I Just Want To Eat! 10/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/27/17

Brunch at L'Amico near Penn Station

We were looking for a brunch place near Herald Square on OpenTable and reserved a table at an Italian restaurant called L'Amico, realizing only when we were there that we knew this place. Well kind of: we passed so many times In front of it, thinking that we should go check it out one day. I did not know at the time or more did not pay attention to their sign, that this is another restaurant of French Chef Laurent Tourondel who gave us BLT Prime or BLT Steak. This is a nice place, with an elegant rustic feel. Located in the Eventi Hotel, it does not have the decor or atmosphere of many hotel restaurants. No, there it is vibrant, with on one side of the dining room the open kitchen with its wood fire ovens where you can see the flames dancing as they make pizza; on the other side, the terrace opens on to a street that is, in that area, not used to seeing such a nice place.

Dining room at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

Their brunch menu looks really good and I was not really sure what to get. So, I first went for a fresh squeezed orange juice.

Fresh squeeze orange juice at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

As an appetizer, we shared the "our bread", a marzipan based bread stuffed with dried cherries and served with a whipped ricotta and honey, the cheese cutting a bit the sweetness of the bread.

Almond bread at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

Ricotta and honey at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Farmer's Omelet that was made with egg whites, avocado, Summer squash, robiola cheese and mushrooms. It was a decent dish, admitting that I am not really into omelets made without the yolk...

Farmer's omelette at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the omelette soufflé cacio e pepe, a puffed up omelet made with lots of cheese in the center. It was really good, although missing a bit of salt, that fortunately was complemented by the cheese. What I did not know though is that, to make it, it takes a long time, and we were wondering where our dishes were. The waiter came to tell us when he started seeing us looking around, trying to understand if they forgot us. But it was worth the wait.

Omelette soufflé at L'Amico in Chelsea, NYC, NY

Overall, our meal was good and I am curious to try the dinner menu at L'Amico.

Enjoy (I did)!

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L'Amico - 849 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/25/17

Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

Few weeks ago, we discovered a small Thai place near the MeatPacking District called Pad Thai Noodle Lounge, a restaurant with a nice decor and definitely a lounge-y feel with its dimmed lights and music. With its nice decor, it boasts an interesting menu where classic curry are present, as well as a nice selection of noodles that you would probably find in any other Thai places, except that they are highlighted not only on the menu it also in the name of the restaurant.

If you follow this blog, you would not be surprised to find that I had a Thai Ice Tea, my go to drink when eating in a Thai place.

Thai Ice Tea at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

We started off our meal by ordering veggie Spring rolls that were pretty good, but very hot. What I always look in these rolls is the thickness of the shell and it was perfect, letting the vegetables and glass noodles stand out, but still being crispy and delightfully greasy.

Spring rolls at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

Next was the Lava Calamari that is fried calamari served with chili sauce and spicy mayo. The calamari was delicious on its own, crispy and not rubbery, and even better the chili sauce and spicy mayo. It was a bit sweet, but the mayo kind of counterbalance the sweetness of the chili sauce.

Lava calamari at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Pad Woonsen Noodles, but I admit that we were wondering where the glass noodles it was supposed to contain were...It was more sautéed vegetables with tofu.

Sautéed vegetables at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

On my side, I first chose the massaman curry that is a dish I love, but finally went for the Fancy Noodles, a dish made with chicken, basil, bamboo shoot, tomato, eggplant, pineapple and carrot, served in a soup made with coconut milk and green curry. It was very good although a bit spicy. And the noodles were great, perfectly cooked for sure.

Fancy noodles at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

We skipped dessert as we did not really see anything we would like, although the lychee crème brûlée might have been interesting. Well, I will have to go back...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Pad Thai Noodle Lounge - 114 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/23/17

Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

After we went to Le Relais de Venise for lunch (great steak frites there), we decided to have some frozen yogurt at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village. This small joint manufactures its own yogurt and frozen yogurt, with no preservatives or additives, right in the back where you can see the large tanks. And when they are making yogurt, the light is on...

Counter at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

"Yogurt light" at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

There, you can either choose one of their specials where you will just specify which frozen yogurt you want (hence the name "toppings" that is far fetched considering it is a full combo) or you can build your own. I was not sure what to get at first and was going for banana. But, as I was not set on it and it was unsweetened, I decided to try try it: well that was a good move as I did not like it at all. It was like a very tart version of dried bananas. So, I finally got their Key Lime Pie seasonal combo with their original frozen yogurt. It was composed of fresh key lime custard, graham crackers and lime syrup. This was really good, definitely meeting my expectations: the citrusy flavor was there, adding some acidity to the perfectly tart yogurt.

Key lime pie combo at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

Jodi went for their chocolate frozen yogurt with chocolate sprinkles and coconut. Also delicious, their chocolate yogurt was very chocolatey.

Chocolate frozen yogurt at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

We went back two weeks after and tried their oreo frozen yogurt that was also very good. With coconut and chocolate sprinkles for Jodi and oreo cookies for me.

Oreo frozen yogurt at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

That was very good, better than Pinkberry or Red Mango. I love the fact that Culture An American Yogurt Company offers seasonal toppings, allowing customers to change based on their mood. It is a great place to know and it will not be the last time I'll be there...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Culture An American Yogurt Company - 60 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/21/17

Burgers at Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

It's been a while since we went to Green Rock Tap & Grill, one of the first restaurants we tried in Hoboken, raving about their burgers made with English muffins rather than buns. It a cool place, like your old-school bar where dark wood is omnipresent. Conveniently located few steps from the path train, we just needed to find a day when no game would be playing, enjoying the quiet time of a place that can become crazy.

Bar of Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

We were there for burgers. Jodi went for their veggie burger, that is not made with a patty, but rather mixed Vegetables served with marinated Portobello mushrooms and topped with Provolone. I thought it was a nice interpretation of it that was quite successful.

Veggie burger at Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I went for the Green Rock burger with American cheese on top. I liked it, but it was a bit overcooked for my taste.

Signature burger at Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

With the burgers, you can pick your side: Jodi chose the fries that were just ok, and I chose the onion rings that were very good, delightfully crispy and not too greasy.

Onion rings at Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

I like the burgers at Green Rock Tap & Grill. I will for sure go back to try some other dishes, but still when it is quiet...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Green Rock Tap % Grill - 70 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NJ07030

I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/19/17

Osteria Al Doge in Times Square

I recently discovered Osteria Al Doge, a restaurant serving Venetian fare near Times Square. I am always a bit wary when eating in that area, lots of restaurants counting more on foot traffic than really returning customers; but, at Osteria Al Doge, not only was the food good, but the service was on point.

Dining room at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

Here is what I tried:

As a cocktail, I tried their "Venetian" Spritz, that was pretty good. I was looking forward to it as this seems to be the drink of the year in Europe. Not that it was unknown to me, the first Spritz I tried being few years ago in Florence.

Spritz at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

Then, as an appetizer, I went for the grilled baby octopus (polpo alla griglia) that was superb: well cooked, with a nice char, I loved the presentation.

Grilled baby octopus at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

For the entree, I ordered one of my favorite Italian pasta dishes: spaghetti alle vongole. At first, I wanted to try one of their homemade pasta, but could not not go with this dish. And I did not regret it: the spaghetti were served al dente, bathed in a delicious white sauce and accompanied by a reasonable number of clams.

Spaghetti alle vongole at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

Last was dessert: they bring to the table a tray of all their desserts and they had quite few that looked appetizing. But, when they mentioned the Nutella panna cotta, I could not resist. The panna cotta itself was pretty good, at the same time dense and creamy, with a nice chocolate taste that did not totally scream Nutella. It was still delicious.

Nutella Panna Cotta at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

Overall it was a very good meal and I would definitely go back to Osteria Al Doge. This time, I would definitely try some homemade pasta or maybe their calf liver that looked delicious.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Osteria Al Doge - 142 W 44th Street, New York, NY10036

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

The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

Recently, we went to Williamsburg to see the exhibit of one of Jodi's friends, Marco, and, as usual, I was in charge of finding a spot to eat. I had two in mind, a primary choice, Pies'n Thighs, and a backup, The Rabbithole. The former was full with a long line in front of the door, line that I was not ready to face. That's how we ended up at The Rabbithole, and I have to say that I am pretty happy about that! This place is beautiful, not overdone and with a rustic feel thanks to the bricks and wood all over, adding even more to the impression that it is your neighborhood restaurant that has been there for years. But what was even better was their outdoor patio where we got seated, enjoying the perfect weather.

Bar area at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

Communal table at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

I started by ordering a Negroni (made with Gin, Campari and sweet Vermouth) that was delightfully bitter and had that beautiful reddish color that I love with that drink.

Negroni at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

Food wise, they serve seasonal dishes that all looked amazing. As an appetizer, I decided to order their Portuguese Octopus a la Plancha, a beautiful tentacle, perfectly cooked, served with puttanesca, carrot purée, chermoula and purple potato. Not only it was delicious, but I found the presentation amazing, much better than when restaurants served a chopped octopus.

Octopus at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

For her entree, Jodi ordered the Whole Grains and Roasted Root Vegetables Salad, made with avocado, arugula, red onion, sunflower seeds in a sesame soy and honey dressing. Normally, it comes with hazelnuts and, as she did not like them, she asked without. It might have been a mistake as the nuts were probably adding some texture that was missing from the dish, that was also a bit overdressed.

Whole grain salad at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

On my side, I ordered their pan seared salmon, one of their signature dishes that they kept since day one. It was served with beets, green beans, parsnips, a horseradish sauce and red wine reduction. That was another beautiful dish: nice colors on the plate and an amazing salmon that was perfectly cooked and had a delightfully crispy skin.

Pan seared salmon at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

Of course, we could not leave without trying one of their homemade desserts and ordered the banana cream pie. My only regret? That there was not more of it on the plate because it was probably one of the best I had. I truly appreciated the fact that it was not too sweet and each layer of the pie was delicious.

Banana cream pie at The Rabbithole in Brooklyn, NY

Our dinner at The Rabbithole was fantastic: this is a place we're you can have great food in a relaxed atmosphere that will make you forget for an instant where you are.

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 Rabbithole - 352 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/15/17

Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

It's been a while since I went to Empire Steakhouse and definitely never been to their new location attached to the Hilton Hotel Midtown. I went there on a Thursday for dinner, eager to eat some good steak that is aged for a month. I love steak (my favorite cut being the ribeye) and was expecting the kind of meal that makes you regret not wearing stretch pants...

Dining room at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

The location on 54th is quite big with a bar at the entrance and a large cozy dining room in the back with a warm decor that was different from your typical from steakhouses. I started my meal with an old fashioned cocktail, made with Michter's Bourbon, sugar, bitters, an orange slice and cherry.

Old fashioned cocktail at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

I then got some delicious appetizers. Of course there was the Canadian bacon that you can order by the slice that is always a crowd pleaser and an artery nightmare. It was perfect with and without their house made steak sauce.

Slice of Canadian bacon at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

As well as the seafood tower that was composed of delicious shrimp, lobster and crab, all of them perfectly cooked.

Seafood tower at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

Shrimp, crab and lobster at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

But what I was really looking forward to was the tomahawk steak. Funny enough, when I asked the waiter about the size of the steak, we went back and forth between 16oz (him) and 60oz (me), 16oz being impossible for a tomahawk ribeye! He then told me that it was for one person only. Well, when the plate came, it proved I was right: this steak was easily more than 26oz and when I commented on it, the waiter assured me it was 16oz without the bone, that was unlikely. Although it looked impressive, I admit that I was expecting a nicer presentation, probably too much influenced by instagram...The steak was cooked medium rare, but had a bit too much fat and was a bit tough to cut. Otherwise, some parts of it were really good, the steak being juicy and quite flavorful.

Tomahawk ribeye steak at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

As sides, I tried: creamed spinach, fried onion rings and truffle mac and cheese:

Truffle mac and cheese at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

Onion rings at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

From all the sides, my favorite was the Mac and cheese that was delicious and is for me the best side to go with steak. The onion rings however were not that great, the onion not being fully cooked.

With the steak, I got some Pinot Noir Sanford Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County 2008 that was amazing:

Pinot Noir Sanford Rita Hills 2008 at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

Last was dessert. I went for a classic key lime pie with a decaf espresso. The pie was very good, not too sweet.

Key lime pie at Empire Steakhouse in Midtown, NYC

I had a good time at Empire Steakhouse, but admit that I was a bit disappointed with the steak. I went already few times there and also to its sister restaurant Ben & Jack's where I had phenomenal meals, so I guess it was a bad cut and off night. I'll have to go back to be sure...

Enjoy (...)!

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

Empire Steakhouse - 237 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 10/13/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/13/17

Estiatorio Milos, Greek Restaurant Midtown Manhattan

It's been a while since I wanted to try Estiatorio Milos, the upscale restaurant of Executive Chef Costas Spiliadis, that has locations not only in New York, but also Montreal, Miami, Las Vegas or Athens. And I was not disappointed by this place specialized in fresh seafood. I could say that it is a beautiful place, but it would be in reference only of their downstairs dining room as they were undergoing renovations and their main dining room was therefore closed. Still, I loved the slick white theme of the decor. What surprised me though was the number of wait staff who were running around like bees, despite the fact that the kitchen was slow to deliver. Still, I should point out the good service that is anyway expected in this kind of places.

Fish station at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Dining room at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

I started off my meal with a cocktail and chose one from their menu, the Scarlett O, made with Stoli orange vodka, Scarlett orange purée and Grand Marnier, a cocktail perfectly balanced and a bit refreshing.

Scarlett O cocktail at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

For the meal, I settled for a glass of Biblia Chora 'Sole' Pinot Noir that was good.

Biblia Chora 'Sole' Pinot Noir at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan — Biblia Chora 'Sole' Pinot Noir at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Interestingly, before ordering, they brought some grilled bread and olive oil, and I thought that was it. But then, after taking the order, they brought three spreads with some pita (not enough pita, but they graciously brought some more). At that point I was thinking: it is good that we did not order their spread sampler (aka mezzo platter) or more food, although I wonder if it was not a mishap now that I am thinking. It had hummus, taramasalata (made with tarama and fish roe) and htipili (cheese spread made with peppers).

Mezze platter at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Htipili at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Hummus at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Taramasalata at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

And it might not have been my lucky day; the first choice was zucchini flowers stuffed with three cheeses: they did not have any. So I switched to the sardines: they did not have any either. So, we decided to have only one appetizer instead of two, being a bit disappointed that they did not tell us upfront what they could not serve. Anyway, the octopus served to us grilled with a fava bean spread was delicious, perfectly cooked and delightfully charred.

Grilled octopus at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Then came the best dish of the entire meal: the loup de mer or European bass that you may simply know as branzino. At Estiatorio Milos, they receive fish daily and they can either cook it with olive oil and lemon (that we got) or cooked in the oven with herbs and sea salt. And their selection is quite impressive, although I am sure, like the sardines, they may not have everything written on the menu, availability depending on their fish delivery that day. The loup de mer was amazing: this two pound beast was nicely cut in filets, perfectly cooked and I did not regret the choice of the olive oil and lemon sauce that let the fish shine. I should mention the coarse sea salt that gave a nice bite and enhanced even more the taste of the fish.

Loup de mer at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Of course, the second entree had to be lamb chops: I hardly resist lamb chops or a lamb dish at a Greek restaurant, my favorite dish being the Lamb Yuvetsi. The lamb was served with fries that surprised me a bit, thinking that they would probably serve it with grilled vegetables or some healthy option. Anyway, it was great: well cooked medium, it was juicy and nicely fatty.

Lamb chops with fries at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

Last was dessert and it was a classic: baklava. I was a bit surprise at first because it was small, but it was worth it: very good, it was slightly crunchy, with lots of honey in/on it.

Baklava at Estiatorio Milos in Midtown Manhattan

This was a delicious dinner and I was amazed by the food at Estiatorio Milos. This is definitely a place I recommend if you would like a fancy dinner as it is a bit pricey. I bet the setting of their dining room after their renovation will be outstanding. Well, I will have to check it 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!

Espiatorio Milos - 125 W 55th Street, New York, NY10019

I Just Want To Eat! 10/9/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/9/17

Taiyaki, the new ice cream craze

Every year seems to bring its new ice cream sensation, as if people get bored with classic ice creams and are looking for something spectacular. Move over Blacktap Burger (that I did not like, preferring Birch in Hoboken) or Eggloo (still part of the craze though): Taiyaki is the new thing. Named after the fish shaped cakes that replace the traditional cone, Taiyaki served some interesting combination, the star being the cake, but also they soft served ice cream that they make in small batches to preserve the quality.

Fish shaped cake at Taiyaki in Chinatown, NYC

But beware: the ice cream melts fairly quickly and you have to be fast if you want to take a photo, not like this woman I saw when I went there who not only took her time, but tipped her ice cream too much, causing it to fall on the floor, under the eyes of her laughing husband and the crowd that found it hilarious. Yes, the crowd: I should mention that. When we arrived, it was only packed inside, but, as we left, a long line started to form.

So, here is what we had:

Jodi went for their best seller: the unicorn, made with strawberry and vanilla swirl soft serve with pastel, sprinkles, a fondant unicorn horn, and unicorn ears, as well as red bean paste in the bottom of the cake.

Unicorn ice cream at Taiyaki in Chinatown, NYC

On my side, I decided to build my own: vanilla custard in the bottom, vanilla ice cream and black sesame ice cream on top, topped with condensed milk and cotton candy sprinkles.

This was really good: the fish shaped caked was delicious, slightly crunch and tasty, and the ice cream sublime. The red bean filling in the unicorn one was very good and filling, worth trying. Overall, I liked it and would definitely go back: the fact that you can create your own combination makes it endless.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Taiyaki - 119 Baxter Street, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/7/17

Brunch at The Smith, Midtown East

We were looking for a nice brunch place with my brother and nephew close to their hotel Midtown and settled for The Smith, the trendy American Bistro that has fed hungry crowds since 2007. I love their philosophy translated in their name and described on their website:

Smith [smiTH] noun
1. A maker skilled in creating something.
Cooksmith, Barsmith, Blacksmith, Locksmith

Smith [smiTH] noun
1. A maker skilled in creating something.
Cooksmith, Barsmith, Blacksmith, Locksmith

The Smith is the maker. We are all empowered to be makers; makers of great food, great cocktails, great hospitality, warmth, fun, energy and smiles. Everyone is a maker; the guests, the cooks, the bartender. We can all be The Smith and make great things.

Not that a restaurant would admit that they just want to serve subpar food, in a terrible atmosphere and with poor service...

The place was fairly packed and we were glad to have a reservation. We started off our meal with ordering drinks that were Both delicious and quite refreshing.

Watermelon and mint sodas:

Watermelon and mint soda at The Smith, Midtown East

Lemonade:

Then off course, we could not not order the hot potato chips with blue cheese fondue: this is my favorite appetizer there. At first you would think that there is not enough cheese, but in fact there is. Simply succulent and decadent.

Hot potato chips with cheese fondue at The Smith, Midtown East

My brother ordered their fried calamari and some bacon that looked decent, and Jodi ordered their Mediterranean salad, composed of cucumber, feta, olives, chickpeas, tomatoes, romaine ( she ditched the red onions and sweet peppers). It was a fairly nice salad, that had the right amount of lemon dressing.

Mediterranean salad at The Smith, Midtown East

My nephew and I ordered the lobster roll that was superb. The buttered brioche bread was soft and definitely let the lobster, sitting on a bed of baby arugula, shine. And there was a lot of lobster in it!

We had some other ideas about dessert, but I am sure The Smith offers some good ones. When we left, it was still packed and I was glad we selected this place for brunch. I wonder how their dinner is; I guess I will have to go back soon...

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 Smith - 956 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10022

I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/5/17

Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

When people visit from Europe, I always suggest to go for steaks, a suggestion rarely discarded unless people are vegetarian or...told all steaks in the US are full of hormones! So, as we had to plan a dinner with my brother and nephew, I was looking for a steakhouse with a great setting and decided to go to Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Station, combining the eating with sightseeing.

Dining room at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Chandelier at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

This place is amazing and I am really surprised that they are not packed. First, the view from the dining room of the main hall is incredible. Then the food is sublime, not cheap for sure, like most steakhouses, but not pricier as you would think that one would pay for the view. Our dinner was fantastic from A to Z, with delicious steaks that make my mouth water just thinking about it: nicely charred, tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. So, here is what I got to try:

They have cocktails and a good selection of wine, and I was set to get an Old Fashioned, made with Bulleit Bourbon. Very good, they gracefully offered me a second one after I mentioned to them that there was a little piece of plastic in my glass, probably dropped unintentionally by the bartender when opening a bottle.

Old Fashioned at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Instead of the usual bread basket, they brought us some garlic bread, also very good.

Garlic bread at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

As an appetizer, we decided to share the maple glazed bacon: I was so happy to have people ready to share that dish as Jodi does not like it, so I usually pass, the portion being usually generous unless they offer it by the slice. However, at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, they serve it with three slices of bacon and a wedge salad, a dish I see myself eating alone. It was superb: the smokiness of the bacon pairing perfectly with the blue cheese.

Maple glazed bacon at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Then we got our steaks: tomahawk for my nephew and I, filet mignon for Jodi and NY Strip for my brother. As I mentioned before, all these steaks were perfect, but my favorite was definitely the tomahawk that was succulent, deliciously fatty. But I admit that when they told me it was 40 ounces, I was expecting more. Well it is just that the large bone accounts for probably 10 to 12 ounces already and I was worried I had to fight my nephew who has a big appetite...

Filet mignon at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

NY Strip at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Tomahawk at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

As sides, we decided to share their wild mushrooms, black truffle creamed spinach (at least some vegetables) and some amazing mac and cheese that had lots of cheese for sure.

Mushrooms at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Mac and cheese at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Spinach at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Last was dessert: we tried the butter pecan ice cream, lemon sorbet and banana tart, all very good, although the tart, with its caramelized bananas was terrific.

Butter pecan ice cream at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Lemon sorbet at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Banana tart at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal

Michael Jordan's Steakhouse was the perfect venue for a nice evening: good company and great food. What else is needed?

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Michael Jordan's Steakhouse - Grand Central Terminal, 23 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/3/17

Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

We were on our way to have dinner at a Mexican place when my brother, who was visiting, saw Brother Jimmy's BBQ. It did not take long to convince everyone to go there, this place being one of my favorite BBQ in Manhattan. It was a Thursday and this place was packed and...loud.

Dining room at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

We started off by ordering drinks and i settled with the Honey Badger, a cocktail made with Bourbon, St Germain, orange juice and honey, a quite refreshing, not too strong of a drink.

Honey Badger cocktail at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

We then ordered fried green tomatoes a dish my brother and nephew never tried. And I admit that these fried tomatoes were perfect, not soggy like the ones we got several days before when eating out.

Fried green tomato at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

All of us got different dishes. My brother got the Northern style ribs, that are hickory smoked and grilled with their original BBQ sauce. With it came some corn bread, as well as two sides (he picked collar greens and Mac and Cheese). I should mention that all of us who ordered meat got mac and cheese, a sort of go to dish when eating BBQ.

Northern style ribs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

They were good, but not as good at the baby back ribs, that were smoked and finished off with their special sauce that had a hint of mustard. These ribs were literally falling off the bone.

Baby back ribs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

My nephew Valentin, on his side, ordered the brisket that was quite good, not the best I ever had, but decent.

Brisket at Northern style ribs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

Jodi ordered the chopped Cobb without chicken and bacon.

Cobb salad at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in NYC

We had a good time at Brother Jimmy's and the food was good. It was a bit loud though, but it is worth the pain...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brother Jimmy's - 181 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/1/17

Ortzi at the Luma Hotel

I passed so many times In front of the Luma hotel, barely noticing the restaurant located on the first floor. Little I knew that this place, Ortzi, would be a fantastic experience, service and food wise. With its beautiful and warm decor, and its open kitchen where unfortunately Chef Jose Garces was absent, it does not have an hotel feel.

Dining room at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

Opened kitchen at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

Serving Basque specialties, their menu is tapas style with quite few choices of cazuelas that are dishes cooked in terra-cotta hot pots. Here is what I tried:

As a cocktail, I chose the Aragon Special (Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva, Bitters and Absinthe):

Aragon Special Cocktail at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

Then then brought us some Majorca bread that was so good!

Majorca bread at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

As an amuse, they bought us some delicious paella balls, similar to rice balls but with a seafood paella in it.

Paella balls at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

I was curious to try their pulpo or braised octopus. The presentation surprised me: the octopus was cut in thin slices, like a carpaccio. It was very good, but I admit that I prefer it served uncut so you really get more texture.

Braised octopus at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

Jodi got their salad with a blue cheese sauce that was composed of lettuce, lemon confit and brioche croutons. Good and not overdressed.

I then went for their lamb chops that were fantastic, perfectly cooked medium.

Lamb chops at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

We also shared some sides. The first one was the setas or seasonal wild mushrooms that had a nice kick.

Wild mushrooms at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

And the patatas asturianas or crispy potatoes that were definitely...crispy. A quite good side served with tomato and La Peral, a cheese from Spain.

Patatas Asturianas at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

Last was dessert. We opted for the Copa Caramel, that was made with a milk chocolate cream, caramel espuma, Pedro Ximenez, Orange and sea salt. This was a fantastic dessert, very creamy and quite decadent.

Copa Caramel at Ortzi at the Luma Hotel in NYC

We had a great time at Ortzi and the food was amazing. 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!

Ortzi at The Luma Hotel - 120 W 41st St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/17 I Just Want To Eat! 9/27/17

The National in NYC, NY

My nephew wanted to eat at The National, the restaurant of acclaimed celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, located in The Benjamin Hotel. You do not need to long to convince me to go to a place to eat, and here we are, in this American bistro inspired by European restaurants as well as American dining rooms.

You definitely get the feel of a bistro, with a nice atmosphere that is not stuffy, and space between tables that make the whole experience enjoyable, unless you really like hearing your neighboring table's conversation. However, the noise level is still high, especially because of the music they are playing. We were four people and they sat us at a round table for six, giving us lots of space for sure, but making the seating arrangement awkward as we wanted to make sure we could hear each other...

They have a nice wine list as well as cocktails and I decided to try their Midtown Manhattan, made with Old Forester Bourbon, Carpano Antica formula, Angostura orange and cherries. Quite good and perfectly made.

Midtown Manhattan at The National in NYC, NY

Food wise, their menu is not gigantic, but has a nice selection of meat and fish, and if you do not eat either, they have couple of small dishes (like the trumpet pasta) or salads for you. Here are some of the dishes I tried:

Lamb Osso buco, made with eggplant, raisins, piquillo peppers and pea shoots. This was delicious, although small: the lamb shank was perfectly cooked and the meat was literally falling off the bone.

Lamb osso buco at The National in NYC, NY

Black Sea Bass, served with zucchini, squash, lime and garlic. A nice seasonal dish for sure. The fish was fantastic: well cooked, it was moist and flakey.

Black sea bass at The National in NYC, NY

Zakarian Burger, a lamb burger made with grilled haloumi cheese, cucumber slaw and yogurt dressing.

Zakarian burger at The National in NYC, NY

I admit that I had high expectations for few reasons: first, it has the name of the Chef. Then, proposing such unique combination made me think that they were on something delicious, giving a Mediterranean spin to an American classic. Unfortunately, it was not that great: I asked it to be medium rare and it seem to be cooked medium (it was a bit dark in the restaurant...). The patty was also dry. At least the hand cut fries that came with it were delicious...

Last was dessert, also a bit disappointing: the plate of cookies had nothing special (you want good cookies? Go to Untitled, City Bakery or Levain Bakery!) and the strawberry shortcake subpar, the shortcake being a bit dry and there was not enough cream.

Plate of cookies at The National in NYC, NY

Strawberry shortcake at The National in NYC, NY

That's unfortunate: I watched Chef Zakarian so many times on food shows that I was expecting to be wowed by The National. I just found it ok and not the kind of place I would absolutely recommend. But still, I had a nice evening with my family.

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 National - 557 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022