Thanks for stopping by, ladies and gentlemen, and please allow me to welcome you to:
Dan the man's newest review!
In my ongoing attempt to be a full-time food critic, (are you listening New York Times and all prestigious magazines?), I present this review of what might be called the best hamburger in New York City.
Yes, I said it.
The best hamburger in New York City:
Note: Do you know how sometimes the restaurant reviews, like in Zagat's guide, give you an idea of how much a meal would cost in each restaurant by saying what the price is? (For example: $, $$, or $$$?) Well, here is my take on that:
$$$
Rare bar and grill
303 Lexington avenue
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5
Rare is a high-end hamburger restaurant located in the Shelburne hotel. After reading the menu online, I found that anything you could imagine on your burger is here, including foie gras, fried eggs, Portobello mushrooms and five dipping sauces. However, Rare differentiated itself from many other similar restaurants that I have visited in the past with similar claims of many different toppings, here at Rare it does not detract from the quality of the hamburger itself. Based on the recommendation of my friend, I tried the T-Bone hamburger: this features a blend of sirloin & strip steak, topped with cheddar cheese and onions. It sounded really great, however I didn't want to be disappointed. For the record, I was not.
The burger arrived, and it was thick! I have never "seen" a hamburger, with no fillers like lettuce or tomato, which was as thick as this burger. The first bite was a delight: I found it to be juicy; tasting many tempting flavors at the same time, and perfectly cooked. The actual "burger" was seasoned perfectly, cooked until medium but not "rare" in any place, and was a highlight of the meal. I also tried the French fries: on one hand, they were homemade, fresh, and delicious. On the other hand, I also felt that the portion was small for the price.
I considered writing this review immediately after my meal; it was that excellent of an experience. However, I then started looking back and questioned the merits of the meal. What I mean is that there is an ongoing conflict which is rarely resolved: quality vs. value. It is very hard in life to ever get both, and more and more I find myself sacrificing one for the other. Rare turned out to exemplify outstanding quality, but the value was not there. On the other hand, my review summarizes the quality of my dining experience and not necessarily the value.
Therefore, let me conclude by saying the following: by all means, go to Rare for a special occasion, or for a high quality meal. However, if you simply want a hamburger that is a good value, I would sooner tell you to try out Shake Shack. That being said, my hamburger at Rare was possibly the best burger I have enjoyed in New York City, ever!
I can't wait to hear your comments about this one, I have imported my blog to facebook so feel free to comment here, there, or in both places.
Sincerely,
Dan
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
welcome to the world of Dan: food critique review #4!
Hi and welcome to
Dan’s Blind Blog
My food critic review of the week comes with some significant history:
I used to eat at a restaurant called Vincent’s in long island when I was younger, and I still remember the experience. As it happens, many years later, meaning last night, I finally had an opportunity to go to their prime location in Manhattan’s famed Little Italy.
So, I humbly present my review:
Vincent’s
119 Mot St.
New York NY
4 stars out of 5
This restaurant harkens back to the days of when Sinatra and the gang would hang out in these classic Italian eateries. As a matter of fact, my extremely friendly waiter, Nevan, related a story to me of when Sinatra ate there and paid for every single customers’ bill! Anyway, back to the food. This place is known particularly for one thing: the sauce.
Yes, the sauce! There is sweet, mild, and (oh boy, watch out) hot sauce with an extra kick of pepper and secret spices. The owner is the only one who knows the recipe, but he plans to pass it down to his grandson.
My experience at Vincent’s was highlighted by the service and the sauce. My dish of linguini and calamari with sweet sauce was quite delicious, of course, mainly due to the sauce. The pasta was fresh, may I say aldente, and so was the calamari, and although I enjoyed both I believe that neither made this restaurant a 4-star establishment. The magic is in that sauce! What’s in it? Wouldn’t you like to know? (Perhaps it is one of those Kentucky fried chicken secrets with the 11 herbs and spices) (Note to self: did I just mention KFC in the same review as Vincent’s? OOPS.)
Our waiter, as I mentioned earlier, also contributed to my high praise. He was knowledgeable about many things: at first, he spoke extensively about the menu and history of Vincent’s. After I paid the bill, he spoke to me for at least 10 minutes about celebrities who love the restaurant and who have dined there over the years.
Therefore, I will summarize my visit in the following way: go for the service and the sauce and you won’t go wrong!
Dan’s Blind Blog
My food critic review of the week comes with some significant history:
I used to eat at a restaurant called Vincent’s in long island when I was younger, and I still remember the experience. As it happens, many years later, meaning last night, I finally had an opportunity to go to their prime location in Manhattan’s famed Little Italy.
So, I humbly present my review:
Vincent’s
119 Mot St.
New York NY
4 stars out of 5
This restaurant harkens back to the days of when Sinatra and the gang would hang out in these classic Italian eateries. As a matter of fact, my extremely friendly waiter, Nevan, related a story to me of when Sinatra ate there and paid for every single customers’ bill! Anyway, back to the food. This place is known particularly for one thing: the sauce.
Yes, the sauce! There is sweet, mild, and (oh boy, watch out) hot sauce with an extra kick of pepper and secret spices. The owner is the only one who knows the recipe, but he plans to pass it down to his grandson.
My experience at Vincent’s was highlighted by the service and the sauce. My dish of linguini and calamari with sweet sauce was quite delicious, of course, mainly due to the sauce. The pasta was fresh, may I say aldente, and so was the calamari, and although I enjoyed both I believe that neither made this restaurant a 4-star establishment. The magic is in that sauce! What’s in it? Wouldn’t you like to know? (Perhaps it is one of those Kentucky fried chicken secrets with the 11 herbs and spices) (Note to self: did I just mention KFC in the same review as Vincent’s? OOPS.)
Our waiter, as I mentioned earlier, also contributed to my high praise. He was knowledgeable about many things: at first, he spoke extensively about the menu and history of Vincent’s. After I paid the bill, he spoke to me for at least 10 minutes about celebrities who love the restaurant and who have dined there over the years.
Therefore, I will summarize my visit in the following way: go for the service and the sauce and you won’t go wrong!
Monday, February 16, 2009
when I can't sleep, I eat?
Hey folks, well I have had a long weekend of eating out at nice restaurants, why am I celebrating so much?
No reason, of course, each occasion has been special on its own. However, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that it is a victory lap after enduring what they call a
"sleep study".
That sounds nice, that terminology puts it in a welcoming frame of reference. My experience differs slightly:
I arrived at a "sleep study" center on friday night and within a half of an hour I was being hooked up with wires and tape to a large monitoring machine. Let me say, first of all, that the technician had no idea how to deal with a person who is blind. He was treating me as if I had a psychiatric disability, or as if I was extremely dependent. So, where was I? They taped up most of my body with wires and monitors, and then told me to go to sleep. Great! That's exactly what I wanted. Did I tell you about the wires on my head?
They put some kind of goop or cream on my head and then taped down several wires to it.
To make a long story short, when I woke up, I had already laid in bed for 8 hours but I probably got five hours of sleep. While this is normal for me, it feels very uncomfortable doing so in that position. Finally, the technician untaped me, which is painful by itself. The bottom line: I have to wait a month to figure out why I don't sleep well at night.
So yes, my weekend was worth every calory.
Update: I am nervously awaiting the results of that sleep study, I can't wait to find out what is really happening with me. Now that I wrote that, I am going to bed.
Dan
No reason, of course, each occasion has been special on its own. However, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that it is a victory lap after enduring what they call a
"sleep study".
That sounds nice, that terminology puts it in a welcoming frame of reference. My experience differs slightly:
I arrived at a "sleep study" center on friday night and within a half of an hour I was being hooked up with wires and tape to a large monitoring machine. Let me say, first of all, that the technician had no idea how to deal with a person who is blind. He was treating me as if I had a psychiatric disability, or as if I was extremely dependent. So, where was I? They taped up most of my body with wires and monitors, and then told me to go to sleep. Great! That's exactly what I wanted. Did I tell you about the wires on my head?
They put some kind of goop or cream on my head and then taped down several wires to it.
To make a long story short, when I woke up, I had already laid in bed for 8 hours but I probably got five hours of sleep. While this is normal for me, it feels very uncomfortable doing so in that position. Finally, the technician untaped me, which is painful by itself. The bottom line: I have to wait a month to figure out why I don't sleep well at night.
So yes, my weekend was worth every calory.
Update: I am nervously awaiting the results of that sleep study, I can't wait to find out what is really happening with me. Now that I wrote that, I am going to bed.
Dan
Sunday, February 15, 2009
food critic review: Dos Caminos Park
Hello everyone, I bring you today my latest and greatest food critic review:
Dos Caminos Park
373 Park Ave S
New York NY
4 Stars
This is one of the city’s best Mexican food establishments and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The ambiance was excellent and I also liked their selection of music. I started with a tequila called siete leguas. My server explained that it was made by the same people who make Patron, but that they created it earlier than Patron. It tasted a little smoky, but I drank it as a margarita so it was perfectly accompanied by the lime juice. As an entree, I selected FIDEOS DE MARISCOS, which consisted of lobster, mussels, clams, red snapper and toasted Mexican vermicelli pasta in a roasted tomato lobster broth. I found this dish to be delicious: the seafood was cooked until tender, the sauce had a very nice spice to it with various seasonings, and the vermicelli made a nice addition to the flavor. In addition, I really liked my side dish of SAUTÉED SWEET PLANTAINS. For those who are not aware, there are two different kinds of plantains: the green kind taste like potatoes and the yellow kind taste like bananas.
These were the sweet yellow kind, and they were cooked until the sweetness was revealed.
In response to a comment that I received, I must honestly say that I do not always love mexican food, but this was a totally different experience. A good friend of mine did recommend Rosa Mexicano, however I have never been there before but I am sure I will go soon. (When I do, of course, you will hear about it!)
Overall, I had a great experience at Dos Caminos and I would like to return in the future to try some of their other dishes. I would recommend this restaurant to all of you.
Dan
Dos Caminos Park
373 Park Ave S
New York NY
4 Stars
This is one of the city’s best Mexican food establishments and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The ambiance was excellent and I also liked their selection of music. I started with a tequila called siete leguas. My server explained that it was made by the same people who make Patron, but that they created it earlier than Patron. It tasted a little smoky, but I drank it as a margarita so it was perfectly accompanied by the lime juice. As an entree, I selected FIDEOS DE MARISCOS, which consisted of lobster, mussels, clams, red snapper and toasted Mexican vermicelli pasta in a roasted tomato lobster broth. I found this dish to be delicious: the seafood was cooked until tender, the sauce had a very nice spice to it with various seasonings, and the vermicelli made a nice addition to the flavor. In addition, I really liked my side dish of SAUTÉED SWEET PLANTAINS. For those who are not aware, there are two different kinds of plantains: the green kind taste like potatoes and the yellow kind taste like bananas.
These were the sweet yellow kind, and they were cooked until the sweetness was revealed.
In response to a comment that I received, I must honestly say that I do not always love mexican food, but this was a totally different experience. A good friend of mine did recommend Rosa Mexicano, however I have never been there before but I am sure I will go soon. (When I do, of course, you will hear about it!)
Overall, I had a great experience at Dos Caminos and I would like to return in the future to try some of their other dishes. I would recommend this restaurant to all of you.
Dan
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A-Roid?
Ok, so I won't pretend to know all of the facts and truths in this situation. Furthermore, I question the truthiness of Mr. Rodriguez. I would like to weigh in like this:
I think it is great that A-Rod finally came clean, but what is up with waiting three days before commenting? In addition, since 2003 he still has been producing excellent numbers, so apparently his statistics are not steroid-based overall. I just don't know what to say, am I supposed to forgive him? I forgave Pettit, but I have been a fan of his for years. A-rod, on the other hand, is not a favorite player of mine, he is No Jeter, and to some extent he is just a free agent with little team loyalty. Therefore, after days to consider this situation, I have come up with a list of pros and cons.
Should I forgive A-rod?
Yes: He admitted to the steroid use, his performance since then has been great, it was the "culture" of baseball at the time (104 other players also tested positive).
No: Taking performing-enhancing drugs is wrong, he took a long time to come clean, just because other players took steroids does not mean that you should.
Conclusion: I forgive him, but he still needs to do more to convince me that he truly means his apology.
Now that this issue is done, let me say a couple of other things:
I sat through almost 3 hours of the Grammy's and was not impressed, I don't know who decides the winners but maybe they should get some fresh blood (me perhaps?).
I went to ohio last weekend to see my great uncle, he is a great man and an inspiration to me. I really enjoyed my time there, however I came away from that experience with another unrelated thought: I love New York City (no offense to the buckeyes.) I love living in a city where I don't need a car, where there are diners on every other corner, and where places don't close early. Go NYC!
Dan
I think it is great that A-Rod finally came clean, but what is up with waiting three days before commenting? In addition, since 2003 he still has been producing excellent numbers, so apparently his statistics are not steroid-based overall. I just don't know what to say, am I supposed to forgive him? I forgave Pettit, but I have been a fan of his for years. A-rod, on the other hand, is not a favorite player of mine, he is No Jeter, and to some extent he is just a free agent with little team loyalty. Therefore, after days to consider this situation, I have come up with a list of pros and cons.
Should I forgive A-rod?
Yes: He admitted to the steroid use, his performance since then has been great, it was the "culture" of baseball at the time (104 other players also tested positive).
No: Taking performing-enhancing drugs is wrong, he took a long time to come clean, just because other players took steroids does not mean that you should.
Conclusion: I forgive him, but he still needs to do more to convince me that he truly means his apology.
Now that this issue is done, let me say a couple of other things:
I sat through almost 3 hours of the Grammy's and was not impressed, I don't know who decides the winners but maybe they should get some fresh blood (me perhaps?).
I went to ohio last weekend to see my great uncle, he is a great man and an inspiration to me. I really enjoyed my time there, however I came away from that experience with another unrelated thought: I love New York City (no offense to the buckeyes.) I love living in a city where I don't need a car, where there are diners on every other corner, and where places don't close early. Go NYC!
Dan
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