Category: New York

Haru Sushi – New York, NY

There are a ton of restaurants in the theater district of New York. Across the street from the lyric theatre (where the Harry Potter play is preforming) I found Haru Sushi.

I walked in and they were really busy but I was fortunate to get a table pretty quickly. I made sure I ordered my cocktail as soon as my waitress came to the table. I was excited to try the Berries and Bubbles. This was Prosecco, Svedka raspberry vodka, and strawberry puree. It was not as sweet as I thought it would be. The strawberry actually made it slightly tart.

Since I was at a Japanese restaurant I made sure to order the miso soup. I always make sure to try this classic comfort food. It was pretty standard, tofu, seaweed, and scallions in a salty broth. I always wish restaurants would put more tofu in the soup. It adds a ton of texture without affecting the taste.

I made sure to order some sushi while I was there too. I went with the simple Spicy Tuna Nigiri. The tuna was extremely fresh; it melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite. It was not as spicy as I expected it to be. That was a little disappointing, but I simply added more wasabi to it myself.

The Eel Avocado Roll was made perfectly. The eel had great flavor and they put a generous amount of the eel sauce on top. That is my favorite part of an eel role. The avocado added a great creamy texture to the roll.

The Umami Fried Rice came out last and it was really hot. I needed to wait a little while for it to cool off. This fried rice had chopped up pieces of grilled chicken, scrambled egg, and fresh vegetables. All items were cooked in a garlic butter sauce. This rice was not that salty; it was actually a little sweet. The rice was not as full of flavor as I expected it to have. I was a little disappointed with that. However, the chicken was good in the rice.

They had a seasonal dessert on the menu that I made sure to order. It was the Yuzu Meringue Tart. They made homemade Yuzu custard. Yuzu us a Japanese citrus fruit. They put the custard in a homemade sugar cookie tart shell. Then a marshmallow meringue was placed on top and toasted till it had a little brown hue. Finally, they placed the tart on top of pomegranate ginger sauce.

The custard was sweet and creamy. The cookie crust was also sweet. The pomegranate sauce toned down that sweetness by adding in a sour element. It was a great dessert and a good way to end a meal that leaned more salty.

Check out Haru Sushi if you are in the area. They got busy so you may want to make a reservation. Check them out at www.harusushi.com

Enjoy!

T

Sangria 46 – New York, NY

I’m back in New York. When it comes to food, every time I visit New York I pretend like I have never been there before. This allows me to keep an open mind when it comes to restaurants. I want to always try something new, especially in a city that is always changing.

Neighborhood restaurants are the best to visit. To me they put the most love into their food. That is why I wanted to visit Sangria 46. It is a local Spanish restaurant that I knew would be as authentic as if I was in Spain.

I was greeted as soon as I walked in. It was a really nice feeling. When I sat down they brought me chips and homemade salsa right away. It was great to be able to munch on something as I looked over the menu.

Since I was at a place called sangria naturally I needed to order a sangria. I was thrilled to see that there was a Cava sangria on the menu. This is a true Spanish sangria that was blended with Cava (Spanish version of Champagne) brandy, triple sec, and fresh strawberries and peaches.

I decided not to mess around and just ordered a small pitcher. It was the perfect amount of sweetness. I always enjoy the bubbles that the Cava has. I knew this would go with anything that I ordered to eat.

Rather than getting a full dinner, I settled on ordering a few tapas. I figured that would be enough to fill me up. I started off with the Croquetas de Yucca. Yucca is very similar to potato, very starchy. They mashed it up just like mashed potatoes and mixed in cheese. Then they breaded and deep fried them. They were crunchy on the outside and very creamy on the inside.

The Empanadas Argentina came out next. The flakey pastry was stuffed with meat and then baked up till crispy. I ordered one beef and one chicken. Both had a savory taste. They used a generous amount of filling in these savory turnovers.

The final tapa I ordered was the Vieiras con Tocino. These are broiled scallops wrapped in bacon. The bacon was perfectly crisp and added a crunch and salty taste. This paired wonderfully with the sweet, tender scallops. The scallops also came in a garlic sauce with chucks of fresh garlic and peas. The peas added additional sweetness. The garlic stepped up the flavor to be a little more intense.

I saved enough room for dessert. The Limoncello Cake sounded delicious to me and the perfect end to my wonderful meal. The cake was moist and had a fantastic lemon flavor. The icing on the cake was sweet and creamy, which also had a great lemon taste. The flavor of the cake made it so fresh. It helped cleanse my palate from al the savory dishes I enjoyed.

Sangria 46 was a fantastic dining experience. The staff was extremely friendly and took great care of me. The food tasted great and the sangria was perfect. I would recommend everyone check them out if they visit New York City.

Visit their website at www.sangria46nyc.com

Enjoy!

T

Villa Berulia – New York, NY

So if you have been reading my blog lately you will see that I have been on an Italian food kick during my travels. There is something about Italian food that is comforting and is a great go to meal.

While visiting New York again I went to a wonderful Italian restaurant called Villa Berulia. It was a quaint place that was actually much larger inside than it appeared outside.

I started off with a glass of Merlot as I looked over the menu. I also enjoyed the fresh made garlic bread. The bread was loaded with garlic and had a nice crunch.

There were many Italian favorites to choose from. It really came down to what sounded the most intriguing. There were two appetizers that I ordered for the table. I thought these would be great start to the meal. The Clams Oreganata sounded really delicious and not something that I had before.

These are clams that are sprinkled with seasoned breadcrumbs and then baked till crispy on top. These little morsels were so tasty. The clams were tender and full of oregano flavor.

The other appetizer was fresh avocado slices that were topped with fresh crab and shrimp. The avocado was soft and creamy. It went really well with the sweet lump crab meat. The shrimp were tender and sweet too. The combination of ingredients worked perfectly together.

For my main dish I ordered the chicken picatta. The chicken was thinly sliced and lightly breaded. Even with as thin as the chicken was it remained juicy and tender. The overall flavor of the dish was rich and savory thanks to the wonderful sauce that was poured over the chicken. There were a few capers in the sauce that added a slight salty taste when they were part of the bite.

There was a pasta that came of the side. It was chopped up into bite size pieces which made it a little easier to eat. It was only in garlic butter but there was enough of the sauce from the chicken that I was able to mix in the pasta. It was really good and could have been a dish on its own.

I was able to save a little room for dessert, especially when they rolled out an entire cart.

I had to go after the red velvet cake. It was a huge slice that luckily I was able to share with the table.

The cake was moist but slightly dense. It had a rich velvet texture. The cream cheese frosting was sweet and extremely creamy. It was slightly on the thick side. It went perfect with the coffee and Baileys that I ordered.

This was a great restaurant and I would definitely want to go back for another meal. Check them out at www.villaberulia.com

Enjoy!

T

Paneantico – Brooklyn, NY

I am a sucker for fresh made desserts. I got so excited when I walk into a bakery and smell all the sweet treats in the air. That is exactly what happened when I walked into Paneantico in Brooklyn.

This neighborhood Italian bakery offered up fresh pastries, assorted desserts, fresh baked breads, plus homemade sandwiches.

They have a few tables that you can sit at to enjoy your sweets there. However, I was on the go so I got my treats to go in order to eat them on my drive.

Everything in their cases looked delicious. I easily could have ordered one of everything but I limited it to what would actually fit in one box:

  • Cannoli (mini)
  • Carrot Cake
  • Napoleon
  • Black & White cookie
  • Éclair

I started with the black and white cookie. I could not wait to take a bite, making sure to get both the chocolate and vanilla icings. The cookie was definitely sweet. The cookie dough was soft but not too cake like.



The éclair was also pretty easy to eat while driving in the car. The chocolate icing on top was soft and gooey. The pastry was loaded with the vanilla pudding. The pudding was creamy and full of vanilla flavor.

The mini cannoli’s were a nice treat. The shell had a slight hint of cinnamon flavor to me. The filling was a sweet with a creamy texture. There were chocolate chips mixed through out to add a little crunch. The only downside is the filling did not go all the way through the shell. It stopped in the center.

So I took a break from eating everything in the car. I ended up saving two desserts to enjoy in the hotel. Once I got a fork I dug into the carrot cake. The cake was light and fluffy. It had a wonderful spice flavor and was loaded with fresh carrots. The cream cheese frosting was my favorite (it is always my favorite part). It was not too sweet and extremely creamy.

I saved the Napoleon for last. The layers of flakey dough were stuffed with the fresh cream filling. There was also the signature layer of icing that topped off the pastry. It was slightly hardened. When I went to take a bite the cream went everywhere. I ended up dividing it into two pieces, which made it easier to eat, plus using my hands verses a fork helped too.

I loved that I got to make a stop at Paneantico. Every dessert I had was fantastic. I would definitely make a detour back to Brooklyn the next time I am up in New York. They are worth crossing the bridge.

Check them out at www.paneantico.com

Enjoy!

T

Pizza & Calzone – Brooklyn, NY

I was enjoying my visit to Brooklyn. There were so many places to eat every where I looked. It rally came down to what tickled my fancy. When I saw people coming in and out of Pizza & Calzone constantly I figured they must be good.

As soon as I stepped through the door I was hit by that wonderful smell of pizza cooking in the oven.

They had several varieties of pizzas to choose from. Their slices were huge.

After looking over all the options I went for a Sicilian slice, Unlike regular slices of pizza that are cut in the traditional triangle shape, Sicilian pizza is cut into squares.

I also ordered one of their homemade calzones. I got a single one with just mozzarella cheese. What makes their calzones so special and stand out is that they are deep fried. This allows the dough to be extra crispy.

Since I was going to be heading back to Manhattan, I got my order to go. I figured I could eat it in the car on the way back.

The pizza had a super crispy crust. The fresh tomato sauce was amazing. It was sweet and full of the flavors of oregano and basil. Speaking of basil, they also added fresh basil on top for added flavor.

The crispy calzone was also amazing. Although it was deep fried, the outside was not greasy. The dough had a slight sweetness to it but it was masked by the saltiness of the creamy cheese.

Whether you are eating there or getting something to go Pizza & Calzone is a must visit. www.houseofpizzacalzone.com

Enjoy!

T

Ferdinando’s – Brooklyn, NY

I ventured over to Brooklyn to check out an Italian restaurant that has been serving up homemade dishes since 1904. I could not wait to check out Ferdinando’s.

It was in between shops and houses. It had that old school vibe both inside and out. From the cool original tile on the floor to the Holy Family statues displayed in the corner, Ferdinando’s was filled with a rich history.

It is a history of feeding generations of families with homemade Italian food, made with love.

I started off ordering a Manhattan Special. This is a coffee soda that is bubbly and sweet. They actually have it on tap, which I have never seen before.

The arancina special was calling my name as soon as I spotted it on the menu. I could not wait to dive into one of my favorite Italian dishes.

This rice ball was filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. Because I ordered the “special” my arancini was topped with Ricotta cheese and covered in a homemade tomato sauce. Naturally they also covered the sauce with grated Parmesan cheese.

I was in heaven as soon as I took a bite. The rice was tender and moist. The meat had the right amount of sauce to add flavor not just to the meat itself, but also to the rice. The peas added extra sweetness to the sauce that already was sweet.

All the cheese on top added a creaminess to the sauce and to the rice. This hands down had to be one of the best arancinis I have ever eaten.

I also ordered a Panelle and Potato special while I was there. I had never had this before. So Panelle is chick pea flour that is made into a patty and deep fried (almost like a potato pancake). The potato part of this special was a potato croquette.

These two elements are combined on a fresh made Italian roll, along with fresh Ricotta cheese. The cheese made the sandwich creamy. The panelle added crunch. The potato added the heartiness to the dish that made the sandwich quiet filling. Since I had already eaten an entire rice ball, I only ate half of the sandwich. Luckily I was there with a friend who I could share it with.

Ferdinando’s was an amazing place. It is full of a rich history of feeding hungry families across the generations. You have to experience this little piece of history when you visit Brooklyn.

Check them out at www.ferdinandosfocacceria.com

Enjoy!

T

Lansdowne Road – New York, NY

So I found myself  in New York for Thursday night football. I wanted to go somewhere to watch the game and get some great food. My friend, who lives up there, recommended I check out Lansdowne Road.

This Irish pub is located in the Hell’s Kitchen area. There are tons of tv’s all around the place, which was perfect for watching the game.

The place was packed when I got there. I ordered a drink and had to stand for a while waiting for a seat to open up. Luckily after about 15 minutes I was able to grab a seat at the bar. It is a pretty cool bar too. They have a strip of ice running along the bar that you can sit your glass on. It helps to keep it cool. Just be careful so you don’t spill.

I started off ordering the pretzels with beer cheese. There were two homemade, jumbo size pretzels. The dough was soft and sweet.  The salt coating the outside complemented the sweetness of the dough. The beer cheese was really creamy. I was constantly dipping my pretzel. There is something comforting about the combination of dough and cheese.

While I was there I had to try their chicken wings. Apparently they are world famous and it was called out on their menu. It was a mouthful to order the “Scruffy Duffy World Famous Hell’s Kitchen Chicken Wings”.

I ordered the traditional style wings with the combination of the medium sauce and garlic Parmesan sauce. I also made sure to order them well done. I really like it when chicken wings are crispy when they come out.

These wings were cooked to perfection. They were extra crispy and there was an awesome crunch when I took a bite. Plus the chicken itself was juicy. The flavor combination of the sauces was amazing. The garlic Parmesan added a salty taste and the medium added a slight amount of heat.

Lansdowne Road had a great atmosphere. Even if you are not into sports you can still have a fun time. Plus the food was great too! Check them out at www.lansdowneroadnyc.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Boat Basin Cafe – New York, NY

I was meeting a friend of mine in New York for dinner and she made the recommendation to try Boat Basin Cafe. It is located near Riverside Park on the Upper West Side.

     

It is not an easy place to get to if you are not familiar with the area. It is actually underneath the road on 79th Street.

     

Once I found it I was impressed by its view of the Hudson River looking into New Jersey. An interesting fact about the Marina by the restaurant, it is where they shot some scenes from the movie You Got Mail with Tom Hanks.

     

It was time to order a cocktail. They are suppose to have a great rose sangria but they had run out for the day. So I went for a red sangria instead. It was good, nothing too special about it; it had a nice spice flavor to it.

One of the specials for the day were Aranchini. These Sicilian rice balls were loaded with fresh ground meat, peas, and carrots that were tossed in a pasta sauce. Then the mixture was covered with tender rice, breaded, and deep fried.

There was a generous amount of Parmesan cheese on top. They put the pasta sauce on the side which was good. It allowed the aranchini to stay crispy. I simply dipped each bite in the sauce before I ate it. The inside meat filling was very flavorful and it was accented with the taste of the pasta sauce.

I also shared the chicken nachos with my friend. The portion size was huge so it is definitely a must share. The nachos were loaded with creamy queso, fresh pico de gallo, and cilantro. The chicken was chopped up well so that it was easy to pick up with the chips.

It was a perfect night to have dinner outside. Not only was the view of the sunset wonderful but I had awesome company. We also visited at the perfect time because Boat Basin Cafe is only open seasonally. So if you are in the city before it gets too cold check them out.

www.boatbasincafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Croton – New York, NY

Sometime restaurants in NYC can be misleading in their size. I experienced this first hand. I walked into Croton for dinner and noticed that the restaurant itself was small inside (typical for a New York place). But to my surprise, they had a basement area which is where they offered their weekly happy hour.

     

I had to go hang out at the basement bar. I ordered a red sangria since it was there on happy hour special (which is lucky for me since those are one of my favorites). There was a hint of spice to the sangria. It was just missing the accent of fruit.

They had an eclectic offering of food to choose from. I ordered the Scotch Eggs. It had been a long time since I got to enjoy this dish.

These hard boiled eggs were covered with a thin layer of seasoned sausage. They had a thin layer of breading as well. This allowed the outside to be crunchy. They were cooked perfectly because the sausage was still moist and the egg was soft. They served a chipotle aioli on the side but it tasted more like a mustard. It tasted really good with the sausage and egg.

I also got to try the Croquette. The mashed potatoes had prosciutto mixed within. Then they were lightly breaded and fried.

There was a crunch from the breading but the mashed potatoes were creamy and soft. There was also an extremely sweet taste to the potatoes. The prosciutto did not add much saltiness.

Who could pass up Truffle Fries? I couldn’t! The table next to me ordered them and they smelt so good when they came out. So I ordered them. They were actually garlic truffle fries. The garlic aroma complemented the earthy smell of the truffles.

These dishes I ordered were small so I saved room for dessert. I went for the apple tart with cinnamon ice cream.

The tart pastry was crispy on the outside and gooey inside with sweet, tender apples. The cinnamon ice cream was full on cinnamon flavor. It had a natural taste to it, not that artificial cinnamon taste. The ice cream was tremendously creamy. The taste made it the perfect fall dessert.

I am so glad I checked out the unexpected basement at Croton. They had some great munchies and of course happy hour drinks. Check them out at www.crotonnyc.com

Enjoy!

T

Dos Caminos – New York, NY

If you are in the area of Madison Park in NYC and you are looking for a quick place to get lunch, check out Dos Caminos.

They have a really fun look inside with colorful wall art; beautiful wooden chandeliers, plus a fully stocked bar for many cocktail options.

     

     

The first thing I started with was the fresh made guacamole. This  is one of the things Dos Caminos is known for. The fresh avocados are mashed in a molcajete (a mortar and pestle made of stone). Then fresh, chopped onions and fresh cilantro are added. The guacamole was extremely creamy and still had a few chunks of avocado throughout. The tomatoes added a little sweetness from the juice. The fresh cilantro added a little peppery spice. It was perfectly paired with tortilla chips.

To also go along with the chips they offered three kinds of salsa.

(1) Green Chili – this was my favorite. It had a slight tangy taste.

(2) Roasted Pepper – I could taste the smokiness from the peppers actually being roasted.

(3) Tomato – this would be considered a more traditional salsa except it was on the runny side and there were no chunks of tomato; it had the consistency of a juice.

I ordered the Sopa de Tortilla for my lunch. This soup was made with a spicy roasted tomato broth that was creamy and thick. It was loaded with grilled chicken, pasilla negro chiles, avocado, and queso menonita.

It was topped off with crunchy strips of tortillas. The soup had a great flavor with only a slight amount of heat. I wish a little more of the chicken was included. It was very tender.

I saw on the menu that one of the sides they offered was Mexican Street corn. They offered it on or off the cob. I went for it off the cob. I figured it would be easier to eat. The corn was sweet, which was complemented by the tangy mayo/sour cream sauce. The coija cheese was sprinkled on top of the corn. This too added a slight tangy flavor.

Dos Caminos was a nice place to grab lunch. I would be interested to see what their dinner menu looked like. Visit their website at www.doscaminos.com

Enjoy!

T