Dine Simply – Soju and Sushi: Mono + Mono

5 May

Try to picture ME (a non-meat eater) going to a Korean Fried Chicken joint.  Weird, right.  BUT, I’m always determined to find my way around a menu, so I decided to make Mono + Mono my challenge.  At first glance, you’ll clearly notice the decor has an inexplicably cool appeal, but what I didn’t expect are the simple + amazing Soju Cocktails (think vodka but sweeter) and Sushi Rolls.  Trust me: you’ll be beyond ecstatic that you took my advice by heading to this East Village spot (4th St btwn 1st/2nd Aves).

Full disclosure: the first time I went to Mono + Mono, the service was just wrong.  I talked to the manager who confessed they were short staffed and the normal chef was out that night.  He asked that I give them another try, so months later, I returned.  After all, dark mood lighting, a grand piano doubling as a communal table and a DJ perched a good 1.5 stories above the dining room, spinning awesome jazz standards equals a second chance, as far as I’m concerned.  The AMAZING Soju Cocktail Sampler ($11) didn’t hurt my decision to come back either…

As an overall document, Mono + Mono’s menu can be a bit perplexing.  Grilled Edamame ($5.95) presented inside a hollowed corn husk?  Weird, but also really freaking tasty.  Also odd-yet-wonderful are the Grilled Tofu Sliders ($10.95), perfect for sharing too.  Surprisingly, the Crouching Tiger Shrimp ($14.95), grilled w/white truffle oil, saffron and fennel bulb sauce were a bit small + chewy and didn’t really do it for me.  The best part of the meal, by leaps and bounds, was the sushi rolls.  We went with the Ninja, Spider, and Crunch California Rolls ($11.95-$12.95) which were all SUPERBLY executed.  The rolls each have 11-13 perfectly bite-sized pieces, the flavors are so fresh and they’re made with sushi rice that seems less dense than any roll I’ve ever had.

I may not have had the featured Korean Fried Chicken but I’m sure I’ll go back, and will eventually get the scoop on it.  What my experience with Mono + Mono DID teach me is that if at first a restaurant doesn’t succeed, and the signature dish is something you won’t eat, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an epic fail.  OK, in most cases it does – BUT, in the case of M+M, I learned: judge not [too quickly], lest ye will miss out on some pretty amazing Soju and Sushi.

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Forget the Nth Degree, Try 10 Degrees

3 May

As you probably know, I’m more of a “go HERE for this but go THERE for that” type of gal; it’s rare that I come across a place I’ll recommend for a wide variety of social situations… but then there’s 10 Degrees.  This East Village (St Marks btwn 1st Ave/Ave A) cocktail + wine lounge has great food, an extensive drink menu and excellent happy hour/day-drinking-friendly specials that can play to the most casual of friendly hangs to the most swoon-able date nights.

For your next date, grab a stool at the bar or a table along the back corridor for a more private rendezvous.  A glass of Prosecco ($12) will get your bubbly self off to a fab start, play it safe and choose a classic cocktail ($10-14) or experiment with something new – the French 75 ($11) is the perfect blend of citrus, bubbly and gin.  There’s also an extensive wine list (1/2 priced bottles on Mondays) and an interesting selection of beers.  You’ll be feeling saucy in no time.

After you’ve got your refreshments settled, I strongly suggest you consider grabbing a bite.  The mixed plates of meats and olives are perfect to casually share and nibble off of – I personally love the mix and match cheese plate options (3 for $21 or 4 for $26).  If you want to go all out, the Avocado Toast ($7.50) is EXCELLENT; the flavors are so fresh with a splash of lemon juice that dances on your tongue (forgive me while I have my moment).   The Paninis are equally impressive; particularly the Caprese ($9.75), which you may want to skip if you’re on a date but will absolutely have to try if you’re ready to dig in to a seriously fab pressed sandwich.

While date night is always a good time, my favorite time to play at 10 Degrees is with a group of friends for a weekend funday.  The front lounge area has windows that open to the sidewalk, creating the perfect atmosphere to enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails (on the daily) from 12-8pm.  AMAZING deal.  On a recent trip, some friends had the Porc Burgerettes ($9.75) which are adorable sliders made of sake glazed pork belly topped with a fried quail egg and accompanied by a Cabernet Sauvignon jelly.  Sounds almost good enough to make me reconsider eating meat –almost…

If you’re looking to throw an all out rager, there’s a back room which can be rented out for larger groups – open bar options and food platters for groups make this a no-brainer party spot.  So next time you’re in the East Village without an agenda and with a desire to get your drank and eats on, use your brain; there’s no degree of separation that should keep you from 10 Degrees.

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The Tuesday Master List

26 Apr

Here’s a running list of my favorite spots and their Tuesday night offerings:

Agozar (Noho: Bowery btwn Bond/Bleecker) – book your reservation online for 50% off all your food items from 8-11pm. The sangria is STRONG! Full dinner menu here.

Flea Market Café (E. Ville: Ave A btwn 8th/9th Sts) – $16.95 gets you unlimited mussels (4 different kinds) and fries PLUS a glass of wine or a beer. Solid deal, but get there before 8:30pm to make sure they don’t run out!

Matilda Ristorante (E. Ville: 11th St btwn Aves B/C) – Ladies Night special includes 1/2 off all the specialty cocktails ($5.50 w/discount) and FREE glass of wine (red or white) with your meal!

Poco (E. Ville: Ave B @ 3rd St) – $35 per person for unlimited red or white house-infused sangria plus your choice of two tapas.

Public House (Midtown East – 41st St btwn 3rd Ave/Lex) – $35 for a 3-Course dinner with unlimited wine! Regular Happy hour is 5-7pm ($3 Drafts/$4 Wine/$5 Well)

Affaire (E. Ville: Ave B btwn 3rd/4th Sts) – 3 Course Prix Fixe All Evening for only $24.95. Or, you can choose to book through Savored for 30% off your total dinner bill.

And now for the Savored Love – book online for the following specials:

In Vino (E. Ville: 4th St btwn Aves A/B) – book a rez through Savored to get 30% off your dinner bill. The Ravioli Tartufati ai Porcini ($17) is AMAZING. Great date spot too!

Double Crown (Noho: Bowery btwn Bond/Bleecker) – book through Savored to get 25% off your total bill. Very swanky scene with a British-themed Asian fusion menu.

Gyu Kaku (E. Ville: Cooper Sq @ 5th St) – book your reservation through Savored – you’ll get 30% off your entire meal!

Brindle Room (E. Ville: 10th St btwn 1st Ave/Ave A) – book a rez through Savored to get 30% off your dinner bill. The mussels are great and the oyster baked with a creamy leek puree is superb!

Nirvana (Midtown East: Lexington btwn 39th/40th) – book a rez through Savored to get 30% off your dinner bill. The Gobi Manchurian may be one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, seriously.

Always check the websites or give a call before you go – and if you have comments or additions to the list, we’re all ears!

…it’s Tuesday, where’s the party at?!

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I Feel Ya, Tequila: Mayahuel

20 Apr

Peruse The Tequila Library

Tequila has been known to make clothes fall off and the likelihood of a rowdy evening increase exponentially… But maybe it’s gotten a bad rap; Tequila deserves to have someone clean up its act and reveal it for the classy drink it is. Here to restore Tequila’s good name (and potentially drag yours through the mud, after a few cocktails), is the East Village’s very own Mayahuel (6th St btwn 1st/2nd Aves).

Being a cocktail dungeon devoted solely to the advancement of Mexico’s favorite imbibement, Mayahuel is a Tequila lover’s paradise. Don’t miss it; the entryway bears no signage, but fear not, you’ll eventually notice the strange cabin-like façade and set foot into a tastefully themed cocktail den. The casual bar area downstairs pales in comparison to the luxurious couches and mosaic tiled tables in the upstairs lounge -you may have to wait a bit, but it’s worth it. Give the doorman your cell, hit up a wine bar in the vicinity and you’ll be back to swig a little bit of Mexico in no time.

The drinks (~$13-14) can be a bit intimidating (the menu should probably include a glossary), but thankfully the staff are all quite helpful when it comes to making a selection. All you have to do is say a few choice adjectives (sweet, savory, spicy) and they’ll tell you your best bet posthaste. My personal fave is the Pilot Punch (oober spicy – made with Blanco Tequila, Jalapeno, Yellow Chartreuse and Lime + a hint of cucumber and mint). Don’t get too attached to any drink though; their menu is constantly changing to bring you new and exciting flavor combos. I should also mention that they have eats ranging from shareable bites like the Palomitas (Popcorn with lime, Cojita cheese, and ancho chili – $5) to the larger Platos Fuertes ($12-21), if you’re really looking to get your south of the border grub on. I prefer to keep it simple with strictly cocktails, but you know how I do.

Next time you’re contemplating something different to spice up your evening’s drinks, think Mayahuel. With Tequila-based cocktails this good, you may find yourself doing a Pee Wee Herman-esque dance – and why shouldn’t you? After all, Mayahuel might be your next Big Adventure. Get crazy and enjoy it responsibly, folks.

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Call Your Bookie: Ender’s Game

14 Apr

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a book I wanted to share with you all!  I got a bit wrapped up in a series of sci-fi/historical fiction/romance novels – there’s woman who time-travels from the 20th century to 18th century Scotland… needless to say, things got a bit weird for a few months… ANYWAY, I’m back on track and ready to let you in on a great book I just finished called Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

Andrew “Ender” Wiggins is a young child living on Earth in a time when an Alien species (called Buggers) has unsuccessfully tried to invade the planet. The strategy to save humanity is to create a battle school where gifted children are taken and trained to prepare for an imminent attack on the Buggers.

While I do love a good sci-fi book, I promise that it really is a secondary theme to the underlying story of a child forced to grow up too quickly; the drama and intense internal narrative is some of the best I’ve ever read. Ender is an intelligent and incredibly deep character who struggles to deal with accepting his fate as the savior to mankind while dealing with his own feelings of isolation from society and his family.

There’s no romantic storyline, which is generally a MUST for me, but this book absolutely does not suffer from its absence. The drama and raw emotion Ender experiences more than account for the lack of achy-breaky heart material. Typically, I’d say it’s more of a “dude” book, but I loved it and think it’s a good read for anyone looking for something a bit different to dive into.  It is part of a series (I just started the second book, Speaker for the Dead), but the book stands alone perfectly.

Thanks goes to my cuz Jared + Uncle Mark for turning me on to Ender’s Game.

Have you read Ender’s Game? Let me know what you thought!

xx

RR

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