02.16.10
Posted in American, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 7 to 7.5 at 17:18 by Dominique
99 7th Ave. South & W.4th St., 212-645-0600
Great for: dates, jazz, large entrées
My dear friend D and her girlfriend A invited the Boyfriend and me to a seminar nearby and we weren’t quite ready to call it a night afterward, so we wandered into Garage for some dinner. I’ve seen the place for years and never been inside – I was definitely missing out. It’s not a very wallet-friendly place, but it definitely is kind to the palate.
I really enjoyed my bay scallop linguine with asparagus in Champagne cream sauce. There were lots of little scallops and ample sauce, which was a bit sour from the Champagne but still tasty. The Boyfriend’s chicken and smoked mozzarella ravioli in light Parmesan alfredo with prosciutto and peas was absolutely wonderful. Fortunately there was such a generous amount, I got to eat some of it. We especially loved the terrific garlicky sauce.
D liked her Chilean sea bass in lemon-thyme beurre blanc with homemade spinach gnocchi and sauteed broccolini. A’s fettuccine and pan-roasted shrimp with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach had extra large shrimp and was also delicious.
We really liked the cute décor and the homey, warm atmosphere. Try to sit in the upper balcony if you can. It’s a lovely date place, though quite expensive.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Out cost: $150 (only entrées + 2 glasses white wine)
Noise level: music is a good volume and the talking isn’t too loud
Chance of walking in: it’s pretty packed.
Permalink
11.18.09
Posted in American, Greenwich Village, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 7 to 7.5 at 09:53 by Dominique
331 W.4th & Jane Sts., 212-242-9502
Great for: simple good food, eating until 3:30am
[I know, I'm woefully behind on posts. I've been busy with tons of auditions and the new Boyfriend - I think this one will stick, as he just moved in with me!]
I had a very busy night of playing poker live (up a bit until I didn’t leave when I said I would, whereupon I promptly lost my whole stack with QQ against 10s), a friend’s birthday with lesbian jell-o wrestling (she won), and a different friend’s fetish wedding (everyone wins). Between the jell-o and the ceremony I realized I hadn’t had dinner, and figured my last $12 would go pretty far at Corner Bistro. Plus, I’ve never been in the whole time I’ve lived in New York. I always hear how it’s the best burger in the city. In my non-burger-obsessed opinion, it’s not - that honor stays with the Grotto and Shopsin’s - but it is a darn good deal and certainly one of the better burgers.
I got the bistro burger with bacon, grilled onions, no cheese, tomato and fries. I enjoyed the juicy and insanely thick patty, though I could barely get my tiny hands around it, let alone my mouth – I would have liked it marinated more, but for $7 it’s great. They were really generous with crispy and not-too-fatty bacon. The fries were pretty good, mainly crunchy, and could use more seasoning. Overall, I was satisfied. I’d definitely stop in again.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
My cost: $12
Noise level: noisy with people but nice with jazz
Chance of walking in: not too easy to walk in, I got the last seat at 12:30 am.
Permalink
08.26.09
Posted in New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, Spanish, West Village, rated 8 to 8.5, small plates at 01:03 by Dominique
64 W.10th St. & 6th/5th Ave., 212-505-7777
Great for: tapas, sangria, getting crazy with a large group of friends, hanging out at the bar, impressing out-of-towners, dates
Motorcycle Guy and I agreed on this place for our date, which turned out to be a really good decision because although I’d been here a while back, I hadn’t reviewed it, and it turned out to still be yummy enough that I actually want to write about it. (Sometimes I just can’t be bothered if a place is mediocre and obscure. And my palate has developed to the point where often what was once good is now disappointingly eh.)
The warm salad of artichokes and haricots verts with crème fraîche truffle dressing was a nice start. The lamb meatballs in spiced butternut squash foam, toasted sesame seeds and lebne (a dense yogurt cheese) were also lovely. The foam could have been better, but then I don’t like any form of squash.
The two best dishes – I really couldn’t pick between them – were the Brussels sprouts and scallops. The sprouts come with Granny Smith apples, crème fraîche and pistachios, which sounds strange, but that bit of sweetness sets off the rest of the flavors. I LOVED it. I also loved the three big butterflied, roasted scallops in artichoke purée and yuzu mayonnaise with salmon caviar. Tender, juicy and terrific, I only wished there were more (and an even number).
The yogurt-marinated lamb skewers with okra and eggplant in green leek sauce were a setback in an overall pleasant meal. I hated the vegetables, which were an unpleasant surprise, and the lamb was fine but a bit too sweet. Fortunately, the whole rack of Danish ribs roasted with kecap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) and coriander made up for that. Though they could have been moister, they were very satisfying.
We rounded out the meal with an absolutely scrumptious warm chocolate cake topped with coconut sorbet, passionfruit emulsion and chocolate rum sauce. It literally melted in our mouths. I found myself actually eating more than a few bites of it, despite not usually being a huge dessert fan.
It was fun sitting in the semi-secret back room that you can only reach through the kitchen. A bit sexier than the rest of the place, which is nice but loud and packed. The décor is a little cluttered, though still good for dates. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. I’m so glad the food hasn’t stopped being great. And if you’re there with a bunch of people, get the “whole shebang” – everything on the menu for $400. Did that once, it’s so worth it. Plus the sangria is killer.
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $110 (1 drink)
Noise level: music at a good level, loud people, quiet back room
Chance of walking in: they’re very popular, so definitely call ahead.
Permalink
05.14.09
Posted in Chelsea, Italian, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 8 to 8.5 at 05:14 by Dominique
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,” R 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.
Oh fun! La Carbonara liked this review enough to link to it. I’m happy to support a deserving restaurant.
Permalink
03.04.09
Posted in American, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 7 to 7.5 at 07:15 by Dominique
510 Hudson & Christopher/W.10th Sts., 212-242-3021
Great for: steak tartare, salmon, lots of cocktails, singles pickup scene
My new friend AW suggested dinner here and even made reservations – she rocks. (Also, I’d lost my voice from illness and too much singing practice, so she’s kind as well as thoughtful.) It turned out to be a great choice.
Even the bread was fun. There was some delicious chive cream spread that I actually ate some bread to try. I was even happier when my hand-cut steak tartare came. The waiter mixed it right in front of me with an elaborate set of condiments. I loved it by itself, on the thin crispy garlic bread, mixed in the salad… I could definitely make a meal out of it. AW enjoyed her mixed greens with balsamic too.
My orecchiette with house-made pork sausage, arugula and Parmesan was lovely though quite standard. I liked the nice big chunks of sausage with lots of spices. AW had the fantastic pan-seared salmon with artichoke, fingerling potatoes and mache salad. It came in a large filet with a generous amount of sauce and it quickly became obvious why most of the people around us had ordered it.
We had one cocktail each, because they’re so big. I liked my Fraise Sauvage concotion of gin, strawberries, vanilla and prosecco, while her Mata Hari combined VSOP cognac with chai vermouth and pomegranate juice. (I wouldn’t have thought of that either.) Our waiters were a bit harried but generally did the best they could. It’s a typical cramped West Village space, but the skylight and liquor bottles lining the dining room ceiling are a nice touch. Next time I’m just going straight for the steak tartare and salmon.
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Our cost: $120 (2 cocktails)
Noise level: it’s quite a party
Chance of walking in: definitely make a reservation.
Permalink
12.28.08
Posted in Greenwich Village, Latin, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 8 to 8.5 at 17:59 by Dominique
111 W.17th St. & 6th Ave., 212-691-4477
Great for: converting people who hate Mexican food, lots of cocktails, celebrations
I generally love or hate foods (mostly for textural reasons). I’m good about trying them again periodically, though. Mexican is probably the only cuisine I don’t like across the board, since I’m decidedly not a fan of plain rice, beans, avocados or raw tomatoes. I find the spices boring and I try to avoid cheese, so that kind of knocks out most options. However, I heard from a few people that Crema was the best Mexican food in the city, so my friend D and I checked it out. She’s from Cali so I figured she could tell me how good it really was.
I am so glad we came. Not only did I love it, D said it stacked up pretty well against California. My four taquitos de chilorio, slow-cooked pork mini tacos with chile ancho, oregano and jalapeño vinegar, chipotle-cilantro drizzle and cream, were awesome. The spice and the cream is a great combination.
My main of flautas (crispy corn tortillas) with shredded chicken, cheese, corn and caramelized onions and three salsas was amazing. The tomatillo-avocado, chili aioli paste and velvety pinto bean salsas were all creamy and yummy though the chili aioli was my favorite. I found myself actually liking chicken, as I so rarely do, and by extension liking Mexican for the first time. D’s adobo-marinated grilled skirt steak tacos with cowboy beans and corn tortillas was fantastic. The juicy meat was very good and I even liked the beans with chorizo on top and chicken mixed in.
Although I’m sure it would have been wonderful, I’m glad I didn’t order a side because it left just enough room for dessert. We shared the pastel de tres leches, a sponge cake soaked in three milks and mango syrup with dulce de leche ice cream. It was mind-blowing. The spongy moist goodness of the little cake looked like cottage cheese and tasted like heaven. I am not kidding, if you have a sweet tooth you need to go devour this immediately. I even liked the coconut caramel topping though I usually despise coconut in any form.
I was sticking with the not-drinking thing (it’s kind of hard, what do you do socially in NYC after 10pm if you don’t drink?) so D dutifully had a cocktail in my stead. The Colada Monterrey, a mixture of light and dark rums, coconut syrup and pineapple juice with a cinnamon-chile rim was good. There might have been too much spice on the rim, but it showed a deft mixologist behind the bar. They have an extensive cocktail list and when I start drinking again I intend to sample much of it.
I found our service leisurely, though we took quite a while to order so that was possibly partly our fault. It’s a long, colorful dining room that invites dallying and celebration. I mean I really didn’t have anything to celebrate except cleaning up at the Escada sample sale earlier ($40 pants and $60 heels – yes, I believe I will, thank you), but the excellence of the food certainly made me feel like I was.
Rating; 8.5 / 10 (still, after February 2010 visit)
Our cost: $105 (1 app, 2 mains, 1 cocktail, 1 dessert)
Noise level: quiet on Sunday but it probably gets noisy
Chance of walking in: decent.
Took a boyfriend from California here for his birthday in February 2010 and it was just as good. Their guacamole is tangy, not too creamy, and overall very tasty. I think we did the Restaurant Week deal. I can heartily recommend the tortita de cangrejo (crab cake), barbacoa taco, melt-in-the-mouth scallops, enchiladas suizas, goat milk caramel cheesecake (like flan and cheesecake had a love child with hints of peanut butter) and Mexican strawberry shortcake. I enjoyed my ginger martini, he liked his margarita, and the Crema cosmo is great. Still my favorite Mexican restaurant anywhere.
Permalink
11.04.08
Posted in American, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, West Village, fusion, rated 7 to 7.5 at 02:47 by Dominique
522 Hudson St. & 10th St., 212-807-7357
Great for: pho, airy design enthusiasts, resting after West Village wandering
I did a long photo shoot one Saturday afternoon with my friend Tom (who is amazing, by the way, and looking for more subjects) and we went out for a well-earned brunch afterward. I didn’t have the energy to think of a place but he wanted to try this one and fortunately it was on my list.
We both got the signature pho with shredded brisket, noodles, broccoli, carrots, scallions, shallots and cilantro. You can also get it with chicken, though that would never be my choice. It’s rich and flavorful yet not too heavy. There are tons of veg so it’s actually pretty healthy as well. It could have been more spicy for my taste but they’re happy to bring you sriracha sauce. Overall, I was delighted after a hard day’s work. (Yes, modeling is real work.)
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Our cost: $40 (one diet Coke)
Noise level: quiet, but it was around 3 or 4 on a Saturday. Probably a convivial hum at peak times.
Chance of walking in: it’s a pretty restaurant near Magnolia. Don’t be silly, make a reservation.
Permalink
10.23.08
Posted in Latin, New York City Reviews, West Village, rated 7 to 7.5, seafood, small plates at 17:04 by Dominique
[Sorry it's been so long. Between my full-time lawyer project and starring in an upcoming off-off-Broadway musical, I'm pretty swamped. I promise I'll try to keep up better - the backlog is currently about 20 restaurants long.]
122 Christopher & Bedford Sts., 212-242-0010
Great for: papas rellenas, shrimp in bacon
The English girl gang I run with sometimes (ok fine, it’s just a bunch of English girls plus an Aussie, me and another American) wanted to get ceviche again. Fortunately this time was better than Rayuela. I still didn’t love the ceviche, which I think maybe I just don’t enjoy. Citrus has never been high on my list.
The papas rellena, deep-fried mashed potato balls stuffed with beef, raisins and olives, were huge and better than they sound. They’re creamy and decadent, as well as covered in red onion slices. Delicious, as are the shrimp wrapped in bacon with spicy Peruvian dip under more red onions. That was probably my favorite thing all night. The sauce is green and creamy and the bacon crisp. The shrimp could be a tad more tender but the whole thing is still delicious. Just so you know, you get five decent-sized shrimp in one dish. You probably want at least two servings.
For a main I got the ceviche caliente, consisting of giant sea scallops and fresh shrimp grilled in spicy sauce over fried yucca (which I changed to rice). It was pretty good but had a very strong, sour, citrus taste. It could have been cooked less, too. I preferred the shrimp; the scallops were a tiny bit gritty and set my teeth on edge somehow. Some of the others let me try their entrees. The aji chicken is a bit bland and dry, but overall not bad. I found the lamb hearty in its very dark sauce.
The sangria was tasty and not too heavy. The service, on the other hand, left a bit of initiative and sense of urgency to be desired. Plus they forgot my tiradito, although it was fine because I was so full from the app and ceviche. I generally liked the Latinized pop songs they played. Not so much the scary movie on the flat screen in a random place on one wall. I kept getting distracted from my conversations by the horrors unfolding across from me. In general, the apps are better than anything else, and you should stick with those and sangria.
Rating: 7.0 / 10
Our cost: $470 (8 people, 1 app and 1 ceviche/entree each, with a few pitchers of sangria; apps are $7-16, ceviches $14-17, entrees pretty reasonable though)
Noise level: not bad
Chance of walking in: good.
The service is really abysmal. The girls wanted to come back a year later, and I just got the bacon-wrapped shrimp and papa rellena, which were still good. I had to speak Spanish to the waiter and tell him everything three times, though.
Permalink
09.11.08
Posted in New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, Spanish, West Village, rated 6 to 6.5, small plates at 17:11 by Dominique
823 Greenwich & Horatio Sts., 212-929-8210
Great for: alliophiles (garlic lovers), sangria
My friend Matthew and I kind of randomly picked this spot for its location. Poor Matt got lost along the way because I forgot to tell him Greenwich Street, not Avenue. As I waited for him, a weird guy at the bar tried very persistently to get me to try one of his meatballs. He said they were really good, but I wasn’t about to eat some disturbing stranger’s food.
After Matt rescued me and we ordered, they brought us complimentary salad with a nice dressing. My shrimp à la diablo with tomato sauce, onion and green pepper was decent, not peppery as the adjective would suggest. His shrimp cocktail turned out to be baby shrimp in a very garlicky, somewhat spicy sauce. It was great. Probably my favorite thing we had.
In an effort not to over-order we shared an entrée of Valenciana paella with chicken, sausage, clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp. It was pretty good. It would have been very good but the chorizo was a bit dry, the shrimp unflavored and the shellfish just ok. The scallops were juicy and great though, and I liked the flavor of the rice. The dish was so huge, we only finished half.
We had a pitcher of just-right sangria, not too strong or sweet. I can’t say the same for the service. They barely paid attention to us, and I had a saucer for a bread plate. It was fine, since I don’t eat bread; I just think the difference between a regular plate and a saucer with a circle in it is pretty noticeable. The place wasn’t that busy, either, so I’m not sure why they were so lackadaisical. It’s a cozy space with a lot of filigree metalwork, which I preferred to the faded amateur frescos decorating the walls. I’d only come for the shrimp cocktail plus sangria.
Rating: 6 / 10
Our cost: $80 (1 pitcher of sangria)
Noise level: room is small, so you’re out of luck if there’s a table full of loud drunks.
Chance of walking in: pretty good, we didn’t wait at 8pm.
Permalink
09.05.08
Posted in Asian, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, Southeast Asian, West Village, rated 7 to 7.5 at 12:49 by Dominique
643 Hudson St. & Horatio/Gansevoort Sts., 212-352-3590
Great for: sliders, spicy food, skinny people with great hearing
Midtown Hedge Funder finally asked me out, but he left it so late all I had free was a Monday. I’ve been meaning to try Fatty Crab for ages. The menu is small but I was enthusiastic about most of it, a rarity for me. I’m a pretty picky eater.
We started with the Malay fish fry with turmeric [which was misspelled tumeric] tempura, crab curry, green chili and tamaki. It was like fish without chips and some bits were very hot. I found the coconut rice with pepper slices and parsley leaves quite good, despite my dislike of coconut, though a bit gritty. The fatty sliders of beef & pork on toasty buns were probably the best thing we had. They’re very juicy and the fat is blended in well enough that I didn’t feel the need to pick it out.
The somewhat eponymous chili Dungeness crab on white toast was pretty good. The sauce is a bit sweet for my taste, and the crab is nice though difficult to eat, primarily because it’s hard to hold onto the shells with all that sauce. I liked the giant, fluffy, thick slabs of toast. The fatty duck, both steamed and fried, with toasted tamaki on rice and pickle slices was also yummy. The sauce was really sweet and the peppers medium spicy, while the duck was crispy and very fatty but with good meat. It’s a small dish, you can definitely handle a side with it. We had the enjoyable and tender baby bok choy with oyster sauce.
Be careful, the hot sauce on the table is fishy and super hot! I went a little crazy with it and had to gulp down my Dark and Stormy cocktail. It’s made with Goslings black rum, ginger and lime. Too gingery at first, it grew on me. The bartender’s quite friendly too.
We liked our waiter, who managed to squeeze in and out of the narrow space and take care of all his tables with flair and grace. The place is cozy, if you’re feeling charitable – cramped might be more accurate. Don’t drink too much water, as you may not want to maneuver away from your table more than once. The music is super loud and I wanted cold water, but overall it’s a decent restaurant. If I came back I would get a snack of the sliders and then probably go somewhere else.
Rating: 7 / 10
Our cost: $160 (1 Tiger beer, 2 Dark & Stormys)
Noise level:
Chance of walking in: It’s not too bad early, like at 7pm. No reservations.
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
