Authentic Italian in the West Village

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!

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

Menus with a Special Touch!

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

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

 

Heading Out West(ville)

Veggies for DAYS

Friday was a fun day! I had two girl catch-up dates on the calendar! Lunch and manicures with Kate to kick-off the day and THEN dinner and a cocktail crawl with Aish to round it out.

Kate suggested we meet up at Westville East (http://www.westvillenyc.com/) for lunch. I've heard GREAT things about this place from multiple people. I was glad she picked this spot. We both ordered a coffee to get the day going. Our server was very attentive and kept our cups full - this matters when you're thirsty AND tired!

We ordered a plate of three veggies to split. Each day, there is board outside and inside listing all of the vegetables and there preparation. We picked the Brussels sprouts, mushrooms and kale. They were delicious, fresh and tasty!

Veggies NEVER looked so good!

Our entrees came right when we finished up the veggie plate - perfect timing! Kate ordered the Grilled Salmon Salad with mixed greens, fresh mint, baby spinach and cherry tomatoes. She seemed to love it! I didn't snap a pic but trust that it was beautiful.

I ordered one of the daily specials: a frittata! It was an Italian-style one, with mozzarella, red pepper, spinach and prosciutto. It was served with the choice of a side salad or fries - I went with the side salad. It was dressed lightly and delicious!

NOM!

I look forward to coming back to Westville for dinner and trying some different veggies! For vegetarians and all good food lovers out there, check out this spot. There is also a West, Chelsea and Hudson location.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Experimental Cocktail Club

A Hidden Spot Worth Finding

I recently went on a first date with someone from OKCupid. According to the site's algorithm, we were already a strong match at 95%. We also texted back and forth. Overall, I had a positive vibe going into the date. Although I try to temper my expectations, it is exciting when you're meeting someone new and have a good gut feeling.

My initial impression was further confirmed when he suggested three awesome cocktail places to meet. I had just gone to one of the places (Analogue) and was intrigued by the quality of his other two choices. I hadn't even heard of The Skylark (a three level cocktail bar with impressive views of the city)! I decided to go with The Experimental Cocktail Club (http://www.experimentalcocktailclubny.com/). I heard many great things about this lounge and wanted to experience it first hand. Not only did he bring one good idea to the table, he brought three! I was delighted!

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I arrived about 30 minutes early. I met up with him at 7pm and we went into the bar. I was pleased as he was even cuter than his photos which were already very cute! (Side Note: Be forewarned if you come here that it is hard to find! There is no signage outside. There is a black awning and the windows have curtains covering them. Just watch the street numbers and you'll find it!)

Since we got there exactly when they opened, we cozied up at the bar so we could chat with the bartender. I knew the cocktail menu was impressive so I wanted to be able to ask questions and watch him make our drinks. I started with Dabam's Flip. It is made with Plantation Barbados 5 Rum, Sweetened Thai Ice Tea, Condensed Milk, Whole Egg, Angostura Bitter and Pernod Absinthe. I'm typically not a huge Absinthe person but the bartender assured me that it only complemented the cocktail and wasn't overbearing.

Dabam's Flip

I LOVED THIS! If you've ever had a Thai Ice Tea, it tasted exactly like that but better! The addition of the alcohol tempered the sweetness of the tea and condensed milk. Yum! My date ordered the Take (pronounced "Tah-Cay") Is Going Back to Japan. It is made with Shitake Mushroom Infused Great King Street Scotch, Cocoa Nibs Infused Maple Syrup, El Maestro Pedro Ximenez Sherry and Black Walnut Bitters.

I think this is the Take is Going Back to Japan....or it may be the Handsome Jack!

My date really liked his cocktail. I sampled it and it was good but not as much my cup of tea. Sometimes scotch is a bit too intense for me, especially if it is a smoky or peaty scotch. I don't have the taste appreciation for it! My date suggested that we order something to nibble on while we sip on our cocktails. He chose the cheese plate which turned out to be an awesome suggestion!

Cheese Plate was not Blurry in Real Life

The plate came with three cheeses - two were softer (cannot recall the names) and one was a harder, sharp cheddar. I don't recall how much the cheese plate was and of course there is no menu online (I doubt it was over $20). Anyway, my point is that the quantity was HUGE! It was served with an orange marmalade, honey, slices of bread and grapes. SO TASTY. I'm so glad he ordered it - smart move!

For my next cocktail, I ordered the Jean Claude Pandan - amazing name, right? It is made with Pandan Infused Plantation 3 Star Rum, Batavia Arrak, Ceylon Tea Mix, Citrus, Coconut Water and Clarified Banana Juice. The drink is CLEAR because it is clarified. It looks like water but tastes like a tropical explosion.

Jean Claude Pandan

I loved how it was served in a small bottle - it looked like I was prescribed this drink. I'm ok with that! My date ordered the Handsome Jack. It was made with Rittenhouse Rye, Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac, Byrrh Quinquina, Aperol, Chartreuse, Maple, Angosture and Peychaud's Bitters. He loved it! I sampled it and really like it too - I love Rye!

Handsome Jack

In the photo you may notice the other glass. Our bartender was very generous! We asked a lot of questions about the spirits on the back bar. He gave us several small samples of rare spirits; one was Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. Another was Ron de Jeremy. You guess it! A rum that is affiliated with the infamous porn star Ron Jeremy. The tagline (my favorite): Long Smooth Taste! I just have no words.

Long Smooth Taste. Insert Pun Here ______.

I had a cocktail before I arrived at the bar, so I took a lap while my date ordered another. He asked our bartender to make whatever he felt like for him. The resulting cocktail is below!

Bartender's Choice

My date really liked it! I think it was reminiscent of a Manhattan. I gave it a sip and approved! Next up, our bartender continued the trend of generosity when he offered both of us a complimentary round of his favorite cocktail: the Hay-Hay. It is made with Burnt Butter & Toasted Hay Infused Drouin Calvados, Sage, Lemon and Black Salt.

Oh, HAY-HAY!

After our first sip, we could both see why this was a favorite of our bartender! It was a wonderfully balanced drink. Also, don't you love the glassware? The drinks we ordered were served in an array of glasses. Like my grandma always told me, it makes a difference! A red solo cup is not the same as cut crystal!

For our final round, we both asked the bartender to make whatever he wanted - we had implicit trust in him! I asked for a sweeter cocktail and my date asked for something Scotch based.

As Delicious as it is Pretty

I loved my drink. I don't at all remember what was in it, so I cannot provide further info. My date loved his too. CHECK OUT THAT GINGER GARNISH!

A Liquid Work of Art

The trend continued - all the drinks were winners! Halfway through the night, someone started playing live music. The vibe was wonderful here. Ample seating, beautiful bathrooms and an incredible staff. I cannot wait to come back!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Playing Matchmaker at Rochelle's

A New Spot in the Lower East Side

I arrived for a date way too early (like 30 minutes early) and the bar we were going to meet at wasn't open yet (it was 6:30pm- didn't open till 7:00pm). I checked on Yelp! (my trusty digital friend) to direct me somewhere to spend 30 minutes. The first place that popped up was practically next door: Rochelle's (http://www.rochellesnyc.com/). It is a cocktail bar that opened up about 3 months ago. I started walking over. And by walking, I mean moving like a crab down the sidewalk while attempting to avoid all injury.

The inside of the bar is warm and inviting. There is a long bar with stools and there is also booth seating. I loved the back bar set up.

Do you see the barrel-aged drinks on the back bar? That is a quality signal right there.

The bartender was awesome. He introduced himself and I'm clearly a terrible person for forgetting his name. He was cute too! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten his face. I also cannot forget the face of the gentleman below. He was ghastly!

Sweet Mustache Bro

I asked the bartender to suggest a popular cocktail. He directed me to Daddy Issues. I love that the menu describes it as "Why not one more?" - don't we all have Daddy Issues? The cocktail is made with Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka, Casoni, Honey and Lemon.

Daddy Issues

This was a light and refreshing cocktail. The vodka has bison grass in it - how cool!

Rochelle's features a unique offering: The Miller High Life Split. For $9, you get the Champagne of Beers and a Shot of the Whisk(E)y of the Week. I noticed that a very attractive woman next to me had ordered it. Was I checking her out for myself? No. I was being an awesome sister. My older brother is single and also an online dater. We are very close and I feel like I know his type better than himself. She was his type. We easily struck up a conversation and I awkwardly asked if she was single. She said yes! I asked her if I could show her a photo of my brother. She said yes and was interested after seeing his picture! I got her number and set them up! I will keep you posted on how it goes. I felt like I really paid it forward on this one :)

As a final comment, Rochelle's has an awesome notice in the bathroom. It is a warning against having sex in the bathroom. My picture doesn't really capture what it says that well, but you can get an idea.  

Not Nuts Please

This is an awesome bar with a knowledgeable bartender staff. I look forward to coming back!

Cheers,

Liz

 

I've Got a New Friend: Elberta

Brunch in Prospect Heights

After our visit to the Brooklyn Museum, we (Miranda, Miranda's two friends and Jenn) were hungry for brunch! The researcher that I am, I had already chosen a place to go within walking distance (10-15 minutes) of the museum. I read positive review after positive review of Elberta Restaurant & Bar (http://www.elbertarestaurant.com/). I know I've found a great spot when there are multiple things I would be happy to order!

When we got seated at our table, our server shared with us many of the drink specials. We all started with the Bloody Mary ($6!). The drink was fantastic and such a great value. It had a kick to it and the veggies were yummy - olives and cornichon pickles. There were also other options such as a 1-hour unlimited mimosa ($10 or $12) and several other options at great price points.

Bloody Mary

While we waited for our food, we ordered biscuits for the table. Each order has two biscuits and is only $2, again great value. We had 5 in our group so we placed 3 orders. The biscuits were served hot and with butter, fresh fruit jam and honey. DELICIOUS!

Biscuits! NOM

For my entrée, I ordered the Shrimp & Grits, served with bacon, onion and cheesy grits. It was exactly what I felt like! Given I already had a Bloody Mary and Biscuits, I stuck with the savory breakfast theme. The dish had four large shrimp and huge slices of thick bacon. I devoured it!

Shrimp & Grits

My friends ordered the Southern Fried Chicken & Waffles with bourbon maple syrup and the Three Ranchers Eggs with cheddar cheese, capers, Andouille sausage and country toast. They all loved what they got!

I look forward to going back, if I'm ever in Prospect Heights!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Blue Collar Burgers

Delicious Burgers FAST

Christine was too hungry to wait for our Chinese food (it would likely take 20 minutes which is an ETERNITY if you're hungry) so she wanted to get something to eat while we waited for more food. This is why we're friends, because she is smart like that.

Christine kept saying she wanted Blue Collar. I don't speak Williamsburg fluently, so I wasn't sure what this meant. When we entered a small burger joint, I quickly figured it out. The quality of burgers and fries reminds me of In-N-Out, or at least as close as you're going to get to it on the East Coast.

The food is affordable, quick and tasty. Burgers range from $4.00 to $6.25 depending on if its a single or double or has cheese. Fries are $2.25 (small) or $3.25 (large) - obviously you need to go with the large! Christine got a burger and fries. The food was consumed too quickly for me to get a photo - apologies!

There are also boozy shakes for $7.50 that sounded AMAZING - White Russian, Pumpkin Pie, or Mudslide, among others! This is the perfect food for after you've gone to the bar. Perfectly greasy, fast and delicious!

Cheers,

Liz

 

You Make Me Crazy St. Mazie

An Attempt at Dinner Becomes Just a Drink

Since we couldn't eat dinner at M. Shanghai, Christine suggested that we try an alternative place: St. Charles Cellar (http://stcharlescellar.com/). We put our names down (there was a wait...in BROOKLYN, I know!). I guess everyone that wanted to go to M. Shanghai had the same idea as us. We were told we would have to wait about 30-45 minutes for our table located downstairs (hence the restaurant name). Naturally, we went to the bar upstairs, St. Maize (http://www.stmazie.com/), for a cocktail while we waited.

The majority of us went with the Brown Derby, made with Bourbon, Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice and Honey.

Brown Derby

The drink was super refreshing and went down easy. We waited until we finished our cocktail and then we PEACED OUT. We were starving at this point and we still wanted Chinese food! Michelle was smart enough to start ordering delivery while we were en-route to her apartment. We proceeded to have a delicious meal at her place. Yay for back-up plans!

I'd definitely come back to St. Maize and St. Charles Cellar. Ideally when I'm not starving. The venue has live music daily - nice touch!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Rye One, Get One Free!

Awesome Happy Hour in Williamsburg!

To celebrate the end of a long week, some of my close friends at Stern (Michelle and Christine and their significant others) wanted to go out to dinner to celebrate Chinese New Year. Last year, I went to a great spot in Williamsburg (M. Shanghai) and we wanted to go back for a meal to celebrate this holiday.

Before our dinner, we joined Michelle's husband Ilya at the Bar Below Rye (http://www.barbelowrye.com/).

We found it!

There is an awesome happy hour Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 8pm; the deal is Two for One for Beer, Well & Wine. I ordered a Manhattan - even though I am in Brooklyn, it is always in my heart!

Hey there Manhattan! How are you?!?

While we were sipping on our cocktails, we asked the bartenders about the many different bitters on the bar. He entertained our questions and let us give them a little sniff. I really loved the Grapefruit Bitters.

It isn't always bad to be bitter!

After we closed the tab out, we headed over to M. Shanghai. We were shocked when we saw the sign below:

Looks like we need to whip out Plan B

While at first we were sad, we quickly realized that the owners of a Chinese restaurant may want this important holiday off to celebrate! I hope the owners and employees had a wonderful night!

I'd recommend checking out Rye if you're in the neighborhood - especially during Happy Hour! We didn't get any food though I did smell the Mac & Cheese someone got - YUM!

Cheers,

Liz

 

You Otto Go Here

Experience Mario Batali on a Budget!

If you have seen a trend in my last couple of posts, I attempted to find joy during lunch breaks to survive the intensive class I had last week. Two of my close girl friends (Christine and Kate) and I went to Otto Enoteca Pizzeria (http://www.ottopizzeria.com/restaurant.cfm) for a relaxing lunch.

We wanted to split a salad, pasta and pizza. After looking at the menu, we picked three crowd pleasers. I forgot the snap a photo of the salad. We chose the Otto Chopped Salad. It is super yummy and not too heavy. The dressing is light and tasty and the salad is chock-full of goodness (meat, cheese and veggies).

For our pasta, we split the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, made with pancetta, scallions, black pepper and egg.  Very creamy and full of flavor!

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara

For our pizza, we chose the Margherita D.O.P made with tomato, bufala mozzarella and basil. This is a yummy pizza that isn't too heavy. It was a great choice to complement the pasta which was heavy (and delicious!).

Margherita D.O.P

I was really happy with the mix of food that we got. I didn't want an entire pizza or salad or pasta. This was a wonderful way to sample a lot of different things.

Check this spot out!
Liz

 

Hot Ramen by Washington Square Park

Nothing Warms You Up Like Hot Noodles

During a break last week during my intensive class, I stopped by Ramen Takumi (http://www.ramentakumi.com/Web/) with two of my classmates, Tavi and Jessica. We were both in the need of something to distract us from an unending day of back to back sessions.

Jessica suggested this spot and I trust her advice! It was pretty easy to decide what to order: MISO RAMEN! From 11:30am to 3:30PM there is a lunch special and most dishes are a $1 off. My huge bowl of ramen was $10.95 instead of $11.95. You can add extra pork for $2.

Miso Ramen

This is a great quick lunch that warms you up and fills you up!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Strip Down Bare(Burger)

Delicious Burgers and Incredible Sweet Potato Fries!

During a painful intensive class I needed to take to graduate, we took a lunch break at nearby Bareburger (http://www.bareburger.com/restaurant/535-laguardia-place/). I've been to this place multiple times and I decided to finally write it up.

My group split an order of Harvest Sweet Potato Fries. The order is HUGE and certainly way too much for one person, let alone 4. It is served with two sauces: smoked paprika mayo and curry ketchup. The ketchup was nasty but one of my friends, Michelle, loved it, so I let her go to town on it.

For my entrée, I ordered the Country Bacon, made with sharp cheddar, country bacon, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and mayo. I ordered it with beef and medium well.

Country Bacon

This is a great lunch spot near NYU. The burgers aren't cheap, but you can likely manage the price if you don't get a fancy one with all the bells and whistles that I did.

Cheers,

Liz

 

Steel Magnolia (Bakery)

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

A Return to the Hill (and Bay)

Divine Short Ribs

I first visited Hill and Bay a couple of weeks ago for drinks and planned to return for a meal. The opportunity struck when I wanted to grab dinner with a date before a movie at Kips Bay Theater. Side Note: We saw Dallas Buyer's Club and it was great.

I looked at the wine list and decided to order a glass of red wine. I can't recall which varietal I ordered - all glasses are price between $9 to $12. I knew I wanted to order the Braised Short Ribs, served with creamy polenta and crispy shallots ($23). Based on Yelp! reviews, this seemed like a safe bet and I do love cooking this dish at home!

Braised Short Ribs

The meat was absolutely tender. The wine I ordered really complemented the sauce. I was so happy with what I ordered!

When I looked at the dessert menu, I knew exactly what I was going to order! I love bread pudding, so naturally I ordered the Brown Butter Chocolate Bread Pudding, made with dark chocolate and served with ice cream ($8).

Brown Butter Chocolate Bread Pudding

This is my favorite type of dessert: the juxtaposition of the hot (bread pudding) and the cold (ice cream) rocks my world. So yummy!

I'm glad I came back to this spot. Solid entrees and desserts!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Fresh Pasta? Yes Please!

A Lovely Dinner at Chelsea's Pepe Giallo

After grabbing drinks at Hudson Malone, I met up with Melissa for dinner in her neighborhood. She has a favorite spot near her apartment that serves up affordable Italian dishes and makes fresh pasta! Pepe Giallo (http://pepegiallo.com/) has a great vibe - very quaint and warm.

We decided to order the house red (Montepulciano). The 1/2 carafe is $14 and the carafe is $23 (save $5 for double the wine). Which do you think we ordered?

If you get a Carafe, make sure it is a FULL ONE! A better value!

As we nibbled on the warm bread, served with olives and olive oil, we looked over the menu and sipped our wine. Melissa has been here many times, so she was full of super helpful tips and recommendations. We decided to split the Apple, Goat Cheese and Tomato Salad, served over Organic Greens ($8).

Apple, Goat Cheese, Tomato Salad

This salad was super yummy and a decent portion size to split. I was torn between a couple of the pasta dishes. I wanted to get the Rigatoni with Salmon and Mushrooms in Cream Sauce ($13) but I wanted to try the homemade pasta. For an upcharge of $2, I changed the pasta to the homemade fettuccini. AWESOME CHOICE! The salmon was delicious (not fishy) and super tender. The sauce was creamy without being too heavy. I loved it.

LOOK - You can actually see CHUNKS of Salmon! Quality!

Melissa ordered the Fettuccini with Chicken and Mushrooms in Alfredo Sauce ($13). I tried a piece of chicken - delicious! I did prefer my dish more though.

CHICKEN!!!

I will comment that the portion sizes are great, especially considering the reasonable prices, and the amount of protein in each dish was awesome as well! Great spot! I cannot wait to return!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Hudson Malone

A New Cocktail Spot in Midtown East

Last week, I checked out a newly opened bar (within the last three months) and was pleasantly surprised by the overall awesome-ness of the location: Hudson Malone (http://www.hudsonmalone.com/). Previously, it was a different bar and changed ownership. The entire décor of the spot was redone. I especially loved the detail on the ceiling. I forgot to snap a photo but it is tin pressed - beautiful, ornate detail. The overall feel is intimate - you can enjoy a cozy conversation with your friend or date while perched on dark wood furniture, seated at the polished bar.

The owner, Doug Quinn, built his reputation at PJ Clarke's, a New York institution. The bar is named after his two sons - ADORABLE. He also has his "Quinn's Laws" posted. My favorite is: Mediocrity Sucks! I don't recall the name of our bartender but I do remember he introduced himself and shook my hand! When does that even happen anymore? This simple gesture demonstrated to me the commitment to customer service and creating an enjoyable atmosphere.

From the cocktail menu, I ordered the Manhattan No. 2, made with Bulleit Rye, Sweet Vermouth and Bitters. It was DELICIOUS!

Manhattan No. 2

My date ordered the New York Old Fashioned, made with rye, sugar and bitters.

New York Old Fashioned

As my next cocktail, I ordered the Sinatra Smash, made with Whiskey, Lemon, Mint and Sugar. Really tasty!

Sinatra Smash

He ordered a pint of Guinness, so I didn't take a photo. I'd love to come back here for a bite to eat. The beef in the burger is ground daily from a top NYC butcher, Pat LaFrieda.

I look forward to my return!

Liz

 

A Dinner in a Snow Storm!

A Delightful Meal at Craftbar!

Last week, there was a bit of a snow storm! Did it stop me from meeting Ingrid and her friend Ashley (up from sunny Bermuda) for dinner? Of course not! Ingrid lives in Flatiron and suggested Craftbar (http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craftbar-new-york/). I wanted to go to that spot for a while. Also, the snow didn't stop the train from running, so I bundled up and met her!

In order to cope with the snow, we ordered a bottle of Montepulciano (I have to thank my friend Melissa for opening my eyes to this wonderful red varietal!). The bottle was reasonably priced around $30.

An Affordable Bottle of Red that is ALSO delicious? Happiness!

We decided to split two appetizers. The Pickle Jar and the Pecorino Arancini, served with spicy tomato sauce. The pickles, including other vegetables like cauliflower, were a bit to sour. Some of the vegetables were too porous and absorbed too much of the pickling liquid.

Pickle Jar

The Arancini, or rather the yummy balls of risotto and cheese, were so tasty! Much better than the pickles. For our entrees, Ingrid and Ashley both ordered the Veal Ricotta Meatballs & Capellini, served with Basil and San Marzano Tomato. Ingrid didn't finish her meatballs so I gave her a hand and tasted them. They were delicious!

Veal Ricotta Meatballs & Capellini

I chose the Skate, served with Brussels Sprouts, Apple, Brown Butter, Crème Fraiche and Horseradish. SO TASTY! I love Skate and the preparation really complemented the character of the fish.

SKATE!

To round out the meal, we split a dessert: The Flourless Chocolate Cake, served with Passion Fruit Caramel and Coconut Ice Cream.

Lovely Presentation

The dessert was a wonderful conclusion to an all-around outstanding meal. The food and service are both top-notch. I look forward to coming back!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Analogue, Comparable to Other Awesome Cocktail Places

I Made A Grammar Joke!

Prior to our late night (12:15am) show at The Comedy Cellar, we headed to Analogue (http://analoguenyc.com/) for a pre-show cocktail. I heard great things about this spot but couldn't go previously because it opens at 5pm and I was always in the neighborhood around 4pm. Oh well, solved that problem!

The setting is an ultra-relaxed lounge with jazz music. It certainly ups the posh factor for cocktail spots on 8th Street (near NYU). Since we didn't have much time before our show, I looked over the menu and asked our server for recommendations. She recommended the Peche Bourbon (I already had my eye on it!). I couldn't find the list of ingredients on the website (still under construction), but the base of the drink is house-made Peach Bourbon. YUM!

Peche Bourbon

The drink was really lovely! I loved the shape of the glass. The peach enhanced the existing profile of the bourbon. I also snapped a photo of the back bar. Last year, I worked on a consulting project for Brenne (http://drinkbrenne.com/) and I was proud to see it on the back bar!

Swanky Back Bar!

If you find yourself in the neighborhood, give this spot a whirl. Great vibe, attentive servers and skilled bartenders!

Cheers,

Liz

 

Tao Downtown

An Awesome Setting for an Incredible Feast

After our fun day, Courtney and I met up with my brother for dinner at Tao Downtown (http://taorestaurant.com/downtown/). As I guessed, even though we had 8:15pm reservations, we were given a buzzer and told we would be notified when our table was ready. We walked through the main dining hall to the bar.

Incredible Ambiance - do you see that awesome statue in the background?

After looking at the cocktail menu, we all ordered a drink. I chose the Ruby Red Dragon, made with Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, Yuzu Citrus and a Hint of Pomegranate.

Ruby Red Dragon

The backdrop of the bar is beautiful. I think I will come back here just for drinks sometime - a new date location!

The Back Bar - The Geishas are Ready for You!

We ordered a bunch of plates to share among us. My favorite was one of the small plates, Satay of Chilean Sea Bass with a Miso Glaze. I loved it SO MUCH that I found a recipe online and recreated it (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/miso-and-soy-chilean-sea-bass/) - it is spot on! Anyway, back to Tao!

Satay of Chilean Sea Bass

Our next course that came out was another small plate, Rock Shrimp Lettuce Cups with spicy mayo and jalapeno lime. I was SO DISAPPOINTED with this choice! Normally I love dishes like this but it really lacked flavor - which is shocking given the spicy mayo! Thumbs down. Boo.

Rock Shrimp Lettuce Cups

Courtney ordered the small plate, Crispy Rice Tuna served with spicy mayo and kabayaki sauce (whatever that is) - SHE LOVED IT! I didn't try it since I was too busy with my Sea Bass.

Crispy Rice Tuna

She also got the Pork Potstickers served with gochujang and sesame. She enjoyed it and I tried one. They were good. It is sort of hard to mess up potstickers!

Pork Potstickers

Since I figured many of the small plates would be SMALL, I ordered a Chicken Pad Thai for the table. It was really yummy and a big serving, even for a fancy spot like this! It was served with a pair of wooden tongs - cute touch!

Chicken Pad Thai

My brother decided to order several pieces of sashimi. It is served in a beautiful bowl on a bed of ice. Great Presentation!

Sashimi

After I finished my first cocktail, I ordered the drink Courtney first ordered: The Thai Basil Smash, made with Stoli Citrus, Thai Basil and (fresh!) Mandarin Orange. It was fantastic! The fruit was fresh (not canned) and the cocktail was very refreshing.

Thai Basil Smash

This is definitely a happening spot. I would recommend visiting for the cocktails and the ambiance. The food is fairly expensive for what it is, you're paying to eat at a trendy spot not necessarily to have a food-gasm.

Cheers,

Liz

 

The Meal BEFORE the Meal

The Counter - Just Like in Charlotte, but Cooler!

After the musical ended, Courtney and I wanted a bit of a nibble. It was that awkward time in the evening (say 5pm) and we didn't have dinner reservations until later (8:15pm). Also, since it was at a super-hip restaurant, I knew we wouldn't actually eat until closer to 9pm. Like any rational person, we decided to have a mini-meal, a lunch-dinner or rather a linner.

While we were walking through hell (Times Square), we passed by The Counter (http://www.thecounterburger.com/), a burger chain that also had locations in my old city: Charlotte. I loved it when I was there and they had sliders, the perfect appetizer, so we went inside. I was pleased to see when I checked-in on Foursquare that there was an offer for a free small fries (regular or sweet potato) with your first check-in! BOOM! The value of social media. We went with sweet potato. They are served with a yummy horseradish aioli - soo good!

Sweet Potato Fries

I'm not a big beer drinker, but for some reason I was in the mood. Maybe it was the fried food and the promise of burgers. I ordered a draft Blue Moon. Yum.

The Orange Slice just MAKES IT SO MUCH BETTER!

We split an order of the sliders. It was the perfect amount of food to deal with our hunger!

They Taste as Good as They are Messy

This is great spot if you find yourself in the terror that is Times Square and need a quick bite! They also have really yummy Spiked Milkshakes!

Cheers,

Liz