Quiznos subs
The first time I tried Quiznos, I did not need to be pushed to get toasted as they say: I mean, I love their steak sandwiches. I discovered them few years ago and was definitely worried that they would close when I heard that they had difficulties and filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014, from which they emerged few months later, after closing few locations.
The first time I tried Quiznos, I did not need to be pushed to get toasted as they say: I mean, I love their steak sandwiches. I discovered them few years ago and was definitely worried that they would close when I heard that they had difficulties and filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014, from which they emerged few months later, after closing few locations.
It is a fast food chain, with subs that are definitely better than Subway. Of course, I would never put them at the same level as Italian subs that I adore. But still, this is part of the guilty pleasure I cannot resist.
We went back recently, after I sneakily suggested a path uptown and did not need to put too much energy to convince Jodi to go there.
The location close to Penn Station was empty; that was surprising considering that it is next to a movie theater and conveniently placed close to the train station and Macy's.
Jodi went for her favorite vegetarian sandwich: the veggie guacamole. She chose a wheat bread.
This is composed of cheddar, mozzarella, guacamole, lettuce, black olives and all sorts of veggies. She added some pickles from the condiments station.
On my side, I went for the black angus steak sandwich. I also chose the whole wheat bread as, of course, I wanted to make sure I had a healthy diet...
This sandwich was made of black angus steak, mozzarella, cheddar, sautéed mushrooms and onions, honey bourbon mustard and a secret sauce.
I liked the vegetarian sandwich, but surely, it was nothing compared to the steak one that was literally melting into my mouth and had a delicious sweetness to it. Their steak sandwiches are so good, with the meat tender and juicy, that I definitely recommend them.
I love Quiznos and do not mind indulging there from time to time...So, I will be back!
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Cara Mia, Italian restaurant in Hell's Kitchen
Jodi and I were looking for a restaurant on Opentable for a dinner on a Friday. We decided to book a table at Cara Mia, an Italian restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. We passed in front of it few times, so I thought we should give it a try. I admit that when we arrived, I has a bad feeling; it might be the fact that one of the staff members was outside, trying to convince people to come for dinner...
Jodi and I were looking for a restaurant on Opentable for a dinner on a Friday. We decided to book a table at Cara Mia, an Italian restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. We passed in front of it few times, so I thought we should give it a try. I admit that when we arrived, I has a bad feeling; it might be the fact that one of the staff members was outside, trying to convince people to come for dinner...
It is a big place, but, I thought it missed some charm that you would find in places like Rosemary's or Abbottega. The service was also not that great: it was slow and not because of the kitchen, but simply because the staff was not really paying attention at what was going on in the dining room. And trust me: the bill came faster than our food!
They brought us a bread basket after we ordered our food. There was focaccia as well as country bread in it, that we ate with some olive oil.
For the appetizer, we shared the calamari arrosto or roasted calamari with wild mushrooms.
The calamari was good and there were lots of mushrooms...and garlic. It was a nice start, despite the amount of garlic.
Then, we decided to order some house made pasta. Yes, Cara Mia offers house made as well as store bought pasta and it makes sense that they mention it on the menu. Jodi ordered the parpadelle that were served with portobello, porcini and shiitake mushrooms in a garlic and olive oil sauce.
On my side, I chose the cavatelli with bolognese sauce.
I definitely preferred the parpadelle that were cooked al dente and would have probably been great with the bolognese sauce, the cavatelli being a bit doughy. I was a bit disappointed to say the least, as I was really looking forward for fresh pasta.
We finished our meal with the tiramisu that was not good: it was dry and had an off taste.
It was a disappointing dinner at Cara Mia and I do not think I would go back anytime soon. I should have gone to La Masseria located few blocks from there!
Enjoy (...)!
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Strip House in NYC, New York
We went to their location downtown, few blocks from Union Square. This place that has been feeding the carnivores for more than a decade is fairly big, with a decor centered around the burlesque, a play on the name. It goes from the portraits of burlesque actors from 1920 to the napkins print...
Strip House was on my list of restaurants (sorry, this will not be a naughty post) for a while now, but I decided to move it up my long list after meeting Executive Chef Michael Vignola at the Bacon and Beer Classic at Citi Field, for the second year in a row.
We went to their location downtown, few blocks from Union Square. This place that has been feeding the carnivores for more than a decade is fairly big, with a decor centered around the burlesque, a play on the name. It goes from the portraits of burlesque actors from 1920 to the napkins print...
We got of course the usual bread basket and butter to start, right after we ordered.
Food wise, you will find the traditional dishes steakhouses feature but with their own interpretation. For instance, their lobster bisque has pearl couscous, the crab cakes are served with a potato salad and haricots verts, etc... Well, I decided to go for the Strip House roasted bacon, influenced by the event I mentioned before.
It was served with baby arugula, perfectly dressed with a Russian dressing. This was delicious: slightly charred and crispy, it is the kind of guilty pleasures that no one can resist. But, hey, there was arugula with it, so it must be a healthy dish!
For our steaks, we went for the 14oz dry-aged ribeye (ordered medium rare and aged 29 days) and the 8oz filet mignon (ordered medium).
The meat was perfectly cooked and tender, my favorite being the ribeye that had nice char and was delightfully fatty. It was served with their steak sauce and we also ordered a béarnaise that was perfect.
With it, we ordered the Mac and cheese, that was a perfect side with the steaks and was Deliciously creamy, with plenty of cheese and a nice smokiness that I suspect was due to the use of some smoked cheese as I did not see any pieces of bacon.
I decided to order some Pinot Noir with my meal and went for a 3oz glass of Chorey-Les-Beaunes, domaine Tollot-Beaut, Cote D'Or 2010.
It is part of their reserve wine and I truly appreciated that they propose higher quality wines in small quantity for the price of a regular glass (this one was $14 for 3oz).
For dessert, we went for the Strip House chocolate cake, a 24 layers cake that is their signature.
It was definitely spectacular, the size of the slice being huge. But, taste wise, it was a bit disappointing, the best part being surprisingly the cake rather than the chocolate. We should have ordered the baked Alaska!
Despite that, we had a very good dinner at Strip House and the service was excellent. It is not my favorite though, Ruth's Chris, Bobby Vans or Angus Club Steakhouse being better. And it is without considering Peter Luger that is fantastic...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Tablao, Tapas restaurant in TriBeCa, NYC, New York
Tablao is a Spanish restaurant located in TriBeCa. The menu features classic Spanish dishes such as paella, as well as tapas, these small plates that are sort of the signature of Spanish cuisine. I have to say that I love when restaurants offer small plates as it is a good way to order plenty of dishes to try. But, of course, it is also a good way for restaurants to make money as people usually order too much...We went at Tablao on a Friday night. If you follow this blog, you know that I hate noisy settings, considering that a meal is a good moment to share and talk with my loved ones or friends (that I love too).
Tablao is a Spanish restaurant located in TriBeCa. The menu features classic Spanish dishes such as paella, as well as tapas, these small plates that are sort of the signature of Spanish cuisine. I have to say that I love when restaurants offer small plates as it is a good way to order plenty of dishes to try. But, of course, it is also a good way for restaurants to make money as people usually order too much...
We went at Tablao on a Friday night. If you follow this blog, you know that I hate noisy settings, considering that a meal is a good moment to share and talk with my loved ones or friends (that I love too). Well, Friday night at Tablao is Flamenco night! So you can imagine how happy I was there...I mean, Flamenco is beautiful, but it was a bit loud for my taste. I should mentioned that they warned us when we arrived and proposed a table the farther away from the music, but still...
At first, they brought us some bread with some olive oil. I admit that I was a bit disappointed, hopping that they would bring something more original, such as some tortilla or olives.
So we decided to order the tortilla Espanola.
A tortilla is a traditional Spanish omelet made with onions, potatoes and eggs. It is fairly thick and I always wonder how they keep it moist considering that it must take time for the omelet to be cooked all the way through. I really liked it.
Then, we got Montaditos that are tapas served on toasted bread.
We chose the chorizo y huevo that was chorizo topped with a quail egg. This was delicious: the bread, although toasted, was still soft, so it was easy to eat and not messy at all. And I loved the combination of chorizo and egg that paired perfectly together, the yolk adding some creaminess to the dish.
We also ordered the champinones ajillo or mushrooms in garlic sauce.
That was good, but I must disclose that there was enough garlic to empty a vampire convention by just breathing!
We also had the Tablao chips with manchego cheese.
It was simply homemade potato chips topped with manchego. Original for sure, it was delicious. I just wish there was more cheese.
The last entree was the gambas a la plancha or head on shrimp seared on the grill with olive oil and sea salt.
It was normally served with aioli, but they forgot to bring it and, in fact, it did not need it: it was simple, but so good. The only negative was that the shell was stuck on the flesh, making the removal of the shell with a knife and fork challenging.
We could not leave without any dessert. We decided to go for the churros.
It was a disappointing dish: tasteless, it was missing a bit of crunch. We should have gone for the flan or the tres leches...
I loved the food at Tablao and would definitely go back to try other tapas dishes. The table next to us ordered the paella and I have to admit that it looked succulent. So, next time...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Brunch at Bar Primi in NYC, New York
I saw so many mouth watering photos of dishes taken at Bar Primi and posted on Instagram, that I told Jodi we should go there for either brunch or dinner. We finally ended up there for a brunch on a Saturday, early as we made dinner plans; the kind of plan that mAkes you decide to go early enough and try not to indulge, although the latter is subjective as you will see I this post.
I saw so many mouth watering photos of dishes taken at Bar Primi and posted on Instagram, that I told Jodi we should go there for either brunch or dinner. We finally ended up there for a brunch on a Saturday, early as we made dinner plans; the kind of plan that mAkes you decide to go early enough and try not to indulge, although the latter is subjective as you will see I this post.
This place is not totally unknown as it is one of the restaurants of Chef Andrew Carmellini who flabbergasted (I love that word) me at Little Park few months ago and I really want to try all of his places...
I like the decor there, that is kind of rustic and colorful, with a large communal table on the ground floor.
We decided to go for eggs. Jodi ordered the baked eggs that were served with a tomato sauce and mozzarella.
It was a very good dish, with such a consistency that it could have been eaten with a spoon, the whites not being overcooked and the yolk perfectly runny.
On my side, I decided to try their Italian eggs Benedict.
Served with an arugula salad topped with Parmesan cheese and barely dressed, it was composed of a delightfully poached egg, Parma ham, on focaccia, smothered by a tomato hollandaise sauce. I admit that I literally inhaled these fantastic eggs! This was an amazing dish that I definitely recommend. I, I fact, at some point, mixed the runny yolk with the arugula, replacing the dressing that was missing.
We could not resist ordering dessert and went for the tiramisu.
It was very good: with just the right amount of coffee, the ladyfingers were perfectly soaked and it was deliciously creamy.
That was for sure a good brunch and I cannot wait to go back to Bar Primi for dinner!
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Great New York Noodletown in Chinatown
Wow, we passed so many times in front of The Great New York Noodle Town without even looking at their menu and simply discarding the place, preferring the more popular spots in Chinatown. Well, it was until we were invited to the Flatiron Food Tour from Like A Local Tours, where we talked about food with our guide, Robert.
Wow, we passed so many times in front of The Great New York Noodle Town without even looking at their menu and simply discarding the place, preferring the more popular spots in Chinatown. Well, it was until we were invited to the Flatiron Food Tour from Like A Local Tours, where we talked about food with our guide, Robert.
This a small place, not fancy at all and you may eat at a table with strangers. They have a fairly large menu, made of dishes not only composed of noodles, contrary to what the name suggest, but where noodle dishes have a large part.
We decided to start with the vegetable dumplings soup that, for $4.95 was a bargain.
There were eight large veggie dumplings that were very good, the shell being thin and not doughey, and the feeling tasty.
We then had chicken pan fried noodles with mixed vegetables.
It was a large plate and it definitely reminded me of the dish I had several times when traveling to Hong Kong, whether it was the thin noodles or the sauce that smothered them. It is for sure a dish I recommend.
We ended up paying $21 for lots of tasty food: quite a good deal. If you like Chinese food and want some cheap delicious food, you should try The Great New York Noodletown. But if you go, go early enough to get a table. That's what I will do next time I go there!
Enjoy (I did)!if you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci
OBAO, South East Asian cuisine in Hell's Kitchen
Obao is not totally unknown to me as it is the former Ember Room where Chef Kittichai, purveyor of eclectic desserts at Spot Dessert Bar, use to serve chocolate ribs, as well as a lemon Mille crepes cake to die for. I am not sure why they changed the name and concept, but, I have to admit, that Obao is worth knowing. There, they served dishes from South East Asia, especially Thailand and Vietnam, but with a twist.
Obao is not totally unknown to me as it is the former Ember Room where Chef Kittichai, purveyor of eclectic desserts at Spot Dessert Bar, use to serve chocolate ribs, as well as a lemon Mille crepes cake to die for. I am not sure why they changed the name and concept, but, I have to admit, that Obao is worth knowing. There, they served dishes from South East Asia, especially Thailand and Vietnam, but with a twist.
Decor wise, there has been a bit of change, but they definitely kept lots of the atmosphere of the Ember Room, with wooden walls and the ceiling decorations that look like heart shaped.
As far as the menu is concerned, they have a bunch of small plates that are great for sharing, or simply discovering their menu. We decided to try few dishes. The first one was the Japanese eggplant, served with chilies, shallots, herbs and nuch cham that is a Vietnamese dipping sauce.
This was very good: the eggplant was well cooked and had an incredible smokiness that made it stand on its own, without any need for any sauce.
The next dish was the crispy vegetable spring rolls, made with tofu, jicama, taro and mushroom.
There were four of them that were delightfully greasy and crispy on the outside and very tasty on the inside. They also have a version with pork and shrimp that I am sure is worth trying.
After that, we tried the spare ribs on sugar cane skewer.
I admit that I was curious about that dish and I am still wondering how they make it. It is very creative and a nice take on Vietnamese BBQ. The meat was fatty and tender, with a nice sweetness that, not only came from the sugar cane, but also from the honey mustard glaze. Dipped in the hoisin sauce, it was divine. Far better than the crispy pork belly that is the kind of dish that shows how the name given to it makes people order.
Yes, I was disappointed because it was just pork belly, the crispness being limited to just one or two pieces of meat. They would have served it with buns and a killer sauce, it would have made it a nice dish.
Our last dish was some noodles with vegetables that were good, but not at the level of the other dishes.
To finish, we had dessert; we chose the Thai tea panna cotta.
You can definitely see the touch of Chef Kittichai in that dessert: a creative twist on a classic dessert.
It is not exactly a panna cotta, but more like a pudding, served with a fantastic flourless brownie and whipped cream. That was a delicious dessert, especially if you like Thai tea, that pairs perfectly with the chocolate from the brownie.
In fact, I should mention that I also had a Thai iced tea with my meal. It was very good, although not the best I had and missing the gradation of color so common to it.
I liked our dinner at Obao: the food and the small plate concept make this place perfect for a nice dinner out. I will surely go back, maybe to try their soup that time.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Benares, Indian restaurant in TriBeCa
Benares was not unknown to me as I tried their location Midtown Manhattan. Ok, I did not really like it and my Indian friends were not thrilled either. But I was thinking that, maybe, the location in TriBeCa as well as few years could surprise me. So, we went on a Friday. The decor was modern with an interesting divide in the center of the main dining room that was in fact a banquette.
Benares was not unknown to me as I tried their location Midtown Manhattan. Ok, I did not really like it and my Indian friends were not thrilled either. But I was thinking that, maybe, the location in TriBeCa as well as few years could surprise me. So, we went on a Friday. The decor was modern with an interesting divide in the center of the main dining room that was in fact a banquette.
The service there was courteous and efficient, but it is the food that I did not like. Pricey and not as good as the many places I tried. Baluchi's, located minutes away is for example far better, and I did not mention Tamarind, that was not much more expensive than this dinner, contrary to what some may think.
It started well, with some puffy snacks that replaced the usual papadam and were served with mint, tamarind sauces.
Then, we had some delicious vegetarian samosa that were not spicy at all, crispy on the outside and with a delightful potato and peas filling. On the side was some puffy rice (bhel puri) that added a nice touch to the dish.
We also got some dal makhni, a black lentil dish cooked with cream, that I rediscovered during my trip to India.
Unfortunately, it was disappointing: I simply did not like the taste, even when eating it with some delicious charred naan bread or rice.
Then was the tandoori grilled platter that had all sort of meats, from chicken to lamb.
The lamb was definitely the star of the dish, with its fantastic bold flavor, full of spices. The chicken, cooked in many ways, was unequal: some pieces were really dry.
We finished up with gulab jamun, one of my favorite Indian desserts.
I liked it and it had the perfect amount of sweetness.
I should mention that I drank a delicious mango lassi that was perfect whenever the heat built up too much in my mouth.
So yes, it was disappointing and there are so many other options in New York, that I do not think I would go back.
Enjoy (...)!
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Soup Dumplings at Joe's Ginger in Chinatown
When I think that I passed in front of Joe's Ginger many times, thinking it was a pale copy of Joe's Shanghai, the famous Chinese restaurant on Pell street, known for his delicious soup dumplings. Little did I know that it is the sister restaurant of Joe's Shanghai, opened in 2004 by Chef and owner Joe Si. When we went there, we saw the line in front of the flagship restaurant and passed in front of a patient crowd, avid to try the soup dumplings that are often mentioned in tourist guides or magazines.
When I think that I passed in front of Joe's Ginger many times, thinking it was a pale copy of Joe's Shanghai, the famous Chinese restaurant on Pell street, known for his delicious soup dumplings. Little did I know that it is the sister restaurant of Joe's Shanghai, opened in 2004 by Chef and owner Joe Si. When we went there, we saw the line in front of the flagship restaurant and passed in front of a patient crowd, avid to try the soup dumplings that are often mentioned in tourist guides or magazines.
When we arrived at Joe's Ginger, the place was empty and remained empty until few people of Chinese descent came to have lunch.
We decided, of course, to try the soup dumplings and picked the ones with pork, and not the one with pork and crab as Jodi does not like crab.
There were eight of them that came pipping hot. After putting some sauce on it, we ate them from the top, only way not to have some soup all over. It was delicious: very tasty, with a shell that was not too thick and perfectly cooked.
We also shared scallion pancakes that were delightfully greasy and crispy.
Last, we shared the chicken pan fried noodles, one of my favorite dishes.
The noodles were thick and crispy, but I admit that I prefer thinner noodles as they soften faster. After letting them bathe in the sauce, I literally inhaled them. It was a very comforting dish and a perfect size to share considering the appetizers we had before.
I should probably mentioned that we ate our meal with some black tea, as well as a Tsing Tao beer, perfect for the occasion.
This was a very good meal and knowing that Joe's Ginger is there, as an alternative to Joe's Shanghai is a little known secret worth keeping. So, do not tell anybody!
Enjoy (I did)!
Sabores, Mexican restaurant in Hoboken, NJ
The last time I went to Sabores, I had a bad experience: food and service were not great. But, as the months passed, seeing more and more people going there, we decided to give it another chance. I still remembered the colorful decor there, although I think they added more things on the walls.
The last time I went to Sabores, I had a bad experience: food and service were not great. But, as the months passed, seeing more and more people going there, we decided to give it another chance. I still remembered the colorful decor there, although I think they added more things on the walls.
We went there for brunch and decided to start with the guacamole that was so disappointing the first time.
We had it with the tortilla chips and salsa they brought after we sat. It was a fairly good guacamole, but I admit that the presentation could have been better, maybe served in a bowl. But you know what: the most important thing was the taste that was good.
Then, Jodi ordered the vegetarian tacos, made with grilled vegetables.
This was delicious and tasty, the veggies not being bland at all. On my side, I decided to try their enchiladas de mole, a recipe from the Chef's grandmother.
The first time I had mole was at El Maguey Y La Tuna, a restaurant on the Lower East Side: there, it was fantastic! So, how would be the one at Sabores? It was delightfully sweet, smokey and rich, with an underlying taste of chocolate that was divine. I ordered it with chicken that was perfectly cooked and moist. The dish was served with rice and beans.
Last was dessert. we hesitated between the flan and the tres leches. We went for the later...
We accompanied it with a Mexican hot chocolate that had a nice cinnamon flavor, but was not as good as the hot cocoa at Zafra's.
The tres leches was not that great, being a bit dry on the top part...too bad, because the rest of the dishes at Sabores were pretty good. But, you know what? I would definitely go back there and this time, go for the flan...
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Café Noir in TriBeCa, NYC, New York
I had Café Noir, a Mediterranean restaurant located in TriBeCa on my list and we decided to go there after an event at Jodi's school. We arrived there after 9pm and, surprisingly, the restaurant was not packed. Yes, I was surprised considering how crowded all the other restaurants were on a Friday night.
I had Café Noir, a Mediterranean restaurant located in TriBeCa on my list and we decided to go there after an event at Jodi's school. We arrived there after 9pm and, surprisingly, the restaurant was not packed. Yes, I was surprised considering how crowded all the other restaurants were on a Friday night.
I like the decor at Café Noir, very bistro, but with a Mediterranean touch, and was pleased to see that the lights were not too dim when we arrived, until ten minutes later, when the darkness filled the room. Yes, I like to see what I eat on top of the difficulty to take good photos without flash.
The menu there is Mediterranean, with a variety of dishes from Europe and North Africa, such as the squid ink paella or the couscous. After ordering, our waiter asked us if we wanted some bread that took a while to come: that was a sign, the kitchen being very slow...
We decided to share few dishes. First was a fantastic warm goat cheese, topped with rosemary and honey and served with grilled bread.
This is definitely a dish I recommend If you like goat cheese. Not only did the pairing with honey work perfectly, adding some nice sweetness to the dishes, but I also love the fact that the two main components melted and mixed, giving an incredible taste.
We also shared a small salad, served with white anchovies, that had nothing to rave about, but gave us good conscience, being probably the only healthy dish on the table.
Next was the Mediterranean mezze. It was composed of marinated artichokes with grilled peppers and olives, quinoa tabbouleh, tomato marmalade, eggplant purée, mint feta yogurt and house made garlic flatbread.
We really thought, based on the description on the menu, that there would be a nice amount of food: we were wrong! It is definitely overpriced, for a dish that I definitely would not recommend, but it was nothing compared to the Café Noir couscous that was for sure not worth $28.
I mean, it had one house made merguez sausage, three pieces of chicken the size of my pinky, and a very negligible amount of lamb. Although I liked the semolina and chickpeas, I thought the veggies were bland. So disappointing...
We did not order dessert, not wanting to stay another hour there. So, no, I would probably not go back at Café Noir, finding the food expensive and not that great. I think there are much better options in TriBeCa, like Petrarca, The Odeon or Da Mikele by Luzzo's.
Enjoy (...)!
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Cluck-U Chicken in Hoboken, NJ
I love chicken and, when I discovered fried chicken, it was as if angels were singing above me. So, no wonder why I wanted to try Cluck-U(niversity) Chicken. I did try their delivery and the smell of the chicken totally drove my cat crazy. But, sorry Whitney, no seasoned or fried chicken for you!
I love chicken and, when I discovered fried chicken, it was as if angels were singing above me. So, no wonder why I wanted to try Cluck-U(niversity) Chicken. I did try their delivery and the smell of the chicken totally drove my cat crazy. But, sorry Whitney, no seasoned or fried chicken for you!
At that point, I tried their fried chicken, chicken wings and mac and cheese.
At the time, I thought the fried chicken was delicious, the wings ok and the mac and cheese not good at all. So I decided to go to their restaurant, in the southern part of Hoboken.
I ordered my meal at the counter and then got a root beer at the soda fountain.
As you may have noticed by the way, yellow is the predominant color in that place, an ode to chicken...
Anyway, several minutes later, I got my order.
It was composed of:
Two pieces of fried chicken (served with a biscuit):
A grilled chicken sandwich:
Mac and Cheese (I know, I am persistent):
Everything was good, except the mac and cheese that was dry and definitely made with low quality cheese. The fried chicken was fantastic: nice golden color, deliciously crispy, the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist. The grilled chicken sandwich was also good and I loved the fact that they propose the chicken either fried or grilled, the latter offering a healthier option.
At $12 for all of this, I did not expect a gourmet meal, but found it quite delicious. Would I go back? Probably for the fried chicken. But I will definitely pass on the mac and cheese!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Diego's, Mexican restaurant in Hell's Kitchen
Looking for a quick and cheap lunch in Hell's Kitchen, I ended up at Diego's Mexican Grill. I immediately noticed the warmth of this place, thanks to the exposed bricks and the Mexican floor tiles. Very colorful, with lots of art on the walls, this is like going to Mexico without paying the fare.
Looking for a quick and cheap lunch in Hell's Kitchen, I ended up at Diego's Mexican Grill. I immediately noticed the warmth of this place, thanks to the exposed bricks and the Mexican floor tiles. Very colorful, with lots of art on the walls, this is like going to Mexico without paying the fare.
Food wise, they serve the classics: fajitas, quesadillas...There, I tried their homemade guacamole that was good and well seasoned.
Then, I went for the chicken quesadilla, that was just ok: a bit dry, they could have thrown some sour cream and guacamole (I put some of the one ordered as an appetizer).
It was served with rice and beans that were good, but nothing to rave about.
This was fine for a cheap lunch, but did not really entice me to go back, at least at this point. There are plenty of cheap eats that are much better in Hell's Kitchen and Diego's Mexican Grill fell short in convincing me to go back for dinner.
Enjoy (...)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share or post a comment. Merci!
Patzeria Family and Friends in NYC, New York
I recently went to Patzeria Family and Friends, an Italian place located few blocks from Times Square, in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. It was for lunch and the place was empty. I think I went there a long time ago, looking for a restaurant after a movie, and the experience was not that great. But, hey, it was a while back and I was ready to give it another chance. Looking at the decor, you can really see the influence of Times Square, with all the posters from popular shows decorating the walls.
I recently went to Patzeria Family and Friends, an Italian place located few blocks from Times Square, in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. It was for lunch and the place was empty. I think I went there a long time ago, looking for a restaurant after a movie, and the experience was not that great. But, hey, it was a while back and I was ready to give it another chance. Looking at the decor, you can really see the influence of Times Square, with all the posters from popular shows decorating the walls.
For close to $10, they offer for lunch an entrée and a soda, a fairly common formula for that area.
After eating some delicious warm garlic bread, I got my dish: the antipasto salad.
I rarely order salads, but it was too warm outside to order pasta...thet salad had peppers, olives, ham, prosciutto, salami...It was a good salad, especially if you like this kind of charcuterie.
The lunch at Patzeria Family and Friends was good, and the service courteous and efficient. I might go back for dinner finally!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Luscious Thai in NYC, New York
Luscious Thai is a cheap Thai restaurant located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This quite small place offers a lunch special for $9.95, where you get an appetizer and an entrée. But, contrary to a lot of places, you have few choices for appetizers, from dumplings to a salad, with of course the usual Spring rolls that I decided to pick. Yes, usually, you have one or two choices, not more.
Luscious Thai is a cheap Thai restaurant located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This quite small place offers a lunch special for $9.95, where you get an appetizer and an entrée.
But, contrary to a lot of places, you have few choices for appetizers, from dumplings to a salad, with of course the usual Spring rolls that I decided to pick. Yes, usually, you have one or two choices, not more.
I liked their Spring rolls that were not greasy and had just enough crust, so I could taste the veggies inside.
Then, I went for my favorite: chicken curry massaman that I asked mild.
Served with rice, it was a nice portion, tasty, with a nice little kick. However, I left the potatoes that had a weird taste...
Not surprising, I ordered a Thai iced tea that was delicious and very refreshing.
This lunch special at Luscious Thai was a very good deal and I am curious to try some other dishes; I'll definitely go back for more!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Cheap eats: Chili Thai in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York
Chili Thai is the kind of neighborhood gem I love to discover. Located in Hell's Kitchen, few blocks from Times Square, it proposes for lunch a very cheap deal: the lunch menu starts at $6.90 with an appetizer and a main dish.
Chili Thai is the kind of neighborhood gem I love to discover. Located in Hell's Kitchen, few blocks from Times Square, it proposes for lunch a very cheap deal: the lunch menu starts at $6.90 with an appetizer and a main dish.
For $12, I got:
A Spring roll (tasty and not greasy, but very hot):
A chicken massaman curry, my favorite Thai dish. It was delicious, with a little kick.
And a Thai Iced Tea:
I really liked my meal at Chili Thai and for the price, it was definitely worth it. Would I go back? Definitely, and this time, I would try some other dishes like the Panang curry or the pad Thai.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Black Iron Burger in Chelsea, NYC, New York
We passed Black Iron Burger few times and had in mind to go there, thinking that they probably serve killer burgers. Well, I should mention that they are few steps from a Five Guys, so the competition must be fierce! Black Iron Burger is setup like a bar, with TVs and blue lighting that I feared a bit as I do not take any photos with the flash...
We passed Black Iron Burger few times and had in mind to go there, thinking that they probably serve killer burgers. Well, I should mention that they are few steps from a Five Guys, so the competition must be fierce! Black Iron Burger is setup like a bar, with TVs and blue lighting that I feared a bit as I do not take any photos with the flash...
Instead of going with their signature burgers, we decided to build our own. Jodi went for a single patty with swiss cheese and pickles.
I went for a double patty with blue cheese, Swiss and caramelized onions.
The way the burgers were presented was a bit sad, although mine looked better than the one Jodi had. On top of that, I was glad to have a double patty as the ratio bread / patty was definitely unbalanced in favor of the bread.
Taste wise, it was ok, nothing to be dreaming about and I admit that I was a bit disappointed considering that this is a place for burgers.
We also ordered some onion rings as a side that looked also sad, but were very good, especially with the ranch sauce.
I should mention that I went for an oreo cookie milkshake with my burger: it was pretty good!
Black Iron Burger was just ok: I prefer Five Guys that is few minutes away. Too bad: I really wanted a good burger that day!
Enjoy (...)!
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La Sirene, French Restaurant in Soho
I was really excited when I got invited to a press diner at La Sirene, a French restaurant located in Soho, couple of minutes from the subway. I met the Chef and Owner, Didier Pawlicki, at Le Village last December (below is a photo of Chef Pawlicki in kitchen of Le Village).
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
I was really excited when I got invited to a press diner at La Sirene, a French restaurant located in Soho, couple of minutes from the subway. I met the Chef and Owner, Didier Pawlicki, at Le Village last December (below is a photo of Chef Pawlicki in kitchen of Le Village).
Opened in 2007, La Sirene serves classic dishes from the South of France, some of the dishes being in fact served at Le Village, such as the coq au vin or the banana brûlée. Located next to its third restaurant, Taureau, La Sirene is a casual place that reminds me some of the places I loved so much when I was living in Paris: intimate and welcoming.
Menu wise, the French food lovers will definitely find a dish to satisfy their appetite: they have escargots, foie gras, ravioles (French mini-ravioli that are amazing), mussels, paté, cassoulet, magret de canard (duck breast)...And the dishes I tried were pretty good! I got of course the Escargots à la Bourguignone, 6 snails smothered with a butter and garlic sauce that was divine and perfect either with the escargots or simply with their homemade bread.
The second appetizer I tried was the Sepios sautés à la Provençale sur un lit de salade or Sautéed Baby Octopus with garlic, parsley, olive oil , tomato and mushrooms:
The octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery and definitely reminded me the South of France.
The last appetizer I tried was the Tartelette de Chèvre Frais aux Echalottes, Truffes, Raisins Confit et Voile de Vieux Gruyère or Baked Goat Cheese tart with Shallots, Truffles, Grape and a Veil of 180 days Aged Swiss:
I liked it, although I admit that I did not taste the truffles, but loved the fact that they were generous with the amount of cheese.
For the entrées, I tried the following:
Onglet Poêlée, à la Luchonaise or Butter Only Seared Hanger Steak, Roasted Garlic, Parsley (this is their signature dish):
Magret de Canard Gras Montmorency or seared Rohan duck breast, topped with sweet and tart Michigan’s cherry sauce:
Carre d’Agneau au jus de truffes or Frenched rack of lamb with white wine rosemary and truffle au jus:
My favorite was definitely the hanger steak that was cooked perfectly and so juicy. I also liked the magret de canard, although I would have liked it pink; but I have to say that their cherry sauce is phenomenal and gives another dimension to the dish. The first two dishes were served with some potato au gratin that was so good I wish there was more and would have liked to see it offered as a side. There were other vegetables served with our entrées: carrot purée, Chayote (a Mexican vegetable), butternut squash and cauliflower.
I should mention that with the meal, we drank some house wine (Pinot Grigio and Bordeaux):
Of course, we could not leave without trying some desserts.
The tarte tatin (upside down apple cake):
Tartelette aux Fraises:
Choux Chantilly (made with homemade whipped cream!):
Profiteroles:
All of these desserts were spectacular, but I admit that the profiteroles was my favorite. It is a big plate, perfect to share for sure, although I am to sure how one can resist the creamy ice cream, succulent chocolate sauce made with Caillebaut chocolate, the light house made whipped cream or the delightful choux. I guess I just drooled just describing it...
I finished the meal, full and satisfied, with a decaf espresso. La Sirene is definitely a restaurant to know: charming with some delicious food. They have a 3 course prix-fixe from Sunday to Thursday, 5pm to 6:30pm that is worth noticing. Would I go back? Definitely! I already have my next meal there in mind: foie gras, tournedos rossini (filet mignon topped with foie gras) and the fondant au chocolate (dark lava cake). Chapeau Chef Pawlicki!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Pad Thai, Thai restaurant in NYC, New York
You may think that Pad Thai is a Thai restaurant. Well, you are half right: it is a Thai restaurant that serves also Japanese cuisine. Yes, that sounds weird, but they have a nice Japanese cuisine menu that includes the usual sushi and sashimi, bento boxes...But we were not going there for that and sticked to some Thai dishes.
You may think that Pad Thai is a Thai restaurant. Well, you are half right: it is a Thai restaurant that serves also Japanese cuisine. Yes, that sounds weird, but they have a nice Japanese cuisine menu that includes the usual sushi and sashimi, bento boxes...But we were not going there for that and sticked to some Thai dishes.
Of course, I started by ordering a Thai ice tea, a must have in this kind of restaurant.
Then, we ordered the Spring rolls, also called Po Pia Taud, that were served with a Thai sweet and sour sauce.
They were pretty good, pipping hot, not too greasy and tasty.
For my entrée, I went for my favorite dish: chicken curry massaman.
I asked to have it mild and it had a slight kick that I really liked. This was a nice portion that came with some white rice. It might not have been the best curry massaman I had, but I admit that I enjoyed it.
Jodi ordered string beans that were sauteed with soybeans, garlic and bean curd. That was good: I love when string beans are soft and it was the case at Pad Thai.
For dessert, we decided to try their mango sticky rice. The sticky ice, bathed in coconut milk, was delicious. However, the mango was not ripe...Too bad!
So, it was ok. Pad Thai is not a must have, but is conveniently located, few blocks from Penn Station. So, in case you are craving Thai food before hopping on a train, this might be your spot.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Dinner at Tamarind in TriBeCa, NYC, New York
Then came our entrée. At first, Jodi ordered some dal makhni, but the waiter told her that it was medium spicy and that anyway, I would have some in my dish. So he suggested that she picked a different dish, a gesture that I truly appreciated. So she went for the saag paneer, a dish made with spinach and cottage cheese.
For her Birthday dinner, Jodi wanted to go to Tamarind, the elegant Indian restaurant located in TriBeCa. We went there last year, for Restaurant Week, and had an amazing experience. The decor is spectacular: very high ceilings, modern and very elegant, not at all over the top.
This time, we were seated in the Lotus Room instead of the main dining room.
We were pleased to be far away from the crowd, the noise level being definitely acceptable, until a large party arrived...
We started off the evening with a complimentary puff pastry that we dipped in a sauce that had ginger, as well as other spices that I admit I had difficulty to identify.
Then, we shared the vegetable samosas:
Served with mint and tamarind sauce, they were deliciously crispy and not spicy at all, with a nice filling made of potatoes and peas.
I also could not resist trying their chili crab, a dish I only saw at Baluchi's.
This dish, composed of jumbo lump crab meat, chilies, tamarind and garlic was definitely spicy, but so good that I was going back for it, even if my mouth was on fire. Fortunately, I had a mango lassi to help...
Then came our entrée. At first, Jodi ordered some dal makhni, but the waiter told her that it was medium spicy and that anyway, I would have some in my dish. So he suggested that she picked a different dish, a gesture that I truly appreciated. So she went for the saag paneer, a dish made with spinach and cottage cheese.
I am not a big fan of spinach, but admit that I liked it, especially the cheese (paneer) that seemed to be home made.
On my side, I went for the tandoori mixed grill, composed of lamb chop, shrimp, tandoori chicken, tulsi kabab (boneless chicken, tandoori spices, basil), Punjabi tikhe (Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, roasted whole spices, jalapenos, ginger, garlic), black lentils (dal makhni).
That was a fantastic dish and my favorite was definitely the lamb chop that was perfectly cooked. The chicken, in all the different versions it was served, was also delicious, tender and moist, with a nice char and incredible favors coming from the spices used. I definitely recommend this dish if you love tandoori and meat, although know that they also have a seafood version that looks amazing.
With the mixed grill came some naan, but we also decided to try their mushroom and truffle naan bread too. The aroma of truffle oil was very appetizing and the naan were spectacular: fluffy, slightly charred, perfect to eat with the saag paneer or dal, instead of rice, of just like that, without anything.
We could not resist ordering desserts. Jodi decided to order a coconut mousse bomb, that was like a pineapple cake deconstructed.
On my side, I went to the usual gulab jamun, these cheese balls that are fried and dipped in a sugar syrup.
I have to say that the desserts were disappointing and could have contributed to finish on a high note, the rest of the meal being delicious. I was so disappointed with the gulab jamun: first of all, they could have put 3 of them; second, they were way too sweet and I needed to drink a lot of water after that! On Jodi's side, the coconut mousse was good, but the cake that accompany her dessert was quite dry...
Despite that, I still consider Tamarind to be a great place and highly recommend it, if you want to go to an elegant Indian place: the food was simply fantastic.
Enjoy (I did)!
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