francesb's Profile
Good coffee (beans) in Sunset Park?
Oh! Now that I think about it, your friend could walk down 5th Avenue towards Bay Ridge. Once they get past Bay Ridge Ave, there are some Middle Eastern groceries that sell whole bean coffee (in the low 70s). I can't vouch for the quality, though.
Good coffee (beans) in Sunset Park?
I live two blocks away from your friend, and I usually bike or train to Park Slope for coffee--Stumptown at Roots Cafe, Irving Farm at Four and Twenty, or I go to Cafe 474 (?), although can't remember what kind of coffee they carry.
Old Delhi Indian Street Food?
I ate lunch there today. This is possibly the worst-designed restaurant I've ever been to.
That said, bhel puri, samosa chaat, chole kulchi, and the kashmiri chicken roll were all really good (fyi, that's WAY too much food for two people, and I'll be eating chickpeas for breakfast). The masala chai is not masala. Highly recommend.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds pies
I had the caramel apple yesterday--it's very good. I've had the salty honey, but it was so sweet it gave me heart palpitations (my friend who is less sugar sensitive loved it).
Commodore Review
The cheese burger and fries are solid. I had a corn and tomato salad--with garlic pickle in it!--that was really good (and replicable at home, more-or-less). The saltie potato salad is delicious for a few bites--bacon-y!!, but also extremely intense.
I LOVE the bourbon cooler and the trailways (grapefruit, vodka, sugar and ?)
Also, the music pleased me.
El Pollito Mexicano @ 5th and Sterling - park slope
Mediocre would be a great improvement over Mangia. I had my most vile Park Slope meal there some years ago.
Guatemalan grocery store?
Hey all,
So, I spent the summer in Guatemala, and brought back some amazing chocolate (for making hot chocolate). I have quite a bit left, but am beginning to anticipate a time when it's finished and needs replacing.
I can't find it online--are there any guatemalan grocery stores that might have it? After two years of oaxcan and guatemalan hot chocolate, I can't imagine ever going back to Ibarra.
thanks!
Can you get Birria in New York?
Casa Vieja (5th Ave between 60th and 59th) has birria in stew, not taco, form.
Rhong Tiam CLOSED
So, I called before going over there this evening just to make sure they were open, and no one answered the phone. "Eh," thought I. "They're TOO BUSY to pick up," and went over regardless.
Got to the restaurant, and saw that it's been closed by the Dept of Health. Dammit!! Ate dinner at Surya instead, but I really wanted Thai.
Schnipper's vs. Shake Shack (vs. Taylor's Automatic Refresher vs. Bobcat Bite)
I agree re Bobcat Bite's (and would say the same of Blake's Lottaburger). If you're an ex-pat New Mexican looking for a green chile fix, Schnipper's will disappoint. I'd try ordering it with double green, but even then, I don't think it's spicy enough.
Good places to live in Brooklyn based on food/bevs?
I've lived in Sunset Park for eight years, and it's pretty amazing, food-wise (as is Bay Ridge, but living on the R train is tough). Commute isn't terrible if you live off one of the express stops (59th St or 36th St). I'd say around 36th St is the better option-you've got four trains at that station, and you'll be within walking distance of that good banh mi place on 42nd and 8th. Also, you'll be a fairly easy ride away from Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and getting to Fairway is doable (M/R to 9th St, then B77 or IKEA shuttle). Fairway is BY FAR the best grocery option in Brooklyn.
Where can i get Oaxacan cheese?
There's a pretty big Mexican community in E Harlem, I'm sure its easy to get Oaxacan cheese there. Also, every grocery store in Sunset Park has it. No need to get online.
Real Sichuan food in Bay Ridge
I think they're more popular as a takeout place. Man, that's a great restaurant.
Week in NYC; Review my line up please
Re Difara--bear in mind that he sometimes closes when it's really hot. Dom has no AC, the oven is crazy hot, and he's old. I think Artichoke is the most over-hyped slice in the city.
Brooklyn Bar Crawl
There's Jackie's Fifth Amendment!! Also, to add to the list of possible casual food in Park Slope--the burgers and fries at Dram Shop are great. The burger isn't as good as Bonnie's, but their fries are better, and they have bourbon.
seasonal fruit pies in brooklyn?
I will definitely report back!
Monday was day one of the pie search. The farmer's market was pie-less. I went to Park Slope--Cousin John's had only apple-cranberry pie, which is totally not seasonal. Went to Lady Bird (or Blue Bird, whatever that place on 8th ave is called now) but they were CLOSED. Checked out Sweet Melissa, but they had only "sour cherry pistachio," which sounded a little...precious.
Tomorrow there WILL be pie. And a report immediately following.
seasonal fruit pies in brooklyn?
While I was wish i was one of those people that would simply BAKE when they are craving pie, I am not. For the last week or so, I have been dreaming about fruit pie. It's summer, so I'm thinking peach, blueberry, apricot, raspberry. Key lime is not going to meet my needs.
I do not know a single bakery that sells pie. Was at Baked earlier today, they have no pie. Was at that Brooklyn Bread whatever place on 5th Ave yesterday--they had pie, but it appeared to be made with canned fruit filling.. I require fresh fruit pie.
Is the farmer's market my only option? Surely there is a bakery that has the pie of my dreams....
thanks,
lunch in the west 50s?
Hey all,
Visiting the folk art museum today--on 53rd between 5th and 6th. Would appreciate any recommendations for nearby-ish lunch places.
Thanks in advance.
Good food AND good margaritas in Sunset Park?
The Los Pollitos in Sunset Park closed, and has been replaced by a peruvian rotisserie chicken and ceviche place. Haven't eaten there yet.
The New Santa Fe
I worked in the kitchen at Santa Fe--oh, it must have been 95... Marc was SO cheap. I made guacamole every day, and we'd save it. The following day, the guacamole from the day before got mixed into the fresh guacamole. The guacamole never, ever, got thrown out, so were it not for Katrina, the guacamole they're serving today would have molecules of 20-year old avocado.
New + Wonderful Taco Truck in Williamsburg
I remembered reading about a taco truck, and when I was in W'burg yesterday, inadvertently ended up at Endless Summer (thinking it was the good truck i'd read about). Long line for the blandest tacos I've ever had. Feh. Avoid at all costs.
I love Tacos Matamoros. Where else should I try in SP?
Speedy's (it's actually Tamales Tonchita) on 4th Ave between 59th and 60th is excellent. I don't get tacos there, i get the entrees. great costillas, and mole poblano as good as the mole I had in Puebla. Also, the employees/owner are all very friendly. Watch out for Sunday mornings, as there are frequently a couple of junkies who show up, order champurrado (which, by the way, is great) with extra sugar, and then pass out on the table, much to the consternation of the employees.
Late Night Coffee in Brooklyn
Cocoa Bar on 7th Ave between 3 & 4 (or between 2 & #). Good coffee, clean (unlike tea lounge) and no entitled bratty toddlers running around screaming (also unlike tea lounge).
Casa Vieja in Sunset Park
Glad to learn they had customers. I end up there early, and its usually pretty empty.
I totally agree about the lights--the lights and the floor are left over from when they were "Kevin's Internet Chinese Restaurant."
Anyway, my husband and I ate there yesterday. Breakfast IS cheap, and comes with a glass of orange juice. I had the french toast ($6.00) with orange glaze, sauteed bananas and walnuts. HUGE portion--the orange was subtle but I suppose it ought to be. I'm pretty sure they used Challah bread, which kind of makes me laugh.
My husband had chilaquiles verde ($7.00). They were really, really good. Note: they make them with tortilla chips, not tortillas. Service was a bit slow--a cook (not the owner) took our order, but we weren't in a rush... I think they're still getting the service together. I can't report on the coffee, as we had the chocolate caliente. Note that it's made with water (muy autentico!), not milk. I think they prob. use Ibarra or Abuela....
What's the best diner in Brooklyn?
Have only been there for breakfast, but Pegasus on 3rd `ave in Bay Ridge has fantastic home fries and pancakes.
Tony Roma's to open at Bay Terrace Shopping Center
This was my favorite restaurant when i was in elementary school! I'm totally going if it's subway accessible.
Red Hook vendor opens Sunset Park restaurant!!!
yes, it is. So, went last night but forgot to bring a pen, so can't report on the entire menu. I had a caesar salad, which was fine (freshly fried tortilla strips instead of croutons were great) and birria. the brria was delicious, very rich and lamb-y.
Red Hook vendor opens Sunset Park restaurant!!!
They're definitely only getting beer/wine license. Liquor licenses are expensive. There's a place on the other side of 5th ave, maybe a block down, where there's a full bar. But seriously, their margaritas are disgusting. I'm delighted to see that they got the write-up on the voice website.
Am heading over there for dinner now, will bring notebook and report back.
Red Hook vendor opens Sunset Park restaurant!!!
In 2006, the NY Times wrote an article about Lourdes Pena, vendor of Mexican food at the Red Hook soccer fields (full disclosure: She lives downstairs from me). This weekend, she and her husband opened Casa Vieja, at 60-07 5th Ave in Sunset Park (between 60th and 61st). In addition to the experience she brings, her husband cooked for many years at some upscale Mexican place--Rosa Mexicana, maybe? Can't remember. Anyway, we ate there tonight. Fresh guacamole ($8), cazuela de mariscos ($13)(shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams in a tomato/chipotle broth), enchiladas verde ($6), and pozole ($8).
Holy eff, the food was good. Scallops were seared before going into the broth, shellfish cooked perfectly, elegant radish dice in the pozole, bright tasting salsa verde. The dessert menu isn't available yet, but they promise platanos flameados con ron. And, in three months or so, they'll be serving beer and wine. Service kinks will be worked out, I'm sure. Servers speak English, if you need that. There was a five-piece mariachi band, but I'm not sure if that was just for the opening weekend.
They don't have a take-out menu yet, and I didn't take notes so i can't tell you everything that they have, but it's definitely a bit upscale for Sunset Park. Yes, they have antojitos and fajitas (which smelled amazing). But they also have a number of seafood entrees that hover at $20 (nothing went over), and are of the more "new" mexican type. I wish I'd taken notes. Sorry. If I go back tomorrow AM for french toast, I'll do so.
