Avra

Midtown East
141 E. 48th btwn. 3rd and Lex
212-759-8550
http://www.avrany.com/

Selecting a pre-going out restaurant always requires an extensive thought process. Many factors need to be taken into consideration here:
1. mood of the scene
2. perhaps some fun cocktails
3. food not too heavy that will send you into a food coma and completely wipe out your desire to go out (aka NEVER do Mexican)
4. simulataneously substantial enough to allow for hours of drinking ahead

This particular Saturday, that spot was Avra (Estiatorio). Melissa and I had a night out planned for afterwards, so Greek was the perfect happy medium. Shocking but I've yet to find a really good place for casual Greek food in New York. I'm still on that mission. Recommendations are welcome. For a little more upscale than a Tuesday night neighborhood feel, Avra was a winner.

Truthfully, we didn't get the entire Avra experience, because we didn't want to order too much. Melissa had on such a tiny dress, I wasn't quite sure how she was planning on eating anything. Melissa is petite, but Barbie would have a tough time squeezing into that sucker. I can vouch for everything we did have though.

A gratis three-way platter is served to all tables including: succulent Greek olives, hummus that we were addicted to, and radishes in which we had no interest. I sort of filled up on hummus. Great start to the meal! Although, note to self, I don't like Greek wine. Generalization? Yes, but this wine was so bad that it entitled me to rule out the entire country.

We started with the lettuce-less Greek Salad. The simple dish was comprised of large pieces of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta. Hold the peppers and onions. After all, we didn't want to be shunned at the party. One might think, how could anyone mess that up? Trust me, I've seen it done, but not at Avra.

Spanikopita is my staple at Greek restaurants. I know it's not good for me, but I like to convince myself it is because of all the spinach. Honestly though, this one may have been the healthiest I've had. Their version wasn't at all heavy or oily. Usually, at least the way I make it, the phyllo dough alternates layers with the spinach/feta mixture. At Avra, they just had one sheet of phyllo on the top. The middle was all spinach. It was sort of a win/lose situation. I was proud to be behaving myself, but the other way is just so mouthwateringly good.

Avra rubbed me the right way. The atmosphere and menu had a true authentic charm. I look forward to a return trip to try one of their many fish selections. Most likely I'd choose to go there for a semi-special occasion, but one where I don't want to break the bank as I usually do when I have any excuse to celebrate.

Go or No Go? Go

Destino

Midtown East
891 First Ave @ 50th St.
(212) 751-0700
http://destinony.com/

Right around the corner from my apartment, I regularly passed this non-descript restaurant. A couple months ago, I come to find out Justin Timberlake is a part owner. Sure, I like my neighborhood, but it's not exactly home to any cool late night clubs, trendy boutiques, or celeb hot stops.

I was relieved the place did not scream Justin Timberlake. In fact, the scene was so disconnected from what I expected, I began to question whether the claims were true. Even more disenchanting was the loudest message Destino did scream, "BRIDGE AND TUNNEL."

While the B&T folk enjoyed their big meal out in the City, Melissa and I stayed in the neighborhood for a low-key outing. We were eating late, so by the time the server brought some bruschetta, I thought I could have eaten anything. The overly stale toast point and unripe tomatoes were my first warning signal. Messing up bruschetta is typically a recipe for disaster!

Melissa and I did halfsies, again. We wanted to go healthy. We decided on fish. Who really gets salmon at an Italian restaurant? Although the salmon seemed to be a strange choice, they were the ones that put it on the menu. The fish was along the lines of a plate served at a banquet hall wedding. You are able to consume about three-quarters before you realize it's lacking personality.


The menu features essentially any kind of basic pasta you could name. I was strangely craving tomato sauce, so we supplemented our meal with an order of Siciliana - rigatoni pasta, eggplant, tomato, fresh mozzarella. Again, no pizzazz.



Don't get me wrong, I don't expect every meal to be the pinnacle of gastronomy. I do however expect restaurants to accurately access who they are and portray themselves as such to the public. Would I try to get away with telling someone I'm 5'7" when I'm really 5'2"? I can put on some fancy stilettos and try to act the part, but at the end of the day, I'm 5'2". Get my point? If you are going to serve me the same thing I can get down the street at any local Italian joint, I don't want to be charged double the price just because a former Mouseketeer may or may not be involved.

If I have any luck, my destino will never bring me back there. Justin, nothing against your dance moves, but you're better off sticking with entertaining 13-year-old teenyboppers.

Go or No Go? No Go

Republic

Union Square
37 Union Sq. West btwn. 16th & 17th
(212) 627-7172

As a disclaimer to this entry, Republic has many things going for it. Namely, the convenience and affordability factors keep this huge space packed around the clock. Located in the heart of Union Square, it's an easy meeting spot for locals and an opportune trap for tourists. Granted, I would probably prefer this place to the standard college dining hall if I were an NYU student, too.

We decided on the steamed vegetable dumplings for the table to share. I am by no means a master with chopsticks. In fact, I am virtually inept. Even the most skilled pros would have a difficult time maneuvering these massive dumplings. The dumplings were stuffed with lots and lots of vegetables, but the unsauced bites were slimy and par at best.

Melissa and I did halfsies. We started with a chicken salad made with cabbage, basil, shallots, peanuts, and citrus dressing. Where was the chicken? A few scrawny strips garnished on top did not suffice. For $5 though, that's what you get.

Next up, we shared glass noodles with chicken (or lack thereof, again), various unidentified vegetables, lime juice, and side of ginger dipping sauce. Of our party of five, four of us ordered the same dish. Perhaps this was a coincidence, because we all happen to have the same taste and glass noodles sounded too good to pass up? More likely, the other options were not more appealing. Again, the quality was tasteless unless you dumped on the ginger sauce.

The last thing I want is to come across as ungrateful for a nice meal. I always enjoy going out when friends' families are in town. Not to mention, I get a particular kick out of Melissa's mom, Janet. Ultimately though, the food was bland. That being said, on a snowy Sunday night, I would have been just as happy ordering take-out from my local Thai place.

Go or No Go? No Go

The Spotted Pig

West Village
314 W. 11th St. @ Greenwich St. (NOT Greenwich Ave.)
(212) 620-0393
http://www.thespottedpig.com/

Don't bother trying to make a reservation, because The Spotted Pig is too cool to take them (and has eternal demand). I've tried getting into the Spotted Pig a million times before. Without fail, no matter the night or time, the wait is outrageous. Pathetically, I was never willing to give up and write it off completely. Frankly, this place intrigued me. How could it be so packed all the time?

Laura had a brilliant idea! For night 1 of her 3 days for 30 celebration, she suggested we suck it up and stick out whatever wait time they gave us. Given that were meeting up with a friend who we hadn't seen in a while, I was looking forward to spending time catching up over a couple cocktails (and I was being agreeable with the birthday diva's wishes).

Sabeen arrived first and put her name on the list---2 hours. After an hour and a half, I started to get antsy. Not only were we waiting, we were standing in a packed bar holding all our belongings. I must give kudos to the truly professional host staff. When Sabeen and I made our way back downstairs to the even more ridiculously packed entrance, the host immediately recognized Sabeen and recited our remaining wait time with precise accuracy.

Part of the appeal of The Spotted Pig is the likelihood of celeb sightings. Lizzie, Sabeen's work friend who joined us for drinks and an adorable Aussie who hangs out at The Spotted Pig quite a bit, had apparently seen the Olsen twins there earlier in the week. We thought our chances would be pretty high given it was a Thursday night but to no avail. No celebs although everyone in the place certainly acted like they were important enough.



You probably think this chicken liver is the grossest thing you've ever seen (so do I). You'd love it, if you close your eyes. I forced Laura and Sabeen into trying it. They weren't obsessed, but they ate it. :-)






After sufficient time staring at other tables' food, the burger seemed like the item to get. I personally despise Roquefort so I asked if they had any cheese alternatives. Nope. I thought that was a little strange but was fine with going straight hamburger. Yet just because I had accepted no cheese didn't mean I was prepared for something so plain. Burger + bun. Impressively, even with its bareness, this is a top-tier burger. I would have loved it even more if my bun wasn't burned. My concern for The Spotted Pig is my bun (and Sabeen's) don't seem to be flukes. Even in their website picture, where I'd think they'd try to put their best burger forth, the bun is charred. Is this somehow desirable in their books? After rambling on about the burger, the rosemary fries were also definitely scrumptious and addictive in nature.




Our Hotty McHotterson waiter did not hurt the fabulosity of our night. We left the dessert decision in his hands. He chose the Banoffee pie. What is Banoffee you ask? Aside from the most incredible dessert I've had in a very long time (ever is probably too big of a claim although it's a possibility), Banoffee stands for a combination of banana and toffee. Mouthwatering!


Overall, an ultimate New York evening. Assuming a decent patience level, I would call it wait-worthy. Certainly if you have 4 hours to kill, I'd strongly recommend hitting up The Spotted Pig.

Go or No Go? Go

ALLEN & DELANCEY

Lower East Side
115 Allen St. btwn Delancey & Rivington
(212) 253-5400
http://www.allenanddelancey.net/

The short distance between the subway and finding the place was sketchy, to say the least. I've slummed it at my share of Lower East Side locales and typically dig the vibe, but these streets were somehow different. With much relief, we beat the odds and arrived safely.

Despite what was going on right outside the door, as soon as you entered, the setting was elegant and thoughtfully decorated. I especially liked the main dining room that was tastefully draped with plush red velvet. What I didn't realize at the time, those details would turn out to be the highlight of the experience for me (with the exception of my lovely company, of course!).

To wet the palate, they served bacon bread. The immediate reaction is complete sensory overload for your nose. I like bacon, but the invasive smell made me want to vomit! I was thrilled once the pungency finally escaped our table. Just as my nausea began to settle, without fail, another surrounding table would receive their bacon bread and the aroma would again waft through the entire restaurant. Despite my feelings of sickness, I was mildly intrigued. Really the bizarre creation tasted exactly as it sounds---pretty nasty.

The menu was an easy one to choose from. Call me boring, but I wouldn't dare try smoked ham knuckle or ravioli of sweetbreads. I played it safe with the Dorade, even though I didn't really have the slightest clue what type of fish Dorade was. Once I peeled away the substantial layer of skin, I was a fan. The fish was first-rate, but the accompaniments of onion marjoram stew and golden eggplant puree were not.



I'm glad we decided to venture for dessert, but the execution didn't quite live up to the menu appeal. We shared the sweet cream french toast with oatmeal ice cream and caramelized bananas...and bacon-infused caramel sauce? What? More bacon? You've got to be kidding me! The oatmeal ice cream was a success and paired well with the banana, but the "french toast" itself was a dry block and this place really has to get over the bacon obsession.



Allen & Delancey leaves me the most torn about a "go or no go" decision yet. Ultimately, what broke me? My big mouth new friend, Jared, told the manager about my blog. The manager asks me, "So, what is it?" I smiled and said "GO!". Now, I feel the need to stick to my word.

Go or No Go? Go

Hill Country

Chelsea
30 W. 26th St. (just West of Broadway)
(212) 255-4544
http://www.hillcountryny.com/

This past weekend, I took a little trip to the Disney World of Chelsea, Hill Country. Multiple sources have told me Hill Country is a major hangout for good looking men. Good thing I went with my parents!

The scene screamed theme restaurant. While the concept was cute for New York City and successfully executed, I thought the place bordered on cheesy.

For those of you who have never been, part of the whole experience is an interesting dining procedure. Immediately when you walk in the door, a hostess hands you a meal ticket. Patrons use the meal tickets as they move from station to station to get all the fixin's of their heart's desire (meats, sides, desserts).

At the time, I didn't have the stomach for ribs or brisket. I know, I know. I should have manned up and gone with the required favorites at any BBQ joint. Instead, I went with the chili. While everything else on the menu seemed adequately priced, is it me or is $10.50 for a bowl of chili not cheap? My dad got some barbeque sandwich, and my mom got the BBQ chicken. So while judging a place without ever trying their prized picks may not be entirely fair, I'm satisfied never knowing.

I was most excited to sample some of the tasty sides. Strike One: I'd consider myself an easy judge of mac & cheese (even the bad ones are likable in my book), but this did not even close to impress me. Strike Two: The cornbread was just above average, but not good enough that I minded giving most of mine away. Strike Three: The lemonade was the biggest tease. The old-fashioned glass jar gave me hope of fresh squeezed perfection producing an equilibrium of sweet and tart. Sadly, they copped out with Country Time mix and water.

All in all, nothing was inedible, but nothing knocked my socks off. A telling sign is despite taking several pictures during the meal, I struggle to find anything worthy of uploading. Frankly, they all bore me and would provide you no further value. Since I am ultimately all about the food, this faux Texas dining hall just did not cut it. Dare I say, the food was no different than a roadside Cracker Barrel? If frequenting Hill Country is what it takes to find a guy in Manhattan, I'd rather be single.

Go or No Go? No Go

Temple Bar

Cambridge, Massachusetts
1688 Massachusetts Ave.
(617) 547-5055
http://www.templebarcambridge.com

Certainly the majority of my posts will focus on New York. However, from time to time, every New Yorker has to escape.

While celebrating New Years in Boston, I spent an evening at the Temple Bar in Cambridge. Swanky, yet not obnoxiously so---this was my kind of place. Strangely, I've noticed these treasures tend to exist in suburbia but not often in the City.

Our semi-gluttonous meal began when our bubbly waitress brought us over a bread basket. I normally try my best to steer clear, but this one looked worth the vacation splurge. Cornbread always gets me. To my surprise, there was a jalapeno twist. I only had a bite and was no longer interested. To some, the jalapeno may be unusual (in a good way), but I think it walks a fine line in terms of mass-appeal.

Emily got the caesar as an appetizer. I swear I only had the intention trying a bite, but next thing I knew I polished off half the mound. Thanks, Em. The salad was a quality caesar with crisp romaine, good lettuce/dressing ratio, and plenty of parmesan. Made me think...you know what I haven't seen in a while? Tableside caesar. Granted, I'm sure if I dined at more creme-de-la-creme establishments, I could find more every now and then. Regardless, I encourage restauranteurs to bring back tableside caesar!



The entrees were the least spectacular part of our dinner. I had the salmon with mushroom ragout, red bliss "oven fries", and truffled watercress. Emily had the pink pepper scallops with parisian gnocchi, english peas, and chanterelle mushrooms in a meyer lemon buerre noisette. The only thing missing was...nevermind, they included everything.

We both had a similar reaction to all the entrees. Although we enjoyed the ingredients individually, something about the combination of flavors did not blend together. Each dish tried to squeeze in too many ingredients.




Somehow I made room for a side dish of brussel sprouts, the world's most underrated vegetable. Whenever I see them on a menu, I am compelled to order, because I feel so badly for them. I love brussel sprouts and don't understand why they get such a bad rap. Usually, once I make the bold move and insist that my dining companion try them, people are pleasantly delighted with their deliciousness. Next time, give them a shot!

So, while I will not be returning to Cambridge any time soon, nor am I suggesting anyone jump on the Fung Wah just to check out this place, I do believe it's a good spot when visiting people in Boston, especially if they are nerds at Harvard. After all, we all have to get out of the City sometime.

Go or No Go? Go

Stanton Social

Lower East Side
99 Stanton St. btwn Orchard & Ludlow
(212) 995-0099
http://www.thestantonsocial.com


LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

The evening began with a bit of a rocky start. Because I am not the only fan of Stanton Social in New York City, this reservation was not an easy one to score. However, shame on me for thinking anyone gets anywhere by 7 o'clock these days. Thank god for the 15 minute grace period, but we still weren't looking good when only 1 of the 4 in our party had arrived at 7:30 (and I was not that one...early start to my New Years Resolution of making friends with the subway/weaning myself off of my hardcore cab addiction. Again, shame on me).

We finally arrive and while I totally get it, I thought it was rude when they gave us a mandatory departure time (8:45). Fortunately, they didn't end up enforcing the deadline, and I didn't feel like the service was rushed at all either.

The premise of Stanton Social is sharing a bunch of different dishes. Worked out well, because I seriously wanted everything on the menu and NEVER would have been able to dwindle my choices down to one. I love that about great menus---when you would be perfectly happy with anything!


So first up...the signature French onion soup dumplings. Almost everyone who has been to Stanton Social brings up the French onion soup dumplings, and I would guess 99% of the tables ordered them that evening. So even despite the extremely high expectations, the hype still understated the magnificence of these little dumplings.

Just when I didn't think Round 1 could be topped, I was pleasantly wrong. The Butternut squash and sweet potato ravioli with vanilla brown butter & candied pecans were pure heaven. Salivating as I think about them and upload the photo.



The other 2 dishes were solid although not as life-altering as the first 2. Red snapper tacos would probably be enjoyed by most people, but I have zero tolerance for anything spicy. Moo shu shrimp was a cute option to see on the menu. For a clever twist, the pancakes were more crepesque than your typical Chinese takeout places. The presentation was gorgeous, but the flavors themselves were not as memorable.

Overall, perhaps my favorite spot I've encountered so far in the city. A sure-not-to-disappoint selection and not outrageously expensive. Overhyped but I don't care. It gets a lot of hype for good reason.

Go or No Go? Go