A Good...not GREAT Brunch in the West Village!
New American
A Meal Worthy of 30 Years
Beer, Desserts, Dinner, Drinks, New American, Tasting Menu, Wine2 CommentsBread that Can't Stop Won't Stop
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Dinner, Drinks, New American, OutdoorsCommentHamptons Baby!
Desserts, Dinner, Drinks, New American, Oysters, TravelCommentA really Good Restaurant
Brunch, Coffee, Drinks, New AmericanCommentA 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
This is a lovely restaurant with great brunch options - solid choices from both the sweet and savory side. Give it a shot!
Cheers,
Liz
Brooklyn is Berry (Park) Good
Drinks, New American, Pub, Rooftop BarCommentA Rainshower Doesn't Get Me Down!
After brunch, Aish and I took the L train to Williamsburg. One of her Stern friends (that also recently graduated) was hosting a get together at Berry Park (http://berryparkbk.com/), a pub with a rooftop bar.
Earlier in the afternoon, it wasn't raining, so we enjoyed the open roof deck. After we had our first drink, it did start pouring, so it was nice that the outside area had a glass ceiling that could be closed.
At the bar, there is an alcoholic slushie machine from Kelvin Natural Slush Co. (http://kelvinslush.com/). It was featuring "Arnold Palmer" which is 1/2 tea and 1/2 citrus slush and vodka.
The drink was amazing - SO TASTY! I'm not a big fan of maraschino cherries, so I gave mine to Aish.
I'd like to come back here for brunch (it is 7 days a week till 4pm).
Cheers,
Liz
Feasting at Feast
Brunch, Breakfast, Drinks, New American1 CommentAn Accurately Named Restaurant
Aish and I wanted to catch up over brunch. I love trying new restaurants and I put a lot of thought into selecting this location because Aish is a vegetarian. I bring this up because many restaurants do not offer good options for vegetarians for brunch that are exciting. When I looked at the reviews and saw the menu, I knew Feast (http://eatfeastnyc.com/) would have more than enough choices for her (and me!).
As an interesting side note, Google Glass users allegedly panned the restaurant after one user was asked to remove her glasses. Heaven forbid! The story is a bit egregious (Glass wearers referred to the restaurant as "bigoted"), so check it out: http://ny.eater.com/archives/2014/05/feast_viciously_panned_by_enraged_google_glass_users.php
Feast offers an awesome brunch special: $26 includes one cocktail (mimosa, bellini, or "beery mary") or non-alcoholic beverage (fresh squeezed OJ or bottomless coffee), a bakery basket & yogurt parfait & daily juice shot & other item (was a deviled egg) for the table and one entrée per person! WHAT A DEAL!
I am so glad I chose the Beery Mary. I would describe it as Bloody Mary mix with beer poured on top of it. It was absolutely refreshing and tasty! I've had Micheladas before and this was much better.
I didn't bring the right lens for my camera (still learning!) so I had to take several shots of the shared plates to capture everything we got! My preference was the baked goods, deviled eggs, juice (carrot and orange) and yogurt parfait.
Aish ordered the croque-madame. Since she is a vegetarian, she didn't get the prosciutto on it, which I would argue is the best party.
I ordered the Baby Back Benedict - served with grits, greens and BBQ hollandaise. It sounds like an odd combination, but it was one of the BEST benedicts I've ever had! The ribs were succulent, flavorful and uber tender. DELICIOUS!
This is a lovely restaurant with tasty good, great ambiance and very affordable pricing. You simply must check it out!
Cheers,
Liz
Eating at The Pavilion
Drinks, Lunch, New American, Outdoors, CoffeeCommentA Ladies' Lunch to Celebrate my Graduation
My mom and I met up with my Aunt Shirley for lunch. The weather was cooperating so I was pleased with my restaurant choice: The Pavilion (http://www.thepavilionnyc.com/). I went here nearly 8 years ago when it was Luna Park (you may remember it from Sex and the City (Episode: The Monogamists) when Carrie went there and met Jared (the hot shot writer)and Big couldn't find the entrance).
It opened up three weeks ago and occupies a controversial part of Union Square. The photo below shows the stone structure that is part of the park. Opponents of the restaurant claim that it is "unfairly commercializing" public space. This battle has been fought for two years and the restaurant owner (Simon Oren, also the owner of Five Napkin Burger) invested several million dollars to restore the structure. Oren has a 15-year contract with the city and will pay $300K per year to lease the space. Read more here: http://www.zagat.com/b/new-york-city/the-pavilion-in-union-square-park-is-finally-open
A celebration is not complete without Champagne!!! My mom and aunt ordered a glass and I opted for a unique cocktail. The waiter instead brought out three flutes - I was more than ok with that! Cheers! :)
The Park-Side cocktail features light & dark rums, fresh mint & lime, guava "foam" and local pollen. It is a very unique drink - the guava foam has some seeds in it from the fruit. Also, you're not supposed to mix it up. So, don't drink it with a straw. In order to get all the flavors, sip it!
I read a lot online about how great the complimentary bread basket was, especially the spread that comes with it. I'm not sure what the spread was, I should have asked, but it tasted delicious! I had to ask the waiter several times (maybe 5?) for the bread. The service is still lacking a bit. Hopefully it is just because the venue recently opened and isn't going to continue - this place is simply too great for poor service.
I ordered the Blue Maine Mussels & Fries. As you can see below, the fries are beautifully presented. They were SO tasty!
The mussels were delicious, prepared with white wine, garlic & shallot puree and butter.
Our server recommended the Greek Salad, made with tomato, cucumber, peppers, onion, olives, croutons, local feta cheese & lemon vinaigrette. My aunt ordered it and I tried a nibble. It tasted really fresh and light.
I took some photos of the enclosed area of The Pavilion. The weather was nice so we chose to eat outside, also the inside area is a bit louder. The structure amplifies sounds so it can get a bit loud. This makes conversation with your mom and aunt difficult! I love the ceiling lights - white globes are simple and beautiful.
I ordered a cappuccino. I was really disappointed when it arrived cold! If you're paying $5 for a cup of coffee, it better be piping hot. I asked the server to bring a new cup and it was hot! I think the issue comes back to the slow service - the coffee was likely made and just sat there. Get your act together on the service Pavilion! This is a great venue, so don't mess it up so early!
I look forward to coming back here for brunch or dinner and hopefully much improved service!
Cheers,
Liz
Pop Your Cork(Buzz)!
New American, WineCommentA Fashionable Happy Hour
My Fashion Law class concluded a couple of weeks ago and I suggested to our professors that we host an end of semester Happy Hour. This was the first semester that the class was offered to both law students and business students at the same time. Also, there are already countless graduation celebrations - so what is one more?
In researching a place, I wanted to pick somewhere that would be well-lit, not too loud and offer a variety of beverages and nibbles. I also wanted to look for somewhere near campus, as that is a central meeting place for all of us. I ultimately decided to go with Corkbuzz Wine Studio (http://www.corkbuzz.com/), located near Union Square.
I ordered the $15 Blind Tasting of White Wine (also offered in Red Wine too). This deal features three 2oz pours of wine but you don't know what varietal of wine it is - hence the Blind Tasting aspect of it. I'm not sure when it is offered - we went on a Monday and I was told it is offered until 6pm. I couldn't tell from the website if it daily or only on certain days - make sure to ask when you go! When you check in on your first visit here (I don't remember if it was Yelp! or Foursquare) you receive a complimentary flute of sparkling wine. Do it!
We ordered some nibbles to share. We got the Crispy Fingerling Potatoes with cilantro, red chile and black garlic aioli. Although the aioli looks like disgusting brownish goo, it is DELICIOUS. Do not be scared of it, embrace it!
We also ordered the chef's selection of cheeses. I believe it included a semi-soft cheese, blue cheese and ricotta. It would have been nice if there was a jam or fruit paste served with it to offer a contrast.
This location has a great vibe to it and the perfect ambiance for a date, dinner with friends or family gathering. Maybe don't come here to watch the game, but other than that, this is a great location. I'd like to come back here sometime for brunch or dinner.
Cheers,
Liz
Brazen like a Fox
Brunch, Drinks, New AmericanCommentUnlimited Bloody Marys = Great Idea
Michelle is a great friend, and in many ways, an unofficial leader of Block 3. During my time at Stern, she has made efforts to organize many large events. I realize that organizing the conflicting schedules of students, working professionals and new-parents is no easy task! When she organized brunch last week, I was delighted to attend!
The Brazen Fox (http://brazenfoxnyc.com/) offers a complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary with each brunch entrée. Instead of just one, we went with the Unlimited Bloody Mary (and could switch to Mimosas) option. The restaurant needs to work on its site advertising, because I couldn't find details on this to report back on the pricing (we split a large check up). Anyway, it was like $15-$20. Given the amount of time we were there, I felt we all got our money's worth.
I thought the Bloody Mary had a good flavor to it - a bit spicy and bold without being overwhelming. Since the drink is fairly salty, I switched out with a Mimosa. This was the right move.
For my entrée, I wanted to get something savory. This is something I struggle with (sweet or savory?) but after the Bloody Marys, my destination was set. The Brazen Burger was calling my name. It has cheddar cheese, house-made aioli, tomato and lettuce. I ordered it medium and it came out at that temp.
While I enjoyed the burger, I found it very greasy. I don't think it was from the cheese and aioli, but rather from the meat used itself. A delicious burger tends to be a higher % fat (maybe 20 % fat vs. 10% you may purchase) - this is what makes it taste so good! I found it a bit excessive though.
Matt ordered Bacon Bowl (yes this is a food item). You get home fries, eggs any style topped with melted Cheddar Cheese in a crispy bacon bowl.
Matt had positive things to say about the order. What is not to like about a bowl of bacon?
Overall, this is a great spot for the unlimited deal. I would probably order something different next time, maybe the Pork Belly Grits or Smoked Duck Hash.
If you watch Million Dollar Listing New York, you will share my excitement for seeing a Ryan Serhant listing! I was walking to my brother's apartment and saw his name. He is such a stud and also has a memorable personality: http://www.bravotv.com/people/ryan-serhant/bio
Cheers,
Liz
Birthday Drinks for a New Friend!
Drinks, New AmericanCommentWhitehall: 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!
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!
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!
Brunch, Desserts, New American, DrinksCommentCatching 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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Cheers,
Liz
OH...You have a Living Social Deal...
Dinner, New American, WineCommentAn 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.
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.
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!
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.
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
Where Did I Ever Eat B4?
Dinner, New American, Wine1 CommentFresh Vegetables Served Up in the East Village
I caught up with my best friend's (WARREN!!) sister-in-law Tammi last night for dinner! She was visiting the city from Philadelphia with some of her girlfriends. As the resident local, I knew I needed to recommend an awesome spot for dinner that was very New York! Two friends, Lauren and Elizabeth, recently raved about B4 (http://www.b4nyc.com/), a New American restaurant that serves up reinvented comfort food in the East Village.
While we were looking over the menu, we were enjoying the delicious bread. There is a toasted garlic-bread and a fluffier focaccia style bread. I was glad they were generous with the refills! I ordered a glass of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Serving it in a mason jar was on theme for the restaurant but I prefer a wine glass. My grandma heavily influenced me into believing that the glassware changes the taste of the wine. I'm sure it's in my head, but it does change my perception.
We ate our meal family style and shared all of the courses. The first course was a bit tricky - Butternut Squash SOUP! The dish was fantastic so we got over sharing from the same bowl.
The flavor of the soup tasted like the butternut squash had been prepared with apple juice, onions and a hearty broth. Like a traditional casserole, it was dotted with marshmallows. This sweetness brought out the flavor. It also had a sherry-infused cream drizzle.
The sweetness of the pears and the sharpness of the Gorgonzola balanced the peppery bite of the arugula. It was topped with a honey chili vinaigrette and spiked pumpkin seeds. Loved it!
Kale is still super popular, which is great for me because it is yummy! This salad was served with an herb buttermilk dressing, cucumbers (HUGE slices), pickled red onions (gave great flavor and color) and cornbread croutons.
This meat was delicious and moist!!! The pan seared heritage pork chop was served with an apple bourbon reduction and a warm fennel-cabbage-red onion slaw. The combo of the slaw and the sauce were scrumptious!
This dish was my least favorite. The raviolis were served in a sage brown butter sauce. The filling wasn't that flavorful or that plentiful - they could have been a bit more stuffed. Also, the duck confit seemed a bit overdone - I think it was potentially over fried. It was still good, but compared to all the other knock-out dishes, it didn't stand a chance.
I loved this dish! The butter poached salmon had a mustard glaze, shitakes, red peppers and an INSANELY awesome butternut squash wild rice salad. I could eat that salad by the bucket! The salmon was also the perfect temperature - medium/medium rare and so tender.
If you come here, YOU MUST GET THIS DISH! By far the star of the night. A pan-seared Moulard Duck Breast is prepared in a General Tso's style. It is served on top of a ginger carrot puree with haricots verts (fancy Fresh green beans). I wish I just ordered this for myself so I wouldn't have to share it, it was THAT good!
Check out the awesome vibe of the spot - so relaxed and welcoming.
This is a wonderful restaurant. It has outstanding food and an inviting atmosphere. I look forward to coming here again and trying more dishes.
Cheers,
Liz
The River(park) Runs Deep
Bakery, Desserts, Dinner, New American, Restaurant WeekCommentDepth of Flavors Delight the Senses
Ah! Restaurant Week, you are amazing! Not only do you deliver delicious food to my mouth at a huge discount, you last for WEEKS! Melissa and I hit up one of her favorite spots, Riverpark (http://www.riverparknyc.com/), for dinner. As an aside, Melissa already came here 3 times (!!!) for Restaurant Week. I knew this was going to be a delicious meal!
A unique feature of this Tom Colicchio is that the entire menu is featured for Restaurant Week. Naturally, some of the menu items have an upcharge due to the ingredients featured. I forgot to snap a picture, but we started our meal with a delicious piece of fresh baked bread. The bread is made on site and so yummy!! We were offered another piece but I said no because I already stuffed a slice of pizza in my mouth at Beer Blast (the Happy Hour at Stern). See, I have self-control! ha
We both ordered the same pasta as an appetizer. It featured cocoa spaccatelli, pork ragu, Honeycrisp apples and sage.
The pasta was tasty! The cocoa was likely added for color as I couldn't taste it directly. Though, the overall profile of the dish was very complex, so I'm sure it added to the taste.
After looking at the menu, we found two entrees we both wanted to try. So, we ordered one of each! We got the Whole Roasted Dorade with baby artichokes, capers, fennel and olives and the Cocoa Spiced Pekin Duck with blood orange, fennel, pearl onions, red cabbages and chiles.
It is hard to pick which of this dishes was my favorite! The fish was moist, light and flaky. You can't really tell from the photo, but once you lift it from the middle, the fish was completely deboned and ready to NOM! It is nice to not have to pick out the bones. The assortment of vegetables and spices was lovely and not overwhelming to the fish. The duck was tender and tasted great with the blood orange.
For dessert, we ordered "Cereal & Milk" - the restaurant's signature dessert. Melissa assured me that it was worth the $3 upcharge! The dessert is composed of a chocolate ganache cake, caramelized rice puffs, and vanilla malt (hidden within the chocolate shell). We also got the Beignets that were served vanilla custard and spiced chocolate sauce.
We totally messed up and should have ordered TWO Cereal & Milk desserts!!! The beignets were ok but could not stand a chance compared to this delicious dessert. You break the chocolate shell and the vanilla malt inside covers the entire dessert. I should have taken a photo of it after we broke the shell but we were too busy eating it!
This is an incredible restaurant with phenomenal food! It is a much better value to come here during Restaurant Week but worth a visit regardless JUST FOR THE DESSERT!
Cheers,
Liz
It's Miller('s Tavern) Time!
Desserts, Drinks, New AmericanCommentHot Drinks on a Cold Night
After our dinner at M Shanghai, Christine, Lisa and I headed to Miller's Tavern (millerstavernbrooklyn) for after dinner drinks. After I read through the menu, I knew I would order a hot drink. When it's freezing outside, it just makes sense.
I started with the Hot Buttered Rum, made with Dark Rum, Clove and Vermont Butter.
This drink was nice and I loved the cup it was served in! I'm sure you can see the butter clustering at the top of the drink. It had a hint of creaminess from the butter but wasn't overpowering. If anything, it could have benefitted from more clove/spices in it to up the flavor profile. It was good but not particularly memorable.
For my second drink, I ordered The Regulator - another hot cocktail! It is made with Applejack, Bourbon, and Ginger.
This drink had more flavor, likely due to the Applejack - an Apple Brandy. I really enjoyed it!
After we had our first two cocktails, we ordered a dessert to split between the three of us. We ordered the Molten Chocolate Cake served with gelato and sea salt. For this evening, the gelato was a caramel flavor. SO TASTY!
We didn't order any food here beyond the dessert, though Lisa's boyfriend joined us and got the burger. It looked yummy! Since the dessert was really tasty, it could be worth coming back here for an entire meal.
Cheers!
Liz