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Upscale & Unlimited: Brunch @ Yerba Buena

13 Dec

For some time now, I’ve been meaning to try the unlimited brunch at Yerba Buena’s Alphabet City location (Ave A btwn 1st/2nd Sts) and I finally satisfied my curiosity this weekend…  While I did have a few tiny issues with the service, I think the great food, cool atmosphere, and unlimited drink special (+$12 for all you can drink) make it a great brunch spot.

Chips n Sips

The restaurant itself is somewhat small but very tastefully decorated and has an upscale feel to it.  The Maitre D’ was involved in the service and often came over to see how we were doing which was nice; however, the wait staff did seem more interested in canoodling at the bar than at refilling our unlimited drinks.  Normally, I wouldn’t mind but since they do limit the drink special to an hour, the clock was a-ticking (although they did allow us a few more refills once our time was up). I started with a Jalapeno Bloody Mary (not on the menu – just ask) which was spicy and delish, but it was a bit of a procedure to get another.  Your best bet is to go with a mimosa -they had a pitcher pre-made so those were the easiest to have refilled.

Tilapia Taco-Mania!

We got things started with the guacamole + chips which was a really good dish – it was spicy and the queso fresco on top was a nice spin on it.  For an entree, I chose my go-to dish on the menu – the Huevos Rancheros!  The egg on top was a perfectly sized portion, the tortilla was crunchy and the sauce the dish sat in added some heat, I’m big fan.  Another entree on the table was the Tilapia Tacos which looked amazing (minus the fact that I don’t eat fish).

If you’re going to try out this LES Brunch hot spot, make sure you call in advance to make a reservation; you’ll spare yourself the headache of waiting for a table.  All in all, I’d say if you’re looking for an upscale unlimited brunch, and you don’t mind having a bit of patience, Yerba Buena is definitely worth a try.

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Paint, Drink and Be Merry: Little Shop of Crafts

9 Dec

I Heart Little Shop!

I’m always looking for ideas to have a low key night activity that’s outside the norm, which is why finding Little Shop of Crafts made me so incredibly happy.  By now, I’m a repeat-offender guest at the UES location (73rd St btwn York/1st Ave) of this arts & crafts super spot.  I’m constantly coming up with new project ideas as an excuse to go back – you can never have too many mugs!   All you have to do is pick a piece of pottery, choose the colors you want to paint with and you’re ready to go.  The prices are reasonable (you’ll usually spend $20-30) and they’re on Groupon every now and again, so keep an eye out for that to save some moola.

My favorite part of Little Shop is that Wednesday-Friday from 6:30-10pm is adult night – translation: free glass of wine! While they could definitely be a little more generous with the amount of wine they give you, the fact that they offer it at all is nice, and you can always opt to BYOB as my friends and I usually do.  The party room in the back is also a great idea for a grown-up party – I did my 25th birthday there and the “kids” loved it.

No matter what the occasion, Little Shop is the perfect evening of relaxation and always a good time when you’re looking for something different to do – now head on over and get to work on your masterpiece!

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The Redhead: Not Your Average Ginger

8 Dec

For some time now, I’ve heard the whisperings of a great restaurant called The Redhead which is practically around the corner from me (it’s on 13th St btwn 1st/2nd Aves).  I’ve walked past it but never thought to stop in because from the outside, it just looks like a small bar…  But step inside, and you’ll find yourself in a cozy space with a full bar that’s portioned off for a dining room in the back half.

Flat Bread Heaven

While you’re passing the time before getting a table (we had a 35 minute wait), grab a drink at the bar – it’s full of young, hip people and the drinks are equally as trendy.  Jessica and I both opted for the Revival, a lemony gin concoction that was really refreshing.  Once we were seated, we were presented with fresh baked potato rolls that were awesome with the resto’s sweet butter.  Then, after checking out the menu, we opted for the flatbread with mushrooms and marscapone which is a must try dish in my book, and extremely easy to split with a group.  The table next to us asked what it was and immediately ordered one for themselves.

A Few Good Gnocchi

Next up, we had the roasted beet salad (if you didn’t  know, I’m beet obsessed) – the candied pistachios in the mix were a first for me and I really liked them.  As an entrée, we had the potato gnocchi which was chock full of brussel sprouts and chestnuts, but unfortunately I didn’t think it had enough actual gnocchi in it for an entrée sized portion.  That being said, the few I did have were great.

Blondes <3 the Redhead

After having been, I think it’s a crime that I’ve walked by The Redhead as much as I have without stopping in.  It has the quintessential “neighborhood” vibe and does upscale without being pretentious or being insanely pricey.  If you’re in the area, think twice before passing this one by.

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Brunch Above Par @ Agozar!

6 Dec

Sangria for Free-a!

Agozar, translated roughly, means “to enjoy yourself” and that’s exactly what this Cuban Restaurant on the Bowery (btwn Bond/Bleecker) is all about.  Everything about this resto is flamboyant and flashy, making it a perfect venue for a Saturday or Sunday party brunch, or just an unruly dinner amongst friends.  But hear this: head there on the weekend, order yourself a brunch entrée (about $9-14 each) and get UNLIMITED Sangria refills at NO extra cost.  Aye Carumba!

It's Hip to Dip

The Brunch menu includes Cuban staples and some interesting twists as well.  My brunch date Aimee and I started with the Mariquitas – plantain chips with guacamole, and black bean hummus – GET THESE.  They’re a perfect crunchy starter.

After a long time (we got our money’s worth of Sangria and THEN some), we ordered the Huevos Rancheros (sans pollo – we’re both veggers) and we had our eggs scrambled, rather than fried.  They were SO accommodating and made any changes we asked for at no charge!

Leggo My Huevos!

This dish was really good – the crispy tortillas beneath our pile-o-eggs sandwiched yummy black beans and the whole dish sat in a warm, smoky sauce.  I would HIGHLY recommend asking them for hot sauce if you like to add a little heat – their rendition is a homemade green jalapeno cream sauce – it brought everything to the next level.

Agozar brunch is definitely one spot you need to try; it will leave your belly and wallet full (our total bill was under $35 – WOW).  Also, check it out on Tuesday nights – book your reservation online (here) for 50% off all your food items from 8-11pm.   Get there – go AGOZAR yourselves.

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Tusc-Mex? Heck YES! Matilda Restaurant

1 Dec

Prosojitos!

Let’s take a trip to the crossroads of Italy (Tuscany, to be precise) + Mexico and try to imagine a happy place where these two very different cuisines intersect in a harmonious culinary collaboration.  It’s tough to picture, I know, but Matilda Tusc-Mex Restaurant, a funky East Village resto (on 11th St btwn Aves B/C) pulls it off beautifully.

While this sexy, modern spot that proudly blasts 80s/90 dance-anthems would make an awesome weekend night out, Tuesday night is where it’s at for the ladies.  The Ladies Night special includes not only 1/2 off all the specialty cocktails, but a FREE glass of wine (red or white) with your meal.  Sooo we started with Prosojitos (Prosecco + Mojito = AMAZING)… I got the original mint/lime and my dinner date Marissa had the fresh strawberry – it was only $5.50 (normally $11) for a big, delicious, muddled cocktail.  Awesome deal, in my book – they are so refreshingly wonderous (I recommend asking for less sugar, if you’re sensitive to sweets or looking to shave calories).

Eat a Lotta Burrata!

As an appetizer, we had the Burrata con Pomodorino which was a creamy mozz-ish cheese served with fresh made tortilla chips and brick-oven roasted cherry tomatoes.  So good, especially eaten with the complimentary basket of bread that was dense and had a cake-like consistency.

Next up, I cleansed my palate with the FREE glass of white wine (was actually quite good) and the Ruccola con Ananas e Ricotta Salada which is a mouthful to say, but is a very simple arugala salad with yummy chunks of ricotta cheese tossed in with pineapple and avocado.

Tortilla Pizza!

The main event was the tortilla pizza – you can make it with any of the toppings listed, but we went with our server’s suggestion and got tomato sauce, spicy veggies (OMG, so firey hot, SO freakin good!!!), mozzarella, and avocado.   It was the epitome of collaboration between Tuscan and Mexican dishes and was a fiesta in my mouth!

With a party-like atmosphere and awesome Tusc-Mex collabs that shame the average Tex-Mex dish, Matilda is fusion done right.  Plus there’s no arguing with a good price tag – with the ladies night special (go on TUESDAY girls) our bill was only $50 bucks.  I want to go back for more – who’s coming with me?!

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