I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/31/17

Sarge's deli in NYC

I love delicatessen for the atmosphere and food they serve and was looking forward to trying Sarge's in Murray Hill. Opened since 1964, this place is the perfect example of a deli experience: lots of items on the menu, huge sandwiches and rude service. It is opened 24/7 and has this authentic feel that gives the restaurant some charm: diner like decor, Tiffany's lamps and celebrity photos on the wall.

The menu, with its more than 200 items can be overwhelming, but I was set to order some classics:

First, they brought us some cole slaw and pickles:

Pickles and cole slaw at Sarge's deli in NYC

Chocolate egg cream to start:

Chocolate egg cream at Sarge's deli in NYC

Pastrami Reuben as my main entree:

The egg cream was good but I would not be able to say more, my exposure to this drink being limited. The reuben was good, but definitely not the best I had (Katz's, 2nd avenue deli or Junior's have a better one). I had to eat it with a fork and knife because when I picked up the sandwich, it fell apart, as not enough toasted inside and completely soaked in the meat juice (you can call it fat).

Jodi simply ordered a bagel with lots of cream cheese.

Bagel and cream cheese at Sarge's deli in NYC

Our experience at Sarge's was ok: the food was decent and prices comparable to the other delis, but not as good. At least I can check it off my list...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sarge's deli - 548 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 9/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/29/17

JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

I recently ended up with my colleagues at JJ Bitting Brewing Company in Woodbridge. Interesting place indeed: big, rustic, you can see in the middle of the main dining room some of the fermenters used to make beer. Yes, as its name indicates, JJ Bitting is a brewery and I tried one of their beers, the Aldahat Amber, a medium bodied ale that was fruity and slightly bitter, exactly as they described it. I could have gone for their beer flight, but admit that I am a light weight and as it was equivalent to two beers, I passed.

Dining room at JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

Fermenters at JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

Aldahat amber beer at JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

Food wise, they have mostly a bar menu, with few vegetarian options like the vegetarian burrito that was big, but just ok for my taste.

Vegetarian burrito at JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich, but the waiter brought me a grilled chicken sandwich that I sent back. At first, the waiter insisted I never pronounced the word buffalo, but then apologized and took back the plate. Five minutes later, he came back with my order that seemed to simply be the same chicken smothered with buffalo sauce...It was decent: I thought there was not much chicken compared to the bread but the sauce did the trick.

Buffalo chicken sandwich at JJ Bitting Brewery Co in Woodbridge, NJ

With the sandwich, I got some delicious onion rings that I dipped into the blue cheese sauce.

It was overall ok, a good place for a quick comforting bite. Of course, if you go there, I suggest you try their beer.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

JJ Bitting Brewery Co - 33 Main St, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/17

Korean dinner at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

I recently got invited to Ms. Yoo, opened last July, is the new venture from Chef Esther Choi who gave us the fantastic Mokbar in Chelsea Market (and now Brooklyn). Taking its name from Chef Choi's Grandmother who taught her how to cook when she was a kid, Ms Yoo is not your traditional Korean restaurant, boasting a small menu perfect to share that is very creative and unique, a fusion between Korean and American cuisines. The space is also beautiful, and you cannot miss the cast iron trellises covered with vines, that give a certain elegance to the place, far from the casual setting of Mokbar.

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

Dining room at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

They started off by bringing us two shots of cocktails: The Between The Knees for me, made with gin, ginger preserves, strawberry and lime, that is their take on a strawberry Daiquiri, and a ginger lemonade without any alcohol for Jodi. Both were really refreshing and well balanced.

The Between The Knees cocktail at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

Ginger lemonade at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

Then our cocktails came. For Jodi, it was a mocktail, the Parrot Cries With Its Body, similar to a Pina Colada with fresh pineapple, cream of coconut and yuzu, but without rum.

The Parrot Cries With Its Body cocktail at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

On my side, their take on Martini called I Ms. Yoo (I miss you), made with Bourbon, Vermouth, bitters and jujube that is a fruit that looks like a date that I have not seen in many, many years.

I Ms Yoo cocktail at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

We drank our cocktails while eating some nori popcorn that was surprisingly good, addictive and not fishy at all.

Nori popcorn at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

We started off by ordering the TTeok N' Cheese, that is mac and cheese where the pasta has been replaced by rice cakes. This delicious and surprising dish was made with gruyère and cheddar cheese, bacon, topped with panko, and served with a kimchi tomato sauce that was not spicy at all. This is the perfect dish if you love cheese because there was a lot in it.

Tteok n' cheese at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

The second dish was the roasted bone marrow with toasted baguette and bacon kimchi onion jam. That was a sublime dish: I admit that I ditched the bread, eating the marrow with a spoon, enjoying its decadent taste. And that Jam: it definitely can stand on its own and be eaten with or without bread, as a spread.

Bone marrow at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

As a main entree, Jodi ordered the Tofu Burger, made with mungbean, tofu, shiitake mushroom patty, sprouts, tofu tahini sauce served with French fries. It looked beautiful. Unfortunately, I did not like it, the texture being mushy.

Tofu burger at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

However, my dish was amazing! It was the Korean Dog On Bun, an elevated version of hot dog made with a housemade korean pork sausage, grilled jalapeno, yoo sauce, pretzel roll served with French fries. The first bite was fantastic: first you taste the pretzel bread that was soft, then the grilled jalapeño that was not spicy as well as some of the sauce and then you bite into the sausage that was very tasty and had a nice char. This was for me, after the bone marrow, the highlight of the meal and I definitely recommend this dish.

Korean dog on bun at Ms. Yoo in Lower East Side

Overall, our dinner at Ms. Yoo was sublime: the flavors were unique and the food delicious. It is not a big menu with most of the dishes perfect for sharing, but they execute it well. I would for sure go back to try their burger or their whole chicken that is cooked to order (plan 1 hour to be served or mention it when you make your reservation). I like the fact that Chef Choi is not just making mainstream Korean dishes and goes in creative territories, succeeding in creating a unique experience.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Ms. Yoo - 163 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/23/17

Hudson Hall, Beer Hall and Smokehouse in Jersey City

This week, I got invited to the soft opening of Hudson Hall, a Beer Hall and Smokehouse located few blocks from the Grove St Path station in Jersey City that is opening on September 23, 2017. This is an incredible place: when being there, you would think that you stepped into an old beer hall, when in fact the space has been completely gutted and rebuilt, with lots of attention to detail. The space is divided into three different sections: the huge dining room, with its bar that has a round shape on one extremity, allowing six people to sit facing each over; the small dining room with its incredible ceiling (called "the deli"), and the tunnel to go from one room to the other, giving a glimpse into the busy kitchen.

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

The tunnel at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Kitchen at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Dining room at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Smokers at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Bar in small dining room at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Their menu, inspired predominantly from Eastern Europe, but with still American dishes, is crafted by Chef Dan Hoose who loves exploring European cuisine. A good thing considering the owners are from Eastern Europe! Here is what I tried:

They have a good selection of beers and cocktails, so I tried their cocktail called The Pendents, that is an old fashioned, as well as the Asbury Park Stout (dark ale).

The Pendents cocktail at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Asbury Park beer at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Food wise, they first served us their homemade pickles:

Pickles at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Pickled vegetable medley:

Pastrami sandwich with house dressing, pickled onion, dill and shredded bib lettuce:

Pastrami sandwich at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

BLT sandwich with bacon, lettuce, tomato and fermented black radish mayo:

BLT sandwich at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

HH veggies composed of hash brown, roasted eggplant, tomato and white beans:

HH veggies at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Gratin made with chopped smoked ends, onion and Jarlsberg cheese:

Gratin at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Portobello mushrooms fries:

Portobello mushroom fries at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ

Hudson Hall is a great addition to Jersey City: the restaurant looks fantastic and the food is what you would expect in such a place: comforting and casual. But I think that their Eastern European dishes and the smokehouse allow them to stand out.

Enjoy (I did)

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

Hudson Hall - 364 Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 9/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/21/17

Amami, Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn

Last week, I was invited by Chef Nick Wang to sample his menu at Amami, a Japanese restaurant with a rustic and zen feel in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I spoke a bit with Chef Wang who spoke about his passion to serve unique high quality food, using natural ingredients. In fact, Amami means "sweetness from the heavens" and the name written in Japanese calligraphy that is displayed on one of the walls of the dining room, also means harmony, representing the harmony of flavors as well as the harmony of the staff working in the restaurant like family as Chef Wang explained.

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

Chef Nick Wang at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Amami in Japanese Calligraphy at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I love the decor there: rustic and zen as I mentioned before, and casual, but with a nice setting, a bit more elegant than your regular sushi place. Besides the main dining room, it has a small dining room in the back that can be used for private parties and accommodate 30 people. There are few things you cannot miss in the decor: the wood that is all over (yes, they respect wood...a Seinfeld reference) and the paintings made by a local artist, one of them being a geisha superbly made. At night, with its dimmed lights and music in the background, it has a lounge-y feel that I found comfortable, the noise level being quite good and allowing me to have a nice conversation with my wife.

Dining room at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Sushi bar at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Bar area at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I started the meal with a Japanese Old Fashioned that was made with Iwai Japanese Whiskey, fresh ginger and mint syrup, and Angostura Bitters. It was sublime, perfectly balanced and not too strong, it has a nice sweetness.

Japanese Old Fashioned at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

To start, they brought us a sashimi sampler with fish coming from the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, some of them, unknown to me, at least on a plate, such as the Blue Fusilier. The presentation was beautiful and I loved the fact that each piece of fish was served in a different manner. I should mentioned that they are part of the omakase menu that they serve at the sushi bar. There was:

Sashimi sampler at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Kinme Dai (Alfonsino or red bream)with Sancho pepper and sea salt:

Alfonsino or red bream at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Ara (Grouper) with spicy daikon

Grouper at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Aodai (Blue Fusilier) with organic miso:

Blue Fusilier at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Baby Kanpachi (Amber Jack) with crunchy garlic:

Amber Jack at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Kurodai (Porgi or sea bream) with Kiwasa wasabi and gold leaf:

Sea Bream at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The next dish is something that they are testing and they wanted to know what we thought about it. It was a bigeye tuna tacos made with a homemade spinach shell. That was succulent: I loved the association of the tuna that had a soft texture with the crunchiness of the shell. I definitely think they should have it on the menu and would not be surprised it becomes a best seller.

Bigeye tuna tacos at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Bigeye tuna at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

After that, was a classic: yakitori. There were two kinds:

vegetarian with shishito peppers and King oyster mushrooms.
non-vegetarian with (from left to right): chicken heart, chicken gizzard, calamari legs (aka tentacles) and pork belly.

I loved both kinds, but if I had to pick, I would say that the pork belly was the best, followed by the chicken heart and oyster mushroom.

Non-vegetarian yakitori at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Vegetarian yakitori at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Another vegetarian dish was the grilled miso eggplant that was much better than what I usually get in Japanese restaurants.

Grilled miso eggplant at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

We then got a second sampler with fish, but this time it was a roll and sushi. The roll was their Tuna Salmon Twister, made with crunchy spicy salmon, honey roasted peanut topped with Japanese spice-crusted tuna, avocado and a spicy cherry aioli. The pieces of Nigiri included Blue Fin Otoro (Fatty Tuna), Hamachi Toro (Yellowtail Belly), New Zealand King Salmon, Madai (Sea Bream) and Scottish Salmon Belly.

Roll and sushi sampler at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Tuna Salmon Twister roll at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

At the same came their vegetarian ramen that is one of the best I tried so far, finding very often that vegetarian broths lack depth. Well this one was very good and I definitely recommend it if like me you love ramen. It was made of a soy bean based soup with seasonal mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, wakame and scallion.

Vegetarian ramen at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

As I was ready to eat the sushi, they brought me an oyster shooter, made with a Kumamoto oyster, a quail egg, ikura or fish roe, grapefruit, yuzu infused vodka and topped off with Pochi Pochi sparkling sake.

Oyster shooter at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Last was dessert: they served us a green tea tiramisu and a miso ice cream, both homemade. I admit that I did not really liked the tiramisu that was a bit frozen on top, but the ice cream was phenomenal: it was quite creamy and had a nice caramel like taste.

Green tea tiramisu and Miso ice cream at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Oh, and I should mention the glass of premium sake they offered us with dessert, a Fukuju Junmai Dia Gingo.

Fukuju Junmai Dia Gingo sake at Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn — **Fukuju Junmai Dia Gingo sake at** Amami in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

This was a spectacular dinner and I was glad we had to walk a bit to the train after that: Amami is not your regular Japanese joint and I see myself going back there just to enjoy some great food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Amami - 57 Nassau Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/19/17

Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Few weeks after discovering Burger & Lobster near the Flatiron, I received an invite to try their new restaurant located few steps from Bryant Park and Times Square. I was very excited as my previous experience, posted just few days ago was great and I was looking forward to go back to try one of their items: The Beast, a burger topped with lobster, a decadent surf and turf.

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

The tunnel at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

The place near Times Square is definitely different from the one at the Flatiron: located in the Bank of America Building, its entrance is more spectacular, with a tunnel made of lobster traps, with at the end some light that is a feast for your stomach. There is of course the fish tanks near the front desk where one can admire lobsters of various sizes, and the large dining room with its incredible 24-foot ceiling and blue lighting, with the North wall boasting two rows of large windows that have distinguished the face of the Stephen Sondheim Theater building since 1918.

Fish tanks at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Bar area at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Dining room at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Quote from Samuel Beckett at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

I decided to start off my meal with a cocktail and settled on The Boulevardier, a drink made of Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth and Campari, and Negroni where gin has been replaced by Whiskey. A very good choice to start.

The Boulevardier at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

For appetizers, we tried their lobster and burger bites. Both are like a version of Spring rolls: The Burger Bites are made with a tiny Hereford beef patty, American and Cheddar cheese, house made pickles, wrapped in a crispy puff pastry and served with a side of their secret burger sauce.

Burger bites at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

The Lobster Bites are made with lobster and shrimp, lemon zest, chives, puffy pastry, and served with side of homemade sweet chili sauce.

Lobster bites at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

First, I should mention that none of them were greasy and both were hot and deliciously crispy. I loved both, but my favorite was the lobster and shrimp ones, loving the combination of the rolls with the sweetness of the chili sauce.

Next were burgers. Jodi went again for the London, a 6oz burger with bacon and cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles, topped with their house sauce.

The London burger at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

On my side, I got The Beast Burger, composed of Lobster meat on a 6oz beef burger, swiss cheese and truffle mayo.

The Beast Burger at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Both burgers came with fries and a salad that I admit I did not care much about, devouring my burger, perfectly cooked medium-rare, that was very juicy. It was simply delicious: for sure, when it comes, you get your nose filled with the smell of truffle emanating from the mayo. But then, the first bite is fantastic. The bread being soft, you right away get to the meat and lobster, a combination that works perfectly and bursts in flavors.

Desserts at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Last was dessert and they gave us the two they propose on their menu to try: the first one was the strawberry cheesecake mousse:

Strawberry cheesecake mousse at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

And the second one their chocolate mousse that had ganache and Graham crackers in the bottom.

Chocolate mousse at Burger and Lobster in Times Square

Both were delicious, light and airy, my favorite being the chocolate mousse that was divine. It was a good way to end a fantastic meal and I left the restaurant quite full after such a feast. I love Lobster and Burger and will need to go back as the only item I did not try yet is their lobster roll...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Burger and Lobster - 132 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036

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

Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

It's been a while we wanted to go to Burger and Lobster, having heard about this place from our friend Tessa. So, we decided to go on a Saturday, at noon, the time they open, thinking that it was a small place that would be crowded quickly. Well, we were wrong: not only it was not that crowded, but I was surprised to discover such huge place (with red predominant to symbolize the color of the lobster) that has also a small room downstairs. Nice decor with the traps to capture lobsters and of course the fish tanks at the entrance where you can see some beautiful lobsters.

Dining room at Burger and Lobster in NYC

Downstairs dining room at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

Bar area at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

Lobster trap at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

Food wise, they propose burgers, lobsters and lobster rolls. So, if you are vegetarian, unless you like fries and a bit of salad, this is not for you as their sign indicates that they do not have any veggie burger.

Dining room at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

Jodi went for their London burger, a 6oz burger with bacon and cheese, lettuce and tomato that Jodi ditched and pickles, topped with their house sauce.

London burger at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

I ordered their combo composed of a 6oz burger (same size as Jodi) and a 1lb lobster, that came with clarified butter, salad and fries. I admit that I did not even touch the salad and barely the fries that anyway were just ok and concentrated on the delicious lobster that was perfectly cooked and the juicy burger that was pretty good. I thought that for $33 it was a good deal. Also, I added cheese and bacon to the burger without any additional charge.

Lobster at Burger and Lobster in NYC, NY

Burger sand lobster is a great place if you'd like a decadent meal and I thought that price wise is was not outrageous. Definitely a place to consider and I for sure have to go back to try their burger topped with lobster called "the beast"!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Burger and Lobster - 39 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/15/17

Dinner at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Last February, I went to Victor's Cafe to try their lunch deal that was pretty good, and was looking forward to go back for dinner. I love this place that serves some delicious food. Lunch and dinner are quite different, the quiet atmosphere being replaced by a busy, loud but still bearable one, with Cuban music in the background when it is not live music.

Food wise, they have a nice menu with meat and seafood being the stars. Here are some of the dishes I tried:

Appetizer sampler at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

1492 Aperitivo Cubano, an appetizer sampler comprised of Bartolito (sweet plantains, pork stuffing, black bean puree, goat cheese), Cuban quesadilla (creole shrimp and manchego), croquetas corral (smoked ham croquettes), empanada de pollo (chicken), Cuban tamale and fried yuca. Overall very good, especially if you like fried food. My favorite was definitely the chicken empanada that had a nice kick.

Cuban quesadilla at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Cuban tamale at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Chicken empanada at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Croquetas corral at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

For my entree, I chose the Ponle Ropa a la Vaca, a combination of two of their signature dishes: ropa vieja and vaca frita. Ropa Vieja is slow braised and pulled skirt steak in a garlic, tomato, onion and pepper sauce. Vaca Frita is pan fried skirt steak, red onion, cilantro and an orange mojo. Both were presented in a cup made of fried plantains and served with rice and beans. They were delicious, the meat in both case being very good, soft for the Ropa Vieja and chewy for the Vaca Frita. I cannot even decide which one is my favorite!

Ponle ropa a la vaca at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

It was served with rice and beans and I tried the sweet plantains as a side that were as expected.

With the meal, I got a fantastic Pinot Noir, Truchard 2014 from Napa Valley that was perfect with the meat, having a bold flavor and being quite smooth.

Truchard Pinot Noir 2014 at Victor's Cafe in NYC, NY

Even better was dessert: their tres lèches is fantastic, as much as the churros served with chocolate sauce, dulce de lèche , and condensed milk (that I finished with my spoon).

It was a great dinner and I remain a fan of Victor's Cafe, an establishment I use to go to more often when living in the City. If you want to have a nice dinner, this is definitely a place to know.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Victor's Cafe - 236 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 9/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/13/17

Lunch at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

We recently went to Greek Town, a restaurant we did not even knew existed until we passed in front of it in a taxi on our way to Jersey City's Liberty Science Center, and we decided to check it out. We went for brunch and I admit that I wish we knew that this place, opened a year and a half earlier, was there. It is not a fancy restaurant and the decor is fairly simple, but the food was delicious and reasonably priced.

Dining room at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

When we went, it was not that crowded, but we saw a few deliveries being prepared. We decided to share some small plates and went a bit overboard, a pattern quite usual in tapas style restaurants. Fortunately, you can get the leftovers to go...Here is what we had:

Assortment of cold appetizers. It was composed of:

Assortment of cold appetizers at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

Tzatziki:

Stuffed grape leaves:

Fresh beets:

Eggplant salad:

Hummus:

Spicy feta dip:

They were served with pita. All of these were quite good, and I thought that for $15, it was a good deal and good way to try all their cold appetizers.

Then came the zucchini and eggplant chips that were so addictive, I thought they put crack in it! It was the best I ever had: crunchy, not greasy, delightfully salty with some cheese on top.

Eggplant and zucchini chips at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

We also got the meatballs that were good, not dry, nicely charred, served with tzatziki.

We were looking for saganaki, this fantastic flambé cheese, but unfortunately they did not have it. So we ended up with grilled haloumi cheese that was just ok. I even added a bit of lemon to enhance a bit the taste.

Haloumi cheese at Greek Town in Hoboken, NJ

Of course, I could not leave without trying their grilled octopus that was served with chickpeas, onion, capers and roasted peppers. Priced at $14, I did not expect such a big piece. It was delicious: nicely charred, it was perfectly cooked, not rubbery at all.

It was a great lunch: delicious food at reasonable prices. For sure we had a lot of food and did not have enough space for dessert...Well, I guess I will have to go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Greek Town - 86 Garden St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/17

Tapas at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

We were looking for a tapas place when we stumbled upon El Quinto Pino in Chelsea. I thought it was a small place at first, not knowing that there is a bar area and, in the back, a dining room of a good size. Menu wise, each item is made to be shared, the selection for brunch split between little tapas, sandwiches and salads, and eggs. For drinks, they mostly have coffee and tea as well as cocktails.

Bar area at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Bar area at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Dining room at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Dining room at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Menu wise, each item is made to be shared, the selection for brunch split between little tapas, sandwiches and salads, and eggs. For drinks, they mostly have coffee and tea as well as cocktails. No juices, just lemonade, and they would gracefully make any cocktail a mocktail. Jodi got a lemonade and I got myself a Café con hielo with milk that is similar to a macchiato.

Lemonade at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Lemonade at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Cafe con hilo at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Cafe con hilo at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Food wise, here is what we had:

Croquetas (creamy Serrano ham croquettes):

Croquettes at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Croquettes at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Pan amb tomaca (garlic and tomato rubbed bread with salt and olive oil):

Pan amb tomaca at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Pan amb tomaca at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Garbanzos fritos (crispy pimentòn dusted chickpeas):

Garbanzos fritos at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Garbanzos fritos at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Tortilla Espanola (Spanish potato omelet ):

Tortilla Española at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Tortilla Española at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

El doble (double beef patty burger, idiozabal cheese, sweet pickled onions, cornichons and their special sauce):

El Doble burger at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — El Doble burger at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

For dessert, churro with dulce de lèche.

Churros at El Quinto Pino in  Chelsea, NYC — Churros at El Quinto Pino in Chelsea, NYC

Overall, the food was very good. I was really surprised by their delicious burger that was juicy and had a nice crunch and texture thanks to the cornichons. I also loved the tortilla that I consider a must have when having tapas. However, the churros were a bit disappointing, as they were not cooked all the way through. Besides that, I really liked our meal at El Quinto Pino and would definitely go back 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!

El Quinto Pino - 401 West 24th StreetNew York, NY 10011

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

Cherche Midi in Soho - Closed

It's been a while since we wanted to try Cherche Midi, one of the multiple restaurants of Keith McNally, who owns Balthazar, Morandi, Minetta Tavern and Pastis. Not because of his other popular restaurants, but because we loved Pulino's the restaurant that used to be there before Cherche Midi. Unfortunately the restaurant did not work as expected and was replaced. It is a nice place, with some elements of the decor kept. A bit dark though when going for dinner...

I started off my meal with an Old Fashioned that was pretty good, quite strong for sure.

For appetizer, I went for the octopus, a bit disappointed that they did not have the classic escargots or foie gras. Well cooked and nicely charred, it was served with fennel, leeks and salsa verde.

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Cherche Midi salade Niçoise that was a bit pricey for what it was. At least the tuna was delicious, cooked as requested: rare.

On my side, I ordered the Bouchot Mussels, prepared with caramelized fennel, Pernod, crème fraîche and tarragon. I was a bit surprised when they asked if I wanted to order a side of fries as the mussels came with bread only. I declined: can't they just throw fries in a $26 dish? The sauce was good and the mussels ok, with a couple having a weird taste (it's ok, I survived).

For dessert, Jodi was looking forward to the coconut cake that was probably the same served in McNally's other restaurants and from Balthazar. Well, it seemed stale.

I was luckier with my tarte tatin that was succulent, delightfully buttery.

I was disappointed with Cherche Midi: the food had nothing extraordinary and is a bit pricey for what it is. For a French restaurant in the area, I definitely prefer La Gamelle, not just because more traditional, but also because the food is much better.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Cherche Midi - 282 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/17

Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

I love Korean fried chicken: it is so crispy thanks to its double frying process, sometimes spicy and surely tasty. I admit that it has my preference from all fried chickens out there. So I was really looking forward to going to Turntable LP Bar & Karaoke in K-Town with my friend Benny. I discovered it few years ago at Turntable Chicken Jazz and put it at the same level as the popular BonChon. Interestingly, both Turntable places are like a hidden gem (beware that Turntable Chicken Jazz is currently relocating one block away from its current location): if you do not know they are there, you will miss them.

Elevator to go to Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

DJ station at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Bar area at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Entrance of Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Old radios at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Dining room at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

The place looks smaller than its sister restaurant but I admit that this time I did not roam around and did not check out the private karaoke rooms they have. However, I browsed around the decor made of turntables, figurines or LPs that I always find fascinating. I should also mention the DJ section that you can see at the entrance, that is probably in use late at night or on week ends.

We started our meal with drinks. Krawl draft beer from Belgium for Benny:

Kwak Belgian beer at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Smokin'Sour cocktail for me:

Smokin'Sour cocktail at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

The beer was good and probably a better choice to counteract the spiciness of the chicken. The glass was interesting but not that practical to drink...

For the appetizer, we chose the Korean seafood pancake that I thought was just ok, tasting slightly undercooked and missing some texture.

Korean seafood pancake at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Then, we had their fried chicken burger that was delicious: very tasty, the bread was soft, letting the moist and crispy chicken breast shine. It was served with a side of fries that were ok for me, preferring crispy shoestring to this thick cut.

Fried chicken sandwich at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Last was the fried chicken combo. Composed of thigh and wings, we ordered half-half that is half in soy and garlic sauce, and half in hot sauce. Both were delicious, but I preferred the hot one that had a nice kick, less than what I remember from the other location, but enough to make you sweat. The chicken was very crispy and moist. I should mention the daikon served with it that is supposed to cool your mouth.

Fried chicken combo at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Soy garlic fried chicken at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Hot and spicy fried chicken at Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke in K-Town, NYC

Overall, we had a good time and a great meal. Turntable LP Bar and Kataoke is, with his sister restaurant, on top of my list for Korean fried chicken and I would definitely go back there for more!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Turntable LP Bar and Karaoke - 36 W 32nd St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/17

Laut, South East Asian Cuisine at Union Square, NYC

Few days after going to The Chinese Club, I was invited at Laut, a South East Asian restaurant near Union Square, opened many years ago by the same owners, Stacey and Salil Mehta. Laut is not unknown to me, as I went there few years ago, after hearing about that place that was the first Malaysian restaurant to get a Michelin Star in New York. We went when they opened at 1pm on Sunday and there was not that many people, until maybe half an hour later when the restaurant got crowded.

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

We started off our meal with drinks: This Iced Tea for Jodi (notice the stripper on the glass!) and spiked Thai Iced Tea for me, made with Disaronno (amaretto flavored liqueur) and Kalhua. Both were really good, but my preference went for the spiked one that was even better and not strong at all.

For appetizers, we first tried the veggie Spring rolls that came with a cute tiny pot that had some sweet chili sauce in it: the rolls were perfectly made, crunchy, not greasy, with lots of filling in it, made with cabbage, mushroom and carrot.

The second appetizer was the Roti Telur, an Indian pancake stuffed with egg, onion and hot pepper, and served with a curry sauce. This was very good, definitely enhanced by this curry sauce that I could have eaten with a spoon.

Then, for her entree, Jodi chose the Mamak Mee Goreng, a dish made in a wok, with egg noodle, tofu, shrimp fritter, home made curry sambal, tomatoes and eggs. This was very comforting and I loved the slight sweetness of the dish.

On my side, I settled for the Nasi Lemak (National dish of Malaysia), a sampler of Malaysian cuisine composed of Coconut Rice, Achar (South Asian pickles), Peanuts and dry Anchovies Sambal, egg, curry chicken and shrimp in sambal sauce. This is a great idea to propose a sampler and everything was really good, my favorite being the chicken and the most surprising being the dried anchovies and peanut sambal. I should mention that I did not find this spicy.

Peanut and anchovies sambal at Laut in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. Similar to The Chinese Club, they propose one made with a Chinese Waffle and I could not resist trying that one over the mango and sticky rice that I love. This time, it was not served with purple yam ice cream, but rather vanilla ice cream. It was a great dessert, perfect for sharing. The waffle was delicious, a bit crispy and fluffy. I definitely recommend it.

With dessert, I got Malaysian coffee that was sublime, deliciously sweet thanks to the condensed milk that they put in it.

We had a great meal at Laut: I love their menu that has so many choices, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I would definitely go back there to try other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Laut - 15 East 17th Street New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/4/17

The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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

When being invited at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, I had no idea about the history coming with this place. Stacey Lo, co-owner with her husband of this place that opened in March 2016, is the Granddaughter of Lo Fung Foo, the founder of the original Chinese Club, a restaurant in Darjeeling, India, established in 1914 (hence the reference on the facade), that catered to Chinese expatriates. From outside, you would not guess that history as well as the fantastic decor inside that may look overdone by some. The dining room in the front has nothing spectacular besides the funny drawings of super heroes, the mahjong tiles from Ms Lo's Grandmother or the Chinese temple. No, it is the back that is amazing, giving the feel that you travelled miles away: red paper lanterns or colorful posters give a certain atmosphere to the place.

Entrance of The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chinese temple at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Dining room at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Chandelier at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Decor at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Buddhas at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Drawings at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Foodwise, we were there for a treat and, before telling you what I had, I should mention that Ms Lo and her husband, Salil Mehta, are the owners of Laut, the first Malaysian restaurant to receive a Michelin star in New York. The cuisine served at The Chinese Club is Indo-Chinese, with a majority of Chinese dishes, a nice choices of vegetarian specialties as well as Indian classics like the butter chicken, all dishes perfect to share. Here is what I tried:

To start, we ordered some drinks. Jodi chose a Thai Iced Tea:

Thai iced tea at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I went for the Dragon Mojito, a massive cocktail made with sugarcane syrup, sake, lime, pepper, dragon fruit and mint. This was definitely a dangerous drink as it was not that strong and could be drank like milk...

Dragon mojito at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

There were also some spicy crackers that were quite addictive on the table.

Crackers at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The first dish was salt and pepper tempura mushrooms, one of their popular appetizers: crispy and not greasy, this was very good and a perfect choice if you love mushrooms. Know that they also have the same dish made with okra.

Salt and pepper mushrooms at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The second appetizer was the Peking style pork ribs: I admit that, although it looked very appetizing, the ribs did not deliver, being a bit tough...

Peking style pork ribs at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Next was the Sizzling Manchurian chicken, a dish served in a very hot skillet that is made with chili, garlic, ginger and cilantro. Very good, it was slightly spicy.

Sizzling Manchurian Chicken at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The chicken was served with rice and I opted for the biryani rice that was really good, with or without the chicken, and that I recommend over white or brown rice.

Biryani rice at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The next entree was the mixed vegetables stir fry composed of tofu, carrots, snow peas, broccoli and potato.

Mixed vegetables stir fry at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The last entree was the buttery black pepper shrimp, some sort of tempura shrimp served with mushroom, onions, bell peppers and curry leaves. Quite good, the shrimp were perfectly cooked and I loved the brown sauce that smothered them.

Buttered black pepper shrimp at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Last was dessert, and what a dessert! It was their signature: the kulfi waffle. Kulfi is an Indian ice cream an this was a fusion between the Chinese egg waffle and Indian ice cream, the later made with purple yam or ube. The presentation was beautiful and the waffle fantastic, soft with a nice hint of coconut milk; I admit though that I did not like the ice cream that had a weird taste (well remember it was purple yam).

Kulfi waffle at The Chinese Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This was a great meal, not your traditional Chinese food for sure, although some dishes are fairly classic. I like The Chinese Club and it is worth trip to Brooklyn. I will definitely go back there to try some other dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Chinese Club - 208 Grand Street Brooklyn, NY 11211

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

La Olas, Mexican-Japanese fusion in Hoboken - closed

I love Mexican-Japanese fusion since I tried it at the regretted Taka Taka in TriBeCa. And when Las Olas opened in hoboken several years ago, I was really happy. We went several times there, but I realized that I never posted about it. Las Olas is a pretty popular spot Uptown Hoboken, offering deals all week long like the Monday's half price appetizer or the Thursday's unlimited chicken wings. Quite good deals, indeed considering how good their food is.

We tried:

The fried chicken wings Asian style: they are simply fantastic. They propose them grilled but the fried version is the best, for sure less healthy, but who cares? Not me. They are crispy, with the chicken being moist and the sweet sauce that I do not find spicy, very good, giving a sweet and savory dimension to the dish. They also propose the wings with buffalo or habanero sauce, the latter probably really hot, choices that are not on the menu.

Asian Chicken Wings at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

One of the Items that I would immediately associate with Mexican food is the guacamole that they propose as a trio, with a selection that changes. We got it with cheese, corn and mango. The guacamole itself is really good, and I admit that I prefer it solo, without any addition, except maybe cheese.

Guacamole trio at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

The pork gyoza are also good, big and crispy.

Of course, they have a tartare on their menu: a spicy tuna mango tartare, served with homemade tortilla chips. I liked it: the spiciness of the tuna tartare being successfully counteracted by the sweetness of the mango that was ripe.

Tuna mango tartare at La Olas in Hoboken, NJ

They also serve rolls, from classic to specialty and my favorite is the eel roll with avocado, eel being a fish often disregarded that I discovered during a trip in South Korea many years ago.

But if you just want a salad, they have few on their menu. Jodi ordered their grilled chicken avocado salad, but asked to make it without the chicken. I was surprised that they did not propose an alternative like tofu, but also that we paid full price for it.

Despite that, we always had great food at Las Olas and their deals make the experience even more sweeter. I will continue to go there and try some other dishes from their extensive menu like their rice sandwich or their noodles. So, stay tuned!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Las Olas - 1319 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ

I Just Want To Eat! 9/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/1/17

Indian buffet at Vaibhav Indian Spice Journey in Jersey City

We've heard so many things about the little India in Jersey City, that we decided to check it out. We ate at Vaibhav, but it was not our first choice. No, we were supposed to eat at Vatan with a reservation at 12pm, but, after waiting close to 15 minutes in front of a closed door, we decided to go somewhere else. Don't be mistaken though: Vatan has nothing to do with the elegant Indian place in the city that I still need to discover.

It was a Saturday and Vaibhav was proposing a buffet ($13.99 at the time of this post) that was quite nice, many dishes, with lots of chicken specialties as well as a nice choice of vegetarian dishes. They even had in the back a dosa bar that made delicious dahi puri. Overall the food was very good and seemed authentic, perfect if you like medium to spicy food. If you cannot stand even a bit spicy, do not bother. One negative was the service: I asked three times for the mango lassi I ordered...and never got it. I made sure it was not on the bill...So, overall good, and I would go back for some authentic Indian (by the way, when I asked my Indian colleagues for a recommendation weeks later, they mentioned Vaibhav...).

Here are some of the dishes I ate:

Rice cheese balls (like arancini with spices!):

Rice cheese balls at Vaibhav in Jersey City

Chicken 65 (don't ask me where the name comes from: no idea...):

Pav Bhaji:

Tandoori chicken:

Chicken Biryani:

I'll call this crackers: if anybody knows the exact name, please shoot me an email:

Vegetarian fried rice and tofu in chili sauce:

Kauai Paneer and aloo gobi:

Kadai Paneer and Aloo Gobi at Vaibhav in Jersey City

Dal fry and rice:

Chicken tikka masala and goat curry:

Dahi puri (made at the so called dosa bar):

Naan bread:

Gulab jamun:

Kheer (rice pudding):

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Vaibhav - 737 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/30/17

Burgers at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Sometimes it is nice to do touristy things and as I told Jodi that in my last trip to India I went to The Hard Rock Café in Gurgaon, we decided to visit their location in Times Square that we've never been too. We went on a Saturday, not too late to avoid the crowd and got seated fairly quickly, keeping a tour of the restaurant for later as we did not want to miss the tons of memorabilia they have from iconic stars like Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones to name a few. There's definitely a fun atmosphere there whether you like rock or not.

Entrance of Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, NY

Dining room at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Chad Smith's drums - Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Paul Mc Cartney's guitar at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Jimi Hendrix'suit at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Mickey Jones'drums at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Elvis Presley's memorabilia at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

Food wise, we decided to go for burgers, that, priced at $18 with fries, were really good. We tried two of them: the Original Legendary Burger, a 1/2 lb Angus beef patty made with cheddar cheese, an onion ring, smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato. As well as the big cheeseburger, composed of three slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion that we ditched. These were delicious: juicy for sure, the meat was as ordered, medium. My preference went for the legendary one as a bit more decadent and because of the layers of flavors.

Original Legendary Burger at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

The big cheeseburger at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

The fries were good also, although I would they would be crispier.

French fries at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

To accompany my burger, I went for a vanilla milkshake that was nice, with the perfect thickness.

Milkshake at Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square

As we finished our meal, we walked around this huge restaurant that started to be packed, but still, not as much as we thought. It was a fun moment and I would definitely go back to try their other burgers or ribs, the dish that I tried in India (by the way, there, the beef being forbidden as cows are sacred, they serve buffalo meat).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Hard Rock Cafe - 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/17

Brunch at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

We were looking for a place to have an early lunch close to the IFC Center where we were going to see the documentary "City of Ghosts" about the improvised journalists of Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (eye opening by the way), when we found White Oak Tavern on Waverly Place. Nice place, fairly big with a bar in a sort of U shape in the middle with an impressive collection of alcohol, especially whiskey. I love the rustic feel of the place that gives the impression you stepped back in time, with old objects and photos on the shelves.

Dining room at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

Food wise, they serve an all American fair. We started off with a banana bread, served with butter, that was delicious. However, beware that there are nuts in it, information that they may want to provide on their menu.

Banana bread at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

I should also mention the chocolate muffins they bring to each table: light and chocolatey.

Chocolate muffins at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

For her entree, Jodi got the chopped salad that was composed of romaine, cucumber, tomato, carrot, haricot verts, kalamata olives, avocado, feta and a tahini dressing.

Chopped salad at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

On my side, I ordered the bacon cheese burger. Made with a Pat Lafrieda patty, cheddar, a thick cut of bacon, pickled red onions and a chipotle aioli, it looked beautiful and the first bite was divine. I ordered it medium-rare and it was perfect, so juicy, with the nice smokey taste of the bacon. I really liked the extra bite that the red onions gave, adding a bit of acidity as they were pickled.

Bacon cheeseburger at White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village

That was succulent and I definitely recommend White Oak Tavern for their burger. Would I go back? Definitely! I already saw few dishes on their menu that I would like to try.

Enjoy (I did)!

White Oak Tavern - 21 Waverly Place, New York, NY, NY10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/17

The Gumbo Bros, Cajun and Creole cuisine in Brooklyn

It's been a while since I had Cajun and creole food, the only restaurant I knew in Manhattan being closed unfortunately, as I wanted to explore more of this cuisine after a wonderful trip in New Orleans few years ago (yes, I still rave about the beignets at Café du Monde). I did find a couple of food trucks but was never thrilled by the experience. Until I got invited at The Gumbos Bros, a small and charming place in Brooklyn that opened in December 2016, meeting with my friend Malini, The Restaurant Fairy. There, I got to try quite a lot of specialties and made up my recommended meal: fried green tomatoes (perfectly non ripe tomatoes deep fried), a po'boy (I cannot decide between the catfish and their best seller made with shrimp), and the banana pudding (I had to go and missed the beignets).

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

Logo of The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Dining room at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Beads for Mardi Gras at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Here are the food I sampled:

Selection of dishes at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Crawfish mac and cheese:

Seafood gumbo, a family recipe from one of the owners, handmade the old fashioned way with a 2 hour roux, shrimp, blue crab, rice and green onions.

Seafood gumbo at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Crawfish étouffée:

Boudin ball that is a Cajun French recipe you would rarely see on a menu, that is not the classic French blood sausage. No, it is a deep fried rice and sausage ball.

Boudin ball at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Rice and debris gravy (not sure what the debris were):

Rice and debris at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Catfish po'boy (made with Leidenheimer French bread shipped fresh from New Orleans, Duke's mayo, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and pickles).

Catfish Po'Boy at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Shrimp po'boy:

Fried green tomatoes (I should mention that Jodi said:"these are the best I had in the city"):

Fried green tomatoes at The Gumbo Bros in Brooklyn

Banana pudding:

Bourbon pecan pie:

I also got one of their beers on tap (they have a nice selection of beers from Louisiana):

I was impressed by The Gumbo Bros: owners Clay Boulware and Adam Lathan (who are not brothers but best friends, i.e. Bros) created a nice casual place with a relaxed atmosphere, serving dishes from their cherished native South. I should mention that they have couple of vegetarian dishes besides the fried green tomatoes, like a vegan po'boy. I just wish I got to try the beignets...Well, I will have to go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Gumbo Bros - 224 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201