hercules q. einstein's Profile
Quesadillas from the cart at Roosevelt/61st, Woodside
The Shangri-La cart was back at it's usual spot on 73rd yesterday - I noticed it on my way home (6pm) and had to force myself to keep walking and not buy momo - I've become a little obsessed with them.
Dinner between Holbrook and Queens
Hi, You might want to also post this on the Tristate Region board. It has a lot more posts on Long Island. Hope you find someplace delicious.
Recs for Blue Smoke?
Their burger is on my "top 3" list. I have never ordered bbq there because I love the burger so much.
I'm not a big mac & cheese fan, but theirs is one I will actually order (too big for one person).
Tourist Traps to Avoid
Junior's. Delmonico's (do tourists go there?). It's more "old and tired" than tourist trap, I guess. In Brooklyn, Grimaldi's. I can't believe how much worse it's become in just a couple of years.
The Atlantic Antic Recap - hits and misses
I had one of the grilled sausages from Downtown Atlantic/Los Paisanos butchers. It was great.
My only disappointment was the bakery that sells the pies - I can't remember the name but it had the word "Southern" in it and was near Smith St if I recall correctly. They had regular pies and mini sweet potato and pecan pies. I bought a small key lime and a mini sweet potato to bring home for later. They were absolutely inedible. The sweet potato had no flavor and soggy crust, but the key lime was just gross. It had an overpowering baking powder or soda taste. It is a rare occassion that I throw uneaten sweets away - and I threw both pies away after a couple of bites.
Other than that - what a great street fair! I've lived in the area for 5 years but am usually out of town for it. From now on I will make an effort to attend - it was a blast. So different from all of the cookie cutter festivals around the city. I went on the early side (11:30) and it was not too crowded - much easier to navigate than in the afternoon.
Carroll Gardens delivery options
I like Chance too. For Indian, I prefer Raga over the other options in the area. It's not fabulous, but it can be pretty good and the guys who work there are so nice. Just stay away from the samosas.
Red Hook Ballfields, until Oct 21, YEAH!
That is great news! Thanks for letting us know...
Good/Great Food for under three dollars
I'd have to add the prosciutto balls from Joe's Superette in Caroll Gardens (Smith and 1st). You can get 6 for $3.00.
Whole Cardamom Pods?
Thanks everyone! Now if I could just manage to get myself over there when they're open...
Whole Cardamom Pods?
Does anyone know where I can buy whole cardamom pods in the Boerum Hill area? Sahadi's? I tried to stop by last night but I forgot they closed 7pm. Thanks.
Cheap, Everyday Eats in Carroll Gardens
The Thai and Indian places are generally cheap. I like EM better than Joya and Raga is my favorite Indian in the area (Bergen and Smith). I'm not sure what you consider cheap, but I really like Apartment 138 (also near Bergen & Smith). They have a ton of entrees in the $9 range. Chance (slightly upscale Chinese fusion) has a great lunch special. People here always talk about Joe's Superette and their rice balls. I guess it's a deli - I don't know how to categorize it, but it's an interesting place (Smith St. near 1st).
Dinner in the Boerum/Carroll/Cobble/Atlantic area
I'm also on Bergen and Bond. Another option to the Smith St. places is to walk up to Atlantic Ave and go to Downtown Atlantic. It's consistently good and make sure to get some cupcakes to take home. It's on Atlantic between Hoyt and Bond.
One Girl Cookies off Smith St - What a scam!
I did too, Engineer. I've been there three times, and each time the person behind the counter was snotty for no reason. The cookies there aren't good enough for me to bother giving them another chance.
Delivery Options, BoCoCa.
Welcome to the neighborhood. For Indian, I would go with Raga. There are plenty of options but they seem to be the most consistent. For Thai, my favorite is Em Thai. I know lots of people really like Joya, but I've never eaten there. I really like Chance. It's Chinese with a twist. But beware, it's not as cheap as most Chinese take-outs - it's a nice sit-down restaurant and the prices reflect that. Italian: I never order Italian for delivery because it's one of those things I prefer to cook myself or eat in a restaurant. But I think people here swear by Fragole. For Middle Eastern try Zaytoon's or Bedouin Tent. I think Zaytoon's is better. I can't think of one decent place for typical Chinese food. They are all mediocre or worse.
Now for pizza. I hope someone else responds, because I would love to find a good pizza delivery place and so far I've been disappointed. I'm talking about regular old pizza, not brick or coal oven - for that I'd go with Savoia or Lucali.
Jessie's Brooklyn Kitchen?
Is it a restaurant or a place to buy prepared foods to cook at home? I heard both and I'm not sure which is correct. Thanks.
Hoorible Experience at Antares Cafe in Greenport
I agree, JGS. The worst thing that could happen to the North Fork would be to turn into the Hamptons. I grew up in Cutchogue and every time I go back for a visit I'm surprised by how "quaint" and touristy it's becoming.
Chance on Smith
I love Chance. I'm addicted to their sweet sesame beef. I usually go there for dinner or get delivery, but if I recall correctly they have a good daily lunch special. I've had great service every time I've gone.
Donna da vin
I ordered the sliders when I was there and they were very good. I can't remember what my friends had, but they enjoyed their entrees. Sadly, neither of them were impressed by the wine. I was drinking beer so I can't really comment, although I had a sip of my friend's wine and it tasted like vinegar. The back garden is lovely and the service was friendly and efficient.
Sequoia in Georgetown ... is it really THAT bad?
I agree with everyone that it's mediocre at best. I used to work across the street and would dread it when we had a business lunch there - mainly because the service was so slow and indifferent. When my best friend got married, she had her rehearsal dinner in a private room there. I was shocked: the service was great and the food was really good, much better than usual. I guess we just lucked out and got a good chef that night.
Good Cupcakes in NYC
My preference would be for Downtown Atlantic in Boerum Hill (Atlantic between Hoyt and Bond). I've tried them a number of times and haven't been disappointed.
I guess people have realized Magnolia is overrated. It seems like it's only tourists there now. I admit I always liked their banana pudding. I wouldn't go back even if the cupcakes were great - consistenly rude service means they don't get my business.
Cabana's, SS Seaport
The Seaport location is better than the one uptown. It's pretty good, nothing fabulous. It gets crowded and is very touristy. My main complaint is that they have bathroom attendants - so pretentious and unnecessary.
Kustard King Alternatives?
Whatever happened to Carvel? I think a store would do good business in a busy neighborhood. Do they just not exist any more? I know supermarkets sell the cakes, but I'm talking about the stand-alone stores of days past.
Cheap authentic Italian?
I used to work near the Pines of Florence and went often. However, the last time we were there my sister found a molar in her pasta! I will never forget the look on her face and I don't think I've laughed so hard since. Oh, and they gave her a replacement meal (which she couldn't bring herself to eat) and tried to charge her for the molar-pasta. Granted, it was 10 years ago, so I won't advise anyone against eating there.
Any suggestions for cheap, relatively quiet, non-ostentatious places in lower lower manhattan for drinks, food?
For cheap (and fabulous) pizza, try Adrienne's Pizza Bar on Stone Street. It's not really quiet, but I bet it would be ok on a Monday night. They have a bar, too. I would generally stick to Stone Street. For quiet, but not terribly cheap, Cassis on Stone is very good. There are lots of options all just a few doors away from each other. Ulysses is average, but cheap. It can get crowded and loud, but not on a Monday in the dead of winter..
How to fight the night binge impulse?
I agree with the post about brushing your teeth. In a similar vein, I find it helpful to spray some sort of room fragrance spray - the scent of something floral or woodsy usually kills my desire to eat an entire pint of ice cream. Usually!
Supertasters Unite!
Oh, that is interesting. I'm a supertaster (lots of tastebuds) and I love creamy food. Especially if it's bland and high-fat, like ice cream. However, I hate fatty meat and gag if I accidentally eat some. I despise bitter foods and seafood and also have major issues with texture. I can't tolerate mushrooms, zucchini, the evilness that is okra - basically anything that is slimy.
Our tastebuds die off as we get older, and I've noticed that I can eat some things that I couldn't eat as a kid. Mainly pungent foods like onions and a few slimy things like avocado and eggplant. I think I will always have an aversion to bitter things.
Oh, and I don't like red wine that has a lot of tannens. It makes my mouth pucker!
Unfortunate foreign food names or brands
I remember a candy called AIDS that they stopped producing in the 80s for obvious reasons.
Not food, but when I lived in Taiwan they sold "Darkie" brand toothpaste with a horrible caricature in blackface on the tube. I never got used to seeing it in the drugstore.
