I Just Want To Eat! 11/22/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/22/17

Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Otto Strada is a great Italian restaurant in Hoboken, located off the beaten path, a few minutes from the main street that is Washington St. we went for brunch and dinner and had a good time there.

Dining room at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Both times, the nice weather pushed us to sit in their small outside area, enjoying great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Here is what we had for brunch:

San Pellegrino Aranciata:

San Pellegrino Aranciata at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

San Pellegrino Chinotto, a drink with a bitter taste that I love:

San Pellegrino Chinotto at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Crostini di burrata e pomodoro, made with caramelized tomatoes, burrata cheese, honey, basil, evoo and sea salt. This was sublime, the cheese and sweetness of the honey counterbalancing the acidity of the tomatoes. This is a must have!

Crostini di Burrata e Pomodoro at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Bocce ball sliders or meatballs sliders: Otto’s meatballs, melted homemade mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, evoo and basil pesto on toasted brioche buns. This is another must have: these meatballs are fantastic, tasty and not dry.

Meatballs sliders at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Pizza tartuffo e ueva, made with fresh mozzarella, crimini mushrooms, poached eggs, Pecorino Romano, truffle oil, Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh basil. Their pizza, cooked in a wood fire oven is very good, crispy on the outside and with a nice char.

Pizza Tartuffe e Ueva at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Pizza tartuffo e ueva at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Insalata di burrata, made with tomatoes, strawberries, burrata and fresh basil:

Insalata di burrata at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

For dinner, we had:

Focaccia bread with olive oil:

Focaccia bread at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Pulpo Ubriachi al Forno or drunken grilled octopus with a limoncello sauce baked in a brick oven served over a tuscan bean salad with roasted red peppers. First of all, I did not think there would be so much octopus, but I should not complain as it was very well made, perfectly cooked with a nice char. I liked the sauce that was kind of refreshing, letting the octopus shine.

Melanzane alla parmigiana or brick oven baked eggplant with fresh imported Italian ricotta cheese, homemade mozzarella and san marzano tomatoes. Very good, there was a nice portion. I think the best part was the sauce that had a robust flavor.

Melanzane alla parmigiana at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

Mafaldine alla bolognese or homemade ribbon shaped pasta in a meat sauce originating from Bologna. The sauce was good, but I thought that the pasta was slightly over cooked and needed a bit of salt.

Mafaldine alla bolognese at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert we had their almond tiramisu that was a bit frozen. I admit that we only saw the tiramisu part, not seeing that it was made with amaretto and nuts. I just found it ok...

Almond tiramisu at Otto Strada in Hoboken, NJ

We overall had great time each times we went to Otto Strada: it is a great place to know and I will for sure go back to continue exploring their menu.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Otto Strada - 743 Park Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/20/17

John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

We were in Long Island City to check out Jodi’s new studio when we stumbled upon John Brown Smokehouse, a restaurant serving Kansas City style barbecue. In fact when you arrive in the vicinity of this place, you start smelling the smoker that is probably functioning all the time, a smell getting even stronger as you enter in the restaurant. I admit that I was expecting a much smaller place, not realizing that they also have a terrace in the back.

Counter at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Kitchen at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Dining room at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Decor at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

We chose a table and then ordered some food at the counter. There was so much on their menu that we were not sure what to order. As I was with my nephew Valentin, who has a big appetite, we decided to try a few kinds of meat. Here is what we had:

Order at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

We decided to try their meat platters that come with two choices of meat and one side. We picked:

Brisket:

Brisket at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Pastrami:

Pork belly:

Rib tips:

On top of that, we ordered some burnt ends:

Burnt ends at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

As sides, we chose the mac and cheese that were quite good, although a bit too peppery, the corn bread that was delicious and the fries that were also pretty good.

Fries at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Corn bread at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

Mac and cheese at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

I should also mention the homemade lemonade and root beer as beverage.

Lemonade at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City

The meat was fantastic, my favorites being the burnt ends and the pork belly that were melting in my mouth. Next was the pastrami that I am sure is great in their Reuben sandwich. They definitely know how to make barbecue and I would for sure go back there for more. Maybe the Reuben or some more meat...I should mention that they only had one dessert (a chocolate chip bread pudding that I am sure was good), dessert that they change apparently from time to time. John Brown Smokehouse is a little gem that I am glad I discovered.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

John Brown Smokehouse- 10-43 44th Drive, Queens, NY11101

I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/18/17

Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

We recently went to Riverhead for a wedding and ended up eating at Bistro 72, a restaurant a serving farm to table menu located in the Indigo Hotel. First I should mention that the access is better by car than walking...I know: we made the mistake on our way, as true New Yorkers, but not on the way back to the hotel! Secondly, as soon as you enter the restaurant, you get the feel that it is in a hotel, from the decor to the atmosphere. But you know what, the food there was quite good!

Dining room at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Here is what we had:

Old fashioned to start:

Bread and old fashioned at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Old fashioned at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Mediterranean plate, composed of tapenade, hummus, tabouli, grape leaves and haloumi cheese. It was quite good, but I admit that I was surprised by the small portions.

Mediterranean platter at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Spreads and tabouli at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Grilled haloumi cheese at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Pita at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Grape leaves at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Pan seared salmon, served with fingerling potatoes, local vegetables and a beurre blanc sauce. This was delicious, especially the salmon that was perfectly cooked and had a delightful crispy skin.

Pan seared salmon at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Long Island Duck Breast, served with local vegetables, mushroom risotto and a raspberry Demi-glace. It was really good, although the risotto made the dish heavy. The duck was quite good, even if I would have preferred it more pink.

Duck at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

Last was dessert. We went for the banana brûlée. On that one, I should have read the description as I thought it was a banana crème brûlée. It was in fact just caramelized bananas served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and candied nuts. Still good though.

Banana brûlée at Bistro 72 in Riverhead, Long Island

We had overall a good time and a nice dinner at Bistro 72. This is a good place to know if you are in the area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bistro 72 - 1830 W Main St, Riverhead, NY 11901

I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/16/17

Tagine, Moroccan restaurant near Times Square

It has been so long since I have been to Tagine, a Moroccan restaurant located closed to the heart of Times Square. So, as we were looking for a place to eat on Columbus Day, and craving a good couscous (the dish, not just the semolina), we booked a table.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see a fairly big place, remembering a smaller dining room where diners were very close to the belly dancers who are still entertaining the crowd 6 nights a week. Going inside the restaurant is like stepping in into another country, far from the busy area that is Times Square. However, it was not as hospitable as restaurants would be in Morocco: when we arrived, there was a woman who gave us a nasty look, not even greeting us or taking care of us, yelling something to a poor guy in the kitchen, surely to let him know some patrons were there. Then, the music was extremely loud and they first complied to lower it, but only for a few minutes, putting it back to a level that was not enjoyable. Knowing that we were the only ones in the place, it translated into: we do not care about the comfort of our customers. The last issue concerned our tea: we ordered a Moroccan mint tea with our meal, but they only brought it at the end, after a first reminder. Disappointing.

Anyway, here is what we had:

Semolina Bread with chermoula and harissa:

Maaquda, potato croquettes rolled in semolina: crispy and not greasy, I liked it.

Merguez with shekshouka (slowed cooked eggplant and peppers): it was definitely small for a $24 dish and is more an appetizer than an entree. The merguez was dry as over cooked, but fortunately the shekshouka was quite good.

Merguez with Shekshouka at Tagine in NYC, NY

Couscous royal, made with vegetables, lamb, chicken and merguez. This was pretty good: the meat was perfectly cooked with the lamb falling off the bone and the merguez being much better than the previous dish. And the fine semolina was superb.

And then, finally, the mint tea that was delicious.

Overall the food was good, but I think that the service at Tagine and the high prices spoiled the experience. Too bad: there are not that many Moroccan restaurants in the city. Well, maybe this should be my new food quest!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Tagine - 221 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/14/17

Pizza at Don Giovanni in Hell's Kitchen

We wanted to eat a pizza with my nephew Valentin and decided to go back to Don Giovanni in Hell’s Kitchen. The last time we went there was last December and had some good pizza, so, why not going back? The place was not crowded and, this time, the weather permitting, we decided to eat outside.

We started our meal with some mozzarella sticks that were quite good and always a good appetizer to start a meal.

Mozzarella sticks at Don Giovanni in Hell's Kitchen

We then ordered two large pizza. The first one was the Quattro formaggi, made with mozzarella, ricotta, Gorgonzola and Swiss cheese. If you love cheese, this is for you, because for sure there was a lot of it, especially the Gorgonzola that came through and gave a delicious taste to the pizza.

Quattro formaggi pizza at Don Giovanni in Hell's Kitchen

The second one was the Margherita with meatballs. When we went there the first time, we had it without any toppings and really liked it. So, we decided to add one single topping: their meatballs. The pizza itself was quite good, but the meatballs were unfortunately over cooked and dry.

Margherita pizza with meatballs at Don Giovanni in Hell's Kitchen

It was overall good, but might not be the best pizza in New York if compared to Luzzo’s, Kesté or Grimaldi’s, but still quite good and a place to know if you are in the area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Don Giovanni - 358 W 44th Street, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/12/17

Sinigual, Contemporary Mexican, in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

I discovered Sinigual, a contemporary Mexican restaurant located Midtown East, a couple of months ago and we decided to go back with my nephew, certain that we would have a great meal there, our first experience being very positive. This place is fairly big, with the open kitchen in the back, and, in contrast to the previous time we went, it was packed! The negative was that they were definitely understaffed, but the food was worth the wait.

Dining room at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

As I mentioned before, it is a contemporary Mexican restaurant, so the menu is a mix of classics as well as original dishes, with a majority of non-vegetarian dishes, served in fairly large portions.

Here is what we had :

At first, they brought us some tortillas and tortilla chips that seem to be homemade (delicious), and served with salsa and cream.

Tortilla chips at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Tortilla at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Then, we ordered their guacamole, made table side. We had to wait a bit because it was a hot item and there was only one poor guy making it. I admit that portion wise, it is fine for two people, but not three. The guacamole itself was good, not the best, but good.

Making guacamole at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Guacamole at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

As a cocktail, I ordered their Modern old fashioned, made with Kraken Caribbean rum, regans’ orange bitters, simple syrup, imported luxardo cherries and fresh orange. It was quite good, deliciously sweet, but slightly watered down.

Old fashioned at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

For our entrees, we tried:

Fresh fish tacos made with grilled seasonal white fish, pico de gallo, fruit relish, handmade flour or corn tortillas, red and black beans, pasilla-cilantro rice, avocado relish and sweet corn cake.

Fish tacos at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Lobster quesadilla made with Monterey jack and cotija cheeses, pasilla chiles, pineapple-mango salsa, chipotle sauce and avocado relish.

Lobster quesadilla at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Chipotle barbecue ribs, made with chipotle-raspberry tamarind barbecue sauce, grilled corn on the cob, red & black beans and yucca fries.

Chipotle bbq ribs at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Corn at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

Yuca fries at Sinigual in Murray Hill, NYC, NY

All these dishes were really good, my favorites being the lobster quesadilla that had lots of cheese in it and chunks of lobster, and the ribs that were literally falling off the bones. The fish tacos were good, but I admit that I loved ce when the fish is deep fried, adding more texture, but still, worth trying.

Needless to say that after all of that, both times, we had to skip dessert. Too bad because they looked as good as the rest of the menu.

I like Sinigual: this is the perfect place if you want to have a more elegant Mexican meal, but with prices that are not outrageous.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sinigual - 640 3rd Avenue, New York, NY, 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/10/17

Koi Bryant Park

Located in the posh Bryant Park Hotel, Koi is not unknown to me, having discovered that place in another location few years ago for Restaurant Week. But the place in Bryant Park blew me away: beautiful, modern and with a lounge-y feel, it has a very cool atmosphere, without being scene-y.

Food wise, they serve contemporary Japanese cuisine that goes from your traditional sushi to now fairly classic dishes that you would expect on the menu, like black miso cod. Here is what we had:

I started of by ordering a cocktail and settled with the Amber Gale, made with Bourbon, peach brandy, maple syrup and lime, a drink that was well balanced.

Then, we went for a dish they are known for: the crispy rice sushi that they propose either with avocado, as a vegetarian option, spicy tuna or yellowtail tartare. We chose the latter. Very good, I love the texture the crispy rice gives to the dish.

Crispy rice with yellowtail tartare at Koi Bryant Park

Jodi went for the Miso Bronzed Black Cod that was delicious, the fish being perfectly cooked, with a delightfully crispy skin. It was served with a medley of vegetables.

Miso Bronzed black cod at Koi Bryant Park

On my side, I went for the roasted duck breast, made with apple brown butter sauce and roasted shishito peppers. The duck was delicious, perfectly cooked pink, with a delicious slightly crispy skin. I liked the dish but just wished they served it with some other vegetables, in addition to the very good shishito peppers.

Last was dessert. I admit that they had a nice selection and it is where you wish they had a sampler. We hesitated between the five spice churros (does not sound that Japanese) and the milk chocolate banana spring rolls. We went for the latter that was superb: deliciously crispy, not too sweet, it was served with a chocolate ice cream and a banana anglaise that were very good.

Chocolate ice cream and banana anglaise at Koi Bryant Park

Overall, we had a great time at Koi. The food there is delicious: no wonder why this place was packed!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Koi Bryant Park - 40 West 40th Street, New York, NY10018

I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/8/17

Printers Alley in NYC, NY

We passed so many times in front of Printers Alley, wanting to go there but pushed away by the sound music and noise level of this Nashville inspired hangout, with its games and live music.

Dining room at Printers Alley in NYC, NY

Outdoor area at Printers Alley in NYC, NY

Arcade game at Printers Alley in NYC, NY

However, on a Saturday, as we were close by for a late lunch, we decided to stop there and check out there menu. We were surprised to see that we were the only customers, in fact the first one they saw so far, and we could feel that the staff was bored...and the kitchen not that ready as our food took forever to come. At least, if it was delicious, I would not have minded, but I found it disappointing: the fried green tomatoes were mushy and my fried chicken sandwich so so, having more lettuce than the bland chicken.

Here is what we had:

Fried green tomatoes (mushy):

Fried green tomatoes at Printers Alley in NYC, NY

Cobb salad, no bacon:

Fried chicken sandwich: dry, with more lettuce than chicken (overcooked by the way):

Fried chicken sandwich at Printers Alley in NYC, NY

Printers Alley - 215 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 11/6/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/6/17

Statler Grill near The Madison Square Garden

Located a few steps from Penn Station and The Madison Square Garden, The Statler Grill is one of these steakhouses that has some history. As they wrote on their website:

"The Statler Grill harkens back to the golden age of the big band era, and is named after Ellsworth Statler, who ran the Hotel Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1954, when musicians such as Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie and Glenn Miller played at the Café Rouge, the hotel’s main dining room".

Located a few steps from Penn Station and The Madison Square Garden, The Statler Grill is one of these steakhouses that has some history. As they wrote on their website:

But for me, it will stop there. This place might have had some history, it did not impress me: hot dining room, poor service, ok food with high prices, it gave me the impression that they care more about foot traffic than having returning customers. I was looking forward to going there and regretted it.

Here is what we had:

Statler Grill Old Fashion made with Bulleit bourbon, sweet vermouth, cherry bitters, brown sugar and cherry (well more a small piece of cherry: that started well!):

Old Fashioned at Statler Grill in NYC, NY

Crab cake: overpriced considering the sad looking crab cake I had on the plate. It was just ok and definitely not lump crab.

Filet mignon for Jodi, cooked medium:

Filet mignon at Statler Grill in NYC, NY

Prime ribeye, medium rare, for me:

The steaks were of a good size, but were lacking char and with an ok taste. In fact, I could get the same quality at Trader Joe’s...

For sides, we got the truffle Mac and cheese that was greasy.

Mac and cheese at Statler Grill in NYC, NY

And the mushrooms that were quite good.

Considering the experience we had, we decided to skip dessert. No regret for sure.

The Statler Grill was very disappointing. For the same prices, you can get much better food in New York. For instance, at Tratorria Fiorentina on Theater Row or at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse. I forgot to mention that when they greeted us, they asked if we had a coupon, as many people get one on Groupon to dine there. If paying full price is like our experience, i cannot imagine what it is with a coupon! So, I’ll pass on that one...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

The Statler Grill - 136 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 11/4/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/4/17

Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

More casual than the Great Kabab Factory in the Radisson Blu, Noida, is Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India. Same concept there: an all you can eat joint serving delicious kebabs that are just...the appetizers! Yes, you need to remember that part because there is so much food that when people hint about the entrees, you are wondering what they are talking about, lamenting about the fact that you should have worn stretch pants...

Dining room at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Kitchen at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Part 1 of the meal is the kabab that they would place on a grill heated with charcoal. And at first, they were bringing so much food that I could not keep up with my photos.

Grill at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Kebabs at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Here is what I tried:

Shrimp tikka:

Fried fish:

Chicken tikka:

Mutton tikka:

Chicken momo (dumplings):

Chicken momo at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Vegetarian momo (dumpling):

Vegetarian momo at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Potatoes:

Tandoori chicken:

Fried corn:

Grilled pineapple:

For the entrees: butter chicken:

Butter chicken at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

Chicken biriani:

Dal Makhni:

Last was dessert with a sampler made of (bottom left, counter clock wise): gulab jamun, banana butterscotch pudding, cherry cake and moong dal halwa (made with carrots).

Dessert at Pirates of Grill at The Mall of India, Noida

That was great and there was lots of food. If you go there, the must haves are the fried corn and the grilled pineapple that were amazing. I could have just had their kebabs that were delicious, with the only spicy dish being the tandoori chicken. Needless to say that, if you are vegetarian, they have tons of dishes for you.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pirates of Grill - C-417, 3rd Floor, DLF Mall of India, Sector 18, Noida

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

Soda Bottle Opener Wala, Irani Cafe at The Mall of India, Noida

Soda Bottle Opener Wala is a fantastic Irani Cafe located in The Mall of India, in Noida. It was recommended by one of my colleagues and I have to admit that I was not sure what to expect. The food there was amazing: different, tasty and delicious, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Dining room at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

I love the place that is very colorful and decorated with tons of memorabilia hanging on the wall, giving some sort of authenticity to a concept that revives a dying tradition of cafes you would like go to more often.

Food wise, I was there for a treat. I should mention that I went on "dry day", a day without alcohol as it was a National Holiday to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi. I started the meal by trying one of their drinks called "Khade Chamach Ki Chai", literally "The teaspoon stands in the tea". It was a name not that far fetched as the spoons stood in the tea that was made with...90% brown sugar. If you finish it, you get it free: not free for me for sure, this being too sweet and an impossible dare, but fun to try.

Khade Chamach Ki Chai at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

Then, for the entrees:

Vegetable Berry Pulao, that is basmati rice topped with fried onions, nuts and berries:

Vegetable berry pulao at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

Salli Mutton, a traditional parsi mutton curry topped with crispy matchstick potato. This was delicious, perfect with rice or bread. They told me it would be spicy, but it was not. The mutton was perfectly cooked and fantastic with the curry sauce.

Salli mutton at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

In terms of bread, to eat with that curry, I tried their paratha called Jaloo's Famous Malai Na Paratha. It was deliciously charred and was a bit chewy.

The last dish was Goan Choriz Pav or a chorizo curry, where the chorizo was finely chopped, cooked with potatoes and onions and smothered by a delicious sauce. It was served with some bread to eat it like a sandwich.

Goan Choriz Pav at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

Last was dessert. There was the caramel custer or caramel custard that is fairly common.

Flan at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

As well as the Lagan Nu Custer, a Parsi wedding custard made with eggs, milk, cardamon, nutmeg and chironji, an Indian medicinal plant used as a spice in Indian cuisine, with a taste similar to almonds.

Lagan Nu Custer at Soda Bottle Opener Wala in Noida, India

Both desserts were good, but I admit that the Lagan Nu Custer was phenomenal. What a great way to end a spectacular dinner! I definitely recommend Soda Bottle Opener Wala if you are in Delhi: you will not regret it.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Soda Bottle Opener Wala - 3rd Floor, DLF Mall of India, Sector 18, Noida

I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/2/17

Soi 7 Pub & Brewery, Asian cuisine at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Located on the second floor of the Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, Soi 7 is a pub and brewery that serves Asian fare. Yes, it is a brewery and you can see the beer fermenters from the dining room that definitely have a nice pub feel, as well as a rooftop where the most surprising part is the boxing ring, not used for the purpose of kicking the bottom of the customers who try to leave without paying, but as entertainment.

Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Dining room at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Beer fermenters at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Terrace at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Boxing ring at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

I admit that at first I was set to have a beer, each of the four proposed having a boxing kick name like the cobra punch or the uppercut. They gave us a tasting and I was not that thrilled, the beers being very light. So, I switched to an old fashioned, my go to cocktail when dining out.

Cobra punch beer at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Old fashioned at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Food wise, they have a large menu with a wide selection of vegetarian dishes.. As we were a group of people, we decided to try several starters. Here is what I tried:

Bulgogi wings, single bone grilled wings marinated with chili paste, garlic, black bean and sesame oil:

Bulgogi wings at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Slow fried chicken, served with sweet chili and ginger sauce:

Slow fried chicken at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Spicy Mongolian chicken (not so spicy): diced chicken tossed with soy sauce, dry chili with peppers and onions.

Spicy mongolian chicken at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Singaporean chili prawn (my favorite): crispy fried prawns tossed with chili, sambal sauce and coconut.

Singaporean chili prawns at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Crispy lamb chili pepper:

Thai lamb skewer served with chili coriander and Asian bbq sauce:

Thai lamb skewers at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

Shrimp dumpling (another favorite):

Shrimp dumplings at Soi 7 Pub & Brewery at The Cyber Hub in Gurgaon, India

It was overall very good: Soi 7 is a great place to enjoy drinks with some good food, perfect for sharing and the kind you will want to have with a beer or cocktail.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Soi 7 Pub & Brewery - 205-208 & 209-A, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon

I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/17 I Just Want To Eat! 11/1/17

Jamie's Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, India

I cannot imagine what it is to have a peanut allergy and not being sure how food is made when you are traveling. One of my colleagues has one and eating in India can be challenging, a lot of dishes containing some sort of nuts. So, he was glad to find Jamie’s Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon near Delhi. He talked so much about this place that I decided to try it. Little did I know that it was a restaurant from celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver. Located on the third floor of this giant mall (7 miles of stores), this is a nice little place where they cook pizza on a stone.

Kitchen at Jamie's Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, India

Dining room at Jamie's Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, India

There is for instance the red rocket pizza, made with sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, cheddar, olives, rocket salad and veggie Parmesan (!) that looked really good.

Red rocket pizza at Jamie's Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, India

There is also the classic margarita that was delicious, with lots of cheese and with mushrooms added on just one half (you need to insist a bit for them to accommodate one half only with toppings).

Margarita pizza at Jamie's Pizzeria at The Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, India

I should mention that you can either choose a thin crust (delightfully crispy) or deep-dish that I did not try, and that you can add some toppings like mushrooms that I mentioned above or spicy meatballs made with mutton.

The pizza at Jamie’s is really good and this is a nice place if you want to take a break from shopping or want to eat a better pizza than Domino’s or Pizza Hut that are quite present in the city.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Jamie’s Pizzeria - 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, DLF Phase 3, Gurgaon, India

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

Sarge's deli in NYC

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

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

First, they brought us some cole slaw and pickles:

Pickles and cole slaw at Sarge's deli in NYC

Chocolate egg cream to start:

Chocolate egg cream at Sarge's deli in NYC

Pastrami Reuben as my main entree:

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

Jodi simply ordered a bagel with lots of cream cheese.

Bagel and cream cheese at Sarge's deli in NYC

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/17 I Just Want To Eat! 10/29/17

Grand Opening: Dons Bogam Black

Dons Bogam is not unknown to me as I discovered this place 4 years ago, looking for a restaurant for lunch on Christmas Day, before seeing The Hobbit. So, I was excited when I got invited to their new location Dons Bogam Black, also located Midtown. I guess the "Black" from the name is similar to what you get with an American Express Black card: upscale Korean food, but fortunately without outrageous prices that would make you wish you had that coveted credit card...

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

Dining room at Dons Bogam Black in NYC, NY

The space there is amazing, especially the 40 feet screen on one of the walls that displays images of Korea. They also have a full bar that makes interesting cocktails, like the smokey bear, made with smokey whiskey and yuzu.

Smokey bear cocktail at Dons Bogam Black in NYC, NY

We had to choose from their large selection of Korean BBQ, made with Prime Grade beef, Washugyu beef (crossbred of the famous Japanese Black Wagyu and the finest American Black Angus), or pork. Of course, as we were invited, the Washugyu category was off the table, so we went for the bulgogi, made with chuck steak marinated and served with vegetables.

The meat had a beautiful marble and looked very appetizing. They spread it around the dish so it would cook evenly and after maybe 10 good minutes, it was ready to be eaten, wrapped in lettuce, topped with scallion and gojuchang sauce. The meat was fantastic: tender and very tasty, smothered by a juice that I could have eaten with rice or simply with a spoon.

Bulgogi and banchan at Dons Bogam Black in NYC, NY

With the bulgogi came the banchan, these little plates I am always looking forward to see in a Korean restaurant, each place having its own take on it. There, we got:

Acorn:

Kimchi:

Cauliflower:

Bean sprouts:

Bok Choy at Dons Bogam Black in NYC, NY

Caramelized black beans:

We also tried two appetizers:

The fried dumplings made with ground pork and vegetables: a delicious dish with a crispy and not greasy shell and a very tasty filling where the pork was the star.

Fried dumplings at Dons Bogam Black in NYC, NY

As well as the beef japchae aka glass noodles that were sublime:

We left the restaurant full and glad that we got a chance to try Dons Bogam Black during their Grand Opening: the food was really good and this is definitely a place I would go back to and bring friends and family who never had Korean food before.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Dons Bogam Black - 276 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

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

Brunch at L'Amico near Penn Station

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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

Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

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

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

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

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

Spring rolls at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

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

Lava calamari at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

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

Sautéed vegetables at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

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

Fancy noodles at Pad Thai Noodle Lounge in NYC, NY

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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

Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

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

Counter at Culture An American Yogurt Company in the West Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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

Burgers at Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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

Bar of Green Rock Tap & Grill in Hoboken, NJ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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

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

Osteria Al Doge in Times Square

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

Dining room at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

Here is what I tried:

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

Spritz at Osteria Al Doge in Times Square, NYC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy (I did)!

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