egit's Profile
Gluten-free dining in Brooklyn- need recommendations
Yep. That's it. Their bar is beer and wine only, with smallish plates either for sharing or hogging all to yourself.
Gluten-free dining in Brooklyn- need recommendations
Just one small data point for you. I was at Strong Place not too long ago with a friend who has CD. Their menu is not extensive, but I was pleasantly surprised at how informed and understanding the staff was. The server ran into the kitchen to check if there was anything potentially dangerous in a couple of dishes. "Well, the has some flour in it, so you can't have that, but x, y and z are fine." There was no eye-rolling or heavy sighing.
You should check out Battersby in Carroll Gardens if your budget allows it. They do a lot of off-the-cuff tasting menus, so they'd probably do a great job and no one would feel deprived.
Solo Dine in Brooklyn on Saturday Night
Both of these suggestions are good. The only reason I'd quibble with Smith Street is because as far as transit's concerned, it's farther from Bushwick than the East Village in Manhattan. And it's roughly a $20 cab ride.
Roberta's is really good. This is an honest question... is it good for a solo diner?
Another thought might be Williamsburg. It's closer than Smith St, and has just as many very good restaurants.
anyone tried aarpan indian on 5th ave?
The Chennai Chicken Curry was fairly wet. There was a lot of sauce to put on the rice and mop up with the naan.
I know the papadum are easily available. I used to live a block from Kalustyan's. I wasn't sure if some restaurants made their own, or if it's just a matter of my not having eaten IN an Indian restaurant for several years. (take out only). I think they were a little charred, which went a long way to amping up their flavor.
anyone tried aarpan indian on 5th ave?
Went to Aarpan last night. We actually ate in the restaurant, rather than doing take out. On the whole we really liked it, but the appetizer wasn't good... I feared we made a mistake in going there.
Papadum are served for the table. They were very good. I'm not sure if they make them in house, but they were very freshly cooked.
The Bhelpuri--here's where the meal almost went wrong. It had an unpleasant, stale flavor. As if the puffed rice had been sitting in the bag for weeks. Or months. It was disappointing.
I asked the waiter's recommendation on a few things. Between the two eggplant dishes he recommended the Baignan Bharta, which we enjoyed. Also, I asked for a rec on a chicken dish... something other than Chicken Tikka Masala. He said we should try the Chennai Chicken Curry, which was really excellent. We also got naan, which was good and very fresh.
I know it wasn't the most adventurous order. But aside from the Bhelpuri, we both really enjoyed. We'll definitely go back. Or at least order delivery.
Crabs In New York City?
From my perspective, the crabs there are good. But I'm not from Baltimore, and I only go there maybe once/twice a year to get crabs. So I'm no expert. I believe they're steamed, not boiled, but I'm not 100% sure how I'd know the difference. The seasoning is sort of caked all over the shells, which I believe would not be the case if they were boiled. (right?)
Otherwise the food there is pretty good. It's certainly better than standard pub fare, but it's not a destination. When the Hideaway isn't crowded, I love it there. The problem is its proximity to the Financial District, and subsequent yahoos.
I have a sentimental attachment to the Hideaway that I can't quite explain... even to myself.
Crabs In New York City?
I know this is an old thread, recently resurrected. The Hideaway in Tribeca has a blue crab night once a week during crab season. Their night used to be Monday, but you should call and verify that a) it's still Monday, b) they're still doing it, and c) that we're now in crab season.
Not the cheapest deal, but fun, as there aren't many options for Baltimore Blue Crabs in NYC.
After the Ball Fields
Depending on how ambitious you're feeling, the walk over to, and then up Van Brunt can make for a very nice day (as scooter has already mentioned).
Just last weekend I did that. We went to the ball fields, feasted, then walked over to Van Brunt. The trouble was the Red Hook Immersion event was taking place, so everything along VB was completely mobbed. Even so, after walking up Van Brunt you could stroll over towards Columbia Street where you can go to Pok Pok, Calexico, the Jalopy Lounge (used to be Moonshine), B61 bar and Alma.
I honestly can't imagine leaving the ball fields hungry. But a nice long walk could whet your appetite.
Restaurants With Piano
Yes! I forgot about Mimi's! I used to live in that neighborhood. I haven't been there in a number of years, but the regular piano player is quite... uh.... colorful. He often wears a mumu and has an amazing assortment of hats.
The food's not bad. It's very typical red-sauce, checkered tablecloth Italian fare. Mimi's is far from a swanky, ivory-tickling experience. More rollicking than dignified, if that's what you're looking for.
Brooklyn Fare
I agree that it's silly. I guess their rationale is they want to be sure the fill ALL seats every night. If they have 8 couples and ONE singleton, then they have an empty seat if they don't find another single.
I ate at Ko as a single not long after they opened. And there was another solo sitting next to me. I can't imagine it's that hard to fill a solo seat at BF.
Before movie dinner suggestions for Court near Atlantic
Without a little more information to narrow it down, you have too many options to choose from.
In addition to everything else:
Colonie
Waterfront Ale House
Brucie
Van Horn Sandwich Shop
Watty&Meg
Lunetta
Saul
Sottocasa
And the list will go on. How much do you want to spend? How far is too far to walk? Do you care about atmosphere?
Where to watch soccer (Premier League football) on Sunday?
Lunasa definitely opens early. You can sign up for a weekly update from them and they'll send you a weekend fixtures email every week.
I've never gone there, but they show multiple matches. I'm not sure if they have the Setanta feed, in which case it may cost you extra money.
Soft shell crab sightings?
Okay. I sit corrected.
I've never made them; only had them in restaurants.
Soft shell crab sightings?
Umm... soft shell crabs are always sold dead. Otherwise if they were still alive they'd be growing their shells right after molting. Also, they're usually cleaned by the fish monger, which is why they're more expensive.
If your crabs are moving, they're not soft-shells!
Need quality beef brisket for smoking and for chili
Have you considered Western Beef? They have several locations throughout NYC, and I've always found their meat acceptable.
http://www.westernbeef.com/locations.html
Fresh Calamansi
Thanks for the information, JungMann. Sounds like I may just have to make do with the frozen juice.
Fresh Calamansi
Bumping this thread...
Does anyone know of anywhere in NYC to buy fresh Calamansi? Brooklyn is most convenient for me, but will travel. If anyone has seen it in Manhattan, let me know and I'll post this question there too.
I guess another question might be where are there any Filipino groceries? They would have the best chance of selling the fresh fruit.
Thanks!
Rao's?
This question is slightly off-topic for this thread, and even for this board. (sorry mods!).
People have suggested restaurants in a similar tradition. Is there anything that people think compares to Rao's? Is there a less-exclusive version of Rao's? I've never been, but for some reason I feel like a "Friend in the Know" told me that Queen Restaurant in Brooklyn Heights was similar (food-wise), if not directly comparable.
Thoughts?
ETA: sorry, i know someone mentioned Bamonte's but I wasn't sure if there was consensus about whether or not it was similar or totally different.
Shopsin's.
Here's the thing with Shopsin's-- it really shouldn't be in the same category as The Breslin, Clinton St. Baking, Minetta, etc. Their crankiness is part of the entertainment. There's a documentary about Shopsin's called "I Like Killing Flies," which probably did great deal for their public likeability. I'm not saying that everyone should watch this film. But it's really entertaining and touching. It brings you into the weird world that Kenny Shopsin (and his kids) inhabit. Their food is not what anyone could call "fine dining." It's not junk food, but I'll call it "junky." It's really tasty. It's the kind of food you dream up when you've been out drinking and you're hungry and you only have two eggs, a can of green chiles, a can of coconut milk and half a jar of orange marmalade. Everything on their 900+ item menu is weird like that... but it's all really tasty. Not "fine." Also, it's pretty inexpensive.
bob96 - I wouldn't say that Shopsin's is a joke. But I also wouldn't say that it's a *serious* restaurant either. They have plenty of business. They have more customers than they want, actually. So they don't really care about being nice. For all of their/his gruffness, it's not personal.
Soft shell crab sightings?
The seafood market on 7th Avenue in Park Slope, just south of 3rd street also has them for sale. I didn't note the price.
A neutral bar with great microbrews to watch the UEFA Champion's League final in Brooklyn?
I like Rattle-n-Hum. I really do. I used to live near there over on 3rd ave. But I have to say that is probably one of the most soulless, dreariest parts of Manhattan (madison and 33rd).
Since it's a Saturday (cf. below) this will change everything. There will be lots of bars open and showing the match. North slope area alone-- Black Sheep, Cyprus Road, Uncle Barry's.
OH! Just thought of this: check out Woodwork on Dean and Vanderbilt. It's a soccer bar. I think it's neutral, but call just to be sure. It's probably a 10 minute walk from the Pacific Street stop on the B/D. They're big into crafty beers, and the have really good bar-snack food. Get there early, as it will be packed.
Farther south there's Draft Barn in Gowanus which will also probably be showing it. That's not too far from the F at 4th/9th.
A neutral bar with great microbrews to watch the UEFA Champion's League final in Brooklyn?
The fact that the final is on a Wednesday isn't going to help. What time of day is the final? They've been night games recently, so hopefully the final will be as well.
There's a little "soccer row" along the western end of Atlantic--with early openings for EPL matches on weekends. It's marginally convenient to the F, but ti's still a bit of a hike. Chip Shop is an Arsenal bar. Roebling in is a Liverpool bar. And I think Floyd may be Chelsea or Man U. (or it may not be a soccer bar at all...can't remember) You will definitely want to check with the bar to see that they'll be open and showing the match. I would expect a heavily Bayern-leaning crowd at an Arsenal or Liverpool bar. ;-)
Another option might be the Brazen Head, also on Atlantic but not as far west. They have no food, but lots of good delivery options. Two8two Burger is another possibility, but they don't really have a spectacular beer list. It's okay. It varies, but for a beer geek it's not that interesting.
I'm sure there will be lots of options. Since it's still over two weeks away I haven't seen any places advertizing that they'll be open for the match.
Soft shell crab sightings?
Talde has a soft shell crab Banh Mi on their menu at the moment. It's a softshell (maybe 2?) with the typical banh mi fillings served with a red curry dipping sauce.
I had it last night. While it was a little spicy, it was really, really good. Though it was definitely on the spendy side of the menu-- if you like SSCs, it's worth it.
brooklyn heights, carrol gardens, cobble hill area pizza crawl
I guess I'm mystified by the popularity of South Brooklyn Pizza. Several years ago (4?) their pizza was more Neapolitan style, and I remember a fantastic clam pie a la Pepe's in New Haven. More recently, like in the last two years, they changed their style to be more of a traditional slice shop.
Here is specifically what I don't like about SBP: their dough has such a high oil content that it "air fries" in the oven. It doesn't have that gorgeous puffy char that many other places in this discussion have. It's crunchy and golden, as if it had been in the deep frier. And it's a little dense, IMO. Their sauce and cheese are of high quality, to be sure. But I just can't get beyond the crust that reminds me too much of Pizza Hut. Also it's a little pricey at about $4 a slice.
IT OFFENDS ME.
(not really... but a little) :-)
brooklyn heights, carrol gardens, cobble hill area pizza crawl
Honestly, Grimaldi's is probably a skip. It's a significant walk (uphill!) from there even to Montague St, and even further to Carroll Gardens.
I would throw in a vote for Sottocasa on Atlantic just east of Smith St. It's fairly new, so you may not have heard of it. They do fancy neapolitan pies, and they're very good. I'm also a fan of Savoia, but their pies are similar to Sottocasa, so if you only do one, I'd say sottocasa is the place. Pies only, but they're small--10"-12," four slices each. You'll probably need at least two pies if you have 8 people.
I like the Catania suggestion because it's a different style. And they do slices, right?
Seared scallops with minimal fat
A very hot, dry pan will work as long as you use "dry" scallops. If they don't jump when you put them in the pan, it's not hot enough.
Note, if you sear them with oil the pan doesn't need to be (should be) this hot.
wd~50
I didn't try any of their cocktails. On the whole I'm more of a beer and wine person. We didn't do the wine pairing either. I had a glass of white for the first half of the meal--whatever gruner vetliner they have by the glass, and then a red... hmm... can't remember exactly what it was. Then I had a sherry with dessert. I guess I wasn't feeling like drinking a bunch.
Then my friend who took me to dinner got all ga-ga over some dude named Ryan Gosling sitting at the bar. Whatever. :-)
