K2000's Profile
Pop Burger (9th Avenue/Chelsea) review
White Castle is better, even if Pop Burger isn't three or four times as expensive.
I reviewed this place because after doing a search on Chowhound, I was surprised to see it hadn't been reviewed before. I also assumed it was a new place jumping on the "trendy burger" bandwagon, because I had never noticed it before. I was shocked to learn that it's been open for years. They must make all their money in the bar section of the business, because the food sucks.
Before movie dinner suggestions for Court near Atlantic
Bedouin Tent, 405 Atlantic. Excellent babaganoush and shawerma, etc. I believe the wonderful pita bread is made on premises.
Shake Shack, 409 Fulton Street (does not get as crowded as other locations). Great burgers and frozen custard.
Mile End, 97 Hoyt Street. Deli food 'Montreal style" -- the smoked meat sandwich will make you forget pastrami and corned beef.
Smorgasburg: What a Pretentious Rip Off.....
I've only been to Smorgasburg once, it was later in the afternoon and so there weren't long lines. Some of the vendors were winding down. The view was nice. But my biggest reaction was the actual setting... a gravel-filled lot where dust was blowing around everywhere. Why would anybody think that was an appealing setting to prepare (or consume) food?
Pop Burger (9th Avenue/Chelsea) review
It might be more accurate to say it's in the Meatpacking District, not Chelsea.
Pop Burger (9th Avenue/Chelsea) review
In a word, awful.
The Pop Burger is two small separate mini burgers boxed up side-by-side (not normal size patties stacked on the same bun). I guess it was a brioche? Extra bready bun, in any case. They don't skimp on the bun volume (sarcasm). The meat patties were small and relatively flavorless, about the same as the beef you get at a fast food joint (but with gourmet prices... $8.25 for the Pop Burger(s). They also had some shredded lettuce and 1000 Island/Secret Sauce. I'm not sure why they choose this format (tandem burgers) -- maybe it's supposed to be cute, or easy to handle. The Pop Burger was not good, in any case. Edible is the best thing I can say. Big bun and small, flavorless meat.
The french fries were good, I'm guessing they were battered and twice-fried? I'm not sure how they were prepared, but not unlike the style of fries at Popeyes (minus the Cajun spices) for a ballpark comparison. $4
Possibly the worst milk shake I've ever had. Certainly the worst one that I can remember. Lets see, foamy (lots of air) and it tasted like it was made from a mix. Weak, artificial chocolate flavor. Worse than what you get at a franchise. Much worse. $5.75
Now maybe I ordered the wrong things, but I assumed that the namesake hamburger for 8 dollars would be a safe bet. And the decor boasts "frosty shakes" or something along those lines (big cutout steel sign). But this food was lousy. And my bill was over 20 dollars... outrageous.
I don't mind dropping a bundle on a hamburger and ice cream, I do that at the Shake Shack every couple months. I'm willing to pay more (a lot more) than what you pay at a franchise (Wendys, etc) if the food is really good. Unfortunately, this wasn't good. I honestly feel ripped off. It's more expensive than Shake Shack, and not nearly as good, not even close. It's not even as good as Wendys or Burger King. Even McDonalds is better.
I should mention the music was loud, to the point that it almost drove me out of the restaurant. Pounding. I noticed a lounge in the back when I was washing up, and I just checked out the Pop Burger website where they tout their lounge. So maybe that's their real business. But the food up front was dreadful. There's no reason to blast music in the restaurant section, but this place seems to be all about style over substance.
I only went here because Chelsea Market was closed (I like the Lobster Place and the Thai kitchen, and I was in the neighborhood). Never again.
Bob's Red Mill in bulk?
Lots of supermarkets carry items from Bob's Red Mill. Just off the top of my head, in Ridgewood (my neighborhood) Key Foods on Myrtle Ave, and Price Choice Foods on Fresh Pond Road.
But the best prices are IMO when buying mail order. I like the website Netrition.com (apologies if this is forbidden) they are cheaper than retail, and shipping is 4.95 via UPS no matter how heavy your order is. If I order online in the morning, it gets shipped same-day, and delivered next-day (they are located in NY state).
I'm sure there are other websites selling 'health food' that also have good prices, so feel free to compare. I have had good experiences with Netrition, especially because of their flat rate shipping. And they carry a lot of different items, including what appears to be the full line of Bob's Red Mill.
Two new-ish places in Ridgewood... Sabores (Peruvian) and Long Lai (Thai)
Thanks for the reply (I like your posts, I've referred to them when I am looking for local places). I haven't walked that way on Woodward for a while, I'll have to check that place out. The nearby Super Pollo has pretty good rotisserie chicken. But that's a 15 minute walk for me. Maybe Thai Village replaced the Polish (or was it Continental) restaurant that was on the block?
Long Lai is a lot closer for me. You may be familiar with the breakfast/lunch place that Long Lai shares facilities with (it may be all in the family). And Sabores is really really close, I really should give them some business.
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Sabores
392 Woodward Ave, Queens, NY 11385
Super Pollo
865 Woodward Ave, Queens, NY 11385
Two new-ish places in Ridgewood... Sabores (Peruvian) and Long Lai (Thai)
More of a heads-up than review (I haven't even tried Sabores yet) since Ridgewood is pretty dismal for restaurants (you have to walk 15 minutes just to get mediocre food).
Sabores is on the corner of Stanhope and Woodward, across from the cemetary. Billed as "Peruvian and International" it was formerly a bar/restaurant that seemed to function more as a bar. Now it's under new management and my impression is that the emphasis is on food now. It smells fantastic when I walk by, but I haven't tried it yet.
Long Lai is sharing the space with the sandwich shop/lunch place on Stockholm and Seneca (377 Seneca). After about 4pm, they start serving Thai food. I've had take-out from them about 4 times (there's a dining room there, but it has a strange ambiance, and I live steps away). The food is good, not amazing, Thai. As far as I know, it's the only Thai restaurant in the area. Pad Thai was good, a little strange to me (but everybody prefers it prepared differently). Lad Nar was very good, not soupy like some places. Best thing I've had from them. Good Som Tum (spicy!) and the Thai Kock appetizer was good (Thai sausage, my first time tasting that). Basil chicken, Tom Kha soup, and "Fresh" Rolls: all good. This will not become your favorite Thai restaurant in NYC, but it will be your favorite in Ridgewood :)
Just a heads up since these places do not look very busy, and it's good to see new restaurants turning up in a neighborhood that's a little under-served in that department.
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Bravo Cafe Concert
377 Seneca Ave, Queens, NY 11385
Sabores
392 Woodward Ave, Queens, NY 11385
Best 5 restaurants in Jackson Heights?
I do like Taco Veloz on Roosevelt, just west of the corner of Junction Blvd. Hole in the wall kind of place, has literally amazing carnitas. Another Taco Veloz on Roosevelt I visited was a walk-up window (Taco Veloz seems to be a small chain) also had great carnitas. Authentic!
Zabb Elee on Roosevelt and 71st was fantastic. Better than Sripriphai? (Different menus... no curry at Zabb Elee from what I could see).
Pho Bac in nearby Elmhurst has great pho. Maybe the best I've had in NYC.
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Zabb Elee
71-28 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11372
Pho Bac
82-78 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373
Best 5 restaurants in Jackson Heights?
Maybe I'm ordering the wrong thing (tacos?) but the Coatzingo on Roosevelt is terribly overrated here, in my opinion. First of all, their salsa is absolutely awful. It tastes like it's been cut with Italian salad dressing from the bottle. Just that alone should tell you something. The al pastor meat is okay, but too... overseasoned? It gets cloying. Maybe this place make a great version and I don't like al pastor. But I don't think so. About five meals here, the first one was best (al pastor plate) with every subsequent visit, I'm asking myself "why do I come here?" Even the rice side order on the platillos is mediocre. It's somewhat authentic Mexican, but lousy for tacos, in my experience. And if you can't get the easy stuff right...
Anybody want to recommend some stellar dishes at Coatzingo, I'm all ears. But right now, I'm not seeing it.
Shake Shack is Amamzing
Shake Shack makes noticeably better burgers & fries than 5 Guys, for the same price. The frozen custard is the real draw though... the unusual flavors of the daily special. I really prefer the Madison Square Park location - makes a huge difference to be able to eat outside in the park. The Theater District location seems really disorganized and the food there is inconsistent.
What's NOT GOOD at Trader Joe's??? [OLD]
The sushi totally sucks. Trader Joes makes the worst supermarket sushi I've ever had.
five guys burger sucks
5 Guys is overpriced. The food is nothing special, okay... but why pay double for what you would get at Wendy's? The 5 Guys food is cooked to order - I really can't taste the difference, but it means 5 or 10 extra minutes waiting around to get your food. Also, if the secret to 'good' fries is to get them out of the bag ASAP, then why on earth does 5 Guys put every order (including the "to stay" orders) in a bag, in the first place? It's not an accident that the fries are getting steamed - 5 Guys is making it happen. I have to outsmart my fast food restaurant? Totally overrated and overpriced, and no reason to go there in my opinion.
what's the best thai in greenpoint or williamsburg
Planet Thai has been closed for almost two years I believe, and never offered delivery service. I always liked their food though - not as authentic as some, but quality ingredients and very reasonable prices.
What's So Great About 5 Guys?
I think it's called 5 Guys because it takes five guys to make your food.
I've been to the Queens Blvd. location twice now - I will not go back again. For six dollars, the regular cheeseburger (two patties) kind of sucks. For that money, your hamburger should be great. In NYC, you can spend the same amount of money at the Shake Shack and the food is significantly better.
At 5 Guys, they drench your burger in condiments. If I'm paying 6 dollars for a cheeseburger, why would I want it to taste mainly like ketchup? The fries are decent (skin on) but not great, and they are almost 3 dollars. The regular fries is enough for two people, and I understand the large is the same size as three larges at other burger places... family size.
Their food may be better than Wendy's but it's pretty darn close in comparison, and 5 Guys is double the price. Almost 12 dollars for a double cheeseburger, fries and soda, and add in a tip (there's a tip jar on the counter). Try it and see for yourself, we all like different things. I'm not a fan.
Trader Joe's Smoked Salmon
I think the budget-priced brand at Trader Joes is fine (13 dollars a pound I think). I'm not an expert, although I've had lox from Russ & Daughters and Zabars - but I do think the packaged stuff at Trader Joes is good too.
What's NOT GOOD at Trader Joe's??? [OLD]
Their prices for ground beef are pretty good, and the shaved steak isn't too expensive, and that's something I've never seen at any other store.
I also like their prices on smoked salmon, and no-nitrates bacon.
What's NOT GOOD at Trader Joe's??? [OLD]
The sushi is terrible - worse than the average grocery store sushi, if you can believe that.
Dunkin Donuts Dark Roast [moved from General Topics]
I had an iced one, and brought it home where I added my own half & half.
It had a sour acidic taste to it - not good. It's stronger than the regular coffee (which is pretty worthless IMO) but not something I will spend almost 3 dollars on again. I can make MUCH better coffee at home, and much cheaper (just got the DD because I had a sink full of dirty dishes and needed coffee quick)
Williamsburg grocery shopping
There's a C-Town on Graham, just off the corner at Metropolitan Ave. They only have a few things worth buying (Scandinavian flatbread, some Italian items, etc). They have no produce section. It's really not a very good grocery store... mostly canned goods and so on.
There's also a C-Town on Havermeyer, a few blocks south of Metropolitan, which is somewhat better (but not great).
Need an Asian Market that is easy via MTA
I'm near the L and JMZ trains in Ridgewood. I usually get my kimchi, dumplings etc in Manhattan, at the convenience store on 3rd Ave and 11th street (can remember the name). I'd be glad to shop the outer boroughs but Flushing seems out of the question... that's 3 trains for me... too remote.
Is there a good (and maybe large) Asian market that I can access, with my limited transportation options? I'm near Metropolitan Ave so a bus ride would be okay. But I can't spend an hour on public transportation each way, just to get my kimchi.
If there is a great market in Chinatown that has kimchi in bulk sizes, I'd be glad to get those recommendations, too.
Best of Williamsburg?
Union Picnic is open again (According to Free Williamsburg it's called "Jimmy's Diner" now). We ate there for the first time ever, about a month ago. Okay food... fried chicken w/ mashed potatoes was pretty good (would have preferred to not have gravy on the chicken). Large serving of potatoes but no other sides, which seemed stingey for the price ($10). A little itty-bit of cole slaw or a small serving of greens would have been much appreciated, but not something I wanted to pay extra for (side orders are 4 bucks). My friend said his Mac & Cheese tasted "off". I wondered if it was "off" as would be expected with goat cheese or non-traditional cheeses... he said it tasted spoiled. On the other hand the deep-fried deviled eggs appetizer was good, we both thought. He said his burger was good... good quality beef.
The real deal-killer was the ambiance... a ridiculous screen door, which slams (I mean really slams) every time someone comes in or out. So about 20 times during our meal, there is a loud "smack" there to enhance your digestion. Was that supposed to be "authentic" or something (it was too cold to be needed to keep out flies).
The music was also horrid... 5 year old rap (I was told) and new wave hits from the 80s. Maybe that was supposed to attract hipsters (and there were a couple of them there, I suppose). The last thing I want to hear during dinner is "slamming beats". I thought the atmosphere in general was a little stiff, although I can't explain it exactly (maybe it was just my nerves, from the screen door). For a "comfort food" restaurant, I didn't find it comfortable to be there.
The food was decent but somewhat expensive for what you'd get -- not terribly so, but our meal with a lemonade, a coffee and a brownie was over 40 dollars with tip. I pride myself on being able to eat very very well, when paying that much for dinner. The real problem is that I will never want sit down inside that dining room again. I love real authentic greasy spoons and funky joints, but not when I'm paying premium prices for bad atmosphere and just decent/average food.
Mexican Around the Graham Ave Williamsburg Stop
Kiosco Piaxtla is very good. They seem to close early (8 or 9 pm). The chicken molé I had there was maybe the best I'ver ever had... definitely home made. I was with two other people who are very picky about Mexican food (if it's not authentic, they'll gripe) and they were both happy with their food (although I can't remember their orders).
There's also a 24 hour place on Grand street, just east of Graham... a Mexican bakery in front with a full service restaurant in the back. It's close to the Graham/Grand intersection, a few steps away from the McDonalds. That place is worth a try -- I don't remember the name. See if they have the pork ribs available if you go. It's more like a funky diner atmosphere (whereas Kiosco Piaxtla is a little bit nicer inside).
What to order at Popeye's? [split from a discussion on the Boston board]
Spicy chicken (I like the white meat, their wings are big and breasts are my favorite). For sides, try them all... dirty rice, red beans and rice, mashed potato, cole slaw (I forget what else they have).
I usually get a three piece combination, spicy, white meat.
Popeyes is my favorite junk food.
FH Trader Joe's top ten hits? And will Amish survive?
The Trader Joes cereal (flakes) with dried cherries was amazing. I'm going to give the rest of their cereal aisle a serious look next time.
For staples, I like the Key Foods in Ridgewood (on Myrtle Ave roughly near Fresh Pond Road). It's relatively large, I've never seen it very crowded, they always have plenty of cashiers available, and they have some Middle Eastern and Eastern European items, as well as my staples. I'm not a fan of Key Foods in general, based on years of shopping at the truly awful Key Foods in Williamsburg, on Grand and Lorimer. But the Ridgewood Key Foods is ten times better.
Trader Joes... Please, just ring up my groceries.
There's a new Trader Joes by my house (Queens) and I've been there 3 times now. I like their food just fine, but at the checkout, the clerks always want to give me commentary about my groceries
"Say, you really like cheese, huh?"
or
"I like these too! Have you tried the almond ones yet?"
About half my items get a review or a comment, and the clerk never stops talking (about my food). I'm just there to buy groceries, not to make new friends. I don't mind a little small talk but it's a little embarrassing to think that they are inspecting your food (and then want to comment on it).
I live in NYC where the clerks are often sullen and won't say thank you (even after the customer says it) so believe me, it's not that I don't appreciate friendly service. I just don't like the "play by play" Howard Cosell "What, ANOTHER bag of frozen blueberries, WOW" kind of commentary, by someone who is ringing up my groceries.
Are ALL the Trader Joes like this? (I commented about this in another TJ thread but I decided to give it it's own topic.)
Looking for andouille sausage
Whole Foods has pretty good Andouille sausage. I can't comment on how authentic it is, as a New Yorker.
I don't know if *every* WF has it, all the time... but I've bought it there before. Maybe phone first (?)
Yays and nays from Trader Joe's, lately [OLD]
Trader Joes just opened a location near me (Queens), and I have been there twice so far.
NAY: Checkout people inspecting your food and commenting on your groceries ("Say, you really like peanuts, huh?"). This has happened both visits. About half of everything that gets price-scanned apparently needs a comment ("You should try that with some olive oil and chopped garlic!")
I live in NYC so I'm used to sullen clerks who won't even say "thank you" (even after you, the customer, says it). But lets not go overboard. It seems like the management at Trader Joes sent out a memo: BE FRIENDLY!!!
Just ring up my groceries, please. I'm not shopping at Trader Joes so I can discuss my dietary choices with the employees.
Best of Williamsburg?
By Enids...
Amarin on Manhattan Avenue has solid, dependable Thai. Not life-changing, but good quality, fresh ingredients etc.
Even better is the Thai Cafe, further up Manhattan Avenue (towards LIC). This is one of the first good Thai restaurants in Brooklyn (an old timer) and the food is a cut above the average Williamsburg Thai, IMO. The seafood dishes here are the standouts... I recommend Basil Squid. There used to be a connection to the Planet Thai people, back when Planet Thai ("Planeat" Thai?) was a tiny lunch counter on Bedford Avenue. Not sure if they are still connected. The Thai Cafe has always been a cut above Planet Thai (and I like Planet Thai... the Thai Cafe was always farther away for me. Proximity trumps the quality difference, for me). Again, not life changing but very very solid Thai restaurant.
That little restaurant near the park is supposed to be pretty good. I don't remember the name... Park Luncheonette I think. That used to be the place to go for a hot dog and egg cream. Now it's upscale... not my style. If you've been to Enids' you've surely walked by there.
Thai Cafe. 925 Manhattan Ave Brooklyn, NY 11222-1624 Phone: (718) 383-3562.
Amarin Cafe, 617 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY on Yahoo! Local, (718) 349-2788
Fette Sau
Bingo. They provide the ingredients to blend the sauce to your own taste... vinegar, catsup, generic BBQ sauce, maybe a hot sauce too (?). I think this is how Fette Sau intended to avoid taking sides in the national debate about what a proper BBQ sauce is...
