

Mango lassi at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Vegetable samosa (big, crispy and not spicy, perfect with some tamarind sauce or chutney):

Paneer Tikka and Paneer Achari Tikka: I admit that I do not recall which one was which. Anyway, this was very good, the paneer being homemade and not rubbery like some that you can get sometimes.

Paneer Tikka and Paneer Achari Tikka at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Chicken Tikka and Irani Fish: both were amazing! Cooked in the tandoor oven, they were perfectly cooked and moist. The fish was also delightfully flakey.

Chicken Tikka and Irani fish at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Chicken Tikka at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Chilly chicken: fantastic! It had the right amount of spices and I really appreciated the fact that it was not burning my mouth...

Chilly chicken at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Jodi got its vegetarian counterpart, the chilly paneer that was as delicious.

Chilly paneer at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Then we got our main course that was a choice of two dishes with a side. They were presented in a large plate, each dish sitting in a small bowl.

Main course at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Jodi decided to order the cream paneer (instead of chicken), as well as the mix vegetable korma and some basmati rice.

Vegetarian dishes at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Cream paneer at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Mi vegetable korma at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Basmati rice at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

On my side, I got the cream chicken, butter chicken (my favorite Indian dish) and dal makhni (another favorite that I also tried to cook at home...).

Cream chicken at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Butter chicken at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Dal Makhni at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Dal Makhani at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

All of these dishes were delicious. The cream chicken was quite interesting to try as it was the first time I saw it on a menu or maybe I never noticed it. It is a dish that is not as heavy and rich as others (like butter chicken for instance) and was quite good, but I admit that my preference was for the butter chicken, preferring dishes packed in spices and richer. In both dishes, the chicken was perfectly cooked, not dry and had a nice char. My other favorite was the dal that was a bit thick, like I like.

With these dishes, we got some butter naan as well as some roti cooked in the tandoor over.

Naan and roti at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

Last was desserts and they had some of my favorites:

Kheer that is rice pudding:

Gulab Jamun (deep fried milk balls dipped in a sweet syrup):

Gulab Jamun at Chawlas2 in Gramercy, NYC, NY

We had a great dinner at Chawlas2 and left full. I would definitely go back there, their food being delicious. The tasting instead of a buffet is a very good idea and the price a good deal. I should also mention the nice casual atmosphere of the place that makes dining there an enjoyable moment.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Chawlas 2

I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/5/17

Italian dinner at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side

Yesterday, we were invited for dinner at Bella Luna, an Italian restaurant located on the Upper West Side, few blocks from the Museum of Natural History. In fact, we spent the freezing afternoon at the Museum before having dinner, a good way to whet our appetite. Located on the corner of 88th street, this restaurant is not totally new. The location is since January 26th of this year as they had to move from their original one, a couple of blocks away, because of a rent increase. I cannot compare the two places, but the new one is pretty amazing: high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows giving some good light to the whole place, and it has this old scenery carved on the back wall.

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

Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Dining room at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Food wise, we were there for a treat. Here is what we got:

For beverages, they do not have cocktails, so I went for a glass of Pinot Noir, Salvalai, Veneto, Italy, with a bold flavor that I always enjoy.

Wine bottles at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Glass of Pinot Noir from Italy at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Bread with olive oil:

Bread at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Homemade meatballs (all beef): there were pretty good, with a nice density and texture, served with a delicious and thick marinara sauce.

Homemade meatballs at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

With the meatballs, we got their Mezzo platter that is composed of marinated mozzarella, eggplant caponata, olives, artichokes, marinated mushrooms, Tuscan bean salad, roasted peppers, beets and grilled zucchini. They offer it for two (what we had) or four people. Everything there was good, my preference going for the eggplant caponata, roasted peppers and bean salad. It is a great appetizer to share.

Mezzo platter at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Then came the entrees. I was really looking forward to the linguine with clams (alle Vongole) that is made with littleneck clams, olive oil, parsley and garlic. Presentation wise, it looks nice with the pasta in the middle and the clams all around the plate. The clams were of a nice size and the pasta (not homemade) was perfectly cooked al dente, sitting on a good amount of sauce. I simply loved it and was glad it had a perfect amount of garlic so it would not overpower the dish.

Linguine with clams at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Jodi chose the eggplant parmesan that was good, served with pasta in a tomato sauce.

Eggplant parmesan at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Linguine with tomato sauce at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Of course, we could not not go with their homemade tiramisu that was very good, creamy.

Tiramisu at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

And we also tried their mixed berries tart that gave me the impression I was eating something healthy as it was full of fruit...

Mixed berries tart at Bella Luna on the Upper West Side, NYC, NY

We had a great dinner at Bella Luna and I was really surprised to see the place getting so packed as the evening went, apparently with lots of regulars coming to get some good Italian food. Well, after eating there I understand why and I would definitely go back there, this time maybe to try their pizza as well...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Bella Luna

I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/3/17

Pizza at Ribalta in NYC, NY

We were looking for a pizza place close to Union Square for a dinner with our friends Amy and Caleb and decided to reserve a table at Ribalta. You may have heard about this place, especially their hot dog pizza, The Americana, that, not only is original, but is also very good!

This place is always packed and their kitchen is busy all the time, the staff making tirelessly delicious pizza in their wood fire oven.

We decided to share two pizzas. The first one was the Quattro Formaggi, always a good choice for the cheese lovers that we are. It was composed of Mozzarella, Provolone, Gorgonzola, Parmigiana Reggiani and honey (not much).

Quattro formaggi pizza at Ribalta in NYC, NY

The second one was the Borbone, made with eggplant and hot salami and ricotta.

Both pizza were really good, Neapolitan style, with a thin center and puffed up sides that were nice charred and crispy. I loved both, but preferred the Borbone because of the heat the salami had. However, I should mentioned that the Quattro Formaggi had lots of cheese and I could not taste any sweetness from the honey.

But what was even better was dessert. Not the tiramisu that was quite good, creamy, made with a hint of rum:

No, the best was the Babamisu, that is neapolitan sponge cake layered with mascarpone cheese and Nutella. My only regret: that I did not have my own! It was so good, the mascarpone counterbalancing the sweetness of the Nutella. It was deliciously creamy and light (in a way).

This ended a nice dinner and I appreciated the walk back to the subway. Ribalta serves some amazing food. I definitely recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ribalta

I Just Want To Eat! 3/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 3/1/17

Robert, American Fare at The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

I never expected to find such a place at The Museum of Art and Design. This place is amazing: from its stunning modern decor from floor to ceiling, to the incredible view of Columbus Circle. Everything there was great: the service, that was on point, as well as the seasonal food of the menu.

Menu and view at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

View of Columbus Circle at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Dining room at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Here is what I tried there:

Cocktail - The New York Sour made with rye, lemon juice and Malbec. Quite good, but not as sour as I thought.

New York Sour cocktail at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Appetizers:

Scallops with cauliflower puree, tangerine consommé and lotus roots. This was very good: the scallops were perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all.

Scallops at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Burrata and serrano ham: a perfect combination, the ham adding a nice saltiness to the dish.

Burrata and Serrano ham at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Entrées:

Lamb chops with ratatouille and baby spinach: first of all, I was surprised to see that many lamb chops on the plate. Second, this was amazing: the lamb chops where perfectly cooked, juicy with a nice char.

Lamb chops at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Long Island duck breast served with parsnip purée, cranberry and apple chutney. This was also sublime: the duck was well cooked, pink, deliciously fatty with a crispy skin. I definitely recommend it.

Duck at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Desserts:

Complimentary of the Chef were two small red velvet cake bites that were really good.

Red velvet cake bites at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Italian doughnuts or bomboloni that were ricotta fritters served with white chocolate, dark chocolate and caramel, a decadent dessert that was addictive.

Bomboloni at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

Tiramisu that was a nice take on an Italian classic, an elegant version for sure.

Tiramisu at Robert in The Museum of Art and Design, NYC, NY

This was a succulent meal: Robert is definitely a good address to know if you want to celebrate an event or impress. I highly recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Robert

I Just Want To Eat! 2/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 2/27/17

Italian dinner at Lugo Cucina in NYC, NY

On a Friday night, we were looking for an Italian restaurant Midtown when we stumbled upon Lugo Cucina. Located close to Penn Station, I never noticed this place before, although passing close by many times. I never noticed for instance the two vespa in front, with the same colors as the front of that place.

But then, when I entered, I was even more surprised: this place is big and modern, yet with a casual feel, with large black and white photos reminding their theme that is La Dolce Vita, that some translate as "a life of indolence and self-indulgence". In fact, I noticed some photos of Federico Fellini, especially Marcello Mastroianni.

They started off by bringing us some focaccia bread with olive oil, one bread being with rosemary and the other one with tomato and parmesan. This was a good start.

Instead of having wine, I got tempted by their 30 day barrel aged negroni, made with carpano, campari and Bombay Sapphire gin, a drink deliciously bitter.

30 days barrel aged Negroni at Lugo Cucina in NYC, NY

For our appetizer, we decided to share their meatballs that are apparently known. For sure, they are gigantic, but I have to say that I did not find them great, being very dense and not as flavorful as I thought. However, the tomato sauce was sublime.

For her entree, Jodi ordered the ravioli di spinachi or spinach ravioli, served with a tomato and mascarpone sauce. This was good, the ravioli being perfectly made and cooked.

Spinach ravioli at Lugo Cucina in NYC, NY

On my side, I decided to go with linguine alle Vongole, pasta with a garlic and wine sauce accompanied with clams. When they brought a bowl for the shells, I was expecting lots of them, but was surprised to see only two shells on the plate, the clams being deshelled...It was good, but it could have had more sauce for sure.

Linguine alle Vongole at Lugo Cucina in NYC, NY

We decided not to order dessert as it was late. The dinner was good, nothing standing out there. For me, Lugo Cucina is a good address if you want to eat Italian food in a nice setting. Would I go back? Maybe...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Lugo Cucina Italiana

I Just Want To Eat! 2/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 2/25/17

Salvation Burger in NYC, NY - Closed

I was really looking forward to going to Salvation Burger, the burger restaurant of Chef April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman, owners of The Spotted Pig, the Breslin Bar & Dining Room; but my wish got crushed at some point as they had to close because of a fire in their kitchen. Several months later, here I am, arriving several minutes before they opened, allowing customers to sit but warning them that the kitchen will only open after some time. I like the place that is spacious and warm, quite casual with little details here an there adding some charm to the restaurant. I especially liked the booth that had TVs showing a fireplace, or the open kitchen from where an amazing smell of cooked meat emanated.

Exterior wall from Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

Dining room at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

Hook under the counter at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

Open kitchen at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

Few minutes after we ordered, came our burgers. Jodi decided to go with the classic burger made with their housemade cheese, special sauce and pickles. It was made with two patties and was really good, the meat being nicely charred and juicy. There was definitely lots of cheese in it. The first bite was divine, delightfully messy.

Classic burger at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for their signature, the Salvation Burger, an impressive $25 burger made with caramelized onions and taleggio cheese. It looked good, the meat patty being quite big and very juicy. I loved the meat, but, unfortunately, the caramelized onions were overpowering giving to the whole burger a taste that I did not like.

Signature burger at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

I was surprised to see that we had to order French fries separately considering how pricey the burgers are there. At least, the fries were good...

French fries at Salvation Burger in NYC, NY

I was disappointed for sure and was expecting better. I mean, I might go back, but not for the salvation burger, more for the classic, although it is pricey and you can get a burger as good as this one at Shake Shack...So, yes, I found this place overrated.

Enjoy (...)!

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

Salvation Burger

I Just Want To Eat! 2/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 2/23/17

Butter in NYC, NY

Butter: what a great name for a restaurant! Catchy, it definitely appealed to me when I was looking for a nice restaurant on a Friday night. Butter is owned by executive and celebrity Chef Alex Guarnaschelli who crafted a seasonal menu served in a stunning place where nature is predominant.

I love that space, with its very high ceilings, and small booths that are perfect for an intimate dining experience.

I started the meal with a cocktail and chose the Bitter sling, made with Templeton rye, Rittenhouse rye, orgeat, almond syrup and orange bitters, topped with an orange peel. It started well. And I am not talking about the fact that the glass was large, but more because this cocktail was delicious, delightfully bitter, as its name indicated.

Bitter Sling cocktail at Butter in NYC, NY

As we were ordering, they brought us some homemade rolls that were very good, accompanied with some butter (here you go!). One was a sour cream butter, the other one an herb butter.

Then, we decided to order few dishes to share. The first one was the stuffed cherry peppers that were sitting on top of burnt brioche crumbles. They were filled with smoked ricotta that counteracted the slight heat of the peppers.

Stuffed cherry peppers at Butter in NYC, NY

The next dish was the cavatappi pasta served with a spicy lamb sausage and a yellow tomato sauce. I was really looking forward for that dish as I love lamb sausage and wish it was more present on restaurants menus. The pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and I liked the tomato sauce that, with its yellow color, was fairly original.

After that, we got the Trumpet Royale mushrooms à la plancha. The mushrooms were served with brown butter and a sweet potato vinaigrette. If you like mushrooms, I highly recommend this dish. There were lots of these large and meaty mushrooms, that were cooked to perfection.

Royale trumpet a la plancha at Butter in NYC, NY

Our last dish was the gnocchi mac and cheese. I was intrigued by this take on a classic dish and was not disappointed at all. The gnocchi were light and melted in my mouth, smothered by lots of cheese (petit basque and aged cheddar).

Gnocchi mac and cheese at Butter in NYC, NY

Of course we could not leave without dessert and chose the raspberry beignets, served with a thick crème anglaise. These beignets were of a good size, in fact too big after such a meal, but who could resist them? They were simply fantastic, the raspberry filling oozing from the first bite to the next.

We left full and glad we tried that place that is definitely recommended. So, no need to ask me if I would go back. The question is when.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Butter

I Just Want To Eat! 2/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 2/21/17

Bobby Van's Steakhouse on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

I was recently invited to an event at Bobby Van's, the steakhouse located on Park Avenue. Well, I should say their location on Park Avenue as they have several and I only tried the one near Times Square where I had a phenomenal dinner. So, needless to say that I was looking forward to going back there. Here is what I had:

It all started with some amuse: first was a mozzarella sitting on top of a slice of tomato topped with peppers.

It all started with some amuse: first was a mozzarella sitting on top of a slice of tomato topped with peppers.

Tomato and mozzarella at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

The second was baked clams that were pretty good and I could have eaten a whole pot of it if I did not know a steak was coming soon...

Baked clams at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

Then, came a caesar salad that was fairly large, with lots of cheese. I truly appreciated that it was not overdressed.

Caesar salad at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

Then came the steak: it was a filet mignon perfectly cooked medium rare. It was a nice piece of meat, but, when I cut it, it was not as tender or juicy as I expected. Flavor wise, it was also just ok, good, but nothing to rave about. I should mention the béarnaise sauce that was served with it that was very well done.

Filet mignon at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

With it came spinach a la creme that could have had more cream.

Spinach a la creme at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

And fried onions that were very good: crispy and deliciously greasy.

Fried onions at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

Last was dessert. I opted for the cheesecake that was delicious: tasty, quite dense, I loved it.

Cheesecake at Bobby Van's on Park Avenue, NYC, NY

Overall, the meal was good, but it validated my opinion that, in order to keep their margin on events such as this one or even Restaurant Week, restaurants lower the quality of the ingredients. Bobby Van's is still one of my favorite steakhouses, and I still recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bobby Van's Steakhouse

I Just Want To Eat! 2/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 2/19/17

ROKI Le Izakaya: new Japanese Brasserie in NYC, NY - Closed

Last Friday, I was invited at ROKI Le Izakaya a new Japanese brasserie just opened 2 weeks ago by Keiko Ono Aoki and Executive Chef Koji Hagihara. This is a spin off of Benihana, Keiko being the wife of late founder of that famous Japanese chain, Hiroaki Aoki, known in the US as Rocky Aoki. I had the chance to meet with Keiko and Chef Koji who welcomed us in this incredible space where the main attraction is the kitchen in the middle where one can admire the Chef and his crew not only cook delicious food, but also present it in a beautiful way.

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

Chef Koji Hagihara of ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Yes, this is not your regular Japanese joint: of course, you can have some sushi and sashimi, but they also propose other choices that will satisfy a larger crowd, some of the dishes definitely showing some creativity and with an elegant flair as you will see later in this post.

Back to the restaurant first: big, with two rows of tables at the entrance, the main dining room in the center, with its central kitchen that you can face if you sit at the counter, that I highly recommend. I also noticed a large painting of Marilyn Monroe on one side as well as large communal tables and a private dining room further back. It has an elegant but casual feel and I truly appreciated that the lights were not dimmed, so I could admire the aesthetics of the dishes.

Main dining room at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

I should mention that at the time we went, they did not have their liquor license, but you can bring your own bottle(s) if you wish...So, food wise, we tried quite a lot of items from their menu. Here is what we tried:

Japanese canapés: in cooking, canapé is a slice of bread that can be toasted, topped with various savory items. At ROKI, the bread is replaced by crispy rice that gave an incredible texture to the whole thing, being both crunchy and chewy at the same time.

Japanese canapés at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

They propose 9 different types, three being vegetarian. We chose:

Uni - Sea urchin and flying fish roe:

Uni Canape at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Kani - Snow crab and avocado:

Kani canape at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Unagi - eel and Japanese pepper:

Unagi canapé at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Spicy maguro - tuna and spicy mayonnaise:

Spicy maguro at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Truffle and mushroom:

Truffle mushroom canapé at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Guacamole - avoado, mountain caviar and tomato.

Guacamole canapé at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

I could then not miss the next dish considering my French roots: powdered foie gras over duck chasiu. Basically, it is a two components dish: on one hand is the duck that was delicious on its own, perfectly cooked with some nice fat. On the other hand, you have a bloc of foie gras that will be grated like you would parmesan on a pasta dish. I am not sure if I got a special treatment, but when the Chef grated the foes gras, I was really wondering when he would stop, although, let's be honest, I did not want him to stop anyway! It was really good, rich, delightfully fatty, a perfect dish if, like me, you love duck.

Foie gras and duck chasiu at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Duck Chasiu at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Powdered foie gras and duck chasiu at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

The next dish was beautifully presented on a bed of crushed ice: kanpachi carpaccio. Kanpachi, also called yellow tail or amberjack, is a leaner fish than tuna (they also propose a tuna carpaccio with goji berries) and has a pink color with lines that look like grapefruit. This carpaccio was delicious: the fish was soft and the dish had a nice acidity thanks to the ponzu sauce. I recommend it if you like raw fish.

Kanpachi carpaccio at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Then came a classic: pork belly buns. But I admit that the presentation was great: first of all, the buns had a different shape than the classic round one. Then, it is a "do it yourself", a bit messy, but still nice, as Jodi enjoyed one of the buns without the pork belly that she does not like. On my side, I assembled it, putting a generous amount of mayonnaise between the meat and the bun. And that meat was delightfully fatty, with the bun being perfectly soft.

Pork belly buns at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Pork belly and mayo at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Buns with cucumber at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Another small dish was the truffle croquette, made with potato, butter, mushroom and truffle, a great dish for mushrooms lovers.

Truffle croquette at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Last was the chashu tonkotsu premium ramen made with chicken and pork broth, pork belly, sliced pork, egg and seasoned vegetables (know that they also have a vegetarian ramen). The ramen came without the broth that they poured at the table, giving an elegant touch to a fairly popular dish. The broth was very flavorful and it was overall a great ramen. I was glad that in term of quantity, although of a good size, it was not too much.

Chashu tonkotsu premium ramen at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We got to try:

The Earl Grey creme brûlée:

Earl grey creme brûlée at Chashu tonkotsu premium ramen at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

And the roasted white sesame seed ice cream:

Roasted white sesame ice cream with a sugar syrup at ROKI Le Izakaya in NYC, NY

The desserts ended the meal on a high note: the creme brûlée was perfectly set, with a nice hint of earl grey, but I admit that my favorite was the ice cream that had a nice nuttiness and was creamy and rich.

This was a fantastic experience and I am glad that I had to meet with Chef Koji Hagihara who prepared a succulent meal for us. I should also mention that the service was on point, not just with us, but with other customers, where I observed that the staff was very attentive. They were also quite knowledgeable about the menu that is always a good thing when there are so many interesting dishes making the choice difficult. Roki le Izakaya is a nice addition to the Japanese brasserie scene and I highly recommend it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Roki Le Izakaya