A really Good Restaurant

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Cheers,

Liz

 

Birthday Drinks for a New Friend!

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

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!

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

 

Easter Brunch at Commerce!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

Cheers,

Liz

 

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

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

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!

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

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

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

 

Strong Cocktails Only

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

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

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

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

 

Cocktail Crawl Stop #2: Whitehall

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!

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?

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

 

Bell Book & Brenne (Candle)

Celebrating Allison and Brenne!

Last week, some classmates and mine attended a year-anniversary for Brenne Whisky (http://drinkbrenne.com/). Allison, the "Whisky Woman", launched this brand because of her passion for whisky and she has absolutely crushed it! Her blog, http://drinkbrenne.com/blog, details her journey. Allison lives in the West Village and chose Bell Book & Candle (http://bbandcnyc.com/) for her anniversary celebration.

Celebrate! Brenne is 1!

The expert bartender crafted a delicious Manhattan with Brenne - so yummy. 

YUM! Check out that orange peel :)

One of Allison's good friends made a cake with a bottle (a BOTTLE) of Brenne. I tried a little bit and it was fantastic!

Apparently, others liked the cake as well

Isn't the bottle for Brenne beautiful?

Brenne: Incredible Whisky!

I will need to go back to Bell Book & Candle to try some of their signature cocktails. Wherever you go, look for Brenne and try a cocktail with it. You will be glad you did!

Cheers,

Liz

 

A Cause for Celebration!

Visiting NYC's Hottest New Restaurant, Piora

My close friend, Liv, and I had two huge reasons for celebration: after a year of recruiting, interviewing, and interning, we have job offers. It feels great! I tend to celebrate momentous occasions with food and drink. Allison, the fabulous entrepreneur behind Brenne Whisky (http://drinkbrenne.com/), recommend this spot: Piora (http://www.pioranyc.com/). In addition to carrying her incredibly whisky, the restaurant is currently ranked #1 on Eater Manhattan's Heatmap for Where to Eat in Manhattan. Given these two pieces of information, I made a reservation!

As we reviewed the menu, we ordered cocktails. I ordered Fall Leaves (Plymouth Gin, Calvados, Apple, Maple Syrup, Tea and Lemon). It was yummy! It reminded me of fall, a blend of apple cider flavors and maple! Liv ordered the Wear and Tear, a play on an Old Fashioned, made with Old Overhold Rye, Aperol, Chartreuse Jeune, Cinzano  and Angostura. 

Fall Leaves

Wear and Tear

Once we got our cocktails, the chef presented us with an amuse-bouche. It was crisp, light and tasty. A nice way to prepare the palate for what was to come!

Amuse-Bouche

We had to order the Monkey Bread!! It is served hot, warm, sweet and salty with two awesome spreads: Lardo (aka pork fat) and Seaweed Butter. Each spread was awesome in its own right and I'm not sure which I preferred.

Monkey Bread - Lardo (left) and Seaweed Butter (right)

For our entrees, we started with a split order of Bucatini. The pasta is black because it is made with black garlic and a little squid ink is added. There is also crab and mushrooms on top - simply divine. Since we split the pasta, our server was gracious enough to separate into two bowls. It can be awkward to split pasta!

Bucatini

For the entrees, we split the Duck (a perfectly prepared breast) and the Halibut (with mushrooms and brown butter)

Duck...Duck...

...Halibut!

With our dinner, I ordered a glass of white and Liv ordered a glass of red wine.

A pair of happy glasses

You know we totally got dessert! Liv ordered a glass of Port, but I wanted to try the ice cream (chocolate, salted caramel and vanilla). Liv is such a good friend that she offered to try it too!

3 Scoops of Awesome

The owner, Simon, came by our table and we chatted about our mutual friend (Allison, mentioned above). I should say that I know her more, since she is a celebrity of sorts - we got a complimentary dessert! It was lovely.

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Before we left, I had to snap a photo of the back-bar. I saw Allison's bottle of Brenne! I am so proud of her! I realize the photo is bad. It was tricky taking a photo without completely infiltrating someone's personal space.

Brenne, right next to Blue Label - so impressed!

You must try Piora!

Liz

 

Nice Fedora!

Fantastic Food and Drinks!

A shrewd businesswoman I know, Allison, raved about this spot (http://fedoranyc.com/) and I wanted to check it out for dinner with Amber. While we waited for a table to open up, we ordered a drink at the bar. I ordered the Songbird. It is made with sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur, creme de violette, fresh grapefruit, and topped with house-made lavender bitters. 

The drink was really fresh and a nice change from liquor-based cocktails. I am never one to turn down bubbly! We stuck around for dinner and the food was PHENOMENAL! This spot is small (read: cozy) but I would recommend it if you want a delicious dinner with French flair. 

Au Revoir, 

Liz