06.25.09
I’m Seamless Webber of the Week!
I submitted myself a few weeks ago & they picked me. I don’t know how many people read their blog, but I’m pretty excited about it. :)
06.20.09
Review of Allegretti, Tuesday April 2009
46 W.22nd St. & 5th/6th Aves., 212-206-0555
Great for: taking the parents, a grown-up and quiet night out
I met some guys at a snowboarders’ meetup and this one asked me out for a proper date. Not really my type, but I figured I’ve got to try people out or I’ll never like anyone. He was kind of boring, but dinner was quite good.
I actually ate some of the starter bread. It was like an olive brioche; salty with lots of olives, and very enjoyable. I loved my terrific special app of tagliolini with king crab, crab jus, snow peas, scallions and pea shoots. It had nice thin noodles steeped in crab flavor and peas that were a crunchy contrast to the just-chewy-enough noodles. It looked small in the plate but was actually a nice amount. The sweetbreads app is great too. The snow pea sauce is delicious, while the nuttiness of the sweetbreads was amplified by the pine nuts sprinkled on top. All that went very well with yummy vegetables scattered around the plate. I was glad I had some bread left over to mop up more of the sauce.
I liked my rascasse with shrimp, fish and a little calamari in gravy with vegetables. It was a nice big dish, kind of like crab cake in the way it’s held together except in a pretty star design. I didn’t even mind the calamari, as it was only barely rubbery. His sea bass with a triangle of latke and artichokes was also good. The potato was my favorite part, since the fish was not as tender as mine.
The baba dessert was good, the cake a tad dry but the fruit a gooey, scrumptious mess. Even though I was totally full, I kept pecking at the rhubarb and strawberries. The service is lovely, almost as much so as the décor. There’s a small fireplace that looks as though it may have been a pizza oven once, nice big bathrooms and a very friendly waitstaff. The place itself is also quite large, with a bar area that would be great for a rainy day or a heart-to-heart.
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $145
Noise level: loud conversations
Chance of walking in: it’s quite new, you should call ahead.
06.04.09
Review of Planet Thailand 212, Saturday April 2009
30 W.24th & 5th/6th Aves., 212-727-7026
Great for: very hungry people, specials, large groups
This was the second (main) dinner of the night for my date with the Marketer. It’s an offshoot of the same restaurant in Williamsburg - I can see why they were successful enough to have two places. The menu is huge, but I stuck with the specials and wasn’t disappointed. I was, however, with him. Plus he said something really offensive and racist a few weeks later, giving me an excuse to stop talking to him entirely.
M got the special app of clams in Thai chili vinaigrette. The sauce was way too vinegary. Fortunately, my special of spicy tataki with tuna, mango, tobiko, eel and avocado made up for it. It looked lovely with tri-color tobiko on top and was fun texturally with crunchies inside. Everything was all chopped together and just the right level of spicy. (It might be too much for most people though, as I generally prefer my food on the blistering side.)
M had 15 pieces of sashimi and sushi which he said were good. My special entrée of pan-seared tuna with soba noodles was very spicy and great. The tuna steak was huge and there were lots of vegetables too. I loved the combination of spicy mayo and teriyaki on the tuna, though some of it had that chewy gristle. Actually, the dish overall may have been a tad too spicy, even for me. It was somehow less so the next day when I had the leftovers.
I liked the cool square pot in which my green tea was served. The waitresses were friendly but dopey. The place is crazy-looking, with a big, warm, aqua blue kitchen (yeah, I don’t know how blue can look warm either) and enough Ghost chairs to populate a haunted Starck mansion. There is an enormous thing above the bar that can best be described as a candy mountain made of colored lightbulbs. I liked the music. I wasn’t drinking that night, but they have a very long cocktail list with lots of fancy drinks that I’d definitely try another time.
The resto is huge. People started coming in around 8:30, and M said usually it’s packed. It seems to be popular for groups. I’d probably come again if I were nearby.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Our cost: $60 + $40 tip
Noise level: it echoes
Chance of walking in: good.
05.26.09
Review of Sweet Emily’s, Saturday April 2009
321 W.51st St. & 8th/9th Aves., 212-957-9338
Great for: sharing lots of interesting dishes, American food with a Latin twist, pre- or post-theatre
The Marketer knows the owners here and thought I might be able to give them some nice publicity. (I don’t think he understands the point of this blog. This is for straightforward reviews, without exception.) The eponymous Emily was indeed a sweet lady and I’m happy I can honestly recommend her restaurant. M and I had dinner plans elsewhere so we just had several small plates, but we tried a decently varied cross-section of the menu.
The Prince Edward Island mussels with tasso ham in tequila broth were very good. I’m not even a huge mussels fan. The broth doesn’t taste much of tequila, and there was lots of lovely diced ham, onions and small tomatoes as well as a generous number of mussels. The roasted jalapeño cheese poppers with creamy herb dip were great. There was just the right balance of everything, so that each popper was delicate and creamy without overpowering the peppers. The bacon mac and cheese croquette with smoky, spicy tomato dip was also terrific. It managed to be light and not too cheesy with nice big bacon crumbles.
We decided to leave room for our next dinner but couldn’t resist some dessert. M’s warm apple cake with caramel sauce and whipped cream turned out to be awesome despite its appleness. I wouldn’t order it myself, as I don’t really like apple desserts, but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who does. My baked cheesecake empanada with strawberry sauce and more whipped cream was great. I found the cake a little spongy but the combination of ingredients was lovely.
The waiters are really nice and seem happy to be there. There are two dining rooms, although they’re not always both open, so it’s probably a good idea for large parties and walking in. I enjoyed the lights and décor, which made the place look inviting and upscale at the same time.
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $45 (3 apps, 2 desserts)
Noise level: quiet
Chance of walking in: pretty good.
05.17.09
I have decided to try cooking
Because I’m not busy enough, clearly. I just keep seeing recipes online and thinking that they look yummy. I kind of figure, since I’m injured and can’t exercise, if I have to cook my dinner instead of just ordering it I might burn more calories that way. Also, I really enjoy multitasking and being organized, which seems to be a very important part of cooking well. And of all the neighborhoods I could live in, Chinatown definitely has the cheapest groceries and makes it easier to experiment. Last week I tried my hand at Chinese rice cakes - the little oval ones - with pork and veggies. It was pretty tedious chopping up the big hunk of pork with my dull knife but overall it was as soothing as people always say cooking is. And the dish turned out quite well! My mom still makes it better but that was my most ambitious attempt at anything to date. I’m not sure what to make next; maybe this interesting broccoli sauce pasta.
Update: have now made several more dishes and they’ve all turned out very well, although so far only I have eaten them. The hardest part I find is the chopping. I can be fairly clumsy around knives - I accidentally stabbed myself last year with a prop sword (yes! a prop! in my defense, with a ridiculously sharp tip) so, desiring to keep all my fingers, I chop quite slowly. I’ve found that playing poker online while cooking forces me to speed up, though. Otherwise I have to bet with the knife handle or wet hands and the mouse area doesn’t always recognize that.
Sites I’ve found helpful so far (thanks @TroyOrleans for foodgawker!):
foodgawker.com
amandascookin.blogspot.com
chaosinthekitchen.com
bigboldbeautifulfood.blogspot.com
epicurious.com
myrecipes.com
05.14.09
Review of La Carbonara, Friday April 2009
202 W.14th St. & 7th Ave., 212-255-2060
Great for: large parties and dates, carbonara, hearty good food for very little money
It used to be Osteria Primitivo, but the pressure of the recession inspired the owners (who also run several other Italian restaurants in New York) to replace it with an incredibly wallet-friendly place. Every dish is less than $15! Plus, each one is good! It’s so rare to find both characteristics in the same place. How lucky that we settled on it for girls’ night out.
We managed to get a table for six on Friday at 8:30 when I called the day before, which was a little surprising to me but less so when I saw how effectively they’d utilized the mid-sized space. Our table was right in the middle of the room, great for people-watching. We didn’t have much time for that after the food came, though. The traditional oven-baked eggplant appetizer with tomato, mozzarella and basil was “sloppy but yummy,” KR said. L and D found the steamed black mussels in a white wine and black pepper broth garlicky and delicious. K loved her tomato carpaccio special with mozzarella and chili oil. The spaghetti alla carbonara with very fatty pancetta, eggs and pecorino romano cheese was definitely worth naming the restaurant after. Shredded basil leaves scattered on top helped counteract the heavy deliciousness and I was kind of happy I hadn’t eaten all day so that I had room for it and a main course.
K was observing Lent so they made her a gnocchi special with just asparagus and no speck. The tagliatelle with shrimp, arugula and cherry tomatoes was also delightful, as was the pan-seared salmon in an herbed crust with lentil salad and lemon dill sauce. (These girlfriends are great, they always make sure to let me try a little bit of everything.) My own main course of baccalà codfish with Gaeta olives, oregano and parsley in a spicy tomato broth was great; spicy and garlicky with nice crisp fish. I loved the long strings of onions and the giant soft onion on top. It is a very salty dish though, and the fish was a tad dry.
The portions are quite generous. It was just the right amount of food for me, but then I hadn’t had anything all day. Everyone cleaned their plates or tried to. The wine is priced as reasonably as the food. We got two bottles of the shiraz Mandra Rossa from Sicily for $23 each. It was all right - I found it a bit watery. Our servers got confused and brought out two main courses with apps but were quick about straightening that out. Though a little abrupt sometimes, they were nice overall.
I liked the inviting and well-lit room with a good mix of candles and recessed ceiling lighting. The music was a little odd sometimes, but not too loud, thankfully. The dining room is pretty large and there’s a small private alcove too. Rustic wooden furniture completed the homey look. I’ll definitely be back soon to try more of the menu.
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $215 for 6 ppl (2 bottles of $23 shiraz)
Noise level: pretty noisy but less than you’d expect; conversation isn’t too difficult
Chance of walking in: it’s new so you should call ahead.
05.10.09
Review of Son Cubano, Thursday April 2009
405 W.14th St. & 9th/10th Aves., 212-366-1640
Great for: tapas, red snapper chicharrón, cocktails, people watching
Software Guy thoughtfully picked a restaurant I haven’t reviewed for our date. He also proved himself to be really thoughtful later when some jackass stole my phone and he helped me get it back even though it took 15 hours. (No, I’m not kidding.) Happily, the night started out well.
The almejas villa clara, littleneck clams in Hoegaarden beer and saffron broth with cilantro and garlic, were pretty good. I preferred the giant papitas rellenas filled with ground sirloin. Their accompanying tomato sauce was sour in a good way. The generous amount of chorizo in hot oil was also satisfying. The empanadillas with sautéed spinach and Manchego cheese are small and heavy, a good dish in small doses.
The lovely calamari were on a different level. Large but tender, they were also easy to bite through. The best was definitely the chicharrón de pargo, lightly breaded red snapper with tartar sauce. It came in nice big flaky chunks and I had a hard time not scooping up every last piece.
We tried several of the cocktails, all of which I can recommend. I think the guava jalapeño martini and bellito were the best. Our waiters were pretty attentive and it’s a fun place. It’s quite large, but I’ve never see it less than packed all the years it’s been open. Side note: we saw Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman filming their new movie outside on our way out!
Rating: 7 / 10
Our cost: $195
Noise level: loud
Chance of walking in: you should probably reserve.
05.07.09
The Little Laptop Shop is on my shit list
So I cracked my laptop screen last week - unfortunate incident involving forgetfulness and a pen on the keyboard - and the shop replaced it. Cost me nearly $300, but they did it in three days so I was pretty happy. But when I get it back and open the start menu, almost all my programs are gone. Somehow they are in Program Files and usable, but refuse to show up in the start menu. Plus, I have to click “show images” in every single gmail I get all over again. Weird and annoying.
I finally get around to hiking back over there (Clinton Street is far) so they can fix it, and the technician putters around halfheartedly. He doesn’t even try everything I already tried, and I’m hardly a tech. The manager now comes out to yell at me. He says that since all they did was replace the screen, there is no way they did anything to cause these problems. It must be me or someone at my house. I said it is just me at home, I couldn’t do anything with the screen cracked except press the sleep button. He basically told me I was stupid and didn’t “understand” when he insisted that they hadn’t done anything. What I understand is, it was fine operationally when I gave it to them and now it’s not. If you have any suggestions, please feel free. And don’t go to the Little Laptop Shop!
Update: Now Outlook won’t open and the gmail problem hasn’t gone away. I am seriously considering having Amex stop payment to them - this is ridiculous.
Response to TLLS comment: I never “admitted” anything they did, how on earth would I know how they fucked it up? I asked them to fix problems they caused. I had a perfectly fine OS with a cracked screen when I dropped it off. I had a new screen and messed-up OS when I got it back. As I said above, after I cracked the screen I could only press the sleep button, so I certainly didn’t screw up the programs or move the files and all of that. A technician tried half-heartedly to get things working for a few minutes and then said “I dunno, um…” He explained nothing. I got mad at that point because they didn’t fix it, the manager yelled at me, and I still have a messed-up computer that they insist had nothing to do with them, but can only logically be a result of their actions. It’s not the inconvenience of the laptop not working totally correctly that I mind. It’s the “Hey stupid bitch it’s your fault, fuck off” attitude. It of course makes no sense that they’d screw it up on purpose. I hope it was an accident. I know Windows has tons of glitches. But I expect for a business to at least be courteous and fix things when they realize a mistake has happened, entirely on their watch.
[And no, the start-up area does not allow me to add the programs back in. I've tried that several times.]
04.21.09
Review of Peter Luger, lunch Tuesday April 2009
178 Broadway & Driggs, 718-387-7400
Great for: bacon, spinach, fries and the porterhouse of course
My poor broken clavicle required titanium to reassemble. I went home for a week after surgery to recover without imposing on my friends, and actually healed very well after an excruciating first few days, so by the time I got back to Manhattan I was totally ready to go out again. (My family is mostly nice but I’m pretty much set after three days with them.)
My English Ex came here two years ago and said the bacon was the only thing worth getting. He was right about its scrumptiousness, but they have clearly stepped up their game because everything else was fantastic too. The bacon comes in thick giant slices, $2 a pop, grilled and charred and marinated or smoked or something to the point that you can’t tell where the meat leaves off and the fat begins. Which is great, because then I can eat all of it. Just one slice is surprisingly satisfying; if I didn’t know myself better I’d say I could just have a few slices and be full.
The classic porterhouse for two was buttery delicious goodness. I definitely would not recommend eating here often, unless you’re trying to induce a heart attack, but it was so good I’d almost say what the hell, it’s worth it. In case you’ve never had the pleasure here or at one of the recent Luger offshoots, porterhouse for two is a giant slab of T-bone plus filet mignon that is cooked in the plate in a small lake of butter. It’s sliced in great big hunks so you can still cut it yourself, but don’t have to deal with carving it off the bones. Some of my first piece was a little too charred but every one thereafter was a great balance of chewy and soft flavor.
The creamed spinach is terrific. They somehow make it mostly spinach - I barely even saw cream - and yet it was soft and practically a steak sauce. Speaking of which, their house sauce is very good. I can’t remember the last steakhouse I went to where I liked the house blend at all, but this one was good on everything. Their fries are giant and delicious too. If you can possibly cram them in you should try.
I enjoyed our $32 half-bottle of Beaulieu Valley Rutherford, which came out to about four small glasses. The only disappointment in the meal was the decaf coffee, which my friend said tasted “like dirt.” My regular coffee was nothing special but at least not silica-based. I’ve heard from many people that Luger’s has been falling off lately, but maybe the economy has spurred them to recapture their former glory. This was truly one of the best steaks I’ve had in my life.
Rating: 9 / 10
Our cost: $200 (1 half-bottle of wine, 2 sides, 2 coffees)
Noise level: not very loud
Chance of walking in: doubtful. Don’t forget to bring cash, unless you have their credit card.
04.19.09
Review of Café Katja, Tuesday March 2009
79 Orchard & Broome/Grand Sts., 212-219-9545
Great for: Reuben sandwich, snacking
My very good friend S came over to take care of me, since I was essentially one-armed after my snowboarding accident. I guess all the Percocet made me dopey, because when I went to let her in, I closed my door and locked us out. While we waited for another friend to bring my spare set of keys, we decided to get some food. I vaguely remembered hearing about this fantastic little Austrian place near me and we managed to find it.
When I told the waitress I wanted to try their liptauer, she suggested getting the pretzel appetizer which came with that and some other spreads. They were all delicious and the liptauer was lighter than I expected from something made of cheese. The pretzel itself was lovely, too, and I have never previously liked any pretzels.
My “Katja’s Ruben” [sic] sandwich was fantastic, a combination of pork belly, cabbage, cheese, pickles and mustard. The bread had been fried in butter and the whole thing was enormous. I took half of it home! The pork belly was very fatty with a rind, but it was easy to separate the meat out. I loved the cabbage and pickles. The only thing I disliked was the purple cole slaw, which seemed to have apple cubes in it. I think if you like cole slaw it might be ok though.
S liked her broiled trout on spinach with fingerling potatoes, though she could have used more spinach to counteract the abundance of butter. The decent side of brussels sprouts improved with liberal pepper and mustard.
We had a very nice waitress and the chef was friendly too. The small narrow space is utilized very well and doesn’t feel cramped. The décor is minimalist but homey. They have many beers (which I don’t drink) and cocktails (which I was on too much Percocet to drink). It’s kind of a hidden gem but that stretch of Orchard Street has a lot of other good restaurants. Definitely go before everyone finds out about it.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Our cost: $45 (1 app, 2 entrees, 1 side, no drinks)
Noise level: music loud, people pretty quiet
Chance of walking in: not too bad now but hurry, it’s small and the food is very tasty.
