nooyawka's Profile
"to the tooth" is way over used.
I always thought "al dente" was synonymous with "firm", have always expressed this preference to servers at restaurants, and have never been corrected by a server or other person.
Here is Wikipedia's take on it, to the extent that you trust it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_dente
Donuts
I think all 3 were cake doughnuts. One was tres leches. Forgot about the other two. It's been a while. I think I'm old-fashioned. Not really into the different variations. Recently, after a couple of abortive attempts, finally managed to get to Peter Pan around 5pm on a Friday. Still wasn't able to find my favorite chocolate-dipped available. Settled for a honey dip and a "sugared" (they call it something else, I forget the name) Agree with morisaur above, the honey dip is really good, as was the sugared. I'm glad they've kept up their quality. Hoping to return soon, as well as trying the other suggestions posted on this board to date...
Korean rice
I agree with you on needing the rice to match the food. I use Hanmi. No particular reason other than that I was able to read the English.
http://www.veryasia.com/hanmi-rice.html
Donuts
I've tried Doughnut Plant. One year, I walked by and to see what the buzz was all about, I bought 3 different kinds. Didn't like any of them. Still a fan of Peter Pan's. Not so much that they're SO amazing, it's just that that quality is so difficult to find. But my coworker doesn't bring in Peter Pan donuts anymore. Says they don't make them as early because all the hipsters who have invaded the neighborhood get up late. LOL
Donuts
I LOVED going in there, are you kidding? It was such an after-school treat. It's just too bad; some things when you're a kid you just take for granted. Now, I wish I had tried everything in there, every day that I was a kid. I've never found a donut that I liked as much as the ones in there.
Steakhouses - Stop asking me to cut into my steak as soon as it arrives!
I've *never* been asked to do that. And I eat steaks like there's no tomorrow.
Are there any decent steakhouses which cost a fair bit less than the likes of Lugers/Keens etc
I wholeheartedly agree with Les Halles as a good bargain. I usually get the mixed grill. I've enjoyed it at both the downtown and Park Ave. locations. I also agree Le Relais is a good bargain, but I'm less thrilled about it. However, I should add that you can request your steak "blue" at Le Relais. There are no in-between temps "med-rare"; "med-well". It's a singular experience.
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Les Halles
411 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecote
590 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Top 5 Most Overrated in Manhattan
Recently hit up Carnegie for a Woody Allen (pastrami plus corned beef). Unbelievably overwhelming sandwich. Plenty of seeds in the rye. Could have fed a family of 6 for a week. Definitely not overrated. I think the Second Avenue Deli (current incarnation) belongs on the list in its place though.
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Carnegie Deli
854 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Second Avenue Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
Anyone see the new Zimmern episode on Montreal?
Ever since I was a kid, I'd eat all of the cartilage off every piece chicken I encountered, and consider it a waste to leave any cartilage behind. Nowadays, I regularly eat the breast bone cartilage if I encounter it, but that picture of the cartilage done yakitori style makes it look positively appealing!
STEER CLEAR LIST - Worst Meal You've Had in the Last Six Months
I wasn't crazy about M. Wells. But if you do go, suggest you bring at least party of 4 so you can better enjoy the lively atmosphere, have a lot more fun, try more of their beers, and sample more foods.
STEER CLEAR LIST - Worst Meal You've Had in the Last Six Months
Didn't know that. Probably best that I don't. Ignorance is bliss. Tried it on my friend's request (years ago, we tried the old Houston St. location, now defunct, and our feeling was that it was satisfactory). I want to be fair. I thought the sashimi (we both had it) was okay. The atmosphere though was lousy. And it is possible the staff were cranky because of the loud table (or so I was hoping). A couple of strategically-timed dirty looks to them didn't get the message across either :) Oh, well, c'est la vie.
Though I have no reason to return when Sharaku on 9th, off 3rd Avenue, in the East Village, gives good value, good quality, good service in a much more comfy atmosphere.
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Sharaku
14 Stuyvesant St, New York, NY 10003
What Do People See in Montreal Bagels?
Delucasheesemonger, I figured you for a traditionalist, but bagel scooping? Don't you get eye-rolls in NYC for doing that? Unless, of course, you're on the hoity-toity Upper East Side and you're a low-carbist or trying to keep a size 2? And I have yet to try a flagle. Sounds more like my speed. Where can I get a good representative flagle?
Devouring Queens- NYMag's NewTop 20 Eats- Opinions?
I also don't get the M. Wells hype. I mean...I had a great time, no doubt, and I loved the friendly, hands-on, involved service, but food-wise...eh...had the veal brains (wanted to be adventurous), of course, squooshy, covered with mini-croutons, probably to offset the weird consistency, but the sauce I didn't get (forgot the name of it). Saw someone else try the crayfish, looked like a lot of trouble to eat, and heard them complaining about lack of flavor. Saw the gigantic burger. Ok, so it's a very large burger. And no poutine (regularly) at a place that's supposed to be in the Quebecois tradition? What's up with that?
Big V, if you like Joe's Shanghai, also try relative newcomer, Prince Noodle House, for their crabmeat dumplings, also while there, try their fatty pork belly.
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Prince Noodle House
37-17 Prince St, Queens, NY 11354
Hibachi
Benihana - not sure if they have the private room.
47 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-581-0930
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Benihana
47 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
NYC for 2 nights with 2 kids!
Whoa! Strongly and respectfully disagree on Oceana - way too stuffy - I consider myself old-fashioned but I will never be back again - not a fun place.
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Oceana
120 W 49th St, New York, NY 10020
Please help with last-minute Midtown and near-Met Museum recs
Since you're near Koreatown (Ktown) try Ichi Umi's buffet. Has a little of everything (Asian-centric, of course), good quality. If you go, though, watch out for pushy waitresses seeking larger tip, and don't go near closing time! (Double-check me; I think the buffet price is not more than $40, not including drinks, taxes and tip.)
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IchiUmi
6 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016
Visiting New York for one week... Help!
You have a pretty good list. If you did half of that would be pretty impressive. Some more ideas:
Chinese Bakery: Lung Moon Bakery (at least I think that's what it's called - it's very old school) on Mulberry Street, between Canal Street and Bayard Street. Also try the many food carts in Chinatown. There are a lot of fried foods. Don't fill up on too much fried noodle, etc. especially if they're oily b/c they end up being fillers. Try the steamed rice noodles with the sweet sauce if you see them. Try some Chinese bbq meats at Big Wong on Mott Street.
Manchego cheese: my friend just told me yesterday that she has been going through a craze. I think she gets hers from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods (multiple locations in NYC).
When you mentioned chorizo, you reminded me of chicharron: there is a place in Corona Queens where a lot of locals go: it's on 103rd Street, just I think a half-block north of Roosevelt Avenue.
For cheesecake, if you happen to be nearby, it couldn't hurt to try two institutions for comparison purposes: Junior's (Times Square or Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn), and Eileen's, corner Lafayette and Kenmare Street.
Brazilian/meat-heavy dinner buffet: Churrascaria Plataforma (midtown west) (also has great seafood/salad/sushi bar)
While you're in the Lower East Side trying Katz's and Russ & Daughters, also stop in at the Meatball Shop on Stanton, and a little farther east to Souvlaki GR.
I don't like street cart hot dogs anymore. Try Nathan's or Gray's Papaya (72nd Street and Broadway).
While in Jackson Heights, sample the tacos at the taco trucks. There have been some great posts on CH about them. Also try to get in a good Indian meal in Little India. Sample the Korean fried chicken at UFC on Roosevelt Ave, and 71st Street?
If you're around the East Village, try some Japanese ramen places around St. Marks Place. Some people swear by Ippudo's not too far away from there on 4th Avenue. Also try Veselka (24 hrs.) for some good Ukrainian food.
STEER CLEAR LIST - Worst Meal You've Had in the Last Six Months
Yama, Irving and 17th. Starting with the sour-faced maitre d', to the disappearing waiter to the failure to ask "would you like to order any dessert" before giving us our check, to the failure to ask an excessively boisterous party to lower their voices in the very low-ceilinged claustrophobic dining room, to the sour-faced matire d' failing to acknowledge or thank us upon leaving, uh...that might have been one of the more memorable less-than-pleasant dining experiences in the last 6 months.
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Yama
122 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
What does this phrase mean? [split from Ontario]
I have nothing of substance to contribute, but I love the first part of your first statement.
What Do People See in Montreal Bagels?
Had it at Chez Cora. They told me they get theirs from St. Viateur.
What Do People See in Montreal Bagels?
I recently tried a St. Viateur bagel while up on Montreal. It doesn't take jaws of steel to chew it. And it's not humongous in size. And I thought it was tastier than a New York bagel. It's everything that's NOT a New York bagel. I always said I was the only New Yorker who disliked NY bagels. (Oh, and, uh...ketchup on my hot dogs too.)
Prince Noodle House - Flushing
Agree that the crab XLBs are mighty good! Also like the fatty pork belly. Although I found the veggie dishes to be oily. A trick to minimize the broken dumpling skin: remove the cover and let the dumplings breath and cool for a bit. The broth inside is usually too hot to eat anyway. That will give the skin time to firm up a bit. And definitely ask for a knife to cut between the ones stuck together. No faux pas in doing that.
Disappointed @ ADPC (and other Montreal resto reviews) - LONG!
Uh, yeah, well, (chuckle) when I travel alone, and want to try a new place, I over-order and sample from more, and I either take a doggy bag, or leave the rest. Usually, I end up wasting but I'm okay with it b/c it's just a one-time practice.
Montreal... one more meal, please
Second the Kazu recommendation. Caution though: I know they were planning to close for a brief period of time, I think beginning on July 14th. Call and check their hours (514) 937-2333. Generally closed on Tuesdays. Normal hours are: 11:30am-2:30pm; and 5:30pm-9:30pm. Suggest getting there during the first part of the day, or line up before 5:30pm in order to minimize the wait.
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Kazu
1862 Sainte-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3H 1M1, CA
Guan Dong Yi Jia: Yet more Northern Chinese on Kissena (only this time with Pumpkin Fries)
Hey Polecat, the spicy beef tendon looks scrumptious! Can't wait to try. Thanks for the review!
