Restaurant experiment: Donnybrook

Donnybrook

35 Clinton Street at Stanton Street

New York, NY 10002

212-228-7733

http://www.donnybrooknyc.com/

Donnybrook’s business card declares it to be “home to lively debate and raucous revelry!”  This statement could be debated.  But I’ll let it slide since it was a weeknight and there were no drunken, foolish antics to witness.  The bartender seems jovial enough.

Luckily, I made it to Donnybook a few minutes shy of the end of happy hour (8pm).  I ordered a Blue Moon for $5.  Not super cheap, but I shrugged my shoulders; that’s the LES for you.  Then I found Afua at one of the sturdy wooden tables and gabbed with her until Julie showed up with her crew.  A blonde waitress kept attentive watch over us.  And she was sweet as pie.

Seeing as though I was starving, I had food on the brain and settled quickly on the fish pie ($12) which consisted of shrimp and fish with some sort of cheese crust, the menu informed me.  Afua also certified the fish pie to be tasty; it was settled.  We actually ended up doing shots since it was her brother’s birthday.  My lemon drop was $8, ouchie.

I will admit that when the fish pie made its entrance, it was not what I was expecting.  I was expecting something along the realm of a chicken pot pie, but this was more like a creamy seafood stew with toast triangles on the side.  Maybe in Ireland, pie means stew?  The little side salad was a nice touch.  However, it appeared that the salt dispenser was not handled with a light touch, more like a lead hand.  Too much salt and the intense creaminess did not balance out.  Too bad, because I tasted the potential for greatness, but it was buried in salt

My bill was $20, and I tipped $2 by accident.  The drinks convinced me that a 10% tip was magically a 20% tip.  I felt bad but only realized this error after I was too far from the bar.  Luckily Afua agreed to toss in a few bucks on my behalf.  I’m terrible.  And it was worse because the waitress was excellent!  Argh.  I encountered transit issues later as divine punishment.

In case you were wondering about the bathrooms, there are four (I believe)  individual, separate rooms.  It was a cool touch that the bathroom rules were die-cut decals.  Pretty sharp.

Restaurant experiment: Flex Mussels

Flex Mussels

174 East 82nd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues

New York, NY 10028

212-717-7772

http://www.flexmusselsny.com/

After my lobster roll initiation at The Mermaid Inn recently, I have been fixated on satisfying my lobster roll fix.  While Luke’s is high atop my list, I suggested Flex Mussels to my gang as it was convenient, it has the endorsements from Zagat and Michelin, and you could make a reservation.  I was dismayed that I couldn’t book a reservation at 8pm on a Thursday night on OpenTable, and then I resorted to calling Flex Mussels and could only make an 8:30 or 6 pm reservation.  8:30 it was then.

As those reservation-making blips would imply, the restaurant was packed.  When I walked in to meet my dinner companions, I had to smush into a host stand so that other people could get by.  The front room containing the bar and some seating was full of folk.

We were seated at a round table in the back right corner.  We started off with an Australian (sounded like) waitress who might have been a trainee as she was often accompanied by a genial, affable, more confident waiter.  What is neat is that Flex Mussels offers complimentary sparkling water.  And they make it or filter all their water themselves or something.

Belinda, Stacy, Julie, and I ended up going the family-style way, ordered several dishes and sharing them.  All I knew was that I wanted lobster rolls and made this clear to the other three.  No problem.  I ordered a Québécois beer, Unibrou, called Ephemere which was very granny smith-y, as it was supposed to be.  The label helpfully X-marked a champagne flute and suggested pouring the bottle into a goblet.  What did Flex Mussels give me?  A flute.  Rebels!  Anyhoo, it was decided that we would get oysters, mussels, and lobster rolls.  Yummy.

Free bread made an appearance.  A pleasant bread basket.

I slurped the oysters first.  Fresh and slimy-good!  I regret that I cannot recall the names of the bivalves but all you have to know is that I approve.  Personally, all I want is a healthy squeeze of lemon over my half-shelled friends, though there were plenty of topping options for others unlike me.

There were two lobster rolls to share amongst us.  The menu describes the roll as “meat from a 1lb. lobster, citrus aioli, celery, lemon, toasted bun, flex fries” for $27.  The fries were hot but a little too salty.  The pickle was extremely sour though Stacy and I agreed that this was fine, and it turned out that she and I had to fight for the pickles.  We both ended up with one.  I must say that I give The Mermaid Inn the win over Flex Mussels’ lobster roll.  Let me say that this bread was killer!  I adore baguettes and their kin, so toasted and buttery!  I’m in heaven.  The lobster salad’s flavors were tamer.  And it was slightly awkward to eat crustacean rolls like a Nathan’s hot dog.  Not bad, Flex Mussels, but not out-of-this-world.

Flex Mussels has over 15 options of Prince Edward Island mussels to pick from.  There were basic options like butter and garlic, and there were also other fancier selections like chorizo, lobster, Thai, and so forth.  Julie voted for the funghi and was not voted down because who could refuse “wild mushrooms, double smoked bacon, garlic, cream?”  This was $19.50.  The bacon was cubed pork…oh so delicious.  Pig and mussels, whatta pair!  Julie and I utilized the broth in other way, me sopping it up with leftover bread.

Initially I planned to be cheap and resist dessert.  But for a casual seafood joint, Flex Mussels has some tantalizing creative sweets.  Continuing the sharing of food, we ordered the chocolate cream pie on its side for $10, consisting of “61% valrhona dark chocolate pudding, whipped creme fraiche, salted chocolate shortbread and creme fraiche ice cream.”  That description makes me want to pull a Homer Simpson and just start drooling dreamily.  The other dessert was a peach bread pudding.  The peach bread pudding was unique and delightful which is hard for me to say because I do not like bread pudding.  The outside was fried and crispy, and there were wee peach balls dotting the spherical structure.  Pretty.

The chocolate cream pie on its side totally stole the show though, like a cuter younger sister.  When our waiter set this bad boy down, the first thing we noticed was that it sparkled.  Literally.  There was an edible glitter atop the cream fraiche swirl.  Cool.  Oh, the valrhona dark chocolate pudding was happiness in a chocolate shell.  Our waiter then revealed that the pastry chef, Zac Young, is going to be on Top Chef Just Desserts which excited the Top Chef fans at my table and a fan at the neighboring table.  Despite me never having seen the show, I thought that was pretty darn cool and had to tell my Top Chef fan friends about that.

Post-check, I looked at my watch.  Wow, dinner was two hours.  Food worth talking about (well, the lobster roll was just aight), warm company, what more could you ask for?  More chocolate cream pie on its side!

Restaurant experiment: Turkish Kitchen

Turkish Kitchen

386 Third Avenue between 27th and 28th Streets

New York, NY 10016

212-679-1810

http://www.turkishkitchen.com

A sign on the sidewalk proclaimed 20% off in honor on Turkish Kitchen’s 20 year anniversary.  Ooh, sale!  And any restaurant in the city that’s been around 20 years with appearances in Zagat and the Michelin Guide can’t be too terrible.  And within walking distance to our main destination, I’m sold.

When Julie, Stacy, and I entered the restaurant (it’s a sunken main floor), the maitre d’ inquired as to whether or not we had reservations.  Initially we were a party of two, and when Stacy called, they declared that no reservations were accepted for two tops.  Okay.  At the restaurant, they tell us that reservations are accepted for three and up.  How kooky.  At least didn’t have to wait too long.  I sat amongst some orchids and started at the colored glowing martini glasses at the bar.  Turkish Kitchen is all red walls, and orchids and candles in blue glass holders add interest to the stark red.  There is also an upstairs section, and I wasn’t sure if it was for parties or larger groups.

We were seated with the drink menus for entertainment.  Hours pass.  Well, not really, but it sure seemed like it.  Doesn’t it make sense to give you the food menus so you can study them as you endure days for the waitress to show up?  Our waitress was on another planet or something.  When she actually came to check on us, she had this irksome habit of asking “Can I take this away?” while in the actual physical act of taking away your finished plate.  Um, I guess I don’t have a choice in the matter?

We split a bottle of white wine from Turkey.  It was refreshing and a fine complement to the meal.  The right way to begin the long dining experience was with an appetizer sampler.  It’s not on any of the menus I found online so I don’t know exactly what it was called or what it contained, but it had baba ghanoush (Patlican Salatasi?), humus, and beans (Barbunya Plaki?).  A paper cone filled with bread chunks was used for dipping.  Naturally we ran out and wanted more but the waitress of course couldn’t be flagged down.

After much indecision, I chose to order the Iskender Kebab which was described as ”vertically grilled lamb sliced very thin, served with garlicky yogurt and tomato sauce over pita bread.”  The yogurt sauce is very much like sour cream, and no fear, it’s not too garlicky (unfortunately for me).  I mixed the two sauces together to get a pink sauce.  The lamb was very thin.  Julie and Stacy let me sample their entrees, and thumbs up to them, the ladies and the dishes.  Stacy had the Bonfile Sis which was filet mignon–tops!  Julie got the Etli Lahana Dolmasi which was like stuffed grape leaves with cabbage as the leaf and ground beef inside–choice!

Too stuffed from the mains, we declined the dessert tray the waitress brought out.  Julie and Stacy sipped on thick Turkish coffees while I reminisced about the scrumptious meal I just ate and blotting out the blah service.  Yummy.

Restaurant experiment: Jimmy’s No. 43

Jimmy’s No. 43

43 East 7th Street between Second and Third Avenues

New York, NY 10006

212-982-3006

http://www.jimmysno43.com

Stacy wanted to throw her birthday party at Jimmy’s No. 43, a restaurant/beer joint where she and Julie had been before.  The beer selection impressed her, and the food wasn’t too dowdy either.  If you are a beer boy or girl, Jimmy’s is the place for you, as there are plenty of brews on tap, mostly from breweries I’ve never heard of (easy to accomplish).  If you are into darker beers, all the better for you.

I was disappointed because it smelled exactly like burgers sizzling on a grill when we walked in, and it was crushing when I carefully scraped the menu for any sign of a burger.  No burger.  Tears.  Ummmm, burgers would totally complement the terrific selection of beers!  Hello!?!?

As for beer, I went with the Avery White Rascal for $6.  It was fine.  Everyone else seemed content with their selection of beer.  Too bad we missed local raw oyster night which is Thursdays.  The menu had a bunch of appealing choices therefore Dave and I decided to share two entrees, and this is what we got.

24 Hour Braised Pork local polenta, pear, mint, arugula, $17

Stacy recommended this guy because she’d had it before.  Unfortunately I had stuffed myself with the free bread and olive oil/balsamic so I couldn’t eat too much.  The pork was very tender and the polenta tasted just like grits.  I couldn’t taste much mint but that was fine by me.  Hmm, I’d never thought of combining pear with pork.

Shrimp and grits, hickory bacon, scallions, $17

The portion was more on the skimpy side but there was a fair amount of shrimp and bacon proportional to the grits volume.  I like my bacon crunchy but that’s just me.  Yeah, the portion needs to be doubled.

Cash only, and the waitress refused to separate our checks.  Sigh.  Regardless, the birthday lady had fun and I did as well, thanks Jimmy’s No. 43!  And you also have an abundance of hooks for coats and scarves and bags.  Thanks again!

Restaurant experiment: Spitzer’s Corner

Spitzer’s Corner

101 Rivington Street at Ludlow Street

New York, NY

212-228-0027

http://www.spitzerscorner.com/

Denied at T Poutine…it was where we planned to go but it wasn’t open yet.  Crushed.  So down the street we went to Spitzer’s Corner, our backup plan.  Hipster land!  They were crawling all over the place.  And it was loud.

After a reasonable wait, we were seated in the back room, at the end of one of the communal tables.  My new theory is that communal tables are supposed to be cool but are simply a cover, an excuse for the closeness of tables in NYC.  I certainly didn’t want to socialize with the girls next to us.  Ugh.

The service was sparse, but at least the girl was friendly enough and didn’t have a permanent sneer on; the bartender chicks had attitude oozing out of their pores.  Julie and I opted for the duck confit ($13).  It needed more duck!  Other things it included were “baby spinach, frisee, arugula, toasted pine nuts, foie gras butter on toasted baguette, passion fruit seeds/vinaigrette.”  It was like this dish was made with me in mind since I am gung ho about duck, foie gras, and passionfruit.  Maybe it was a slice too sour, but overall, it worked like a charm.  Stacy loved her burger; Thomas seemed to seem to be at peace with his grilled cheese, at least I think he didn’t loathe its guts.

The fries took years to arrive and showed up the same time as the mains.  So much for them being an appetizer.  If you can stomach the hipsters, you could do pretty well here.  Reasonable prices!  Gasp, shock, awe!

Restaurant experiment: Tuck Shop

Tuck Shop

68 East 1st Street between First and Second Avenues

New York, NY 10003

212-979-5200

http://www.tuckshopnyc.com/

Meat pies. Sweeney Todd!

Luckily these pies don’t have people in them. Or so we believe.

Blondie was cranked in the background, and folks floated in and out of the petite pie purveyor. Some to go, some squishing at tables and ledges. I joined Stacy and Julie at the bar where they were nursing brewskis. I tried an Aussie beer; it was all right. The worker dude recommended it to me.

Julie and I picked one of the evening’s specials called “The Kiwi” which was ground beef and cheese. We agreed that you can’t go wrong with that. Words never truer have been uttered. Just a little spicy but not overwhelmingly so for wimpy me. Julie suggested I do a pre-eat picture and a post-eat picture, but the latter turned out rather dreadful, so I am sparing you all. You’ll have to imagine meat with melty cheese in your heads then. For $5-6, you really can’t beat the deal.

Then our trio split the vanilla slice ($3) because our top choice of the rhubarb pie was not available. Sadness. “Vanilla custard, sandwiched between 2 layers of puff pastry finished with a white fondant icing atop.” What a treat! Looks like a Toaster Strudel. To prevent sugar OD, split with friends! Do not eat solo.

Tuck in at the Tuck Shop!