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A Little Bit Louder Now: Poco

8 Mar

Lobster Mac: Where It's At

Brunch is always a bit of a party so there’s no shame in a loud brunch; there’s a time and a place for every rip roaring fiesta. Here to show your brunch a monster of a good time is a “little” place in the E.Ville (Ave B @ 3rd St) called Poco.

Poco is a tapas restaurant whose claim to fame is a brunch that balances good food with a superior AYCD brunch deal. If you want to dig up our past, I did have dinner at Poco 2 years ago; picture the following – me, a boy (yes, this was a date) and 2 women in corsets trying to put a mask on said date for a blind vodka taste testing. Clearly, this was not an ideal romance situation. I may have written Poco off altogether had it not been for a friend bringing their phenomenal brunch special to my attention nearly 12 months after said date disaster.

The dealio? $22 bones gets you an entrée and at LEAST 3 drinks (red/white sangria, blood mary, mimosa). We started with Bloodies (complete with blue cheese stuffed olives, mmm) and an order of the Lobster Mac’n’Cheese – I was quite easily persuaded into eating some. I think the Mac could’ve been a tad bit cheesier (t’was a lil runny) but all in all, the panko crusted starter was good for business. That and the free raisin/walnut bread and carrot cake mini muffins all help to curb the worst of your hangover.

We all went for omelets – 2 of us had the Truffled Mushroom Oms – 1 white/1 proper egg – both amazeballs (holler for truffles). The other order was the omelet of the day – Lobster, Goat Cheese, Spinach; awesome but pretty small for whatever reason, perhaps just the luck of the draw. If I wanted to get crazy, I would’ve gone for the pancakes of the day – Reese’s Peanut Buttercup Pancakes – WTF, is this real life?! No matter your order, the ish is good but the scene (if you’re ready/prepped for it) is great; so get your party on, there’s nothing wrong with a little Sunday Funday.

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Mimosas Latinas: Macondo

1 Mar

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t wake up every weekend morning knowing full well what my brunch plans (if any) will entail. In fact, some of the best brunches I’ve had are the result of spontaneously seeing who’s around and picking a brunch resto at random; not worrying about rezzies and a big production. The best example of this practice set into motion is Macondo, a Latin spot bringing fuss-free brunch to impulsive diners in the LES (Houston btwn Allen/Eldridge).

The dining room at Macondo is open and bright with sprawling bench-like tables perfect for larger groups or communal seating (get to know your neighbors, wink wink). The relaxed atmosphere is perpetuated by the friendly servers who are always popping up to bring your next mimosa… Have I not gotten to the mimosas yet?! So here’s the scoop: $9 bucks gets you your first mimosa and ALL your following drinks are included! They have several flavors but the best by miles is the orange vanilla; you may be tempted to bring vanilla bean to future brunches to “Macondize” all subsequent mimosas – be forewarned.

We started with Yuca fries (think French fries but with much more fiber) – they were FANTASTIC served in a skillet with onions, Chimichurri sauce and queso fresco sprinkled on top. They’re in the “sides” section of the menu and are the perfect starter to share. My brunch date went with the Steak & Eggs which were a good sized portion (for $18, you’d hope it would be) that included 2 White Corn Arepas topped with Cabrales Cheese (the Arepas were good for a bite before the chalky consistency dried out my mouth – the one thing that I’d say they can work on).  I was stuffed from the fries, which are a bit heavy, so I opted for a lighter option – the Manchego & Mushroom Omelet (I had whites) which comes with nutty toasted bread and home fries +peppers, a bargain at $10.

I can’t wait to go back and try some of the other dishes; the Blueberry Pancakes are at the top of my to-do list. I may EVEN make advanced plans to go the next time.  You should DEF plan to get there for brunch, or don’t plan at all (impromptu brunch party!) – Either way it’s a spot that shouldn’t be missed!

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Burger Building Bonanza: The Counter

25 Feb

I’ve always been a big fan of burgers, especially adding unique toppings to make different flavor combos. However, being a vegetarian has put a bit of a damper on my willingness to eat burgers – most veggie burgers at restos are microwaved little pucks of breadcrumbs – it’s an offense to all other burgers! So when I heard about the upscale, custom-built burger joint, The Counter in Times Square (B’way /41st St), I figured I’d give myself another chance at having my heart stolen by the hamburglar.

The resto is modern, but pulls off a casual vibe with snugly placed tables and a bar with games showing on their huge flat screens. We went for dinner and the place was just about full – though I can imagine it being a zoo for lunch – the advanced order form menu is most handy. Speaking of the menu, we started with the sweet potato fries – they were AWESOME – not too fried, crispy outside, melt in yo mouth inside. We also HAD to try one of the Boozy Adult Milkshakes – the Strawberry Shake was weak on booze, but big on flavor.

For my burger, I went Tex-Mex: a veggie patty (a properly delicious one!), roasted red peppers, avocado, black bean+corn salsa, grilled onions and tomato, all melted beneath jalapeno jack cheese and thrown onto their classic bun smothered with chipotle aioli sauce. OMFG – they should add my creation to the signature burgers – it was that good. My dinner date went Greek with a turkey patty on a ciabatta roll sauced w/feta spread and topped off by hot pepperoncinis, grilled onions and sundried tomatoes, with tzatziki sauce on the side – t’was a Mediterranean delight.

After my amazing (and filling) dinner, I’m certain I’d brave the lunch frenzy to partake in the tailored tastiness of The Counter Burger, or at least swing by after work again. Plus, for lighter options, you can always shed the bun and top a salad with your creation – so grab your clipboard and start building your ideal burger!

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The Master Party List

21 Feb

We Like to Party.

When it comes to birthdays and other celebrations, most people love a good party, but can do without handling the logistics. Here to take the guesswork out of planning your next fiesta is Rhea Recommends’ Master Party List:

Best Large Group Party (Up to 30): Kumo Sushi takes the cake on this one. They have a massive party room in the back that’s easy to reserve. Plus with their $31.99 all you can eat and drink special, your party-goers will be full and drunk well imbibed in no time flat. Sake Bomb!

Best Party for a Mid-Sized Group: There’s something about eating at a big round table that makes any celebration better. My two fave round table options perfect for 8-10 heads? Mario Batali’s Otto (which also happens to be one of my top spots in NYC) or Chinatown Brasserie – both have large round tables and dishes built to share for the table.

Best BYOB Dinner: Birthday celebrations can get pricey, so bringing your own bottle of wine (or 6) can really help keep prices down. Round up your crew and head to the excellent Italian spot 11B or if you’re feeling Thai food, try Sticky Rice in the LES.

Biggest Shizz Show: Tortilla Flats. Tequila, Cinco de Mayo decorations year round, and more (very cheap) tequila. You’re going to have one hell of a good time and one hell of a headache the next day. Embrace the cheesy décor and let your inhibitions go.

Best Cocktails w/Light Bites: The Dove serves up excellent cocktails and has the perfect seating accommodations for a group ordering small bites with their drinks. Try to reserve the window seat! Another great option is Lunasa – they have very simple bar fare but the draw is the awesome backyard with picnic tables – it’s an excellent warm-weather option.

Best B-Day Brunch: No birthday is complete until you’ve met with your friends the next day to rehash the idiocy of the evening prior, and brunch is the perfect venue. For full on debauchery, I’d say Sunburnt Cow is the way to go, but if you’re looking to class it up a bit, you can always go with Essex… or any of the excellent options I’ve laid out for you here.

Whatever it is that you’re celebrating, cheers to you!

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BYOB Thai That’s a Winner: Catch de Fish

17 Feb

When our plans for BYOB Sushi fell through due to a reservation malfunction, I jumped into planning mode, quickly trying to think of a spot that allows you to b.y.o. and was close to our E.Ville location.  The light bulb moment came as I remembered hearing about Catch de Fish, a cute Gramercy (3rd Ave @ 15th St) Thai + Seafood spot that would fulfill all the requirements of our evening’s dining aspirations.

We called ahead and, sure enough, they could seat us upon arrival AND we could in fact bring in our own wine and/or sake.  I thought given the late change in plans we couldn’t ask too much of this place, but I was quite wrong!  The corner resto is sleek inside and has an upscale feel (that doesn’t mirror the menu’s prices).  We were seated right away and got started with a Crabcake (served w/spicy mayo – be still our hearts) and the Classic Thai Salad (the peanut dressing was awe-some).  With an order of Spicy Lemongrass Soup, we were more than good on apps.

For our entrees, we went simple with an order of Chicken with citrus, herbs + spices and Tofu Steaks prepared much the same.  Both were tender and excellent served over a variety of fresh steamed vegetables, though next time I might go for something a little more exotic than the Tofu.  They definitely know how good their sauces are because they brought out sides of Spicy Mayo and Peanut Dressing before we could even ask!

Bottom line – next time you’re thinking BYOB dinner for a pregame, or even a date night on the cheap, don’t make Catch de Fish your backup plan; it deserves to be at the top of your list.

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