Burger at Smith and Wollensky in NYC
So I was craving a burger and as we were near Grand Central Terminal, I proposed to go to Smith and Wollensky, the famous steakhouse located Midtown East. Alright, this was not our first time: we went there few years ago and still remember the rude waiter who served us as well as the average steaks we got: definitely not on top of my list, but I was thinking that perhaps, being a steakhouse, they would have a killer burger.
So I was craving a burger and as we were near Grand Central Terminal, I proposed to go to Smith and Wollensky, the famous steakhouse located Midtown East. Alright, this was not our first time: we went there few years ago and still remember the rude waiter who served us as well as the average steaks we got: definitely not on top of my list, but I was thinking that perhaps, being a steakhouse, they would have a killer burger.
We went for lunch during a weekday and the place was empty, with very few tourists and a majority of business people. The service was really pushy there, trying to convince us to order drinks, then appetizers, then sides, then desserts. They did it in such a way that it was a bit annoying to say the least.
Of course, our meal started with the classic bread basket that was quite nice and I could not resist eating bread with butter, although the burger would come soon...
And when it came, it looked quite good: thick patty on a toasted sesame bun with some cheddar cheese on top. Unfortunately, the first bite was disappointing: it was a bit dry and not as tasty as I would expect. Well, for steakhouse grade meat, my reference is The Brindle Room and if you try both, you will understand. I did not even finish it to tell you the truth. The fries were good, crispy and cooked all the way through.
Jodi decided to go with the burrata and tomato salad. I should mention the tomatoes: delicious in both the salad and on top of the burger. This was a good dish, but pricey for $18.
I was a bit disappointed when I left, hoping really that this steakhouse would have a great burger. I should have gone to Five Guys or tried the burger at The Capital Grille close by...Definitely Smith and Wollensky is not on my top list of steakhouses...
Enjoy (...)!
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Cafe 123 in Times Square, NYC
If you want to experience what a brasserie in Paris can offer you, Cafe 123 is your spot: classic dishes and rude service characterize this French restaurant located in the heart of Times Square, where theater goers can enjoy a good meal. Yes, you can feel that this reasonably priced joint attracts lots of tourists and pre/post theater people, especially when you arrive in a packed restaurant that becomes empty after 8pm...
If you want to experience what a brasserie in Paris can offer you, Cafe 123 is your spot: classic dishes and rude service characterize this French restaurant located in the heart of Times Square, where theater goers can enjoy a good meal. Yes, you can feel that this reasonably priced joint attracts lots of tourists and pre/post theater people, especially when you arrive in a packed restaurant that becomes empty after 8pm...
Decor wise, it had definitely the feel of a brasserie and I would say also the atmosphere. But it is the food that interests me the most: they have quite few classics, like the escargots de Bourgogne (snails), the pâté de campagne (country pâté) or the foie de veau (calf liver). However, they also have a bunch of dishes that are surprising to see on a French menu. Of course, there is the burger, but I was surprised to see the Peking duck sandwich that I did not try, although I got a delicious crepe des Pyrenees that was made with duck confit and hoisin sauce (a bit salty though). In fact that have a nice selection of crepes and they are making them pretty well. Dessert wise, I admit that I was a bit disappointed: I do not know if they are trying to be original, but their dessert falls a bit short. The only exception might be the profiteroles that were good, although the choux were a bit tough to cut through. I would still order that one.
Overall, it is a decent French restaurant. Not the best for sure, but decent and conveniently located, with again, reasonable prices. Would I go back? Probably.
Here is what I tried at Cafe 123:
Bread basket: It is a French restaurant so you would expect some good baguette. Well, not there and when the bread comes hot, it usually means it is old or not good...
Escargots de Bourgogne: good, but missed a bit of butter and had a bit too much breadcrumbs.
Salade de chevre chaud (goat cheese salad): good, but could have had more cheese.
Moules frites, a classic, that are steamed mussels in a white wine shallot broth with a touch of cream served with French Fries: great dish with the best part being the dipping of the fries in the sauce...
Then they have crepes. We tried: crepe classique, a very good ham and cheese topped with a fried egg crepe.
And the crepe des Pyrenees, stuffed with duck confit, black olives and scallions, but not so French as it had Peking duck sauce.
I have to say that I really enjoyed the crepes, even if the duck one was a bit too salty for my taste, probably because of the olives. The crepe itself was nicely done and thin, not like these weird ones you sometimes see at street fairs.
Then, for desserts, we tried:
The tarte tatin (why did they put some apricot sauce there?):
The profiteroles (again, the best): these are puff pastry filled with vanilla ice cream smothered in a warm chocolate sauce topped with sliced almonds.
Crêpe au Chocolat: made of chocolate, Banana, shaved coconut, and coconut sorbet.
Crêpes Suzette, flambéed with Grand Marnier and Cognac.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Flaming Kitchen in Chinatown, NYC
Flaming Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown. I guess the name Flaming Kitchen, especially the first word, could also refer to the heat typically found in Szechuan cuisine; but don't be afraid: if you do not like spicy food, they can tame down the heat or you can pick some dishes that will satisfy your palate. This place is big, with the top floor having the perfect private room for parties.
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Flaming Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown. I guess the name Flaming Kitchen, especially the first word, could also refer to the heat typically found in Szechuan cuisine; but don't be afraid: if you do not like spicy food, they can tame down the heat or you can pick some dishes that will satisfy your palate. This place is big, with the top floor having the perfect private room for parties.
In addition to serving Szechuan cuisine, Flaming Kitchen proposes a nice choice of dim sum. I should mention that we asked for smaller portions of dishes, when possible, so we could try several of them. So they created a sampler of vegetable dim sum and shrimp dumplings, my all time favorite.
You may wonder how they got the shrimp dumpling to be orange, well, they simply added carrots to the dough. These were delicious: the shell for all of them was thin. The shrimp ones were so good, I would have a full meal of it, but I admit that the vegetarian ones were also delicious, very tasty.
We also tried their soup dumplings that were really good, the soup having a nice amount of fat, as good as the (touristy) famous Joe's Shanghai couple of blocks away: no need to wait online for delicious soup dumplings, Flaming Kitchen will definitely do it! You have the choice between pork or pork and crab. We went for the former.
Next was scallion pancakes, but prepared two ways: regular and also with shredded beef and hot green peppers (not hot fortunately).
Then, we tried the braised tofu, a vegetarian dish that was fantastic, a big statement from the non-veg that I am! The tofu was soaked in a delicious sauce that gave a lot flavor to an ingredient that many, including myself, can find boring and tasteless. The dish had mushrooms as well as sugar snap peas in it.
The next dish was braised jumbo shrimp that was supposed to be spicy and they graciously made it mild, although I was careful not to eat the chili that were on the plate. On top was some ground pork. The shrimp were superb, big and perfectly cooked. I should mention that the shrimp had their head on.
The last dish was braised frog in spicy chili sauce. I admit that I was excited to try it as I love frog legs and it is not that present on restaurant menus in the US besides few French or Asian restaurants. This dish was a bit spicy for my taste and I did not really liked the fact that they chopped the legs because of the small pieces of bones.
Of course, with our dishes, we got some rice, white and brown.
Last, I should mention the drink I had with my meal. Tea of course, but no Tsing Tao beer this time. Instead I got a peanut and black sesame multi grain shake, a pretty interesting drink that had a nice nuttiness to it.
We had a good meal at Flaming Kitchen: their menu is fairly large, with so many different dishes, I admit that I had trouble picking dishes. Well, it gives me an incentive to go back there!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Padoca, creative bakery on the Upper East Side, NYC
There are places I go to where I am thinking: Damn, I wish I had such place in my neighborhood! Padoca is one of them. Meaning “neighborhood bakery” in São Paulo, this bakery opened a little over a year ago, pure product of Marina Halpern and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder, offering specialties inspired from Marina's Brazilian roots and Rachel's Israeli experience gained when living in Israel. I should mention that both of them had already an impressive exposure to the culinary world, Marina Halpern at The Dutch and The Mark, and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder at Maialino, Savoy and Tabla, credentials that surely helped them in this adventure.
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
There are places I go to where I am thinking: Damn, I wish I had such place in my neighborhood! Padoca is one of them. Meaning “neighborhood bakery” in São Paulo, this bakery opened a little over a year ago, pure product of Marina Halpern and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder, offering specialties inspired from Marina's Brazilian roots and Rachel's Israeli experience gained when living in Israel. I should mention that both of them had already an impressive exposure to the culinary world, Marina Halpern at The Dutch and The Mark, and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder at Maialino, Savoy and Tabla, credentials that surely helped them in this adventure.
I like the atmosphere of the place that felt both rustic and zen with wood being present all over, from the tables, to the counter, walls and ceiling. Also a bit playful with the swing instead of a stool at one of the tables, as well as the line of tea pots transformed to lamps.
Foodwise, we were there for brunch and I admit that I was not sure what to pick considering that everything in front of us looked very good. For drinks, we started with a fresh orange juice.
Then, we tried Grandma's milk, a steamed milk with dulce de leche and a shot of espresso (optional) that was very close to a light cafe au lait, the dulce de leche adding a nice sweetness to it.
Then, the hot chocolate that was pretty good and not some diluted hot cocoa that we sometimes end up with...
Last was the espresso that I had to try, being addicted to coffee. It was made with the Brazilian Dromedaire Cuveé medium roast from Nobletree Coffee, a Brooklyn-based company. Nobletree has implemented its Modbar Espresso System, an advanced system that is available at only one other NYC location that allows the barista to exert more control over the pressure used in the espresso extraction process. It was quite good and not bitter at all.
For our meal, we first had some savory specialties. First I should mention their pao de queijo or cheese bread that they ingeniously use to make sandwiches (they call them PDQ - Pao De Queijo sandwiches). We were lucky to try some fresh from the oven and it was so addictive.
We tried two of their sandwiches made with this bread. The first one was the ham with an egg (optional). Well, in fact it is their take on a ham and cheese sandwich, except that the cheese is already in the bread! This was so good, between this fantastic bread, the generous portion of ham and the perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk making this sandwich more delicious.
The second one was a new addition in their menu: the BLT where we added some avocado and an egg for more decadence.
Both sandwiches were fantastic and would satisfy cheese lovers thanks to the bread, as well as people who only eat gluten free, the bread being totally gluten free, a fact that few people know. Who said that gluten free is not good? Well if you did, try this and let me know!
The next dishes were Empadinhas, flaky pastries similar to a pot pies. We tried the chicken one and the mushroom one that was Israeli inspired. Both were very good but I admit that I preferred the mushroom one, the filling being so good, but also showcasing more the flakiness of the dough. The chicken, finely shredded was also quite delicious and very flavorful.
We also tried their egg and cheese brioche with bacon, another delicious dish made with a fully cooked egg in the center, sprinkled with parmesan and accompanied with bacon for some additional smokiness.
Then was dessert. The first one was the coconut cake that Jodi wanted absolutely to try. I was curious too as I knew that this cake is a Marina Halpern's family recipe reimagined by Chef Binder using a Moroccan basbousa recipe as inspiration. Understand that I am not the biggest fan of coconut cake, but this one is an exception: it was spectacular: with the right balance between the coconut and the orange flavor, it was incredibly moist.
Then, we tried two versions of their babka. The Romeo and Juliette made with guava and cheese (in Brazil, when guava and cheese are mixed, you would refer to as these Shakespearian characters) and the chocolate and dulce de leche babka. These might not have been the best babka I ever tried, but they were very good, the chocolate and dulce de leche one being my favorite, Jodi preferring the other one.
We left full and definitely needed a walk after such a feast. Padoca is a real neighborhood gem that features a unique and innovative menu: this is definitely a place that I recommend. And yes, I would go back anytime! or everyday?
Enjoy (I did)!
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Is the bone marrow and brisket burger from Swine the best burger in NYC?
If you are familiar with the blog, you probably remember that I have rediscovered bone marrow at Noma in Copenhagen a couple of years ago. Since then, I have been looking for it and enjoying it, whether on a steak (like at American Cut by Marc Forgione or STK) or on a burger (at The Brazen Fox). So, my next target was Swine and their bone marrow and brisket burger.
If you are familiar with the blog, you probably remember that I have rediscovered bone marrow at Noma in Copenhagen a couple of years ago. Since then, I have been looking for it and enjoying it, whether on a steak (like at American Cut by Marc Forgione or STK) or on a burger (at The Brazen Fox). So, my next target was Swine and their bone marrow and brisket burger.
I went on a Thursday and the place started to get crowded after 8pm, with lots of people ordering the almighty burger. I liked the atmosphere there that was relaxed and not too hyper, with its metallic tables and dark tiles on the wall. Decor wise, I loved the back of the room with its pinball machine that is like a divider between the main dining room and a more cozy area that has the advantage of getting some good light from a large window opened to the sky.
Before starting my meal, I asked them if they had any signature cocktail, after noticing that some of the names were homage to popular singers such as David Bowie for the Ziggy's Star Dust made with lemon peel-infused vodka, yellow chartreuse, carrot, ginger, lemon, apple bitters and cider. They recommended the Purple Reign (homage to Prince), made with house-infused bacon bourbon, carpano antica, lucano amaro and apricot-chicory bitters. I really liked it, especially because of the combination smokey / bitter that it delivered perfectly.
Then came the long awaited bone marrow and brisket burger.
The patty sits on a toasted brioche bread, salad and a slice of tomato, and is topped by Tarentaise cheese and caramelized onions. Instead of fries, it comes with pickles and crispy potato wedges that were piping hot. I ordered the patty medium and it was perfectly cooked, with a nice char, juicy and delightfully fatty, but I admit that I discarded the salad as there was too much of it, completely unbalancing the proportions with the patty.
I, of course, could not leave without trying their desserts and went for the foie gras creme brûlée that was phenomenal. Topped with a slice of bacon, it was a nice sweet and savory dessert that was succulent, giving to this classic dessert another level.
I loved my meal at Swine: the bone marrow and brisket burger was sublime, but the most surprising and delicious part of the meal was dessert for me. Yes, the burger is good, but I think that the one at The Brazen Fox mentioned earlier is better. Nevertheless, I would surely go back for that one, or maybe try other dishes, their menu looking amazing.
Enjoy (I did)!
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The Cannibal in NYC, New York
I discovered The Cannibal few years ago, at The Gotham West Market, where I noticed their bone marrow that I kept in mind since then, thinking that I should definitely go back to try it. And I did...I went to their main location, on the East side, for lunch. As I entered, I noticed a large selection of beers, some of them being fairly old.
I discovered The Cannibal few years ago, at The Gotham West Market, where I noticed their bone marrow that I kept in mind since then, thinking that I should definitely go back to try it. And I did...I went to their main location, on the East side, for lunch. As I entered, I noticed a large selection of beers, some of them being fairly old.
It was not that crowded and I easily got a seat at the bar, enjoying a documentary on martial arts that was playing on the TV.
At first, you would think it is small, but they have an extension in the back, that looks like a backyard in a way, with bicycles hanging from the walls. You might wonder what these bicycles are doing there: well, the name The Cannibal is a homage to Eddie Merckx, a Belgian champion who got this nickname because of his insatiable appetite for victories.
Menu wise, they have mainly meat dishes, this place bring a butcher shop; and, looking at the menu, there are quite few animal parts you can try.
As far as I was concerned, I was interested with the pig head's Cuban, a twist on a classic pressed sandwich, where the ham, gruyere, pickles and mayo are complemented with some pig's head meat that has been roasted. It was definitely a great sandwich: crispy pressed bread, with the pickles adding an extra crunch; melted Gruyere as well as very tasty meat. Fantastic and a good portion.
But I did not stop there: I needed to try the bone marrow that was prepared brûlée, with marinated mushrooms and cilantro. The presentation was beautiful and very appetizing.
To be honest I skipped the bread that was under the bone and simply ate the marrow with a spoon. The brûlée preparation was simply succulent, giving a bit of sweetness to te dish that counterbalanced the acidity of the vinegar I could notice. If you like bone marrow, you definitely need to go to that place!
I had a fantastic meal at The Cannibal: the dishes were delicious. This is for sure not a place for everybody, especially if you are vegetarian, the choices being limited. And then, if you refuse to even accompany somebody who really wants to eat some of the creepy animal parts, then forget it! Otherwise, it is a place to know.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Tutto Il Giorno in TriBeCa
Located across from the New York Academy of Art, Tutto Il Giorno is an all Italian restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, cooked by Chef Nicolas Reisini, a Northeastern native. I thought it was a small place for two reasons: first, by looking at the facade and second, because of the lack of spots for reservation on Opentable, the few times we tried to go there. I was wrong: it is a fairly big place, long, with high ceilings and a minimalist decor, that celebrates nature.
Located across from the New York Academy of Art, Tutto Il Giorno is an all Italian restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, cooked by Chef Nicolas Reisini, a Northeastern native. I thought it was a small place for two reasons: first, by looking at the facade and second, because of the lack of spots for reservation on Opentable, the few times we tried to go there. I was wrong: it is a fairly big place, long, with high ceilings and a minimalist decor, that celebrates nature.
Food wise, their menu offers many dishes that will satisfy the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian. We started off our meal with Parmigiana, a dish made with eggplant, a robust tomato sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes and provola, a cheese made with cow's milk the same way mozzarella is done, that had a fantastic smokiness. This was definitely a great way to start and I could easily imagine this dish as an entrée.
But then, the pasta dishes were disappointing. Jodi went for the penne, served with mozzarella, tomato and eggplant.
On my side, I chose the rigatoni, made with sweet and hot homemade sausages, peas, touch of cream.
For sure, it was a touch of cream, as well as everything! My dish was dry and I could barely taste the sausages. I was expecting a dish with bold flavors and it fell flat. Jodi's dish was better, but there was definitely more pasta (not enough cooked in my own opinion and don't get me wrong I love al dente pasta), than anything else.
We then hoped to finish on a high note with their tiramisu. Well, we were also disappointed: not enough mascarpone cream too cake-y.
I should mention the wine that was very good: a Tutti Il Giorno Montepulciano 2013.
We left quite disappointed. I really thought that this place was amazing, having heard good things about it. I thought that it was pricey and the food just ok. For Italian in TriBeCa, I surely prefer Max or Petrarca Cuccina e Vino. That is where I would go back!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Dinner at Bubby's in TriBeCa
It has been a while since I wanted to go to Bubby's in TriBeCa for dinner, especially after I tried their brunch at their location in the Meat Packing District. So we went there, on a Friday night and I was really surprised to see that many people with their kids there. I like the place: quite rustic with an interesting vibe.
It has been a while since I wanted to go to Bubby's in TriBeCa for dinner, especially after I tried their brunch at their location in the Meat Packing District. So we went there, on a Friday night and I was really surprised to see that many people with their kids there. I like the place: quite rustic with an interesting vibe.
We decided to start our meal with an appetizer and chose their fried onions. We were not really expecting a big dish and were surprised when they served us a full plate. I mean, I am not going to complain considering that it was very good: not too greasy and crispy, I put this in the category of comfort food.
Then, for her entrée, Jodi decided to order their wedge salad that was composed of baby gem lettuce, Maytag blue cheese, red onion, bacon lardon in a smoked tomato dressing. Nothing to rave about, but still good.
On my side, I hesitated between the BBQ dishes, especially the ribs, and their fried chicken and biscuits. I chose the latter considering how good their biscuits are...
The fried chicken came with butter and jam for the biscuits and it could have been my entire meal, the biscuits being quite dense and fantastic: probably the best ones I ever had. The fried chicken was ok: some pieces were moist, some dry. For sure their give you a lot of it.
Then, we were ready to get dessert and were a bit worried that they would tell us that they did not have anymore pies, considering how unlucky we were when we went there for brunch. Fortunately they had some and, as the waiter was giving the different choices of pies that night, my mind stopped at the banoffee, a pie made with banana, cream and toffee. This was spectacular: not too sweet, the whipped cream cutting the sweetness of the toffee, I could have eaten an entire pie. At that point, I regretted that they do not have a take out place similar to Junior's, where you can just go for their pies.
The dinner was good, especially the dessert, but I definitely prefer the brunch at Bubby's: eggs and pie would be the perfect meal for me. So I would surely 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!
Prime and Beyond, Korean steakhouse in New York
I love steaks and was looking for a more original steakhouse, far from the classic restaurants when I stumbled upon Prime and Beyond, a Korean steakhouse. I did not know what to expect there, thinking about maybe a large piece of meat marinated like a bulgogi, prior to being grilled or broiled. It was not really that and I'll explain in few minutes. First, I should talk about the decor that was different from the dark and leathered decor of classic steakhouses. It is not a big place for sure, with a small dining room overlooking the opened kitchen where the magic happens. Well, the magic also happens downstairs where one can see the dry-age room: apparently, they dry-age their steaks for 50 days minimum and they also propose wet-age cuts such as the ribeye.
I love steaks and was looking for a more original steakhouse, far from the classic restaurants when I stumbled upon Prime and Beyond, a Korean steakhouse. I did not know what to expect there, thinking about maybe a large piece of meat marinated like a bulgogi, prior to being grilled or broiled. It was not really that and I'll explain in few minutes. First, I should talk about the decor that was different from the dark and leathered decor of classic steakhouses. It is not a big place for sure, with a small dining room overlooking the opened kitchen where the magic happens. Well, the magic also happens downstairs where one can see the dry-age room: apparently, they dry-age their steaks for 50 days minimum and they also propose wet-age cuts such as the ribeye. I rarely heard about the wet-age process and apparently, although it will give a meat with less marbling and flavor than the dry-age process, the meat will be juicier.
This time, as I was in a Korean restaurant, I decided not to order any wine and went for their cranberry soju cocktail, served in a martini glass (I hate these glasses!). It was good, not too strong and a bit refreshing.
Then, they brought us an amuse-bouche: a melon purée with red bean milk and seaweed. It was beautifully presented and had an interesting texture, the red bean ball exploding in our mouth, unleashing various flavors.
Menu wise, they offer a mix of classic steakhouse dishes such as mac and cheese or crab cakes, but also some Korean one, such as kimchi. We started off with their potato pancake that had lots of cheese on it and was delicious, not too heavy.
Then, they showed our steaks, before cooking them, a sort of teaser that definitely worked. Jodi ordered the wet aged filet mignon and I got the dry aged ribeye that looked fantastic (it was an 18oz piece of heaven).
Few minutes after, the steaks came, medium-rare for me and medium for Jodi. Both steaks were perfectly cooked, juicy and tender, with a bit of a char and the ribeye had the marking from the grill. The ribeye was deliciously fatty, but I admit that I preferred the filet mignon. Understand, it was a good ribeye, but it was not as flavorful or tender.
With the meat came some veggies and some garlic. That is where the Korean part of the experience comes: they explained to us that we can eat it after spreading some roasted garlic on the meat and putting some of the greens that were bathed in soy sauce: it was a delightful way of eating it I have to say. They also brought some salt from the North Eastern that has a great hickory taste.
As for the sides, we decided to order mac and cheese that were very good, creamy and seemed to be made with lots of good quality cheese.
Last was dessert: we decided to go with the planetarium, a dome made of milk chocolate mousse and with a pear cream filling. It was quite delicious, but I admit that I was expecting much more pear taste.
The experience at Prime and Beyond was great: good food and service on point. It is a change from classic steakhouses where the atmosphere can be a bit heavy. Would I go back? Definitely and this time, I'll try their burger that looks delicious!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Pepolino, Italian restaurant in TriBeCa
Altright, so I might have found another great Italian restaurant in TriBeCa: Pepolino. Named after a variety of thyme that grows in Tuscany, this casual restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine in a rustic setting. And this place was definitely crowded when we went on a Friday to have dinner at 9pm. So crowded that we ended up in their heated outside seating area that in fact I liked, the noise level being very low and less crowded than their two dinning rooms.
Altright, so I might have found another great Italian restaurant in TriBeCa: Pepolino. Named after a variety of thyme that grows in Tuscany, this casual restaurant serves Tuscan cuisine in a rustic setting. And this place was definitely crowded when we went on a Friday to have dinner at 9pm. So crowded that we ended up in their heated outside seating area that in fact I liked, the noise level being very low and less crowded than their two dinning rooms.
Menu wise, there were so many mouth watering dishes that I was not sure what to order. Although I could not resist trying their grilled octopus that was served on toast that was delicious smothered in olive oil and topped with a sort of tomato confit. All of this accompanied by a side of greens. The octopus was perfectly cooked for sure, not rubbery and with a nice char.
Then, Jodi ordered the Spaghettoni Alla Chitarra, home made square spaghetti with fresh tomato and basil. This was also very good, the pasta, perfectly cooked, had a nice bite, and the sauce was delicious.
But my dish was even better: the Fettuccine Nere di Mare that were homemade squid ink fettuccine with seafood (calamity, shrimp, squid), prepared in a tomato sauce. The pasta was succulent and the sauce so good that I literally inhaled it, even if I thought that they were a bit heavy handed on the pepper. The seafood was well cooked and there was a nice amount of it in the plate (I should mention that the shrimp were small though). Funny enough, I like parmesan with my pasta and the waiter did not recommend putting any with the seafood. As I kindly insisted, he brought me some on the side, just in case I would not like it.
To accompany my meal, I went for a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2014 "Umani Ronchi".
Last was dessert. We went for their creme caramel that was good but just ok. I cannot remember the description, but we thought it would be a bit more decadent than that...
I should mention that, while waiting for our dishes, they brought us a bread basket with a tomato and basil flan that had a nice kick and was quite refreshing.
Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Pepolino, that I consider another great find in TriBeCa. The food and service were good and I would definitely go back there to try other Tuscan specialties. The fact that they have homemade pasta is definitely a plus as I always consider that I do not need to boxed pasta outside: I can make my own at home!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Reserve Cut at The Setai in the Financial District, NY
I rarely go to the Financial District for a meal, this area not really being a synonym for dining, being mostly a business area. But, for a steak, I am ready to make another exception, following my last outing to Delmonico couple of months ago. That's how we found Reserve Cut, a stunning kosher restaurant that I admit was difficult to find (I always get lost in that area, but thanks to my phone and Google Maps, I was able to make it...). This place is impressive: huge, elegant with a modern decor that definitely differs from classic steakhouses, one dining room separated from the other by an amazing wine cellar.
I rarely go to the Financial District for a meal, this area not really being a synonym for dining, being mostly a business area. But, for a steak, I am ready to make another exception, following my last outing to Delmonico couple of months ago. That's how we found Reserve Cut, a stunning kosher restaurant that I admit was difficult to find (I always get lost in that area, but thanks to my phone and Google Maps, I was able to make it...). This place is impressive: huge, elegant with a modern decor that definitely differs from classic steakhouses, one dining room separated from the other by an amazing wine cellar.
Food wise, they have classic cuts that they get from a Brooklyn butcher, as well as some Japanese dishes like sushi or sashimi, and Mediterranean products like merguez, that is a lamb sausage often seen in couscous or...with fries in French restaurants. But we were there for steaks and they definitely had a nice selection. Jodi went for the 12oz filet mignon that was served with a sweetbread torch, a weird combination considering that very few people like sweetbreads. In fact, I benefited from it, but did not like it as it was very dry.
On my side, I went with the 14oz Wagyu ribeye.
I was really looking forward to get my steak as it was served with bone marrow and I was not disappointed! I love to eat bone marrow and steak together and I am glad that more and more restaurants propose it.
The steaks were perfectly cooked: medium for Jodi, medium-rare for me. My ribeye was fantastic: charred, fatty and juicy, much better than the filet mignon that was good, but did not wow me.
With the steaks, we got complementary sauces: béarnaise and bordelaise (made with red wine, shallots, herbs and bone marrow). I truly appreciated the fact that the sauces were free considering how pricey steaks are, and both sauces were delicious.
I should mention the side of fries that were ok for me, preferring thinner and crispier ones,
As well as the glass of Chateau Greysac 2013 from Bordeaux, France, a perfect pairing with steaks.
For dessert, they had an interesting selection and so we picked the caramelized chocolate napoleon that was very good, served with a delicious salted caramelized honey ice cream.
I thought that the food at Reserve Cut was good, but pricey and the service, very slow and a bit pushy on the order kind of spoiled the experience. Too bad, because otherwise I would have gone back for another wagyu ribeye there!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Shake Shack on 36th street in Manhattan
Shake Shack is quickly expanding and I am not going to complain about it. Several weeks ago, they opened a new location on 36th and Broadway and I see that as a blessing as their location near Times Square is always crowded. Although this one might be too soon. Their burgers are fantastic and, with others like Five Guys, they set the expectation for a great burger. No more grey tasteless meat: what the crowd wants is a tasty burger made that not only looks, but tastes like meat. We went there on a Saturday before 12pm and I was glad we were early as this place started to get packed as time passed.
Shake Shack is quickly expanding and I am not going to complain about it. Several weeks ago, they opened a new location on 36th and Broadway and I see that as a blessing as their location near Times Square is always crowded. Although this one might be too soon. Their burgers are fantastic and, with others like Five Guys, they set the expectation for a great burger. No more grey tasteless meat: what the crowd wants is a tasty burger made that not only looks, but tastes like meat. We went there on a Saturday before 12pm and I was glad we were early as this place started to get packed as time passed.
What I realized as we were waiting to order is that they also propose a menu for dogs. It is either to get some publicity or really because they care about our 4 legged friends.
Anyway, I was not there for that, but for a good juicy burger and of course a milkshake, my favorite pairing. After we ordered, they gave us a buzzer and probably 5 to 7 minutes later, our order was ready.
We got:
For Jodi, the 'Shroom Burger, a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce.
For me, a double SmokeShack, a cheeseburger topped with all-natural applewood smoked bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShackSauce. That was an amazing burger, smokey with a nice texture added by the fatty bacon, and with lots of cheese. And that patty...Deliciously charred. A spectacular burger for sure.
The wavy fries were crispy and good, not as good as Mc Donald's, but quite good.
And of course, a delicious vanilla milkshake perfectly made, not too thick, but thick enough.
So, yes, I am a fan of Shake Shack and their delicious burgers and I am glad they are opening more locations so there are more seats for all of us!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Authentic Cantonese cuisine at Bite of Hong Kong in Chinatown
Chinese food is one of those cuisines that I often crave, but, with so many restaurants in Chinatown, one never knows where to find authentic Chinese cuisine, far from the tourist traps. Well, I might have found the perfect spot: Bite of Hong Kong. What makes it different: it's seafood for sure, from fish to crab (the day I went, they had this huge Alaskan crab that was the size of beast you see in horror movies, results of nuclear experiments). Ok, I might exaggerate a bit, but still: it was a nice size.
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Chinese food is one of those cuisines that I often crave, but, with so many restaurants in Chinatown, one never knows where to find authentic Chinese cuisine, far from the tourist traps. Well, I might have found the perfect spot: Bite of Hong Kong. What makes it different: it's seafood for sure, from fish to crab (the day I went, they had this huge Alaskan crab that was the size of beast you see in horror movies, results of nuclear experiments). Ok, I might exaggerate a bit, but still: it was a nice size.
Opened in 2015, it featured an interesting menu made of classic as well as original dishes crafted by Head Chef Fei who immigrated from Hong Kong.
This is quite a big place, with plenty of small rooms, including the VIP room in the back.
We definitely had a feast there and I can tell you that the walk we had after that was more than welcome. Here is what we had:
Vegetarian dumplings: the kind I like, with a thin shell and a tasty stuffing.
Egg drop soup, deliciously gelatinous.
Spring rolls: Classic, delightfully crispy and slightly greasy, as expected.
Duck tongues Hong Kong Style. Ok, this was the first time I had duck tongue and I admit that I did not really liked it. It was a bit rubbery and had what I guess was bones on one end...it was deep fried and so the first fried dish I ever had that I did not like! Apparently, the duck tongue with soy sauce is juicier: not sure I'll try that though...
For the entrées, we started off with chicken pan fried noodles, a dish I discovered many years ago in Hong Kong. This was very good, the noodles being deliciously crispy and smothered by lots of sauce.
Fish maws and dried squid in XO sauce: I admit that I had no idea what fish maws was and learned that it is the air bladder that regulates water and oxygen flow so the fish can ascend or descend in the water. It is considered a luxurious ingredient. It was pretty interesting, a bit rubbery and quite chewy. The best part of the dish was for sure the squid that was nicely grilled and not rubbery at all.
We also got a vegetarian dish: egg tofu with assorted mushrooms. Pretty good, with lots of mushrooms for sure and a very tasty tofu that was soaked in a thick sauce.
Last was the fried Dungeness crab, one of their specialty. First, it looked spectacular and I could not wait to try it. It was not too complicated to eat as it was already broken apart. The crab was dipped in a batter before being fried in a wok. I could not resist sucking the legs that had that delicious fried batter around, before breaking the shell to get to the perfectly cooked crab meat. It was a bit messy, but worth it and, do not worry: they give you some wet towels so you do not walk around with a piece of crab in the corner of your mouth.
With my meal, I got a Tsing Tao beer, probably the most famous Chinese beer. Light, but good.
We had a great lunch at Bite of Hong Kong: the food was exquisite and I loved the fact that they offer a wide array of dishes, from classic to original. I rarely go for seafood in Chinese places and this made me change my mind!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Tabelog dinner at Bread in Nolita
Last Saturday, I was invited to a dinner organized by Tabelog, a website that is more than just a restaurant review site like any others: they have created a community of foodies that I enjoy to meet as the conversation is often centered on food. This time, we were at Bread in Nolita, located inside the Nolitan Hotel. In fact, this is their new location, opened a month ago, after moving from their original one close by, on Spring street.
Last Saturday, I was invited to a dinner organized by Tabelog, a website that is more than just a restaurant review site like any others: they have created a community of foodies that I enjoy to meet as the conversation is often centered on food. This time, we were at Bread in Nolita, located inside the Nolitan Hotel. In fact, this is their new location, opened a month ago, after moving from their original one close by, on Spring street.
I did not know the previous restaurant, but this space was nice, simply decorated but with a je ne sais quoi that made me think about a setting overlooking the Mediterranean sea. When we arrived, the place was empty: well, it was not the case at all when we left, the dining room being packed, as was the bar area with people waiting for a table.
Food wise we were there for a treat. We of course started of with...some bread, the focaccia being my favorite one.
Then, we had dishes to share. We got:
Roasted asparagus made with garlic, olive oil, parsley, citrus zest and homemade breadcrumbs. I am not a huge fan of vegetables, but really enjoyed it.
Wild mushrooms (cremini, oyster and shiitake) cooked with shallots, parsley and cashew milk.
Salmon tartare composed of the fish and avocado (always a good pairing with salmon or tuna tartare), shallot, scallion and citrus zest. Served with crostini, it was perfect for a Summer dinner as refreshing.
Grilled breaded shrimp. You can definitely see the European touch as they served the head that I admit did not try. I liked it as the shrimp was perfectly cooked. I even liked the zucchini slaw that came with it, looking like spaghetti.
Fritto misto that was a mix of seafood and vegetable fritters. There were shrimp, bream (fish), mushrooms, asparagus and squash. This was a perfect dish to share and each pick was like the lottery: besides asparagus that was easy to spot, you never know what you would get. It was crunchy and deliciously greasy.
Beef carpaccio served with arugula and shaved parmigiano. The beef was just very, very thin and I missed the truffle oil that it was supposed to have. However, I liked the saltiness the cheese added to the beef when eaten together.
Pork belly with a roasted tomato sauce and a broccoli rabe pesto: quite good and delightfully fatty.
Arrancini or rice balls made with taleggio cheese and served with a lemon aioli. This was good, crunchy, with the rice having a yellow color from the saffron it is cooked with. My only regret was that there was not enough cheese...
Baby kale salad served with pear, sautéed wild mushrooms, roasted pistachio and crispy quinoa. Alright, so I did not try this one, but my fellow bloggers liked it.
We then had to pick a main dish. I went for the spaghetti alla chitarra that were fresh saffron pasta with sautéed shrimp, cherry tomatoes (I made sure they would not squirt all over me), olive oil, garlic and a saffron seafood broth. I loved that dish: the pasta was al dente and delicately smothered by a fantastic sauce that I could have simply eaten with a piece of bread. The shrimp were also perfectly cooked.
Jodi went for the fresh taglioni with pesto. Usually, I am not a big fan of pesto, but I have to say that I enjoyed that dish.
I also tried their pork chop that was delicious and looked spectacular, topped with poached apples. This was another dish I usually do not like, but not at Bread.
People at the table also got the wild branzino that looked really good,
as well as the large portion of lasagna (I did not try any of these dishes).
With the meal, I got a glass of red wine that I believe was a Montepulciano.
Last was dessert. And we tried a bunch...There was a crostata, a panna cotta, a chocolate lava cake as well as some sort of bread pudding. All desserts were very good, but my favorite was the chocolate cake, as well as the panna cotta.
This was a feast and Tabelog has again organized a great event at Bread. I enjoyed the food as well as the company, and got some more addresses of restaurants...Thanks Tabelog for this nice dinner!
Enjoy (I did)!
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Incredible meal at Pok, Pok in Brooklyn
I finally made it to Pok Pok, the restaurant in Brooklyn that created the buzz few years ago with their fish sauce wings. It was on my list, and, when I discovered that it was on Opentable, I could not resist booking a table for a Saturday, for lunch. The restaurant is definitely off the beaten path and you really need to be motivated to go there. But you know what? It was worth the trip and, although a bit pricey, the food was fantastic.
I finally made it to Pok Pok, the restaurant in Brooklyn that created the buzz few years ago with their fish sauce wings. It was on my list, and, when I discovered that it was on Opentable, I could not resist booking a table for a Saturday, for lunch. The restaurant is definitely off the beaten path and you really need to be motivated to go there. But you know what? It was worth the trip and, although a bit pricey, the food was fantastic.
We arrived right on time, at twelve o'clock and I was a bit surprised to see the bar and dining room quasi empty. Well, it did not take too long for people to arrive and, when we left, it was packed, to the point that the two tables next to us hosted six people instead of the four who would normally seat, making the whole experience probably very uncomfortable, but, seeing their faces delighted by the food, they did not seem to care.
At first, they put on the table some peanuts with various spices, as well as some water that had a weird taste...No wonder: it contained pandanus leaf, like thru do in Northern Thailand, giving to the water a sort of toasted rice flavor.
Although I was ready to drink that water, I decided to order a Thai iced tea that was very good.
We ordered couple of dishes from their menu that offers dishes from Southeast Asia, mainly Thailand and Vietnam. First was Cha Ca "La Vong" or Vietnamese catfish marinated in tumeric, fried in tumeric oil with scallions and dill, served on cold rice vermicelli with peanuts, mint, cilantro and mam nem, a Vietnamese anchovy fermented dipping sauce.
This was succulent: first of all, the fish was perfectly cooked and so moist. Then, the dish was very light and refreshing, all the ingredients working perfectly together.
The second dish was Khao Soi Jay, a vegetarian curry (you can choose the version with chicken), that is a northern Thai mild curry soup prepared with their secret curry paste and coconut milk. It comes with house pickled mustard greens, shallots, crispy yellow noodles and roasted chili paste. This was another delicious dish that had a nice kick at the end, and was very comforting.
Then was the long awaited Vietnamese fish sauce wings. When they arrived at the table, I could definitely smell the fish sauce that gave a very dark color to the wings and made them very sticky. The first bite was surprising: crispy, with a nice combination of fish and chicken flavors. It was very addictive and I literally inhaled the dish. Looking around the room, this was for sure the most ordered dish.
Last was dessert. We went for the Pok Pok affogato that is a take on Vietnamese breakfast of coffee and fried donuts, where an espresso shot is poured over condensed milk ice cream and eaten with delicious Chinese donuts that were crispy and airy. A great dessert.
Our meal at Pok Pok was memorable. Chef Andy Ricker succeeded in creating a unique place with dishes that will satisfy any palate curious to discover some authentic Southeast Asian dishes. I would certainly go back and get those wings again! But not only...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Yum Yum BangKok, Thai Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen
Well, I have heard about Yum Yum simply watching some commercials at the movie Theaters in Times Square. This is a small Thai place with low light setting and loud music in the evening, setting this place apart from most of the Thai restaurants in the area. The food there is good, with reasonable prices. We ended up there after a movie in fact, looking for a place in Hell's Kitchen. The place was packed for sure and the staff extremely busy.
Well, I have heard about Yum Yum simply watching some commercials at the movie Theaters in Times Square. This is a small Thai place with low light setting and loud music in the evening, setting this place apart from most of the Thai restaurants in the area. The food there is good, with reasonable prices. We ended up there after a movie in fact, looking for a place in Hell's Kitchen. The place was packed for sure and the staff extremely busy.
To start our meal, we decided to share some Spring rolls that were made of crispy rice paper wrapped around a mix of clear noodle, taro and vegetables, and served with sweet chili sauce. It was good, crispy and not too greasy, with a shell not too thick.
For her entree, Jodi went for pad see ew (Pad Sie Eil on the menu), these wide rice noodles that she most of the time orders. It was served with tofu, broccoli and egg in a soy sauce. I liked that dish that had a nice sweetness.
On my side, to accompany my meal, I decided to order a Thai iced tea, my usual beverage in a Thai restaurant.
It was quite good and refreshing, perfect to counterbalance the heat of the chicken curry massaman I ordered. Served with rice, it was quite good, with a nice kick. I appreciated the fact that there was not too much potato in it, and a nice amount of curry.
The food at Yum Yum Bangkok was quite good and not expensive at all. It is a fine place if you'd like a quick classic Thai place, but I have to say that I was not wowed by it. There are so many places in the area with more interesting menus such as Thai Select or the more classic Chili Thai close by, that I am not sure I would go back...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Indian Accent, contemporary Indian cuisine in Manhattan
Few weeks ago, Indian Accent, the famous New Delhi restaurant of Chef Manish Mehrotra opened its door at the Parker Meridien Hotel. This opening has been surrounded by a lot of buzz in the press and social media, giving a new light to Indian cuisine, usually considered a cheap option rather than an option for fine dining, even though places like Tulsi or Tamarind successfully attracted a crowd hungry for such cuisine, but looking for something different. In fact, we were so excited to try Indian Accent that we showed up...one week ahead of our reservation! And they graciously accommodated us...
Few weeks ago, Indian Accent, the famous New Delhi restaurant of Chef Manish Mehrotra opened its door at the Parker Meridien Hotel. This opening has been surrounded by a lot of buzz in the press and social media, giving a new light to Indian cuisine, usually considered a cheap option rather than an option for fine dining, even though places like Tulsi or Tamarind successfully attracted a crowd hungry for such cuisine, but looking for something different. In fact, we were so excited to try Indian Accent that we showed up...one week ahead of our reservation! And they graciously accommodated us...
I like the place: modern with a decor not overdone, and an acceptable noise level that I always appreciate. I decided to start this wonderful experience with a cocktail, the Eastern Milk Punch, made with Batavia Arrack (It is Arrack from Indonesia, distilled from sugarcane), pineapple and assam tea. This was a very refreshing drink, where the flavor of the Assam tea came through more than the taste of alcohol, making this probably a bit dangerous as one can drink it like milk.
To start the meal, they brought us some amuse bouche. The first one was two small blue cheese naan with a coconut, pumpkin and garam masala soup. The naan was delicious, having lots of blue cheese in it. And that soup: I would have it every day.
The second amuse was green peas with puffed rice, another great way to start the meal.
We then decided to go for the 4 course tasting. Know that there is no a la carte and only a choice of tasting, from 3 to 4 courses or the Chef's tasting that is 7 courses (they all include dessert). For the first dish, we both picked the potato sphere chaat with white pea mash, a street food interpretation. This was succulent: crispy, refreshing with hints of mint and the coolness of the yogurt.
Then, Jodi went for the soft paneer, crispy quinoa and ramps. It was a beautiful presentation and also a good dish, although I found the paneer not as fantastic as the one I got in Delhi.
On my side, I ordered the baby squid, crispy rice and everything chutney. I was quite interested in that dish as I do not recall having seen ever squid on the menu of an Indian restaurant. And I did not regret it. The presentation was great: there was a small cone that looks like a newspaper that contained the crispy rice and they poured the sauce all over a perfectly cooked squid. It was like a take on fried calamari.
The next course was, for Jodi, the paper roast dosa, mushrooms and water chestnuts. This was delicious, the dosa being well made and a bit crispy, with a nice amount of mushrooms.
But the most surprising dish was definitely the soft-shell crab koliwada with malvani dried shrimp pulao. Similar to the squid, I have never seen soft-shell crab on the manu of an Indian restaurant (crab curry, yes, for instance at Tamarind or Baluchi's). The dish looked beautiful and the crab was so good, deliciously crunchy. I am not sure how the rice was made, but it was fantastic. Thesis definitely a dish I recommend.
We also wanted to try their black dairy dal, made with black lentils, butter, ghee and cream. This was amazing: thick, creamy, it was very tasty and I truly appreciated that it was not spicy.
The dal came with some butter naan that was quite good.
We also ordered a butter chicken kulcha. Kulcha is a Punjabi leavened bread. So, it was stuffed with butter chicken, one of my favorite Indian dishes. And it hit the mark: very hot (temperature rather than spices), it was so good, I could have eaten more of it.
Last was dessert. Jodi got the doda barfi treacle tart with vanilla bean ice cream. That tart was fantastic: it was so buttery that it kind of reminded me a perfect pecan pie, minus the nuts.
On my side, I went for the crispy seviyan, rice pudding with coconut jaggery ice cream. A spectacular presentation that looked like a nest. Taste wise, it was quite good but missed a bit of sweetness. If I had to pick, I would go for the Doda barfi treacle tart. But still, this was a good dessert.
Our dinner at Indian Accent was phenomenal: I loved the fact that it was an unusual menu, modern with Indian flavors and stunning presentation that made the whole experience memorable. Between the food and the excellent service, I would not be surprised that they will get a Michelin Star...
Enjoy (I did)!
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Pizza and Pasta at Tutti Matti in Long Island City
Going to Tutti Matti in Long Island City is like finding a corner of Italy one stop from Grand Central. The Italian atmosphere is not just carried by the food, but also the Italian language you will hear abundantly, spoken by the staff or customers. Looking small from outside, this place is fairly big and when we came, they were finishing serving a baby shower.
Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!
Going to Tutti Matti in Long Island City is like finding a corner of Italy one stop from Grand Central. The Italian atmosphere is not just carried by the food, but also the Italian language you will hear abundantly, spoken by the staff or customers. Looking small from outside, this place is fairly big and when we came, they were finishing serving a baby shower.
Tutti Matti serves authentic Italian cuisine, crafted by Executive Chef Giovanni Vittorio Tagliafierro who, with his long experience in the kitchen, satisfies hungry crowd with incredible dishes.
I think my top dish was the pizza. I admit that I was not sure which one I should order, from the classic margherita to the tartufata that has a black truffle infusion on it. Well, I went for the four cheese pizza or quattro Formaggi, probably my French roots kicking in when it comes to cheese. The cheeses were: Gorgonzola cheese, caciocavallo, mozzarella Fior di latte and pecorino romano. And there was definitely a lot of cheese in that pizza that was cooked in their wood fire oven as you can see below. This was a fantastic pizza: between the generous amount of cheese to the succulent crust that had a nice char and had a nice crunch. I loved it with its puffed up edges and thin center: this is definitely not to miss when going to Tutti Matti.
We also tried their house made pasta that were also very good. The first one was tagliatelle alla bolognese, a meat and tomato sauce that was sublime and I have to say that they put a lot of it with the pasta.
The second was the ravioli al porcini, ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and parmigiano topped with a light gorgonzola sauce. It was also very good, although I would have liked more sauce on it.
Last was dessert. We decided to go with a classic Italian one: the tiramisu that is home made too. And it was very good, with the lady fingers moist and well soaked in coffee, as well as a nice mascarpone cream. Simply delicious.
I should mention that, to accompany our meal, we got some prosecco from the Treviso area.
We had a great meal at Tutti Matti: the food was fantastic and the atmosphere nice and relaxed. I loved their pasta, but if there is one dish that was even better, it is the pizza that is one of the best I had in New York. So I guess you know: I will surely go back.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Salam café in Greenwich Village
We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.
I like the place, its decor that seems authentic, as well as the layout of the restaurant: the entrance looks like a café, with its beautiful round tables decorated with mosaic, a private room that gives the impression you are in a tent, and its large dining room where we got seated.
We were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant close to Union Square and found Salam Café, a family owned restaurant located in the West Village, that has served customers for more than 30 years.
I like the place, its decor that seems authentic, as well as the layout of the restaurant: the entrance looks like a café, with its beautiful round tables decorated with mosaic, a private room that gives the impression you are in a tent, and its large dining room where we got seated.
Food wise, they have tons of dishes that cater to vegetarians and non-vegetarians, with some classics like falafel, hummus, babaganoush or kebab. After we ordered, they brought us some grilled pita (a bit tough I have to say) as well as some olives that we call olives cassées in French or cracked olives, a truly mediterranean way of preparing olives. The olives, green, are first cracked, then marinated in a juice (saumure), prepared in a similar manner as an herbal tea, made of different herbs like fennel, coriander, etc. as well as pepper. It has been a while since I ate some and I could not stop...
For our appetizer, we went for the Sfia, a Syrian flat bread topped with cheese, that was very good and would satisfy any cheese lover considering the amount of cheese there was.
For her entrée, Jodi chose the vegetable ouzi, a fillo stuffed with spinach, eggplant, zucchini, carrots, peas, rice, raisins that has been baked golden brown. It definitely looked good and seemed to be a popular dish (the offer it also with chicken, lamb or shrimp), but it was just ok, having more rice than anything else.
On my side, I went for the combination kebab, composed of chicken, shrimp, lamb, merguez sausage, and kufta. Served with rice and cooked on charcoal, this was really good and a good price, although I wish they had more merguez sausage in it as it was so good! I love when restaurants propose a combination platter so you can try few things and this was is definitely recommended.
For dessert, we opted for the baklava that was just good, but a bit dry.
We had our dessert with some delicious mint tea that cut the sweetness of the baklava.
The food at Salam café was good, but I admit that it is not as good as Byblos, a Lebanese restaurant I discovered last year and where I would rather go back to to get some delicious Middle Eastern food.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Pars Grill House and Bar in NYC, New York
Taking its name from a Province of the Persian Empire with its main city being Persepolis, Pars Grill House was the choice of restaurant from Jodi for her birthday. She wanted to have Persian cuisine, and, thankfully, we realized that Persepolis, on the Upper East Side, was only offering a slimmed down menu for lunch. After a quick web search, we found Pars Grill House and, looking at their menu, we decided to change our reservation and try it.
Taking its name from a Province of the Persian Empire with its main city being Persepolis, Pars Grill House was the choice of restaurant from Jodi for her birthday. She wanted to have Persian cuisine, and, thankfully, we realized that Persepolis, on the Upper East Side, was only offering a slimmed down menu for lunch. After a quick web search, we found Pars Grill House and, looking at their menu, we decided to change our reservation and try it.
It is a large place, bright, with a nice decor and I should mention that they really made us feel welcome, being very hospitable.
Food wise, we had some great dishes. At first, they brought us some bread that they bake in their oven (I believe it is called barbari bread). It came hot as I guess they just made it and was sublime with butter, a bit crispy.
Then, we got some maast o khiar that is made with yoghurt, cucumber and dry mint, a dish very similar to the Greek tzatziki, that was perfect with the bread, but also with our main course.
For her entrée, Jodi went with her favorite Persian dish: kubideh that is a skewer of ground beef and lamb, mixed with onions and spices, and served with saffron basmati rice and grilled vegetables.
On my side, I ordered a mixed grill that had kubideh, as well as lamb chops. It was for sure a lot of food, and it looked very appetizing, especially the lamb chops that looked fantastic and were succulent: tender, juicy, perfectly cooked, they were delightfully fatty. The kubideh was also fantastic: juicy and very tasty.
With my dish, I opted for a different rice made with almonds, pistachios, orange zest and carrots: the shirin polo rice. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like the taste of orange zest.
For dessert, we decided to try their homemade baklava that was fantastic and had lots of honey in it.
Last was a Persian tea that was fairly good.
We left full and glad we found this place. If you've never had Persian cuisine before, I highly recommend Pars Grill House: it is a great restaurant.
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
