chosungalbi's Profile
Shake Shack: Madison Square Park vs. Upper Westside
I've recently discovered the Shack Shake in Madison Square Park, which I'm told is the original. I've heard from friends that there's another location in the Upper Westside, and I'm curious to hear how it compares. I know they have the same menu, but in terms of the overall experience and quality of food, is there a difference?
...and moreover, does the fact that the other location is a restaurant - not an actual shack - detract from the overall enjoyment?
Curious to know the details from some experienced Chowhounders!
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Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010
where do i find NYC cheesecake that IS NOT lemon-flavored?
just got back form eileen's, which was right on the money. thanks for pointing me in the right direction, y'all. no lemon flavor at all in their plain cheesecake - this is exactly what i thought new york style was supposed to taste like. i kid you not, it's the first time in the city i've not had that nasty citrus thing going on.
for all of you who think cheesecake in new york generally tastes like this, i agree with addictedtolunch - you must be out of your minds! eileen's is totally not the norm, at least if you're like me and generally get cheesecake at delis and diners.
most opulent, over-the-top chinese food - possibly in the sg valley?
i suppose i was being a tad silly...no, i'm not actually wondering where gates dines or where a chinese billionaire would go - it was a shitty analogy. i just meant, please direct me to an upscale place, but like, laughably upscale...the way the standard seems to be for good chinese food in hk, vegas, and to a lesser extent, shanghai and beijing. if anyone's been there, they know what i'm talking about.
the user who talked about urasawa gets it...i'm looking for that kind of place, but chinese. i realize that that's not gonna happen, but the closer to that, the better. again, i'm looking for authenticity but also high quality ingredients, freshness, and lack of grease.
of the sg valley places, i've been to ocean star, empress harbor, mission 261, sea harbour, and lake spring. sea harbour was good but some of the food seemed carelessly prepared and over-sauced. ocean star, in my opinion, is a joke. lukewarm food, and some of the vegetables taste genuinely canned.
so with that...please, suggest away! :)
where do i find NYC cheesecake that IS NOT lemon-flavored?
i live in the west village and have gotten "plain" cheesecake at rocco's pastry (on bleecker, really close to me). totally tasted like lemon. any deli or diner i go to seems to have this problem. good stuff diner, joe junior's, soup n' burger, moonstruck diner, to name a few.
the gelatinous thing seems to be primarily with delis, though i recall encountering it at soup n' burger and moonstruck.
hope that helps!
most opulent, over-the-top chinese food - possibly in the sg valley?
i'm looking for something reminiscent of what they serve for chinese "whales"...the venetian's piaza club, the private dining room at the mansion at mgm grand...or the more high-end cantonese seafood places in hong kong...my personal favorite is yan toh heen at the kowloon intercontinental, formally the regent hotel.
i was wondering if such a place exists in the greater LA area. i've been to the san gabriel valley a number of times, and while some of its better-rated restaurants are quite authentic, they lack refinement. yes, you can a plethora of interesting dishes that aren't watered down to a western palette, but a lot of them are greasy. i also feel like the consistency in quality of those places varies because most of them are gigantic and service is poor.
so for the kind of place i'm looking for, not only does the cuisine have to be super authentic, but the food must taste clean, so to speak. freshness and attention to detail are a must. a laughably ornate atmosphere would be fun too (the way places in vegas and hong kong are superfluously gilded), but food is the most important.
basically, i want to go where the chinese equivalent of bill gates would go...if he were visiting los angeles.
where do i find NYC cheesecake that IS NOT lemon-flavored?
i'm from los angeles and back home, "new york cheesecake" meant creamy, delicious, perhaps a bit tart, and above all, full of vanilla. it was what i imagined cream cheese-flavored ice cream to be if such a thing existed, except shaped like a cake finished with a crust.
now, every time i get the real thing in nyc, it seems to be lemon-flavored - yes, even when i ask for "plain." sometimes it even comes with a yellow, gelatinous layer on the top similar to key lime pie. what the hell!
could someone explain what the deal with this is, and moreover, direct me to places whose cheesecake lacks that nasty citrus? i'm partial to manhattan, but if you know of places in the other boroughs, i'd appreciate those as well. thanks!
