This fairly new Aussie restaurant, Tuck Shop, comes with extremely friendly service and mean meat pies and sausage rolls. Try the pale ale Australian beer they carry too.
The menu is not too extensive, but everything we tried was top notch, and more items will be added as they expand. Plus the price is more than all right and you can bring your vegetarian friends too.
A great addition to the neighborhood and a perfect stop before or after a night of drinking.
If you've ever walked down Manhattan Ave. in Greenpoint you have probably noticed the building with the knights in armour standing guard. What are they protecting? Some of the most comforting and filling fare I have been lucky enough to stuff myself with in the neighborhood… and believe it or not the service is friendly – something that can not be said of some other local Polish restaurants.
Everything we tried on Krolewskie Jadlo's menu was hearty and delicious. I particularly recommend the warm beets as a side, and King's Potato Pancakes – mini pancakes with herbed cream and smoked salmon – as a starter.
The best introduction entree is probably the sampler which included pirogues, stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes and kielbasa – all for less than $8! That's the other amazing thing about this place – You'll get a King's Feast for a peasant's wage!
I never thought another neighborhood restaurant could draw me from Enid's for weekend brunch, but with its fresh ingredients and stellar menu, Egg has done just that on several occasions.
Opened fairly recently in the same building that houses Sparky's hot dog restaurant in later hours, Egg has become a local staple for good comforting breakfast. I have experimented with many menu options, the bacon is divine, the pancakes are wonderful, the sweet mint tea is refreshing, and a favorite is the salty ham biscuit with fig jam.
Service can be lax and one time the smell of street garbage was so bad we turned around and left, but overall this is a treasure of the neighborhood that has started many a morning off right.
Welcoming staff, room for a big group, cold beers, good prices,and terrific Venezuelan food. What more could you ask for from a restaurant on a hot, hot evening? El Cocotero's arepas are amazing with their fresh ingredients and just made soft corn shells.
I particularly recommend the Reina Pepiada which is a mixture of tomatoes avocados and shredded chicken. The hearts of palm salad was perfectly refreshing and the bite of chicken salad I had will insure I order it next time.
Everyone exclaimed it was a great find and I see many repeat visits in the future. Go there while it's still a bit of a secret (this is the only photo I could even find of it).
We had initially decided on Otto Enoteca Pizzeria because it was in the area we were going to be, the menu looked enticing, and the prices were right. When I learned that it was Mario Batali's I had two expectations A. The food will be excellent, B. The atmosphere may not. I was right on both counts.
The food was indeed excellent and more. We all tried the pizza. Mike and I shared two anchovy varieties, one with cheese and chiles, one without cheese but with olives.
Wow, even at high end pizza places I have never had fresh and plump anchovies like these. Jim was brave and ordered the Lardo, a white cheese pizza with ham fat. Believe me, it was scrumptious even if it doen't sound it. A tasty olive appitizer and an enormous wine list rounded out the dining experience. And the dessert was so amazing, I can't even get into it here, you'll have to read my dessert entry.
Now for the atmosphere. It's one of those restaurants that doesn't feel like it's for locals, that favors spectacle over comfort, but at the same time, it could have been much worse. The lighting was dark and flattering, the staff was friendly and efficient, and really, with food this good you forget about where you are in about two minutes.
A.O.C. of the West Village serves delicious French in a beautiful garden atmosphere if you are lucky enough to snag an outdoor table. It was a hot and humid night so we ordered lighter fare, sandwiches and salads.
Jim and I split a pate sandwich and lamb sausage sandwich and both were heavenly made on the most perfect bread I have possibly ever had a sandwich on. Astrid's goat cheese salad came with phillo dough and spinach and was as appealing to look at as it was to eat.
I can't wait to return in the winter when I will try their heartier fare like Cassoulet and Pasta a la Bretonne.
It was pouring rain, the kind where your jeans are still dripping for hours even though you were only in the rain for half a block, but we decided to drive in the blinding thunderstorm to Queens anyway. “It better be really good” I said, soaking as we entered the plain store front.
Well, Sripraphai was not good … it was excellent. The appetizer of Chinese Sausage alone was good enough to rationalize a wet trip to Queens, let alone the (heavy metal themed) Drunken Noodles (left) which were less sweet that most places and all the better for it. I plan to go back as much as possible to try more of what I am sure are delectable treats from this authentic thai food wonderland.
La Petite Auberge is ideal for a romantic night out of authentic French cuisine without going broke. They have a $24.95 pre-fixe dinner, and no that is not a typo.
I do recommend, however you venture off the pre fixe for dessert and try the souffle for two despite it's 40 minute bake time, just tell the attentive waiter at the beginning of the meal, because it is superb.
Things can get a bit hectic and take some time on busy nights such as Valentine's Day when we ate there, but no one wants to run in an out of a cozy big meal like this anyhow, especially with such a lovely classic interior to gaze at and your love at your side.
Nice and big (emphasis on big) perfectly cooked and juicy, a Paul's burger will hit the spot if it's good old American greasy burgers you crave.
Also a bonus for those romantic sorts that love old diner style waitresses that aren't exactly rude, but a bit gruff and rough around the edges. Look for the huge statue of french fries eating itself (perhaps in protest?). Interesting fact, that statue's brother graces my favorite spot on earth: you've heard me talk about it here before, Magic Forest, now if only the Magic Forest could conjure up such excellent burgers… but I'm afraid to eat anything there for fear that it's made of Santa's reindeer that have died.
So midtown may not be the coolest place to hang out after work, but for a restaurant this deeelicious, braving the garmentos and the noisy streets is more than worth it.
I'm a huge fan of Turkish food and this is some of the best I have ever had. Plus, as an appetizer they have is one of my favorite things on earth: tarama, a spread made with cod roe, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Don't expect to stay within reasonable calorie intake here, the food is filling and intense and, although I'm sure there are some healthier options on the extensive menu, no one at my table partook in them.
Ali Baba also boasts a reallyfriendly staff that even sat us without our entire party being present. A real find.