mepm231's Profile
Unique Midtown lunch around 55th and 7th?
How about Japanese Ramen Noodles at Sapporo on 49th Street off 7th Avenue?
Jolibee, the Filipino fried chicken chain about to open in Woodside (Roosevelt/63rd)
I just like their siopao.
best cake in NYC?
Both How Sweet it Is and Batch do cakes. Went to How Sweet it Is for the first time this weekend. Excellent flavorful and moist cupcakes. Batch is also good, but has some very different flavor combinations (i.e. Green Tea & Chocolate).
Jolibee, the Filipino fried chicken chain about to open in Woodside (Roosevelt/63rd)
Any chance of a Chow King opening up anytime soon in NYC?
Onion Rings in Sunnyside / Woodside / JH?
Seriously? Let me know what you think. I was starving when I did it, but I actually liked it. The crispiness of the fried clams worked good against the sogginess of the bun and burger.
Onion Rings in Sunnyside / Woodside / JH?
Nothing like shredded onion bits encased in breading that have been frozen and then deep fried. All sarcasm aside, whenever I go to WC it's four cheeseburgers and a side of onion rings. The worst I've ever done at WC is go surf & turf ... cheeseburger topped off with fried clams ... mmm delish!
Best tacos at taqueria coatzingo?
There's a hole in the wall place that makes great tacos on 89th St just south of Northern Blvd called El Jacalito. I always go for the al pastor and carnitas tacos. The eat-in area is usually empty, but there's always a steady flow of take-out/delivery orders.
best cake in NYC?
Baked ... as in Baked in Red Hook Brooklyn? Although this probably belongs in the Outer Borough chat, I was at Baked the other weekend (after my first time at the Red Hook Ballfields) and Baked has the best cupcake in NYC (and excellent brownies).
Also excellent bakeries: Amy's Bread, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Crumbs (although it's a chain, IMO they still make excellent cake and awesome B&W cookies), and Babycakes (esp. for those who are allergic to gluten).
Affordable, quality sushi
AYCE&D is Sounkyo Sushi on 1st around 51st/52nd. Place is like a frat house with recently turned 21 year-olds making sake bombs and getting plastered out of their minds. Outside of the frat-like atmosphere, the actual sushi was that good.
I am a big fan of Yuka. The fish is fresh and service is pretty good. The only issue is that the place is pretty small and if you go during peak times there will definitely be a wait.
Best fried chicken?
Even though Popeye's is a chain, their chicken is still pretty darn good. Plus, there are not many places in NYC that have awesome or even memorable fried chicken.
See this thread for more: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/428401
Is Gramercy Tavern Worth it?
Been to both GT and EMP recently. My preference is GT over EMP, but food at both are equally delicious (top 5 NYC meals) with similar prices. The difference is in the atmosphere. EMP IMO is very corporate and almost a little stuffy, but not as packed. And I thought it was a little odd that if you have a table for two, you sit next to each other, rather than facing each other. The atmosphere at GT is a little more laid back, but much more crowded especially by the waiting and bar areas.
Finally, Great Jackson Heights Pizza
bgill, I used to love the pizza at La Cabana, but recently the quality of the pizza has gone downhill. The crust was flavorless, and the cheese was 1/2 inch thick and wasn't melted right, probably due to the quality of the cheese. Also, there were virtually no toppings on top of the pizza (we usually get either the steak/sausage pizza or prosciutto pizza). So just a horrendous experience altogether. I'm hoping that they change it back at some point.
Queens Restaurant Week Recommendations
I agree with everyone else that $25 lunch / $35 dinner is ridiculously overpriced for a majority of the restaurants on the list.
Here's the full list:
http://www.discoverqueens.info/restaurant.html
Sushi in Woodside (or Jax Hts, Sunnyside, Elmurst)
Tomo is the only option in JH. $1 sushi and 3 for $10 rolls make it very inexpensive. Quality of the sushi is middle of the road.
new underrated best burger spots
I know they're both chains, but I've had two really good burgers at Houston's and PJ Clarke's (both on 3rd ave in the 50s).
live music while you eat/drink?
Blue Water Grill in Union Square has a jazz room downstairs. It's a little cramped and maybe a little loud. In addition to the dining area, there is a small bar/loungy area in the jazz room
Best Cuban sandwich along the 7 line?
What are your top spots for Cubans in NYC (including off the 7-line)?
What's a Chick-Fil-A?
McD's "Southern-style Chicken Sandwich) or ripped off version of the Chick-fil-A sandwich. A good substitute, especially in NYC, where there is only one Chick-fil-A which is on NYU's campus.
Olive Garden's Culinary Institute in Tuscany?!
The microwaves at OG have Italian numbers on them ;)
Best Cuban sandwich along the 7 line?
I've had both Margon's and Rincon Criollo's cuban sandwiches. In terms of the sandwich, Margon beats Rincon hands down. In terms of the rest of the food, Rincon is much better than Margon.
Brunch/Lunch in Astoria...HELP!!
I'm a big fan of Brick Cafe on 33rd St & 31st Ave. It fits all of your criteria (except I'm not sure how crowded it gets later during the day) The weather should be nice and there is plenty of outdoor seating. A link to the brunch menu:
http://www.brickcafe.com/images/brunch.pdf
Best steak in JH?
I've always been a big fan of La Cabaña on Northern and 86th (another location around Junction and Roosevelt). Very good steaks and pizza, but the sides could use some work. I've gotta try La Fusta based on Mike V's and other reviews.
Breakfast..only for one day in NYC
How about Clinton St. Baking Co. Not by a 4 stop, but by the F train (Delancey St). You can then transfer to the B/D at 34th street and take that up to Yankee Stadium.
Balthazar would work also. It's by the 6 train Spring St Station (@ Lafayette), which is an easy transfer to the 4 train @ 14th street, also you could take the B/D at Broadway/Lafayette St (@ Houston) straight to Yankee Stadium.
Wanted to include the NYC subway website just in case: www.mta.info.
Best Cuban sandwich along the 7 line?
Cuban sandwich at Rincon Criollo is the standard cuban, a tasty sandwich, but nothing special (i.e. Margon). The last time I ordered a cuban over there, it was already pre-made and then just put into the press to be heated up.
Saturday Brunch in Queens?
This post comes probably a few days late but Tournesol in LIC has a pretty good brunch menu, as does Brick Cafe in Astoria. Both are definitely under $20 (w/o booze). I think both open around 11 am.
I also second Bistro 33 for brunch.
Upscale restaurants of Queens
Does any one think Sapori d'Ischia would fit into this (maybe not too elegant though), but I think the food is amazing (and expensive for the neighborhood ... just like Manhattan!).
Novo Latin Fine Cuisine (Jackson Heights)
The wife and I were at Novo a few weeks ago. We had the mixed ceviche special and cheese and spinach empanadas to start, which were both very good. Then the meal went downward from there: I had the churrascaria and the wife had the salmon as an entree. The steak was oversalted and just did not taste like a good piece of steak. I asked for it medium-rare, it came almost medium-well and dry as a result. The salmon was also over-cooked and dry. The service overall was subpar, you couldn't get a waiter's attention if your life depended on it. I was pegging that it was just an overly busy night and am willing to give it a second chance. There were also a lot of young kids (under 12) there, and not that I have a problem with it, it just didn't go with the atmosphere of the place (loungy/bar sort of place).
argentinean steakhouse
Not in Woodside, but in close by Jackson Heights. La Porteña on 37th Ave btwn 74th-75th St and La Cabaña on Northern btwn 86th-87th and Roosevelt around Junction Blvd. I'm a big fan of La Cabaña (I've only been to the Northern Blvd location), which serves excellent steaks/pasta/pizza.
Best coffeeshop in Midtown?
I am a big fan of Ess-a-Bagel on 21st St and 1st Ave, which has another location on 50th-51st St and 3rd Ave. There is also Tal Bagel on 1st Ave around 54th St.
Best cuban sandwich in Manhattan?
Second on Margon ... no atmosphere whatsoever, but if you're looking for the best Cuban sandwich ever, this is the place. Note that they do add mayonaise and salami to their sandwiches (which I believe is not classic cuban), but the people working there are authentic cuban and really nice. 45th between 6th and Broadway.
