My friend Shaun has basically become obsessed with Cafetasia, an 8th Street spot that, at first glance, doesn't quite seem like a probable candidate for a fixation (Shaun is kind of… particular). It looks like one of those typically fakey, vaguely Thai places in the middle of the NYU campus that serves cheap, bland fare to starving college students who don't know any better. And it very nearly is just that–except, inexplicably–the food is actually quite good.

The real draw is the lunch special where, for ten dollars (tip and all), you get a large dish and a small dish. I usually get the daily soup selection; their Tom Yum is surprisingly refreshing with crisp, bright veggies, it's very unlike the cookie cutter versions you might be used to. Shaun opts, always, for the fresh spring roll.?

He also never fails to order the Spicy Bail Noodles (pictured) which are not only actually spicy (unlike so many disappointing claims on menus all over town) but can, at times, produce beads of sweat on my brow and a slight rumble in my tummy. Other yummy dishes I've tried from the lunch menu include the mild Garlic Black Pepper, the rich Malaysian Laksa, and the warm weather pleaser Shrimp with Glass Noodle.

It's a big space, with tons of two tops and long communal tables. The decorating ia bit cheesy and it's run like a very efficient cafeteria. Lunch never takes longer than thirty minutes, which makes it ideal for a sit down option if you work nearby.

It's not likely to be a place foodies and tour guides will mention but, like lots of steady nearbys, it continues to draw a crowd by having the two most important parts of a restaurant down pat: good food at the right price.

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Posted on July 28, 2008

From the same owners of the excellent Back Forty, Savoy is almost a tradition in Soho, a dimly lit standby for really good food. I have been curious about it for a long time, but when I saw this menu on eater, I could no longer put it off:

Spanish Style Lobster Stew, Little Neck Clams on the Half Shell, and Blueberry crumble.

As appetizing as it sounds on paper, it was even more impressive on my taste buds. Seriously, one of the few spot-on, every dish as good as the last pre-fixe meals we've encountered in a long time. The clams were fresh and delicious with a sweet, vinegary pepper sauce to accompany them.

The main dish, (which is where some places falter in fixed menus) was more of a paella than a typical stew, and it was utterly fantastic. The rice was moist and flavorful, the lobster tails, sausage and mussels – eye-rollingly yummy.

Dessert, a warm blueberry crumble topped with creamy vanilla ice cream ended a pretty perfectly meal pretty perfectly.

I know it sounds like I am exaggerating, and if you want the vaguest complaint to even it out, my friends thought they could have been a bit quicker with the rose with accompanied the meal. For a fifteen dollar charge it was almost all you could drink, but we ended up with about two glasses a piece.

The interior on the main floor is smaller than one might expect, but it was clean and easy going with a polite clientele.

It's a pricey spot, but in a city stuffed to the brim with the priciest, Savoy is also one that is completely worth it.

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Posted on July 14, 2008

The hamburger is an American culinary icon and one that has been getting lots of attention lately, especially in New York. As a result of the new found respect for the dish, there are many options for delicious burgers in the city. From the long lines at the Shake Shack to the lofty price tag and gourmet ingredients at DB Bistro Moderne, from the secretive divey-ness of The Burger Joint, to the straight forward divey-ness of Paul's Palace, there's a burger in this town for everyone.

One of the latest additions to the tradition is Five Guys, with locations on 55th, Bleecker and LaGuardia. Actually, to call it new is not completely accurate, the chain has been around since 1986 and it did have one location in the five boroughs – but it was in the hard to get to (for most of us) neighborhood of College Point. Lately, though it's popping up everywhere and I couldn't be happier.

It's a dietary splurge to be sure, especially if you tack on some of their yummy Cajun fries, but when is a burger a health conscious choice anyway? Theirs is moist and flavorful with a great squishy bun (I hate buns that stand up too much to the burger) and fresh toppings.

The menu offers a regular (one patty) or a large (two patty) and an array of free toppings. Be sure to tell them all the toppings you want, they won't assume lettuce or tomatoes or anything else unless you specify. I usually add some hot sauce, which only heightens the eating experience.

The environment (at least at the Bleecker location) is pretty clean and cheerful, particularly for a fast food spot and the food is miles away from the assembly line “junk food” of more typical chains.

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Posted on June 30, 2008

Formerly Provence, Hundred Acres was just opened by the same owners, but with a different intention. Whereas Provence was a pricey special event place, this new restaurant is more relaxed and modestly priced, attempting to be the perfect neighborhood spot for dinner. It nearly succeeds.

The setting is nice, though a bit cramped, and while the place seemed over staffed at first, it had filled up by the time we left (our table was reserved for 6:45). There's an interesting list of cocktails, but we stuck to sparkling water.

The highlight of our meal was the appetizer: the excellent lightly battered and asparagus fries. Not at all too greasy or heavy, a shared plate of these started things off well.

For entrees we ordered the whole grilled mackerel and the fried chicken. I was a bit saddened to see the chicken fried rabbit I had read about online was not on the menu, but the restaurant changes its menu daily to reflect what they can purchase at local markets. So even if the mackerel isn't available when you go, I can safely say that they prepare grilled fish fantastically. It was salty and fresh tasting, a total winner.

Sadly, the fried chicken was not. While the crust and accompanying salad were top notch, the chicken meat itself was slimy, dark, and often unedible. It was a real disappointment, but happily not one that cost as much as it would have at other restaurants in the neighborhood.

We concluded our meal with a slice of blueberry pie seved a la mode that nearly made us forget about the bad chicken. Hundred Acres may have to straighten out some of their consistency issues–but it's a welcome affordable and cheery place worth a trip for the asparagus fries alone.

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Posted on June 16, 2008

During my parent's recent visit, we enjoyed not one but two delicious omakakse menus. The first was at the mysterious Williamsburg date spot, Zenkichi, which I have already recommended. It is worth noting, however, that they have managed to improve on their own greatness.

The second was at the midtown best kept secret Aburiya Kinnosuke. A spot where you're likely to be the only English speaking patron. I had partaken in a few mini Coronas earlier at my brother's engagement party, so my memory is a bit fuzzy on the items we were served. I know that they were exceedingly delicious and with a little help from flickr, where a full photo odyssey of the omakase is documented.

The meal begins with sashimi three ways. Not sashimi from the grocery store or bodega, but fresh, fresh sashimi that will make you smile. Next is cold tofu with various salts. An excellent and interesting dish that was followed by tsukune, a traditional almost meatloaf type dish that I have recently become familiar with. It's ground meat with sweet teriyaki glazing served on a paddle with an over easy egg for dipping. I really hope to find a good recipe for this as it is perfect comfort food.

Miso Cod was served next, a dish also?prepared at Zenkichi. Both restaurant's preparation was nice and sticky and sweet, but the sauce wasn't too over powering as to mask the fresh and mild fish. I believe at one point we had marinated mushrooms and a small dish of shredded pickled things. See, we also had a bottle, or was it two? Of some terrific sake. I can't recall the name, but here's a photo of the bottle.

At future visits,?I want to be more adventurous and order some of the entrees like deep fried eel bone, sea bass collar, pork cheek, and grilled mugwort.

Still, even without a photographic memory of the experience, this was a really special culinary treat and one even trekking to midtown and waiting for a table is worth. They will take reservations during off peak hours, which I recommend or else, it could be as long as two hours for a table.

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Posted on June 2, 2008