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West Village

Milk & Cookies

Bakery, DessertsLizComment

A Groupon that doesn't suck!

After our brunch at Good Restaurant, we stopped by Milk & Cookies (http://www.milkandcookiesbakery.com/)  for, well, you guessed it: COOKIES!

In the past, we've used an awesome Groupon deal (click here for more info). This offer is $9.99 for $20 of baked goods and beverages OR $29.49 for $60 worth of baked goods and beverages over three visits (up to $20 per visit).

Artwork in the bakery

Artwork in the bakery

The interior of the bakery is full of DELICIOUSNESS

WHOOPIES

WHOOPIES

The goods!

The goods!

The Salted Oat Surprise is my favorite - it is my preferred blend of sweet and salty!

My brother and mom and the BEST models!

My brother and mom and the BEST models!

This is an excellent bakery and an even better deal with the Groupon.

Cheers,

Liz

 

A really Good Restaurant

Brunch, Coffee, Drinks, New AmericanLizComment

A Bon Voyage Brunch

Prior to taking our night flight to Dublin about two weeks ago, my mom and I went to brunch with my brother. I always love trying a new spot and I read many positive reviews about Good Restaurant (http://www.goodrestaurantnyc.com/) in the West Village.

The location takes reservations and also reserves a lot of seating for walk-ins. I loved the interior décor.

Interior shot of restaurant

Interior shot of restaurant

The restaurant offers an awesome deal: The Get-It-All Special for $27. This features a choice of egg dish, pancake or French Toast AND any house-made bread or side dish AND choice of any House cocktail, Champagne or Sparkling Rose. Naturally, I chose this offer. My mom wasn't as hungry and she just got an entrée but enjoyed some of my donuts.  We also each got a cup of coffee - it was hot and continuously refilled - great!

Let's focus on the important stuff first: cocktails! I chose The goodMorning! Martini made with vodka, Kahlua and a shot of chilled espresso.

The goodMorning! Martini

The goodMorning! Martini

Instead of choosing a side dish, I went with a house-made bread, the Warm Sugar & Spice Donuts! YUMMY! I loved that they include the donut holes too.

Warm Sugar & Spice Donuts

Warm Sugar & Spice Donuts

For my entrée, I got the Hampshire Pork Belly Hash with Eggs sunny side up. The hash also has Yukon potatoes, red onion and chives. I read rave reviews on Yelp! (thanks Yelpers!) and knew I had to get it. I was not led astray - delicious!

Pork Belly Hash = YES!

Pork Belly Hash = YES!

My mom also ordered it and loved it! My brother got the Mushroom, Spinach & Aged Cheddar Omelet with a side of bacon. I believe he may have added bacon to the Omelet as well. When I can't remember, I just assume he added it - he is a smart man.

Le Omelet

Le Omelet

This is a lovely restaurant with great brunch options - solid choices from both the sweet and savory side. Give it a shot!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Celebrating Follies 2014

Dinner, Desserts, Drinks, Happy Hour, Mexican, SeafoodLizComment

A Mexican Fiesta at Agave

We had an incredible Follies this year - the Torchy Awards! We wanted to take the cast out to celebrate with a fun dinner. Naturally, I was all over planning this event and picking the restaurant. I chose Agave (http://agaveny.com/) because I love this place. The food, drinks and atmosphere are awesome.

We had a 7pm reservation and I arrived a bit early...so I ordered a mango margarita - my favorite here! Gotta love that happy hour pricing! BOOM!

Happy Hour!

Happy Hour!

Once we were all assembled, we had to take a group shot! What a beautiful group of funny people - so proud to be a part of this amazing cast!

THE CAST!

THE CAST!

Naturally, we had to order the guacamole! It is so yummy here and served in an edible bowl. I love that they refill your chips - it is critical to maintain the right guac to chip ratio.

Oh, hey there - get in my mouth now!

Oh, hey there - get in my mouth now!

We also got sweet potato fries to split - served with a chipotle mayo. I'm sure you are aware of my love of mayo, so this was so yummy!

I ordered the Enchilada Mariscos, stuffed with Gulf Shrimp, Lump Crab, sautéed cabbage, queso cotija and salsa verde. Yummy. I did have some meal FOMO when I saw what Mike ordered: the Duck Enchiladas! I sampled a piece and it was soooooo good. NEXT TIME!

Enchilada Mariscos

Enchilada Mariscos

We ordered several pitchers of frozen margs - awesome call. We also got three desserts to share. My favorite was the molten chocolate cake! The banana thing was ok, but honestly, I'm not a huge banana person (unless it is the cupcakes at Sugar Sweet Sunshine!). The tres leches was good too, but nothing to write home about.

Banana Dessert

Banana Dessert

Molten Chocolate Cake - WINNER WINNER!

Molten Chocolate Cake - WINNER WINNER!

Tres Leches

Tres Leches

You know I love Agave. If you trust my taste, do yourself a favor and visit! Come early for happy hour at the bar, then get seated for dinner.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Who Doesn't Love a Lunch Special?

Lunch, Mexican, Drinks, Happy HourLizComment

Agave FOR THE WIN!

Last Friday, Melissa and I met up for lunch at Agave (http://agaveny.com/). The weather was turning around and Melissa researched places near campus that had outdoor seating and lunch specials. I had no idea that Agave offered a Two-Course Pre-Fix Lunch for $14.95! It is served with a fruit-infused margarita "tasting" (image below). We got a pomegranate and mango one. Clearly, this is a smart ploy to get you to order a full-sized one. I already know how good they are, so I was planning to order one anyway.

Margarita "Tasting"

Margarita "Tasting"

I didn't snap a picture of it, but for my first course we both ordered the Mother Road Roadhouse Chili. I'm not typically a huge fan of chili, but this was absolutely DELICIOUS! It is a blend of braised beef & pork cooked in Dos XX and Chile. It is served with soft tortillas for dipping. Yum yum yum! The other first course option was a salad. We clearly made the best choice.

For the entrée, there were four choices. I got the chicken wrap, served with mango chutney and sweet potato fries.

Chicken wrap - SO GOOD!

Chicken wrap - SO GOOD!

My mouth is watering looking at that photo. The wrap was utterly fantastic. The fries were great too and served with a delicious chipotle mayo. I cannot rave about this enough!

Melissa ordered the steak wrap, which was served with regular fries.

Oddly cut steak wrap...is this sushi?

Oddly cut steak wrap...is this sushi?

Poor Melissa really struggled with eating her wrap. I have no idea why they thought it would be a good idea to cut it up like a sushi roll. All the filling kept falling out! I felt the chicken wrap was much tastier.

When we were wrapping up lunch, we rolled right into happy hour ($6 margs down from $10). You can add the fruit flavor for $1 extra...so worth it! We both got mango!

Frozen Mango Margarita

Frozen Mango Margarita

I love Agave so much! The happy hour, lunch special and brunch special ($27.95 for two-hours of bottomless mimosas, wine or frozen/shaken margaritas) are hard to beat! You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't check it out.

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Meatball Shop!

Dinner, Italian, AmericanLizComment

Late Night Eats

After drinks at Whitehall, some of us continued the celebrating and headed to The Meatball Shop (http://themeatballshop.com/locations/#64-greenwich) for dinner. I LOVE THIS PLACE! Especially for late night dining.

My favorite "balls" are the spicy pork! I ordered them as the "Naked Balls" with the spicy meat sauce and a side of Parmesan cream sauce. I feel that the combo of the meat and cream sauce is the ultimate! I chose to get them served over rigatoni.

Spicy Balls with spicy meat sauce and Parmesan cream

Spicy Balls with spicy meat sauce and Parmesan cream

This is an awesome spot with great priced food, awesome drinks and incredible special features each day. There are multiple locations in the city, so there is likely a place close to you regardless of location!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Birthday Drinks for a New Friend!

Drinks, New AmericanLizComment

Whitehall: A Cramped Space with Great Cocktails

Last Thursday, a new friend, Erin, was celebrating her birthday with cocktails at Whitehall (http://whitehall-nyc.com/). I love love love Erin and her boyfriend JBJ! Also, some other new friends, Frank and Sophia attended. So fun catching up with them!

I've gone to this spot before with Aish on a West Village cocktail crawl several months ago. As I noticed the first time, the bar area is VERY cramped. This is mostly because there are tables for patrons to eat at immediately behind the bar. While I understand restaurants in NYC are trying to maximize profits with more tables, it is incredibly annoying to pay for a cocktail and be nearly in someone's lap as they eat dinner. Granted, this is likely as annoying, if not more, for the people attempting to eat!

For my first cocktail, I ordered the No. 11, this cocktail is made with house infused vanilla bean bourbon, lemon and mint. It is served in a mason jar and super yummy!

The No.11

The No.11

For my second drink, I ordered a gin (Tanqueray) and tonic. This isn't the sexiest looking cocktail, so I didn't snap a photo.

For my third and final cocktail, I ordered a Bulleit Manhattan. I love when this cocktail is served in a couple glass - so classy!

Bulleit Manhattan - don't you just love the brandied cherry? Swank city!

Bulleit Manhattan - don't you just love the brandied cherry? Swank city!

We were starving while we were there for a couple hours, so we ordered a couple baskets of French fries. They were tasty! It was odd that they were served with BBQ sauce and not ketchup, so I asked for mayo for dipping. Because, when the food is already fried, you clearly need to dip it in mayo. NOM NOM!

I recommend checking this place out for a drink, but be warned if you go during a generally popular time (right after work or the weekend evenings) you will be cramped!

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Sushi Keeps Coming at Kumo!

Dinner, Japanese, SushiLizComment

All You Can Eat Sushi!

Last week, my block (yay Block 3) at Stern got together to share food, drinks and fun. Last year, we had a really great time at Kumo Sushi in the West Village (http://www.yelp.com/biz/kumo-sushi-new-york-2) so we went back there!

Block 3!

Block 3!

The all-you-can-eat deal is either ~$25 for just the food or ~$35 for food AND sake/beer. Be forewarned that although the sushi is good (it isn't Nobu quality but you also won't get sick) the beer and sake sort of suck. Also, the sake is served in a massive pitcher, so if you don't pay attention, you MAY think it is water and chug it. Again, that may be part of your strategy, so you do you.

Just 1 of the Many Plates!

Just 1 of the Many Plates!

Some of my favorite things to order include: the miso soup, avocado salad, spicy girl roll and sexy roll. This place is a such a deal - I've gone here 3x and haven't gotten sick. Also, the sushi tastes very fresh, which is almost surprising giving the low price point; must be a volume play!

I recommend checking this place out if you're down going somewhere that can get noisy/rowdy, especially on the weekend. This is directly correlated to the unlimited alcohol!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Easter Brunch at Commerce!

Brunch, Desserts, New American, DrinksLizComment

Catching Up with Some Favorite People

I love brunch so much! I love it EVEN MORE when I can share this awesome meal with people I love. I met both Erin and her boyfriend, JBJ, during my trip to Santiago, Chile during spring break. Since I've returned from the trip, I've had the opportunity to get to know them better and it has been lovely.

I suggested going to brunch and Erin picked a great spot: Commerce (http://www.commercerestaurant.com/). I heard good things about this West Village spot but had yet to check it out, so, naturally, I was excited. 

On my walk, I loved seeing all of the blooming flowers. It has gotten chilly again recently, but hopefully it was warm up soon!

Love the window box flowers!

Love the window box flowers!

I'm glad we had a reservation! The place was PACKED with eager brunch go-ers in their Easter best! I spotted a couple people in seersucker (oh my). I read on Yelp! that the pecan cinnamon rolls were a must order item! We ordered it and split it as an appetizer.

Can't you just taste it now? DELICIOUSNESS!

Can't you just taste it now? DELICIOUSNESS!

This was by far the highlight of the meal. Everything was good, but what can compare with this ooey gooey scrumptiousness? Nothing! I would like to note that like most places that take advantage of holidays, this venue bumped up all their prices by $5-$10 because it was Easter. Sort of annoying, but I get it. People are working on holidays so ya gotta pay $$$

I ordered a Bloody Mary, because, it was brunch and that is what you do at brunch.

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary

Our server "warned" me that their Bloody Mary is "very different" and I was a bit hesitant, but I ordered it anyway. It was good though it had a strong horseradish presence. Also, one of the garnishes was chorizo. Although it was very tasty, I am still on the fence about meat products served in beverages. I love bacon but still not 100% convinced I need it in my cocktail as well.

For my entree, I ordered the short rib ravioli with hen of the woods mushrooms and Barolo. This was delicious!

Nom nom! Get in my belly ravioli!

Nom nom! Get in my belly ravioli!

Although this pasta dish was nearly $30 (Easter pricing hike from $22), I felt it was the best value dish from what we ordered. It was a large serving - sometimes you order ravioli and get four. Also, the flavor of the beef was delicious!

Erin ordered the Shakshuka, a baked eggs dish, and JBJ got the Croque Madame. 

Shakshuka!

Shakshuka!

Croque Madame

Croque Madame

I sampled each of their dishes - I preferred the Croque Madame though the Brussels Sprouts on the side of the Shakshuka were quite nice. 

Overall, this is a fantastic spot and I would like to go back for a different meal! I will also attempt to go on a non-holiday to take advantage of normal (already high) prices!

Loving the tulips in the West Village!

Loving the tulips in the West Village!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Gelato at Grom = $$$

DessertsLizComment

It Tastes Great....but it will Cost You!

After our meal at De Santos, Melissa and I walked by Grom (http://www.grom.it/eng/) on our way to the subway. Our meal didn't include a dessert and my sweet tooth was aching, so I wanted to pop in for a treat. 

I always struggle with what flavor to order at new places: do I want to go with a flavor I know I will be happy with....or do I experiment with a new flavor? While I realize you can sample whatever you ultimately purchase, somehow liking a small sample doesn't always translate into liking an entire serving!

I decided to order mint chip. It was DELICIOUS! 

This photo is not to scale, it makes the container look HUGE

This photo is not to scale, it makes the container look HUGE

After enjoying my dessert, it was clear that it was a high quality product. It is expensive though, especially considering the serving size. I got a medium (which wasn't that sizable) and it had to have been $5 or more. 

I think the best bet would be to get a larger size and split it with someone else so you can try several flavors!

Cheers,

Liz

 

OH...You have a Living Social Deal...

Dinner, New American, WineLizComment

An Experience at De Santos Leaves Much Desired

A week or so again, Melissa and I tried our luck at De Santos (http://desantosnyc.com/). We had never been but there was a great deal on Living Social, so we snapped one up. I'm always hesitant about deals because I've gotten burned before with Groupon...but this wasn't Groupon! I had my eyes on certain menu items so it was exciting that we would each get to pick an appetizer and an entrée as well as two glasses of wine each! OR....so we thought! Once we arrived, we shared with our server that we had the Living Social deal. I guess this is fairly popular option since they had a separate pre-printed menu. Most of the entrees on the menu are in the same price range, so we thought we could pick up to a certain value and then just pay the difference. Apparently, that was wrong. So, our options were limited to 2 appetizers and 3 entrees.

The Dreaded DISCOUNT MENU

The Dreaded DISCOUNT MENU

I'm always down to try Mac and Cheese, so the Truffled option wasn't a big deal to be "forced" to order. I would have preferred a different appetizer (I read RAVE reviews on Yelp! for the Beef Carpaccio), but I was being flexible. For my entrée, I wanted to swordfish or the duck, but went with the salmon as it seemed the most appealing to me at the time.

Even with the coupon, at LEAST we got the same yummy bread!

Even with the coupon, at LEAST we got the same yummy bread!

As we waited for our courses, I was pleased that the bread was fantastic. I got a bit scared we wouldn't get it because it wasn't explicitly listed on our Living Social deal, ha! The bread was served warm with a honey butter - SO good!

Truffle Mac and Cheese but not really

Truffle Mac and Cheese but not really

This Mac and Cheese was SO SAD. It was as if the pasta was just in a big bucket and they slopped some into an individual serving dish. Typically, places finish it off in the oven so it gets a nice crust. I'm not sure if the presentation suffered because we had the Living Social deal or if they just executed poorly. Either way, it could have been so much better.

Salmon

Salmon

The salmon was quite good. It was cooked to the right temperature (medium) and the Greek salad served with it went nicely with the dill cream sauce. While it was good, I probably would have preferred a different entrée.

For the wine, we could pick a house red or white. The red was just fine, but I guess it was the quality you'd expect with a  Living Social deal.

I'm undecided if I will return. I'm not sure if these restaurants realize that through a deal, many customers are experiencing the restaurant for the first time. If I paid full-price, I'm not sure I would be pleased with the money spent.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Good Ol' Diner Food Hits the Spot

BreakfastLizComment

Waverly is a Master at Consistency

I love Scott. He is one of my favorite MBA1s and also one of my favorite people in general. We often end up catching up whenever both of our schedules allow. Typically, these catch-ups are done over a shared meal. We both love breakfast. A diner that is one of our favorites is Waverly (http://www.yelp.com/biz/waverly-new-york-2). It is so legit that it doesn't even have a website. This is the real deal!

When we went here the first time, we both got the breakfast skillet This is more of a savory play. Eggs. Bacon. Hash Browns. GAME OVER. I wanted to change it up this time, so I ordered chocolate chip pancakes. I prefer hot syrup with my pancakes and I appreciate that they would heat it up for me. Cold syrup sucks - it doesn't melt the butter and cools down the pancakes. NOT COOL...literally, COLD.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the WIN

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the WIN

This place is great. If you're in the West Village and looking for a great meal, hit up Waverly!

Cheers,

Liz

 

I Love You Down to The Marrow

Desserts, Dinner, Drinks, Italian, Wine, Restaurant Week, GermanLizComment

Restaurant Week Begins!

In New York City (and in cities across the country), Restaurant Week is a magical time. Not only do you get to visit many restaurants that may be outside of your price range for $25 for lunch and $38 for dinner, the week breaks rules of the universe. The "week" lasts from February 17th to March 7th - amazing! Also, if you have an American Express card and register it to save $5 for EACH Restaurant Week transaction (https://enroll.amexnetwork.com/US/en/winternycrw2014/).

I'm a big fan of the Top Chef franchise and winner of the first season, Harold Dieterle - this is his third venture in NYC (also owns Perilla and Kin Shop). The Marrow has German and Italian influences. The menu for Restaurant Week is key - even if the spot you're going to is well-known for certain dishes, make sure some of them are on the reduced-price menu! Otherwise, what is the point of visiting it?

We arrived a bit earlier and each ordered a cocktail at the bar. I got the Eye of the Tiger, made with Cognac, 7 year old rum, vanilla and cinnamon.

Eye of the Tiger

Eye of the Tiger

The cocktail had a wonderful profile; I loved the touch of the single massive ice cube too! Aish ordered the Miss Roberts' Cobbler, made with Owney's Rum, Pear Jam, Lavender and Thyme.

Miss Roberts' Cobbler

Miss Roberts' Cobbler

She loved it so I had to try a sip - it was tasty! Once our table was ready, we were seated and given the menu. We already looked it over before we came so we knew exactly what to order!

We did noticed that the menu featured three bottles of wine for $38! We ordered the Red, the Pittnaur Velvet 2008 from Burgenland, Austria.

Lovely Red Wine!

Lovely Red Wine!

I'm glad we split this - for about 2.5 glasses each, that is a great bargain. While we waited for our entrees, we were served a freshly baked (and HOT!) pretzel style roll with mustard and oil.

I think I could have eaten 10 of these...

I think I could have eaten 10 of these...

Spicy mustard and olive oil complement the bread!

Spicy mustard and olive oil complement the bread!

Just as we were finishing up our rolls, we were served our first course. We both ordered the Roasted Sunchoke Soup topped with toasted sunflower seeds and snipped chives.

A Bowl Full of Warm Deliciousness

A Bowl Full of Warm Deliciousness

The soup came out PIPING HOT! After it cooled down for a hot second (no pun intended), we enjoyed each and every spoonful. The soup had a velvety texture and was utter perfection.

For my entrée, I ordered the Sautéed Skate Wing, served with Black Forest Ham, Cabbage and Warm Mustard Sauce. I'm a huge fan of Skate, so I was excited to try it.  

Skate into my mouth please

Skate into my mouth please

The German-style prep on the Skate was different and incredibly tasty. I was very happy with my order! Aish, the vegetarian that she is, ordered the Housemade Pappardelle served with braised forest mushrooms, lemon thyme and pecorino.

Who's Your Pappardelle?

Who's Your Pappardelle?

She really liked it, or at least I assume she did, since she inhaled it. This is why we're such good friends!

For the desserts, I ordered the Spiced Streusel Kuchen, served with roasted apples and caramel ice cream.

Spiced Streusel Kuchen

Spiced Streusel Kuchen

This dessert was delicious!! Aish wanted no part of it since she isn't a big fan of apples - weirdo! Just kidding. She went with the other option, the Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta, served with grape jam and peanut biscotti.  

Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta

Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta

I much prefer dark chocolate to milk, but Aish loved it. I was happy for her. She avoided the apples, so she was a happy camper.

When we were given the check, we were presented with MORE food. Two gingersnap style cookies - so great.

COOKIES NOM NOM NOM

COOKIES NOM NOM NOM

I was very happy with the overall experience. I look forward to coming back here to order some other menu items, especially the Pan-Fried Duck Schnitzel!

Happy Restaurant (Three) Week(s)!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Strong Cocktails Only

Drinks, Lounge, New AmericanLizComment

Employees Only Serves Up The Good Stuff

Our final stop on our West Village cocktail crawl was Employees Only (http://www.employeesonlynyc.com/). This lounge has been on my list for a long time. Unlike the other places that we went into, Employees Only is primarily a drink spot. Wallflower and Whitehall are focused much more on food. Given its focus, smaller size and exclusivity, there were doormen outside. When we managed to get to the address, we saw that there were several other people waiting outside. The inside is small, so I understand they cannot let everyone in. My frozen face was hoping some people would be leaving and, luckily, we did not have to wait much longer than a minute or two.

When we got inside, the beauty of the bar struck me.

Swank City

Swank City

We weren't able to snag any seats at the bar, so we had to awkwardly stand. I say awkwardly because the inside is small - this feeling is amplified by how many people were inside. There is a fire place, which adds certain character to the venue, but if you're too close, you feel like you may melt. For cocktails that are $15-$16, I very much prefer to be able to sit down. The last thing I want is for some girl taking a #selfie to knock into me and spill my drink.

I settled on ordering the Blondina, made with Wild Turkey Bourbon, Apple Liqueur, puréed Pears and Fresh Lemon Juice.

Blondina

Blondina

I did enjoy this cocktail. The glassware made it a bit tricky to handle since we were standing. The thin stem was not very reassuring! The cocktail glasses are personalized for the bar. Night touch.

Aish ordered the Provencal, made with Lavender-infused Plymouth Gin stirred with Herbs de Provence-infused French Vermouth and Cointreau. She took a sip and commented: "I'm drunk." The drink was STRONG as all the ingredients were alcohol-based.

Provencal

Provencal

While I did enjoy this spot, I would have much preferred to have someone to sit and place my drink down. Instead of returning here, I'd much rather check out The Experimental Cocktail Club again!

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Polar Vortex Had No Chance

DessertsLizComment

Hungry? Have a Salty Pimp

In between our West Village Cocktail Crawl, Aish and I required dessert. Naturally, it was freezing outside, so we chose ice cream. Was there even a choice? I'm not sure.

I suggested that we go to Big Gay Ice Cream (http://biggayicecream.com/treats/). I've been there before to get the Salty Pimp, made with vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, sea salt and chocolate dip. I love the taste combination, so I ordered it...again!

Salty Pimp

Salty Pimp

Aish went with the Rocky Road cone with chocolate ice cream, marshmallows and nuts. It looked delicious and she loved it. It didn't look cute so I didn't take a photo. Sadness.

There is ample seating inside so we were able to enjoy our frozen treat inside without freezing ourselves.

If you're in the neighborhood (or the East Village, there is another location), stop by!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Cocktail Crawl Stop #2: Whitehall

Drinks, New AmericanLizComment

Cocktails that Taste as Good as the Bartenders are Cute!

After we finished up at Wallflower, we headed to Whitehall (http://whitehall-nyc.com/). Given that it is also in the West Village and has a great reputation for cocktails, it was a natural second stop on our tour.

Inviting Entrance!

Inviting Entrance!

The outside of the bar is a preview for the warm and inviting atmosphere that is inside! We circled the bar for a while as we waited for a couple to close out their check. We couldn't help but focus on the bartenders - their uniforms and suspenders were a great touch to the overall vibe on the place.

Can you see those suspenders?

Can you see those suspenders?

I decided to go with the Hedgerow Bramble, made with gin, muddled black and blueberries, thyme and lemon. I would have preferred if the fruit was more mixed throughout the cocktail - it was just lumped on the top, so I mixed it in. The thyme added an interesting layer to the cocktail - sometimes sips were a bit too herbal.

Hedgerow Bramble

Hedgerow Bramble

Aish ordered The Mancunian, made with organic sage infused gin, lychee puree, St. Germain, lime and soda. She LOVED it.

The Mancunian

The Mancunian

I want to come back her for a meal. The cocktails are certainly a positive indicator of quality all around!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Being a Wallflower is a Good Thing

Drinks, New AmericanLizComment

West Village Cocktail Crawl, Spot #1

After our lovely dinner, Aish and I headed to our first spot on the cocktail crawl, Wallflower (http://www.wallflowernyc.com/). I read about this place when it opened and ALMOST went on a first date here. I say almost because we were going to go out and then we didn't. CRAZY STORY...I know!

Right when you step inside, you enter the tiny bar area. It is a SMALL space!

Right when you step inside, you enter the tiny bar area. It is a SMALL space!

I read a lot about the different cocktails offered at Wallpaper. I was excited to try either the Betty Draper or the Bartender's Breakfast (it has Nutella in it!). Much to my surprise, but also to my delight, I found out that these cocktails were not currently offered. I was delighted because the bar has a seasonal cocktail menu that frequently rotates - how fun!

The Menu!

The Menu!

Given the current offerings, I went with the Belle Helene, made with Evan Williams Bourbon, Pear Williams Purkhart (a type of brandy distilled from pears), Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel and Whole Egg.

The bartender was talented and all about multitasking!

The bartender was talented and all about multitasking!

I was eagerly awaiting getting my cocktail and when it arrived it was BEAUTIFUL! It tasted like a light, bourbon-y caramel milkshake!

Belle Helene

Belle Helene

Aish ordered the other drink I had my eyes on, Mother's Milk, made with Kaffir Lime & Oolong Tea Infused Avua Prata Cachaca, Thai Coconut Milk and Lime Juice. This drink had a definite citrus profile to it. I would describe it as ZESTY! 

Mother's Milk

Mother's Milk

The food has rave reviews though we didn't try any since we just had dinner! I'd love to come back here on a less busy night (we went on a Friday). Since the space is so small, you feel like people are sort of sitting in your lap. I'd prefer not to experience that again.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Authentic Italian in the West Village

Dinner, Italian, WineLizComment

Malatesta Trattoria For the Win!

I recently posted about Otto, an Italian place near school. This post spurred a bunch of helpful recommendations from my friends for other favorite Italian spots. My friend Nikki suggested a spot in the West Village, Malatesta (no website; http://www.yelp.com/biz/malatesta-trattoria-new-york). I put it on my list of places to try out.

Coincidentally, I was going out with my friend Aish for dinner and a West Village cocktail crawl AND she suggested Malatesta for dinner - small world indeed! I was super pumped now - two people I respect recommended this spot. I was ready for dinner!

When we were seated, we were quickly brought a plate of sliced focaccia bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Hey there carbs, get in my belly!

Hey there carbs, get in my belly!

The handwritten menus add a personal touch to the restaurant - both the regular and the daily menus are handwritten.

Menus with a Special Touch!

Menus with a Special Touch!

While we were looking at the menu, we decided to each order a glass of the house Sangiovese.

Sangiovese

Sangiovese

It was light, fruity and delicious. We split two of the pasta dishes. One of the regular favorites: Homemade Spinach Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce; and one of the specials: Artichoke Ravioli.

Spinach Gnocchi

Spinach Gnocchi

Artichoke Ravioli

Artichoke Ravioli

The sauces for both pasta dishes were delicious - a perfect dipping vehicle for the bread. Both of the dishes were full of flavor and tasted incredibly different, even if they were both green!

I'd recommend coming to this place before it gets super crowded - before 7:30pm for sure. It is a TINY restaurant and you sit fairly close to other diners. Either way, it is worth the trek over to the West side to check out this spot!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Steel Magnolia (Bakery)

Desserts, BakeryLizComment

An Oldie but Goodie

Where do I start? I love love love this Magnolia Bakery (http://www.magnoliabakery.com/). I was first exposed to my favorite cupcake spot when I was watching Sex and the City. I Googled the episode to find out which season (Season 3, Episode 5, titled "No Ifs, Ands, or Buts"). I also looked on YouTube for the episode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYSsHEdWhi4), Note: this is a super random user upload but it is the actual episode!

Anyway, this was a bit of a tangent but I felt it was necessary. My love for this bakery goes way back (2000 when the episode aired). Now that I live in New York City, I am able to visit much more frequently than when my family lived in New Jersey. Magnolia launched the trend of cupcakes that has led to the opening of many other bakeries. What is good for one shop is good for others, which in turn, is great for dessert lovers such as myself!

After our brunch at Yerba Buena, Aish and I headed over to the original location on Bleeker Street. Since the SATC episode, there have been multiple openings in NYC (Midtown West, Upper West Side, Midtown East and in Grand Central, the perfect location for commuters!). I'm pretty sure she hadn't yet been to this magical bakery so I was excited to share this with her!

Beautiful Window Display

Beautiful Window Display

The last time I went to Magnolia, the window display had "self-serve" cupcakes which translates into "people licking there fingers and touching cupcakes that they may or MAY NOT purchase." This terrified me in the past so I would always be annoying and ask for fresh cupcakes from behind the counter. I realize this is a bit excessive, but so is paying over $2.00 for a cupcake. I'd like my pricey cupcake to not be pre-licked thank you very much!

The counter set-up is also awesome too - very nostalgic.

YUM!

YUM!

I love that a lot of the desserts here fit within the theme of "personal sized." This prevents you from pigging out...unless of course you order several personal sized desserts. Oops. I ordered my favorite cupcake (chocolate cake with vanilla icing and sprinkles) and Aish got something else. I don't remember what it was because I was too focused on my cupcake.

If you're in the West Village, check out this cupcake institution!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Yerba Buena Perry

Latin American, Brunch, Dates, DrinksLizComment

A Yummy West Village Brunch Spot

Last week I went to Yerba Buena with Aish, a new friend of mine from school that went with me on an East Village Bar Crawl. This weekend, I returned for a first date! He chose this spot without knowing it is one of my favorites for brunch. I knew this was a good sign! Yerba Buena Perry (http://www.ybnyc.com/media/yerbabuena.html) has a sister location in the East Village. You should know that the East Village location has a very limited cocktail menu for the unlimited hour (4 choices) whereas the Perry location has 7 CHOICES! Is there even a question? Also, I've tried most of the cocktails (they are all delicious and not diluted garbage) and for $15 for an hour it is a great value!

I got the same things each time I went to Yerba Buena. I LOVE what I got last time and was craving it! I started with the Anti-Hangover Mary, made with Svedka Vodka, Tomato Juice, Tapatio Sauce and Lemon Juice.

Anti-Hangover Mary

Anti-Hangover Mary

The Bloody Mary was great. If I have too many of them though, I get so dehydrated. So I started to think about what I wanted to get next! Our Trio of Fries came. It is fried slices of avocado, watermelon and hearts of palm. It is an incredibly unique appetizer. I got it the first time I came here and have ordered it every time since!

Trio of Fries

Trio of Fries

The sauce of the left is a Spicy Mayo with Latin American influence. It complemented each of the fries. The ketchup-like sauce was not my favorite.

Next, I ordered the Pisco Guajava, made with Pisco Porton, Guava and Lemon Juice. SO refreshing!

Pisco Guajava

Pisco Guajava

For my entrée, I ordered the Cachapa Benedict, made with sweet corn cakes, asadero cheese, poached eggs, Serrano ham and Yerba Buena-aji Amarillo hollandaise. DELICIOUS.

Cachapa Benedict

Cachapa Benedict

I ordered the benedict both times and it was excellent twice! The second time I ordered it was served on a bed of crispy shoestring potatoes. Otherwise, exactly the same. Consistency can be good!

As my final cocktail choice, I got the Brazilian Bellini, made with Leblon Cachaca, Passion Fruit and Sparkling Wine. The passion fruit is bright and fresh - great!

Brazilian Bellini

Brazilian Bellini

On my visit today, I tried the Cava Sangria, made with Grand Marnier, Lepanto Brandy, Blackberry Brandy, Peach Liqueur and Fresh Fruit. I didn't snap a picture - sorry! It was refreshing and (way too) easy to drink. I highly recommend it!

Unlike many unlimited brunch spots, the food is as good as the cocktails here. Check it out!

Liz