zacfi's Profile
Looking for dinner between Robert Moses beach and Nassau Coliseum
My wife and I will be out on Long Island in a few weeks and after dropping our son off at Warp Tour at Nassau Coliseum we'll be heading to the beach, weather permitting. Since we can't spend too much time at the beach we figure we'll have a slow dinner and maybe even catch a movie. We're looking for a nice place that would be somewhere between Robert Moses and the Coliseum that isn't too far off in any direction. Any place within the rectangle that the two points create would be fine.
It could be sea food, American, steakhouse, or really any kind of food. It has to be fairly casual as we're coming from the beach after all. Are there any places along Ocean Parkway betw RM and Jones that are worth checking? I just imagine there must be a seafood place along there that's good, I just don't pay much attention when I do that drive as I am always heading home.
Where to go during a 5 day stay in Seattle
So here's where I wound up:
Quinn's as it was near my hotel and seemed to be very lively. I ate at the bar and had a lamb sausage with Couscous, washed down by a large quantity of beer.
Le Pichet, It was late on Friday (not by NY standards however) and they were the only place on the stretch that I walked that had any life left. I had a grilled pork loin that was very good, and an Alsace pinot gris that was superb. After I wrote this I saw that this was the one recommendation I got from my original post. I didn't realize it until now. It was as good as you say.
Quinn's again for a late hamburger. Very good hamburger, and more beer.
Ivar's at Safeco field, nuff said.
Beef Yakisoba at Boom, also nearby and late. Washed this down with Sake.
Lunch at El Puerco Lloron, this was always my favorite Mexican place in the 80s when I lived in Seattle.
Spuds fish and chips in Alki when I was going past on my bike. Same as I remember it.
I didn't go out for any special breakfasts, just cafe items.
And the last thing I should mention is that I brought home a Copper River Sockeye and grilled it last night and I could eat that again and again. It was sooooo much better than the usual farmed raised fish we get here in NY
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Le Pichet
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA
El Puerco Lloron
1501 Western Ave Ste 200, Seattle, WA 98101
Copper River Salmon
I had a CR Sockeye last night that I bought at Pike Place but grilled at home in Brooklyn. It may have been the only Copper River salmon in Brooklyn last night and it was great. It is much more flavorful than the usual farmed fish we get in the east. It wasn't cheap even buying it in Seattle.
Where to go during a 5 day stay in Seattle
I'll be in Seattle this coming week and I'm looking for recommendations for some decent meals beyond the tourist areas. I'm a NY'er that lived in Seattle for 8 years in the 80s, so I'm familiar with the city, but I haven't been back in a very long time.
I'm traveling by myself, and my primary purpose of being there is for cycling, and cyclists tend to get hungry, and thirsty too. I'll be staying up on Capital Hill, so I know there'll be lots of options up there, but anywhere in the vicinity of Downtown/Lake Union/Lk Wash/U dist is also OK. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be required of course, but my guess is lunch will be out on the road. Any good bars to check out in the evening would be worth a mention too.
Seafood of course should be on the menu, at least some of them. Price should be moderate, but if something is worth trying I'm not averse to spending a little. It is vacation after all. If there's an eastside place I should check out for lunch that would be appreciated too since I know I'll be over there at least once. Ethnic foods are probably not what I'm looking for as I get all the ethnic food I need here in New York, in particular Indian/Italian/Middle Eastern/Chinese. Regional takes on this however are OK, like Szechuan crab. We don't get Dungeness crab in NY
I see mention on this board of a lot of places that have been around forever, like 13 Coins. I remember hating that place when everyone else loved it. And Piecora's is still there making pizza, I was one of their early regulars as I lived near there and being a NYer felt a connection.
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13 Coins
505 5th Ave S Ste 160, Seattle, WA 98104
Randazzo's is awful
The last time I ate at Randazzos I was a teenager, and that was 35 years ago. I've never been tempted to ever go back. It must have been pretty bad. I went by it just the other day too and my comment to my brother was how bad it could be, but that's all that's left of the old Sheepshead Bay.
ISO froz. yogurt in DPark area/Midwood
I don't know for sure, but maybe there's a Tasti-Dlite on Ave J? I have a vague recollection but I could be wrong. I almost never go on Ave J, not even for DiFara's.
Mendy's comes to Midwood
I just noticed that myself on Saturday. Mendy's is also in the food court at Grand Central. I've had their pastrami and various soups there, usually half sandwhich and soup combo, and it is always good.
I didn't know that Essex had moved. I was only in there a handful of times and didn't like it compared to other kosher delis but it was close to home.
BarBQ on 3rd Av & 6 st Bkln
I went by there today on my bike and saw this place. Does anybody know anything about it? Anyone try it?
Brooklyn Burger Bar shuttering
Really. Even with 3 kids that like the place, we stopped going. It was more expensive than I thought it should be and never satisfying to the adults.
Sidecar..best burger in the slope
I went to Sidecar a few weeks ago with my twin 11yo daughters and sat at the kitchen counter. We all had burgers and I'd have to agree that they are really good. If its any indication they both finished their burgers and they are usually picky eaters.
While we're eating the owner was making fried oysters, something not on the menu. He does that towards the end of the evening so that the fresh oysters don't go to waste. He prepared one for each of us to try. Yummy.
I've been there 4 or 5 times now and always have had a great experience. And best of all, you can park in front, unlike the main restaurant row on 5th where you're lucky if you can park on this side of the Gowanus. I come from the 'burbs of Ditmas Park.
Di Fara's-getting there.
I would recommend the Q train myself. You get off the train, go down the stairs, turn left out of the station and you're there. It is right on the corner. Walking is going to be a very long proposition to go back.
However, if I were to walk, I'd recommend taking E. 14th St. north towards Prospect Park. Stay off of Ocean Ave, Ocean Pkwy or Coney Island Ave. E14th becomes Rugby Road and goes through the most beautiful part of Brooklyn in Ditmas Park and Prospect Park South, just a few blocks from Ave. J. You are talking about 5 miles of Brooklyn to cross to get back to the bridge. I wouldn't go to the Williamsburg bridge as that is far out of the way. Google map it if you want. It connects to Manhattan at the bulge and you go pretty far east.
Advice about Grimaldi's
I don't know why everyone has been so negative about Grimaldi's on this board. I'm a native Brooklynite that's been eating there for years and it hasn't changed, except for the name. Yes, DiFara's is heavenly, Totonno's is surly, and there is mediocre pizza everywhere, but I still think Grimaldi's is good. I haven't been to John's in 20 years so I don't know about them.
With 3 kids its a favorite because it is CHEAP, compared to eating decent burgers.
My only complaint about Grimaldi's over the years was that the beer was never cold enough, but they must have bought a new cooler because that hasn't been the case lately.
Sidecar on 5th ave in South Slope?
Based on this thread, and the posted menu, I figured this would be worth a trip up from Ditmas Park with my wife and 3 kids. The kids (14, 10 and 10) are pretty adventurous eaters, but still like burgers and fries. Their favorite burger place I refuse to go to anymore, Johnny Macks, and for some reason they don't like the Farm on Adderly near us even though they make a decent burger.
Everything about this place just seemed right. The decor when you walk in, the hostess, the waitress (especially nice), the music (not so loud you can't hear yourself think). And the food. My burger was perfect, charred but still rare enough even though we always order medium-well, the fries were great, the pickle was even something to mention. One daughter ordered the salmon and finished it, surprising for a kid to order fish and then actually eat it. My other daughter had the oysters with me and loved them. I thought she would have one and leave the rest to me. Oh well...
In the end every plate was cleaned, if not by the person that ordered it.
And one other thing, from Ditmas Park it is an easy trip up and then down 15th St and back on 16th. And more importantly, we parked in front. Parking down around Carroll/Garfield/First along 5th is impossible these days.
Trader Joe's Brooklyn
I went into TJs on 14th for my first visit last week and before I could even figure out what it was about, I got annoyed by all the people standing around with their carts. When I realized that was the checkout line I walked out. I will NOT be going back.
I also checked out the wine shop next door and didn't see anything there I would buy, just a lot of mass-market wines that I stopped buying years ago. I have a neighborhood wine shop (Ackerson's on Cortelyou Road Brooklyn) that carries a lot of different wines from around the world at very good prices, and they've been very reliable in their selections. I almost take it on faith now that their $15 wines will be worth it and not something you want to pour down the drain.
Al di la? Opinions & Good Night to Go?
I was there for the first time just Friday and it is as good as everyone says. We went at 6:45 and were seated immediately. This was probably the best meal I've had out in a long time anywhere.
Bronx Zoo Eats
Arthur Avenue and City Island are probably the only places to go up there. I don't know the Bronx that well so take my advice with a grain of salt. There are probably some other individual places, but nobody else responded.
Mediocrity, thy name is Grimaldi's
I'll defend them. What did you expect taking a pizza out? Fresh hot out of the oven taste?
Give me a break. You got what I'd expect, a slightly gooey, over-steamed from the package pizza.
I've been there many times with my wife and kids and we all still like it and prefer it over anything else. And I've been to DiFaras all too many times and waited there too. The square is the best anywhere. I remember when he was just the local pizza guy when I lived on Ave K a long time ago. But I could only take Totonno's once. You don't have to treat your customers like crap.
Best pastrami in Bklyn Hts/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens Area?
Is there any Pastrami in Brooklyn anymore? The only place I know is Adelman's on Kings Highway. Oh, that Glatt place on Coney Island Ave & Ave J.
All the rest seem to have closed down ages ago.
where to buy goat meat in Brooklyn
I don't know of a specific place, but I know I've seen it in Flatbush.
Best time to go to Di Fara's?
My son says to go when it's cold or snowing. Otherwise there is no good time. He went last Wednesday during the snow and didn't have to wait.
A New York Pizza Place (long) - Seattle
I can't believe that in all the years (20) I've been gone, Piecora's is still near the top of the pizza joints. There were 3 NY style joints when I lived there, Piecora, Pagliacci on U, and a place off 1st Ave towards the waterfront whose name I can't remember. Nothing else came close. Piecora's was the latest one to open, and I went by it a few months ago and was surprised it was still there. I always considered them to be the best of the three. It was 2 or 3 brothers from Queens that opened it I think, are they still there?
If you want the real thing ya gotta come to Brooklyn and try DiFara before Dominic retires.
Bar Minnow is now Brooklyn Burger Bar
Where? I'm still looking for a good Bkln bar burger.
Prepared food shop in Seattle for New Year's Eve party?
There is plenty of variety at Pike Place as already said, so that would be my choice, but I don't live there anymore. Unless the state liquor stores have gotten better I'd stear clear of them for wine. It's been a long time since I've lived there, so don't take what I say with much authority.
As for Whole Foods, I stopped going once the Fairway in Red Hook opened. I never cared for it, or their prices, and I can't imagine it's any different in Seattle.
Inexpensive but good lunch around Pike Place Market?
I ate at El Puerco Lloron in August at about 1pm on a Monday. It may not be the busiest time but I was surprised at how deserted it was for lunchtime. The food was good but there were maybe 3 or 4 tables sitting there. Is it still popular? There used to be lines there, but that was 20 years ago when I lived in Seattle. Some of the other places mentioned were also there 20 years ago. For all the change I saw in Seattle there is still a lot the same.
I also had my kids there and they didn't like it at all even though I steered them to stuff I know they like. It may be more authentic, but that doesn't mean the kids will like it.
NYC couple hoping for great budget food in Seattle
I'm glad you had a good experience. I'm also from NYC and when I visited in August we were a family of five and finding kid friendly places downtown wasn't always easy. They were always too tired to go anywhere. We wanted a decent burger one night and the hotel recommended a place that was just awful in the middle of an office building plaza. Why would a hotel send a family to a deserted place that was suitable for a casual business lunch? We had an OK seafood dinner at one of the touristy waterfront places. The kids liked it, but my crab was mediocre. At least it was lively. I kept my eyes open during the day for better places to go, but they were always too far for the totally pooped out kids, although we had a car and never left the downtown/queen anne/capital hill area.
Chow Mein-On-A-Bun at Nathan's in Coney Island
I remember those, but I don't think I ever had one. My sister always liked the lobster roll. I always just ate dogs and fries back in the 60s. I still do, as do my kids.
Do they still also have a clam bar? As many times as I've been there recently I haven't noticed.
Good places with kids that adults would like too?
I'm coming from NYC with the whole crew (2 adults, 3 kids) for a few days in Seattle before heading out to see the Northwest/Southwest, and I'm looking for a few lunch and dinner places. My kids are fairly adventurous eaters, so don't discount any place because you don't think the kids will like it. They're also pretty good in restaurants. But it can't be too expensive, and anything that isn't casual won't work either as we weren't planning on taking nicer clothes with us. I also have one kid with dairy allergy, so pizza is out. Besides, I live 1/2 mile from DiFara's in Brooklyn, the best anywhere. The kids are 13yo son and twin 9yo daughters. Cutesy/theme places never impress them, food does. (Chowhounds in the making!)
I lived in Seattle from 79 to 87, so I know my way around and we'll have a car. Surfing around I see some old familiar spots are still there (El Puerco Lloron?), but most that I used to like are gone. Besides, I was in my 20s and single at the time and didn't pay attention to family friendly spots. We'll be staying downtown, so downtown/first/capital hill/queen anne/Lake Union would be good. U district/Fremont/Ballard would be a little far unless we were already there.
Any suggestions?
And one other question. Where do you go for good coffee? I think my hotel is at 7th and Pine and a nice early a.m. walk would be good. There's a Starbucks on every corner in Manhattan and I was hoping for something different.
Bar B Q South Slope - I am sorry for hating your guts - I was wrong
I ate there with the family a few months ago. While I would have gone back, the kids didn't like it at all, and it wasn't so great that I'd force them there.
But just this past week, with the kids all at camp, I thought about it as a place to go without them. My conclusion, along with my wife's, was that it wasn't worth it. Why the plastic? Why did the staff make it feel like they were doing you a favor? It just didn't appeal to me. It wasn't as if the place was so busy either, it was basically empty. I couldn't quite figure out where they made there money, except it was early dinner and maybe they got a late crowd. They're not exactly in the middle of what's happening in the slope either.
Maybe a real BBQ joint in the south or Texas or wherever serves food this way, but this is NY.
Nice experience at Di Fara's
Had the chance to go over with my son a few weeks ago and had one of each. We were actually in and out pretty quickly. Divine. My son goes once a week during the school year since his guitar teacher is right next door, above one of the kosher places. It's pretty amazing to me that people visiting from out of town shlep all the way to Ave. J for pizza. I live on E. 15th St a few blocks away and I never go.
