Tag Archives: Date

L&W Oyster Co.

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Restaurant: L&W Oyser Co. – 254 5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York

Only about six months old, L&W Oyster Co. is one of the newest additions to Manhattan’s seafood (more specifically, oyster) scene. The folks behind Almond are behind this oyster house. 

Atmosphere

The restaurant can best be described as black and white. It gives off both a casual and upscale vibe at the same time that portrays casual elegance. Don’t get the impression that the folks at L&W are suffering from an identity crisis. Quite the opposite. They’ve captured your typical “by the beach” seafood house and brought it to Manhattan – casual during the day but classy at night. The interior features whitewashed booths, industrial copper lighting fixtures providing light to a row of booths, black wood floors and your typical beach-themed artifacts.

Exterior of L&W Oyster Co.

Exterior of L&W Oyster Co.

Food

The menu at L&W (note that this is slightly outdated as the menu is evolving) immediately threw me off. It’s organized in a very creative way. There isn’t a dedicated section for appetizers, entrees, sides, etc. Instead, L&W categorizes its food by ‘small things,’ ‘medium things,’ ‘bigger things,’ ‘booze stuff,’ ‘sparkly stuff,’ etc. I felt like this was almost liberating and allowed me to peruse the entire menu without being confined to ordering one thing from each category.

Brooklyn Clam Chowder

Brooklyn Clam Chowder

I’m a sucker for clam chowder so I of course had to give the Brooklyn Clam Chowder a try. This cream-based chowder wasn’t your typical New England clam chowder or your Manhattan clam chowder. It’s a hybrid made with beer from the Brooklyn brewery. The color may have been slightly off-putting – tan, off-whiteish – but the chowder itself was delicious. It had enough small bits of mussels in it and was a nice consistency (not too liquidy and not too thick) to keep me happy. There were also small crunchy nuggets in it as well which I believe were taking the place of your usual oyster crackers. This was a nice way to differentiate this chowder from others.

Cioppino

Cioppino

Next up was a Cioppino (fish stew) complete with mussels, chorizo, other seafood goodness I can’t remember, all topped with a small pile of yellow rice. There were lots of mussels in this dish and I loved the combination with the seafood combination with the chorizo. I was stuffed afterward and didn’t have any bread to mop up the stew but am sure it would have been just as delicious as everything else was.

Service

Our waiter was very enthusiastic and on top of everything from the start. The food came out at a steady pace and our wine and water glasses were consistently refilled. What more can you ask for? Unfortunately, the service did slightly deteriorate toward the end of the meal and we were left waiting to order dessert for quite some time.

Value

L&W is on the pricier side, with oysters around $3 each, ‘small things’ and ‘medium things’ around $13-$16 and ‘big things’ in the upper $20 range. That being said, if you’re willing to spend some money, L&W has a menu set up for exploration.

The Verdict

L&W Oyster Co. does the perfect job of combining casual and elegant along with delicious food. The relaxed atmosphere puts you at ease as you look through a menu that disrupts the traditional way food is supposed to be ordered. I loved the Brooklyn Clam Chowder and the Cioppino and would gladly visit L&W again to try some of the other items on the menu. If you’re in the Flatiron District and looking for some seafood, you won’t be disappointed with L&W Oyster Co. 

L&W Oyster Co. on Urbanspoon

Did Someone Say “Belgian Feast”?

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Restaurant: Jacques Brasserie – 204-206 East 85th Street, Manhattan New York 

Last week, Hailey and I checked out Jacques Brasserie on the Upper East Side. The restaurant has a “Belgian Feast” special where for you get a pile of mussels, frites and a draft beer from Sunday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Any menu that has the word ‘feast’ in it is right up my alley – we of course took full advantage of this special.

Atmosphere

It’s been a long time since I visited France, but if I were to envision what a French restaurant looks like, Jacques Brasserie fits that stereotype. The restaurant has a small outdoor seating area and indoors is covered in dark wood and old French posters. There are lots of mirrors throughout the space to make it feel larger than it actually is (not that it’s particularly small to begin with). It may just be me in my old age (28 years old, yikes!) but the place gives off a somewhat old-timey feel.

Exterior of Jacques Brasserie

Exterior of Jacques Brasserie

Since we were there for mussels, I immediately jump to compare Jacques Brasserie to one of my favorite mussel places in New York City – BXL. Aside from the fact that one is French and the other is Belgian, I’d say BXL has a bigger bar atmosphere whereas Jacques Brasserie feels more like an actual restaurant. Take your pick for what you’re looking for.

Interior of Jacques Brasserie

Interior of Jacques Brasserie

Food

Let’s get feasting! The “Belgian Feast” special comes with a heaping pot of mussels, frites and a draft beer. On the menu, you have a choice of various flavors ranging from Marinieres (Chardonnay, garlic, parsley) to Provencale (tomato, garlic, basil) to Dijonnaise (mustard, shallots, garlic). Not wanting to get too crazy, Hailey and I decided on:

  • Marinieres: Chardonnay, garlic, parsley
  • Poulette: Chive and cream

Mussels at Jacques Brasserie

Mussels at Jacques Brasserie

First things first, you get a nice basket of warm, fresh bread sliced from a baguette placed on your table. If you’re asking why this is important you should probably just stop reading. This is essential so you have something to dip in the sauce leftover from the mussels.

Frites at Jacques Brasserie

Frites at Jacques Brasserie

I’m a guy and I can put down a lot of food. Whenever I eat mussels I often have to down a lot of the little guys until I even feel remotely full. However, the mussels at Jacques Brasserie are nothing short of enormous. These are probably some of the largest mussels I’ve had in a long time and I surprisingly found myself pretty full after eating a bucket of them. In addition to the mussels, the frites were crispy and a nice golden brown color. They were coated in lots of salt which made them nearly addictive.

Service

The service at Jacques Brasserie was nothing short of great. Our waiter almost seemed enthusiastic to serve us, like I was doing him a favor. A side effect of eating mussels is lots of leftover shells. The staff eagerly shuttled discarded shells away so we were never left with anything resembling a Jenga-style pile of mussels waiting to tip over into our laps.

Value

For $22 you get a heaping bowl of mussels, frites and a draft beer. I challenge you to find a better deal with the same quality of food and atmosphere. Great value!

The Verdict

Jacques Brasserie has been a neighborhood staple on the Upper East Side more more than 20 years. I’m not sure how long they’ve been doing their “Belgian Feast,” but it’s one hell of a deal. The food was delicious, the service was superb and Hailey and I had a great experience. The only downside is the “Belgian Feast” only runs from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. so it can be a little tough to get there for those working a little later into the night. However, if you can skip out of work on time than head on up to the Upper East Side for a little taste of France. You won’t regret it. 

*This meal was provided free, courtesy of Jacques Brasserie. 

Jacques Brasserie on Urbanspoon

So Long Cupcakes… Hello Cake-cups

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Restaurant: Bee’s Knees Baking Co – 113 West 10th Street, Manhattan, New York

Cupcakes have been all the rage the past year. However, is it time we ditch the cupcake and go the way of the cake-cup? If you were to ask the people behind Bee’s Knees Baking Co., they’d enthusiastically say yes.

Atmosphere

Opened just last December, the Bee’s Knees Baking Co. storefront is the next evolution of a baking company known for its wedding cakes, not its miniature-sized cake treats. The store can be described as spacious, bright and modern. There is a large wooden table in the center of the store for communal dessert dining as well as bar stools lining a tabletop looking out onto West 10th Street. The atmosphere is notably relaxed and low key.

Interior of the Bee's Knees Baking Co.

Interior of the Bee’s Knees Baking Co.

Food

What is a cake-cup you ask? On it’s website, Bee’s Knees describes it as the intricate, complex textures of traditional cakes with the quick, easy-to-enjoy experience of the cupcake. The result is essentially a miniature-sized cake in a five ounce plastic cup. The concept is definitely unique and Bee’s Knees has a number of different flavors, each boasting different textures and flavor profiles. On this particular trip, I decided to go with:

  • Red Velvet: classic red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and roasted pecans
  • Honey Bourbon: bourbon cake with burnt honey cream and candied ginger
  • Chocolate Salted Caramel: chocolate cake with salted caramel and roasted pecans
  • Lemon Raspberry: yellow cake with raspberry honey jam and lemon curd
Chocolate Salted Caramel Bee's Knees Cake-cup

Chocolate Salted Caramel Bee’s Knees Cake-cup

The cake-cups are just the perfect amount of dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. You don’t feel like you’ve just eaten an entire cake, but are rewarded with all the flavors and quality that you would have gotten if you had just gone ahead and eaten one. In most cases, the cake-cups are layered with cake, frosting or cream, then more cake on top. The cake to frosting/cream ratio is such that you’re not eating globs of icing, but instead give the actual cake part the opportunity to shine through. However, in order to get all of these flavors, you need to dig deep and pull from all the various layers – cake, frosting, cream, etc. Don’t hesitate and just skim from the top or you’ll miss out!

If five ounces of cake is took much, Bee’s Knees also offers an even smaller version of its cake-cups. These cake ‘shots’ are offered individually or you can buy a flight of them and put yourself in a dessert-induced coma.

I was a big fan of the cake-cups, the uniqueness of the flavors and entire concept. However, if there was one thing I could say needs improvement, it’s the spoons. The cake-cups are served with wooden spoons, which I didn’t particularly care for. The cake gets somewhat stuck to them and I think a regular plastic spoon would be more appealing and deliver a better overall dessert experience. (I know, this probably isn’t as Earth-friendly as the wooden option.)

Bee's Knees Cake-cups

Cake-cups

Service

The service at Bee’s Knee’s is great. The people behind the counter take the time to walk you through the various cake-cup flavors on display. They even spend time explaining a little bit about the business, the concept and just chatting. Best part, before I left, they gave me a few of the mini cake-cup ‘shots’ to take home. Great customer service. 

Value

The five ounce cake-cups are around $4 each and the mini cake ‘shots’ are $6.50 for a flight. For the quality of ingredients and amount of dessert you’re getting, I think these prices are right in line with what they should be.

The Verdict

When I eat dessert it’s often an ‘all or nothing’ experience – I either eat every single dessert in sight, or abstain from it completely. Bee’s Knees solves my problem with these perfectly proportioned cake-cups. I’ll admit, after finishing one of them I did want to have another, but they were just the right about to satisfy my sweet tooth. While many people are saying that the cupcake bubble may have popped, I don’t envision Bee’s Knees Baking Co. going anywhere anytime soon, especially if they keep innovating new flavor combinations.

Bees Knees on Urbanspoon

The Shady Lady

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Restaurant: The Shady Lady – 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, New York

I’ve got a new favorite lady in Astoria when it’s brunch time and she’s a little mysterious. Welcome to one of the newest Astoria residents, The Shady Lady. (You can start gagging at how corny that joke was right about… now.)

Atmosphere

The interior of The Shady lady is covered in deep, rich colors. Aside exposed brick on one wall, metallic shades of copper, gold and silver add highlights throughout the interior, nicely complementing the dark wood tables. There are probably about 15 or so tables as well as a few places at the bar. I’m not sure if it was because The Shady Lady is still relatively new or what, but on a Sunday around 1 p.m. the restaurant was only about half full.

Interior of The Shady Lady

Interior of The Shady Lady

Food

The Shady Lady’s brunch menu is very diverse, with everything from regular old eggs or oatmeal to more creative dishes such as Jack and Coke French Toast and Back to Bed Mac n Cheese. There is a good balance of both sweet and savory dishes on the menu so everyone can get what they’re looking for. Best part, all brunch entrees include your choice of a Bloody Mary, mimosa or sangria plus coffee, orange juice or cranberry juice.

After taking one look, I immediately knew what I was getting. I ordered:

  • Fried Chicken: bacon, cheddar, white sausage gravy
Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken

WOW. This dish was an explosion of flavors. A large piece of fried chicken sits on top a sliced country-style biscuit and is covered in cheddar cheese, two crisscrossing slabs of thick bacon and smothered with white sausage gravy. The bacon alone had such a rich flavor it literally caught me by surprise. One of the aspects I really liked about this dish was there wasn’t too much cheddar cheese so the other components really shone through. Using the last of the buttery and moist biscuits to mop up the leftover sausage gravy made my taste buds EXTREMELY happy.

Service

Our waitress was extremely friendly and more than happy to shoot the breeze with us. Since it was our first time here, she gladly walked us through the ins and outs of the menu as well as told us what the ‘favorites’ were.

Value

Prices at The Shady Lady range from $8 for oatmeal up to $21 for steak and eggs. However, the majority of brunch items are in the $15-18 range. For the price of my meal, plus the Bloody Mary and orange juice I received, I think the value here is tremendous. For the flavor alone I’d come close to paying that amount.

The Verdict

In case you couldn’t tell, I loved The Shady Lady. The food exploded with flavor and put me in a great mood to start my day. Everything from the interior to our waitress to the delicious food was just right and I left with a big smile on my face. Welcome, The Shady Lady to Astoria. You’ll see me again real soon!

The Shady Lady on Urbanspoon

Antika Pizzeria

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Restaurant: Antika Pizzeria – 36-08 30th Avenue, Astoria, New York

This is my second time eating at Antika and while I was initially not a huge fan, Antika has won me over as a solid Italian restaurant and pizza place in Astoria.

Atmosphere

Antika calls itself a pizzeria but I think that gives off the connotation that it’s a quick place to pick up a slice. Quite the opposite is true. The interior of Antika can best be described as industrial chic. Exposed brick lines both sides of the restaurant with a bar lining the right hand side as well. The area behind the bar is covered in white subway tiles which contrast the dark red colors and brick throughout the rest of the place. Mirrors line the wall opposite the bar which help make the space look bigger. There are also a few TVs scattered throughout for anyone looking to catch a game.

Food

The menu at Antika has a number of options ranging from pizza to pasta to salads – much of your usually Italian menu fare. To start things off, you get a basket of free bread. This bread is delicious. It comes out warm and oily with a crispy top covered in pieces of burnt garlic. For the meal, I had:

  • Eggplant and Zucchini Fritti: roasted garlic yogurt sauce
  • Old Fashioned Grandma Style Square Pizza: sausage and mushrooms

The eggplant and zucchini appetizer consisted of lightly fried, very salty thin slices of eggplant and zucchini accompanied by a side of yogurt sauce. The slices of eggplant immediately caught my attention. They were enormous! I wasn’t a huge fan of the yogurt sauce but it did have some chunks of garlic in it that made it a little more appealing.

Eggplant and Zucchini Fritti

Eggplant and Zucchini Fritti

The grandma style pizza was up next. This rectangular shaped pizza came out in a metal tray and was covered in toppings. The toppings were all over the place, equally scattered across the entire pizza. The sausage was in huge chunks and was slightly burnt on the top which gave it a nice crunch – SO good. Overall, this pizza has a tremendous amount of flavor. From the toppings to the cheese to the sauce to the crust, all the ingredients were in perfect proportion and bursting with flavor. Last time I was at Antika the big thing I didn’t like was that the crust wasn’t crunchy enough. It seems like they’ve changed that since this crust was very crispy and had a nice crunch in every bite.

Old Fashioned Grandma Style Square Pizza

Old Fashioned Grandma Style Square Pizza

Service

The service at Antika was great. Our waitress casually with us about the restaurant, the food on the menu and a guy that recently came in a tried to eat a family size portion of pasta. (He nearly succeeded, by the way.) The food came out quickly and we were consistently checked on to make sure everything was up to par.

Value

The grandma style pizza at Antika goes for $18 plus $2 for each additional topping. This ends up being $20+ for a pizza but it’s well worth it. You get more pizza than you can eat in one sitting and for around $20 you’ll have pizza for a few meals.

The Verdict

Antika has won me over. After an average first time there, they rose to the occasion on my second visit and delivered a damn good pizza. The pizza was so good that on the walk home I was craving the leftovers. So much so, when I got home I immediately opened up the bag and devoured a few more slices of pizza. So much for being full! Go to Antika and get the grandma style pizza. You’ll be sneaking leftover pieces of pizza in the kitchen too.

Antika Family Style Pizzeria on Urbanspoon

Rizzuto’s Restaurant and Bar

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Restaurant: Rizzuto’s Restaurant and Bar – 111 Memorial Road, West Hartford, Connecticut (multiple locations)

Last weekend I was home for the Easter holiday and took a trip up to the beautiful West Hartford with the family. After a brief walk on Saturday afternoon around Blue Back Square (a gorgeous area filled with shopping, dining and entertainment), we settled on Rizzuto’s for lunch.

Atmosphere

Rizzuto’s had an open-air feel that was filled with the aroma of brick oven pizza. The interior was very modern, with an open kitchen allowing you to see what was going on as chefs furiously prepared meals, and a brick oven roaring away as pizza after pizza came out. As a decorative element, stacked logs were used as a decorative element throughout the restaurant – lining parts of the wall and ceiling.On Saturday afternoon around 12:30 the restaurant was moderately filled and there was a steady stream of people coming in and out over the course of our meal. The bar was also steadily busy, with lots of people opting to sit there instead of at a table.

Food

Rizzuto's Meatballs Al Forno

Rizzuto’s Meatballs Al Forno

Rizzuto’s has a very extensive menu consisting of everything from brick oven pizza to sandwiches to fresh pasta to burgers. Off of their lunch menu, I had:

  • Rhode Island Calamari Fritti: hot peppers, marinara, roasted garlic aioli
  • Rizzuto’s Meatballs Al Forno: pecorino romano and melted fresh mozzarella, marinara sauce
  • Chunky Lobster ‘Melt’: with creme fraiche, chives, ubriacone cheese, shaved fennel slaw, brioche bread
Rhode Island Calamari Fritti

Rhode Island Calamari Fritti

Before any of your order arrives, Rizzuto’s is quick to provide you with a bunch of fresh, warm sliced bread with marinara sauce for dipping. That’s right, marinara sauce. No olive oil, no butter, just marinara sauce like it should be. This made me smile as you usually have to wait until after you finish a huge bowl of pasta to mop up the leftover sauce with bread. Rizzuto’s starts the meal off on the right foot.The calamari was very lightly fried with lightly fried jalapenos peppered throughout. These were very salty and with the jalapenos, also slightly spicy. I loved the fact that they were lightly fried as this made them a lot less filling than some calamari you get at other places that has a lot of fried coating.

Chunky Lobster 'Melt'

Chunky Lobster ‘Melt’

I was hesitant to order the lobster melt since this is outside the norm of what I’d typically order for lunch, but I was up visiting for the Easter holiday so what the hell, let’s live it up. The lobster melt consisted of two slices of bread, buttered and toasted, filled with large chunks of lobster. I could clearly taste and see the lobster (there was a lot of it!) and the fennel slaw. Overall, the creme fraiche and cheese didn’t add much overall flavor, letting the lobster and slaw guide the taste of the sandwich. It was guiding it in the right direction. The sandwich came with a side of heavily salted fries. These fries were fried perfectly golden yellow and crispy, with a nice crunch in every bite. The salt made them addictive, and I was disappointed when I finished them.

Service

The food at Rizzuto’s came out quickly. It seemed like we had just finished ordering when the appetizers came out, quickly followed by the main course once those were finished. Service was very relaxed and friendly. Our waiter clearly enjoyed what he was doing and this carried over to the service.

Value

For the amount of food and quality, the value at Rizzuto’s is great. Sandwiches were around $15 on the high end and appetizers were around $8-$9.

The Verdict

Rizzuto’s was the perfect place for a relaxing Saturday afternoon lunch. The atmosphere was laid back and relaxed, the service was great and the food was equally as good. While it did seem that a high-dose of salt was a theme throughout everything I ate, the food was delicious and I left the restaurant stuffed. The appetizers and sandwich were above average and I definitely would stop by Rizzuto’s again to check out their dinner menu. If you’re in the West Hartford area, I recommend giving Rizzuto’s a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Rizzutos on Urbanspoon

The ‘dam Brings Back Marist Memories

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Restaurant: The ‘dam – 998 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, New York

I graduated from Marist College (go Red Foxes!) back in 2007. When I heard the owner of the ‘dam was married to a Marist graduate, and there is a Marist-inspired drink on the menu, how could I not check it out?

Atmosphere

The 'dam

The ‘dam

Hailey and I visited the ‘dam on a Tuesday night looking for a relaxing meal along with a few drinks. The ‘dam was the perfect setting. The restaurant/bar is long and narrow, with a bar lining the right hand side as you walk in and tables lining the left. The fully stocked bar has a television to its right, for sports fans looking to catch the game. Exposed brick surrounds you as you take a seat at the bar or grab one of the eight or so tables lit by candlelight. Overall, the place is dimly lit but there are a few clear hanging light bulbs that help to supplement the table candles. Board games sit on one shelf nearby, and these, along with the overall atmosphere of the place, encourage you to hunker down and stay for a while. There is no rush here.

Food

The ‘dam has daily food and drink specials. On Tuesday, the deal was 2 for 1 apps, drafts and specialty cocktails. Perfect. We took full advantage of this and went to town.

The Red Fox Drink The 'dam new york city

The Red Fox

First things first, I had to order the Red Fox cocktail (despite the fact it was bright red and I was a little embarrassed to be drinking it).

  • The Red Fox: Bacardi Silver and Myers Dark with Sprite, Grenadine, and pineapple. A Shirley Temple with a twist.

The bartender at the ‘dam must have a heavy pour because this drink was strong. It definitely did look like a Shirley Temple (once again, embarrassed) but the vodka and rum took it to another level. The Red Fox was delicious.

Mac and Cheese Tots

Mac and Cheese Tots

Onto the food. We ordered:

  • Mac and Cheese Tots
  • Bacon Wrapped Shrimp: pan roasted shrimp wrapped in bacon served with a roasted chipotle red pepper sauce
  • ‘dam Burger: 8oz of angus beef topped with cheddar cheese and a caramelized bacon onion remoulade on a toasted potato bun
  • Grilled Chicken Sandwich: grilled marinated chicken breast topped with provolone cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted baguette with herb mayo
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

The Mac and Cheese Tots were delicious. Six fried balls of macaroni came out topped with tiny pieces of bacon and drizzled with a cheese sauce. Cheese exploded in your mouth upon biting into one of these and this, combined with the bacon, gave this appetizer a great flavor. The other appetizer, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, was equally as good. Six shrimp wrapped in bacon were placed around the chipotle red pepper sauce. The shrimp were well cooked and the red pepper sauce had a slight kick to it which I loved. Lesson learned from the appetizers: everything is better with bacon.

The 'dam Burger

The ‘dam Burger

I ordered the burger for my entree. I’m a huge fan of burgers and this one didn’t disappoint. The burger was cooked exactly as ordered – medium rare – and came topped with a healthy amount of cheddar cheese, sauteed onions and bacon. This burger was very juicy and practically melted in my mouth. The ample amount of cheese, onions and bacon only enhanced the flavor of the meat, with the bacon providing a nice crunch to each bite. (Side note, the bacon was well cooked, exactly how I like my bacon – bonus points for that!) The bun was perfectly toasted and didn’t fall apart at all throughout my entire assault on this sandwich.

The burger was accompanied by a side of Parmesan truffle fries. These fries had a heavy does of Parmesan cheese on them and were very crispy. The cheese made them addictive and I greedily quickly devoured all of them.

Service

The service was great. We were some of the only people dining at the tables (everyone else was at the bar) so the waitress was quick to help. She quickly brought us our drinks, food and made sure everything was to our liking. She also joked around with me about the Red Fox drink and how, despite the girliness of it, I had to order it since I was a graduate.

Value

The food and drinks were all reasonably priced. Plus, the 2 for 1 Tuesday night special brought down the cost of the meal considerably, with our appetizers and drinks essentially half price.

The Verdict

The ‘dam was the perfect spot for a relaxing, casual and low key dinner and drinks. The food was very good and a notch higher than your typical pub fare and there are some unique drinks that give you the option of experimenting a little if you wish. The ‘dam conveys comfort. The staff doesn’t rush you out the door and makes small talk with the customers, something that really shows the character of a place. With a drink named after my alma mater, I’ll definitely be back. I recommend you give the ‘dam a try as well.

The 'dam on Urbanspoon

Mexican Barbecue at (Appropriately Named) MexiBBQ

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Restaurant: MexiBBQ - 37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria, New York

Putting a new twist on your traditional Mexican food, MexiBBQ takes barbecue and combines it with Mexican cuisine, resulting in the restaurant’s unique take on barbecue with a Mexican flare.

Atmosphere

MexiBBQ is a happening place. The atmosphere can be described as nothing short of lively – whether coming from table service or the bar. A tiled floor welcomes diners to a restaurant flanked by exposed brick walls and columns throughout. The centerpiece of the interior is actually at the back of the restaurant, in a semi-separated area for larger groups. A TV, hidden behind a waterfall, broadcasts the day’s sports and provides a unique talking piece.

Food

Smoked Beef Brisket

Smoked Beef Brisket

On this particular trip, I visited MexiBBQ for dinner. Among the various barbecue food, I settled on:

  • Smoked Beef Brisket: tequila braised beef brisket, simmered in achiote barbecue sauce and served on a skillet with jalapeno goat cheese cornbread

This dish was spicy to say the least. The beef brisket came out in a skillet covered in peppers and onions. There was a good amount of beef in this dish and the peppers and onions (which were slightly cold) nicely contrasted the spiciness of the meat and provided slight relief to my taste buds. Although it was spicy, it had a great overall flavor to it and the spice didn’t overpower the flavor of the meat.

The jalapeno cornbread was incredible. Baked with a dab of goat cheese in the middle and  diced jalapenos in the batter, this cornbread delivers in every department. The jalapenos provide a slight spice to the cornbread with the mild goat cheese contrasting it. I’d come back for this cornbread every night of the week.

Value

For dinner, the beef brisket ($16) was a moderately priced option. There was a good amount of meat in this dish and I left feeling full. Beers and margaritas were in line with average New York City prices.

The Verdict

MexiBBQ puts a unique twist on barbecue by adding a little bit of Mexican flare. With an elaborate tequila menu and 48 beers on tap, MexiBBQ has something for everyone – whether you’re looking to grab a drink, brunch, lunch or dinner. The menu provides a wide assortment of options for every palate and, from what I could tell by the people around me, the food is all around delicious. I recommend MexiBBQ and I will be back.

MexiBBQ on Urbanspoon

Knave at Le Parker Meridien Disappoints

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Restaurant: Knave – 119 West 56th Street, Manhattan, New York

I recently read about Knave at Le Parker Meridien having some of the best hot chocolate in the midtown Manhattan area. So naturally, Hailey and I had to go check it out. Unfortunately, while the hot chocolate was good, it left a lot to be desired, and the service was horrendous.

Knave

Interior of Knave

Knave Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate

Atmosphere

The interior of Knave is gorgeous. Plush chairs surround tables sitting below a vaulted ceiling with intricate chandeliers. A small bar lines the middle of one wall where a bartender works his magic making coffee or other drinks. On a Saturday afternoon there were only a handful of people occupying the tables and the atmosphere could best be described as relaxed and quiet.

Food

Since I’d heard about the hot chocolate at Knave, I had to order it. We ordered a hot chocolate and cafe mocha, unfortunately, we only got to try the hot chocolate since the cafe mocha never made it to our table.

The hot chocolate was good, but not great. I’ve had this “European” style of hot chocolate before where it literally is like melted chocolate in a cup. While Knave tried to accomplish this, it only gave you a small taste – filling up a coffee cup only about a quarter of the way. I’ll admit, I don’t want an entire coffee cup filled with liquid chocolate, but for the price, I think you should get a little bit more than just a taste.

Service

As I mentioned above, there were only a handful of guests at Knave but the staff couldn’t seem to get a simple order of a hot chocolate and cafe mocha correct. The hot chocolate quickly arrived at our table but we had to remind the waitress twice about the cafe mocha. Even after this, it was clear the bartender hadn’t even started making it. Since we’d finished the hot chocolate long ago, we decided to pack it in and do without our other drink.

To the waitress’s credit, she realized they’d screwed up and gave us our hot chocolate on the house. However, I was amazed they couldn’t even get two drinks correct while the place wasn’t busy.

Value

The hot chocolate was six dollars for a small tiny bit of melted chocolate in a cup. I know we were at the Le Parker Meridien, but I think this was pretty overpriced. I was expecting a little bit more than what we received.

The Verdict

Knave disappointed me. I was expecting a great cup of hot chocolate, but instead got a mediocre cup with terrible service. I will not be heading back to Knave and do not recommend it.

Knave at Le Parker Meridien on Urbanspoon

Attention Watertown, CT, Go to Main Street Grill (Now!)

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Restaurant: Main Street Grill - 663 Main Street, Watertown, CT

Aside from family, friends, and of course presents, being back home for the holidays means a nice family meal out. Main Street Grill in Watertown, opened earlier in 2012, seemed to be just the right place for a nice relaxing evening. My parents had heard great things about this restaurant and I was excited to give it a try.

Atmosphere

We had a 6:30 p.m. reservation the Saturday night before Christmas. When we arrived, Main Street Grill was fairly deserted. There were a few tables quietly dining and as we progressed through dinner, tables slowly began to fill up. The interior of Main Street Grill is unlike any restaurant I’ve ever experienced. There are only a few tables lined against exposed brick walls with area rugs covering a wooden floor and placed under a larger table in the middle of the room for groups. With limited seating and minimally decorated exposed brick leading up to a wooden rafter ceiling, Main Street Grill does a tremendous job of giving off the impression of space (and lots of it). For someone who is used to restaurants trying to cram as many tables into a small space as possible, this was a refreshing change. I also loved the menus. They came enclosed in a corkboard cover – reminding me of wine corks and getting me thinking about upcoming wine selections.

My one criticism would be the chairs. The chairs are hard plastic chairs that reminded me of the chairs you would find in an elementary school. We were seated in a booth so I didn’t get to sit in one but they looked like they may become uncomfortable after a while.

Food

Main Street Grill classifies itself as a “new American restaurant with an eclectic menu and wine list.” I ordered:

  • Tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons
  • Chicken and black bean nachos
  • Pork tenderloin filled with chorizo sausage, fire roasted poblano peppers and Arethusa’s Mt. Tom cheese with grilled asparagus and truffled mashed potato
  • Croissant bread pudding
Tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons

Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

All is can say is wow. Based on my impressions of the interior of the restaurant and menu, I had high hopes the food was going to be good but didn’t expect this level of awesomeness.

The tomato soup had a slight spiciness to it which I loved and the grilled cheese croutons were just that – tiny pieces of cut up grilled cheese placed in the soup. Why have a grilled cheese on the side when you can put it right in the soup? A larger serving of this could almost have made up a full meal.

Chicken and black bean nachos

Chicken and Black Bean Nachos

The chicken and black bean nachos were fairly straightforward and just that – nachos with chicken and black beans. The main difference between this dish and what you’d get at any sports bar were that instead of a pile of tortilla chips with mounds of cheese and diced chicken, Main Street Grill opted for a minimalistic approach. Six large tortilla chips are laid out in a skillet and topped with enormous pieces of chicken. These nachos were good and a twist on a traditional favorite, but in the end, nachos taste like nachos and I could have gotten the same flavors eating the nachos at the bar down the street.

Pork tenderloin filled with chorizo sausage, fire roasted poblano peppers and Arethusa's Mt. Tom cheese with grilled asparagus and truffled mashed potato

Pork Tenderloin

Onto the main course – pork tenderloin. Once again, wow. Four thick cuts of pork tenderloin came out sitting on a bed of truffled mashed potatoes with grilled asparagus. A sweet cream sauce accompanied the perfectly cooked, pink pork. The sauce was very sweet but with the spiciness of the chopped chorizo sausage, it did a good job contrasting the flavors and kept me coming back for more. The mashed potatoes with truffle oil were equally as delicious, and along with the grilled asparagus, I was very disappointed when I finished everything on my plate.

Croissant Bread Pudding

Croissant Bread Pudding

We somehow managed to find room for dessert and I’m glad we did. The croissant bread pudding was divine. Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce, it was quickly finished. Taking a line from my mom (avid bread pudding aficionado), “that was one of the best bread puddings I’ve ever had.”

Value

Prices were in the mid-20s for entrees and low teens for appetizers. Wine was reasonably priced. For the service, quality of food and atmosphere, I think this was a great value.

The Verdict

In case you couldn’t tell, I loved Main Street Grill. On my way out, I had the opportunity to briefly meet John Bourdeau, owner and executive chef, as well as overheard him talking to a few customers throughout the meal. He is definitely very passionate about this restaurant and the food coming out of his kitchen. I definitely will be back to see what new additions he has on the menu and highly recommend Main Street Grill to anyone looking for a nice, relaxing night out. 

Main Street Grill on Urbanspoon