Ippudo

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Barton's Bites

Restaurant: Ippudo – 65 4th Avenue, Manhattan, New York

I’m probably one of the few people that went to college and stayed away from ramen. Ippudo, constantly crowded, often with hour-long waits, was the perfect place to change that.

Atmosphere

Ippudo can best be described as an experience. The staff is high-energy and yells out in Japanese to greet diners every time they’re brought into the dining room. (I’m assuming they’re saying ‘hi’.) Along one side, an open kitchen displays numerous ramen chefs churning out bowl after bowl while waiters and waitresses scurry around the restaurant. The dining area is decked out in dark wood and features communal as well as private seating. It can best be described as extremely organized chaos.

This is all assuming you can get a seat. The wait at Ippudo can stretch into the 3+ hour range on weekends.

There’s ramen everywhere at Ippudo!

Food

I had no idea what to expect at Ippudo. As someone new to the world of ramen, the menu is a little overwhelming. I ended up settling on:

Hirata buns with pork: steamed buns filled with your choice of either pork, chicken, or eggplant & eringi mushrooms served with Ippudo’s original spicy buns sauce (you know them as pork buns)
Akamaru Modern: the original silky “Tonkotsu” (pork) soup noodles topped with Ippudo’s secret “Umami Dama” miso paste, pork chashu, cabage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions, and fragrant garlic oil (I added a poached egg and braised pork belly to this)

I’d heard rumors about how good Ippudo was and those rumors were dead on. Two pork buns came out as the appetizer. A good-sized pork belly was nestled in between a freshly steamed, doughy bun. It was a little bit spicy and came with iceberg lettuce.

Akamaru Modern with a poached egg and braised pork belly

I had no idea what to expect with the ramen. I was greeted with an enormous bowl of a steaming hot concoction. I quickly dove in and was met with a very rich, flavorful broth filled with lots of noodles and an ample amount of pork belly. Man was this good! The pork belly was by far my favorite part. It literally dissolved as a I tried to get it into my mouth. As I looked around, everyone else was closely huddled over their bowls, a clear sign Ippudo does things right. I tend to engulf food extremely quickly but at Ippudo I was met with chopsticks, and this forced me to take my time and taste all the unique flavors of the ramen – there’s a lot of stuff in there!

Service

The waiters, waitresses and chefs all yell to greet you when you walk into the main dining area. Enough said. The service was attentive and quick. You may be met with a long wait just to get into Ippudo, but the host/hostess is friendly and on top of the ever-growing wait list.

Value

The pork buns ($9) and ramen ($21 with my additions) is more pricey than I expected. You’re not breaking the bank here, but it’s clear Ippudo knows the clientele is going to keep coming back regardless of pricing.

The Verdict

For my first venture into the world of ramen, Ippudo was a solid start. I don’t have anything to compare it to, but if this is the standard, sign me up for some more. I definitely will be going back to Ippudo (and getting there early so I don’t have to wait) and I suggest you do the same.

L&W Oyster Co.

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Barton's Bites

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.

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

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

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.

Did Someone Say “Belgian Feast”?

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Barton's Bites

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

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

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

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

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.

The ‘dam Brings Back Marist Memories

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Barton's Bites

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Mexican Barbecue at (Appropriately Named) MexiBBQ

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Barton's Bites

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

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.

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

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Barton's Bites

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

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

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

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

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.

The Second Time Around: Sidecar

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Barton's Bites

Restaurant: Sidecar - 560 5th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets, Brooklyn, New York

Back in February I visited Sidecar and raved about the restaurant’s fried chicken and moules frites. So, when I found myself back in Brooklyn visiting my brother, I made sure Sidecar was a stop along the route. We found ourselves stopping by before their dinner service so we got to experience their “in between” menu.

Interior of Sidecar

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Sidecar is relaxed and laid back. There are a bunch of booths that line one side of the restaurant with the long bar lining the other wall. The entire restaurant has warm feel to it with a great majority of the colors centering around copper, red and yellow. The roof is a perfect example, with this vaulted ceiling being lined with gorgeous tin decorations.

Food

The “in between” menu at Sidecar fell well short of what I had hoped. Granted I did have my sights set on dinner, the “in between” menu had a very small selection and wasn’t really what I was looking for. I sucked it up though and ordered:

Cubano: marinated roast pork, ham, swiss, pickles on toasted ciabatta, chayote slaw, plaintain chips

Cubano Sandwich

I’m not a huge fan of pickles so I should probably throw that out there first. Push aside the pickles, and the cubano sandwich still didn’t impress me. It lacked any real flavor that I was hoping for and the bottom half of the bread was soggy. If there was one highlight, it would be the plantain chips. These were delicious – perfectly salted and crunchy – they kept me coming back for more.

Value

The sandwiches and other food on the “in between” menu are slightly overpriced. The cubano sandwich is priced at $15. I don’t know what makes this a $15 sandwich and think they could shave off a couple dollars to make this more reasonably priced.

The Verdict

Sidecar is one of my top places for dinner in Brooklyn. However, I wish they would step it up with their “in between” menu. Come here for dinner… anytime. Come here for this “in between menu… I don’t recommend it.

The Second Time Around: 5 Napkin Burger

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Barton's Bites

5 Napkin Burger – Various Locations

New Menu at 5 Napkin Burger in Astoria

Earlier this year I shared my thoughts on what I consider to be one of the best burgers around, 5 Napkin Burger. I recently headed back to their Astoria location and lo and behold, they have a new menu! It doesn’t look like the new menu has been changed online yet but you can check out a picture of it here. The real changes are the additions of various ‘small plates’ and flatbreads.

I of course wasn’t going to pass up trying some of these new ‘small plates’ which now include fried calamari, deviled eggs, and cocktail shrimp.

Off the new menu I ordered:

Warm Bavarian Pretzel Stick: beer and cheese fondue
Pimento Cheese Potato Skins: bacon and sour cream

Warm Bavarian Pretzel Stick and Pimento Cheese Potato Skins

In typical 5 Napkin Burger fashion, these were both delicious. The pretzel stick came out piping hot and had a crispy outer shell with a soft inside. The beer and cheese fondue had a kick to it which I did not expect but definitely welcomed. The fondue was not as smooth as I had hoped it to be and hopefully that will be something they iron out in the coming weeks – nobody likes a chunky fondue. The potato skins were very good as well. They come out five on a plate and are small, so don’t expect to fill up on them, but deliver a lot of flavor. I half expected these to be your typical frozen potato skins you pop in the oven. However, they were more than that. The pimento cheese, similar to the beer and cheese fondue, gave them a slight kick and the cold sour cream offset this nicely.

The Verdict

From what we were told, the new menu is only at the Astoria 5 Napkin Burger location right now. I’m not sure if they’re planning on expanding it to the other locations but the new additions give eaters a lot more options for appetizers before diving into their incredible burgers. Come on out to Astoria and try them out!

White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Barton's Bites

White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant – 258 New Milford Turnpike, New Preston, Connecticut

Billed as having the best pub food in Connecticut, White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant transports you back in time to the early days of historic Connecticut.

Indian Scout Motorcycle

The tavern is divided into two sections – a restaurant on one side and a bar, along with some more informal tables, on another side. Whether you’re looking for a few drinks or to grab a bite to eat, be sure to pick the bar area. It has a lot of character to it. The bar room is outfitted with exposed wood everywhere and the bar is absolutely beautiful with an old school Indian Scout motorcycle from the 1920s showcased behind glass. In fact, the entire place has historic artifacts ranging from a 16th century tavern table to a Fender guitar signed by the Rolling Stones. In the bar room a fireplace provides warmth as well as sets the atmosphere as the perfect place to hunker down during a winter snowstorm. They also fully embrace the white horse theme here – they are everywhere – from on glasses to in pictures.

Pumpkin Ravioli

During this dinner we went all out, among what I ate:

Crispy Crackling Calamari: in a lightly seasoned coating served with a house spicy dipping sauce.
A Piping Crock of Mussels: simmered in a white wine, garlic, shallot broth
Pumpkin Ravioli
Chicken Pot Pie: dating back to medieval times, a really good pot pie was an important element of any royal chef’s repertoire – this would definitely win the King’s favor – tender pieces of chicken, celery, carrots, peas, onions and herbs, baked in a rich sauce with a little chardonnay and cream, topped
Chicken Pot Pie

with a light buttery flaky crust

Everything we ate – from the ravioli and calamari appetizers to my main dish of chicken pot pie – was delicious. This was comfort food to say the least and I fully embraced it. Out of all the appetizers, the pumpkin ravioli (which was a special) and the calamari were the best. The ravioli had such a rich flavor to it. It tasted like it was filled with pumpkin pie filling. The calamari was equally as delicious with a light breading that was very crispy – just how I like it. The chicken pot pie was good as well, although it did disappoint me slightly. The presentation is what makes this dish. It comes out with a horse sculpted out of dough topping the pie. It’s a sight to see and draws a look from nearby tables. Aside from that,

White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant

while the chicken, vegetables and cream filling was good, it only took up about a quarter of the interior of the pie. There was a huge empty pocket where I expected there to be filling but it was absent.

The Verdict

White Horse Tavern screams New England. The atmosphere can be described as nothing short of electric as electric. With a fireplace inviting you in during the cold Connecticut months, this bar/restaurant is the perfect place I’d want to be stuck if I ever found myself in a New England snowstorm. I recommend White Horse Tavern for either drinks or dinner as well. While I won’t be ordering the chicken pot pie again, I hope to pay then a return visit sometime in the future.

Hibachi in Hoboken

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Barton's Bites

Ayame Hibachi Grill – 526 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey

Last week I trekked out to Hoboken, New Jersey to check out Hoboken’s latest hibachi restaurant, Ayame.

We arrived around 7 p.m. on a Friday night and the place was busy. There were some open spaces at the sushi bar and hibachi tables but aside from that, there was a wait to sit down. I recommend making a reservation.

The inside of Ayame is equipped with a few hibachi tables in back – enough to comfortably fit our party of 14 – along with a sushi bar and some outdoor seating up front. There are no frills here and the inside mimics your typical Japanese or Chinese restaurant. The smell is a different story. The smell from the food cooking on the hibachi tables radiates throughout the restaurant and it sticks to you. Forewarning, be prepared to smell like Ayame for the rest of the night.

Our Hibachi Chef, Alan

Our hibachi chef for the night was Alan. He definitely doesn’t look like an Alan (for obvious reasons in the picture), but who am I to argue. Alan was perfect for our large group. He was energetic, funny, interactive and had fun with us – exactly what I want in a hibachi chef and it helped make our night.

There are a bunch of different options on the hibachi menu but all of them revolve around some sort of meat, chicken, seafood or combination.

I ordered:

Combination of steak and scallops with fried rice

Steak and Scallop Combo

All hibachi meals come with two pieces of shrimp, soup or salad, and vegetables, all of which were delicious. As for the steak and scallops, they were tasty, but heavily doused in sauce which most likely disguised some of the natural flavor. The food was neither mind blowing or sub-par, but that’s OK since I was there for the entertainment. Our hibachi chef, Alan, put on a show for us – flipping pieces of fried eggs into our mouths, squirting sake from a spray bottle into our mouths but instead dousing us in it (his aim wasn’t that good), and flipping lots of food up into his awaiting hat.

Word to the wise, Ayame is BYOB so make sure you stock up on wine, beer, sake or whatever you plan on drinking with your meal.

The Verdict

I hadn’t been to a hibachi place in quite some time but its everything I remember it being and more. (Apparently when you add alcohol to the mix things get infinitely better.) Ayame is a solid choice for hibachi in Hoboken and a great destination to bring a large group. Since it’s BYOB you save on the cost of alcohol, which makes the pricing extremely reasonable. If I’m in Hoboken again to grab dinner with a large group (let’s be honest, this is unlikely), I’ll be recommending Ayame Hibachi Grill.

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Food from a guy’s perspective.

Tag Archives: Dinner

Ippudo

L&W Oyster Co.

Did Someone Say “Belgian Feast”?

The ‘dam Brings Back Marist Memories

Mexican Barbecue at (Appropriately Named) MexiBBQ

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

The Second Time Around: Sidecar

The Second Time Around: 5 Napkin Burger

White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant

Hibachi in Hoboken

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Follow “Barton's Bites”