fgf's Profile
Best of the UWS (a la RGB's best of LES tour)
Taqueria y Fonda on Amsterdam between 107 and 108 is the place for tacos.
Best Damn Franks
You just made me get off my couch and go Gray's on 72nd and B'way. I like them with mustard, onions and 16 oz bud cans.
What kind of dogs does Rutt's use?
Does anyone have any experience with Ikea kitchen cabinets?
Not delays... production time.
joe's shanghai
Six blocks. West on Grand to Bowery then south to Pell is easiest. Don't burn your mouth.
joe's shanghai
I've eaten at the 56th st location only once but the food, including the soup dumplings, were on par to the Pell st location, more expensive though and nowhere near the same atmosphere. I live on the UWS and go to Chinatown a lot, lately taking the 1 to 59th and transfering to the B/D to Grand and Cristie. As little as twenty minutes. Plus, once you're there if Joe's is crowded, which it often is, you can go to Yeah Shanghi or a number of other places for soup dumplings. But the 56th st loc will certainly satisfy the soup dumpling craving.
Cheap & Good Sushi on UWS
While some may argue cheap and good sushi an oxymoron, I think there is a happy medium to be found in Sushi Hana, Amsterdam and I think 83rd and 84th. Haru is a little better but considerably more expensive. That place on Columbus around 80th is also very good but more expensive. Sushi Hana is a very nice space, very comfortable and I always enjoy going there. Don't know about the cucumber without rice thing.
Columbia Univ. area
One of the better Thai restaurants in in that area, Thai Market on Amsterdam between 107th and 108th. They're not known for their noodles, but otherwise it's terrific.
Help an Englishman?
An absolute travesty recommending Rosa Mexicana for authentic Mexican. It defies good taste and common sense.
Upper West Side (or at least non Chinatown) Chinese
There have been a few decent suggestions above but the long short of it is, sorry to say, Chinese food on the UWS is mediocre at best. There are no standouts. Here's what you do: take the 1, 2, or 3 to Times Square, move to the front of the platform while waiting for the train so you can exit at 40th st. Walk one block east on 40th to Bryant Park then proceed to Szchewan Gourmet on 39th between 5th and 6th. It's perhaps the best Sichuan restaurant in Manhattan. Not really a focus on noodles, but the Dan Dan noodles are very good. For a more local noodle fix I can suggest the Drunken Noodles from Land Thai and actually the Pad Thai noodles from The Cottage don't suck.
Some people seem to like Shun Lee West. I don't particularly care for it.
Couple of Brooklyn ?s for JFores
Of the three you mention I have tried only Spicy and Tasty, being something of a Flushing novice. I think Spicy and Tasty is excellent, and there are a similarities in flavor profiles, but the overall experience is quite different. Chengdu Heaven offers a dining experience much farther outside the mainstream. Sitting in Spicy and Tasty it's rather apparent you're still in New York; in Chengdu Heaven, if your imagination allows, you could be somewhere very far away. The menu in Chengdu Heaven is more limited (I have a cheat sheet, no english), but the quality of the food and the brightness of the flavors is at least on par with Spicy and Tasty.
Couple of Brooklyn ?s for JFores
I'd just like to say that I've been to Chengdu Heaven a few times now after reading about it on this board (thanks JFores and BrianS) and I have to say - keeping in mind I have a very strong liking of Sichuan food- this is one of the best restaurants in the city. Let me be clear here, in that description I am including all restaurants; in the past two months I've been to Blue Hill, Dove Tail, L' Impero and Pepolino, along with about a dozen Chinatown restaurants, and Chengdu Heaven was by far the most enjoyable and impressive eating experience not only of the lot, but in quite a few years. I'm smitten, and I find myself on the 7 train more and more these days.
Best thai (lunch)
Thai Market on 107th and Amsterdam is currently my favorite Thai restaurant in Manhattan. Both Wondee Siam and Pam Real are good, but not quite as good.
Miss Wo Hing's Fried Dumplings
The dumplings at Prosperity on Eldridge (just North of Canal?) are similar to those you describe, without the oyster sauce. You add your own sauce, and they are very good.
E.6th street Indian food
The 6th st. Indian restaurants are mediocre at best catering to a B&T crowd, but when I can't get out of it I go to Royal Bangladeshi on 1st ave just south of 6th. They have a hidden gem of an outdoor space in back completely covered with colorful tapastries. Nice space, reasonable food and cheap.
Fairway Faves
That's very good news. Filling them with blue cheese sounds like a good idea. I usually just make a little antipasto plate with cheese and cured meat as the acidity brings it all together. I'll go there tonight, after eleven and straight from the Dublin House.
Fairway Faves
The cave aged gruyere is great, and I like the the dried fruit. In the olive section they used to carry these little red, roundish peppers which I became addicted to but I haven't seen them lately. Problem is I can only bring myself to enter the place after eleven at night and a few stiff drinks.
Best Fried Catfish?
Their version has long bean, thai eggplant, gra-chai root, green pepper corn, bird's eye chili. The place is worth a visit.
Where to stay - Parma/Modena or ????
Agreed. Also, I haven't seen much mention of Osteria Miranda on this board, but it's one of my favorite restaurants in Lucca.
midtown generic chinese
You should consider yourself lucky to now work close to Szchewan Gourmet on 39th between 5th and 6th. They're not worthy.
Best Fried Catfish?
The catfish dish at Thai Market on 107th and Amsterdam is fried, spicy and teriffic.
Where to stay - Parma/Modena or ????
A suggestion perhaps not as helpful as Parma and Modena would be Lucca, farther away but not by all that much. Tuscany, yes. It's a beautiful place, a walled city with a rich food history. A perfect place for two days.
Steak for cooking at home
Lobel's is more expensive than Citarella and probably about the same quality to price ratio. Fairway is cheaper (but you pay extra with your humanity) and once again about the same quality to price ratio. You get what you pay for I guess. If you're on the UWS I'd stick with Citearlla, and to improve on the quality to price ratio I'd stay away from the NY Strips and Rib Eyes and instead get something to braise.
Compass on the UWS ?
Perfect. Should leave time for a cocktail at O'Neals before the show.
Compass on the UWS ?
Compass is great. It's my fourth favorite restaurant on the UWS. Nice bar area and great dining room. The veal chop is teriffic.
