I'm looking for a fishmonger that sells fish roe in the sack for making bottarga. Am willing to travel, but would appreciate something below midtown. Thanks!

I've never had a problem with the slice being lukewarm or the crust being soggy, but it's not like Artichoke is innocent -- I've gotten burnt slices, cold slices, and old slices from Artichoke plenty of times. The pizza is far fresher at South Brooklyn since they only have one or two pies at any given time. Artichoke stacks their pies 10-20 high. Sure, it might not make a difference during peak hours, but if you're like me and go when there's no line, you'll occaisonally walk out unsatisfied.

Just tried a calzone today for the first time and it was pretty wild. It was cheesy with onions, bacon, and olives -- one hell of a combination. At $8, it's a little steep, but what isn't in this neighborhood?

They drizzle oil on top.

Just had two slices of their margherita pizza, one with the spicy peppers and one without. It's a pretty good slice with very light, fresh mozzarella and copious basil. The crust had a cracker-like crunch and crumble to it, but it wasn't terribly thin -- it was still pretty chewy. Compared to Artichoke's margherita (my go to slice in the neighborhood) I found it rather bland, but refreshingly lighter. The peppers added a much needed zip.

The place is a much needed alternative to Artichoke's crazy lines and limited options. The way I see it -- if you want a cheesy calorie bomb that's guaranteed to please, get in line at Artichoke; if you want a fresher, lighter, and optionally spicier experience, check out South Brooklyn. I know I'll be back.

Hey all, I'm struggling to find a good versatile deli that makes great sandwiches in the neighborhood. Seems like every place in this neighborhood has a schtick: This Little Piggy (roast beef), Carteles (Cuban sandwiches), Katz's (terrible pastrami), etc etc. I've tried Paradis and Barnyard; both are great, but the options are so limited. I'm looking for something like Defonte's or Milano Market -- not necessarily an Italian deli, but a solid deli with a broad range of fresh meats and tasty options. Do we have anything like that?

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Milano Market
1582 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128

Carteles
443 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009

Agree with the smell at Black Iron -- it's a cost of doing business.

Had the burger at Black Market last night. I was shocked at the price -- $14 for a cheeseburger with bacon -- but pleased with the results. It really is just a simple burger prepared with excellent ingredients, but what mroe can you ask for? It's much better than Black Iron and in the same realm as (if not better than) Shake Shack. That said the exorbitant prices don't stop with the burger -- they charged $5 for a small glass of beer (10 oz?) which is just too much. The decor is cool, the location is great if you live in the area, and the cocktail list is solid, but they've really overestimated the demographics if they think they can get away with midtown prices on Avenue A.

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Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

Avenue A
105 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Black Market
110 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

I've really come to like Black Iron, but it's mostly for the atmosphere. It's small, dark and cozy, and the bartender is very friendly. The burger is fine, but everything they serve seems overly salted.

The burger with bacon at Back forty is great too.

El Faro (Greenwich & Horatio) -- Spanish from the 1920s. Murals stained dark yellow/brown from all the smoking.

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El Faro
823 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10014

Italian -- Barbone. Fun, fits your budget, great neighborhood, and incredible owners who treat you like guests in their home.

American -- Back forty is super casual and tasty. I've heard good things about Northern Spy but have never been.

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Barbone
186 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

Just went to 9th Street Bakery this morning -- are these even bagels? They seem like regular white rolls -- soft and fluffy. That said, I had a chocolate horn that was out of this world -- heavier and sweater than I like, but the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee.

Any other recs? I'm dying for a decent bagel place within walking distance of my place (E. 9th and 2nd).

Everything Bagels cafe on 3rd and 11th is not worth your time. At best they're average bagels on the small/soft side; on a bad day, they're soggy with slimey cream cheese. I really wouldn't go...

That said, I'm really craving a bagel this morning in the neighborhood but it seems there isn't anything great. I've been getting the bagels at Mud Spot, but they're just not doing it for me. Any suggestions?

We have a winner: Black Hound's (2nd Ave between 10th and 11th) Triple Chocolate Brownie. Now this is a brownie! Chocolatey, sweet (but not sugar sweet), thick, and fudgey -- it melts in your mouth. It's not nearly as serious or pretentious as Pinisi's, rather it's a simple affair that recalls the best brownies made at childhood bake-sales. Mmmmm!

Just came back from Pinisi after having eaten their brownie. In a word, it was great. I wouldn't call it the platonic ideal of a brownie (for me that will always be my grandmother's version which was heavy on coffee and dark rum) or even a good "comfort" brownie, but it certainly was tasty. At first glance, it is dense and dry. Instead of the usual icing, Pinisi pours bitter cocoa powder on the top. When you bite in, the powder dries out your mouth like a bitter pixie stick, but soon thereafter the brownie melts in your mouth with sweet chocolate. It was certainly a complex dessert (as brownies go) and not fun to eat (your mouth is completely covered in cocoa powder), but certainly worth the trip out there to get it. I also grabbed a cupcake to go that apparently contains some ghost chili? I'm working up my courage to try it later tonight.

Anyway, if anyone has any other suggestions, I would surely appreciate it. Thanks!

So apparently the corner of 11th and 1st ave is crawling with bakeries (I had never noticed this before) so I stopped in a few to pick up some brownies. The only place that had them was De Robertis. Theirs is a cakey brownie, much cakier than most, with a sugary icing and fresh nuts. After the horror of the Whole Foods brownie, it tasted good, but I don't think I'd like it normally. I also stopped by Something Sweet, but apparently they were out of brownies for the day. I love how cute the place is. The lady gave me a chocolate flowerless truffle button that was delish! It had a great almond taste, but it didn't overpower the chocolate like some almond sweets do.

I'll definitely be heading to Pinisi later this week -- their website makes everything look delish!

Just tried Whole Foods brownie today and it was awful -- tasted like sugar packets. It was almost offensive.

Why did no one ever answer this post? I have a huge craving for a brownie right now, but it seems (by looking at old threads) that my only option is Whole Foods... that can't be right. Hounds, please tell me that's not right.

Fork in the Road just put up their 10 best of the EV. Between the runners-up and readers' suggestions, they pretty much listed all of my neighborhood favorites, even if I disagree with the ranking (how do they not list Caracas in the top 10?) What are your thoughts?

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkint...

Does anyone know where I can find guava pastries like the ones you find in Little Havana, Miami? Something similar to the ones served at Versailles would be ideal. I have such a craving... Thanks!

My vacation in this beautiful part of the world is almost over, and too short it was; before I go, I'd like to share with you some of the dining experiences I've had over the holidays.

First up, the usual suspects (no surprises here):
-- We went twice to Captain Charlie's Reef Grill and waited for almost an hour both times to get in the door. Boy was it worth it. The first time my date had their famous whole Bahamian snapper, perfectly prepared as always. I love how fresh it is and how flavorful the skin is. I wish they'd offer the papaya salad as a side for their regular dishes, but it only seems to come with the snapper. I opted for the blackened dolphin which was very fresh. I love the spicy seasoning they use, but I feel it took away from the quality of the fish. For appetizers we opted for the Wahoo ceviche which, as usual, was delightfully fresh and perfectly paired with the veggies in the bowl. I highly recommend trying it. The second time around, my date opted for the peppered swordfish, which like the dolphin, was a little too strongly seasoned for the quality of the fish. I had a cup of conch chowder which was good, but nothing to write home about. We also ordered the Florida lobster lettuce wedge. This is probably the only thing they make that I'd ever caution against. I love Florida lobster tail, sure it's a little tough, but it has a unique taste to it, but at the Reef Grill they douse it a cheese/cream sauce that completely kills the taste. IMHO, it ruined a perfectly good tail.
-- Leftovers: Still as good as I remembered it. I'm not the biggest fan of crusts on fish, but theirs are certainly unique and great compliments to the fresh catch. I had the Yuca-Ginger crust on the Grouper Cheeks over caeser greens. In a word: perfect. The grouper cheeks on their own were incredibly flavorful and tender, the ginger was light and pleasant, and the Yuca rounded out the dish with a touch of starch. Probably the second best meal I had all vacation. (First is the few bites I stole from that whole Bahamian snapper at Capt Charlies!). I should also give a shout out to their beer selection -- small, but full of good craft ales.
-- Toojays has been Toojays for over 20 years. I'm never disappointed with anything they do. I love that it's New York _style_ but not New York portions. I love that it's not the fattiest/saltiest cured meets, but are still bursting with flavor and very tender. I love the atmosphere and quality of the service. I hope it never goes away.
-- Juno Beach Cafe also hasn't changed too much. My date had the hushwee skillet which is probably the best thing they make for breakfast. The hushwee is apparently a lebonese breakfast including eggs, ground beef, mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes, among other things I'm sure I'm forgetting. It'll keep you full all day. I had the Uncle Eddie Pancakes with the usual bacon and eggs on the side. I don't know what makes UEPs taste so good -- maybe it's the balmy weather?
-- Thirsty Turtle is another one on the list of never changing (thank goodness). There's something so Florida about beach bum drift wood tables, t-shirt clad waitstaff, and New York Yankees crap hanging on the wall. I hope they never remodel. We both had blackened dolphin sandwiches -- a simple pleasure from a simple place.
-- Yard House. I really dislike the food here and stay away from it as much as I can. A buddy of mine ordered Calamari with our beers, and it came out cold, spongy, and flavorless. Stick to the 100 brews on tap and come full if you come at all.

Next, the surprises!
-- The Snuggery. I'm told this dive has stood in the same spot since the 70s... not sure how true that is, but looking at the old girl, I'd believe it. I usually come here to avoid the "scene" at other night life spots and get a comfortable booth with old friends. Well, would you believe they serve quality bar fare? Their buffalo chicken sandwich is to die for. The sauce is incredibly spicy with tons of Oregano, and the chicken, although deep fried, is not greasy. Moreover, you can get it grilled, and it's just as good! The fries are also nicely seasoned. Word to the wise though, they only serve food from 9pm-1am Wednesday-Saturday.
-- La Arepera (on Clematis St). This place is worthy of its own post. It serves up traditionally Venezuelan fare in a little space on Clematis near Olive. The chef is American, but the recipes are provided by his wife's family from Venezuela. They focus on arepas filled with various fillings (cheese, shredded beef, plantains) but also have other foods like cachapas. Since it's small, the food really tastes home made and competes with my own Grandma's cooking. It's pretty unique food for the area and worth becoming a regular at the place.
-- Q'ban (in the Promenade plaza off of Alt. A1A south of PGA, in the old Don Ramon spot). As you may have guessed, Q'ban specializes in Cuban fare and is owned by the family that owns El Colonial restaurant in Miami. It's not great Cuban food and it doesn't compare to what you can get in Little Havana, but it's leagues better than Don Ramon (good riddance) and a solid meal at a modest price. I had a pork dish with the usual trimmings (rice, black beans, plantains) which was well made although a tad boring. I don't know of any other Cuban food in the immediate area, so I welcome it to the neighborhood and recommend a visit.
-- Cafe des Artistes (on the Riverwalk off of US1 south of Indiantown). This place is a lovely French Bistro with a beautiful view of the intracoastal and the Jupiter Yacht Club. I had no idea the Riverwalk or the Yacht Club even existed, but it's a quaint project and I hope to see it finished when the economy picks back up. The restaurant itself is very pleasant with attentive, French waitstaff. The lunch menu consists of basic bistro food (salads, cold and hot sandwiches, soups, and a nice, though overpriced, assortment of fine French wines. Quick note on the wine, one thing I hate about South Florida is the poor quality of wine lists in the area. Most restaurants focus on lower end California wines and rarely serve anything of quality, let alone anything from the Old World. This place has a nice French list, which is a genuine rarity, but the markup seemed to be 300% of retail. Be careful.) I had the fisherman's soup which was good, not great, and the croque madam which was simple and tasty, the way one should be. I've found most places tend to over-emphasize the gruyere at the expense of the rest of the meal, but here, it was a lovely accent. It turns out the place also has a bakery where they make all of their breads, and it shows. The baguette is the best I've had in the area, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I'd love to try this place for brunch and dinner, and look forward to returning.

Anyway, I fear I've said too much and am starting to drone on. Thanks for all the help in getting me to these wonderful places. Happy chowing!

second super taste. Sanur (Indonesian, Doyers St.) has a great lunch special ($3.50 last I checked), saigon bakery (banh mi, Mott Street) cannot be missed, Baoguette (banh mi on St. Mark's place) also has great banh mi for $4.50, Dosa Cart on Washington Square Park has items under $5 I think, but really, for the best bets, you should just cruise chinatown.

Love the olive oil cake at Abraco and the olive oil cookies are to die for. I wish they'd expand, but that would be the end of its charm.

I've had two opposite experiences. When Soccorat first opened, it was lovely, despite the wait. Granted, it was a warm spring day and we arrived right at opening around 5pm. Both paellas (the meat and seafood) were perfectly crisp, the service was brisk and typically Spanish, and the dessert was out of this world (some sort of Catalonian fried chocolate). The tapas weren't the best I've had, but the gazpacho was the best in the city I had all summer, hands down.

The second time though, it was much more like nattie's. It was a rainy weekend evening where we waited about an hour. We were told we were next to be seated, but then another 1/2 hour rolled by. The paella (house special this time) was greasy and the rice was soggy. The "service" was non-existent. I'm used to what Americans perceive as rudeness by Spanish servers, but this wasn't it -- this was just flat out inattentive. The only high point was the gazpacho was still good.

So the question I pose to you, fellow hounds, is did the place go downhill irrevocably or has anyone had a good experience lately? I'd love to go back as when the paella is done right, it's wonderful.

Is the Original Pancake House the same that used to be on US1 near PGA in Juno? If so, I'm glad to see it re-opened.

Really? I've never found their falafels greasy. I've never found them anything but delicious. Granted, I haven't been in about a year... have they gone down hill?

Thank you so much for the help! I'll give those new places a look when I come by in a few weeks.

Do you have any recommendations for weekend brunch? Or breakfast? Thanks again.

I agree with you re: Guanabana. I've only ended up there late at night when the crowd picks up -- fun place to be into the wee hours of the morning.

I forgot to mention the Ke'e grill, mostly because I've been there so much. They're on-menu items are excellent, but I've been disappointed by their specials from time to time.

I forgot to mention some of my favorites in my last visits:

Captain Charlie's Reef Grill (easily my favorite meal of the trip)
Food Shack/Leftovers
TooJays
Kevin's Dockside
Okeechobee Steakhouse
Metronome (which I hear has sadly closed)
Guanabana

Like I said in my first post, I'm looking for anything and everything that stands out -- all kinds of food, all kinds of dining, and preferably local. Thanks again for the help.

Hey everyone, I'm coming home again for the holiday and was wondering if anything new has popped up or whether anything old has gotten better :-). Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for all the help guys! I look forward to trying all of these places out.

I actually have tried the Pretzel place on B (called Sigmund's). They make great pretzels (apparently beer is the secret ingredient in the dough) and even better sandwiches. I highly recommend the turkey (with dill mayo, cheddar, and apples). They also have salmon/cream cheese among others. Also had a cup of potato leek that was good, but nothing to write home about.

The pretzels come with different dips (i think you get three complimentary with a half dozen and six with a dozen). The ones I remember are spicy mustard, honey mustard, beet horseradish, and goat cheese. The beet horseradish was really tasty and pretty unique. There are various kinds of pretzels -- classic salted, seeded (poppy or sesame), jalapeno cheddar, cinnamon raisin, and others. I get the impression they're treating their pretzels like bagels at this point, but it's certainly a different treat, and I appreciate the effort.

Hope that helps, it's really worth the trip out there.

Hello, I just moved to the EV myself and have found this thread incredibly helpful. Are there any updates/new openings? I was hoping I could get suggestions for delicious sandwiches (preferably delivery/take-out, but dine-in is also ok) and other day to day lunch fare. Thanks!