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Freakin’ Weekend Roundup

15 Nov

Soooo I got into quite a few things this weekend – some of which I would recommend to you, my dear friends, others which I will warn you to stay clear of.  So let’s get right to it…

Home on 8th – In the wasteland that is the area surrounding Madison Square Garden, this modest BYOB Thai/Chinese fusion resto on 8th Ave (btwn 29th/30th) is a great spot for a quick pre-concert dinner where you can get a little buzz on for cheap!  Must Try: Peanut Butter Lovers steamed veggie/tofu dish. YUM.

VAMOS! –Let me translate for you: GO!  This Mexican eatery on 1st Ave (btwn 20th/21st) has brunch menu items in the $10 mark and for just $6 you get unlimited frozen margaritas.  The Huevos Rancheros were a fiesta in my mouth and my dining companion (and brother) Ian had a Michelado (Bloody Mary Mix + Corona) that wasn’t included in the special but was so good that it had him at “HOLA”.

Idle Hands – This new Rock’n’Roll bar (on Avenue B btwn 2nd/3rd Sts) fell short of my hopes and expectations.  I guess I was thinking it would be more of a “Pour Some Sugar On Me” spot than a “Freak On A Leash” type joint… the music was rough.  The fact that bartenders could only pour your drinks and then the waitresses had to come over and hand them to you was as WEAK as the drinks.  Say it with me: “liquor licenses first, open the bar second”.  It made no sense but LUCKILY the fabulous Billy Hurricane’s Bar was just a few steps upstairs and that place was SO MUCH FUN.  I’ve never had as many friends walk away from a party having left their credit cards at the bar – you wouldn’t think it, but this was the indication of a GREAT time.

That’s all for now folks… enjoy the rest of your Monday, take two advil and call me in the morning!

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You MUST Try: Northern Spy

12 Nov

Don’t let the name fool you – there’s nothing sneaky about the Northern Spy Food Company’s amazing selection of farm-fresh, seasonal menu items.   This spot is my fave new resto in the East Village (12th St btwn Ave A/B) and I’m not alone – the scene was hopping with everyone from hipsters to suits to B/C list celebs – but all this was pulled off without being sceney or in the least bit pretentious.  You could’ve been in Winchestertonfieldville, Iowa (although I’m sure the food there couldn’t hold a candle to Northern Spy).

While we waited (it was about 20 mins or so), I had a glass of red and Ben had a beer to pass the time – I loved the selection of local beers for only $5.  The menu offers a lot of variety as well – there were SO many things calling out to us that Ben and I opted to order several smaller dishes that were all veggie friendly so I could partake (but don’t worry there were plenty of meaty selections too).  Keeping in mind that their menu changes daily but many similar items are always offered, here’s what our tasting tour included:

"Who YOU callin FLAT?!"

Flat Bread w/ caramelized shallots – warm, fluffy bread that’s smothered in delicate shallots and oil…  Oh.Em.Gee. Only $4?!  I’ll take another order to go… Kale Salad – the slightly bitter greens are perfectly suited to the cheddar cheese on the top, and I must mention those crunchy almonds!  It’s really quite a big portion of delish – we almost didn’t finish it.  Almost…  Gnocchi – sweet potato pillows of buttery goodness – it’s the perfect portion for sharing several items.  I think I may have had more than my fair share though… whoops… Wild Rice Salad – this fab collab of rice, feta, mint and lemon sounds simple, but is SO different from anything I’ve ever had.   Not sure why, but it vaguely reminded me of a blueberry muffin in a savory rice salad – this was a very GOOD thing.  Ben is nodding with me on this one…  Runner Beans w/clothbound cheddar – These beans were gynormous and the sharp, gooey cheddar coating each and every one of these gentle giants filled my mouth with complete and total ecstasy.

 

"What big BEANS you have!"

…Soooo yeah, I’m kind of serious when it comes to my food…  But let’s get down to biz with a bottom line: the total bill was $42, no joking.  Sure, there are def ways to go a little bigger, but for me, getting to taste a little bit of everything was the way to go.  Now GO!!!!

But wait a tick – one last suggestion… Looking for drinks before or after?  Shoolbred’s on 2nd Ave & 12th St (just 2 blocks over) is the essential cold weather bar.  Grab a draft beer (they’re 2-for-1 everyday from 4-8pm – BOOYAH) and park yourself by the fireplace.  Finish said beer and repeat.

Over and out.  Toodles!

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Can’t Hardly Wait: Brunch @ Penelope

8 Nov

 

How much longer?!

Most people who really know their NYC brunch spots have probably heard of Penelope – it’s got the rep for being an excellent resto.  So why, you ask, has someone like me never been?  My only answer: the wait!  C’mon – if you’re anything like me, the fear of arriving hungry to brunch only to find a 2 hour wait for a table is just too much to bear.  But this weekend, my team of researchers and I set out on a mission to try the mythical brunch goddess that is Penelope.

My dedicated troops, Rachel and Amanda, swore they would wait with me to the death through the notorious 2 hour wait time.  We decided that with the Marathon and gorgeous weather, the odds of a shorter wait would be in our favor.  When we arrived at 12:45pm, I was told we would have a 1 hour and 15 minute wait – ok, not as bad as it could be – but imagine our surprise when at 1:05pm (after just 20 minutes!) my name was called.  It was GLORIOUS!

The place is the kind of cute you associate with Martha Stewart sets (did you see what a little gingham did for that prison cell!?) and with the reasonable $14.50 prix-fixe, there’s no white collar crime happening here.  The prix-fixe brunch items come with a complimentary Apple Cider Mimosa!!!  Tasting neither too apple-y nor heavy on the champagne (shucks), it was actually the perfect fall brunch cocktail (I thought about re-creating it later in the day, but it just wouldn’t be the same).

Yumm-O!

Being a vegetarian, I heard the FBLT (Fakin’ Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich) was great and it did not disappoint – this was a ridiculously delicious sammy.  It came with a side of fries, which were ok – a little salt went a long way.  Rach had the Nutella French Toast which was pretty small but packed a big punch of YUM.  Amanda had the Sam I Am Omelet with asparagus and feta (which was sprinkled on the top, so you really got the taste – rather than having it melted in, which can mask some of the flavor).

All in all, I’m really glad I had my first date with Penelope, and even more glad that we only had to wait 20 minutes.  BUT, I’ll go ahead and tell it straight:  Penelope, any woman that makes you hang around for 2 hours probably isn’t worth the wait at all.  So, make sure you go on a holiday weekend to avoid the hungry masses – that’s when you’ll find me back for seconds!

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Indian You Wanna? Nirvana You Gotta!

4 Nov

Now, I’m an adventurous eater (minus the whole vegetarian constraint, I know…) – but I was definitely surprised and impressed with my girlfriends when they selected Nirvana Indian Restaurant off my list of “suggestions” for our ladies night dinner.

The restaurant is really big with two floors – the main level is a bar/lounge and upstairs is the main dining room –the whole vibe is swanky, not what a lot of people would expect. Although the wine list could def be more diverse, we had a bottle of Malbec which (I thought) was very nice and reasonably priced. They started us with a complimentary pastry-esque appetizer that we all really liked (things taste better when they’re free, anyway) then we were served the complimentary cracker-ish flatbreads (the girls likened it to matzoh) with 3 dipping sauces. Quite a good “bread basket” – and again, free!

For our appetizer, we split an onion paratha which is a whole wheat flat bread with onions that tastes a little bit like matzoh-brei (leave it to us to compare every Indian dish to a Jewish cuisine item), and one of my FAVORITE dishes of all-time: GOBI MANCHURIAN. It’s DELICIOUS; lightly fried cauliflower that is in a sauce that tastes somewhere between sweet & sour and general tso’s sauce. It’s my MUST-TRY dish of the entire restaurant. ORDER IT NOW. Thank me later.

Our main dishes were a grilled shrimp plate, a spicy cauliflower stew, a grilled vegetable platter from the tandoor, and the Indian staple – chicken masala. Served with 2 MASSIVE orders of basmati rice, the meal was filling and such a welcomed departure from the normal ladies night dinner!

Best yet? Get a restaurant.com coupon for $25 off the whole meal – we just managed to hit the $100 mark. Now that is enough to put me in a state of Nirvana!

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Brunch Deal with the “Devil” (Diablo Royale Este)

1 Nov

As an avid brunching fan, I must admit I have enjoyed many a weekend afternoon seeking out the perfect All You Can Drink (AYCD) brunch specials.  This brunch phenomenon became popular with pioneer spots such as Sunburnt Cow and its sister resto Bondi Road but is currently being perfected by restauranteurs across this great city.  Now, I’m not about to start hating here because paying $18 for AYCD and a brunch entrée at the Sunburnt Cow franchises is pretty darn great, but their food does leave something to desire.  So while the Cow is a favorite old go to, I’m def one to “make new friends but keep the old” – now on my “Gold” list is Diablo Royale (Este).

Staying true to our East Villager roots, my dear friend Aimee and I decided to give the AYCD special at Diablo (Ave A btwn 10/11th Sts) a try.  The layout of the restaurant is great with a bar at the front (perfect to start with a cocktail while waiting for your dining mates) and a big open kitchen that you pass through on your way to the spacious gothic-inspired dining area.  They start you off with Churro-inspired cinnamon+sugar pita chips.  YUM.  The menu has Mexican-inspired brunch fare (the huevos rancheros with cheesy grits on the side –WOW, must try) as well as some lunch classics (Aimee had tacos – 1 fried fish and 1 shrimp), all which can be served a la carte for around $11…. Or AYCD for only $22!  The unlimited drinks include red or white sangria as well as mimosas.  Our glasses were NEVER empty and the portions kept our bellies full!  Our waiter was so great and he even filled up our glasses for an extra 2 rounds while we chatted, even though the bill was on the table!  My only “wah-wah” would be that we were 1 of only 3 parties dining there all afternoon, although Aimee said the W. Village location is bumping….  BUT this leads me to my point – GO THERE PEOPLE!  Although, maybe I want to keep this one a secret!

Diablo Royale, serving brunch Sat/Sunday 11am-4pm (AYCD for $22) – http://www.diabloroyale.com/

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