deam's Profile
conveyor belt sushi??
Why? Seems like a pretty typical sushi-belt place to me. Nothing special, but then again nothing particularly bad about the place. I just wished they played J-Pop instead of American pop music. It would add a little bit more to the atmosphere.
SRI closed for vacation and I need an alternative pls
Chao Thai is good but I think you might have difficulty getting seated with 8-10 people. Its a cramped restaurant.
Ayada is very good, I enjoyed it a lot. Some of the local Thai people trash talk the place, but I think that's a result of Ayada being a dollar or two more expensive then the other Thai restaurants in Woodside/Elmhurst.
Fresh Pandan?
Fresh? Just buy a little bottle of the extract. Its sold as a green liquid in a little glass jar at most Southeast Asian groceries.
Tim Hortons
Never had Tim Hortons, but I think Krispy Kreme is probably the best in the city at this point. I've compared Donut Plant and Krispy Kreme, and Krispy Kreme just tasted better to me.
conveyor belt sushi??
East is pretty respectable. Not great, but good enough. If you want a table instead of the counter on a weekend night the wait can get a little bit long.
The only real negative about East is that they don't have self-serve green tea like in Asia. I think they even charge you if you order tea.
Sripraphai overrated
There's about half a dozen "real" Thai restaurants within a mile or two of Sri.
Centerpoint which is literally a block away from Sri
Zabb
Sabay
Ayada
Ploy Thai
Chao Thai
Boon Chu
Add Indonesian to Burmese Food Fest
Do any of these stalls ever make Nasi Biryani? I've been getting a craving for some Biryani rice like I used to have in Singapore & Malaysia, but can't find it anywhere in the NYC area. Any advice as you seem to be well versed in all things Bahasa.
Zabb Astoria NOT RELATED to Zabb Jackson Heights
Papaya salad, and larb are pretty common among Northeast Thai/Laos and they are reliable stables at any Issan/Lao restaurant. Zabb makes a good version of both.
Also with Issan food as well as with Northern Thai food it is common to eat sticky rice instead of regular jasmine rice. The rice is eaten with your hand instead of with a spoon & fork. The use of sticky white rice is definitely something that sets Lao food apart from most of the rest of Asia.
Zabb Astoria NOT RELATED to Zabb Jackson Heights
I wouldn't say the Zabb in Jackson Heights is inconsistent at all. I've eaten there multiple times and have always had a good meal. As the previous poster noted, its an Issan restaurant though, which is different from Bangkok food which most people in this country associate with as Thai food.
The Issan/Lao food at Zabb is very good, and all of my Issan and Northern Thai friends enjoy the food there.
Best Jamaican in the BX?
I'd be interested in hearing about the same. Lots fo places around the 2. Not Jamaican per se, but I believe its an Indo-Trini place called Ali's Roti Shop is pretty good. Mostly a takeout place, but they have a couple of stools with window seats.
I'd also be interested in hearing about Vernon's Jerk House on 233rd. I've read mixed reviews about it.
There's aparently a somewhat gourmet Jamaican place up on the border with Mt. Vernon. I don't know if that's what you're looking for though. Most Jamaican food in the area is pretty affordable.
Barnacle BBQ in Mamaroneck?
Q is good, but pricey. If they're going to have Southern style counter service they should have Southern style pricing. The rents aren't that high in PC.
Shochu bar hatchan?
What is going on with this place? It was a Little Izakaya near Grand Central that specialized in shochu, next to the East Yakitori place. They had a fire a couple months back and closed up. Are they going to reopen the bar or change it into something else?
Kappa Sake House, 5th Ave, Brooklyn
Hagi only gets crowds because Bourdain advertised it on his show.
Kappa Sake House, 5th Ave, Brooklyn
Most Izakaya's in the city don't seem to "pack them in" outside of the ones around St. Mark's place (with Sakagura being a main exception). I think your average Izaka might be a little bit too "foreign" for your average American.
When American people think Japanese food they want California rolls or dinner theater ala Benny Hanna. Most Americans have no concept of real Japanese food (lets not even talk about Japanese liquor, thats completely off the radar for people in this country), no matter how delicious or interesting it might be, and I think thats why Izakaya's in the city seem to do a hum-drum business unless they are close to or can attract an Ex-pat Japanese clientele.
Barnacle BBQ in Mamaroneck?
Went here a couple of weeks back. The pulled pork sandwich was actually surprisingly good.
Did not expect this after reading so many negative reviews here. Which either means they are inconsistent or everyone around here has RIDICULOUSLY high standards, which is almost comical considering that we live in NY! Even down South most BBQ places are hit or miss. While it wasn't the best pulled pork sandiwch I've ever had, it was actually better than what I've had at many local chain places down South.
So for $8 the sandwich and fries wasn't such a bad deal. Their fries tasted pretty good to me. Try the sweet potato fries if you want to mix it up a little.
Looking for a Russian/Ukranian deli in Westchester/Bronx, or anywhere near.
If Brighton Beach is too far I think the Russian deli in Riverdale is one of the few options nearby.
Best Malaysian in Chinatown?
Skyway or New Malaysian. Sanur, the Doyers street place is good, but you have to eat in their dungeon.
If you get really interested in SE Asian food there are a lot more places in Elmhurst/Woodside, and some in Flushing.
Thai Delivery Eastern Jackson Heights?
Did you check Chao Thai? They deliver to 82nd street. Don't know about 92nd though.
Looking for a Russian/Ukranian deli in Westchester/Bronx, or anywhere near.
There is a Russian deli on Mosholu Ave in Riverdale. I believe they do take out food only. You should be able to find the place easily. It is up on the hill towards the end of the shops if you are coming off of Broadway. I believe there are some Russians in the Riverdale area because of the Russian UN consulate building in the neighborhood
Trip Report - Jean George, Lupa, Saravanaas, & more
You can usually get a dosa thali at these places with dosa, uttapham, vada, idili and desert.
Trip Report - Jean George, Lupa, Saravanaas, & more
I personally think Tiffin Wallah makes the best dosa in the area. I'm not an expert on South Indian cuisine, although I used to eat it a lot in SEAsia, but out of the 3 places I've tried in Curry Hill so far I'd rank them for their dosas:
1. Tiffin Wallh
2. Sarvannas Bhavan
3. Pongal (they did however make a good cup of Madrasi coffee).
midtown east dinner and drinks?
While Sakagura is great the portions are tiny, even by Japanese standards. If you want to fill yourself up for dinner you're going to have to throw down serious cash.
If you want more normal Izakaya fare in Midtown East Donburiya or Ariyoshi are much cheaper.
For Ramen Menchankotei is ok. MenKuiTei is better, but farther and a little bit more rough around the edges.
Great Indian? Not too expensive
Sarvannas Bhavan is good, but $15 for a South Indian Thali seems a little bit on the pricey side.
I've had a couple of meals at the Tiffin Wallah and I've been happy with them all.
Frankies Franks Arthur Avenue Bronx
Jersey style? As in similar to Rutt's Hut in Clifton? If so I'm game in checking it out.
Chao Thai
I believe the place downstairs from Zabb is a Thai Karaoke joint. The club/party is different, and I believe it is supposed to be kept on the d/l as its not supposed to be for farrangs ;). Is there any way of getting in touch with you except through the comments on your blog? I'm a longtime reader of chowhound, but somewhat new poster, so I don't see a private message function.
Carl's Steaks at the new Yankee Stadium
Also haven't been to the stadium, but the Carl's off of 34th street has one of the better cheese steaks that I've had in the NYC area.
Chao Thai
If you're in the area late at night on the weekends make sure to go to the thai party/club down the block and across the street. Its usually a good time and they have a thai band alternating with a DJ. The club and the karaoke place next door is why Zabb stays open till 2 am on the weekends.
Asian $1 food stands and windows on Main Street near Roosevelt Ave in Flushing
Tried the dumplings, 4 for $1. Was hoping for char siu, but the ones I got seemed to be chicken. They were good, but a little bit greasy on the inside. For $1 I shouldn't complain though.
The perfect Margarita pizza? (Bronx)
Correct. The menus are the same to my knowledge, and the bread is pretty much the same at both restaurants (meaning, it is VERY good at both). However I have heard that the Morris Park location is owned by Albanians, while the Throggs Neck is owned and staffed by (mostly) Italians.
I had an excellent evening when I went there. The food was great and the ambiance was interesting to say the least. The main benefit of the Throggs Neck location is that it is much larger than the Morris Park restaurant. The problem with Patricia's in Morris Park is that it is quite cramped.
However everything I ordered that night, the mesculin salad, hot antipasto, and linguine fra diavalo were all very good. However the wood oven cooked Margharita pizza was simply amazing. If they can replicate the quality of that pizza they have definitely won me over.
I have been to ZON, and it is great, but I honestly think I liked Patricia's more. Not only was it cheaper, but the customers seemed more like neighborhood Italian people who live in Throggs Neck. When you go to Roberto's and ZON, the food is great, but no one who eats there lives in Belmont anymore.
