I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/29/22

Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

We discovered Franklin Social two weeks ago, simply by seeing on Instagram that they had the 1947 beer on their menu. I know: it is weird because usually you go because you see a particular dish on social media, but no, this was this awesome beer that I discovered last year...

1947 Beer at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

The first time we went was for brunch, on a quiet Sunday, the place not being that crowded if not for a graduation party that they hosted in their patio. We sat outside, the weather being perfect and I admit that this was very relaxing, enjoying my beer and the food that came at a good rhythm, not too fast, not too slow. We started off by sharing deviled eggs, a dish that always reminds me of meals at my mom’s when I was a kid and she made oeufs mayonnaise, although the quantity of mayo in hers was twice the one they put at Franklin Social and my mom never put sunflower seeds gremolata, that added a nice crunch to it..

Deviled eggs at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

For her main, Jodi got the falafel sandwich that was quite good, while I opted for the fried chicken sandwich that was served with jalapeño coleslaw, pickles and roasted chili aioli. I admit that the ratio bread / fried chicken was in favor of the bread unfortunately , but the chicken was deliciously cooked, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. I was also expecting some heat but it was not spicy at all. Still, I enjoyed it. It was served with either a salad or some steak fries. I decided to try the latter, although I never liked steak fries. I did not change my mind: they were slightly crunchy, but not fully cooked inside. Yes, I still prefer skinny fries!

Falafel salad at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Falafel sandwich at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Fried chicken sandwich at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

For dessert, we got churros with chocolate sauce (normally it comes with caramel, but we got two servings of chocolate sauce). In fact I did not care much for the chocolate sauce, these churros being delicious on their own (and if you want to know my favorite dipping for churros, it is condensed milk!).

Churros at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

A week later, we went back for dinner and all the spots outside were taken so we sat in their quiet dining room that had a nice homey feel. As it was before 7pm, we benefited from the happy hour: I got a cocktail ($10) called “We The People”, made with Dickel Rye, apple brandy, Madeira, Demerara and angostura bitters. Sweet and refreshing. We also got, for $6, some fried pickles that we always get whenever on a menu. Served with an horseradish aioli, they were very good, not greasy, crunchy and delightfully salty and sour. We also got their potato croquettes that were bigger than expected, sitting on creme fraiche and accompanied with a lemon brûlée that I squeezed on top of the croquettes that were filled with cheese, crunchy on the outside without being greasy and creamy inside. Delicious!

We The People cocktail at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Fried pickles at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Potato croquettes at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

For her main, Jodi got the crispy cauliflower that was served with tzatziki. This is the kind of dish that would make you think twice before saying you do not like cauliflower! It was succulent: deep fried (well, anything deep fried is good, right?), the cauliflower was cooked all the way through but had still a bite.

Fried cauliflower at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

On my side, I had the pan roasted duck that was served with Brussels sprouts and a creamy polenta that was amazing. The duck was nicely fatty, perfectly cooked medium. This was a delicious dish.

Pan roasted duck at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Last was dessert. As we had the churros last time, we decided to try their bread pudding. It looked good, but unfortunately did not deliver: it was too dense and dry with a spicy taste. Too bad that they did not give more caramel sauce, because at least, the top that was slightly crunchy was good.

Bread pudding at Franklin Social in Jersey City, NJ

Overall, we had great meals at Franklin Social: this place is awesome and is worth a trip to Jersey City, this place being few blocks from the Grove Street Path station.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Franklin Social - 292 Barrow St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/27/22

Mexican Dinner at Sinigual in NYC

Located few blocks from Grand Central, Sinigual is a great Mexican restaurant: good ambiance and exciting menu come to mind when I think about this place that is quite big…

Located few blocks from Grand Central, Sinigual is a great Mexican restaurant: good ambiance and exciting menu come to mind when I think about this place that is quite big.

Going there, there are few staples you have to try: their house margarita (if you do not drink alcohol, they have a lemonade), and their guacamole that is really good, perfect made, with nice chunks of avocado, served mild as requested, and not overly salty. Only issue with that guac is the fact that it is supposed to be made table side. Not that it would make it taste better, but I enjoy seeing a little show, especially if advertised on the menu. But as Jodi said, “they said table side, but it does not mean it has to be your table!

For her main, Jodi got their vegetable fajita that was served with onions, bell peppers, pasilla chiles, new mexico frijoles, avocado relish, pico de Gallo with a handmade flour tortillas. They asked if she wanted sour cream, to which she responded “yes”, and we later realized that they charged us $2.50 for it! Despite that, it was good, with a little kick.

On my side, after much hesitation from their mouth watering menu, I decided to try their filet mignon enchiladas with grilled shrimp that was in their Chef’s Special section. This dish was composed of filet mignon enchiladas, mushrooms, grilled shrimp, a vegetable skewer, black beans, and cilantro-pasilla rice. Everything was succulent and what greatly contributed to the success of that dish was their chipotle sherry sauce that was sublime, whether with the rice, the enchiladas or the shrimp. The chunks of filet mignon were tender and juicy, and the shrimp perfectly cooked. For sure, this surf and turf dish is definitely something to try there.

Filet mignon enchiladas and grilled shrimp at Sinigual in NYC

Last was dessert. We went for their crepas de cajeta that are crêpes stuffed with cajeta that is a goat milk caramel, caramelized plantains, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. I did not care much about the plantains as they lacked sweetness, but the crepes with cajeta were spectacular. To the point that we bought some cajeta on Amazon the next day so we could put it in the crepes Jodi makes.

Overall, we had a great meal at Sinigual: this is a fantastic place for elevated Mexican food, and I will for sure go back there, this time, hoping to get see that guacamole making up close…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sinigual - 640 3rd Ave, Manhattan, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/25/22

Sorrento's Subs in Freehold, NJ

It has probably been 17 years since I have been to Sorrento’s, an Italian joint that serves large subs. So, as we were going to Freehold, I had a special request: to go to Sorrento’s for lunch. I admit that when we arrived, I did not recognize the place, not that it mattered much, as long as their menu was still mouth watering. And it was! Imagine: they serve subs with a bunch of meat, like ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, prosciuttino, chicken, roast beef or capicolla, that you can complement with cheese, and combine together in any way you prefer, making their 18 inches sandwiches even more decadent (yes…

I ordered the 18 inches Super, that I shared with my mother in-law, and ate half of it (9 inches), ditching a bit of the soft and nice bread at some point, focusing more on the meat and cheese, my stomach starting to be full, and wanting to keep some space for ice cream.

Super sub at Sorrento's Subs in Freehold, NJ

This huge sub was made with cheese, salami, boiled ham, capicolla, prosciuttino (a variety of prosciutto from Lombardy typically using high quality pork shoulder). Seeing them cutting the meat and laying it down on the bread made my mouth water a bit. They then put some cheese, iceberg lettuce (I ditched some as there was bit too much of it), oregano, and drizzled some oil and vinegar. $14 (At the time of the visit) is definitely a good deal considering the size of this thing and I could not wait to eat it, with some chips and a root beer, that is a classic combination for me. The first bite was so good: you first get the softness of the bread, and then every layer of meat that has this saltiness that is kind of compensated by the cheese and lettuce (hence better not asking for salt and pepper). I was I heaven.

Of course, if you do not like these subs you can order some Italian dishes like grilled chicken, salad or Patti melt, and they have several options if you are vegetarian (Jodi got their cheese sub but I was so focussed on mine that I. almost forgot to take a photo!).

Cheese sub at Sorrento's Subs in Freehold, NJ

So, it was great to go back to Sorrento’s: the food is as good as it was 17 years ago and was worth the trip!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Sorrento's Subs - 690 Park Ave – Route 33. Freehold, NJ 07728

I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/23/22

The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

There are few places in Hoboken where I would go for seafood. Halifax of course, at the W Hotel, and then The Stingray Lounge that I discovered few years ago. Located on the North part of Hoboken, they offer some delicious dishes that would satisfy any seafood lover: lobster, shrimp, crab or oysters to name a few. If you are vegetarian, it might be a bit more challenging, although they do not make a fuss about, like some restaurants would and I truly appreciated that they removed the meat from their cheese and charcuterie platter and did not charge us the full price that is often what restaurants do.

Cheese plate at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

Oyster wise, they have a very good selection and I love the fact that they print your order so, in case you. get a selection of oysters, you can see which one you are eating simply by reading the ticket from top to bottom and eating the oysters clockwise.

Oysters at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

For the main, I wanted a lobster roll, but their ran out of brioche bread and they warned me that they were serving it on a burger bun, that is not what I would look for in a lobster roll: it is not just about the lobster, that they propose Connecticut style, with melted butter. The bread is also part of it. So I decided to get their poached scallops, that were accompanied with grits (I had better), asparagus, a green peas puree and pistachios. This was overall good and these scallops were perfectly cooked.

Poached scallops at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

With our meal, we got some cocktails: non-alcoholic for Jodi (the Laguna Sunrise, made with raspberry, orange, mint, simple syrup, lemon and lime), and the Mustache Pete for me, made with Makers Mark bourbon, creme de cacao, chilled espresso and orange bitters. I loved this cocktail: the first sip was divine, with first the hints of cocoa and then coffee, with the bourbon coming right after.

Laguna Sunrise mocktail at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

Mustache Pete cocktail at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

Dessert was a bit of a let down though: we decided to try their key lime pie that had a great graham cracker crust but only on the outside and not in the bottom. Too bad, because the crust would have given some texture and would have cut through the tartness of the pie.

Key lime pie at The Stingray Lounge in Hoboken

Still, it was a nice dinner. I just wishes they had more vegetarian choices for Jodi, but, besides that, this is a very good place to enjoy good cocktails and a nice meal.

Enjoy (I did)!

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The Stingray Lounge - 1210 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/21/22

Pilsener Haus and Biergarten in Hoboken

Beer gardens (biergarten in German) are great places for a comforting meal and it is really good to have Pilsener Haus and Biergarten in the North part of Hoboken. Interestingly, the crowd on weekends is made of families for lunch and early dinners, that is the crowd I prefer, usually quieter…Of course, going there, you expect beer and they have a large selection of beer on tap, in bottles or cans, as well as wine, ciders and sodas if you do not like beer.

Gingerale at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

Each time we go there, we end up starting our meal with their giant pretzel that is served with a cheese sauce as well as a mustard sauce. But their potato pancakes are also worth trying: slightly greasy and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, they are served with sour cream and apple sauce.

Giant pretzel at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

Potato pancakes at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

For the main, meat is king, with various sausages offered in a bun or in a platter. My favorite is the kielbasa, that I got on a bun, but also with their kielbasa burger, that is made with a beef Patty, kielbasa, sauerkraut, curry Sauce, gruyere Cheese on a brioche bun. Decadent and really filling, the only negative of the sausage is that the skin of the kielbasa was a bit difficult to cut and so I simply removed it. Otherwise, this is awesome: messy to eat, it is like a heart attack on a plate, but you get so many delicious flavors that the first bite will tell you that you made the right choice. I got them with fries because I thought that ordering a salad with it was a bit hypocritical…

Kielbasa at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

Kielbasa burger at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

If you are vegetarian, you can get their veggie burger that is pretty good and not mushy. It is made with black bean, quinoa, corn, lettuce, tomato and onion.

Veggie burger at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

Last is dessert: their strudel is probable fantastic, but we decided to try their pretzel pudding that was good but a bit dry.

Pretzel pudding at Pilsener Haus and Biergarten

So, yes, glad that place is there and I will certainly continue to go there for some comforting food.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Pilsener Haus and Biergarten - 1422 Grand St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/17/22

Cecconi's in Dumbo, Brooklyn

We have some sort of tradition every year, although the past couple of years we did not do it with Covid: we go see the open studio of Peter Drake who is an amazing painter and the provost of the New York Academy of Art, and then go eat at Cecconi’s, a popular spot in Dumbo. I love this place: the outdoor has this beautiful new of Manhattan where you can have a relaxing brunch.

Food wise, I love their tuna tartare that they prepare table side, mixing the fish with avocado, mint and chili. I always find it quite light and refreshing. This seems as popular as the whipped ricotta with truffle honey and crostini that we always order and is a must have. The zucchini fritti that is zucchini fries was quite good, although a bit soggy after a while, accompanied by a lemon aioli. We also tried their butter lettuce salad that came with avocado and cherry tomato: good, but there was more lettuce than anything else.

Tuna tartare at Cecconi's in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Butter lettuce salad at Cecconi's in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Zucchini fritti at Cecconi's in Dumbo, Brooklyn

For beverages, Jodi tried their chai that was well made, ad I decided to go with their house pressed juice, especially the Ginger that was made with ginger, lemon and apple. I admit that I was a bit disappointed to see the bottle as I though they were making it fresh as advertised as house pressed juices. Still, this is the kind of juice I like, very gingery.

Cold pressed ginger juice at Cecconi's in Dumbo, Brooklyn

We did not have dessert as we had another plan, but I was close to ordering one. I love this place and we were thinking about going there for dinner as we only tried it for brunch.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Cecconi’s - 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/15/22

Pera Mediterranean Cuisine in NYC

I have been to Pera few times, each time enjoying the delicious mediterranean cuisine that they offer on their menu. There are dishes for vegetarian and non-vegetarians, people with a love of fish or meat. In fact, I find their menu quite mouth watering and one of the things I like there is their salads that allow multiple combinations; they have three different types of salads: watermelon and feta, market salad (shredded romaine hearts, dill, scallion, feta cheese, lemon and olive oil) and the Village salad (cherry tomato, cucumber, parsley, onion, kalamata olives, sheep’s milk feta cheese, red wine vinaigrette). We then can add some proteins: sliced sirloin “shashlik”, char-grilled octopus, chicken “shashlik”, lamb “adana”, grilled jumbo shrimp or pan-roasted salmon. Two times I went there, I settled for the Village salad with the char-grilled octopus that looked fantastic, and was perfectly cooked on their grill and tender. Their watermelon and feta salad is also amazing: the presentation with the large cubes of watermelon and cheese is beautiful and the two pair well, the watermelon giving a bit of sweetness and making thet dish quite refreshing.

Watermelon and Feta salad at Pera in NYC

Village salad with octopus at Pera in NYC

A good way to try many appetizers is to get their mezzo sampler that is only available for dinner. It has tzatziki, hummus, watermelon and feta, grilled octopus, fried calamari, grape leaves, grilled artichokes and spicy pepper and walnut “Muammara”.

Of course, you can get mezzo on their own, like the hummus that comes with pita chips or their phyllo rolls with Feta and Kasseri cheese that are drizzled with a cucumber-dill yoghurt.

But one of my favorite dishes is their signature lamb “adana” that is a Turkish dish where the lamb is minced, mounted on a skewer and grilled. It was served with a grilled tomato and a spicy long hot pepper, some cippolini onions and some lavash bread that was paper thin. This was succulent! I love lamb so it was a perfect dish for me: the meat was tasty and juicy, sitting on some lavash bread. A must have!

I should mention their cocktails: the Mediterranean old fashioned would be my go to drink, that they smoke at the table and has muddled orange in it. Otherwise, they have a few choices of whisky. So I tried the Garrison Brothers Straight Bourbon from Hye, Texas.

Mediterranean smoked old fashioned at Pera in NYC

Garrison Brothers Straight Bourbon from Hye, Texas at Pera in NYC

For dessert, I love their baklava that would be my first choice, but their dark chocolate soufflé is also quite good, although it does not have the consistency of a soufflé, being more liquid. Both are perfect with a Turkish coffee.

So, overall, Pera is a great find.The food there is really good and I will surely go back there!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Pera - 303 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017

I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/13/22

Fire & Oak in Jersey City

I have been a huge fan of Fire & Oak since I discovered it last year: ok, you would think that, as it is located in the Westin Hotel, you would get some hotel food, being a bit lost with the variety of dishes on the menu, but in fact, they serve some delicious food. So it was my pick for my birthday, wanting to try their ribeye for quite some time.

When we arrived, the place was packed: this was not a surprise and we of course had a reservation. They sat us pretty quickly and I immediately ordered their smoked old fashioned that they bring in a smoking dome, adding a bit of a show as they walk around the room and uncover the glass, smothered by a thick smoke.

Old Fashioned at Fire & Oak in Jersey City

Then, I got the sizzling spicy shrimp that were bathed in a scallion ginger sriracha lobster dipping sauce that was not that spicy but had a robust taste, but was not as spicy. But the sauce was the star and I was glad that they served it with a Texas toast so I could dip it in the comforting sauce.

Sizzling spicy shrimp at Fire & Oak in Jersey City

Then I got the steak. It was a 23oz bone in ribeye and I chose the French fries with it (you have a choice of one side - these fries are not to be missed: crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through ). The steak was medium, although I asked for medium-rare, but it was tender, juicy and had a nice char.

French fries at Fire & Oak in Jersey City

Jodi on her side got the wild mushroom and goat cheese pizza that was quite good with enough topping on top. I should mention that they use to make a Detroit pizza, but not anymore (I wonder why they stopped).

Wild mushroom and goat cheese pizza at Fire & Oak in Jersey City

For dessert, we got the warm chocolate brownie that was gooey with a nice crust. It was a bit sweet, but the vanilla ice cream cut down the sweetness.

Warm chocolate Brownie at Fire & Oak in Jersey City

This was a great way to finish a very good dinner. I am still a fan of this place and will be back for sure!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Fore & Oak - 479 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/10/22

Bon Banh in Hoboken, NJ

Finally, the location where Stacks Pancake House & Smokehouse BBQ used to be (it has been closed for more than a year), has been rented out and replaced with Bon Banh, a Vietnamese restaurant serving casual food, and of course Banh Mi, a Vietnamese sandwich with French influence.

As you enter, you cannot not notice the nice mural as well as the neon sign that gives a nice touch to the place. You then proceed to the counter where you will order your food. They have four main dishes: Banh Mi, tacos (?), the rice bowl where you can replace the rice with noodles or a bed of lettuce, and Summer rolls, with few sides like spring rolls or shrimp chips (I could not resist ordering them and they made them there rather than just buying prepackaged ones). Whether you get banh mi, tacos, a salad or Summer rolls, you get more or less the same ingredients to pick from but with a few differences; for instance, the banh mi has pork pate, the tacos can be drizzled with sriracha mayo. As you order them, you pick various proteins: soy tofu if you are vegetarian, Vietnamese sausage (my favorite), lemongrass chicken, charbroiled beef, grilled pork and grilled lemongrass shrimp. I of course tried their banh mi that was superb: I picked the Vietnamese sausage and got everything they propose besides jalapeño. Every bite was an explosion of flavors: you first get the crunchiness of the baguette that has been slightly pressed prior to being filled, like you would do for a panini, and then get mayonnaise, the pate, the sausage, the cilantro, cucumber for added crunch and the freshness of the carrot and daikon slaw. A must have for sure!

The salad is a similar version but without the bread and I admit that the soy tofu was quite good.

Soy tofu salad at Bon Banh in Hoboken, NJ

Summer rolls and tacos comes in threes (and by the way they wrap them so you do not get any sauce on your hands while eating), and what is great is that you can pick a different protein for each of them. So we tried the tofu summer rolls (2) and a grilled lemongrass shrimp roll, as well as the charbroiled grilled beef taco, sausage taco and a tofu taco. Everything was really good and tasted really fresh, but I admit that the Summer rolls were my favorite, even if ultimately only the shell was different.

Charbroiled beef taco at Bon Banh in Hoboken, NJ

For drinks, I should mention the Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai iced tea we had, both made with condensed milk. The Vietnamese coffee is made with the instant coffee from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, and they asked me to taste it to see if it was sweet enough or if they needed to add more condensed milk: it was perfect.

Vietnamese iced coffee at Bon Banh in Hoboken, NJ

Thai iced tea at Bon Banh in Hoboken, NJ

So, overall, Bon Banh is a great addition to the food scene in Hoboken. I love their menu that allows multiple combinations, but, most importantly, it tastes fresh and is delicious. Bon meaning good in French, they picked well the name of the restaurant for sure.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Bon Banh - 506 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/8/22

Wokuni in NYC

I recently discovered Wokuni, located Midtown East. This place, that opened in 2018, is quite impressive with its very high ceilings and large bar that give you the hint right away that this is not your typical Japanese restaurant and that you are there for a treat. Seafood is at the forefront of their story, but the menu offers sea, land and air delicacies, prepared in an elegant way. For starters, theIr Hotate butter or Butter sautéed scallops with tempura sauce are exquisite: delicate, perfectly cooked with the buttery taste being just right, letting the scallop be the star of the dish. They created a section on their menu of fried dishes, as if it would be done so healthy diners would not waste their time to go through it…The Karaage or fried chicken is a must have! The soy marinated chicken is fried to perfection, crispy without being greasy, juicy with the soy giving a bit of saltiness that was necessary. It came straight from the fryer and I admit that I burnt my palate…But it was so good!

A dish I really wanted to try is the Long Island Roast Duck that is marinated in Shio-Koji, a japanese condiment that has a mild, sweet miso-like flavor, and served with yuzu pepper. This was superb: the duck breast was perfectly cooked medium and nicely fatty.

Of course, if you prefer the classic sushi or sashimi, they have that on the menu.

And then is dessert. I really liked the Dorayaki & mochi ice cream duo, that was a sweet red bean Pancake with mochi ice cream, but did not really liked the Matcha cream Anmitsu that was a new item they added, composed of a matcha ice cream with fruits, sweet red beans and coconut gelée. I simply did not think it went together and did not like the texture.

Dorayaki & mochi ice duo at Wokuni in NYC

Overall, the meal at Wokuni was delicious, with beautiful dishes offered. It is a bit on the pricey side, but worth trying.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Wokuni - 327 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

I Just Want To Eat! 6/6/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/6/22

Steak Frites at Skirt Steak

When Laurent Tourondel launched Skirt Steak next to L’Amico, his other venture, the lines in front of the restaurant, result of a Tik Tok fortunate publicity, discouraged me to try it right away. So it was time to try. The concept is not unknown: salad, steak and fries as the sole menu, has been what Le Relais de Venise has been proposing for decades. But Laurent Tourondel made it hyped (or Tik Tok did). The differences between Skirt Steak and Le Relais de Venise? In a nutshell:…

The salad at Skirt Steak is bigger, with no walnuts and not overdressed. You wonder if the portion is not meant to fill you up so you would not ask for too many fries that are unlimited.
The steak is skirt steak (duh!) while it is sirloin at Le Relais de Venise. In both restaurants, the only temperatures are rare, medium, well done.
If you are vegetarian, Le Relais de Venise has a cheese plate, while Skirt Steak has a cauliflower steak that was quite good, sitting on what seemed to be the same sauce as the steak.
The portions are equivalent, except that they serve the steak at once at Skirt Steak whereas you have two servings at Le Relais de Venise.
Both have pretty good fries: crispy, cooked all the way through, the ones at Skirt Steak (unlimited) being slightly thicker than the ones at Le Relais de Venise (not unlimited, but a good serving).
Last is the sauce: Skirt Steak proposes a black pepper béarnaise that is quite good, well balanced so the pepper is not overpowering and you still get hints of tarragon. I smothered the fries with the sauce like I use to do at Le Relais de Venise, my favorite way of eating these fries.

Cauliflower steak at Skirt Steak in NYC, NY

The steak was quite good, tender, juicy, with a nice char. The presentation looks less spectacular on the skillet with just one portion, but is still an exciting experience. For $28, it is a pretty good deal but one should not leave without trying one of their desserts. Well, they are quite smart because they have a dessert cart that you cannot miss as they roll it through the dining room. So, I decided to try their Paris-Brest, a pastry made with choux and a hazelnut cream in the center. This was one of my favorites when living in France, but I did not really find any in the US, besides Dominique Ansel’s spin-off called the Paris-New York, where the hazelnut or praline is replaced with peanut butter. Well, the Paris-Brest at Skirt Steak was superb, all the elements, from the chou to the cream, being deliciously made. Worth to stretch your pants for it!

I should also mention their drinks. For lunch, I usually go for a non-alcoholic drink and I truly appreciated the fact that they offer mocktails that are exciting. I had the phony Negroni that was like the Bitter San Pellegrino, while Jodi got the Strawberry shrub.

Strawberry shrub at Skirt Steak in NYC, NY

Skirt Steak is a great place for a casual lunch or dinner. I find it as good as Le Relais de Venise that is unfortunately temporarily closed at the time of this post. Is it worth waiting hours in line? Probably not. Still, I 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!

Skirt Steak - 835 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/3/22

Mochi-Donut at Mochinut

After the croissant-donut aka Cronut (and the subsequent versions with things like muffins that never took off, it seems that the new craze is the mochi-donut, a Japanese take on a staple that truly represents America. You might have heard or had mochi, these chewy rice cakes made with glutinous rice, that gives a chewy texture. Now, Mochinut (and others), combined them with a cake donut, shaping them in a way that they are perfect for Instagram, helping to spread the word about this new trend. We found Mochinut’s location Midtown, that they opened few months ago and went a couple of times, enjoying their offerings, Jodi happy seeing coconut mochinuts and me, enjoying the Nutella…

The texture is definitely chewy and you need probably two to equate for one regular donut (although Krispy Kreme donuts are usually small) as they are not that big. Although it is not the same craze as the Cronut, I am sure the Mochi-donuts will take off at some point. They often change the flavors at their various locations. So, no need to check their website: just check it out! And if you are not into donuts, you can try their hotdogs (I did not)…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Mochinut - 1011 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/22 I Just Want To Eat! 6/1/22

Brunch at Maison Pickle in NYC

Last year, I went to Jacob’s Pickles on the Upper West Side and I am still drooling just thinking about the meal I had there: delicious, comforting, with large portions, their fried chicken and even their grits being some of the best I ever tried.

So we decided to try their sister restaurant: Maison Pickle, also on the Upper West Side. This is the kind of place where you need a reservation, people being crazy about their menu. And I admit that we could not stop looking at these huge plates leaving the kitchen. There were two things that were popular: the pull apart bread and the French dip….

We decided to try their pull apart bread with honey and butter. It came quite hot, the whipped butter melting and the honey sticking to my fingers as I was pulling the bread apart. The first bite was divine. Soft, the bread was superb, and the portion being large, I had to restrain myself from finishing it as I had the French dip coming next. Instead of going with the classic, I decided to order the deluxe that is topped with fried onions, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli and a Gruyère fondue. I am sure my doctor would yell at me if she knew I was getting that since it is not the best for my arteries. But it was so good! Although I admit that the Horseradish aioli was a bit overpowering. I dipped their homemade bread in the jus that is scraped from the pan where they cook the sirloin and carefully put the giant sandwich in my mouth. You get the crunch of the fried onions, the taste of the horseradish and cheese, as well as the explosion of flavor of that just that has soaked the bread, before reaching a perfectly cooked, juicy and tender piece of meat. Delicious! But big, and I regretted having eaten so much of the pull apart bread…

Pull apart bread at Maison Pickle in NYC

Deluxe French dip at Maison Pickle in NYC

Jodi was more reasonable and ordered their classique omelet that was made with goat cheese and served with a side of green. Good omelet, with lots of cheese.

I should mention the homemade lemonade I had for a beverage. Nicely sweet and tart.

Dessert was out of question after such a feast unfortunately. But it will be for another time.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Maison Pickle - 2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/30/22

Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

I discovered Brooklyn Chop House few years ago, thanks to my friend Benny who proposed to go there for dinner. I used to tell people to go there as the food was always delicious, with an extensive menu that had not just cuts of meat, but also Chinese dishes. Interesting combination, the “Chop” of the name referring not only to the meat but also to the chopsticks, a nod from Stratis Morfogen to Philippe Chow with whom he had few ventures. So, we got invited to try their gigantic new restaurant in the heart of Times Square, where…

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

I admit that we barely missed the entrance that looks more like a club than a restaurant. The inside, with its dimmed lights feels like it, but, fortunately, at the time we went there on a Sunday evening, the music was not blasting so we could enjoy a nice meal.

Patio at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Upstairs bar at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Dining room at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

We started off by ordering drinks: strawberry lemonade for Jodi and Sour Diesel cocktail for me. My cocktail was made with Hennessy cognac, peach schnapps, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and agave syrup. It was like a fruit punch, served in a fancy glass. Delicious and refreshing.

Strawberry lemonade at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Sour diesel cocktail at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

We then proceeded to try their “Impossible” burger dumplings and scallion pancakes. The dumpling was good, but I admit that It was not something I would reorder again. They were a it dense and the shell was thick. They would have done it with cheese and onions, or like the cheeseburger dumplings they serve, it might have been more successful. However, the scallion pancakes were delicious: crispy and delightfully greasy as you would expect.

Impossible burger dumplings at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Scallion pancakes at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

We then got a bunch of sides and their 24 oz ribeye steak. Alright, I admit that the steak was all for me as Jodi is vegetarian. The steak, bone-in, cooked more medium than medium rare, was very good: with hints of kosher salt that enhanced the flavor of the 35 day dry aged meat, it was tender and juicy, with a nice char. As sides, we got their onion rings (crispy and cooked all the way through), wild mushrooms (nicely charred with a soy based sauce) and veggie fried rice that is one of my favorite fried rice in the City, flavorful and not boring.

Ribeye at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Veggie fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Ribeye and fried rice at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Onion rings at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Wild mushrooms at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Of course, we could not leave without trying their desserts and we got their double height chocolate cake that was quite fudgey.

Double height chocolate cake at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square

Overall, we had a great meal at Brooklyn Chop House Times Square. The food never disappoints there and I love the fact that their menu offers so much variety, without calling itself a Chinese Steakhouse, satisfying both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners.

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Brooklyn Chop House - 253 W 47th St New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/27/22

Industry Kitchen in NYC

I discovered Industry Kitchen last Winter, as we were looking for a place in the Financial District. We first went for lunch and then, I could not wait to go back for dinner, everything in that place being great: from the food to the atmosphere. Pretty big, they have installed a bunch of small cabins outside for people who did not want to dine in their large dining room because of Covid, each cabin being equipped with a heater as the temperatures were definitely not for dining out. We ate in their dining room…

Here is what we had:

Brunch:

As we went on a cold day, Jodi decided to have a tea, while I could not resist not ordering their hot cocoa with Nutella. Pretty good, and made with milk, not water, know that it can be spiked with any liquor of your choosing.

Hot cocoa with Nutella at Industry Kitchen in NYC

English breakfast tea at Industry Kitchen in NYC

We decided to share the strawberry shortcake waffle that was made with a thin pound cake waffle, topped with macerated strawberries and whipped cream. Delicious, I thought that we would need more maple syrup, but in fact the juice from the strawberries did the trick. It is small, so, perfect for sharing or if you have a small appetite!

Strawberry shortcake waffle at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Then, we both ordered omelets that came with a side of greens: the hunter style omelet with mushrooms, roasted tomato and mozzarella for Jodi, and the lobster omelet for me. Both omelets were perfectly made: fluffy, moist, they had lots of ingredients in it. The mushroom omelet had truffle essence in it, and they did a great job making sure there was the right amount, so it was not overpowering. And if you like lobster, my omelet was superb: there was a nice amount of lobster and it was perfectly cooked!

Lobster omelet at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Hunter style omelet at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Dinner:

I started the meal with The Cowboy, a cocktail made with Horse Soldier Bourbon, Cointreau, Sweet Vermouth and lemon juice.

The cowboy cocktail at Industry Kitchen in NYC

I then ordered their grilled lamb lollipops that they propose as an appetizer. The perfectly cooked lamb was topped with goat cheese that paired perfectly with the meat, as well as pistachios for a nice nuttiness and crunch. A must have!

Grilled lamb lollipops at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Then, I had their grilled NY strip steak. Perfectly cooked medium rare, it was very good, tender and juicy. I was glad that they had the cabernet shallots sauce and horseradish cream on the side, the latter being a bit overpowering (although I admit that this is the kind of flavor I go back to…). It was served with a twice baked cheddar-scallion potato and asparagus.

NY Strip steak at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Jodi went for their pizza: the pizza Bianca, made with mozzarella, ricotta, parmigiano reggiano and arugula. The pizza was very good: the thin crust was nicely charred and crispy, and it had lots of cheese.

For dessert, we decided to go for their chocolate mousse that was served in small chocolate cups with double cream on top, that cut down a bit the sweetness of the mousse.

Chocolate mousse at Industry Kitchen in NYC

Brunch and dinner are equally good at Industry Kitchen and it is the perfect place to meet friends or dine with your partner. They have lots of dishes that are mouth watering and the menu is a bit overwhelming because of that. But this is a nice problem to have…

Enjoy (I did)!

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Industry Kitchen - 70, 10005 South St At, New York, NY 10038

I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/25/22

Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

Tacoria is a casual Mexican restaurant that opened on Washington street, where Frankie and Ava used to be. As you enter, you cannot not miss the decor that would make you think that this place has been there for a while with the graffiti and run down walls. You are right away attracted to the colorful mural of Frank Sinatra’s mugshot, as well as the neon lights, on the ceiling and main wall (Te Amo Hermosa - I love you Beautiful).

Exciting place, with a build you own menu for the most part, it offers the right balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, that you order at the counter and will be prepared within minutes, your name being called for pickup at the kitchen window.

Here is what we had:

Guacamole - A Mexican restaurant must have guacamole, no? Well, this one is definitely good, with few chinks of avocado, served with their homemade tortilla chips.

Fried avocado - Fried avocado is a surprising dish, but, ultimately, everything fried is good! This is a must have that comes with chipotle aioli: you first get the crunchiness of the fried batter, and then the avocado, ripe, melts in your mouth.

Mexican street corn - This is a must have! Served on the cob, it is smothered in chipotle aioli, and topped with cotija cheese and lots of cilantro.

Mexican street corn at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

Then, for the build your own, you have to pick:

The dish: tacos, nachos, Mission style burrito, burrito box, quesadilla or salad.
The protein: pollo asado, pollo tinga, carne asada, al pastor, rajas (roasted corn and poblano peppers), brussels sprouts, fried avocado, beyond chorizo and chorizo.

Jodi tried the salad with Brussels sprouts topped with avocado. She loved it so much that she ordered that each time we went.

Salad with Brussels sprouts and avocado at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

On my side, I tried the quesadilla suiza with carne asada. It was fantastic and very filling. It was stuffed with cheese, crema, and salsa, with a spiced marinated grilled steak that was tender and juicy. I loved it!

Quesadilla Suiza with carne asada at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

I also tried their tacos. What is great is that you can choose several. So I picked: carne asada, pollo asado (citrus “kissed” marinated chicken with habanero sauce) and al pastor (pork marinated in spices and pineapple). They were all delicious; a bit messy but so good and tasty, even the chicken one that can sometimes be a challenge as I rarely had exciting chicken tacos.

Al Pastor taco at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

Carne asada taco at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

Pollo asado taco at Tacoria in Hoboken, NJ

For drinks, we tried their lemonade (they have other sodas).

Overall, we had great meals at Tacoria. This Mexican chain, also located in Jersey City, Paramus, New Brunswick, Morristown, Montclair and Princeton, is a fantastic addition to the Hoboken food scene!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Tacoria - 208 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/23/22

Ethiopian lunch at Queen of Sheba in NYC

I discovered Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian restaurant located few blocks from the heart of Times Square, several years ago and was really looking forward to go back there. There, Chef Philipos Mengistu, who worked at his parents restaurant in Addis Abeba in the early 1970's, crafted a menu inspired from family recipes with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The best way to discover the food is by trying their samplers: it is what we did!

Taste of Sheba - non-vegetarian sampler.

Non-vegetarian sampler at Queen of Sheba in NYC

It is composed of:

Tibs Wot (a wot is a stew): diced lean beef seared on hot skillet, then slow-cooked in a hot Berbere stew.
Menchet Abesh Wot: lean beef, ground and cooked in mild green pepper sauce, red wine and jalapeño, seasoned with ginger and garlic.
Bozena Shiro: pieces of marinated beef simmered in a traditional chickpea gravy.
Yebeg Alecha: a lamb stew (my favorite).
Doro Wot: chicken lef, slow-cooked in a dense stew of onions, egg, Berbere (hot spice blend), and Kibe (clarifying butter that has been infused with herbs and spices).
Gomen Wot: finely chopped collard greens, cooked in their own stems with mild seasoning and olive oil (my least favorite - I am not a huge fan of collard greens in general).
Ater Kik Alecha: split peas cooked in onion, garlic, and olive oil. A mild dish with a touch of turmeric and a subtle blend of herbs and spices.

Sheba vegetarian:

Vegetarian sampler at Queen of Sheba in NYC

It is composed of:

Gomen Wot: finely chopped collard greens, cooked in their own stems with mild seasoning and olive oil.

Ater Kik Alecha: split peas cooked in onion, garlic, and olive oil. A mild dish with a touch of turmeric and a subtle blend of herbs and spices.
Key Sir Wot: red beets, potatoes, and carrots, sautéed with peppers, onions, garlic, and ginger.
Misir Wot: split lentils, stewed with onions, garlic, and a blend of mild Ethiopian herbs.
Atakilt Wot: string beans and carrots, cooked in tomato sauce with their rich blend of seasonings.
Cabbage Wot: cabbage, potato and carrot cooked with onion and garlic with a touch of turmeric.
Shiro Wot: split peas milled together with a blend of Berbere, herbs, and onions, then slow-cooked into a creamy dip

The food was served with Injera, a sour fermented bread quite recognizable, traditionally made with teff flour, that has a spongy texture that is perfect as you do not have any utensils and use the bread to grab the food as you eat with your hands. The bread on its own is not something I love, but it is great with the various stews that were in fact sitting on a large piece of it.

I should mention that I did not find the food spicy (a couple of dishes had a slight kick) and it was very comforting, both samplers being quite good. This is definitely a place I recommend and if you would like a full experience, you can sit on one of the areas with traditional stools (I did not).

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Queen of Sheba - 650 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/20/22

Szechaun Mirchi (Indo-Chinese Cuisine) in Jersey City

I admit that my knowledge of Indo-Chinese cuisine has always been limited to very few dishes like Mandchurian cauliflower that is one of my favorites. So I was curious to see what Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City was proposing. According to Wikipedia:…

“Indian Chinese cuisine, Indo-Chinese cuisine, Sino-Indian cuisine, Chindian cuisine, Hakka Chinese, Desi-Chinese cuisine or Desi-Chindi cuisine is a distinct fusion culinary style which combines aspects of both Indian and Chinese foods and flavours. Though the cuisines have mixed throughout history through the Silk Road via Tibet, the most popular origin story of the fusion food resides with the Chinese of Calcutta, who immigrated to colonial India looking for better prospects and better lives around 250 years ago. Opening restaurant businesses in the area, these early Chinese immigrants adapted their culinary styles to suit the tastes of their Indian patrons.

Chinese Indian food is generally characterised by its ingredients: Indian vegetables and spices are used, along with a heavy amount of pungent Chinese sauces, thickening agents, and oil. Stir-fried in a wok, Indo-Chinese food takes Chinese culinary styles and adds spices and flavours familiar to the Indian palate. This idea of flavourful, saucy Chinese food cooked with Indian spices and vegetables has become integral to the mainstream culinary scenes of both India and Bangladesh, and its diffusion to nations like America, Great Britain, and Canada has shaped and altered the global view of Chinese, Indian, and Asian cuisine.”

We went few times and I got to try quite a few dishes, in a welcoming atmosphere. Their menu is quite large and I admit overwhelming. Here is what I tried:

For beverages, there is quite a wide choice, from the Indian mango lassi, to Thai iced tea, and of course, green tea.

Mango lassi at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Thai iced tea at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Green tea at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

If you like soups, they have so many! Some sweet and spicy, with lots of vegetarian choices. And these soups come, they are really hot, perfect for a cold day. My favorite was the chicken and sweet corn, and then the crab soup. For vegetarian their vegetable wonton soup is delicious, as is their miso soup.

Vegetable Manchow soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Crab soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable Lung Fung soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Chicken and sweet corn soup at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

For appetizers, we tried two vegetarian ones: the vegetarian Momo that are steamed dumpling that I thought were quite good, the shell not being too thick and the filling tasty, not the usual filling overpowered by spinach, and the vegetable wonton with a sweet chili sauce that was delightfully crispy.

Vegetable momo at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable wonton at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Entrees are so diverse, that I was not sure what to try and settled with their General Too chicken that was not the classic I knew as the chicken was not deep fried and so not crispy. But the sauce, a bit sweet, was delicious. A spicy dish was the garlic shrimp that is made with a spicy chili garlic sauce (lots of sauce). They also have noodles and I admit that I love the vegetable noodles as much as the chicken pan fried noodles: it has something very comforting about it. And of course, vegetable fried rice.

General Tso Chicken at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable noodles at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Hot garlic shrimp at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Vegetable fried rice at Szechaun Mirchi in Jersey City

Each time we went to Szechaun Mirti, we had a nice and comforting meal. The menu is a bit overwhelming and there are so many mouth watering dishes that it is very difficult to decide what to order. Still, I love this place!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Szechaun Mirchi - 850 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306

I Just Want To Eat! 5/18/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/18/22

Dinner at Gran Morsi in NYC

I had Gran Morsi on my list of places to try for quite some time and, as Jodi went to an open studio at The New York Academy of Art, we decided to meet for dinner there. The place was nice, although a bit dark, making it challenging to see the menu, and we got to sit at a table in a corner, the kind that I always love, allowing us to sit next to each other and watch the dining room (people…

We started our meal with some drinks. Non-alcoholic for Jodi, who chose their house made lemonade with mint and club soda (limonata Fresca), that I found a bit boring; on my side, I ordered the Vecchio Stille cocktail that was made with Four Roses Bourbon, Angelus orange liqueur, bitters and smoked cedar (?). My cocktail was good and quite strong.

Limonata fresca at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

Vecchio Stille cocktail at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, we decided to share the house made focaccia, but made the mistake of not reading the description: it was a flatbread, not a focaccia. A good flatbread, crispy, perfect for sharing, but we though we would get a classic Italian bread, leavened, delightfully oily. Yes, a flatbread that made Jodi regret having ordered a pizza, although her Forest mushroom pizza was quite delicious, with lots of mushrooms and cheese (too much scallion though), and a crust nicely charred.

House made focaccia at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

Forrest mushroom pizza at Gran Morsi in NYC, NY

On my side, I could not resist not ordering the linguine Neri or squid ink linguine with shrimp and scallop. The seafood was well cooked, but, unfortunately, the pasta was a bit overcooked.

At least, dessert was delicious! We had their bread pudding made with pannetone and drizzled with caramel and grappa custard, the grappa being set on fire, giving a dramatic effect.

I was expecting more from Gran Morsi. The food and drinks took a very long time to come. Definitely, the large table that was setup outside probably overwhelmed them, especially the kitchen from where we saw so many orders coming out. So, I’ll wait a little bit and might give them another chance!

Enjoy (…)!

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

Gran Morsi - 22 Warren St, New York, NY 10007

I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/22 I Just Want To Eat! 5/16/22

Handcraft Burgers and Brew near Bryant Park, NYC

I am not sure what is the star of the show at Handcraft Burgers and Brew, the sister restaurant of Croton Reservoir that is next door. The burgers are amazing, not made with frozen patties, juicy, with a nice char. Although, I would go with the double patty so there is a good proportion with their amazing brioche bread. But the brews are also quite interesting as they…

It is a small place, fast casual, where you can either order directly from your phone or on their point of sale. They will then bring you a brown bag with your order, where you are eating there or not.

For the burgers, you can either chose one of the ones they propose or build your own, with always the possibility, if you pick theirs, to add or remove ingredients. I tried their Truffle Shuffle burger, made with a single beef patty (I added another one), umami truffle spice, Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, truffle herb aioli, squeezed between a brioche bun. I was a bit apprehensive that the truffle spices and aioli would overpower the whole thing, but it was in fact perfect. I also made my own, with a double patty, American cheese, ketchup and mayo. By the way, they have an interesting way of wrapping their burgers, with like a small chimney on top to let the steam out, the shape of the wrapper allowing to hold the burger as you eat it, keeping your hands from getting any sauce or meat juice dripping on your hands.

Truffle shuffle burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Double cheeseburger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Fried chicken sandwich at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

If you do like beef, you can opt for their spicy fried chicken sandwich (quite spicy but delicious: crispy, not dry), or, if you are vegetarian, you can get one of their veggie burgers that I admit are quite good and not mushy at all.

Spicy chicken sandwich at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

Veggie burger at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

For sides, they have crispy French fries as well as tater tots. I just wished they had onion rings and have to say that I did not like their truffle aioli that I ordered with the tater tots: it was too overpowering and some mayo and ketchup was better for me.

Tater tots at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

French fries at Handcraft Burgers and Brew in NYC

I have tried the following beers (that you can also transform as floats):

Drowned Lands, Gather House Unfiltered Wit Beer, Warwick, NY
Torch & Crown Brewing Co., Almost Famous IPA, Bronx & Manhattan, NY
Oxbow Brewing Co., Seaworthy India Pale Lager, Newcastle, ME

And then, if you do not like beer, you can order some sodas like the Boylan raspberry seltzer.

Drowned Lands, Gather House Unfiltered Wit Beer, Warwick, NY

Oxbow Brewing Co., Seaworthy India Pale Lager, Newcastle, ME

Torch & Crown Brewing Co., Almost Famous IPA, Bronx & Manhattan, NY

So I guess you now have figured out that I love this place: their burgers are superb, and the beers, that change from time to time, quite interesting. Marrying burgers and beer was a smart business idea and I would not be surprised to see them expand to other locations. This is definitely a great place!

Enjoy (I did)!

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

Handcraft Burgers and Brew - 110 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018