Mamoun's

Greenwich Village
119 MacDougal St. btwn W 3rd and Bleecker
(212) 674-8685
http://www.mamounsfalafel.com/



Dude, I have discovered my new after-alcohol grub (and sober, too, for that matter). This little hole-in-the-wall has singlehandedly made me entirely re-evaluate my going out destinations. Knowing I can end the night at Mamoun's might be enough to make me consider dealing with the NYU infested bars of Bleecker St.

While others on our company bar crawl were tempted by greasy pizza shops, Craig challenged me to try Mamoun's falafel instead. Generally agreeing with Craig's opinions, I followed my fearless leader with enormous confidence.

I don't know why the falafel was green. I'm guessing from a lot of herbs. The color didn't matter, because the taste and texture were spot on. The tahini was perfect and just the right amount. The tomatoes were fresh and just the right size. The pita was the only component that did not score a 10 out of 10, but the other items surely compensated.

Claustrophobes beware. You'll need to join the rest of the eager folks outside scarfing down their pitas. Personally surveying the crowd, many of the guys didn't think one serving was enough. At $2.50, comparable to a slice of pizza, feel free to order more than one. For a late night snack, one was certainly sufficient for me.

Open 365 days a year until 5 AM, I expect to be back quite regularly. Craig, you are a Golden God!

Go or No Go? Go

Jadis

Lower East Side
42 Rivington St.
(212) 254-1675
http://www.jadisnyc.com/

I hesitate to tell anyone about this place, because I selfishly do not want it to become overly crowded like most of the other trendier spots a few blocks away. Since my readership base is likely not nearly that of Frank Bruni's, I think I'll be alright. Plus, I will probably bring you all here at one point or another. :-)

I accidentally stumbled upon Jadis a couple months ago. My mistake was one of those good wrong turns where you end up discovering a gem you would never have found otherwise. I have been meaning to go back ever since, but recently my intrigue became a reality.

James, the owner and soul of the business, evidently puts his blood, sweat, and tears into the operation. In the intimate setting, we had multiple occasions to interact with James, which made the experience even more memorable. Tim made fun of me that I was trying to be friends with James. What can I say? He's a cool guy.

The pleasing wine list had an abundance of impressive glasses in the $6 and $7 range! For New York, or anywhere other than perhaps the Olive Garden, six dollars is a rarity. While the selection is French-focused, my Italian was also outstanding.


An assortment of quiche comprised a substantial portion of the menu. To sample a little of each, we tried the mini quiches. I'm not positive what the fillings were, but I believe one had to be the classic Lorraine with bacon. The crust was not traditional pie crust. Instead, the texture was more like phyllo dough, but delicious nonetheless. In fact, the lighter base was maybe more appropriate for the mini appetizer versions. I'm not sure if they use the same for the larger quiche.


I ordered the duck salad as my main course. The dish was exceedingly generous, especially for the price, and topped with a profuse amount of confit and dried plums (good combo!).

I can't think of anywhere else with a more charming atmosphere. The options aren't overwhleming, but the simplicity suits the scene. Without doubt, I'd go back again and again. My vision is to sit for a few glasses of wine, get some dessert or a light meal, have an intellectual conversation, and become friends with James.

Go or No Go? Go

Mr. Chow

Tribeca
121 Hudson St. @ N. Moore
(212) 965-9500
http://mrchow.com/

The famous spot is the 57th location, but in Nobu's Tribeca/Midtown tradition, Mr. Chow brought his legend downtown. Julie chose the Tribeca one for her dinner with girlfriends birthday celebration. The entirely white restaurant was reminiscent of something you would see in Miami or LA, but glamorous nonetheless. I particularly liked that they do not attempt to overpack the place. In fact, the setting was fairly intimate.

The big no,no at Mr. Chow is asking for the menu. I went along with what was expected of me, but I would have preferred to at least know my options.

To start, we were served lettuce wraps in both chicken and veggie varieties. The flavorful hoisin sauce, candied walnuts, and crunchy lotus root made the dish worthwhile, but I couldn't taste the difference between the one with chicken versus the one without. As much as I avoid cheesy chain restaurants, the same dish at PF Chang's is certainly better.

Also for our first course, the scallion pancakes were more like knishes drenched in oil. For the non-Jews, they are nothing you want to try.



The seabass was pleasantly light---a shocker for Chinese food. At the same time, the lightness bordered on blandness. The fish tasted about as plain as the picture looks.

Beijing Chicken, a signature dish at Mr. Chow, had my friend Betsy preparing me for a life-changing experience during our entire subway ride from 50th to Franklin Street. Come on, Bets. Really? The chicken was the best item I tasted that night. That being said, I would hardly describe the taste as spectacular.

During our dinner, the dining room erupted with loud noises. The excitement was as if a group of break dancers started doing their moves in Central Park and a crowd circled around with attention. In this case, all eyes were on a small man stringing noodles. Really? The entertainment was mildly cool for a couple seconds, but the near standing ovation was unnecessary.

In all fairness, upscale Chinese food never suited me. Although the decor is much nicer than the typical boards displaying the menu selection, the food itself is never far above your standard Chinese take-out. Mr. Chow, especially, is a lot of drama without the delivery. For the pretty penny they charge, the meal was not worth the money.

This experience sums up the exact reason I started this blog. Diners need to be demystified about the hype around some of New York's most overrated places to eat. Ultimately, I advise which restaurants are worth going to and which can be scratched off your list.

Go or No Go? No Go

Norma's

Midtown
118 W 57th St. btwn 6th and 7th Ave. (lobby of the Le Parker Meridien)
(212) 245-5000
http://www.parkermeridien.com/norma-s.htm

Hands down the best brunch in New York City! Regardless of whether I have tested every single brunch spot, I have no hesitation making such a bold declaration. The only place I've been to that remotely resembles this level of bliss is The Bongo Room in Chicago. Both are musts, but Norma's accepts reservations so you don't have to salivate over other diners while you are waiting an hour.

When you are first seated, Norma's makes the first genius move of having one of their dapper waiters walk around with a pitcher of fresh squeezed orange juice. Everyone says yes before they have the chance to realize they're going to be charged eight bucks (free refills though)! I didn't mind the sneaky move. Why shouldn't they? Other places do that with coffee all the time. Coffee was Norma's downfall, in my humble opinion. Although many consider my liking for Dunkin' Donuts coffee wussy, nothing about this sludge was drinkable. God Bless You if you are able to finish the entire $6 pot they give you.

The hardest decision at Norma's is whether to go sweet or savory. Scrutinizing beyond the cutesy names is required to determine the allure of "Crepes with Style" or "Somethin' Fruity." I made a buzzer shot call and went for the Waz-Za, a waffle filled with raspberry hollandaise sauce, a bruleed top, and fruit everywhere. I really had no idea what I was biting into, but I knew it wasn't good for me and it was insanely delicious.



My parents had the Chocolate Banana Waffle Napoleon and Eggs Benedict Florentine. My only complaint about the waffle was the failure to mention the inclusion of hazelnuts. What if someone was allergic? My dad, a hardcore sweet tooth, had absolutely no complaints and savored every bite. While all the ingredients of my mom's dish were clearly top-notch, this pick didn't blow me away like the rest of Norma's creations.

Norma's is a special destination for over-the-top, gluttonous bliss. As my dad said, "that's something I could stomach once a year." I'm already looking forward to returning next February!

Go or No Go? Go