July 30 2010
Category: Reviews
I’ve heard tell of the Bistro Truck, even seen it cruising around town, but alas, I’ve never been able to try the cuisine from this storied truck. Working in midtown makes it hard to sample anything that doesn’t park in the 40s. Luckily, I stopped by last month’s Food Truck Drive-in. I was lucky enough to sample dishes from the likes of the Red Hook Lobster Pound, Jersey City’s Krave truck, and People’s Pops. But I might have been most excited to finally try Bistro Truck.
In the spirit of the drive-in, the Bistro Truck offered a “taste” of their merguez sandwich, seasoned, char-grilled lamb sausage served on a baguette with french fries, tomato, and greens. The lamb was charred to perfection and wonderfully flavorful. I could have done with a little more lamb and a little less filler but, all in all, the sandwich was filling and delicious. I also tried a bite of a friend’s Bistro Burger. For a mere $4.75, you get a massive burger topped with bistro sauce, cheese, and all the fixings.
No item on the menu is more than $7 and I can attest that all the portions are more than generous. If I ever manage to make it down to the Union Square area during the day, I’ll be sure to sample more from the fantastic Bistro Truck.
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: merguez sandwich
Price: $
Location: 5th Ave. (between 16th St. and 17th St.)
Type of Food: Moroccan
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.bistrotruck.com
Tags: Food Cart, Moroccan, Union Square
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July 27 2010
Category: Reviews
I’ve been on a bit of a lobster kick this summer and, having sampled the delicious specimens from Montauk’s Lobster Roll Restaurant, Red Hook Lobster Pound, and even Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough (an excellent little seaside shack in Noank, CT that’s worth the drive), I certainly haven’t been at a loss for good meals. But when my friend suggested we seek out lobster rolls for dinner last week, my mind immediately jumped to Luke’s Lobster in the East Village.
Though I’ve seen some buzz around Luke’s in the blogosphere, I was truly intrigued when I read about the place in New York Mag’s excellent lobster roundup in the summer issue. With fresh lobster shipped down from Maine, some light seasoning, and a nice price, Luke’s roll certainly seemed enticing. But what I was most excited about was the “Taste of Maine” menu option. For $20, you get three mini rolls (filled with lobster, shrimp, and crab), plus a pair of Empress claws, chips, and a soda, including offerings from Maine Root (with flavors like sarsaparilla, blueberry, and Mandarin orange). I’m always a fan of options that let you try as many items as possible, so this offering was right up my alley.
And I’m thrilled that I got to try all the varieties of sandwich in miniature, because (and I know this is heresy) I might have enjoyed the crab sandwich most of all. As a caveat, I’m a sucker for crab, but this particular roll was moist, flavorful, and decadent. The lobster roll tasted wonderfully salty and fresh, true to Luke’s fresh-from-the-ocean pledge. To my palate, the lobster roll was a bit on the dry side, but that is easily remedied. Luke’s offers extra butter or mayo, so you can dress your roll to your heart’s desire. Though I thought Red Hook Lobster Pound’s offering did a little better at getting the ratio of mayo to claw meat right, Luke’s will certainly be a favorite for those who prefer little to no noticable mayo on the sandwich. And Red Hook certainly doesn’t boast any sort of tasting package nor is it offered in a convenient location, so Luke’s has the edge there. I’ll happily take a quick trip downtown for another sampling of Luke’s fantastic (and fantastically priced) seafood.
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Taste of Maine
Price: $$
Location: 93 E. 7th St (between 1st Ave. and Ave. A) and 242 E. 81st St. (at 2nd Ave.)
Type of Food: Seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
www.lukeslobster.com
Tags: East Village, Seafood, Upper East Side
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July 16 2010
Category: Deals
For a midtown restaurant/bar opening, Vander Bar’s was rather quiet. I work by Grand Central Station and, one day while walking east, I passed the corner and noticed the Roosevelt Hotel’s newly opened eatery, tall windows emptying onto 45th St. and bar area overflowing like it was already an established neighborhood joint. And, a few months later, I suppose it now is, thanks to its proximity to Beer Bar, its game day drink specials, and, my personal favorite, the 2-for-1 lunches.
I tried the lunch deal with a friend a few weeks ago and had to go back again today. Where else can you sit down to enjoy a leisurely lunch in midtown for a mere $8 per person? Sample dishes ranging lobster roll sliders to margherita pizzas and from blue cheese burgers to steak frites. The original deal was only good until June 30th, but has since been extended until the end of July. You can find the coupon here. Here’s hoping we’ll be able to enjoy leisurely lunches for less through the rest of the summer!
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Price: $-$$
Location: 45 E. 45th St. (at Vanderbilt Ave.)
Type of Food: American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.vanderbar.com
Tags: American, Midtown East
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July 13 2010
Category: Reviews
via Eater
There are meals, and then there are culinary experiences. Traif is definitely one of the latter. With a menu overflowing with dishes that will make you say “Huh?” and “Hm…” it’s definitely the place to take the more adventurous of your friends. The format is simple: order plentifully and split everything. Though the necessity of sharing can sometimes prove problematic with the mouthwatering dishes on offer here. Take, for example, the strawberry-cinnamon glazed baby back ribs. You’d never guess, but those flavors bring a depth and sweetness to the barbecue sauce that I’d never thought possible. And forget that boring old fried calamari you’re used to — Traif offers a spicy-sweet Thai version that will have you licking the bowl and pondering a second helping. (Or maybe that was just me…) The crispy braised pork belly with tomato marmalade and stuffed corn cakes with shrimp, champagne mangos, and tomatillo sauce were also big hits at the table. While all of these dishes are small plates, Traif also offers a selection of larger dishes perfect for keeping for yourself, but these can also easily be shared with the table. We opted for the fantastic clam pasta, made with New Zealand cockles and shell pasta in a spicy broth with a hint of mint. It was pretty to look at and so sigh-inducingly delicious that hardly a word was spoken until every morsel was gone. Speaking of pretty to look at, there are few things better than enjoying a great meal in a Brooklyn backyard with a garden.
If I have one complaint about Traif, it’s that many of their small plates come with 5 little portions, a number that makes sharing a bit awkward for parties of any less than 5. With dishes as scrumptious as these, tiffs over that last morsel are inevitable!
Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $$
Location: 229 South 4th St. (between Roebling St. and Havemeyer St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: New American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.traifny.com
Tags: American, Williamsburg
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July 8 2010
Category: Deals, Reviews
Park Slope is certainly not short on good restaurants, so it takes a little something extra to stand out. Like, say, an excellent lunch special. And it’s hard to beat the deal at Park Slope Greek eatery Okeanos. For a mere $8 you can select the brunch/lunch item of your choice ranging from the Greek burger (served with feta, of course) to a crab cake sandwich, with plenty of seafood options in between, and all are served with deliciously cripsy fries, aioli for dipping, and a side salad. I tried the special of the day — the grilled soft-shell crab sandwich — a delightfully summery dish (and certainly worth an extra $4, seeing as it was the special). Wonderful food aside, Okeanos is a fantastic restaurant for warm weather. The floor-to-ceiling windows open wide, allowing plenty of fresh light and air into the dining space, and letting out right onto a scenic part of 7th Ave. We stopped in during the street fair last month, and it felt like the party extended right into the restaurant. If you’re strolling through Park Slope on a lovely summer day, don’t overlook the seafood-heavy menu at Okeanos.
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: soft-shell crab sandwich
Price: $-$$
Location: 314 7th Ave. (at 8th St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: Greek, seafood
Veggie Friendly? N
Tags: Greek, Park Slope, Seafood
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July 2 2010
Category: Deals
Just 10 days from now one of New York’s (OK, one of OUR) favorite semi-annual traditions begins again - those magical two weeks, which generally turn into three or four, when usually out-of-reach dining experiences can be had for a relatively paltry $24.07 for lunch or $35 for dinner. This is inevitably preceded by another time-honored tradition: obsessively perusing the menus available online for this year’s chosen meals. And finally after an intense period of research and resultant lip-licking, we’ve narrowed it down to our top four choices for this summer. (Drumroll please…)
Kim’s picks:
Adour Alain Ducasse — OK, I’ll be honest: this one was on the list before I even clicked to view the menu. How often do you get to eat at a three-star Michelin chef’s eatery for Restaurant Week prices? But if the menu is anything to go by, there’s more reason to go here than just the chef’s reputation. I’ll take the fluke ceviche to start…hmm, and then maybe some prime beef tournedos with glazed short ribs, and end it with a dark chocolate sorbet with brioche croutons? Yeah, that ought to just about do it!
Industria Argentina — If you love Latin flavors but can appreciate a twist on the traditional, this may just be the restaurant week meal for you. We’re talking octopus salad with toasted corn, pork roasted with Valencia oranges served up with grilled yams and plum chutney, and how about a flan with salted caramel nougat?
Zengo — This haven of Asian-Mexican fusion is usually not a place to fill your belly at a reasonable price, so restaurant week is a great opportunity to sample some of their deliciously creative fare without breaking the bank. I can personally vouch for the Thai chicken empanadas, chicken pibil, and braised beef short ribs, all of which are available on the restaurant week menu.
Nicole’s picks:
City Crab - I spend my summer daydreaming of relaxing by the coast at a quaint little seafood shack, with a lemonade in one hand and a lobster roll in the other. While seafood shacks are few and far between in the city, seafood restaurants are not. I’m particularly jazzed about City Crab’s lunch menu, which includes a Maine lobster and clam bake (complete with all the fixin’s), but I would be just as happy with twin steamed lobsters for dinner.
Maya - Looking for a break from the usual chicken or fish options? Maya offers exotic entrees galore. From adobo-marinated soft-shell crabs to huitlacoche-mushroom-requeson stuffed crepes, there are plenty of options to satisfy your favorite adventurous eater.
Spice Market - If you want to get a little extra mileage out of your RW experience, look no further than Spice Market. This Meatpacking mainstay offers an extra course for your money and features options ranging from salmon tartar with soy-ginger dressing to charred, chili-rubbed beef skewers with Thai-basil dipping sauce.
Victor’s Cafe - To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with Victor’s until seeing it on the RW-list, but this Latin-inspired menu had me at roast suckling pig marinated in sour orange juice, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Though the pig is undeniably the star attraction, every dish on offer shines.
We hope you enjoy all that Restaurant Week has to offer. For more tips, check out our previous summer restaurant week post.
Posted by: Kim Partrick and Nicole Price Fasig
Tags: Asian, Cuban, Foodie Events, French, Gramercy, Latin American, Meatpacking, Mexican, Midtown East, Midtown West, Seafood, South American, TriBeCa, Upper East Side
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July 1 2010
Category: Deals, Reviews
Everyone loves to try the dinner special, but there’s a reason the server usually doesn’t mention the price — more often than not it’s a good deal pricier than the rest of the menu! Not the case, however, at eatery-slash-general store The General Greene. With entrées starting at $16 and drinks running an average of $9, I didn’t anticipate a particularly thrifty evening. Until I heard about the night’s $15 dinner special, that is. On this particular night, the dish on offer was Asian spice-rubbed short ribs served with a tasty slaw. The rib meat was tender, the sauce divine — even spiced with sriracha, which always holds the key to my heart! And bites of creamy slaw were the perfect way to cool my mouth between bites of spicy, delicious short rib. Oh, and did I mention that the $15 also included a cocktail? Compared with the rest of the menu it seemed like highway robbery. But prison might be worth it for this one.
Posted by: Kim Partrick
Order: short rib special
Price: $$-$$$
Location: 229 Dekalb Avenue (at Clermont Ave.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: American
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.thegeneralgreene.com
Tags: American, Fort Greene
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June 24 2010
Category: Deals, Reviews
Laurie Cumbo, director of MoCADA (left), and Stacey Toussaint of Inside Out Tours
Oftentimes I find, when you’ve lived somewhere too long, you forget to look around anymore. I always hustle past the tourists snapping shots of the Chrysler Building on my way to work without ever bothering to look up. Similarly, I didn’t know much about Fort Greene beyond that it was a good place to hold a flea market. That’s not the case anymore, thanks to Inside Out Tours, a new walking tour intended to show off the best Brooklyn has to offer. Right now, the nascent tour company is focusing on local culture, with its Soul of Brooklyn Heritage Tours, but future offerings promise to be downright mouthwatering, including the Multi-ethnic Tasting and Treasure Hunt Tour, the Brooklyn Gospel Tour and Brunch, and American Comfort Foods of Brownstone Brooklyn.
The current Soul of Brooklyn Heritage Tour focuses on the African diaspora and African American contributions to Fort Greene, including stops at 40 Acres and a Mule (Spike Lee’s production company), the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. While there’s no food on the tour itself, attendees learn about local restaurants, and are welcome to sit down for brunch afterward at EN, a local Nigerian restaurant. The goodie bag also includes coupons for 10 percent of a meal at EN and $10 to Madiba, a South African joint (full of HDTVs, all the better for checking out the World Cup). Learn more about what Brooklyn has to offer with one of these fantastic walking tours.
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Soul of Brooklyn Heritage Tour
Price: $$$
Location: Starts at MoCADA, 80 Hanson Pl. (at S. Portland Ave.), Brooklyn
www.insideouttours.com
Tags: African, American, Fort Greene
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June 22 2010
Category: Deals
It’s Tuesday, folks, and you know what that means: you’re craving fried chicken! OK, maybe not automatically, but you sure will be when you learn about Seersucker’s weekly meal deal. The spanking-new modern Southern eatery is now offering an $18 fried chicken dinner every single Tuesday. “Dinner” may in fact be an understatement — the meal includes half a fried chicken, buttermilk dipping sauce, white bread, slaw, and black-eyed peas. Heck, that’s not just a Tuesday dinner deal. Sounds like there will be plenty left over for a hearty Wednesday lunch as well!
Posted by: Kim Partrick
Price: $$
Location: 329 Smith Street (between President St. and Carroll St.), Brooklyn
Type of Food: Southern
Veggie Friendly? N
Tags: American, Carroll Gardens, Southern
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June 18 2010
Category: Reviews
The Upper East Side has its fair share of bro bars and burger joints, with carbon copy menus that rarely vary from block to block. One surprising standout, however, is Genesis Bar on 2nd Ave and 89th St.
The burger list is a pamphlet-sized insert in the regular menu, but what it lacks in width, it more than makes up for in breadth. All burgers consist of a 1/2-pound of black angus beef on a toasted bun, and variations on the standard include the Italian (topped with pancetta and melted mozzarella, and drizzled with basil pesto), the Bulls-Eye (covered in bulls-eye steak sauce and topped with sauteed onions and jalapenos), and the Hawaiian (with barbecue sauce, ham, grilled pineapple, and melted Swiss cheese). It only takes one glance at the menu to figure out what I ordered: the Genesis, of course. Served with blue cheese, frizzled onions, and, most importantly, chorizo, it was the obvious choice. The burger was delicious of course (it had chorizo on it, so it was guaranteed to be good), but oh so heavy. Don’t come for dinner here if you have a physical coming up, but if you don’t mind sending your cholesterol skyrocketing, Genesis’ deluxe burgers won’t disappoint.
Posted by: Nicole Price Fasig
Order: Genesis burger
Price: $$
Location: 1708 2nd Ave. (between 88th St. and 89th St.)
Type of Food: American, Burgers
Veggie Friendly? Y
www.genesisbar.com
Tags: Burgers, Upper East Side
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