01.06.10
Posted in East Village, Latin, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, rated 6 to 6.5 at 02:42 by Dominique
304 E.6th St. & 2nd/1st Aves., 212-253-5888
Great for: tequila lovers with deep pockets, dainty eaters
I wanted to do something nice for the Boyfriend, and we’d decided to move in together the next week (I know, I know, crazy fast, but it’s working), so I figured what could be better than taking a Mexican food- and drink-loving guy to a tequila bar/restaurant? Turns out I should probably have taken him to Crema, although we did find a lovely new tequila we both like.
We started off with good croquetas. The one of chorizo was slightly better than the cheese and smoked tomato one. We preferred the seared shrimp and scallops stuffed with chorizo and roasted sweet pepper. They came in skewers and we could have eaten a few more, for sure.
I also enjoyed his tacos with chicken, cilantro, radishes and lime. They were insanely hot in places – someone definitely didn’t understand how crucial dicing and spreading out peppers is – and otherwise crispy and quite nice. My entraña with chimichurri over summer corn pudding with pico of tomato, radish, red onion and Mexican oregano was only fine. It felt like a small amount of steak. I enjoyed the pudding, at least. We definitely needed more tequila to forget how much we were being charged for eh food.
The cocktails are pretty good. I liked the suro-mago, though I was puzzled that it came in half a tumbler. I don’t know why they didn’t just put it in a smaller glass. The amor morado came in a more appropriately sized container and was also good. The Boyfriend said his margarita was good, not terrific, despite people saying it’s Mayahuel’s specialty (but then the Cali boy is picky). He loved his 2 ounces of Siete Leguas, which is strong-tasting yet approachable. It was so good, we got a bottle at Astor Wines later.
This is an overpriced, New York-y type of place. Our waitress knowing her tequila saved them half a point. It’s pretty decent compared to some of the swill that passes for Mexican here, but at these prices I kind of expect a little more, and a bit better, food.
Rating: 6.5 / 10
Our cost: $135 (regular dinner + 4 cocktails)
Noise level: noisy until late
Chance of walking in: not great, but it’s still new.
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12.10.09
Posted in Flatiron, Latin, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, rated 8 to 8.5, small plates at 19:04 by Dominique
31 W.17th St. & 5th/6th Aves., 212-675-7223
Great for: dates, trying something new (and delicious)
I was supposed to go out with P ages ago but I broke my shoulder, and he was busy, then I was busy, and it just ended up happening six months later. I gave him a couple choices and Aldea emerged the winner, in more ways than one.
His appetizer of shrimp alhinho could have been cooked less, but it was nice, with smoky sauce and a generous four shrimp. Despite the presence of mushrooms I was delighted with the peas and bacon. And not just because I love bacon; the peas were tasty and firm, and all the flavors went together very well.
His arroz con pato was terrific. We loved the cracklings and chorizo, though not so much the apricot purée, and the duck was totally addictive. I would be so happy if the little Chinese restaurants near me would make fried rice this way! My Niman Ranch pork loin over corn and bacon with potato cubes was also great. There was lots of pork and something pickled that sharpened the taste of everything else. I liked how the meat was quite tender. It could maybe have come off the fire a tad earlier but overall it was really impressive. For once, I found the entrées better than the apps. It is usually the other way around.
To finish we got the strawberry tasting. I loved the mousse-like semifreddo and the sorbet. The black pepper biscuit was funny but actually quite nice with the strawberries & cream. I was very glad we ordered it.
The service tends toward the crazy attentive; they told us everything in every dish as it was set it down. Our waiter was very nice, patient and friendly while also leaving us alone enough. Plus the restaurant is decorated in the most tasteful blue and silver – it looks so carefully designed I was afraid to knock into things. If this is what Portuguese cuisine is like, I can’t wait to go to Lisbon. (Although my understanding is that this is more fusion than traditionally Portuguese.)
Rating: 8 / 10
Our cost: $110
Noise level: low, especially upstairs, and the music is a good volume
Chance of walking in: probably not high. It’s delicious.
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11.04.09
Posted in Latin, Midtown East, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, rated 7 to 7.5 at 02:11 by Dominique
200 Park Ave. & 44th St., 212-867-6767
Great for: business lunches, sangria, skate
I used to work at Jovia, and I was a fan of Sumile and Bar Fry, so I always follow Josh DeChellis’ career with affection and interest. (That, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with him saying I was the prettiest hostess at Jovia. And being unfailingly kind.) He is a terrific chef, if sometimes a bit ahead of his time. I was delighted when my friend P suggested La Fonda and happy with my food, though he wasn’t quite as satisfied.
I decided to be adventurous and get the scallops tiradito appetizer with chiles, citrus, tomato and cilantro. I rarely enjoy raw scallops, Momofuku Ko being the notable exception, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy these. The sauce may have been a tad too strong for the delicate scallops but at least it wasn’t a face-puckering citrus fest as ceviche often is. P’s pickled red and yellow watermelon salad with avocado and jalapeño-pickled onion was odd and pretty good. The salad leaves were still the best part, though.
I very much liked my skate wing special entrée with fingerling potatoes, onions, potatoes and peppers. The veg were all a bit pickled, maybe from a sauce that seemed to be red pepper coulis, but the skate was absolutely scrumptious and perfectly browned. Unfortunately, the bass special (instead of snapper) with saffron, tomato and calamari did not measure up. The rather large filet was a bit dry and overcooked, and the overall dish was small for its hefty price.
We figured cookies for dessert would be a safe bet. They give you 10 (two each of five types) plus a chocolate. Two-thirds were good and we liked the chocolate. It probably wasn’t the best use of $9. The sangrias, on the other hand, were both lovely. I liked my rosé and he liked his red – they had just some fruit, and weren’t too heavy.
We had very polite service in a very busy dining room. It’s an enormous space, 1.5 levels near Grand Central, and has that nice sleek corporate chrome-and-glass look. I wasn’t thrilled with it but I wouldn’t mind returning to try some different things.
Rating: 7 / 10
Our price: $160 (3 glasses of sangria + dessert)
Noise level: not bad
Chance of walking in: dinner may be easier than lunch.
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05.26.09
Posted in American, Latin, Midtown West, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, rated 8 to 8.5, small plates at 20:59 by Dominique
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.
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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
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.
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12.23.08
Posted in Latin, Lower East Side, New York City Reviews, rated 6 to 6.5 at 02:32 by Dominique
253 Broome & Orchard/Ludlow, 212-228-6710
Great for: cocktails, making new friends in close quarters
It was the worst of times, it was a dark and depressing night… My beloved Chanel 2.55 bag was stolen. I’d had it for all of three months and some bitch apparently decided to go shopping when we were at the same bar. Thank goodness I had renter’s insurance, which covered it and its contents. Nevertheless, I was still distraught 24 hours later, and my best friend E offered to take me out to dinner to take my mind off it (and feed me, since I had no access to funds). She’s a sweetheart.
She had already kind of eaten before we talked, so she just shared stuff with me. For an app I tried the arrachera tacos with avocado, cilantro and onion. They were pretty good, though the soft taco and enormous avocado slices were a little much for me. I liked the steak cubes the best.
The camarones borrachos, fresh shrimp sautéed in tequila, guajillo chiles and garlic over green rice with avocado and tortillas, was likewise decent. I was surprised to find myself really liking the rice. I think the shrimp could have been cooked a tad less but it was still quite yummy. I didn’t see any chiles. Overall the food was okay; not great, certainly not bad either, just a cut above middling.
I liked my strawberry vanilla margarita a lot. It tasted very strongly of vanilla, which I love. E’s coconut mojito was good at first but then not so much. Perhaps too much soda water? We also thought the sangria had too much red wine. It was fine, but definitely not worth waiting even if I didn’t hate waiting.
Rating: 6 / 10
Our cost: $55 (1 person eating, 3 drinks)
Noise level: the music is fine, the people are loud
Chance of walking in: Ha! Good luck. Sunday 9pm wasn’t too bad, but it’s always hopping whenever else I walk by.
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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.
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09.25.08
Posted in Alphabet City, Asian, East Village, Japanese, Latin, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, fusion, rated 6 to 6.5, seafood at 17:50 by Dominique
509 6th St. & Ave. A, 212-529-5200
Great for: chupe, lazy people who want to go clubbing after dinner
This is another ceviche place, but fortunately it’s not as bad as Rayuela. Midtown Hedge Funder and I started with the grande ceviche tasting. What that entails isn’t listed on the menu – plus I bet it’s not always the same – so all I can say is that there was lots of tuna, some crab, fried oysters and other assorted raw fish covered in a ton of sauce, all a bit sour but passable.
My favorite thing was the chupe, a shrimp bisque with corn, edamame and egg in creamy panca-oregano broth. The corn actually came on its cob in the soup so it was a bit difficult to eat. Despite tomato halves, the soup was delicious; a savory, not too creamy, very umami delight. I almost forgot to share.
The volcano roll with shrimp, octopus, fluke, hamachi, crab, avocado, cucumber and spicy tobiko mayo was just ok. It had lots of sauce-laden stuff in the middle, didn’t taste that spicy, and seemed similar to a California roll. The rainbow roll, ambitiously loaded with hamachi, salmon, tuna, fluke and crab ceviche, was also soggy, and maybe had too much avocado. Personally I would prefer no avocado in anything ever. I mean, except guacamole. I think even if you like avocado you would consider this too much, though. We also had an interesting construction called causa. It’s a napoleon that looks like a big biscuit of shrimp, crabmeat ceviche, avocado, spicy potato layers and spicy mayo. It was the best of our main dishes. There was too much potato but the inside was pretty good.
Kion’s flirtini with Stoli Razberi and champagne is tasty, as is the Plymouth gin martini. MHF had a Gougenheim malbec that he liked as well. The service was extremely slow for a while, partially made up for by the waiters’ considerateness. I enjoyed the decor. It’s kind of eccentric but I think all the textured, colored glass is pretty. It’s a nice place to have a few cocktails or a birthday party – if you must eat something, get the chupe.
Rating: 6.5
Our cost: $130 (2 cocktails, 1 glass of wine)
Noise level: quiet, but downstairs turns into a club/party space (only weekends I think)
Chance of walking in: pretty good.
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09.15.08
Posted in Latin, Lower East Side, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, rated 4 to 5.5, small plates at 16:59 by Dominique
165 Allen St. & Stanton/Rivington Sts., 212-253-8840
Great for: fancy cocktails, crab & shrimp guacamole, being ignored and overcharged for mediocre food
A place that calls itself a restaurant should never have better drinks than food. Which is why I propose that Rayuela be repurposed as a pretty bi-level lounge with kitchen snacks. We were here because my friends L and D love ceviche, Rayuela’s putative specialty. Three other friends came along too, so I can say with certainty that, with only one duplicate dish between the six of us, we tried enough of the menu for me to have a pretty good idea of how blah it all is.
At least the very first thing, guacamole with crab and shrimp, was fresh and delicious. We had a hard time sharing it fairly among all of us. Then most of us got at least one ceviche. My cangrejo chino was crab and shrimp marinated in a lychee and guanabana citrus sauce with rocotto and jalapeño. The pear-like fruit strips made it slightly sweet. It wasn’t too sour, as ceviche so often is. The seafood was nice but not marinated enough. I liked it at first and then got tired of it. The hamachi with avocado and orange zest in a wasabi citrus sauce sounded great, tried to be inventive, and failed miserably.
The red snapper, marinated in ginger soy citrus with a rainbow of julienne peppers, cucumbers and jala, was nice but nothing special. One of us hit the jackpot with a yummy langosta revolucion of lobster and shrimp, grilled pineapple, jala and young coconut water infused with lemongrass and ginger, garnished with Uruguayuan caviar. The salmon trio al mango in pan seared, smoked and roe forms over mango, frisée, watercress and bacon with mustard and vinaigrette was fairly decent.
The pera con queso salad of Rioja-roasted pear infused with star anise, cinnamon, ginger, mixed greens, La Peral cheese, toasted walnuts and sherry vinaigrette was long on fancy ingredients, short on quality. Then there was the abysmal asparagus salad. D never sends things back, but she couldn’t just sit there and eat the worst salad ever. The asparagus was waterlogged and very clearly from a can. In fact, everything in the dish was canned, bland and horrid. At least they didn’t charge us for it.
My codorniz con lentejas, better known as roasted quail with a stew of pork belly, apples, black lentils, quail egg and crispy shallots was nowhere near as bad. It was a bit too sweet but I found the quail nice and spicy. The piquillo, a sweet Spanish pepper with lobster, shrimp, crab and chipotle aioli, was pretty good, as was the chile relleno (poblano with lamb barbacoa and creamy mushroom rice). The latter is very spicy. One of us got the restaurant week special of tiradito, which was sliced salmon with passionfruit, carica and citrus drizzled with ginger oil. It was quite sweet but decent.
We decided to share a dessert, since most of us were still hungry despite reaching our budget limits. (I had a ceviche and an app - that was already $34 without tax or tip.) The tres leches de chocolate with pineapple on the side was too fluffy. Its texture is weirdly different from how it looks, and there isn’t much taste. We did not like the random banana shit accompanying it. I hate bananas anyway, but in general I think they’re a bad idea with chocolate.
We had lots of $12 mojitos. One of them was so unacceptable D had to send it back. (The poor girl had some bad luck with this meal.) It wasn’t a big deal until her salad was awful as well, at which point we called the manager over. He was very polite verbally, but only took the salad off the bill. I kind of thought he should offer some drinks on the house, especially since he asked if we needed refills and a couple of us said yes. And despite the nice initial impression he made, he ruined it by scurrying away from us at top speed almost before he finished talking. After a little arguing at the end, he took off the automatic 20% tip.
We were puzzled by the glacial service. They not only took forever and lots of waving to come back to us for each thing, in two hours we did not get a single water refill. We were upstairs but there are lots of tables up there, it’s not as though we were all alone. There was really no reason for them to ignore us. We could not in good conscience leave them 20% for doing almost nothing, and begrudgingly at that. I think it ended up being something over 10%.
This place should just be a lounge. They have lovely cocktails and a bartender with some serious flair downstairs. I can’t understand what the hell is wrong with their food. Other than one or two standout dishes, it’s okay at best, inedible at worst, and quite pricey. At $15 or more for most apps, and $25 and up for all but three entrees, there is no excuse for such mediocre food and nonexistent service. I’ll come back for the drinks, especially the “Coming Up Roses,” but that’s it.
Rating: 5.5 / 10
Our cost: $400, but they took off the automatic 20% tip making it $330 for 6 + a small tip
Noise level: early stages of a party
Chance of walking in: medium, there are lots of tables.
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06.09.08
Posted in Latin, Lower East Side, New York City Neighborhoods, New York City Reviews, Steak, rated 6 to 6.5 at 23:49 by Dominique
152 Stanton & Suffolk St., 646-602-2004
Great for: sizzling steak platters, undercover meetings, Argentinean wine, semi-al fresco dining
My best friend E and I decided to have dinner locally. This place seemed as good as any, and was pretty reasonably priced. It is basically all French windows so it’s great for sitting outside without really being outside. Be careful of the bugs though, E got bitten all over.
We just got one appetizer, the camaroncitos, which were sizzling Patagonian whole baby shrimps with olive oil, white wine and parsley. They were pretty large shrimp and tasty, though the seasoning was wasted on their shells. That always annoys me. You marinate the shrimp in some lovely seasoning and then peel all that sauce off anyway. I wish people would fry them up without shells.
The marinated, grilled and sliced prime sirloin (cortada) comes in a portion for two but they agreed to halve it for us. It is marinated for twenty-four hours with rosemary, thyme, sea salt, black pepper, olive oil and brandy and accompanied by mesclun and French fries. We found the meat flavorful, of a medium firmness and sometimes tender. The fries were thin and crunchy. I liked the chimichurri too. We also got the Tuesday and Wednesday special of oven-roasted suckling pig (cochinillo pampeano) with Argentine-style potato salad (rusa). I was pleased to see a nice big hunk of meat on the plate. The rusa was yummy, just the right level of sour, and nicely vegetable-intensive (carrots and onions). The hard-boiled egg white bits were a little tough though. The meat was just good, not great, with a big layer of fat. I did like the crispy outside. It kind of tasted like chicken the more we ate it. We were also puzzled by the large, inexplicable bone very like a wing, which made eating difficult.
We thought it would be fun to get a bottle of champagne. They only serve wine and beer here. The La Linda bottle for $35 was not too sweet, and kind of reminded me of soda water. I liked it but E wasn’t as enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, our service wasn’t even halfway ok. The waiters were inattentive and rude despite the restaurant not being busy. They had an annoyingly long debate about whether we could sit at a table for four (I paid attention – they didn’t need it the entire time we ate), and never asked us how things were. That was probably because they stayed far away from us after they put down the plates. They only warmed up when they were serving the check.
The restaurant itself is quite festive though, with tiny little Christmas lights that don’t do much to dispel the darkness. It’d be a great place for spies to meet. Especially since the waiters will leave you severely alone until it comes time for the bill. To be fair, the food is decent.
Rating: 6 / 10 – half point deducted for abysmal service
Our cost: $101 + $15 because they barely served us
Chance of walking in: good, although it gets busier around 8:30
Noise level: hubbub.
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