Nick F.'s Profile
Paris cheap eats suggestions--I'll start with a few
Found this thread pretty useful. Found a pretty good dinner tonight at a place called Le Bo-Bun over near the Villiers stop on the 2. Just stumbled upon it while walking and reminded me of a place I'd see in New York. Pretty darn good Bun, with Sriracha handy. Was full up for 8 Euro and they had some decent formules for 9 and 10. Definitely worth checking out.
Ma Peche Midtown Lunch Review- "A Baguette Too Far"
So, finding myself recently unemployed and unable to get too excited by more of the same over at the new Shake Shack Midtown, I ended up getting pretty darn excited when I found at that David Chang's "midtown Momofuku" Ma Peche had a lunch special that would cost me only 10 bucks and even came with a diet coke! Chow-ish, I thought. And while I am an occasional fan of Chang but not an enthusiast (I liked Ko and Milk Bar but go to neither frequently), I had had pretty good experiences with low-end fare from high-end restaurants (prix-fixe lunches, Tabla Cart, The Burger Joint-- i know, debatable). So, I had pretty high expectations going into Thursday... which were immediately dashed when I found out that the Midtown Lunch special was "reservation only" and that I had to have placed my order by 11. When I ended up placing my order Friday morning, none of the sandwiches were sold out and I went for the "Bahn Mi Au Poulet", which described itself as "lemongrass, lettuce, mint." I even got excited by my Diet Coke coming with.
So, I woke up Friday morning. Made the most of my fun-employment, getting up around 11 and grabbed the train uptown. When I reached the swanky Chambers Hotel, I was pleased to see that the Ma Peche people were dressed casually like me and they directed me over to the Mini Momofuku Milk Bar they had in the front of their restaurant. There, my order was waiting for me, hanging in a bag behind the counter with my name checked off on a list. I was surprised that there weren't more bags hanging there, but I was psyched. I got semi-permission from the restaurant officials to eat in the Chambers hotel lobby (Me- "Think that would piss them off if I went and ate in the lobby?" Them- "Uh, what?") and sat down to take a bite of what was to be my sandwich.
It sucked.
Well, I'm sorry. That was a knee-jerk reaction.
Let me elaborate:
It was not the best chicken bahn-mi I've had in New York City.
In fact, it was nowhere near as good.
Now, the bahn mi I like best from NYC are the ones from the Baoguette chain and Nicky's Vietnamese (I feel like Saigon Bahn Mi uses too much mayo). Both of these places use dark meat chicken, off the bone, along with some good vegetables (daikon and/or cucumber is usually involved) along with liberal helpings of Sriracha sauce, the stuff of the gods that makes a Bahn Mi work (for me at least), as well as some cilantro for flavor. They're both around 4-5 dollars for a big ol' Sammy.
By contrast, the Bahn Mi I got from Ma Peche seemed to be a processes (in-house?) chicken patty, comprised of reconstituted chicken. There was indeed, lemongrass and a profusion of lettuce, though I didn't notice any mint, some carrots, and... not much else. It was just a big bland patty and some roughage.
The Diet Coke was good.
But the sandwich was bland and edible, like the sort of "bahn mi" one might get in an airport, if an airport sold such things. It was patently not offensive, which almost felt worse than it tasting bad to me. By not adding sriracha or mayo or any sort of seasoning, or using fresh or sauced meat, they seemed to be pandering almost telling me "this is how people in Midtown like their food."
Now I can understand philosophically the idea of the "composite" chicken I ate in the sandwich. I know a Bahn Mi traditionally includes pork roll, a similarly processed product. But chicken is not pork and does not have the same flavors. Nor did my sandwich have the pate to give depth to the processed meat, that is traditionally on a bahn mi. It was an "homage" of sorts, I suppose (much in the same tongue-in-cheek, ironic/nostalgic fashion as many of Milk Bar's items, like a Grasshopper pie), but it just, well, it didn't taste good. It wasn;t interesting.
Both Baougette and Nicky's use dark meat chicken (Baoguette "BBQs" it apparently too) in order to get more flavor out of a traditionally less flavorful meat. Here, I felt like got more a symbol than a sandwich and suffered for it.
On the bright side, I got a chocolate-chocolate cookie on my way out that was not full of snark, but only chocolate and enjoyed that in delicious fashion.
But it's a sad day when you wish you could click an "undo" button on your lunch, and the Ma Peche special did not deserve any sort of time to pre-order. I wouldn't have even waited in a Shake Shack-style line.
Chang should get on this as it's summer time and if the other big-dogs can offer a decent lunch special, so should he, arguable the biggest dog, be able to too.
-Nick F.
Good delivery options in Greenwich Village?
You have some interesting recs here. I've lived in the village for most of my life (though now I am technically in SoHo). I'll give you my ideas, though I will preface them by saying that this is a notoriously bad neighborhood for delivery (at least the West Village, east village, for all my hating of it, is actually very good).
Pizza-
Keste is excellent, as has been said for that Neapolitan style that is all the rage. However I am a staunch believer in Joe's for their Fresh Mozz slices and Bleecker Street for everything else (including their now near-extinct Chicken+Ricotta slice). Bleecker Street really does have the right crust consistency and is really good in the non-gourmet sense. Sometimes, youjust don't want an ultra-thin crust.
Italian-
Pepe Verde/Rosso depending on where you live. Simply the highest quality-per-price (i.e: value) for the cost. They have a 26 (at least that's what they display in their window) from Zagat's, but the proof is really in the pudding, 10 dollar pastas, specials every night. Simple and unpretentious, owned by a soccer-loving dude from Italy who laughs at me when I try my paltry Italian on him. Not the fastest delivery, but de-lish.
Chinese-
Used to be a blight on the neighborhood. There was nothing but cheap-o joints like King Wok and Christopher Golden Woks for a while. Both of the decent places (Sung Chun Mei and Baby Buddha) went out of business and one would be forced to order from the decidedly mediocre Suzie's. Now with Grand Sichuan 7th Ave, there's "acceptable" chinese food. Not as good (strangely) as the St. Mark's branch, nor a s good as some c-town joints, but acceptable.
Thai-
Rhong-Tiam is gone. Go to the supremely under-appreciated Pinto over on Christopher St. Their lunch special is 8 bucks for something that is lightyears better than anything else Thai in a comparable price range. Dinner is more expensive, but also very worth it.
Mexican-
Florencia 13 anyone? I really dig this place and my Texan friends say it's the most authentic they've been to (although it's actually LA-style). Other than that, Mexicana Mama (best guac in the hood), which despite it's diminished status, still beats mediocre stuff like Caliente Cab Co. (Go for anything with the word "mole" in it.)
Japanese-
Not my specialty (I'm a poultritarian). I hear Tomoe Sushi over on Thompson is very good though for mid-scale Sushi/Jap. They also opened up a crazy looking restaurant called Takashi on my parents' block, but I don't think they deliver.
Indian-
Haven't tried Curry Kitchen yet (think they are very new). It's rough, I gotta tell you, ever since Mitali West closed down. Surya is a good-ish place, if you're willing to drop about 15 an entree, over on Bleecker. Karahi is pretty awful. I honestly don't know. You're best bet is probably just to walk over to 6th St on a nice summer evening or take the 6 train up to Curry Express on 29th.
Let me know if any of this helps!
Good luck and good eating.
-Nick F.
Anything open today (on July 4th)?
Thanks everyone. I ended up at two downscale places: Cowgirl for Lunch (ok, but filling/hangover-killing) and Main Noodle House for dinner (excellent). My only complaints about my dinner there were 1. too many green peppers in my Spicy Basil Chicken and 2. not enough rice per dish. Otherwise, it was unexpectedly good open for a July 4th.
Also, almost went to 10 Downing, which was open, for Brunch before I decided on Cowgirl. Figured the C-girl would be cheaper and it's more familiar. Guess I'm not much of a hound when I have a hangover... Any-hoot, gracias!
-Nick F.
Anything open today (on July 4th)?
So, excuse my ignorance. But I'm in Soho, though I can go anywhere below 14th St. I like good food (though everyone made fun of me for going to Wo Hop :p). Mostly though, I'm just looking for some good place that's open below 14th St today for any/every meal. I'm a bachelor, so I ain't cooking.
Help me, humble hounds. Help me.
2010 restaurant week
I'm having RW Lunch at Nougatine! I was lucky to sneak in! Del Posto was already completely shut out by the time I checked it out. Any Nougatine tips? Also any hidden gems on the list that might still be free?
-Nick F.
Dinner tonight along the PATH line in Manhattan?
Super-second Malatesta Trattoria. On a beautiful block near the water, home-made pasta. Can't go wrong.
Financial District Lunch Recommendations 2010
Have you tried the Bahn Mi Cart over in Hanover Sq. Sorry, hard to keep up with this thread since so many people, but cheap and delicious Vietnamese Sandwiches down there! Try the shredded chicken w/onion!
Best Chinese food in Chinatown these days?
Many opinions/threads on this (just search).
I don't know about "the best", a contentious question. When I go to C-Town nowadays, I'm mostly looking for a fun, lo-scale time (preferable 5-10 bucks). For such a thing, check out 69 Bayard Restaurant, Wo Hop or Yeah Shanghai. Otherwise, talk to a better gourmet than me (or search).
-Nick F.
Best restaurants to eat at the bar
Per Se!
Surprised no one has said it yet!
They have a beautiful bar/salon where you can order on their much less expensive a la carte menu. I got a five-course dessert there a few months ago for 14 bucks (well-worth the value).
Hell's Kitchen recs needed
Hell's Kitchen was pretty good when I went.
It is true that you are near an embarrassment of restaurant riches on 9th Ave, however, if you want to stay on 10th, many of my friends at my office in the HK are super into Olieng Thai restaurant over on 45th and 10th. It's a small casual place with a good menu and fresh veggies. I went there once for a late-night office dinner and was pretty pleased. Also, super cheap.
-Nick F.
Looking for cozy italian or tapas bar
How about Quinto Quarto? It's a beautiful location over on Bedford St in the West Village and when I tried the Pasta Prix Fixe there, it was both delicious and entirely unfinishable. We had all more than given up when we found out an entree might potentially be coming in addition to our trio of Becco-style served-at-your-table pastas, we opted out and barely got through dessert.
Delicious and unpretentious, though there are plenty of other options even in a four block radius ('ino, Bar Pitti, Da Silvano, Pepe Rosso, etc...)
Let us know!
-Nick F.
Any decent pizza in the wall street area?
Kind of a normal slice joint-y type place, but back when I worked on Exchange Pl, I went to Underground Pizza. They're not the best Pizza in NY, but they are more than a decent slice, esp. when you invest in Chicken slice or a grandmama. Considering the generally low-quality/high-price down there, it's refreshingly above-average, if you catch my drift.
Help! need recommendations for anywhere below 14th street but above chambers
Be aware that you will probably need some place that is BYOB, or at least, with a moderate corkage fee (when my 'rents went to Per Se it was 90 bucks per bottle...)
How about Pasita over on Greenwich Avenue (south american pizzas/small plates)? Nice and cozy place with a good location and pretty darn good chicken/avocado/crema pizzas. Or Las Ramblas over on 4th St for straight up Tapas (a little small). Pasita used to have a little buzz but has quieted down significantly and Las Ramblas never did (in my limited memory). Check them out and let me know what you think.
-Nick F.
"Rabbits' Food"
I am a poultritarian (go ahead, laugh) but my girlfriend is a veggie and she really dug. She got the Black Bean Burger with Sprouts (they were out of avocado). It was 10 bucks and she has repeatedly expressed to me since her desire to go back.
-Nick F.
Chicago foodies in town for a couple of days
yah, CHs have ADD when someone says everywhere in NYC we get overwhelmed. give us some more specific criteria svp.
Best restaurants between West 96th and West 110th?
Evert tried Indus Valley for Indian? Went there for my high school graduation lunch and did not regret it. Great service, great food.
Dinner with a 1 year old
Cowgirl! Surprised no one mentioned it!
As the story goes when I was a young lad, I was quite a fright. My parents had just moved into the neighborhood and I was but a few months and so difficult to take anywhere. When my parents saw the open-dining room of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, with their kids' menu, they thought they had been delivered. But my six-month old self was not and I wailed and wailed so much that other diners began yelling and glaring at my family. My dad eventually got in an argument with the fellow at the next table, only to have another patron unexpectedly come to his defense. After the argument, the angry fellow returned to his dinner and the patron and my father shook hands.
The patron was the owner-manager of the restaurant, Joel, a great guy. My family has been coming back there ever since.
As a more recent update to this story, I recently found a girlfriend (I know! Quite an upgrade from a wailing, screeching infant to that, right?) and when we talked about our childhood and our mutual love of the Cowgirl, she revealed that she too had been brought there as a child, where her parents had also sought refuge (and some strong frozen margaritas).
N.B.: It is on the West Side, so let me know if that doesn't fit your criterion well enough.
Yours,
Nick F.
Next weekend - Warm & intimate daytime coffee shop/wine bar/restaurant in Midtown or Village to reconnect with an old friend
It's nice and it does have couches, but it is always super-duper-duper crowded.
Try Caffe Dante, if you want somewhere a little quieter/less bother (but without nice chairs) or maybe even someplace small like Local over right under Houston.
Sorry, but it's hard to think of places with comfy chairs... most places in NY want you out the door quick nowadays.
-Nick F.
Indian restaurants on Lexington Avenue
Got take out last night from super-yummy, super-cheap Curry Express. It's total downscale (hot-plates) and all, but dinner including 6 different kinds of curry, rice and poori bread was $16.84 (!) for me and my girlfriend! We were both wowed, stuffed and satisfied... and that was just the food! :p Heartily recommend them over more expensive Curry in a Hurry.
However, if you are looking for a Lunch Buffet (all-you-can-eat), in my book you can't beat Dhaba over on Lex bet. 27th and 28th. They bring fresh appetizers to your table and I have eaten more good food there in one lunch sitting than I usually do over the course of a few days.
Lemme know where you check out!
-n
Prixe Fixe options - help choosing
Have you considered Lunch Pre-Fixes? They are a lot less expensive and also more common and some top places (Perry St, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla) have them for around 25 bucks for 5 courses.
Otherwise, I hear the 50-buck pre-fixe and Torrisi Italian Specialties is pretty awesome and, comparably, affordable though that place is all the rage now and you'll probably be waiting an hour (brave Chowhound) for a table...
4 Days NYC - staying in Chelsea - Needs Help Deciding - Brekfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tebaya for Japanese wings in your hood, for a hangover brunch when you're done. Don't forget, expensive does not necessarily = awesome.
West Village dinner for four - we are foodies - all from new york, just out of loop lately on what's new-
second. hard to get into though.
Favorite Saturday night dinner places with no reservations
Sorry, RGR... Guess I am out of touch. :(
"Rabbits' Food"
So, this is actually stolen from my blog (insert shameless plug here) but it's a good, cheap chow-ish place, that's pretty recent and I know that it used to be that if anyone found somewhere, we'd scream it to the hills, or at least, to the message boards.
Anyway...
When I stumbled upon Rabbits', I was dehydrated on a hot late-May day, working for the U.S. Census, bothering people on a weekend and p.o.ed I couldn't charge them my lunch. The first thing they did when I looked in was to sneer at me derisively ("Ah, the census man!" The owner proclaimed.) to which I looked around sullenly and then left.
Later though, when I came back really tired and abused from the whims of SoHo residents and their numerous walk-ups, they invited me in and gave me water in a big, cool metal cup, with ice that clanked on the cast-iron like gravel.
I looked at the menu and took a shock. There was little to be found there over 10 dollars. In fact, the only way I went over 10 dollars there was to order a big bowl of pre-vinegar-soaked french fries which came over in a small wooden bowl, looking like someone had just tossed a potato into a pan, with a samurai swish at the end.
The fries were delicious and salty and unexpected. Rabbits' is in close proximity to Jane, known for their manicured and copious "rosemary fries" which are delicious, but are always the same. Rabbits' fries are think and strangely-shaped and pungent and uneven in a way that reminds you that they were made with some casual care and interest, as opposed to the master plan of a brunch-fortress like Jane.
Of the entrees I've had there, ther Jerk Chicken was average, a little strange in it's spicing, but the Chicken Parm was delicious and tidy and just enough to feed you, stuck on a bun. The best thing I've had there though from their "miscellaneous" section of their frequently changing hand-written menu, were the BBQ Chicken Cheddar Nachos with Relish, which were crisp and warm and were described to me as "having chicken on every nacho" which they did, to great effect.
In it's home-grown feel, it's low prices and it's neighborhood un-pretentiousness, so out of touch with the rest of SoHo, Rabbits' seemed somehow out of time, like a nicer version of Shopsin's, back when it sat over on Morton St in my childhood.
It's not Perry St, not even Jane really. But it's simple improvised good cuisine in a neighborhood that has otherwise become largely uninspired and fixed in its food choices.
I'd check it out now, before the five or so tables-for-two and the three beige stools that make up the restaurant either draw bigger crowds or vanish into a sea of raising rents.
-Nick F.
Favorite Saturday night dinner places with no reservations
@chow_gal not a terrible recommendation, this one.
I'm not a wealthy man and am not much for fancy-schmancy dinners, but I do like to go to the low-key French Gavroche or the downscale-pretty new-American "Rabbits'" in my hood. Both very affordable and cozy, with friendly service. More my style.
Shopsins is Garbage
@frankielymon my love for them is clearly an abusive, one-sided relationship, but I can't bring myself to disavow them.
I dig the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"-inspired Soggy-Bottom Grinder, which tastes and eats like a stew-sandwich, impractical and delicious.
Then again the menu (and the staff) are so mercurial it is hard to say if such an item is still there on a given day.
I think trash might be a little harsh though. "Underwhelming" might be better.
-Nick F.
Financial District Lunch Recommendations 2010
Riotburn-
Please retry Alfanoose. The sandwiches ain't where it's at.
You gotta get the Chicken Shawarma platter with Tomato/Red Pepper Mojadara (some insanely good combination of rice/cracked wheat) lots of tahini, hummus, hot sauce (I tell them "flood the plate") and LOTS of the crispy, fried onions they have.
When I eat it, I enter a realm of food nirvana where I feel like a happy sandbag: stuffed and inert.
It is worth that feeling.
-Nick F.
Best/Cheapest PotStickers
Anyone tried the Taiwan Dumpling Cart over on Cooper Square? I found them to be pretty delish, at around 3.5 for 5.
