jinx's Profile
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
I know I'm in the minority but my friends and I had a great time both days. Key was to get there early. We arrived at opening both days and enjoyed at least 2-3 relatively uncrowded hours. Actually today never got too crowded, at least when we left at around 4 pm lines were still reasonable. Yes, the wine/beer/drinks situation was a fiasco on Saturday (their card system didn't work, lines were insane to get tickets) and so we just gave up on the wine and beer tents, knowing we'd be back on Sunday we figured we'd leave it for then. Its about the food anyway. Today, that issue was straightened out (cash was accepted, duh) and we never waited more than15 minutes in any line, and did quite a bit of wine and beer tasting. Heard some fun music too. Between the two days had at least 10-15 different things and assorted wine and beer. It was a free event, so I don't know what everyone is complaining about. (I DO think the ExtraMooga folks have a right to complain, from what I heard they did NOT get anywhere near their $250 worth, which I thought was robbery to begin with.)
Anyway, we had a great weekend at GoogaMooga, beautiful weather, some good food, music and friends. Sorry that so many others found it disappointing.
Nice Italian with tourists and a toddler?
Keep in mind Frankie's doesn't take reservations either. So get there no later than 6. Otherwise, with a toddler, I'd think reservations would be better. Unfortunately I cannot think of any good Italian place that does take reservations!
Soft shell crab sightings?
I ended up frying them in a panko crust and they came out perfectly. Fresh Direct sent nice plump ones which were well cleaned. Had them with lemon and tartar sauce which is really my favorite way to eat them!
I see Littleneck has been having them a few times a week with different preparations so we may return there for some more as well. I can't get enough of them in season!
Soft shell crab sightings?
That sounds yummy. We had some at Watty & Meg on Friday. Okay, but not great--too much five spice powder which I'm not fond of. Now, I've just ordered some from Fresh Direct (on sale 4 for $15) and I will attempt to make them myself, which I've never done before.
One night in Milan near Centrale
actually I'm in the same situation, and was planning on posting a similar query--we have one night in Milan (our last of the trip) and are staying right near the station as well. So other suggestions are encouraged (vegetarian doesn't really do it for us...)
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
I'm kinda looking forward to it. Between myself and friends, I was able to get free tickets for both days and being that its virtually across the street, I'll go without high expectations. I do expect chaos, but I am also eager to try some of the foods. If the lines are too crazy, I'll just cross the street and go home :) That said, I think the $250 tickets are nuts (although, my understanding is they do include food and drinks.)
Soft shell crab sightings?
Finally caught them last night at Littleneck--and they were superb! Perfectly battered and fried over smokey grilled ramps and fingerlings. But it left me craving more, so if anyone sees them anywhere else, keep posting!
Lunch near the Brooklyn Botanic garden
why not just eat at the garden? They have a nice outdoor cafe with sandwiches, salads, hamburgers, etc. The food's nothing special but its not bad and with a 5 year old I'd think its your best bet.
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
yes I didn't understand that comment either--the whole thread is still relevant as Il Ridotto is still going and still popular (and still excellent, AFAIK) and the thread is only two years old, hardly "very old." Anyway I appreciate the clarified directions and I only commented because the thread was useful to me and it was on my first page.
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
I would make reservations as far ahead as possible. I emailed to ask when I should reserve for July, and he said NOW! In fact, of my five dates in Venice he only had two available (a Sunday and Monday.) (It might be because we are there during a Festival--Rendentore.) But, now we are set with a Sunday dinner reservation.
Soft shell crab sightings?
I actually made several calls yesterday (including Petite Crevette, Brooklyn Fish Camp, and Littleneck) and no one had them. :( Will try again next weekend.
Soft shell crab sightings?
Seems they are already in this year and I have a craving... Has anyone see them on the menu anywhere in Brooklyn? (other than Talde's bahn mi, which sounds great but we were just there recently. )
Any suggestions for Sirmione?
thanks again Jen--I don't know why I always forget about Via Michelin for restaurants, I use them for driving directions! A good list which I'll print out.
Rrems...thanks for the wine suggestion, I will look for it, maybe even look for it here in the states before we go. We will be staying at a winery outside of Verona for three nights and need to start drinking more Veneto wines in anticipation :)
BTW rrems I seem to recall you gave us great recommendations for our Barcelona trip last year!
Any suggestions for Sirmione?
Great info, thanks again. My research has turned up another possible in town--Ristorante Pace; the website looks encouraging, on the lake (as you note, also in a hotel). Has good TA reviews although I usually don't put too much stock in those for restaurants, but still--nothing glaringly terrible :) and it looks very pretty on the water. Although we may really want something more casual--more trattoria than ristorante--but the only one I've found that looks interesting is outside of town and I know we won't want to drive anywhere.
http://www.ristorantepace.it/en/restaurant-sirmione.php
I will surely post back on my return.
Any suggestions for Sirmione?
Thanks so much Jen. That's a great idea re: lunching somewhere along the lake, I did plan to take a boat...somewhere! We will arrive in Sirmione around lunch time on the first day, which is a Saturday--I know it is touristy but it looked like a good stop on our way to Verona. Will do the Castello and just hang about town...will likely just find something simple in town for lunch, I'm sure we'll be jet-lagged. So I just need to find a nice, moderate but not horridly touristy place for dinner the first night. Someplace lakefront would be nice but I imagine those are most touristy of all.
Day two we'll likely go to Grotto of Catullus early before its too hot then get on a boat. I will look into some of those places on the lake towns you mention for lunch on day 2. Will need to check those boat schedules but I imagine in summer they run fairly frequently. And then La Rucola for dinner day 2.
I'll be asking about Verona in a bit ;) just doing the easy stops first!
Any suggestions for Sirmione?
We will be staying in Sirmione for two nights at the start of our Veneto trip this summer. We'll have a car but would prefer just staying local those nights as we'll have just arrived from NY. I've only found one suggestion on this board: La Rucola, which looks great and will likely be one of our dinners, although its a bit of a splurge it looks worth it. Any thoughts on a 2nd dinner--hopefully more moderate in cost? Can't find too much information on dining in that town. Thanks!
Menus in English? Is there an app for that?
I have the 4th edition and I find it useful. As a list of most commonly found terms, its handy. After multiple trips to Italy I can get by pretty well but sometimes a word just stumps. I will surely take it on my upcoming trip. Even on paper its quite portable. I also have the edition for Spain by the same authors.
I don't have a Kindle (have a Nook and it doesn't seem available for that) but I just saw that it is available as an iBook from the iTunes store.
Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park
yep, I was one of those that waited "in line" only to be kicked out after two hours with a "sorry sold out" message. Very annoying as it will be right across the street from me. The GoogaMooga people are promising more tix will be released in a more coherent manner, but I wouldn't count on it. And I agree--this is likely going to be one giant mess. Perhaps I am better off leaving town for the weekend--certainly I dare not lose my parking spot if I stick around :)
Which Brooklyn restaurant's have the longest wait? Which have the hardest to score reservation?
I would think right now that Talde has the longest wait...going on two hours at times.
-----
Talde
369 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
BAM - quick food needed on Valentine's Day
glad you enjoyed it. We will probably go there as well before our Richard III performance next week. I never think its worth going to a fancier dinner before the theater because you are always watching the clock. And I fear if I drink good wine before Richard III I'll fall asleep!
Really Disappointing Pizza
I'm not surprised. We went there once when they first opened, and never went back. Pretty much the worst pizza I've ever had--more like sauce on a cracker. We were really disappointed as we really liked their pizza in Williamsburg...I don't know why he changed a good thing.
There was an old thread on Fornino which might have warned you:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/696886?tag=boards;topic-696886
BAM - quick food needed on Valentine's Day
Probably too late but an option if they want burgers is 67Burger, certainly no one would be going there for Valentines' Day. And the burgers are quite good.
http://67burger.com/
-----
67 Burger
67 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Methodist Hospital Brooklyn
I forgot about Bagel Delight! That would be fine too. But the OP asked for an egg and cheese sandwich...you won't find that at Bagel Hole. Anyway as you can see from the map there are plenty of choices between the subway and the hospital.
Methodist Hospital Brooklyn
Assuming you are taking the F to 9th St. and 7th Ave, there's a coffee shop (Purity Diner) which you will pass on the way to the hospital, corner of 7th Ave and 7th St, which should be fine for what you are looking for. There's also a better coffee shop right on 7th bet 9th & 8th St, called 7th Ave. Donuts. Be sure to get a donut there to go with the sandwich.
Alternatively, a little more refined egg and cheese can be had Zito's Sandwich shop, also on 7th Ave. near 7th St. but they don't open until 11, so it depends what time you are going.
So lots of options!
-----
Seventh Avenue Donuts
324 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Purity Diner
289 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Zito's Sandwich Shoppe
300 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Talde
I am wondering if they added more tables since we were there (2nd night open.) Since several have mentioned it being cramped...we had a two-top next to the window towards the front and there was no one next to us (just booths across the way). Perhaps too it seems more cramped in the rear.
Talde
Miss Needle, i really can't say. When we got there it wasn't very crowded yet so we just waited at the bar. The bar area is quite large.
Talde
we were there on Sunday--2nd night they were open. It was great. To be honest both my husband and I were a bit skeptical because we are not big fans of Asian/fusion type food. Because we are not Asian-experts, I hesitate to give a full run-down as I usually do. But we loved everything we had--especially the Korean fried chicken and the Saigon crepes. Also the atmosphere is really comfortable--not at all cramped as so many places are these days, with lots of space around tables and big booths; and everyone was super friendly. Service was absolutely spot-on which is something to say for a 2nd night.
We'll be back--I just hope we can get in. They were saying an hour to an hour and a half wait when we left. We arrived early (5:45) and at that time was told 45 minutes; but in actuality we were seated in under a 1/2 hour.
-----
Talde
369 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Leons Bakery gone?
Ostrovitsky Bakery on Avenue J and E. 12th street comes close...maybe even better chocolate babka than Leon's. They also make another pastry which is something like a cross between a babka and a flaky chocolatey croissant--has powdered sugar on top--I don't know what its called but its fantastic.
-----
Ostrovitsky Bakery
1124 Ave J, Brooklyn, NY 11230
Le Paddock, Windsor Terrace
An update--tried it again last night. Some improvements, some not so much. Had burgers this time as we wanted to give them a try. The burgers were quite good and cooked as we requested (one rare, one medium-rare.) The bun still too big. The fries were improved but still not quite right. There at least were some crispy ones but they quickly turned soggy. Still need work but at least I ate most of them!
Unfortunately, the previously delicious crusty bread came out cold and without the salt...not nearly as good as the first time. And the wine list has jumped in price--whereas before most were under $30 a bottle, now most were between $30-35 with only two bottles under $30 (this is for reds...I didn't notice the whites.) We did have a very nice bottle of Minervois for $29 but unfortunate to see the prices increase so soon.
Even with all of this we'll likely go back at some point because, well, its within walking distance, and cozier than Petit Paris. Service was fine this time, no issues at all, and the waitress was very nice. But the food at Petit Paris is better. And for burgers in the hood, there's just no comparison to Double Windsor...just wish someplace could serve a burger that perfect with a nice wine list and quieter atmosphere.
