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Sunday Supper @ Supper

29 Nov

Sunday Supper!

Sundays have long been claimed by the brunch gods (we all know I’m a big fan of that), but this Sunday I decided to change it up and do my dining later on in the day.  It only seemed right that my Sunday Supper resto of choice would be Supper Italian Restaurant.

Supper is an under-the-radar gem in the East Village (2nd St btwn Aves A & B).  The resto is usually busy but they own the space next door and made it into a sexy bar/lounge for the hungry dining masses to grab a pre-dinner drink while waiting.  Miss Taylor and I ate our Sunday Supper at 6:30pm and had no trouble getting a table – we had our choice of sitting at the bar which overlooks the kitchen or the communal dining table – both very cool options, but we opted for the communal table.

We got the beet!

To start, we had the Roasted Beet Salad with Robiola cheese (which is somewhere between mozzarella and goat)… it was simple, but a great, lighter appetizer to share.  With the appetizer, they brought out the complimentary bread which is crusty and warm and coupled with spicy white beans in olive oil that were absolutely awesome.

Pasta Mouthgasm

Next up, we split 2 different pastas that were both happiness in every bite.  The Spinach Gnocchi alla Aglio d’Orato was by far the BEST gnocchi I’ve EVER had.  Sadly, it was only a daily special, but fear not – there’s some sort of gnocchi on the menu daily – TRY IT.  Our other dish was on the regular dinner menu but was anything but regular – it’s called “The Timely Priest Stranglers”.  The pasta was a hybrid of spaghetti and ziti swimming in homemade marinara and was perfectly complimented with a dollop of ridiculously fresh ricotta on top.  All this and a few glasses of wine clocked in at about $75 bucks, not too shabby!

Supper is really all about the dining experience, from grabbing a glass of wine at the swanky lounge next door while you wait, to the mouth-gasmic pastas they’re knocking out daily.  If you’re looking to go to out for a gourmet Italian dinner that will impress your foodie friends without making a crazy dent on your wallets, look no further than Supper!

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Gobble Up: Thanksgiving Week Suggestos

23 Nov

Are you spending the long holiday weekend in NYC?  If so, and you spend the rest of the year here, then you already know you’re best off avoiding midtown and any other bed bug tourist traps (Macy’s Day Parade, anyone?).  As for my downtown weekend “to-dos”…

What I would recommend above all else is to head to Union Square.  Stop at the holiday market that’s built right in the park square itself – they have awesome gifts and some great seasonal eats too.  While you’re down there, you may want to look into some of the great prepared sides and dishes at Whole Foods – esp if you’re cooking for Thanksgiving.  Most importantly, though – stock up on your favorite variety of 2 buck chuck (it’s $2.99/bottle) @ Trader Joes Wine Shop – they have a new Red Blend that sounds just right for the weather!

If you’re going out to eat, a great east village resto doing the work for ya is Back Forty (Ave B/12th St) – their 3 course prix fixe is only $50 and includes options for meat lovers, pesky-tarians and veggie fiends alike.  Make sure to make a reservation (212.388.1990); they’re doing seatings from 2 till 8pm.

As for the rest of the weekend, hit up some brunch spots you’ve always wanted to try.  This may be your weekend to check out Penelope, or get your boozy brunch on – my favorites are Diablo Royale, Philip Marie, and Essex (fear not – review to come soon).

Finally, if you’re looking to brighten your holiday at the expense of others, look no further than the Sticky-Note Confessions of Awkward Thanksgiving Moments – click here

Whatever you decide to get into, enjoy!  I’ll be back with more recommendations before you can figure out why your pants won’t fit…

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My Mimosa Runneth Ova: Philip Marie

22 Nov

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

***UPDATED 2/5: For a classy, delicious restaurant like Philip Marie, the place is so good that people are going to go, deal or no deal.  So what amazes me is that every weekend this West Village resto still opens their doors to the hungry (and hung-over) masses for an all you can drink (AYCD) brunch that’s $24.95.

A few things to note… there’s usually a mob of people outside – but don’t let that scare you off, they seem to have a quick turn over time so you won’t wait too long. It was so nice out that we ate outside and had no wait at all!  As for the drink specials, they say Saturdays are AYCD Mimosas and Sundays are AYCD Bloody Marys but I saw them coming around to tables with pitchers of both, so I’m thinking there are exceptions to the rule.  Also, do not underestimate the Mimosas – Jessica (my brunch date du jour) and I were skeptics because the mimosas were looking a little too orange for my taste, so I thought – ahh, weak drinks – that’s gotta be the catch, right? WRONG!  I’m 97% sure they’re lacing those babies with champagne AND vodka.  They are STRONG and I’m a weekend brunch warrior – don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Fill me up, Scottie!

I had the veggie lover’s omelet which was fluffy and covered with cheesy cheddar goodness on top. They really know how to fill a plate – there was toast, the parmesan-dusted potatoes on the side were great, as well as the black bean salsa, plus I appreciated that they gave some fruit too.  Jessica had the 1/2 pound steak burger with a stack of huge waffle fries which looked just awesome.  She added cheese to her burger and said it was delish to the Nth degree. It was all really solid food (full menu here) which can sometimes get sacrificed with a great brunch deal.  Booyah.

If you try brunch and are looking for more Philip Marie face time, go for dinner!  The food is really great (I have dreams about the Grilled Beet Napoleon) and still affordable, especially if you go in armed with a Restaurant.com coupon (purchase here – as always, don’t buy it till there’s an 80% off sale, which there almost always is).

Philip Marie in the West Village (Hudson @ W 11th St) –  go for brunch, go for dinner – just GO!

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Impressive Italian @ Eleven B(YOB)

19 Nov

Won't you join us for dinner?

Eleven B may be my favorite Italian joint in NYC.  Now don’t get me wrong; this place is not gourmet, nor is it going to find itself featured in the New York Times anytime soon.  But what this resto offers is better, in my book – a welcoming restaurant with great tasting classic Italian dishes, friendly wait staff, and LOW prices.  Oh, and did I mention?  If you’re drinking wine or beer – bring it in with you (no liquor, ya booze hounds).

Location?  You guessed it, East Village – Eleventh St and Ave B.  Walk inside; the tables are all candlelit and the walls are lined with shelves of books that give it a real rustic feel.  To add to the ambience, the guys serving you (often the owner himself) are straight out of the Sopranos, except instead of relishing in a life of organized crime, they love serving big portions of delicious Italian dishes.

Eggplant Extraordinaire

I’ve come here with a party of 2 and a party of 10 and either way they do a great job.  For larger parties, you can ask and they’ll make dishes family style for the table to match the size of the group – they also offer prix fixe options.

Last night, I was dining with the lovely Miss Aimee – we split the beet and goat cheese salad (LOVE it) and the eggplant parmesan, which is huge AND comes with a side of pasta or salad.  We also both managed to stop at Trader Joe’s Wine store beforehand so there was the issue of what to do with all that wine…

Bartender, I'll take a sparkling water!

Bottom line, whether you’re looking for a cheap date night or to do a group dinner/pregame extravaganza that’s NOT sushi, this place is legit.  Our total bill was $24 – yes, it is that great.  GO NOW!

Eleven B (on 11th and B) – make a reservation for large parties or if you’re going on the weekend – (212)388-9811.

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The name says it all… GOOD BEER!

16 Nov

 

Me Likey

What they should’ve called this place is Great Beer because it is AWESOME.    The spot is on 9th St between Avenue A/1st Ave – it’s a few steps down from the sidewalk so keep your eyes peeled!  When you walk in, you’re met with walls covered floor to ceiling in beers, exposed brick and a butcher’s block bar to hang around.  Everything about this place is inviting including the peeps who work here – they’re friendly + knowledgeable.  Buy a Growler and fill it up there or choose from the 100s of loose and packaged bottles for sale there.

Growler Says: "Fill Me Up!"

As much as Good Beer is a beer retailer, it’s also a great local hang.  They always have 12 different beers on tap – the 4/4oz beer flight for $8 is a great bang for your buck. My FAVE?  The Arrogant Bastard which was a darker beer but not too heavy.  As far as eats go, the food was the biggest surprise of the evening – I had the Vegan Spicy Italian Sausage over warmed sauerkraut and it was possibly the best faux-meat I’ve ever had – it was fennel and spicy pepper heaven.  The food items also included pretzels and real meat sausages, cheese and meat plates – all were priced to keep me coming back for more.

"There's so much BEER in this Clubbb"

I highly recommend you check this place out.  It’s good for a group, a date or just stopping in to pick up beer for your next soiree.  It’s multi-purpose-awesomeness.

 

www.goodbeernyc.com

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