2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat! 2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat!

Hot chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates

Alright: I admit that I thought that L.A. Burdick was the outpost of a chocolate store from Los Angeles. It is in fact the project of pastry Chef Larry A Burdick who decided to open his own venture back in 1987 after successfully working at Bouley for few years. And we only found recently his chocolate store located on Prince street, a day we were looking for a hot chocolate, the weather being perfect for it. The first time was a grab and go, but we came back a couple of weeks after to sit at one of the few tables.

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

Alright: I admit that I thought that L.A. Burdick was the outpost of a chocolate store from Los Angeles. It is in fact the project of pastry Chef Larry A Burdick who decided to open his own venture back in 1987 after successfully working at Bouley for few years. And we only found recently his chocolate store located on Prince street, a day we were looking for a hot chocolate, the weather being perfect for it. The first time was a grab and go, but we came back a couple of weeks after to sit at one of the few tables.

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

It is a small place for sure, that serves more than hot chocolate: they have chocolate bars, coffee and tea, cookies, as well as an impressive selection of chocolates.

The hot chocolate is quite good and they have a good variety of it. My favorite is the Burdick blend milk chocolate that is rich, intense and not too sweet, with a nice thickness.

Burdick blend milk chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

Burdick blend milk chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

Burdick blend milk chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

Burdick blend milk chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

The white chocolate one is a bit different: less thick and sweeter. For sure you need to like white chocolate as it is not mix with dark or milk chocolate at all. I like white chocolate and admit that the taste was interesting and, although I prefer the milk one, I kept going at it.

White chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

White chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

White chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

White chocolate at L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in NYC

So it was good and for me, L.A. Burdick is one of my top 5 favorites in the city.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates - 156 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

 
L.A. Burdick Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Sweet Chick in Long Island City

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Sweet Chick, a popular restaurant that started years ago in Williamsburg and has now expanded with several locations in New York, one of them being in Long Island City. It is the one we visited on a Saturday morning, going early as, each time we passed in front of it, it was packed. We got lucky as there were only few tables available at 11:30am and got sit between to groups who unfortunately were a bit loud.

Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Sweet Chick in Long Island City

It’s been a while since I wanted to try Sweet Chick, a popular restaurant that started years ago in Williamsburg and has now expanded with several locations in New York, one of them being in Long Island City. It is the one we visited on a Saturday morning, going early as, each time we passed in front of it, it was packed. We got lucky as there were only few tables available at 11:30am and got sit between to groups who unfortunately were a bit loud.

Sweet Chick serves southern comfort food like shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, and of course fried chicken that interestingly they also propose vegetarian. I was expecting to see a fried chicken sandwich for brunch as you see that more and more on restaurants menu, probably trying to compete with the Popeye’s and likes out there. So I went for he fried chicken and waffle that looked very appetizing. And was superb: they surely know how to cook the chicken that was delightfully crispy and moist. The waffle was also very good, chewy and not soggy.

Chicken and waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Chicken and waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Waffle at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

There were few vegetarian options and Jodi decided to go for the eggs (scrambled) that were served with house potatoes. Good overall but nothing special.

Scrambled eggs at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Scrambled eggs at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

We also ordered a biscuit, thinking that they probably make some amazing ones, but I admit that I was disappointed: it was a bit dry and had spices on top (I guess paprika) that threw off the taste a bit.

Biscuit at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Biscuit at Sweet Chick in Long Island City

Despite that, I liked my meal at Sweet Chick and I am curious to try their dinner. I will have to check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Sweet Chick -46-42 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

 
Sweet Chick Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Wine infused pasta at Maiella in Long Island City

Long Island City will never cease to amaze me. Often mistaken for Long Island, this small city in Queens, right next to Astoria has great restaurants, but many New Yorkers who would be ok to go to Brooklyn for a meal, think that it is too far. Well between the 7 or E lines to name the main ones, it takes as much time to go there than going fron the UWS to Chelsea once at Port Authority. I mentioned M Wells Steakhouse that is one of the best, but now, I am totally excited about Maiella, an Italian restaurant located right behind the iconic Pepsi Cola sign on the waterfront.

Maiella in Long Island City

Maiella in Long Island City

Long Island City will never cease to amaze me. Often mistaken for Long Island, this small city in Queens, right next to Astoria has great restaurants, but many New Yorkers who would be ok to go to Brooklyn for a meal, think that it is too far. Well between the 7 or E lines to name the main ones, it takes as much time to go there than going fron the UWS to Chelsea once at Port Authority. I mentioned M Wells Steakhouse that is one of the best, but now, I am totally excited about Maiella, an Italian restaurant located right behind the iconic Pepsi Cola sign on the waterfront.

NY Skyline

NY Skyline

Pespi Cola sign in LIC

Pespi Cola sign in LIC

We went there on a Saturday evening. The place was packed and kept getting filled by hungry diners. Little I knew that this place was opened back in 2015, by Chef Rocco Sacramone from Trattoria Lincontro in Astoria, considered the best Italian restaurant there. At Maiella, Chef Sacromone crafted a delicious menu with both classic and elevetes Italian dishes. Here is what we had:

I started by ordering a cocktail: the Saronno sour, made with amaretto, Knob Creek rye, dry vermouth, lemon and egg white. Not too strong and smooth.

Saronno sour at Maiella in Long Island City

Saronno sour at Maiella in Long Island City

At the same time, they brought us their bread basket (I believe they make it in their wood fire oven), and. Sun dried tomato paste that I ditched.

Bread basket at Maiella in Long Island City

Bread basket at Maiella in Long Island City

Sun-dried tomato at Maiella in Long Island City

Sun-dried tomato at Maiella in Long Island City

We decided to share the appetizer and went for the melanzane or eggplant stuffed with mozzarella and spinach. It was one of the best I had: smothered by a robust tomato sauce, the eggplant was perfectly cooked and had more cheese than spinach inside.

Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

Melanzane at Maiella in Long Island City

Next, we decided to share two pasta dishes prepared table side and our waiter, Daniel, who did a phenomenal job, proposed to split the portions and serve one after the other. So we first had the homemade bucatini cacio e pepe. Prepared in a pecorino Romano wheel, it had lots of cheese and the right amount of pepper.

Bucatini cacio e pepe at Maiella in Long Island City

Bucatini cacio e pepe at Maiella in Long Island City

Just looking at them preparing it next to us made me salivate but not as much as the fettuccine Maiella that are made with Sangiovese wine infused pasta! The table side preparation was even more spectacular with the Parmesan wheel being flambéed so the cheese would melt. Then, at some point, I could not believe seeing the guy scoop even more cheese, before adding to the plates some truffle oil and then shaving a generous amount of truffle. Creamy, I would have thought that the truffle oil would overpower the dish but is was not the case. This is the kind of dish that I highly recommend.

Fettuccine Maiella at Maiella in Long Island City

Fettuccine Maiella at Maiella in Long Island City

Last was dessert. For me a great meal must end with great dessert, otherwise I feel that something is missing. And we were not disappointed. The first dessert (yes, we had two) was their torta di meringua that we saw as we entered the restaurant. This cake is amazing: made with venitian meringue, chantilly cream (whipped cream) and a vanilla cake, it was light and not too sweet, the best part being of course the meringue. 

Torta di Meringua at Maiella in Long Island City

Torta di Meringua at Maiella in Long Island City

The second dessert, the Nutella panna cotta was also superb: with a texture closer to a pudding than to a panna cotta, it was very chocolatey with hints of Nutella, topped with a delicious milk chocolate ice cream.

Nutella panna cotta at Maiella in Long Island City

Nutella panna cotta at Maiella in Long Island City

Overall, we had a fantastic dinner at Maiella and it has been a while I got so excited by a meal. It might not be your mom and pop Italian restaurant, but they surely know how to make Italian food. I highly recommend it!
Enjoy (I really did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Maiella - 4610 Center Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

 
Maiella Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Dinner at Chola, Midtown East

We were craving Indian food on a Saturday for dinner and looked up for places Midtown when we stumbled upon Chola, a place that was on my list of restaurants to try. We were there at the time they opened, our brunch that day being quite early as I wanted to try another spot downtown. Taking its name from a Tamil dynasty in southern India, Chola is not new: it opened in 1998. Elegant, with a very courteous staff, it was for sure not crowded at that time and I liked it: less people equal less noise and they gracefully gave us a corner table that is normally for four people, allowing me to side sit as Larry David would say.

Chola in NYC, NY

Chola in NYC, NY

We were craving Indian food on a Saturday for dinner and looked up for places Midtown when we stumbled upon Chola, a place that was on my list of restaurants to try. We were there at the time they opened, our brunch that day being quite early as I wanted to try another spot downtown. Taking its name from a Tamil dynasty in southern India, Chola is not new: it opened in 1998. Elegant, with a very courteous staff, it was for sure not crowded at that time and I liked it: less people equal less noise and they gracefully gave us a corner table that is normally for four people, allowing me to side sit as Larry David would say.

Chola in NYC, NY

Chola in NYC, NY

Menu wise, they offer a large choice of small dishes that is great for sharing and perfect if people want to try many different dishes. And it has a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes all mouth watering. Here is what we had:

As a drink, I got my usual: a mango lassi. I should mention that often, I drink it if the food is spicy, but it was not the case with the dishes we picked.

Mango lassi at Chola in NYC, NY

Mango lassi at Chola in NYC, NY

They brought us some papadam with tamarind sauce, mint sauce and onion chutney.

Papadam at Chola in NYC, NY

Papadam at Chola in NYC, NY

Papadam at Chola in NYC, NY

Papadam at Chola in NYC, NY

Then, our first appetizer was the samosa: classic but always good. These were well made, the outside being crispy and flakey.

Samosa at Chola in NYC, NY

Samosa at Chola in NYC, NY

Next was the onion bhaji or onion fritters that I loved: crispy and not greasy at all.

Onion bhaji at Chola in NYC, NY

Onion bhaji at Chola in NYC, NY

It was followed by the batata sev puri that is little crispy pockets (puris), stuffed with potato and chickpeas and covered with yogurt and chutney. If you never had this, know that you have to put all of it in your mouth to eat it because if you only get a bite, you will end up with some yogurt on your shirt. A one bite, like an amuse bouche, gives the sensation of a explosion of flavors in your mouth.

Batata sev puri at Chola in NYC, NY

Batata sev puri at Chola in NYC, NY

Batata sev puri at Chola in NYC, NY

Batata sev puri at Chola in NYC, NY

I also wanted to try one of their crab dishes as I do not see often crab on the menu of Indian restaurants, and I went for the Khekda Narital, that is sautéed crab cooked with coconut and mustard seeds. It was good and flavorful, the crab not being overpowered by any spices.

Khekda narital at Chola in NYC, NY

Khekda narital at Chola in NYC, NY

Khekda narital at Chola in NYC, NY

Khekda narital at Chola in NYC, NY

For sure I would have liked some sort of sauce on it, especially as they served it with a parotta, a layered bread from Kerala that we also ordered on the side with some dal malai marke, a Dish that was very creamy (I believe it is dal makhni in fact).

Parotta at Chola in NYC, NY

Parotta at Chola in NYC, NY

Dal at Chola in NYC, NY

Dal at Chola in NYC, NY

Parotta at Chola in NYC, NY

Parotta at Chola in NYC, NY

Dal at Chola in NYC, NY

Dal at Chola in NYC, NY

Dessert was easy to choose: we systematically order gulab jamun, these milk balls that are fried and then sitting in a sugar syrup.

Gulab jamun at Chola in NYC, NY

Gulab jamun at Chola in NYC, NY

Gulab jamun at Chola in NYC, NY

Gulab jamun at Chola in NYC, NY

So overall our dinner at Chola was great and they have so many mouth watering dishes on their menu that I cannot wait to go back to try more dishes.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Chola - 232 East 58th Street, New York, New York 10022

 
Chola Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Tsurutontan Union Square

We were near Union Square for some errands one Saturday morning when I remembered that Tsurutontan, the Japanese noodle place was around and thought it would be a good idea to go when they open as we passed few times in front of it and there were always people waiting. After checking on Google Maps, we showed up before the published opening time of 11:30am, feeling victorious that we were the first ones there. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that the opening time was in fact 12pm and…

Tsurutontan Union Square

Tsurutontan Union Square

We were near Union Square for some errands one Saturday morning when I remembered that Tsurutontan, the Japanese noodle place was around and thought it would be a good idea to go when they open as we passed few times in front of it and there were always people waiting. After checking on Google Maps, we showed up before the published opening time of 11:30am, feeling victorious that we were the first ones there. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that the opening time was in fact 12pm and decided to wait in a nearby Starbucks and come back 5 minutes before opening time, the rainy and cold weather not that ideal for a 30 minutes wait outside. As we went back, a small line in front of the door was already formed, with people excited when the doors opened. After giving our name, we probably waited 10 minutes for a small booth in the main dining room, not because there were that many patrons in front of us but because they were getting ready for service.

Tsurutontan Union Square

Tsurutontan Union Square

Bar area at Tsurutontan Union Square

Bar area at Tsurutontan Union Square

I was a bit impressed by this location as I only tried their Midtown one that is different. The main dining room (watch out for the steps and your head - fine for me as I am not as tall to worry about it), has a zen feel and I love the way they organized it with counter like seating and dining tables.

Dining room at Tsurutontan Union Square

Dining room at Tsurutontan Union Square

Dining room at Tsurutontan Union Square

Dining room at Tsurutontan Union Square

Our waiter was great: courteous, dilligent, helping for the many kinks in the service (my ramen came too fast, I did not get a spoon for instance) and he explained to us the overwhelming menu: for sure they have a lot of choices but few for vegetarians as they often use non-vegetarian stock or dashi. So, he pointed out few dishes for Jodi that I admit were beyond my expectations. The first one was the silken tofu that looks like burrata with an off-white color on the outside and is soft but not as creamy inside. This was superb though and I often tell people that this is the kind of place where they have to try tofu as the taste has nothing to do with store bought tofu that lots of restaurants serve.

Silken tofu at Tsurutontan Union Square

Silken tofu at Tsurutontan Union Square

Silken tofu at Tsurutontan Union Square

Silken tofu at Tsurutontan Union Square

Then, we shared the crispy eggplant tempura with Dengaku miso sauce that was superb: the batter was crispy and slightly greasy, with the eggplant cooked all the way through.

Eggplant tempura at Tsurutontan Union Square

Eggplant tempura at Tsurutontan Union Square

Eggplant tempura at Tsurutontan Union Square

Eggplant tempura at Tsurutontan Union Square

For her main, Jodi chose another appetizer: the grilled maitake mushroom that had truffle oil in it, elevating a bit the dish.

Maitake mushroom at Tsurutontan Union Square

Maitake mushroom at Tsurutontan Union Square

Maitake mushroom at Tsurutontan Union Square

Maitake mushroom at Tsurutontan Union Square

On my side, I went for one of their specialty ramen: the duck udon. It is made with duck breast, meatballs and Tokyo negi, a kind of leek also known as Speing onion. When I ordered, they asked me first how I wanted the noodles: thin or thick. And then the size of the dish, knowing that for the same price you can get a larger size. So I went for a large bowl with thick noodles. And for sure it was a large bowl! It was good with the broth having a nice taste and the noodles being very good, perfectly cooked. But I admit that the duck was slightly overcooked and definitely did not look like the photo as I found it tiny. Still, it was a good dish.

Duck udon at Tsurutontan Union Square

Duck udon at Tsurutontan Union Square

Duck udon at Tsurutontan Union Square

Duck udon at Tsurutontan Union Square

Udon noodles at Tsurutontan Union Square

Udon noodles at Tsurutontan Union Square

So overall we had a good meal at Tsurutontan and they have so many dishes that it would probably take me years before trying everything!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Tsurutontan- 21 E 16th Street, New York 10003

 
TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Dinner at Narcissa

So we are back at Narcissa! After trying their brunch few weeks ago, we were curious to see how the dinner would be. And we were not disappointed except with the desserts that are too fussy unfortunately.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see that this place was not crowded for a Friday evening, thinking that maybe people focused on places that proposed a Restaurant Week menu, Narcissa not being one of them. I am not going to complain though as the lesser the diners, the lower the noise level.

Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Narcissa at The Standard East Village

So we are back at Narcissa! After trying their brunch few weeks ago, we were curious to see how the dinner would be. And we were not disappointed except with the desserts that are too fussy unfortunately.

When we arrived, I was surprised to see that this place was not crowded for a Friday evening, thinking that maybe people focused on places that proposed a Restaurant Week menu, Narcissa not being one of them. I am not going to complain though as the lesser the diners, the lower the noise level.

Dining room at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Dining room at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Dining room at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Dining room at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

The menu was full of interesting dishes with sev mushroom being everywhere, prompting me to think that there was a promotion that day, and with lots of vegetarian dishes for Jodi to choose. The first one was the tofu spinach dip that does not sound great and that we finally changed for the fava dip, after it was recommended by the waitress. It was topped with smoked pistachio and served with grilled poolish baguette. Nice dish, perfect for sharing. It is not that often that you see fava beans on a menu, or at list being the star of a dish.

Fava dip at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Fava dip at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Grilled bread at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Grilled bread at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Next, we tried the smoky Japanese sweet potato, served with preserved chilies and smothered with a Peruvian pesto. I should start by saying that Jodi does not like sweet potatoes but liked this dish that was so good, I kept going at it although it was spicy.

Smokey Japanese sweet potato at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Smokey Japanese sweet potato at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

For her main, she picked the grilled eggplant that was accompanied by smoked goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes and baby arugula. Simple in a way, I loved the combination of eggplant and goat cheese that worked well together.

Grilled eggplant at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Grilled eggplant at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

The second dish she picked, still for her main, was the sev mushrooms with tahini, preserved lemon and sesame oil. Good, it was quite earthy.

Sev mushrooms at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Sev mushrooms at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

On my side, after lots of hesitation, I finally went for the whole branzino that was deboned (one side had few bones but overall they did a good job) and came with a pepper beurre blanc that fortunately was on the side because it was very spicy (but very good, even if my mouth was on fire). The fish, that was sitting on grilled scallion, was perfectly cooked.

Whole branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Whole branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Whole branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Whole branzino at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Sauce at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Sauce at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

I should mention that with my meal, I got a cocktail called Gotham nights, that was made with rye (it was the only cocktail with whisky), banana (did not really tasted it), sweet vermouth, walnut, amontillado that is a variety of sherry wine, and bitters. With all these ingredients, you would think that it tasted weird, but in fact it worked, the vermouth and rye being predominant.

Gotham nights cocktail at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Gotham nights cocktail at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Dessert was, as I mentioned above, a bit of a let down. The olive oil cake was not bad, but it was served with shavings of preserved lemon that I thought at first was Parmesan (sorry but the light was low), that I did not really enjoy as it overpowered the dish.

Olive oil cake at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Olive oil cake at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Then the buttermilk panna cotta tasted more like a yogurt! It was accompanied with a grapefruit granita and oatmeal crumble.

Buttermilk panna cotta at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Buttermilk panna cotta at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

And I am not talking about the Napoleon that had nothing to do with the classic cake: it was a sandwich made with sourdough bread, with a cardamom cream in the middle and served with marinated strawberries. For $14, I thought it was not worth the price.

Napoleon at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Napoleon at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

Despite that, the rest was good and the service on point. I think after trying both that I prefer the brunch at Narcissa. Dinner is good but it means I would forget about dessert. But a meal without dessert is not a complete meal. No?

Enjoy (I mostly did)!

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

Narcissa - 25 Cooper Square, New York 10003

 
Narcissa Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Basta Pasta: When a Japanese Chef makes Italian food

It’s been a while since we went to Basta Pasta, a couple of blocks from Union Square and, as we had to be in that area, we decided to go back there for dinner. I could not believe how packed this place was, from the beginning to the moment when we left, several people waiting near the entrance for a table at 9pm. For sure, the kitchen was a bit backed up, a large table not helping, but our waiter did a good job keeping us posted as to when our dishes would come.

Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Basta pasta in NYC, NY

It’s been a while since we went to Basta Pasta, a couple of blocks from Union Square and, as we had to be in that area, we decided to go back there for dinner. I could not believe how packed this place was, from the beginning to the moment when we left, several people waiting near the entrance for a table at 9pm. For sure, the kitchen was a bit backed up, a large table not helping, but our waiter did a good job keeping us posted as to when our dishes would come.

Kitchen at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Kitchen at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

The menu is phenomenal but know that the Chef is not Italian but Japanese: Chef Satoru Takada who shows a certain creativity in some of the dishes.

After we ordered some drinks, they brought us some Gorgonzola and mascarpone on a small toast as an amuse, as well as a bread basket where my favorite was the Italian sticks.

Amuse at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Amuse at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Bread basket at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Bread basket at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

As a cocktail, I went for the Babbo Natale, made with whisky, apple cider, apple purée, cinnamon, lime juice and simple syrup. Not too strong, you definitely get the taste of the apple and cinnamon. Like an apple pie cocktail! They also have non alcoholic beverages and so Jodi got the Pompelmo, made with grapefruit juice, fresh mint, soda and tonic. Refreshing.

Babbo natale cocktail at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Babbo natale cocktail at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Pompelmo drink at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Pompelmo drink at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

I started the meal with an appetizer: the calamari alla griglia or grilled squid with homemade sausage stuffed with curry risotto. The calamari was well made, not rubbery, but I admit that the most surprising part of the dish was the sausage that looked at a potato...Once cut in half, it revealed a delicious risotto.

Calamari all griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Calamari all griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Calamari alla griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Calamari alla griglia at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Then, for her main, Jodi ordered the spaghetti con mozzarella, pomodori e funghi, that are spaghetti with shiitake mushrooms, mozzarella, Parmesan, tomato sauce and basil. Classic and good, quite comforting.

Spaghetti con mozzarella at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Spaghetti con mozzarella at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

I do not think the pasta was homemade as they typically would mention it on the menu item, as they did for my dish, the tagliolini Nero con gamberetto e granchio. It was homemade squid ink tagliolini, shrimp, crab meat and shredded zucchini in a spicy tomato sauce. Usually, when I go to an Italian restaurant and they have squid ink pasta, I cannot resist ordering it and for sure I was not disappointed by this dish, although my white shirt had collateral damage...Yes, the pasta was delicious, perfectly cooked, smothered by a robust sauce that had a very slight kick.

Squid ink tagliolini at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Squid ink tagliolini at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We decided to try their torta caprese instead of the classic tiramisu, curious to see what this chocolate almond cake would taste like. I admit that when they brought the place, the cake, that was sitting next to vanilla gelato looked dry. It was not. Chocolatey, slightly chewy, it was very good with or without the ice cream and we (I should say I) did not have any problem to finish it.

Torta caprese at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

Torta caprese at Basta pasta in NYC, NY

We left glad that we got to eat at Basta Pasta. It might not be your classic Italian but it has solid dishes that do not disappoint. I really recommend 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!

Basta Pasta - 37 W 17th Street, New York 10011

 
Basta Pasta Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Kellari Taverna in NYC

After a first visit at Kellari Taverna, a Greek restaurant located two blocks from Bryant Park, I decided to have dinner there again with Jodi on a Friday evening. The first time I went (no photo, sorry), I was really excited as their fish (they serve fresh sustainable fish that is on a beautiful display) was very good: I first was going for the barbounia aka rouget aka red mullet, but that day they did not have any. So I had the filet of sole that they deboned for me perfectly and was the star, not smothered with any sauce So you could really get its delicious taste.

Kellari Taverna in NYC

Kellari Taverna in NYC

After a first visit at Kellari Taverna, a Greek restaurant located two blocks from Bryant Park, I decided to have dinner there again with Jodi on a Friday evening. The first time I went (no photo, sorry), I was really excited as their fish (they serve fresh sustainable fish that is on a beautiful display) was very good: I first was going for the barbounia aka rouget aka red mullet, but that day they did not have any. So I had the filet of sole that they deboned for me perfectly and was the star, not smothered with any sauce So you could really get its delicious taste.

Dining room at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Dining room at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Seafood display at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Seafood display at Kellari Taverna in NYC

But with Jodi, we decided to share a bunch of vegetarian appetizers: the selection of spread is always one we choose and we went for all their spreads that are in fact 4 of them: Tzatziki (Yogurt), Melitzanosalata (Eggplant), Htipiti (Whipped Feta - supposedly spicy but personally I did not think so), Tarama (Caviar).

Spreads at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Spreads at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Tarama at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Tarama at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Feta at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Feta at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Tzatziki at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Tzatziki at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Eggplant at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Eggplant at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Well yes, the caviar was not vegetarian and we did not even check the description; otherwise I would have ask to replace it by another one like the hummus that they give with olives and radishes at the beginning.

Olives, radishes and hummus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Olives, radishes and hummus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Nevertheless, these spreads, served with pita were very good, and we in fact ate them with the Kellari chips that was our second appetizer. These chips made with fried eggplant and fried zucchini are also a favorite appetizer: crispy and not greasy, it is a good way to get some vegetables in your diet...

Chips at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Chips at Kellari Taverna in NYC

The next dish was the saganaki. The kefalograviera cheese came flambé (they use Metaxa brandy): it was good but not the best I ever had for sure and I found that the brandied apricots and hazelnuts on top were not necessary.

Saganaki at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Saganaki at Kellari Taverna in NYC

I got a non-vegetarian dish all for myself though: the octopodi or grilled octopus that was sitting on hummus, and served with onions, peppers and capers. This is a great dish, with a large portion perfect to share. The octopus was superb: well cooked and not tough at all.

Grilled octopus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Grilled octopus at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With my meal, I got a glass of ouzo that I did not see on the menu surprisingly but was sure they would have (they do not even try to make a cocktail with it that would be a good idea).

Ouzo at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Ouzo at Kellari Taverna in NYC

For dessert, I let Jodi picked, knowing that the last time I went I tried their baklava that is superb. She decided to go for the galaktoboureko, a Greek dessert of semolina custard in filo. This was very good: buttery, not too sweet, with the custard having a nice vanilla flavor.

Galaktoboureko at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Galaktoboureko at Kellari Taverna in NYC

With it, I decided to go for a Greek coffee that they made medium sweet. Good, but the previous time, I thought it was less watery.

Greek coffee at Kellari Taverna in NYC

Greek coffee at Kellari Taverna in NYC

So overall it was good, but the service is a bit inconsistent and I found some of the items overpriced. Not sure I would go back considering the other options in the city like Molyvos.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

Kellari Taverna - 19 W 44th Street, New York 10036

 
Kellari Taverna Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Brunch at La Bonbonniere

We passed so many times in front of La Bonbonniere in the West Village that we were curious to know what this place was, the restaurant having a French name meaning the candy box. So we decided to go for an early brunch on a Saturday as each time we saw that place, there were people waiting outside.

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

We passed so many times in front of La Bonbonniere in the West Village that we were curious to know what this place was, the restaurant having a French name meaning the candy box. So we decided to go for an early brunch on a Saturday as each time we saw that place, there were people waiting outside.

We probably arrived around 11am and this tiny place was packed! Yes, La Bonbonniere is tiny and when near the bar and even the entrance, you can feel the heat of the grill that is sitting right there.

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Opened since the early 80’s by Marina Cortez Arrieta and her business partner Gus Maroulletis, La Bonbonniere is not a French restaurant but more an old school diner where classic dishes such as sandwiches, pancakes and eggs are expected, including their famous French toast as they call them that we decided to try. Made with challah bread, they looked impressive but could have been soaked a bit longer.

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

French toast at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

We also tried their grilled cheese with cheddar that was good and comforting like at home.

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Grilled cheese at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

As beverages, Jodi got a tea while I could not not have an egg cream that is a drink I adore.

Egg cream at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Egg cream at La Bonbonniere in the West Village

Quick, comforting and not pricey is how I would describe La Bonbonniere. This cash only place has a neighborhood atmosphere that is even more noticeable than its food. If I had people visit who never went to a diner in their life, I may bring them there.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

La Bonbonniere - 28 8th Avenue, New York 10014

 
La Bonbonniere Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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New Bakery in Hoboken: SunMerry

There is a new bakery in Hoboken, but this time, a Taiwanese bakery with European influences: SunMerry. Not their first location is the US though as they have few in California as well as New Jersey, and I even passed by a store under renovation in New York that should be opening soon. So we decided to check it out for breakfast. I admit that I was a bit disappointed to see that they do not have anywhere to sit, and so it is a grab and go kind of place. Hopefully they will have outside seating when the weather is nice so you can relax with a coffee (no espresso though) or tea and some treats.

SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new bakery in Hoboken, but this time, a Taiwanese bakery with European influences: SunMerry. Not their first location is the US though as they have few in California as well as New Jersey, and I even passed by a store under renovation in New York that should be opening soon. So we decided to check it out for breakfast. I admit that I was a bit disappointed to see that they do not have anywhere to sit, and so it is a grab and go kind of place. Hopefully they will have outside seating when the weather is nice so you can relax with a coffee (no espresso though) or tea and some treats.

SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

We tried few things there and I would have been more adventurous if we would have eaten there as, if you do not like something, you can get something else right away. Here is what we tried:

Chocolate croissant: well it is literally a croissant with chocolate inside that is truly what it should be as croissant refers to the shape (in French, we do not call it « un croissant au chocolat » although the dough is identical, but rather a « pain au chocolat »). Anyway, it was good, flakey and buttery.

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

Chocolate croissant at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

The cinnamon bun looked spectacular but it was a bit dry...

Cinnamon bun at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

Cinnamon bun at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

My favorite was the Portuguese egg custard that is like a small tart made with a flan. Delicious, not too sweet, I could have eaten a bunch.

Portuguese egg custard at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

Portuguese egg custard at SunMerry in Hoboken, NJ

SunMerry is a nice addition in Hoboken, but I still prefer Chocopain (that should not surprise you by now if you follow me on Instagram). I’ll wait for the nice days to visit this place again and try some of their savory items.

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

SunMerry - 519 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 
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Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It’s been a while since we had Prato Bakery on Washington street in Hoboken in our sights and we finally decided to try this place two weekends in a row. Prato Bakery is small with only few seats inside, but fortunately outside seating during the warmer days.

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

It’s been a while since we had Prato Bakery on Washington street in Hoboken in our sights and we finally decided to try this place two weekends in a row. Prato Bakery is small with only few seats inside, but fortunately outside seating during the warmer days.

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

They propose many mouth watering dishes, with few vegetarian choices, such as pizza, pizette (ie mini pizza) and sandwiches. The pizza is good (we tried their margarita one), having a thick crust that reminded me a bit what my grandmother, who was not Italian, used to make. The eggplant caprese on focaccia is also a great option.

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Eggplant caprese at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Margarita pizza at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

But what I loved the most were the sandwiches, especially the ones made with focaccia over their brioche that I find better for the sweet options as you will see later. No, the focaccia sandwiches are delicious and not just because of the ingredients inside: the bread, made daily in another location is incredibly good, even more when they toast for few minutes your sandwich. The one I tried is the Bronte, made with mortadella, pistachio cream and mozzarella. The first bite of it is like heaven with angels singing over your shoulder: you first get the crunchiness of the focaccia that is followed by the creaminess of the mozzarella, topped with the nuttiness of the pistachio, all of this not overpowering at all the mortadella that definitely comes through.

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Bronte sandwich at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

The brioche is a smaller size sandwich because I admit that the ones with focaccia are quite filling, but, although good, they do not have the same effect, the one with prosciutto crudo (pan brioche ripiena) being good but with more bread than filling. With Nutella however, the brioche is awesome! It kind of complements perfectly the sweetness of the Nutella and as you can see they put a lot in it!

Brioche with prosciutto crude at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Brioche with prosciutto crude at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Brioche with Nutella at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

Brioche with Nutella at Prato Bakery in Hoboken, NJ

So overall, Prato Bakery is a great find: you get great sandwiches there without breaking the bank. It reminds me a bit All’Antico Vinaio in Florence that we discovered last Summer with its fantastic focaccia sandwiches. I definitely recommend 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!

Prato Bakery - 201 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 
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TKK Fried Chicken

When Taiwanese fried chicken meets bubble tea, it gives you an interesting fast food mix: this is what TKK Fried Chicken and Kung Fu’s Tea did this year in a location few steps from Madison Square Park. I love fried chicken, discovering it while living in Paris, at KFC! Yes, I know, it might not have been the best fried chicken but still, it is a good memory, similar to when I first tried chicken wings at...Pizza Hut! But, when I moved to New York many years back, I not only got introduced to its Southern roots, especially accompanied with a waffle, but also got my first Korean fried chicken that I adore even more. But Taiwanese?

TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

When Taiwanese fried chicken meets bubble tea, it gives you an interesting fast food mix: this is what TKK Fried Chicken and Kung Fu’s Tea did this year in a location few steps from Madison Square Park. I love fried chicken, discovering it while living in Paris, at KFC! Yes, I know, it might not have been the best fried chicken but still, it is a good memory, similar to when I first tried chicken wings at...Pizza Hut! But, when I moved to New York many years back, I not only got introduced to its Southern roots, especially accompanied with a waffle, but also got my first Korean fried chicken that I adore even more. But Taiwanese? Never until now. Not that it is a novelty as TKK opened in 1974 in Taiwan and has now more than 60 locations, mainly in Taiwan. So the New York experience is a good challenge considering the number of places that serve the crispy bird, but, after visiting TKK, I would not be surprised to see other locations opening in the coming months. The feel of the place is definitely one of a fast casual restaurant and, although the chicken is not fried to order, TKK surely knows how to cook it: the thick crust is delicious, very crispy, and the chicken, wether dark or white meat, perfectly cooked all the way through and moist. They propose it in three level of spiciness: original, crispy mild or crispy spicy, the latter not being to the level of the spicy fried chicken you get in Korean restaurants that can set your mouth on fire, but you can dip the pieces in Tabasco or a mango habanero sauce that would wake you up. Personally, I loved the honey garlic sauce that had a nice sweetness.

Dining room at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Dining room at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Mashed potatoes at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Mashed potatoes at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Fried chicken combo at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

Fried chicken combo at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

Biscuit at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Biscuit at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Shishito peppers at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Shishito peppers at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Sweet potatoes fries at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

Sweet potatoes fries at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC

The crispy chicken sandwich was equally good: the delicious crispy chicken is accompanied by cheese, lettuce and tomato and squeezed between two pieces of soft bun. This is definitely a must have if you prefer having a sandwich instead of pieces of chicken.

Crispy chicken sandwich at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Crispy chicken sandwich at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

And of course, for drinks, you benefit from the menu of Kung Fu Tea (and I am not talking about the draught beer they propose…). So, bubble tea like the chai I got was was a natural choice for me.

Beer at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Beer at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Chai bubble tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Chai bubble tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Oolong tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

Oolong tea at TKK Fried Chicken in NYC, NY

So, overall it was quite good but I thought Thai fried chicken would stand out like Korean Fried Chicken is. Still, If I were in the area and was craving fried chicken, that would be the place to go to.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

TKK Fried Chicken - 115 E 23rd Street, New York, NY

 
TKK Fried Chicken Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Brunch at Narcissa at The Standard East Village

I had Narcissa on my long list of restaurants to visit for a while now and it is finally when Jodi’s cousin Rebecca proposed to go there for brunch that we ended up at the New American restaurant of Chef John Fraser (Nix, The Terrace and The Outdoor Gardens) at the Standard Hotel in the East Village. Of course, as usual, we had an early meal that is often my favorite way of enjoying restaurants, the crowd not only increasing drastically the noise level but also often slowing down the kitchen.

Narcissa in NYC, NY

Narcissa in NYC, NY

I had Narcissa on my long list of restaurants to visit for a while now and it is finally when Jodi’s cousin Rebecca proposed to go there for brunch that we ended up at the New American restaurant of Chef John Fraser (Nix, The Terrace and The Outdoor Gardens) at the Standard Hotel in the East Village. Of course, as usual, we had an early meal that is often my favorite way of enjoying restaurants, the crowd not only increasing drastically the noise level but also often slowing down the kitchen.

Door from The Standard Hotel

Door from The Standard Hotel

Dining room at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Dining room at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Menu wise, they have your classic brunch dishes, from eggs to burger, but not prepared in a usual way for the most part. For instance, the burger, called steakhouse burger for no apparent reason, is not just a cheese burger. It has bacon, blue, spinach, jalapeño and garlic mayo (aka aioli) on a toasted bun. I admit that at first I was not that thrilled to see spinach in it, but was thinking that if I did not like it, I could remove it. No need: there was just the right amount. And that burger was superb, even if a bit spicy because of the jalapeño: the meat was perfectly cooked and juicy, and I loved the pairing with the blue and bacon, the latter adding some smokiness and decadence to it.

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Steakhouse burger at Narcissa in NYC, NY

The burger was served with fries (I had to pick between this and a salad), that were like I love them: thin, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through.

Jodi settled for their egg white omelette, composed of spinach, caramelized onions and goat cheese. I am not a huge fan of egg white omelets, but admit that this one was pretty tasty.

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Egg white omelette at Narcissa in NYC, NY

We also shared the French toast bites that is the perfect dish to share with people. They were served with maple syrup and a lemon sauce that was so tart that I dished it. Anyway, the French toast bites were so moist that did not need any sauce.

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

French toast bites at Narcissa in NYC, NY

At the start of my meal, I also got a non-alcoholic drink: the wellness shot, that has turmeric, ginger, lemon, honey and cayenne pepper. That was spicy! But good. But spicy. For sure you need to like ginger...

Wellness shot at Narcissa in NYC, NY

Wellness shot at Narcissa in NYC, NY

So overall, the brunch at Narcissa was very good and the service on point. I definitely need to check out this place for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Narcissa - 25 Cooper Square, New York 10003

 
Narcissa Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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L'Amico: another service going wrong

It has been so long that we wanted to go for dinner at L’Amico, the restaurant from Chef Laurent Tourondel where we had a great brunch last year. So, we finally decided to go there on a Friday evening. I am not sure it was a good move: it was packed, extremely loud and the service was disappointing, to the point that we asked one of the managers if somebody would take our order! Well, he could have been more gracious about it and at least apologize instead of giving us the feeling he was annoyed by our request. It was thanks to him in fact that my cocktail, ordered 25 minutes before, came to the table. It was the Brooklyn Bound, made with Smooth Ambler Contradiction whiskey, …

L'Amico in NYC, NY

L'Amico in NYC, NY

It has been so long that we wanted to go for dinner at L’Amico, the restaurant from Chef Laurent Tourondel where we had a great brunch last year. So, we finally decided to go there on a Friday evening. I am not sure it was a good move: it was packed, extremely loud and the service was disappointing, to the point that we asked one of the managers if somebody would take our order! Well, he could have been more gracious about it and at least apologize instead of giving us the feeling he was annoyed by our request. It was thanks to him in fact that my cocktail, ordered 25 minutes before, came to the table. It was the Brooklyn Bound, made with Smooth Ambler Contradiction whiskey, Ramazotti amaro liqueur, anise and a maraschino cherry. Nice, with a beautiful dark color, it was strong with a slight anise taste that added a certain freshness to it.

Brooklyn bound cocktail at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Brooklyn bound cocktail at L'Amico in NYC, NY

After a while, I was able to grab the waiter and reminded him that we were still waiting for bread…

Bread at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Bread at L'Amico in NYC, NY

At that point, I was not sure we would ever get our appetizer that came few minutes later. It was the mushroom arancini. Pretty good, slightly crunchy on the outside and creamy inside, it was sitting on a delicious truffle aioli.

Mushroom arancini at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Mushroom arancini at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Mushroom arancini at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Mushroom arancini at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Still set with mushrooms, Jodi then ordered the white mushroom pizza that is made with truffle paste, taleggio and fontina cheese, and sage. Cooked in their wood fire oven, this pizza was superb: the crust had this wonderful char and the pizza was packed with mushrooms and cheese.

Mushroom pizza at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Mushroom pizza at L'Amico in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the seafood agnolotti that were made with lobster, scallop, crab and rock shrimp, in a creamy sauce. Decadent and elegant, I simply loved it. The agnolotti were perfectly made and cooked, filled with a delicious mix of seafood. I just wished they had some rock shrimp on top of the pasta for an added texture. Still, it was a very good dish.

Seafood agnolotti at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Seafood agnolotti at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. I admit that at first we wanted to leave before dessert as we thought that it would take forever to get served. But, as the evening went, service improved and we decided to try their baba with rum that was a nice take on a classic dessert.

Baba at L'Amico in NYC, NY

Baba at L'Amico in NYC, NY

So, although the service could have been way better, we liked our dinner at L’Amico. It shows how bad service can spoil a meal. I still would go back but probably on a week day...

Enjoy (I still did)!

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

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

 
L'Amico Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Le Jardinier, Midtown East

I noticed Le Jardinier, a restaurant located Midtown East, when it got a Michelin Star in the 2020 New York Michelin Guide. Meaning The Gardener in French, Le Jardinier translates perfectly the concept from Chef Alain Verzeroli with a menu centered on vegetables complemented by sustainable fish and meat. And what a decor! Design by renowned French architect Joseph Dirand, it is as if you were dining in an elegant greenhouse.

Here is what we had:

Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

I noticed Le Jardinier, a restaurant located Midtown East, when it got a Michelin Star in the 2020 New York Michelin Guide. Meaning The Gardener in French, Le Jardinier translates perfectly the concept from Chef Alain Verzeroli with a menu centered on vegetables complemented by sustainable fish and meat. And what a decor! Design by renowned French architect Joseph Dirand, it is as if you were dining in an elegant greenhouse.

Here is what we had:

To start, we got their house made lemonade that was fizzy and refreshing.

House made lemonade at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

House made lemonade at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

They then brought their gluten free bread basket. I was surprised how good it was: I love bread and you would have told me it was gluten free, I would not have believed you.

Gluten free bread basket at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Gluten free bread basket at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

For her appetizer, Jodi ordered their mushroom veloute with crispy polenta. This was an elevated version of a mushroom soup that was succulent and I loved the fact that they used crispy polenta to replace classic croutons.

Mushroom veloute at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Mushroom veloute at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

On my side, I settled for the grilled yellowfin tuna: the dish looked beautiful with all the color, from the red of the fish to the green of the mache. The fish was delicious, slightly seared, and I noticed some crispy black rice that gave a nice crunch to the dish.

Tuna at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Tuna at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Tuna at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Tuna at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Then came the entrees. Pearled barley risotto for Jodi and duck confit for me. The risotto was pretty good, made with winter squash and mushrooms, and the color came from the use of mimolette cheese. Between this and the use of barley instead of rice, I thought it was a great interpretation of a classic Italian dish. The only negative is that it could have had more squash and mushroom in it.

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Barley risotto at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

The confit however was perfect: the meat, falling off the bone, was not too salty and the skin was delightfully fatty and crispy. The duck sat on top of black lentils that had a nice bite and there were few pieces of kumquat that gave a bit of acidity.

Duck confit at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Duck confit at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Duck confit at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Duck confit at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. After a slight hesitation between the Forêt Noire (black Forrest cake) and their fruit tart made with yuzu and topped with a meringue, we opened for the former that was decadent and not light, with delicious brandy cherries.

Foret noire at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Foret noire at Le Jardinier in NYC, NY

Overall it was a superb meal in a relaxed atmosphere not stuffy at all, with a very courteous and dilligent service. No wonder they got that star that is well deserved after few months operating, the restaurant having opened in May 2019.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Le Jardinier -610 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

 
Le Jardinier Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat! 2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat!

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new deli in Hoboken, but not the classic ones the city already has. No, this time it is a Jewish style deli: Pastrami House Delicatessen. Located where Boardwalk Burgers and Fries used to be on Washington street, it opened on January 4th. Finally, as this spot has been unoccupied for a while since the burger joint closed, at some point being replaced by The Brooklyn Bagelry, before that company went bankrupt. So, we decided to check out Pastrami House on a Saturday and I admit that it was a bit hectic, mainly because of the customers who were literally blocking passage with their strollers or not going where they were supposed to go to order. So you could definitely see that the high flow of …

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

There is a new deli in Hoboken, but not the classic ones the city already has. No, this time it is a Jewish style deli: Pastrami House Delicatessen. Located where Boardwalk Burgers and Fries used to be on Washington street, it opened on January 4th. Finally, as this spot has been unoccupied for a while since the burger joint closed, at some point being replaced by The Brooklyn Bagelry, before that company went bankrupt. So, we decided to check out Pastrami House on a Saturday and I admit that it was a bit hectic, mainly because of the customers who were literally blocking passage with their strollers or not going where they were supposed to go to order. So you could definitely see that the high flow of orders destabilized a bit the staff who did its best. That’s not too surprising for the first few weeks of a restaurant, although this place has already several locations and the owners are certainly not newbies.

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

So, at first, I went around the place, looking for the seating area: there is none. Pastrami House is solely take out and will soon start delivery. This was a bit of a bummer because by the time you go home, the food is cold. Anyway, we decided to try few dishes there from their mostly classic Jewish deli menu (understand matzo ball soup, potato latkes, reuben, hot dogs or knishes to name a few). Here is what we had:

Pastrami reuben: made with rye bread, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, it was pretty good. I just wished that it was toasted a bit more so the bread would be slightly crunchier and the cheese melted. Still, it was good. I should mention that they offer a junior size for most of their sandwiches that is great if you have a small appetite or want to try something else...

Pastrami reuben at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Pastrami reuben at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Reuben dog: I am not sure if it was intended and I misunderstood what it was or they forgot something, but it was like a hot dog except that the sausage was replaced by pastrami and it had mustard. It was good but after the pastrami reuben, a bit of a repeat. It was served with steak fries that needed to be reheated in the oven as mushy.

Reuben dog at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Reuben dog at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Knish: quite good and comforting.

Knish at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Knish at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

For dessert, they also have classics like black and white cookies, rugelach or the sprinkle cookie Jodi ordered. But on my side, I was more interested by the mini cheesecakes from Junior’s...

Sprinkle cookie at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Sprinkle cookie at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Junio’s cheesecake at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Junio’s cheesecake at Pastrami House Delicatessen in Hoboken, NJ

Last, they have drinks you would expect in delis, especially from Stewart’s. So, I could not resist ordering a root beer with my meal.

Overall, although a bit hectic, there is no doubt that Pastrami House Delicatessen will be successful in Hoboken. I admit that I was expecting a sit down restaurant considering the space Boardwalk Burger and Fries had, allowing to enjoy the food right after being made. I will probably wait for their delivery service to be operational to try other menu items.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Pastrami House Delicatessen -832 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

 
Pastrami House Delicatessen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat! 2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat!

Lunch at Red Farm

It’s been a while we went to Red Farm, the inventive Chinese restaurant located in the West Village and decided to check it out for Veterans’ Day as I had the day off. Good idea as the place was barely filled at the time we went.

Red Farm in NYC, NY

Red Farm in NYC, NY

It’s been a while we went to Red Farm, the inventive Chinese restaurant located in the West Village and decided to check it out for Veterans’ Day as I had the day off. Good idea as the place was barely filled at the time we went.

Communal table at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Communal table at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Booth at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Booth at Red Farm in NYC, NY

This is a one of a kind restaurant for sure and its menu is quite overwhelming, but in a good way: well presented with the dumpling section highlighted, it is just that there are so many mouth watering dishes that you just want to order everything! The dim sum are for sure a must have and I could not not try their pan fried lamb dumplings that were superb and a change from the classic pork dumpling, the lamb elevating the dish.

Pan fried lamb dumplings at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Pan fried lamb dumplings at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Pan fried lamb dumplings at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Pan fried lamb dumplings at Red Farm in NYC, NY

But do not miss their vegetable and mushroom spring rolls that are quite tasty, very crunchy and slightly greasy, with a presentation that cannot go unnoticed.

Vegetable and mushroom spring rolls at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Vegetable and mushroom spring rolls at Red Farm in NYC, NY

We also shared their soft and crunchy vegetable fried rice that was not boring at all and was packed in flavor, also slightly greasy as you would expect fried rice to be.

Vegetable fried rice at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Vegetable fried rice at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Vegetable fried rice at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Vegetable fried rice at Red Farm in NYC, NY

We also had their Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles and Shiitake mushrooms that was really good.

Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles & Shiitakes at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles & Shiitakes at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles & Shiitakes at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Long Life Noodles, Chanterelles & Shiitakes at Red Farm in NYC, NY

I should mention that with my meal I tried their Thai basil lemonade that was quite refreshing.

Thai basil lemonade at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Thai basil lemonade at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Last was their key lime pie that is one of the best I had: it had the right balance of tartness and sweetness. Another must have!

Key lime pie at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Key lime pie at Red Farm in NYC, NY

Red Farm does not disappoint for sure and I regret I let that much time pass between two visits.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Red Farm - 529 Hudson Street, New York 10014

 
RedFarm Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat! 2020-Q1 I Just Want To Eat!

Benno, Michelin Star in NYC, NY

When I read the paper from Pete Wells in the New York Times about Benno, it made me laugh: it represents why when people call me a food critic I cringe. No, I am not a critic just somebody who loves to eat and share his experience. Critics are often too elitist and disconnected from what the masses like, expecting perfection from start to finish when what one may call a perfect meal can differ from my own appreciation. Here is an excerpt from Pete Wells, New York Times:

Benno in NYC, NY

Benno in NYC, NY

When I read the paper from Pete Wells in the New York Times about Benno, it made me laugh: it represents why when people call me a food critic I cringe. No, I am not a critic just somebody who loves to eat and share his experience. Critics are often too elitist and disconnected from what the masses like, expecting perfection from start to finish when what one may call a perfect meal can differ from my own appreciation. Here is an excerpt from Pete Wells, New York Times:

“Dated was the word one friend used after going to Benno, and if you’ve eaten there, too, you’ll know why. It’s as if the past 15 years in food never happened. The menu seems to be stuck in some time between 1994, when Thomas Keller bought the French Laundry, and 2004, when he opened Per Se with a young Jonathan Benno leading the kitchen.”

I might not be a millennial but still, I did not find Benno dated. Located in The Evelyn Hotel, the eponymous restaurant of Chef Jonathan Benno received a coveted Michelin Star this year and, after dining there, I find it well deserved: excellent service and great food are the perfect combination for a meal in an Art Deco dining room with an impressive skylight, in a setting that does not feel stuffy at all.

Bar area at Benno in NYC, NY

Bar area at Benno in NYC, NY

Dining room at Benno in NYC, NY

Dining room at Benno in NYC, NY

The menu, with French and Italian inspired dishes would satisfy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Diners, with a little edge for the latter. Here is what we had:

As usual, I looked for a whisky cocktail and ended up with the Irish Breakfast, an interesting take on Irish Whisky made with coffee bean-infused Powers Irish Whisky Gold, Aberna Amaro Siciliano and walnut bitters. For Jodi, it was moktail called the Citrus Blossom, made of orange blossom water, grapefruit juice and fresh mint.

Irish breakfast cocktail at Benno in NYC, NY

Irish breakfast cocktail at Benno in NYC, NY

Citrus blossom moktail at Benno in NYC, NY

Citrus blossom moktail at Benno in NYC, NY

At that point, they brought us some pretzel bread with honey mustard butter that was an interesting fusion of bread and butter, and pretzel and mustard, the honey mustard taste being predominant over the creaminess of the butter.

Pretzel bread at Benno in NYC, NY

Pretzel bread at Benno in NYC, NY

Honey mustard butter at Benno in NYC, NY

Honey mustard butter at Benno in NYC, NY

They then offered an amuse, vegetarian for Jodi and non-vegetarian for me. For Jodi, it was golden beets and radishes, and for me golden trout and caviar. The presentation was beautiful and a good way to introduce what was coming next.

Golden beets and radishes amuse at Benno in NYC, NY

Golden beets and radishes amuse at Benno in NYC, NY

Golden trout and caviar at Benno in NYC, NY

Golden trout and caviar at Benno in NYC, NY

The menu is split between snacks, appetizers, pasta and risottos, and mains. So at first, Jodi wanted to go directly with her main but I persuaded her to get falafel that was one of the snacks as otherwise she would have to just watch me eat my appetizer...There were 6 falafel that were accompanied by hummus and babaganouj, all quite good.

Falafel at Benno in NYC, NY

Falafel at Benno in NYC, NY

Falafel at Benno in NYC, NY

Falafel at Benno in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the steak tartare, that was topped with sunny side up quail egg and seasoned with capers, cornichons, birds beak peppers, espelette crisp. Pretty classic and good, with a nice kick and acidity.

Steak tartare at Benno in NYC, NY

Steak tartare at Benno in NYC, NY

Steak tartare at Benno in NYC, NY

Steak tartare at Benno in NYC, NY

For the entrees, Jodi ordered the tagliatelle with white truffle and stracciatella cheese. Elegant and decadent dish for sure, it was sublime and they surely were not cheap with the truffle that they shaved at the table.

Tagliatelle with white truffle at Benno in NYC, NY

Tagliatelle with white truffle at Benno in NYC, NY

For me, I had difficulties to make up my mind as so many dishes looked very good. I finally settled for the duck prepared 3 ways: seared duck breast, duck sausage and foie gras. I simply loved it: each way the duck was cooked was delicious and delicate with the seared foie gras being my favorite. It was lying on top of lentils that were also good.

Duck at Benno in NYC, NY

Duck at Benno in NYC, NY

For dessert, knowing that Jodi is vegetarian, they graciously told her which desserts were vegetarian as many had gelatine in them. I thought that was a nice attention. So we decided to go for the apple cider rum baba. But this one was original, the baba sitting on top of an apple tatin, like a fusion of two of my favorite desserts.

Baba at Benno in NYC, NY

Baba at Benno in NYC, NY

Baba at Benno in NYC, NY

Baba at Benno in NYC, NY

So, overall, it was a great dinner: the food was delicious and the service very hospitable. Sorry Pete Wells, I will have to once again disagree with you: Benno deserves a visit and its Michelin Star.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Benno - 7 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016

 
Benno Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Asset on the Upper West Side

I was recently invited at Asset on the Upper West Side to try their brunch. This Modern American restaurant that serves a cuisine with Mediterranean influences is the result of the collaboration of Larry Bellone and Will Tracy, the owners of Tessa, a place on Amsterdam Avenue that I discovered few years ago (Asset is in fact Tessa spelled backward). With its industrial feel and stunning horseshoe staircase, Asset has a beautiful decor from the same architect who designed Tessa. I particularly like the booths in the back that give an intimate feel to a meal.

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

Asset on the Upper West Side

Asset on the Upper West Side

I was recently invited at Asset on the Upper West Side to try their brunch. This Modern American restaurant that serves a cuisine with Mediterranean influences is the result of the collaboration of Larry Bellone and Will Tracy, the owners of Tessa, a place on Amsterdam Avenue that I discovered few years ago (Asset is in fact Tessa spelled backward). With its industrial feel and stunning horseshoe staircase, Asset has a beautiful decor from the same architect who designed Tessa. I particularly like the booths in the back that give an intimate feel to a meal.

Bar area at Asset on the Upper West Side

Bar area at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Dining room at Asset on the Upper West Side

Menu wise, for brunch, they have classics: eggs, sandwiches, waffles and pancakes are the main highlights, with a nice selection of vegetarian dishes. Anyway, they can accommodate you if you fill like having a dish without meat (not the burger of course), like they did for the avocado toast that is normally made with smoked salmon, trout caviar and radish. Quite good, I for sure appreciate the fact that the bread was not too thick, so there was a good balance with the avocado and could be cut easily.

Avocado toast at Asset on the Upper West Side

Avocado toast at Asset on the Upper West Side

Another vegetarian dish is the vegetable scramble that is made with tomato and mushroom: the eggs were quite good, smooth and not overcooked.

Vegetable omelet at Asset on the Upper West Side

Vegetable omelet at Asset on the Upper West Side

Vegetable omelet at Asset on the Upper West Side

Vegetable omelet at Asset on the Upper West Side

For non-vegetarian, I suggest their signature burger, composed of two patties smothered by sharp cheddar and caramelized onion. It was delicious, although I would have preferred a different kind of bread, this one being a bit dry for my taste. The meat was juicy and tasty (I hate when there is too much seasoning and you cannot taste the meat), and I loved the sweetness that the caramelized onions gave. It was served with a pickle and some French fries that were skin on and slightly crispy.

Burger at Asset on the Upper West Side

Burger at Asset on the Upper West Side

Burger at Asset on the Upper West Side

Burger at Asset on the Upper West Side

For drinks, while Jodi got an English breakfast tea, I decided to go with an Irish coffee that is a good brunch drink: well it is coffee, right?

English breakfast tea at Asset on the Upper West Side

English breakfast tea at Asset on the Upper West Side

Irish coffee at Asset on the Upper West Side

Irish coffee at Asset on the Upper West Side

English breakfast tea at Asset on the Upper West Side

English breakfast tea at Asset on the Upper West Side

Irish coffee at Asset on the Upper West Side

Irish coffee at Asset on the Upper West Side

Last was dessert and we finished with a sublime homemade banana baked Alaska. Often, I see passion fruit baked Alaska that are not really my favorite, but I admit that this one was one of the best I had. Not too sweet, it was made with a banana mango sorbet and had dulce de leche in it. I highly recommend it!

Baked Alaska at Asset on the Upper West Side

Baked Alaska at Asset on the Upper West Side

Baked Alaska at Asset on the Upper West Side

Baked Alaska at Asset on the Upper West Side

We left Asset full and glad we got the opportunity to try this place: the food was great and they had a nice and relaxing atmosphere. I will have to go back for dinner...

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Asset - 329 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

 
Asset Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi 2020-Q1 Jean-Philippe Gerbi

Nusr-Et Steakhouse without Saltbae

It is not my first time at Nusr-Et, the Eponymous restaurant of fame Chef better known as Saltbae made famous by his exaggerated gesture when putting salt on meat, the salt dropping on his forearm into the meat (not so sanitary). The place was quite busy for a Tuesday evening with few large tables and even with a reservation, we were invited to wait at the bar until our table (that was not occupied finally, would be ready. A good trick from restaurants to have you order drinks. 10 minutes after the time of the reservation, we finally got seated. Yes, crowded and not so loud at the beginning despite the presence of a …

Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC, NY

It is not my first time at Nusr-Et, the Eponymous restaurant of fame Chef better known as Saltbae made famous by his exaggerated gesture when putting salt on meat, the salt dropping on his forearm into the meat (not so sanitary). The place was quite busy for a Tuesday evening with few large tables and even with a reservation, we were invited to wait at the bar until our table (that was not occupied finally, would be ready. A good trick from restaurants to have you order drinks. 10 minutes after the time of the reservation, we finally got seated. Yes, crowded and not so loud at the beginning despite the presence of a DJ but loud at the end as they started to play music loudly after 9pm, customers and staff dancing (I wonder if to get hired to show them some moves...), mainly men in fact, the restaurant having very few women on the payroll.

Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

The food there is mainly for non-vegetarians with few salads and sides for vegetarians: the star there is meat, the Chef being a butcher originally. They even have a $1,000 gold coated Wagyu tomahawk that I consider a shame personally.

Lots of people come to Nusr-Et to see the Chef do his moves and either take a photo or a video of him, but he is not always there (the best way to know is to check his Instagram), so they amped up a bit the way they prepare or serve the food by having the staff make their own gestures, with the same spirit. When the guy prepared the steak tartare table side, I admit that I was really impressed by his knife skills: he cut the piece of filet mignon at such speed! It is a quite good tartare in fact, where they add Dijon mustard, shallots, cognac, capers, chili sauce and crispy shredded potato for an added texture.

Steak tartare station at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Steak tartare station at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Steak tartare at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Steak tartare at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

The steak of course is the main attraction: seeing them cutting the tomahaw (aka Saltbae tomahawk) is always entertaining and as you expect you get the weird salt pouring at the end, the person doing it Probably thinking for few seconds that he or she will have a moment of fame. Pricey, the tomahawk is good though: tender, juicy, nicely charred, they will cook it medium rare unless you ask otherwise.

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Tomahawk at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Wit it, the perfect sides are the fries and the sautéed mushrooms.

Fries at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Fries at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Sauteed mushrooms at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Sauteed mushrooms at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Then you cannot leave without dessert: their baklava served with goat milk ice cream is one of the best I ever had, perfect with a Turkish coffee.

Baklava at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Baklava at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Turkish coffee at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Turkish coffee at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

You may wonder what I drank with my meal: the Saltbae old fashioned (nothing special there, not even a bacon rub but good) and a glass of red wine, “Red blend Murrieta’s Well The Spur, Livermore, California”. They do have Turkish wine that I was curious to try but not by the glass...

Saltbae old fashioned at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Saltbae old fashioned at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Red wine, “Red blend Murrieta’s Well The Spur, Livermore, California” at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

Red wine, “Red blend Murrieta’s Well The Spur, Livermore, California” at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in NYC. NY

So yes, Nusr-Et is a bit of a scene and gimmicky but at least the food is delicious. This is a good place to go if you do not like Broadway shows but are looking for an evening of entertainment!!!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Nusr-Et - 60 W 53rd Street, New York 10019

 
Nusr-Et Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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