Restaurant experiment: Cafe Bombay

Café Bombay

2615 Briarcliff Road at Woodcliff Drive

Atlanta, GA 30329

404-320-0229

http://www.cafebombayatlanta.com [warning, has background music]

Café Bombay is actually located in the same small shopping center as Queen of Sheba, where I had eaten not too recently ago.  The parentals were the ones to tell me about this place since they had been several times and were over the moon about the lunch buffet.  We all went one Saturday, and I was pleased that the buffet was offered on Saturdays too, not just weekdays.

The main dining room is a cozy space, if a bit dim from gauzy curtains.  The buffet is divided so that there are two stations as follows (or at least what I can recall):

• Station 1: vegetarian entrees
  • Fritters
  • Spinach
  • Etc
  • Basmati rice
  • Naan
  • Gulab jamun

• Station 2: meat entrees
  • Goat curry
  • Chicken tikka masala
  • Tandoori chicken
  • “Chicken 65”
  • Etc
  • Chutneys
  • Raita
  • Kheer
  • Biryani

The service may not have been fawning-over-you-friendly, but it was certainly efficient and polite.  The food bins at the buffet stations remained constantly full, and everything seemed fresh.  I tried a little of everything and was generally happy except for a few very spicy veggie entrees.  The chicken tikka masala with its rich tomato taste and the tandoori chicken were standouts.

The rice pudding [kheer] was a pleasant surprise.  Usually I am not hugely into rice pudding, but it had a pleasing almond taste, and I found myself having a second serving.  The gulab jamun was too syrupy for me, but it’s tops in the books of two others in my party.

For Indian buffets, definitely try out Cafe Bombay.

Restaurant experiment: Tamarind

Tamarind

41-43 East 22nd Street between Park Avenue South and Broadway

New York, NY 10010

212-674-7400

http://www.tamarinde22.com

My dad had complied a shortlist of three Indian places to try, and I chose Tamarind as the winner after meticulous investigations.  I made a reservation, and even though it was for an early time, it was very wise to do so, as this dining destination filled up fast.  Our party of four were seated in a semiprivate raised booth off to the side in the main/back dining room.  I should add that on your way to the back, you pass a glass-walled room where you can observe chefs making tasty treats.  Very beautiful decor all around.

Dave and I shared a half order ($13) of the tandoor chicken; the mother parental also ordered this.  The bird is one of the bargains on the menu, since it’s actually a fair-sized portion and could be your whole entree.  The chicken wasn’t too dry and was not insipid, hooray.  We also elected to get the special lamb chop.  While this chop was oozing with spices, they were too killer for my weak tastebuds.  As my lips sizzled, I admitted defeat.  This made me think of two things.

1. When I called Tamarind to bump up my reservation time, the hold music was actually a little spiel telling me that the food was adapted to the American palate.  Food so spicy I have to give up on it doesn’t seem very dumbed down to me.
2. That Simpsons episode where Apu cooks for the Simpsons, and the grub is so intense that Lisa remarks that she can see through time.  That was me.

Okay, Dave handled it fine.  I’m just weak and prone to exaggeration.

To accompany the meal, all of us consumed spoonfuls of plain basmati rice (there were other dressier options to select; this one was $5.25) and nan ($4.25).  And for some veggies to satisfy the food pyramid, a round of saag paneer ($16.25).  Luckily the saag did not burn my tongue off.  Gotta love the paneer chunks.

Naturally, I had to eat dessert despite gobbling down entrees prior.  My mother favored her gulab jamun, and I praised my kulfi (traditional Indian ice cream, $5.50).  Pretty sweets: pretty sweet.

I even consumed part of Dave’s chocolate mousse cake, which while not very Indian, was rich and topped with a cute chocolate cigar, or cigarette, as I called it.  Too thin to be a cigar.

Tamarind is not for penurious Indian cuisine enthusiasts since the entrees are in the $20 range, and there is no free rice.  We all elected for no appetizers, though we did get complimentary pre-meal snacks.  I admit that I did not see the final check, nor did I really want to.  Even though Curry Hill is a few blocks away, when you want an attractive setting and want to empty your wallet while consuming fare from the Northern part of India, Tamarind fits the bill.

Restaurant experiment: Villa Berulia

Villa Berulia

107 East 34th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues

New York, NY 10016

212-689-1970

http://villaberulia.com/

The parentals desired Italian fare near the hotel.  Thanks to Yelp, I found Villa Berulia.  Since it was early on a Sunday evening, we had no trouble scoring a table in the cavernous restaurant.  Not to be all Olive Garden, but you can definitely tell this is more of a family operation.  The hostess and the waiter looked like well-season Villa Berulia fixtures. 

We were seated in the back area which was raised compared to the rest of the floor.  There was an adjacent table which all seemed to know the waiter well and spoke to him like an old buddy.  The fake white plaster is supposed to make you think you are at George Clooney’s Italian villa or something.

My mom ordered the fresh mozzarella caprese, and we thought it was a table-sharing portion, but we were dismayed when two plates were served to herself and I (my dad had not requested an appetizer when asked).  I’m not sure this was worth $13/person.  A generous pour of balsamic over roasted red peppers and mozzarella…yum.  Oh, but I can’t neglect the bread basket.  I’ll admit that it was a hearty bread basket, with sesame seed covered breadsticks, wheat bread, white bread, and garlic bread.  Can’t whine about that.

As my main, I ordered the canelloni (~$21).  Described as “pasta filled with meat, spinach, and bechamel sauce,” I was eager to try it.  Again since I was in a hurry, I agonized over when the food was going to show up.  Of course, the law is anything is dragged out when you’re in a hurry.  I regret that I could not savor each bite.  Though how weird is it to call the filling “meat?”  How vague.  I would have liked more sauce.  It was a hot dish, I can tell you that.

I felt bad to dine and dash, but again, I had to catch a train.  Looking back, Villa Berulia is a very safe place to eat, especially for parents.  Most people do not protest Italian food, the service was fine if a little inattentive/slow, and the noise level was closer to mouse than lion.  It’s not going to knock your socks off, but it’s a safe, solid choice, especially for the people who raised you.

Restaurant experiment: Oriental Garden

Oriental Garden

14 Elizabeth Street between Canal and Bayard Streets

New York, NY 10013

212-619-0085

http://www.orientalgardenny.com

I always get dim sum when the parentals are in town.  Last year we went to Ping’s, so this year I thought we’d try something new.  Oriental Garden was the winner.

The key to dim sum is going early.  As we walked down Elizabeth Street around 11:30, we passed Jing Fong first, and my mom spotted the mobs of people waiting out front, and she was concerned that we would have to wait hours.  To her relief, I steered her to the smaller Oriental Garden nearby.  Oriental Garden is just one main room, unlike the Bloomingdale’s that is Jing Fong.  No one’s ever recommended Jing Fong to me, just in case you were wondering.

The suited host seated us at a circular table across from a group of three women: two younger women flanking an older woman.  I didn’t realize we had to share soy sauce (and a menu), and I kept putting the soy sauce closer to our side.  I hate sharing tables.  Observing those women, the older lady never said a word, and the two younger gals talked across her.  Weird.

We ordered steamed veggies with oyster sauce off the menu.  The picture below even captures the steam, wow!  Slippery but cooked well.  The shumai and tripe were excellent.  They’re my personal favorites.  I was charmed by the bonus shrimp on top of the shumai.

I was stoked when steamed pork buns and shrimp noodle made an appearance.  Lots of other diners shared in my enthusiasm for the shrimp noodle.  The females across the table might have ordered some, and then the guy holding the tray with them quickly found himself holding an empty tray.  So I wish a greater diversity of dishes would come out more often.  But at least you could order whatever wasn’t making appearances.  In case you were wondering, the jasmine tea was fantastic.

When I picked up a business card at the front desk, the card’s appearance immediately seemed familiar.  Now I believe this is where Leslie and I ate before I became a New York City resident.  It’s just too freakishly familiar, and I know my business cards.  I believe it was tasty then, so that means that Oriental Garden’s still got it!  My mom says Ping’s isn’t as good as Oriental Garden.  I thought they were both stomach pleasers.

Restaurant experiment: Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

342 Lexington Avenue between East 39th and 40th Streets

New York, NY 10016

212-697-8330

http://tokyorestaurant.net/

My mom picked out this place since it was supposed to be authentic.  That was certainly the case: the waitresses are decked out in kimonos, and they have menus written solely in Japanese, as well as English versions.   The website states that Tokyo has been around 35 years which has to say something.  It was still pretty early when we arrived, not really needing the reservation that we made.

Hot towels were brought over, and we perused the menu.  An appetizer we ordered was fried chicken legs with scallions and fish eggs.  That sounds like a mish mash, but it was actually delicious.  Sipping green tea, my dad and I decided to chow on the cheaper sushi morawase option and my mom went for the chirashi.  I stole some of her avocado and purpled pickled cucumber and tobiko.  The miso soup came out prior, and it was strongly flavored which I dig.  I had requested no wasabi on my platter, though somehow they put wasabi on the maki.  Huh.  And I was a little disappointed that ikura was not available a la carte, or at least it wasn’t on the menu.  Mmm, fresh sushi.  I was surprised the rolls were a little messy instead of made with Japanese precision, but no huge deal.

As it happens often, the service grew less attentive as more guests wafted into the restaurant.  This would have bothered me less except for the fact that I was racing against a deadline.  I did order dessert because I thought it would be faster.  My father’s dessert seemed to take more time (mochi) than mine (green tea ice cream).  I know Tokyo doesn’t make their own green tea ice cream, but it’s still good stuff.  Tokyo: uncreative name, but darn good sushi and authentic!

Restaurant experiment: La Giara

La Giara

501 Third Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets

New York, NY 10016

212-726-9855

http://www.lagiara.com/

[I’m not sure why this text is so small.  Darn WordPress.]

The parentals and the brother and I came here on a Monday evening because the mother unit wanted Italian within walking distance of the hotel.  Since I wanted to accrue more OpenTable points, I found this place La Giara which seemed to fit the bill.

I didn’t really need to make a reservation since the place was rather dead.  I’d rather have a place undercrowded that overcrowded though.  At least we could hear each other easily and had attentive service, though the waitress’s Eastern European accent was rather thick.  Lucky for us, Monday nights are $9 pasta nights.  Good deal since the usual costs are about $13 to $16.

The family shared the bufala caprese appetizer ($11.50) which was “bufala milk mozzarella, plum tomato, basil, oregano and extra virgin olive oil.”  It also came with bread and olive oil tomatoes on crostini.  Yum.  We also shared a red wine with was yum.

The brother and I shared a pear and walnut salad which was not too thrilling.  It was okay but needed more cheese since it advertised cheese.  As my main, I ordered spaghetti in lamb ragout and pecorino cheese ($13.50).  I found this dish to be comforting and satisfyingly lamb-y though it was toeing the line into blandness.  Plus I got extra freshly grated cheese on top, and we all know that cheese can improve nearly any dish.

I felt bad for La Giara since it could have used some more business.  At least we were doing our part.  And it’s an appealing cozy space, with candles on the tables, white walls accented with dark wooden beams, wine bottles as decor, and so forth.  You can do it a favor and go Mondays.

Restaurant experiment: Oh! Taisho

Oh! Taisho

9 Saint Marks Place between Second and Third Avenues

New York, NY 10003

212-673-1300

http://www.yakitoritaisho.com/main/

Though I’ve been to Takitori Taisho twice, I’ve never been to its sibling Oh! Taisho.  They’re basically the same place, though Oh! Taisho seems to get less love; it’s always somewhat less packed than Yakitori Taisho.  Luckily Oh! Taisho zipped to the rescue when Yakitori Taisho already had folks spilling outside when the parents and I arrived on Saint Marks.

We only waited a minute to be seated, and I ordered a frozen alcoholic Calpico to enjoy with the rest of my meal.  With the yakitori skewers, I ordered two chicken chunks, a beef, a pork, a shrimp, and a bacon wrapped scallop (initially I requested bacon wrapped okra but there was no okra to be found).  And for some greenery, a tuna and avocado salad.

The skewers were fantastico as usual.  The pork was fatty fat phat however, but we all know how fat=yum.  As a corollary, the bacon was also fatty, but delicious.  All the other skewers were lightly peppery and delish.

The tuna and avocado salad came with more, to my surprise, more meaning tomato and onion and spinach.  It was in a ginger dressing.  I liked how there was lots of avocado and the tuna wasn’t skimpy either.

Oh!  Oh! Taisho!  You rock just as much as your sibling, and I like you more even maybe since I’m awfully fond of underdogs and less crowds.

Restaurant experiment: Ping’s Restaurant

Ping’s Restaurant

22 Mott Street between Chatham Square and Mosco Street

New York, NY 10013

212-602-9988

Many months ago, I asked AmyC for dim sum places that she would recommend, and Ping’s was at the tip of her tongue.  I stored that important bit of knowledge in the back of my brain and waited for the appropriate time to whip that out.

The time came, as I insisted the parentals have dim sum with myself.  It was around 11:30 and already Ping’s was filling up.  By noon, there was nary a seat in the smallish house.  What I wasn’t too fond of was sharing a nine-seater circular table with complete strangers.  Awkward.

Pressing on, the dim sum was perfectly tasty so that compensated.  Since space is a premium, the servers at Ping’s mostly carry around the small plates on trays.  What was handy is the hardcover menu which has glorious pictures of dim sum foods along with the names in English and in Chinese.  Wish I could have swiped a copy since I am terrible with the names.  So you can get the big names from the trays or request the lesser wanted things from your waiter or waitress.  Nice!  This was how I got steamed pork buns.  They were smaller than I was used to and a little sweet almost.  Oh well.  And this was how I obtained my favorite slippery rice noodle with shrimp.  I didn’t get how you had to order this since every since party at our shared table ordered this.

As for the food that came out, shrimp shumai and veggie shumai were great.  Greens with garlic, yum.   That was the bulk of the food.  And then to exit, we had to do battle with the masses waiting to be seated, usually a reassuring sign.

Restaurant experiment: Ethos

Ethos

495 Third Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets

New York, NY 10016

212-252-1972

http://www.ethosrestaurants.com/

The parentals requested a Greek restaurant near their hotel, and Ethos was what I had come up with since a trip to Astoria seemed to be out of the question.

I patted myself on the back for making a reservation since the place was stuffed to the gills.  We ended up at a high table in the front corner which was rough on the posterior (stools with no cushions) but at least afforded people watching opportunities.

The service was weak.  The waiter occasionally made appearances  but the majority of interactions were with the professional busboys.  Ethos was just too busy and cramped.

Luckily the food was great or otherwise we’d be super steamed.  There was complimentary bread, like a rosemary loaf along with a few pitas.  A small bowl of olives tagged along.

I’m irked that the menu on the restaurant’s page is incomplete so I can’t properly name what I ate.  Grumble grumble.  At any rate, I ordered grilled shrimp with tomatoes, mushrooms, and feta.  This was rather tasty though I personally thought more huge chunks of feta would elevate the dish to the next level.  There were four shrimps but they were fat.  Nice scoop of rice in the middle.

What was a pleasant surprise was the free dessert at the end.  We made sure that it wasn’t secretly tacked onto the bill or anything, but yeah, who does that in NYC?  Not exactly sure about this specimen.  Honeyed cinnamoned phyllo dough wrapped around some sorta ricotta or custard filling.  The layers were scrumptious, the filling not so much.  Decrease the filling, increase the phyllo!

For those Greek cravings, if you can’t jaunt to Astoria and are stuck in Murray Hell, you could do a lot worse.

Restaurant experiment: Zen Japanese Restaurant

Zen Japanese Restaurant

31 St. Marks Place between Second and Third Avenues

New York, NY 10003

212-533-6855

I was all giddy to take my parental units to Ippudo but the wait for three was 45 minutes.  This was nearly 3pm on a Saturday.  Sigh.  The backup was Yakitori Taisho but that doesn’t open until 6pm.  We wandered further down St. Marks.  Places were either closed or crowded.  An udon place told us 15 minutes.  Gah.  I wanted food that minute.

Thankfully the not-so-busy Zen was able to accomodate us.  And the lunch special ended at 4pm, so we were just in time.  My parents ordered noodles while I got the ramen special: ramen, salad, and your choice of sushi.  I got salmon.  I didn’t know if you could pick your ramen; they have different varieties.  Either you can or you can’t.  I wasn’t offered a choice.  Therefore you either get tonkotsu or there’s no choice.

The salad came out right away, and it was your typical salad which usually accompanies sushi.  The bowls of noodles came out and were good.  Not Ippudo good, but not terrible.  Not quite as rich tonkotsu as Ippudo.  These ramen had seaweed varietals (kelp and dried), bamboo, scallions, a hard boiled egg, and one wimpy piece of pork.  Stealthily salty broth, as hours passed and my mom and I wanted to guzzle water like there’s no tomorrow.  The salmon was fine.  Nothing phenomenal, just fine.

Thanks for being a friend, Zen!