Restaurant experiment: La Galette

La Galette

177 East 100th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues

New York, NY 10029

212-410-6361

http://www.lagaletteny.com/

That Girl kindly invited me to join her dinner club on this particular outing since she knows I dig eating at restaurants I’ve never dined at.

French-Senegalese?  I am/was so there.  How cool is that?

Professing my ignorance, I had to only a few minutes ago look up where exactly Senegal is.  I knew it was in Africa, but that was it.  It so happens that Senegal is on the western coast, right in the middle of the fat panhandle of Africa.  And it used to be a French colony.

The restaurant is BYOB.  Just FYI.

Also FYI, the service is sloooooooow.  Nice, but not fast.  I sort of feel bad for this place since it doesn’t receive much foot traffic, being off Lex.  There’s live music which was kinda neat.  And as That Girl raved, the bathrooms were spotless.

I ordered the thiebou yapp which is “rice with marinated lamb, onion, and mixed vegetables.”  I wished the description had also included “spicy” as a keyword since the thiebou yapp was definitely not bland.  Darn spices.  Looking on the bright side, the portion was generous so I was all set for lunch the next day.  And the lamb was superb the next day too.  Love that lamb.

I was surprised there was no gratuity tacked on because of the size of the group, safely over six/eight.  We checked, none to be found.  The other clubbers waxed enthusiasm for their plates, so La Galette won the approval of this particular gang.

That SpaHa dining scene, so hot right now.

Restaurant experiment: La Parisienne

La Parisienne

910 Seventh Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets

New York, NY 10019

212-765-4591

Leslie and I were looking for a place to eat in between a double feature.  She suggested we go to La Parisienne.  Was it a French place?, I asked her.  No, it wasn’t.  Just a diner trying to be fancy.

Run by old Greek men, La Parisienne isn’t particularly French in any regard.  The booth we sat in had a little placard with New Line Cinema on it for some reason, along with other names.  I ordered a burger which was servicable.  I forgot that when I don’t order the deluxe at diners, the burger is basically naked.  And who wants that?  I did a special request for raw onions, and the waiter obliged, and there was no exorbitant fee tacked on for that.  Because you never know in NYC, I say as I recall a certain sour cream incident at La Palapa with Leslie.

But with Burger Joint just down the street, this simply can’t compare.

Maybe the Greek fare would totally rock my tastebuds?

I ordered a slice of New York cheesecake because I needed more food and there was time to kill.  With the first bite, I couldn’t decided how I felt about the cake and Leslie commented that my face said it all.  After I kept eating, I decided that it wasn’t bad. 

And why was the diner closing at 9pm on Saturday?  Strange diner.

Restaurant experiment: Nomad

Nomad

78 Second Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets

New York, NY 10003

212-253-5410

http://www.nomadny.com/

Yet another birthday celebration in one week, birthday week!  This time, it was Greg who was turning another year older.

I arrived early and sat at the bar until the rest of the party arrived.  Since I was the only guest in the place at that point, I was lavished a lot of attention by the waiter/host (waist? hoter?).  Nomad has a front dining area and a back dining area which is a little roomier, a way a lot of restaurants are laid out.  The back also has more atmosphere, meaning is prettier and more inviting.  Our party sat in the back, tucked away into a little corner.  It was just us for a while but then the place started to fill up.

The lamb and prune tagine was highly recommended to me by Greg and Ambika, and I was skeptical at first because of my dislike for prunes though Greg said these weren’t like your average standard prune.  The lamb was great!  Prunes, not so much.  I gave them a chance to prove me wrong with this dish, but nope.  Just didn’t win me over.  The only prunes I’ve loved have been at Freemans, only because blue cheese and bacon compensate for the prune-ness.

Even though I gorged myself of the free pitas and olive oil beforehand, I ate every single bite of the lamb, the unliked prunes, and my bowl of couscous, but I was still hungry.  This is rare for me since typically I can’t even finish my own entree, so I guess the portion really was small.  Ambika took pity on my predicament and offered me her bowl of couscous, and Greg bestowed upon me a bite of his red snapper.  Snappy tasting, that fish.

The check took a long time to arrive, par for the course.  But I would come back though I’m trying the chicken pastilla (chicken, almonds, phyllo, cinnamon, sugar) next time.  And maybe having a snack at home beforehand.

Restaurant experiment: Lucky Strike

Lucky Strike

59 Grand Street between Wooster and West Broadway

New York, NY 10013

212-941-0772

http://www.luckystrikeny.com/

Since it was a birthday dinner for Laura, I took great pains to select an appropriate eatery for the event. I haven’t spent much time down in this part of SoHo, but I should, as there were tons of appealing restaurants in the area.

Even around 9pm on a Wednesday, Lucky Strike was a hoppin’ happenin’ place, with a crowded bar and crowded dining area. We had to wait close to 20 minutes even though we were assured less than that. But hey, a place this busy couldn’t be that bad, right?

The menu has a bit of everything and was less Frenchy that I expected, as there were a couple of Italian dishes on there. I ordered the croque monsieur and Laura followed suit. As I later joked, it was like Paula Deen had prepared it as the sandwich was slathered in a generous heaping of butter before being grilled. And inconsistencies too, since Laura’s sandwich was significantly darker than mine. The croque was a little salty but cheesy and hammy. I was already full on that and left the salad largely intact, to be nibble on by Laura. Must’ve filled up on the free bread and happy hour drinks earlier. I sampled Mike’s moules which were yummers.

The rest of us were too stuffed for dessert, but Laura ordered a slice of chocolate mousse cake which I requested a candle for. The staff obliged. They did not sing “Happy Birthday,” but our table did the choral honors.

If you want the airplane bathroom feeling without leaving the ground, use one of Lucky Strike’s W.C.s! Levity aside, you can feel hip enough at Lucky Strike while having a reasonable meal. A lucky selection by me for the evening’s meal, I say.

Restaurant experiment: New Venus

New Venus

252 Eighth Avenue between East 22nd and 23rd Streets

New York, NY 10011

212-243-0980

After some St. Patrick’s Day festivities nearby, myself, Laura, Greg, and Wayne walked up Eighth Avenue in search of a relatively inexpensive place to soothe our appetites.  New Venus appeared on her scallop shell, and we decided we would eat here.

The waiter offered to give us separate checks, right off the bat, no prompting or anything.  Wow!  Days later, I am still floored about that.  New Venus earns a special place in my heart just for that act of kindness.  Usually you are laughed out of the restaurant if you request separate checks in NYC, so this was just that amazing.

I got a special Greek-style burger which was not on the regular menu.  The patty came with kalamata olives and a generous slab of feta cheese, served on pita bread, with onion rings and lettuce and tomato to round it off.  Since it was a deluxe, it came with fries which I barely touched since the burger filled me up.  The burger was not easy to eat.  I cut it up into bits with my knife and fork and made do that way.  How sophisticated.  As with most diners, the burger was fine but nothing which would cause you to squeal with delight.  Thanks to Laura for helping with the fries!

Restaurant experiment: Shake Shack

Shake Shack

Madison Square Park, near Madison Avenue at East 23rd Street

New York, NY 10010

212-889-6600

http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/

Depending on who you talk to or what reviews you read, Shack Shack is an institution vying for the title of Best Burger in NYC. So yeah, I still can’t believe it’s taken me this long to actually try the Shack, given my burger fanaticism.

I met Amanda and Laura in Madison Square Park for lunch. Waiting in line is all part of the experience; you’re passing the time with a mix of tourists and business folk. Too bad it was in the 40s, weather-wise, but at least the line wasn’t as long as it is during peak summer season. I ordered a Double ShackBurger for $7.25. It came with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Shack sauce. I requested onions but neglected the pickles. Laura and I decided to share an order of fries since I was in the mindset that the burger would stuff my stomach. What is nifty is that you are given a buzzer so that you can meander while waiting for your food. Naturally a place called the Shake Shack sells shakes, but given the temps, I opted out.

All right, I must say that the size of the burger was a letdown, but that’s how I felt at Burger Joint. But it was super excellent! The sauce really makes the burger. I at times was reminded of In-N-Out, which is what a couple of confidantes confess to being the best burger in the world. Smile-makin’ burger.

The fries were no great shakes. Crispy and salty enough, but they were wavy and were just okay.

Shake Shack, you are a contender. And you get to dine with plump squirrels. But Burger Joint’s fries are better. Tough one.

Restaurant experiment: Tre

Tre

173 Ludlow Street between Houston and Stanton Streets

New York, NY 10002

212-353-3353

http://www.trenewyork.com/home.html

I wanted Laura to experience the Lower East Side, and I found Tre with the assistance of one of my handy references, OpenTable. Tre is pretty small and not bright, with lighting fit for a rendezvous. There’s a small seating area in the front, the bar, and then the main dining room which was still on the smaller side. The setting is perfect for dates or small meals with close pals.

The sangria was a stunning ruby color and generously poured for a steal of seven bucks. Laura and I opted for the $19 prix fixe which is only available Sunday through Thursday. Tre also has a bunch of other deals, like a $17 brunch with unlimited brunchy drinks and Sangria Mondays.

1st course: RAVIOLI FRITTI

“Fried ravioli stuffed with ricotta, salame, black pepper”

Ding ding ding! We have a winner. This was hands down my favorite part of the prix fixe. They looked like fried wontons drizzled with chocolate sauce, but that was just some balsamic. Mmm, crunchy pasta, warm cheese. Heavenly. Laura wholeheartedly agreed with me. Mmm.

2nd course: MEZZI RIGATONI CON POLPETTE

“Short rigatoni pasta with traditional lamb mini meat balls & tomato sauce”

This dish was fine but nothing that I would send a snail mail letter out about.

3rd course: TRE CHEESECAKE

“Crème fraiche, ricotta, cream cheese, mango sauce”

Since I’m lukewarm on tiramisu, I picked the ricotta cheesecake. It was fine but not the pinnacle of the meal. Museum-worthy presentation however.

Our pretty haired waiter, as Laura referred to him, was not of this planet. Very Valley Girl I must say. Another waiter picked up some of his slack, but the service wasn’t super sterling, but no matter since we weren’t in much of a hurry.

I want to say that Tre flies under the radar because if I mention it to someone, he/she probably wouldn’t be familiar with it, but the restaurant was doing fair business on a Sunday night, so some people know about it. Maybe it’s partially a hidden gem. A hidden cubic zirconia? Bang for your buck, sleek atmosphere, satisfying food.

Tre Cool. [You will only get that reference if you used to be really into Green Day in junior high like me.]

Restaurant experiment: Angus McIndoe

Angus McIndoe

258 West 44th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue

New York, NY 10036

212-221-9222

www.angusmcindoe.com

Laura’s coworker recommended Angus McIndoe to her as a place for great food and celebrities galore.  Since this joint is placed firmly in the theater district, I suspected they’d be famous people with Broadway pedigrees.  Okay then.  We came here for brunch before a matinee of In the Heights. 

At 12:30PM on a Sunday, the three-story restaurant wasn’t crowded at all.  I was surprised.  Darn, no one notable to be spotted.  We were seated in the first floor rear dining room with a painting of a man looking at a woman in her underwear.  I commented to Laura that it was not appropriate meal art.  The Nathan Lane painting could go either way.

This is what I ate.

Eggs Benedict with home fries.  In my years on this planet, I have not to my recollection consumed the well-known breakfast dish called Eggs Benedict.  Hard to believe.  Hollandaise sauce consists of butter, eggs, and lemon, all things I dig.  It was almost cheesy.  That poured over poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and English muffins?  Score!  The home fries were appealing too but the real stars were the yellow eggs creations.

Our dining room filled up near the end of the meal, but no Broadway stars were to be seen.  Sad.  As is typical when restaurants fill up, service exponentially decays.

Notes on Eggs Benedict (source)

I thought EB referred to Benedict Arnold but a Google search told me that wasn’t the case.  There are several stories floating out there as to the origins of this notable dish, with the top two involving bankers at notable restaurants in NYC in the late 1800s.

1. LeGrand Benedict goes to Delmonico’s and is sick of everything on the menu.  The chef Charles Ranhofer makes EB to please the grumpy customer.
2. Lemuel Benedict requests the ingredients for an EB at the Waldorf Hotel, as a cure for his killer hangover.  Those i-bankers, partying too hard.

So I’m happy to finally try a classically New York dish (not that I knew that it was) here in New York.

And if you’re wondering, In the Heights was a feel-good way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t the Best Musical Ever.  Too high expectations strike again.

Restaurant experiment: DuMont

DuMont

432 Union Street between Devoe Street and Metropolitan Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11211

718-486-7717

http://www.dumontrestaurant.com

My Zagat bestows upon DuMont the distinction of having the best burger in NYC.  Is this true?  Well, it’s hard to compare DuMont to my current favorite, Burger Joint.  Hmmmmmm.  Or should that be mmmmmm?

I suggested trying DuMont to Laura, and she was receptive to the notion.  Making a reservation for Saturday night was one of the smartest things I’ve done in quite some time because DuMont didn’t have a seat to spare.  Since we were the early side of our appointed dining time, the hostess sent us to the garden bar in the back which was also mobbed with the Williamsburg set.  If you want hipsters, DuMont’s got ’em.

DRINKAGE

I had the El Diablo highball, consisting of Sauza Hornitos tequila, cassis, lime, and ginger ale.  Yes!  What a devil of a drink.  Laura’s Plantation Sidecar lived up to her expectations and exceeded them.  Cheers.

FOODAGE

Ah, the notorious DuMont Burger.  I ordered it with white cheddar which was maybe not the wisest choice because it faded into the background.  Man, should have done blue cheese.  What made DuMont’s burger more distinctive was the topping options which included pickled onions and homemade pickles.  I’m still a raw onion enthusiast, but I appreciated the difference.  The fries were just my type: crispy and non-bland and slim.  Props, delicious burger, with a patty the size of a studio apartment.

DESSERTAGE

 

The special dessert of the evening was a pots de creme.  After evaluating my other options, I knew the pdc was the way to go.  Whippy chocolate custard-type dessert?  Can’t go wrong.  Adding a generous handful of raspberries elevated this treat to heavenly status.  Hells yeah!  Excuse the photograph, not very flattering.  At least the raspberries came out decently.

Hooray, a successful venture to Williamsburg!  DuMont’s got it going on: atmosphere, drinks, burgers, desserts.  Thumbs up.

Restaurant experiment: Son Cubano

Son Cubano

405 West 14th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues

New York, NY 10014

212-366-1640

http://www.soncubanonyc.com/main1.htm

The Meatpacking District is a graveyeard on Saturday morning.  More like DeadMeatpacking District.  I learned that quickly as Laura and I strolled around the bumpy road-ed neighborhood, killing time until our reservation.  The reservation was not needed since we were the only diners in Son Cubano until we were about to leave, post-meal.  The space is beautiful.  We sat in a corner facing 14th Street, but drapes, chandeliers, and photographs pretty up the joint.  Our waiter, Henry, was attentive and very polite.  Props to him.

Us two grazed on the complimentary bread and sipped our cocktails as we were waiting for the entrees to make appearances.  Laura’s selection was a mojito, and I daintily sipped a pina colada martini.  We approved, though $13 for alcoholic beverages was steep.  There needs to be a rule where your mains do not cost the same as your drink.

I ordered the pan con bistec, which was the “traditional Cuban steak sandwich: sirloin steak, melted onions, yucca sticks.”  I was expecting a sandwich the size of a postage stamp, but I was happily surprised that I would not be starving by the last bite.  The steak was flavorful with a few chewy pockets here and there, but overall satisfying.  Thumbs up to those sticks.

Apparently Son Cubano has quite the scene in later hours of the day: dancing, live music, more patrons.  Glad I missed that though.  It was like having our own private dining experience.  Now, if that could only happen when I go to the movies…