Nina_P's Profile
Pam Real Thai
Pam Real Thai has two restaurants: the original on 49th St., and Pam Real Thai Encore on W. 47th. I was unimpressed with the original Pam, but the Encore is very good, certainly the best in the neighborhood. Try to ignore the overly slick rave-club style interior, and try the food.
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Pam Real Thai Encore
402 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
Good vegetarian hot and sour soup?
Since you're in the East 40's, walk or shuttle over to the West 40's, specifically Zenith on W. 48th st. Their entire menu is vegetarian, and their hot and sour is very good (is is their "Thai" soup and wonton soup). They are many leagues superior to Zen Palate.
what to order at Vegetarian Dim Sum House?
Feh to NY Mag!
Order these:
Rice flour rolls with mock ham and coriander
pea leaves dumplings (from the "specials" card - you already know how good those are)
watercress dumpling soup (also from specials card)
Treasure balls with assorted flavor
monk dumplings
fresh kiwi juice, or fresh watermelon juice
the crispy banana rolls are good, but as dessert only - they're very sweet. Bon appetit!
Vegetarian-friendly Korean, Chinese, or Vietnamese?
Go to Vegetarian Dim Sum House on Pell St.! You'll both love it, and it's cheap. Be sure to get the rice flour rolls with mock ham and coriander, and the watercress dumplings in soup (on the "specials" card, along with the sublime snow pea leaves dumplings) and fresh kiwi juice.
Lan Cafe is also pretty good for Vietnamese.
Nice lunch on Monday for vegetarian mother/daughter duo
Have you been to Blossom? It's one of my new favorite places.
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Blossom
187 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Am I crazy for thinking that Magnolia cupcakes suck?
Mitchell London's (aka "Burgers 'n' Cupcakes") yellow cupcake with dark chocolate frosting is the only cupcake I like. The frosting is so dark and chocolatey, and the yellow cake is a perfect foil.
Of course I've discovered something better than cupcakes altogether: Beard Papa cream puffs. My oh my. They'll put dark chocolate on 'em too and call it an eclair. Yowza.
Best shrimp in NYC?
Believe it or not, it might be the fake fried shrimp appetizer at Red Bamboo. I'm not just saying that to provoke; it really is good. I eat real shrimp too and I prefer Red Bamboo's.
Unfortunately the rest of their menu is hit or miss.
Upscale Moroccan/French Restaurant?
Marseilles.
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Marseille
630 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
kashkaval, casellula, hotel qt or tonic
Actually Casellula is so extremely packed and loud these days it is tragic. The staff acts laid back and relaxed to excess (making eye contact within 10 minutes is too much effort for some of them), but the customers sure aren't, unless they're drunk. It's a pity because the food is great.
What to order for dessert at Keens?
I third the hot fudge sundae. Possibly the best in NY.
I believe Keens has the same owners as the Noho Star, which offers the same outstanding hot fudge sundae.
Red Bamboo review: Not very good
Red Bamboo is a mixed bag. In my experience, they excel at fried things. Their fake fried shrimp are fantastic, as are their fake fish-n-chips. Non-fried things, not so much, and I've been disappointed by their salads. It's a great place to go when you want something both unhealthy and vegan. They carry excellent if over-sweet vegan cakes too. For dishes starring fresh vegetables, go elsewhere.
German Restaurant?
Cafe Sabarsky at Die Neue Gallerie. It's also Austrian. Very nice place, and the gallery's nothing to sneeze at either.
http://www.cafesabarsky.com/
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Cafe Sabarsky
1048 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Middle Eastern/Persian Pastry's??
Try asking at Gazala Place.
www.gazalaplace.com
Israeli/Druse, not Persian, but the chef does make pastries.
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Gazala Place
709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
9th Ave in 40's/50's -Quantity not Quality???
Gazala Place - delicious, carefully made Middle-Eastern food, lots of variety, and affordable.
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Gazala Place
709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Cajun/Creole
Likewise. Delta Grill is tasty food, but I can't tell you if it's authentic. Maybe some chowhounds familiar with real cajun/creole cuisine can try it and write a review.
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Delta Grill
700 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Veg-Friendly near Radio City Music Hall?
Zen Palate is awful. But Zenith is nearby, on 48th between 8th and 9th (closer to 8th). Zenith is vegetarian asian, and much tastier than ZP, especially the soups. Try the non-dairy chocolate truffle cake whether you're vegan or not.
Quick review: Maffei's Pizza
I had a slice there once - very impressive, especially the veggie toppings.
Indian Buffet at Dinner?
The best Indian restuarant in this neighborhood is Spice Fusion, 777 8th Avenue between 47th and 48th. It's Northern style. Slightly more expensive than the few other Indian places around here, but much, much better.
There's a Pakistani dhaba on 9th Avenue between 37th and 38th (I think). Not so great, steam table/sitting around all day style, but cheap.
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Spice Fusion
777 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Sensational Sundaes
I know of no old-fashioned soda-jerk/drugstore-type ice cream places in Manhattan, but if you find one would love to try it.
However, Junior's on 45th between 7th and 8th Avenues in mid-town serves some excellent sundaes, including hot fudge which is hard to find in New York for some reason. They also have ice cream sodas, egg creams, etc. They're a bit of a Brooklyn theme park, but might fit the bill.
Best Artichokes
Gusto, on Greenwich at Perry, serves excellent fried artichokes.
Pasta Pesce on Bleecker (NOT the one on 9th ave, which is awful) serves a delicious steamed artichoke stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and butter, yum.
Indian restaurants favored by Indians and Brits
Surya has an excellent weekend brunch buffet. At other times, it's just too expensive.
Indian restaurants favored by Indians and Brits
I also love Saravanaas.
Has anyone else tried the lunch buffet at the new SpiceFusuion on 8th Ave @ 47th/48th? I think it's pretty good, especially for the West Side.
(But I'm neither British nor Indian, so take whatever I say with a grain of garam masala)
no tap water - and no good food - at Trattoria Pesce Pasta
Yup, the 9th Avenue one is terrible all right. I don't know what the deal is, how they have the same name as the one on Bleecker. Even the menus are different now; for example Bleecker St.'s delicious veggie antipasto plate is unavailable on 9th Ave.
Good Israeli food on a weekend
Gazala Place does its regular menu on weekends.
http://www.gazalaplace.com/
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Gazala Place
709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
no tap water - and no good food - at Trattoria Pesce Pasta
Which location was this? The newish one on 9th Avenue, near Port Authority, is awful, but I still like the one on Bleecker.
Best flan in NYC?
Santa Fe Grill on 7th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. To quote the waitress who first recommended it to me: "its so good it's stupid."
Special Occasion Vegetarian, maybe near Theater District
Try taking a cab to Franchia on Park Ave. Very beautiful and peaceful interior, and 100 vegetarian.
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Franchia
12 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016
Best Falafel in NYC?
Gazala Place now has a web site:
http://www.gazalaplace.com/
Including photos of Gazala making pita by hand. The falafel there are still #1, as is the baba ganush.
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Gazala Place
709 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Best Chocolates
I love Jaques Torres chocolates, especially these truffles: raspeberry creme, ginger, wicked, and hearts of passion. The wicked hot chocolate is divine.
