Birthday dinner in Williamstown

Hi everyone,
My family will be taking my New York City born-and-bred mother for a 75th birthday weekend in Williamstown mid-June. I'm wondering if anyone might recommend a good place for earlyish dinner on the Saturday night -- it would be a party of 9, including a couple in their 70s and a couple of reasonably well-behaved kids ages 9 and 6. We're looking for someplace celebratory but not overly formal, with good, fresh food and a comfortable atmosphere, ideally not too loud. And one of us is a vegetarian. Price is no object, but as I said, we're not looking for anything very formal. Any ideas?

motl in Southern New England

Metro Cafe in Sunset Park

Thanks for the link. Based on that, and the above reports (and my own experience there) it seems that the Chongqing chicken is a winner -- and the mapo tofu a loser. I'm looking forward to trying the kung pao shrimp, and the homemade Shanghai noodles. And I do recommend the spicy beef tendon.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Metro Cafe in Sunset Park

Lan Sheng is truly awesome, superior to Szechuan Gourmet in my opinion.

Sorry to hear your meal at Metro Cafe wasn't so good -- though it does seem we converge on the excellence of the Chongqing chicken. We didn't have the mapo tofu or the ox tongue, so I can't speak to them, but I'm glad to be warned off the mapo tofu as I would have gotten it the next time. I'm certainly willing to believe that Grand Sichuan House is better, but I live closer to Metro Cafe, and given the meal I had there today, I'm glad it's there.

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Szechuan Gourmet
135-15 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11354

Grand Sichuan House
8701 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

motl in Outer Boroughs

Metro Cafe in Sunset Park

Just wondering why there hasn't been more talk about the Metro Cafe on this board. (Is it due, perhaps, to its unaccountably non-Sichuan name?) I had lunch there today for the first time with two companions, all of us reasonably serious Sichuan-appreciating trenchermen, and we all found the food, without exception, to be quite good. Of special note was the beef tendon in hot sauce, which was different from other versions of the dish I've had in the past -- the texture more supple and less firm, with a smoky, almost bacony quality, and the sauce pleasingly firey but also ever so slightly sweet. Also notable was the Chingqong chicken, showered in three types of peppers: dried red chilies, Szechuan peppercorns, and charred grilled fresh green chilies. Really delicious, perhaps even comparable (though hard for me to say definitely, as I've only been there the one time) to the Grand Sichuan House of Bay Ridge. As one of the only, if not the only, Sichuan restaurants on Eighth Avenue, it seems to me that Metro Cafe is worthy of note; it's certainly a place I'll be going back to in the future.

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Grand Sichuan House
8701 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Metro Cafe
4924 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

motl in Outer Boroughs

Best coffee - Cobble hill, Carroll Gardens, Heights, Slope, etc?

Cafe Martin on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope makes a beautiful cappuccino.

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Cafe Martin
355 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

motl in Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn Blackout Cake in Brooklyn

Ladybird's blackout cake really is good; it's our family's go-to cake for all occasions.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn Egg Creams

I agree with you, addicted. That's the way I make it, too. Making it the way the guy in the video does tends to create a brownish foam on top, not the striking white head that you want.

motl in Outer Boroughs

French Onion Soup

What with the freezing weather and all, I'm craving a delicious bowl of French onion soup tonight. Wondering if there's a nice bistro somewhere between, say, BAM and GAP that might have such a thing? Is Ici the place to go, or is there somewhere else I'm not thinking of?

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Ici
246 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

motl in Outer Boroughs

How are the noodle soups at Xi'an Foods?

Cumin lamb noodle soup: outstanding. Hard to imagine many things better on a day like today.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Greenwich Village ice cream sundae

Wow, that's really helpful -- thanks a lot! We've had the olive oil gelato at Otto's -- it's amazing. We're having dinner elsewhere tonight, and just wanted a place to stop into for a quick sundae before the movie. I think Emack and Bolio's will be just the ticket. Thanks again!

motl in Manhattan

Greenwich Village ice cream sundae

Is there a place in or around the Village to get a great ice cream sundae? It's my wife's birthday today, and she's got a hankering. We'll be heading to the Angelika afterwards.

motl in Manhattan

Best Blackout Cake

I just ordered Ladybird's Brooklyn Blackout Cake for my son's birthday party. It's got chocolate pudding in the middle, not buttercream -- and was just as moist and delicious as always.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Oneg Heimishe Bakery Williamsburg; Amazing Chocolate Bread

I haven't tried this particular babka -- though I mean to now -- but for what it's worth, I've always been very partial to the chocolate babka made by Strauss Bakery on 13th avenue in Boro Park. Has anyone else tried it?

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Strauss Bakery
5115 13th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219

motl in Outer Boroughs

Birthday dinner in Lenox

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful replies -- I checked out all the places you suggested on line, and then I went ahead and made a reservation at Alta. It looks like it'll be just what we need -- great food, not too formal, with at least one dedicated vegetarian option. Really looking forward to it as part of our celebration weekend.

Thanks again, everyone -- if you ever want recommendations for Brooklyn, I'll be happy to oblige!

motl in Southern New England

Birthday dinner in Lenox

Hi everyone,

My family will be taking my father for a 75th birthday weekend in Lenox at the beginning of October. We'll be staying at a b&b in Lenox, and also going to the theater in Lenox on Saturday night. I'm wondering if anyone might recommend a good place for a pre-theater dinner that night -- it would be a party of 9, including a couple in their 70s and a couple of reasonably well-behaved kids ages 7 and 4. We're looking for someplace celebratory but not overly formal, with good, fresh food and a comfortable atmosphere, ideally not too loud. And oh yes, one of us is a vegetarian. Price is no object, but as I said, we're not looking for anything very formal -- no candles and white tablecloths. Might such a place exist? Many thanks if you can suggest anything!

motl in Southern New England

First time to Hunan House tomorrow...3 People--"Must try" recommendations

A second nomination for Chairman Mao's Pork. One of my favorite dishes in all of New York. As someone in our group said, "They're like beautiful pork-flavored marshmallows!"

motl in Outer Boroughs

Downtown Manhattanite moving to Park Slope

Glad to help. Give Taro a try, see what you think. The decor is pretty terrible -- basically non-existent -- but I think the sushi is quite good. I've only been to Congee Village once, and only ever had congee there, so I can't adequately compare the two; but I do think Lucky Eight is consistently splendid. Ba Xuyen is the real deal, for sure; basically they only do one thing -- banh mi -- and they do it superbly; the Classic #1 banh mi is one of my all-time favorite dishes, anywhere. As for Thai, maybe Song is your best bet, but I have to say I've never been happy with any of the Thai places I've tried, here or in Manhattan for that matter. The food always seems too sweet to me, too designed to appeal to "American" tastes. I vividly remember the first time I went to Sripraphahai and suddenly realized what it was I had been looking for all that time.

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Lucky Eight
5204 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

motl in Outer Boroughs

Downtown Manhattanite moving to Park Slope

This is obviously a large post, but as a long-time Park Sloper, I'll do what I can to start the replies to it. (By the way, for what it's worth, I also used to live in the East Village, and I find the general quality of life to be far better in Brooklyn than in Manhattan, and I know I'm not alone in that feeling -- so welcome to the neighborhood, I think you'll be happy here.)

You mentioned that you like al di la (I certainly concur in that), but you may or may not know that they also have a wine bar attached to it, al di la vino, where you can sample a selection of Venetian tapas with the wines, all of which are selected by Emiliano, the co-owner. Really a lovely experience.

For Cantonese I highly recommend Lucky Eight in Sunset Park, about which there have been lots of posts. I especially love the Peking Pork Chop and the "Pride of Lucky Eight," but I find the food to be remarkably consistent in its deliciousness. There are also a number of good dumpling shops in Sunset Park. I like Prosperity Dumpling, on 8th at 43rd street, but again, check the posts and you'll find other contenders.

General consensus is that the best sushi in the neighborhood is to be found at Taro on Dean Street near Flatbush. I would classify it as a below-$30 place, but if you order the omakase you'll end up spending more than that.

Best burgers are at Bonnie's on Fifth near 1st. I especially love the sauteed jalapenos as a topping.

Best banh mi is unquestionably at Ba Xuyen, again in Sunset Park on 8th at 42nd. Not just the best banh mi in Bklyn -- best in the city.

Best New American? Hmm. Some people might say Applewood. Would Stone Park also be considered New American? That's already on your list.

For felafel in the immediate surroundings I like Mr. Felafel on Seventh Avenue, but I have to admit, it's not as good as that incredibly cheap place -- I forget the name -- on St. Mark's Place in the East Village. But you're not at all far from Atlantic Avenue, where there are a million places; again, check the posts. The Fountain Cafe is excellent cheap Lebanese fare. The Yemen Cafe is also supposed to be excellent, but I haven't eaten there myself. And Sahadi's, of course, is a gold mine for Middle Eastern staples, from olives to preserved lemons to spices to halvah. (For fresh pita bread I go to the bakery next door.)

You didn't mention pizza, but I'll do a gratuituous shout out here to Lucali's on Henry Street in Cobble Hill. Outrageous pizza and calzones.

Thai is a problem. Korean is a problem. I'll be interested to hear if you get any suggestions.

That's a start!

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Sahadi's
187 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Lucky Eight
5204 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Applewood
501 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Stone Park Cafe
324 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Great Taste Dumpling
4317 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

motl in Outer Boroughs

Sunset Park Chinese grocery

Thanks so much, Tex; that's exactly the sort of info I was looking for. Hong Kong Supermarket sounds like a great grocery, and having a butcher and fresh produce right on site only adds to the experience. I can't wait to check it out! Thanks again.

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Hong Kong Supermarket
6013 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

motl in Outer Boroughs

Sunset Park Chinese grocery

I'm looking to stock up the pantry with some of the necessities for Chinese cooking -- items like rice wine, dried black mushrooms, fermented black beans, hot bean paste, etc. Is there a good large Chinese grocery in the Sunset Park area that would have them?

motl in Outer Boroughs

Knives Sharpened in Brooklyn?

There are actually two knife-sharpening trucks, one green and one red. I used the red truck for years, because I liked the convenience of it, and the old-school idea of it (I also get my seltzer delivered via truck), and because I love Dominic, the irascible, swearing Puglian who owns the red truck. But eventually I stopped because it was awfully expensive ($25 or so for four good-sized blades), and because I felt that the knives didn't hold the edges for long. I also tried Cook's Companion, which I liked, but it's also not cheap, and I had to shlep over there and leave my knives overnight.

So, after years of this, here's what I finally did: I purchased the Chef's Companion electric knife sharpener (at Williams-Sonoma in Chelsea, but they're also for sale on Amazon) and now I do it myself. It takes about 30 seconds per knife, you can do every knife in your cabinet (including the serrated ones), and you can do the sharpening whenever you need it. The sharpener costs about $130, which is a big initial outlay, but certainly saves you money in the long run. And the result, if I do say so myself, is a sharper edge than you get from either the truck or the store.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Just moved to Park Slope - where to eat and buy food?

I'll handle number 2: The best place for burgers and beer is Bonnie's, on Fifth Avenue between 1st and Garfield.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Banh Mi other than Manhattan

By general consensus, the best banh mi in Brooklyn can be found at Ba Xuyen, which is on 8th avenue and 42nd street in Sunset Park. (My personal favorite is the classic #1, but there are other options.)

Banh mi can also be found in Flushing, Queens (for instance, on the upper level of the Golden Mall on Main Street), but I don't have recommendations for where to find the best. Perhaps other Chowhounds do.

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Ba Xuyen
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Golden Shopping Mall
41-28 Main St, Queens, NY 11355

motl in Outer Boroughs

Looking for Apple Cider Donuts

They do have apple cider donuts -- plain and with sugar -- at the Grand Army Plaza farmers' market on Saturdays. Don't remember the name of the stand, but it's the first one immediately on the right as you enter from Prospect Park West, the one with lots of varieties of apples. They're not the best apple cider donuts I've ever had, but they're tasty enough -- my kids go crazy for them.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Best PIZZA in the USA

Did I say Joe's? My bad -- I was thinking about a place I used to go to years ago in Northampton. It's Sam's, of course -- 238 Court Street, at Baltic. Necessary caveat: The pizza there is pretty close to sublime, but everything else on the menu is terrible.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Best PIZZA in the USA

This is the sort of nonsensical list so beloved by journalists and their editors because it gets people to read it (to see if their personal favorite "made the list") and inevitably creates controversy -- and thus additional readers -- because people feel obliged to argue the pros and cons of the various choices. At root it's deeply egotistical (one man presuming to render objective judgments on a subjective question) and it's also nonsensical because it ignores all the different variables of taste involved. Does one prefer a thin, cracker-like crust, or one slightly thicker? Sicilian or Neapolitan? Does one like charring, or not? Does one like lots of cheese, or only a little? Olive oil drizzled on top, or not? And so forth. ("Anna Karenina" or "Ulysses" -- which is the "better" book?) Plus, the journalist will inevitably sprinkle a few surprises into his list -- again, to add controversy -- and make sure to create a proper geographic distribution to bring as many readers as possible on board. Imagine a list where the top five pizzas, say, were all from New York, and think about how that would go over.

Having said all this, I'm a great fan of DiFara's, Totonno's, and Lucali's, and will argue with great passion that the pizza made by Joe's of Court Street is as underrated as any in the five boroughs.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Ploughman's lunch

Thanks for your nice reply. It's interesting -- the ploughman's lunch you describe at Chip Shop is actually more like the ones I remember from Somerset (minus the mesclun, of course!) than the ones you had in London. They usually comprised, as you say, 2-3 types of strong cheese (usually including one Stilton and one local Cheddar), thick slabs of crusty white bread, slices of apple (from the wonderful local orchards), pickled onions, cornichon or pickle relish, and maybe some grape tomatoes. And yes, served on a wooden cutting board. How I miss them!

I'll check out the Chip Shop rendition, for sure, but I'll also be interested to hear if there are others around.

motl in Outer Boroughs

Ploughman's lunch

My wife and I were just reminiscing about great ploughman's lunches (bread, cheese, cornichons, pickled onions, etc.) that we had while vacationing in the southwest of England. Are there any places in Brooklyn or thereabouts that put out a good ploughman's?

motl in Outer Boroughs

Park Slope cheap eats near 5th and Union?

These are all good suggestions. Let me also put in a mention for Zuzu Ramen, on 4th and Degraw (I think). You can get a really good, huge bowl of spicy green curry ramen with pork and vegetables for 10 bucks. And while you're at it, their starter of steamed bbq pork buns with a sweet-spicy dipping sauce is one of the most insanely delicious dishes I've had anywhere in the Slope.

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Zuzu Ramen
173 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

motl in Outer Boroughs