mjps2's Profile
Street corner tamales in San Francisco?
Thanks, Windy! This is even better because their San Miguel restaurant will soon be in my new 'hood.
Street corner tamales in San Francisco?
Thanks, everyone! This is great help.
By the way, it's not that I think they taste better than food carts - it has nothing to do with flavor, it's just that getting to those carts is not always as convenient for me, and they're often not open during breakfast, that's all. I think it's great that people are able to "go legit" and that there are good mechanisms in place to do that here.
The store options in the Mission are something I didn't think of - a great solution!
Thanks again
Street corner tamales in San Francisco?
When I lived in NYC, I remember the glee I felt whenever I came across the lady selling tamales in the morning on a street corner not far from my apartment. She would sell them out of a bucket, they were obviously homemade, and she would be gone by 7:30am. She wasn't there every day, and I'm sure it wasn't legal, but those tamales were good.
Are there any of these secret tamale sellers in SF on neighborhood street corners selling tamales, preferably in the morning (and perhaps out of a bucket?)
I don't mean that tamale lady that goes from bar to bar selling her food late at night, nor am I necessarily looking for a food cart - and I know about the ones at Alemany and of course there's Primavera at the Ferry Building. But what about weekdays? and in what neighborhoods?
Moroccan bread in NYC?
Ever since I returned from a few weeks in Morocco, I've been craving the bread that was ubiquitous with every meal I ate there.
It was wonderful; it eagerly soaked up sauces but was dexterous enough to be used to transport pieces of food to your mouth.
Does anyone know where I can find this bread? It's typically round and flat, although not a flatbread, and not as flat as pita.
I've tried Sahadi's and Damascus Bakery.
Other ideas?
Another Portland "one night" request, but slightly different...
Thank you for the post, and for the report back. We are headed to Portland tomorrow from NYC and want much the same food experience you had. I appreciate the tips and the reviews!
Please help with my (long) random list of places to try
Been to Crema twice - it rocked my world once and was great (but didn't rock my world) the other time. The staff is wonderful, and the food delicious. It's a nice alternative to, and equidistant from, either Rocking Horse (Chelsea) or Rosa Mexicano (Union Square).
Mexican or Greek - hidden finds?
I second both of these places - for different fare. Both are among the most authentic I've tried here in NYC.
T&F La Mexicana does just about everything well, but there can be a long wait to get in. Once in, try the tortas, the tacos dorados, or any of the main courses on the entree menu. The students that eat here always get burritos. I'm sure they're fine, but what a waste when the rest of the food is authentic and delicious. I get their tortas delivered about once a week - the meat is good quality.
Noche - the chalupas and chilequiles are excellent here. The tortas not so much. Tacos are good in both places.
For the best tacos in the nabe, though, go to the famed Super Taco truck on 96th and broadway.
Community Food & Juice
Now that this place has been around a couple months, what do people think of it?
I want to like it, I really do. Some of the food is excellent, some has been just fine, but I feel it's a little overpriced and I have never left feeling completely wowed by things there.
I also have never ever ever had a good experience with the hostess(es) - several different times (with different hostesses) they skipped my name & claimed they had called me despite the fact that I had been standing in front of them the whole time. I'm willing to overlook this, as well as the waitstaff's mispronunciation of food items (I counted 3 different examples on one recent visit). Their beer list seems nice, but the wine list seems dull and lacking - and they were out of all but 2 by-the-glass red wines on Friday night, so I had to settle for a very mediocre Beaujolais (pronounced "Boo-joo-lay" but the waitress.
What do other people think? It's always packed, I like the vibe, I like the quality of food. I will keep trying until I am swayed one way or another.
where to find fresh kaffir lime leaves in nyc
So the Thai grocery on Mosco St. no longer has them? That's where I always got my stash... any word on how/why the source dried up and if there are plans on being able to get them again?
Carne on the UWS is now Toast
Yes, that's essentially what our server told us. Carne was just "breaking even" so they decided to make it another outpost of the much more popular Toast.
Same menu as uptown, as far as I could tell.
Carne on the UWS is now Toast
Grand opening today... Carne on 105th and Broadway, long a cheeseburger standby favorite of mine, seems to have become a second outpost of Toast, also long a cheeseburger standby favorite of mine. The original Toast is still around further uptown on Broadway. I found Carne to be inconsistent on other items, but I live much closer to it than Toast so I went there more often. I will report back!
Wagamama equivalent in NYC?
I like Republic , and I agree too it's probably the closest you'll get. Communal tables, decent food, yes. Still, not quite as fun of an experience as Wagamama.
A very difficult challenge / request for the hounds
HLing, my mouth is watering! Thanks for the review. I have often walked by on my way home from the Citerella on 125th, but never paid much attention. I will next time!
To the OP - I live in the nabe, and my favorite lunch in the area is a croque monsieur at Le Monde, on 113th and Broadway. I also enjoy lunch at the Thai Market mentioned above - they have a nice lunch special - 108th and Amsterdam. The lunch menu at Community Food & Juice looks interesting, but I have only had brunch there - a good brunch, though. Pisticci, mentioned by HLing, has gone downhill in my opinion. I used to love it, now I think it's just OK - or maybe I was there on an off night recently.
I also agree with everything Ballulah says above.
Let us know where you end up!
Street food on the UWS
This is about right - I asked last weekend. By 9am, though, they are often almost out. They aren't there on Sunday, either. I like the pork with green sauce the best.
I tried the atole last weekend too (cornmeal and chocolate drink) but I didn't really like it. Still, I liked that it was there.
Also, there's a new halal cart on 110th and Broadway I've seen, but have not tried it yet. There is a rumor that a cart related to the famous cart on 53rd and 6th will soon be opening in the 110s and B'way as well.
Columbia's daily rag put out something about this about 2 weeks ago.
http://www.columbiaspectator.com/?q=node/28089
Mermaid Inn UWS
Went last weekend - will not go back unless I start to read decent things about it here.
8:30 rezzie. Seated fairly promptly. Service was spotty. Patrons were only slightly obnoxious, but I can put up with that. Sat in the back room, which was quieter and cozier. Had a nice gingery cocktail, but was done in a few sips.
SO ordered the shrimp cocktail (limp shrimp, sauce was decent) and I had the oysters and sausage (two of my favorite things in the world, combined) which was only so-so. SO had the pasta with a salad which was well sauced and seasoned, and frankly much better than my skate, which was overcooked and tasted only of salt - wayyyy too much salt. Wine list was jsut ok - not terribly inspired at all.
I was disappointed - although I never ate at the EV location, a friend I trust really likes it and I had hopes this would be a nice addition to the UWS. It's not.
Best Chinese Delivery on UWS
Yup. The only one left is in the East Village on St. Marks. Needless to say, I've been going down to the EV a lot more than I normally do.
Best Chinese Delivery on UWS
Yes. Alas, Grand Sichuan on 51st and 9th is closed.
Looks to be replaced soon by an "Indian bistro" based on signage I saw last week.
It's Septembe"R" - Oysters!
There is an Oyster Festival this Saturday in Riverside Park at 103rd Street to celebrate the return of the "R" months.
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/upcoming_events/events.php?id=32767
Sounds like fun.
I, too, still adhere to the "R" rule. Mostly for nostalgia, I suppose.
Good, authentic Mexican in Manhattan?
As another Chicago ex-pat living in NYC, I feel your pain, joeyz. I've also traveled a bit in Mexico seeking out the best food (is there any other kind of travel, really?).
I second Taqueria y Fonda. Their tortas are the best I've found so far in the city. It gets a lot of Columbia students seeking burritos, which is too bad. Their other dishes are far more flavorful and authentic. It helps that I live only a few blocks away.
In the same neighborhood, a bit further south, is Noche Mexicana at 102nd and Amsterdam. Don't be put off by the bagged chips they serve you, their chalupas and chilaquiles are some of the best in the city. Service can be slow and spotty however.
I'm also a fan of El Paso Taqueria on the east side, on 97th between Madison and Park. Great chilaquiles there as well.
In Spanish Harlem, I like El Tapatio on 116th just east of 3rd Avenue - wonderful Pozole. I haven't explored as much of this area as I would like but I suspect many gems can be found here.
Mexican Independence Day is coming up (Sept 16th) and in previous years there has been a wonderful street fair on 116th between 2nd and Lex where many, many food vendors set up shop. I stumbled upon it a few years ago and it reminded me of the street festivals in Mexico City.
And then there is the Sobres y Ruedas taco truck on 96th and Broadway, which you've already discovered. Best for tacos and tamales, I think. But you already know about that.
Best Chinese Delivery on UWS
Can you tell me what you like to order at Pearls? I've seen it recommended before but I've ordered from there and didn't think it was all that. No better than Ollie's, really (and I'm just looking for *slightly* better. I am willing to give it another shot, though.
I also tried dining in there, but I realized it's a free wine place, and the crowd was there only for that - mostly Columbia seniors (I hope) looking to get drunk. Not a good scene so I left.
Hard-to-find things on the UWS
The UWS is ideal for me in so many ways... but hard-to-find food stuffs is still a problem. I'm surprised, though, about not finding the Grafton smoked cheddar. I'd try Zabars or ask at the Fairway cheese counter.
Restaurants you love that are rarely mentioned on Chowhound
I third Nook! What a gem. Love it there.
what to eat @ cookshop
I second the fried hominy.
And to the OP - I think cookshop will be a nice choice for a good meal in a very pleasant environment.
NYers- what restaurants would you defend no matter what?
Shake Shack (Chicago dogs in NYC...)
Prune
Grimaldi's
Where can I buy curry leaves - UWS?
Thanks for the ideas. I did try this - stopped at 2 different Indian restaurants on my way home from work and both looked at me funny when I asked if they might sell me some curry leaves from their kitchen.
I ultimately decided to omit them from my recipe and had a fine meal anyway.
Thanks for all the suggestions and I'll definitely have to look into the 8th avenue suggestion some other time!
Where can I buy curry leaves - UWS?
I don't want to trek down to Kaluystan's after work tonight only to head back home to the Upper West Side. It's in the opposite direction.
But I have my heart set on cooking a meal that involves curry leaves.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Pam Real Thai - what a disappointment
I ate here a few weeks ago, and brought a friend who had been to Thailand and to whom I boasted that this was very good Thai food in Manhattan, a recommendation I've made to others as well. Boy, was I embarrassed.
I hadn't eaten at Pam Real for about a year (or possibly longer - they didn't have a liquor license last time I was there, and I can only think that the food has gone seriously downhill. I think it was inconsistent before (but what they did well, they did very well); this time it was consistently bad, and I'll never go back. Too bad. That, along with Grand Sichuan International, were my two Hell's Kitchen standbys.
Why can't NY understand the croissant?
Speaking of UWS, don't forget Silver Moon Bakery on 105th/Broadway. Their croissants are quite good, but in this case I like the plain more than the chocolate.
