Welcome back to blind blog! I apologize for my long absence, I have been busy with classes but I have returned with a new food critic review. Here is a restaurant for anyone who is a fan of Italian food:
Angelo of Mulberry St.
146 Mulberry St. (between Hester and Grand St.)
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
There is nothing like excellent Italian food at a local restaurant, so then why did I chose to try out a touristy establishment in Little Italy? Good question: Angelo’s actually makes delicious authentic food even though it has a reputation for being the destination of many people from out of town. Despite the subpar service, I enjoyed the ambiance; I was part of a diverse crowd of people in a relaxed setting. My friend and I decided to split two dishes: pappardelle Campagnole (long and flat egg noodles in a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, and wild mushrooms), and pollo Portobello (chicken breast with shitake and Portobello mushrooms in a champagne sauce). The first course to arrive was the pappardelle which went above and beyond my expectations: the pasta tasted so fresh and unlike any boxed variety I have ever tried, and was complimented perfectly by the flavors of the tangy tomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic. The sauce, in particular, was a remarkable creation which we agreed made up for the expensive price of the pasta. The next entre was the chicken dish which was outstanding. I was impressed by the champagne sauce, it was clear that the alcohol had been burned off during the reduction phase of the cooking process which left a sweet note to the sauce that I really liked. It should not be surprising that the chicken and various mushrooms were quite fresh, but again the sauce was the highlight.
As a restaurant which attracts many tourists, Angelo’s prices are far from cheap. However, if you are searching for some of the finest Italian food that this city has to offer, then I would encourage you to dine at Angelo’s.
Dan
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
whittiest title ever: new food critic review: Malaga
Hola amigos, yesterday night I went to a favorite Spanish restaurant of mine, and I thought I would share the experience with all of you. Vamos:
Malaga
406 E. 73rd St.
New York NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, the wonders of garlic. It can be an incredible ingredient (in my opinion, but I’m right). Is it delicious? Yes. Is it good to eat while trying to be social? No, Listerine or scope would not have even done the trick. Nevertheless, I really enjoy garlic and that was the key element of the dish which I planned to order here. When I entered Malaga, I appreciated it’s laid back ambiance: it was crowded but not loud, the Spanish music in the background added to the atmosphere but was not overpowering, and the restaurant just felt very relaxed. For the record, I don’t think that you can go wrong here, everything on the menu is tasty, from the paella to the tortilla omelet, I have never had a bad meal at Malaga. However, I knew exactly what I wanted so I ordered shrimp ala chef grilled: the menu offers no description for this dish, and it is true that it is extremely difficult to describe the goodness known as shrimp ala chef. This dish essentially consists of sautéed shrimp and numerous pieces of crunchy and fragrant garlic. I could smell it coming and could hear the dish because it was served on a sizzling platter. My first taste was heavenly, my senses were in overload and therefore were going crazy. The succulent shrimp paired with the delectable garlic made an incredible combination of flavors. It was nice to have a side of broccoli but it didn’t really matter in the end, I was just there for the amazing shrimp.
If you are reading this blog, then you should be aware that I was also drinking sangria (a Spanish wine-based drink) at the time, but I believe that my positive review of this establishment is based on reality and not on the alcohol. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all of my readers visit this great Spanish restaurant. However, there are two issues which I must address. First, Malaga is not wheel chair accessible (there are two steep steps before you arrive at the front door). In addition, a meal can be a little pricy, so I hope you understand that your experience might result in good food and a big check. Restaurants in Manhattan can be expensive, but at least the Spanish food at Malaga which you pay for is high quality. Thanks for reading, adios!
Dan
Malaga
406 E. 73rd St.
New York NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, the wonders of garlic. It can be an incredible ingredient (in my opinion, but I’m right). Is it delicious? Yes. Is it good to eat while trying to be social? No, Listerine or scope would not have even done the trick. Nevertheless, I really enjoy garlic and that was the key element of the dish which I planned to order here. When I entered Malaga, I appreciated it’s laid back ambiance: it was crowded but not loud, the Spanish music in the background added to the atmosphere but was not overpowering, and the restaurant just felt very relaxed. For the record, I don’t think that you can go wrong here, everything on the menu is tasty, from the paella to the tortilla omelet, I have never had a bad meal at Malaga. However, I knew exactly what I wanted so I ordered shrimp ala chef grilled: the menu offers no description for this dish, and it is true that it is extremely difficult to describe the goodness known as shrimp ala chef. This dish essentially consists of sautéed shrimp and numerous pieces of crunchy and fragrant garlic. I could smell it coming and could hear the dish because it was served on a sizzling platter. My first taste was heavenly, my senses were in overload and therefore were going crazy. The succulent shrimp paired with the delectable garlic made an incredible combination of flavors. It was nice to have a side of broccoli but it didn’t really matter in the end, I was just there for the amazing shrimp.
If you are reading this blog, then you should be aware that I was also drinking sangria (a Spanish wine-based drink) at the time, but I believe that my positive review of this establishment is based on reality and not on the alcohol. I would wholeheartedly recommend that all of my readers visit this great Spanish restaurant. However, there are two issues which I must address. First, Malaga is not wheel chair accessible (there are two steep steps before you arrive at the front door). In addition, a meal can be a little pricy, so I hope you understand that your experience might result in good food and a big check. Restaurants in Manhattan can be expensive, but at least the Spanish food at Malaga which you pay for is high quality. Thanks for reading, adios!
Dan
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Where's the beef? Find out here in my newest food critic review:
Hello and thanks for joining me today in my food critic’s corner. I had an excellent new year’s eve this year, and what made it great, only in terms of the food of course, was a prefix dinner that I enjoyed with a good friend of mine at Morton’s steakhouse. I had never dined at this renowned establishment previously, and even though my favorite is steakhouse is the palm steakhouse, I decided to try out the food here which did not disappoint:
Morton’s Steakhouse
551 5th avenuavenuee
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
When I walked into this restaurant, I was warmly greeted, and they staff went out of theire way to accommodate my friend and myself. This same quality of service also carried over to our waiter and all other staff employees, which really impressed me. The waiter presented us with several choices, from salmon to lamb to quite a number of steak choicess, which ranged from ribeyerib eye to filet mignon to cirloinsirloin. However, I already knew about the prefix special so I had already selection made up my mind. As part of the prefix, I started with a Caesar salad, which I adjusted to fit my picky nature (not an anchovy fan). The crisp lettuce contrasted the savory Parmesan cheese and the crunchy croutons well and I really liked this salad. After this I chose the small filet mignon steak, which I found to be tender, grilled to perfection, and seasoned just enough to bring out the flavor of the meat. A small crab cake accompanied the steak; it was delicious with succulent crabmeat and was perfectly matched with a few spices. In addition, as if this meal wasn’t great enough, I received a plate of delicious crispy hash browns, made with fresh shredded potatoes. You might think that I was pretty fulfull at this point, and you would be correct. Dessert probably wasn’t necessary after such a large meal, but I still tried it out for a few reasons: 1. It came with the meal, 2. I am a food critic so it is my nature to try out different types of food, and 3. I am admittedly a “chocaholic” so the idea of a chocolate themed dessert intrigued me. I ordered Morton’s hot chocolate cake, (I know, big surprise). I don’t really have accurate words to describe the sinful goodness of this creation, which consisted of a warm and slightly crunchy cake surrounding a hot fudge chocolaty type of filling, it was one of the best desserts I have ever dined on. The vanilla ice cream on the side was really not necessary, I was just happy with the cake and wanted only a long walk afterwards to burn off all of those tasty calories.
As a college student, I would never call this type of a meal “affordable.” However, it was a good deal based on Morton’s regular prices, where a steak can cost, yes, over forty dollars! I would recommend this restaurant 110% to anyone who would like a great meal at a wonderful steakhouse. I can honestly say that I am still a fan of the palm steakhouse, but this meal made me realize that there are other excellent steakhouses, which I plan to try out, here in this, the greatest city in the world. Until next time, thanks for coming with me on my latest food adventure!
Dan
Morton’s Steakhouse
551 5th avenuavenuee
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5 stars
When I walked into this restaurant, I was warmly greeted, and they staff went out of theire way to accommodate my friend and myself. This same quality of service also carried over to our waiter and all other staff employees, which really impressed me. The waiter presented us with several choices, from salmon to lamb to quite a number of steak choicess, which ranged from ribeyerib eye to filet mignon to cirloinsirloin. However, I already knew about the prefix special so I had already selection made up my mind. As part of the prefix, I started with a Caesar salad, which I adjusted to fit my picky nature (not an anchovy fan). The crisp lettuce contrasted the savory Parmesan cheese and the crunchy croutons well and I really liked this salad. After this I chose the small filet mignon steak, which I found to be tender, grilled to perfection, and seasoned just enough to bring out the flavor of the meat. A small crab cake accompanied the steak; it was delicious with succulent crabmeat and was perfectly matched with a few spices. In addition, as if this meal wasn’t great enough, I received a plate of delicious crispy hash browns, made with fresh shredded potatoes. You might think that I was pretty fulfull at this point, and you would be correct. Dessert probably wasn’t necessary after such a large meal, but I still tried it out for a few reasons: 1. It came with the meal, 2. I am a food critic so it is my nature to try out different types of food, and 3. I am admittedly a “chocaholic” so the idea of a chocolate themed dessert intrigued me. I ordered Morton’s hot chocolate cake, (I know, big surprise). I don’t really have accurate words to describe the sinful goodness of this creation, which consisted of a warm and slightly crunchy cake surrounding a hot fudge chocolaty type of filling, it was one of the best desserts I have ever dined on. The vanilla ice cream on the side was really not necessary, I was just happy with the cake and wanted only a long walk afterwards to burn off all of those tasty calories.
As a college student, I would never call this type of a meal “affordable.” However, it was a good deal based on Morton’s regular prices, where a steak can cost, yes, over forty dollars! I would recommend this restaurant 110% to anyone who would like a great meal at a wonderful steakhouse. I can honestly say that I am still a fan of the palm steakhouse, but this meal made me realize that there are other excellent steakhouses, which I plan to try out, here in this, the greatest city in the world. Until next time, thanks for coming with me on my latest food adventure!
Dan
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Brand new restaurant review: Zebu Grill
Hi, I have a unique restaurant review for you today: (although almost everything can be that way here, in unique New York, try saying that five times in a row)
Zebu Grill
305 E. 92nd St.
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5
It is not often that I eat at a Brazilian restaurant, I am not an expert in their cuisine and there seems to be a lack of this type of food in New York City. Therefore, when I went to Zebu Grill, I had my mind open and was ready for a gourmet adventure. My friend and I split two appetizers: Enroladinhos (3 Brazilian spring rolls filled with shrimp and crab meat with a spicy mango sauce on the side), and
Costelinha de Porco (baby spare ribs with a blood orange, ginger & coffee bean glaze. The spring rolls were crisp and delicious, and were a perfect match for the spicy mango sauce. I really enjoyed the spare ribs, they were extremely tender and almost fell off the bone. In addition, their sauce was sweet with a little kick of spice and was very tasty. For my entree, I tried a tilapia special, sautéed and accompanied with an acai sauce, julienne vegetables, and yucca puree. The fish was great, it was seasoned just the right amount and the acai sauce surprisingly gave it a great flavor. (acai, for those who don’t know, is a South-American berry, which is small and black-purple, it resembles a grape and some say it has great importance for different aspects of health). While the vegetables were fresh and well-cooked, I disliked the yucca because it was very dense and dry. For dessert, I decided on passion Brulee topped with caramelized bananas. This was outstanding, the bananas were crunchy and sweet, while the custard was light with the definite flavor of passion fruit.
This restaurant was more expensive than I had thought, I would warn anyone going to Zebu Grill to consider that fact. The meal was truly superb for the most part, however I am hesitant to recommend it without the understanding that there probably are other Brazilian restaurants that don’t cost as much. For the record, my friend ordered Feijoada, which is Brazil's national dish: lean cuts of beef, pork & sausages in a black bean stew. He really enjoyed it, I even tasted a little and it was great, and I might try it at the next Brazilian restaurant that I try. Regardless of the price, I definitely recommend that you try out this restaurant, or at the least, have a taste of this delicious cuisine. Well, thanks for reading, please let me know what you thought of my review.
Dan
Zebu Grill
305 E. 92nd St.
New York NY
4.25 stars out of 5
It is not often that I eat at a Brazilian restaurant, I am not an expert in their cuisine and there seems to be a lack of this type of food in New York City. Therefore, when I went to Zebu Grill, I had my mind open and was ready for a gourmet adventure. My friend and I split two appetizers: Enroladinhos (3 Brazilian spring rolls filled with shrimp and crab meat with a spicy mango sauce on the side), and
Costelinha de Porco (baby spare ribs with a blood orange, ginger & coffee bean glaze. The spring rolls were crisp and delicious, and were a perfect match for the spicy mango sauce. I really enjoyed the spare ribs, they were extremely tender and almost fell off the bone. In addition, their sauce was sweet with a little kick of spice and was very tasty. For my entree, I tried a tilapia special, sautéed and accompanied with an acai sauce, julienne vegetables, and yucca puree. The fish was great, it was seasoned just the right amount and the acai sauce surprisingly gave it a great flavor. (acai, for those who don’t know, is a South-American berry, which is small and black-purple, it resembles a grape and some say it has great importance for different aspects of health). While the vegetables were fresh and well-cooked, I disliked the yucca because it was very dense and dry. For dessert, I decided on passion Brulee topped with caramelized bananas. This was outstanding, the bananas were crunchy and sweet, while the custard was light with the definite flavor of passion fruit.
This restaurant was more expensive than I had thought, I would warn anyone going to Zebu Grill to consider that fact. The meal was truly superb for the most part, however I am hesitant to recommend it without the understanding that there probably are other Brazilian restaurants that don’t cost as much. For the record, my friend ordered Feijoada, which is Brazil's national dish: lean cuts of beef, pork & sausages in a black bean stew. He really enjoyed it, I even tasted a little and it was great, and I might try it at the next Brazilian restaurant that I try. Regardless of the price, I definitely recommend that you try out this restaurant, or at the least, have a taste of this delicious cuisine. Well, thanks for reading, please let me know what you thought of my review.
Dan
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Bringing it back to the best barbecue!
Hello ladies and gentlemen, I have recently returned from my favorite barbecue restaurant in New York City: Dinosaur’s. I have tried many different dishes there and like some more than others, which makes me wonder: what is the difference between my first-place choice, Dinosaur’s, and my very close second-place winner, Blue Smoke? Well, let’s get some of the obvious out of the way:
1. Dinosaur’s is an eternally crowded restaurant, with strange décor, in the middle of nowhere (in Harlem, which itself is not an isolated area; however the restaurant is on 130th street and 12th avenue). On the other hand, blue smoke is a fancier barbecue establishment easily accessible on 27th street between park and Lexington avenues.
2. Dinosaur’s allows you to create combination platters, with either two or three different meats (I pigged out and got 3 last time). Blue smoke only offers one item at a time, with the rare exception of a rib sampler and maybe one other such dish.
3. Blue smoke has better side dishes, however you pay for them separately while you get two free with your entrée at Dinosaur’s.
4. Blue smoke has a great selection of different ribs, while Dinosaur’s has only one kind, (oops I mean no offense to the Korean ribs, but I came to a barbecue establishment after all), but their one type of ribs happen to be very tasty.
Bottom line: you can’t go wrong with either one of these fabulous barbecue restaurants. If barbecue food is not for you, well… I guess you could order a salad, not my first choice but everyone is entitled to their own opinion (mine happens to be right, sorry).
The next thing that I will say might be a little controversial: I generally do not like cafeteria-style restaurants. You know what I mean: you stand in line, get to the counter, order your food get on yet another line to pay, then get your own napkins and utensils and sit down. I bring this up because I am noticing a trend towards creating new barbecue “restaurants” that are merely cafeterias: hill country, daisy Mays, and now the number 1 rated (according to Zagat’s) barbecue restaurant in the entire city, you guessed it, it’s a cafeteria too!
In closing, I apologize to any of you whom I have offended. In fact, if you prefer that I review a different kind of food, then please comment below. Next stop: Italian food, Yankees, college stuff, I have so much to talk about!
Let me know your thoughts, as always, take care.
Dan
1. Dinosaur’s is an eternally crowded restaurant, with strange décor, in the middle of nowhere (in Harlem, which itself is not an isolated area; however the restaurant is on 130th street and 12th avenue). On the other hand, blue smoke is a fancier barbecue establishment easily accessible on 27th street between park and Lexington avenues.
2. Dinosaur’s allows you to create combination platters, with either two or three different meats (I pigged out and got 3 last time). Blue smoke only offers one item at a time, with the rare exception of a rib sampler and maybe one other such dish.
3. Blue smoke has better side dishes, however you pay for them separately while you get two free with your entrée at Dinosaur’s.
4. Blue smoke has a great selection of different ribs, while Dinosaur’s has only one kind, (oops I mean no offense to the Korean ribs, but I came to a barbecue establishment after all), but their one type of ribs happen to be very tasty.
Bottom line: you can’t go wrong with either one of these fabulous barbecue restaurants. If barbecue food is not for you, well… I guess you could order a salad, not my first choice but everyone is entitled to their own opinion (mine happens to be right, sorry).
The next thing that I will say might be a little controversial: I generally do not like cafeteria-style restaurants. You know what I mean: you stand in line, get to the counter, order your food get on yet another line to pay, then get your own napkins and utensils and sit down. I bring this up because I am noticing a trend towards creating new barbecue “restaurants” that are merely cafeterias: hill country, daisy Mays, and now the number 1 rated (according to Zagat’s) barbecue restaurant in the entire city, you guessed it, it’s a cafeteria too!
In closing, I apologize to any of you whom I have offended. In fact, if you prefer that I review a different kind of food, then please comment below. Next stop: Italian food, Yankees, college stuff, I have so much to talk about!
Let me know your thoughts, as always, take care.
Dan
Friday, October 2, 2009
NEW food critic review: Sandro's Restaurant
Hi everyone, I apologize for my delay in posting a new food review, but here we go:
Sandro’s
306 E. 81st Street
New York NY
4.25 out of 5 stars
It was certainly a unique experience to try the delectable Roman cuisine at this small yet comfortable restaurant. A friend of mine has praised this restaurant's cooking to me more than once, so I decided it was time that I tried it out for myself. I was warmly greeted as I entered Sandro’s, and the wait staff were extremely nice and courteous during my meal. On the table, I found long and narrow breadsticks, Sandro’s makes these in-house, which were crunchy and tasted just a little like rosemary. Sandro himself came out to greet us and he was a very charming and friendly person. For the appetizer, I tried a special: calamari stuffed with mushrooms and, surprisingly, more calamari! This dish was entirely new for me, so I did not know what to expect. I was very happy with the result: three pieces of calamari, filled with a calamari stuffing and accompanied by a few kinds of delicious mushrooms. This appetizer turned out to be quite excellent: the tender calamari were perfectly matched with the various mushrooms, (I liked the taste of each one) and the subtle sauce brought all of the dish’s flavors together. As an entree, I ordered a pasta that was recommended to me by a friend: Bucatini Amatriciana. This dish consists of a homemade pasta, which looks like a thick spaghetti with a hole in the middle, served with tomato sauce onion and pancetta. I really enjoyed this pasta, I especially liked how fresh it tasted, the menu even says that they use organic eggs. It is very difficult to describe the tomato sauce, it was a bit rich but also showed me that it was different from many other sauces that I have tasted before in other typical Italian restaurants. In addition, I found the pancetta to be particularly Delicious, this is another kind of food that I do not eat so often but its saltiness accompanied the tomato and onion flavors well. For dessert, I tried “Grandmother’s apple cake”. I was served a piece of hot cake, which seemed to have more apples than cake (which actually was a good thing), along with some slices of fresh strawberries and a little whipped cream. By this point, I was extremely impressed by this restaurant, so it should not be a surprise to any of you that everything about this dessert was superb. In addition, the waiter brought out some small hot cookies with the flavor of orange zest.
Finally, I was brought a tiny glass of a digestive drink called grapa.
Normally I do not like this drink because the taste is so harsh, but actually this kind of grapa was smoother and was a very nice way to end a great meal.
I would like all of my blog readers to know that Sandro's is not an inexpensive restaurant, the pastas, for example, can cost as much as $22. However, everyone deserves a nice meal, and if that is what you are looking for, then I definitely reccomend Sandro's.
Dan
Sandro’s
306 E. 81st Street
New York NY
4.25 out of 5 stars
It was certainly a unique experience to try the delectable Roman cuisine at this small yet comfortable restaurant. A friend of mine has praised this restaurant's cooking to me more than once, so I decided it was time that I tried it out for myself. I was warmly greeted as I entered Sandro’s, and the wait staff were extremely nice and courteous during my meal. On the table, I found long and narrow breadsticks, Sandro’s makes these in-house, which were crunchy and tasted just a little like rosemary. Sandro himself came out to greet us and he was a very charming and friendly person. For the appetizer, I tried a special: calamari stuffed with mushrooms and, surprisingly, more calamari! This dish was entirely new for me, so I did not know what to expect. I was very happy with the result: three pieces of calamari, filled with a calamari stuffing and accompanied by a few kinds of delicious mushrooms. This appetizer turned out to be quite excellent: the tender calamari were perfectly matched with the various mushrooms, (I liked the taste of each one) and the subtle sauce brought all of the dish’s flavors together. As an entree, I ordered a pasta that was recommended to me by a friend: Bucatini Amatriciana. This dish consists of a homemade pasta, which looks like a thick spaghetti with a hole in the middle, served with tomato sauce onion and pancetta. I really enjoyed this pasta, I especially liked how fresh it tasted, the menu even says that they use organic eggs. It is very difficult to describe the tomato sauce, it was a bit rich but also showed me that it was different from many other sauces that I have tasted before in other typical Italian restaurants. In addition, I found the pancetta to be particularly Delicious, this is another kind of food that I do not eat so often but its saltiness accompanied the tomato and onion flavors well. For dessert, I tried “Grandmother’s apple cake”. I was served a piece of hot cake, which seemed to have more apples than cake (which actually was a good thing), along with some slices of fresh strawberries and a little whipped cream. By this point, I was extremely impressed by this restaurant, so it should not be a surprise to any of you that everything about this dessert was superb. In addition, the waiter brought out some small hot cookies with the flavor of orange zest.
Finally, I was brought a tiny glass of a digestive drink called grapa.
Normally I do not like this drink because the taste is so harsh, but actually this kind of grapa was smoother and was a very nice way to end a great meal.
I would like all of my blog readers to know that Sandro's is not an inexpensive restaurant, the pastas, for example, can cost as much as $22. However, everyone deserves a nice meal, and if that is what you are looking for, then I definitely reccomend Sandro's.
Dan
Sunday, May 24, 2009
food critic review: perfect paella
Have you all heard about the great news? I am talking, of course, about my new food critic review! That's right, I'm back, and this time I would like to share with you an experience I recently had at an excellent Spanish restaurant:
Socarrat Paella bar
259 W. 19th St.
Food: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 2 out of 5 stars
Service: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Do you like dining at a restaurant with communal seating, uncomfortable stools, and no reservations? In that case, Socarrat is right for you. I figured I would speak about the negatives first, so that I could spend more time discussing the incredible food. As the name indicates, this restaurant specializes in paella. Socarrat serves paella for two or more people only, so I would recommend that you go there with at least one other friend.
My friends and I tried some “tapas”, which are Spanish appetizers: tortilla, which is a delicious and fluffy Spanish omelet, and croquetas del dia, which are flavorful oval-shaped croquettes filled with chicken. These appetizers were tasty but light enough so that they did not spoil my appetite. We then tried the Paella Socarrat: chunks of chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, green beans, mussels, and cockle clams. Before I describe the delicious paella, allow me to define the name of this restaurant, Socarrat: From the Spanish verb socarrar, which means to toast lightly. Socarrat refers to the caramelized crust of rice that sometimes sticks to the bottom of the pan when you are making paella. I found the paella to be unique, and I use this in the most extreme form of this adjective: crispy saffron rice, chunks of boneless meat, and a mixture of subtle seasonings that pleased my pallet. It was definitely one of the BEST paellas that I have ever consumed in my life, and I have eaten quite many.
I will honestly admit that I am a very picky eater. Many things will turn me off from eating a particular food: consistency, texture, flavor, spice, and temperature are all examples. My quest for the perfect paella has allowed me to sample this treat in many different areas, although I am biased towards a local favorite. With all of this being said, I believe that Socarrat paella bar makes one of the most scrumptious paellas that I have ever tasted! However, let me reiterate what I said in the beginning of this review: when you eat there, you sit next to other customers on a long communal table, you will be sitting on a stool for the entire meal, it takes 30 minutes for them to cook the paella, and they do not except reservations. I appreciate that these aspects do take away from the overall experience, and I would understand if they scared any of you off from going to this restaurant. Nevertheless, I was so impressed by the food that I would gladly go back to Socarrat in the future and I hope you all try it out too!
Dan (the food critic) man
Socarrat Paella bar
259 W. 19th St.
Food: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 2 out of 5 stars
Service: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Do you like dining at a restaurant with communal seating, uncomfortable stools, and no reservations? In that case, Socarrat is right for you. I figured I would speak about the negatives first, so that I could spend more time discussing the incredible food. As the name indicates, this restaurant specializes in paella. Socarrat serves paella for two or more people only, so I would recommend that you go there with at least one other friend.
My friends and I tried some “tapas”, which are Spanish appetizers: tortilla, which is a delicious and fluffy Spanish omelet, and croquetas del dia, which are flavorful oval-shaped croquettes filled with chicken. These appetizers were tasty but light enough so that they did not spoil my appetite. We then tried the Paella Socarrat: chunks of chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, green beans, mussels, and cockle clams. Before I describe the delicious paella, allow me to define the name of this restaurant, Socarrat: From the Spanish verb socarrar, which means to toast lightly. Socarrat refers to the caramelized crust of rice that sometimes sticks to the bottom of the pan when you are making paella. I found the paella to be unique, and I use this in the most extreme form of this adjective: crispy saffron rice, chunks of boneless meat, and a mixture of subtle seasonings that pleased my pallet. It was definitely one of the BEST paellas that I have ever consumed in my life, and I have eaten quite many.
I will honestly admit that I am a very picky eater. Many things will turn me off from eating a particular food: consistency, texture, flavor, spice, and temperature are all examples. My quest for the perfect paella has allowed me to sample this treat in many different areas, although I am biased towards a local favorite. With all of this being said, I believe that Socarrat paella bar makes one of the most scrumptious paellas that I have ever tasted! However, let me reiterate what I said in the beginning of this review: when you eat there, you sit next to other customers on a long communal table, you will be sitting on a stool for the entire meal, it takes 30 minutes for them to cook the paella, and they do not except reservations. I appreciate that these aspects do take away from the overall experience, and I would understand if they scared any of you off from going to this restaurant. Nevertheless, I was so impressed by the food that I would gladly go back to Socarrat in the future and I hope you all try it out too!
Dan (the food critic) man
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A return to rare
Hi folks, last night I returned to one of the best hamburger restaurants in New York City: Rare bar and grill. The following is not so much a food review, it is a blog regarding my experience at Rare last night (also I am writing this blog spontaneously with no corrections or spell check, I just felt like being in the moment): I attended the birthday party of a friend there, and once again I was tempted by the t-bone burger: literally the meat from a t-bone steak which has been grinded and formed into a hamburger patty and then grilled. I will admit that this "rare" burger is very pricy, but I believe that you can't find a much better burger than this. It is juicy, seasoned properly, and tastes like a high quality steak in a burger form. I had a great time and I will definitely go back. In addition, I reccommend that all of you try out rare. I am willing to listen to suggestions about what you think is the best "burger" restaurant in the city, please leave your comments and I will share my opinions with you. Thanks.
Dan
Dan
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Are you ready to Flex your Muscles?
Hello everyone, I have a great new food critic review for you today about an excellent new restaurant:
Flex Mussels
174 E 82nd ST
New York, NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a rather new establishment which has been serving high quality muscles, in twenty-three different sauces, and French cuisine to the upper east side of Manhattan for the last four months. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I am a muscle connoisseur, but I have certainly tried these delicious seafood delights in many different restaurants. The staff was very attentive during the entire meal: the waiters kept asking how the food was, two people greeted me on the way in and three wished me a good night when I walked out. The bread which was served was quite average, and did not impress me when I used it to taste my sauce for the muscles. I started with an appetizer of crab Cakes: this consisted of two crisp Maryland lump crab cakes, a very flavorful vegetable slaw, and a cool and tangy citrus aioli. I particularly liked the crab cakes because I could taste that they were mainly made with crab and very little filler. However, I still enjoyed the seasonings and diced vegetables which were mixed with the crab.
Finally, (I say finally because I have wanted to try this restaurant for a long time), It was time for the reason why I came here in the first place: the muscles. I remembered to have lowered expectations about the quality of the food, figuring that I could not be disappointed this way. My friend and I selected two different kinds of muscles. I tried the San Daniele muscles: accompanied with prosciutto, caramelized onions, white wine, and garlic. These were simply delicious: the muscles were particularly plump and the sauce was extremely tasty and could have almost been a soup by itself. Each of the ingredients created a layered sauce which perfectly matched the seafood flavor of the muscles. My friend chose the Maine muscles, which were cooked with a sauce of lobster, corn, white chowder, and parsley. I found these muscles to also be very large and tasty, and the sauce was chunky, fresh, and savory. We tried some French fries, which were above average. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these because you will probably be full from the appetizer and muscles alone. Our meal was completed with two Swedish fish candies which were served to our table.
There is a word which I rarely use in life. I don’t like using it because I do not appreciate the meaning that is attached to it, but I will say it anyway: Flex Muscles has the BEST muscles in this neighborhood, and probably in all of Manhattan. You are welcome to disagree with me; however, this has been my experience. I recommend that all of you try out Flex Muscles, just remember to skip the bread and the fries. If you are looking for a taste of the sea, then Flex Muscles is the place to be!
Flex Mussels
174 E 82nd ST
New York, NY
4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a rather new establishment which has been serving high quality muscles, in twenty-three different sauces, and French cuisine to the upper east side of Manhattan for the last four months. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I am a muscle connoisseur, but I have certainly tried these delicious seafood delights in many different restaurants. The staff was very attentive during the entire meal: the waiters kept asking how the food was, two people greeted me on the way in and three wished me a good night when I walked out. The bread which was served was quite average, and did not impress me when I used it to taste my sauce for the muscles. I started with an appetizer of crab Cakes: this consisted of two crisp Maryland lump crab cakes, a very flavorful vegetable slaw, and a cool and tangy citrus aioli. I particularly liked the crab cakes because I could taste that they were mainly made with crab and very little filler. However, I still enjoyed the seasonings and diced vegetables which were mixed with the crab.
Finally, (I say finally because I have wanted to try this restaurant for a long time), It was time for the reason why I came here in the first place: the muscles. I remembered to have lowered expectations about the quality of the food, figuring that I could not be disappointed this way. My friend and I selected two different kinds of muscles. I tried the San Daniele muscles: accompanied with prosciutto, caramelized onions, white wine, and garlic. These were simply delicious: the muscles were particularly plump and the sauce was extremely tasty and could have almost been a soup by itself. Each of the ingredients created a layered sauce which perfectly matched the seafood flavor of the muscles. My friend chose the Maine muscles, which were cooked with a sauce of lobster, corn, white chowder, and parsley. I found these muscles to also be very large and tasty, and the sauce was chunky, fresh, and savory. We tried some French fries, which were above average. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these because you will probably be full from the appetizer and muscles alone. Our meal was completed with two Swedish fish candies which were served to our table.
There is a word which I rarely use in life. I don’t like using it because I do not appreciate the meaning that is attached to it, but I will say it anyway: Flex Muscles has the BEST muscles in this neighborhood, and probably in all of Manhattan. You are welcome to disagree with me; however, this has been my experience. I recommend that all of you try out Flex Muscles, just remember to skip the bread and the fries. If you are looking for a taste of the sea, then Flex Muscles is the place to be!
Monday, March 23, 2009
If you like steak, then you will love my new steakhouse food critic review
Hello and welcome to my first official food critic review for the spring of 2009. I know that some of you have been eagerly awaiting my next restaurant critique, so it is my honor to present:
Sparks Steakhouse
210 E. 46th St.
New York NY
4.1 out of 5 stars
I have been enthusiastic about going to this steakhouse for a long time. It is a top rated establishment and for a good reason. In addition, many people have told me of their high quality dishes. Although I was thoroughly impressed, I cannot honestly say that it is the best steak restaurant in New York City.
I was seated along with four other people; these were friends and friends of friends. The staff seemed nice enough, but the service was nothing more than above average. I ordered the filet mignon with a side of hash browns. Let me first say that this establishment is quite expensive, it requires the kind of money which normally only gets spent on very special occasions. However, I do realize that all of the top ten steakhouses here charge similar prices, so in that aspect, Sparks is not so unique. My steak arrived, and I remarked on the fact that it was a reasonably large cut of meat. It should be noted that Sparks only has one size for their steak, so you don’t select a small or large cut of meat. I found the steak to be well done on the outside but a little too undercooked on the inside, so I sent it back. (I ordered the steak medium, this was my fault, I should have and normally do order it medium well done). When it arrived, it was much hotter. It had a very nice flavor with a touch of seasoning. It cut very easily, however, not as smoothly as in other steak houses. It had a rich flavor, and was very filling. As a matter of fact, I took some home with me so that I could compare the food quality on the next day. I particularly enjoyed the hash browns: they were crispy (a must for me), and seasoned well with spices and a little salt. Furthermore, the next day I ate the rest of my steak, which raised the level of my rating because it passed the test for next day quality. (Yes, I do have a test, and no it is not multiple-choice, more of a pop quiz).
Therefore, the food part of my experience was very positive. The service, on the other hand, was spotty. Our waiter gave us a problem when we asked to pay for the meal with credit cards; he said two credit cards maximum could be used per group. I just found the staff to be adequately nice, but nothing that made me feel really welcome. Nevertheless, and especially if you have ever read my reviews before, you know that I value food over everything else including décor and service, so I mostly based my rating on the quality of the food.
Recommendations: Try it for yourself! As I said, it's pricy, I'm sure someone like the captain (Derek Jeter) could easily afford it, but for a colluge student like myself it really hurts your budget. I am still on a quest to find the best steak in the city, but I can only freach my destination by trying one place at a time.
Until next time,
Dan the food critic man
Sparks Steakhouse
210 E. 46th St.
New York NY
4.1 out of 5 stars
I have been enthusiastic about going to this steakhouse for a long time. It is a top rated establishment and for a good reason. In addition, many people have told me of their high quality dishes. Although I was thoroughly impressed, I cannot honestly say that it is the best steak restaurant in New York City.
I was seated along with four other people; these were friends and friends of friends. The staff seemed nice enough, but the service was nothing more than above average. I ordered the filet mignon with a side of hash browns. Let me first say that this establishment is quite expensive, it requires the kind of money which normally only gets spent on very special occasions. However, I do realize that all of the top ten steakhouses here charge similar prices, so in that aspect, Sparks is not so unique. My steak arrived, and I remarked on the fact that it was a reasonably large cut of meat. It should be noted that Sparks only has one size for their steak, so you don’t select a small or large cut of meat. I found the steak to be well done on the outside but a little too undercooked on the inside, so I sent it back. (I ordered the steak medium, this was my fault, I should have and normally do order it medium well done). When it arrived, it was much hotter. It had a very nice flavor with a touch of seasoning. It cut very easily, however, not as smoothly as in other steak houses. It had a rich flavor, and was very filling. As a matter of fact, I took some home with me so that I could compare the food quality on the next day. I particularly enjoyed the hash browns: they were crispy (a must for me), and seasoned well with spices and a little salt. Furthermore, the next day I ate the rest of my steak, which raised the level of my rating because it passed the test for next day quality. (Yes, I do have a test, and no it is not multiple-choice, more of a pop quiz).
Therefore, the food part of my experience was very positive. The service, on the other hand, was spotty. Our waiter gave us a problem when we asked to pay for the meal with credit cards; he said two credit cards maximum could be used per group. I just found the staff to be adequately nice, but nothing that made me feel really welcome. Nevertheless, and especially if you have ever read my reviews before, you know that I value food over everything else including décor and service, so I mostly based my rating on the quality of the food.
Recommendations: Try it for yourself! As I said, it's pricy, I'm sure someone like the captain (Derek Jeter) could easily afford it, but for a colluge student like myself it really hurts your budget. I am still on a quest to find the best steak in the city, but I can only freach my destination by trying one place at a time.
Until next time,
Dan the food critic man
Saturday, February 28, 2009
I think it's time for a new food critic review: Rare bar and grill!
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
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
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
Saturday, January 24, 2009
first movie review: Notorious
Hi and welcome to:
My first movie review!
Notorious (Rated R)
3.75 out of 5 stars
Featuring: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie, Antonique Smith, and Naturi Naughton.
Notorious tells the story of murdered rapper Notorious B.I.G, from his beginnings as a Brooklyn crack dealer to an East Coast hip-hop sensation. The movie is narrated by the man himself, who was, along with Tupac Shakur, one of the best rappers of all time. However, this film also depicts the true events of his life, many of which were negative including selling drugs--apparently even to a pregnant woman, doing time in prison, getting women pregnant, cheating on his wife Faith Evans, and getting into a seemingly pointless East Coast/West Coast beef with one-time friend Tupac. That being said, this movie did an excellent job of showing off his unmistakable vocal style. I feel that this movie came out way too late, after all BIG passed away over a decade ago. However, I am still grateful to finally discuss this film and it did not disappoint. It was so well done that I was brought back, in my mind, to that day in march of 1997 when I heard the bad news. It was all over the radio, and I was thoroughly shocked, I just couldn’t wrap my head around what had occurred.
A few have argued that “Notorious” did not accurately describe the life of Notorious B.I.G. There even has been a law suit filed regarding the validity of this movie. Nevertheless, when I listened to this film, I didn’t rate it upon how truthful it was, my opinion is based on its quality and how captivating I found it to be. Newcomer Jamal Woolard carries his screen time well, and although I was disappointed in the beginning of the movie (no one can exactly duplicate B.I.G.’s voice) he won me over about halfway through. He makes notorious feel somewhat approachable which is no easy feat considering the reality that he might not have been the nicest guy when he was alive. I also thought that Naturi Naughton did a fine job as Lil' Kim, and the actors and actresses in this documentary seemed to be well-cast.
The bottom line is that hiphop has not been the same since it lost one of the greatest, BIG of course. I encourage all of you to see this movie, however I would advise you to watch it with an open mind: Put aside any issues you have with how true it is, how certain characters are depicted, and your personal judgments about Notorious B.I.G. (I would never condone selling drugs to a pregnant woman, cheating, ETC) I simply say to you: go to watch this movie for educational purposes, the experience, and to share in the life of a very interesting man. (Note: if you dislike violence, drugs, and/or hiphop, this might not be the right movie for you). If you have seen this film, please let me know how you feel about my first movie review.
Dan
My first movie review!
Notorious (Rated R)
3.75 out of 5 stars
Featuring: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie, Antonique Smith, and Naturi Naughton.
Notorious tells the story of murdered rapper Notorious B.I.G, from his beginnings as a Brooklyn crack dealer to an East Coast hip-hop sensation. The movie is narrated by the man himself, who was, along with Tupac Shakur, one of the best rappers of all time. However, this film also depicts the true events of his life, many of which were negative including selling drugs--apparently even to a pregnant woman, doing time in prison, getting women pregnant, cheating on his wife Faith Evans, and getting into a seemingly pointless East Coast/West Coast beef with one-time friend Tupac. That being said, this movie did an excellent job of showing off his unmistakable vocal style. I feel that this movie came out way too late, after all BIG passed away over a decade ago. However, I am still grateful to finally discuss this film and it did not disappoint. It was so well done that I was brought back, in my mind, to that day in march of 1997 when I heard the bad news. It was all over the radio, and I was thoroughly shocked, I just couldn’t wrap my head around what had occurred.
A few have argued that “Notorious” did not accurately describe the life of Notorious B.I.G. There even has been a law suit filed regarding the validity of this movie. Nevertheless, when I listened to this film, I didn’t rate it upon how truthful it was, my opinion is based on its quality and how captivating I found it to be. Newcomer Jamal Woolard carries his screen time well, and although I was disappointed in the beginning of the movie (no one can exactly duplicate B.I.G.’s voice) he won me over about halfway through. He makes notorious feel somewhat approachable which is no easy feat considering the reality that he might not have been the nicest guy when he was alive. I also thought that Naturi Naughton did a fine job as Lil' Kim, and the actors and actresses in this documentary seemed to be well-cast.
The bottom line is that hiphop has not been the same since it lost one of the greatest, BIG of course. I encourage all of you to see this movie, however I would advise you to watch it with an open mind: Put aside any issues you have with how true it is, how certain characters are depicted, and your personal judgments about Notorious B.I.G. (I would never condone selling drugs to a pregnant woman, cheating, ETC) I simply say to you: go to watch this movie for educational purposes, the experience, and to share in the life of a very interesting man. (Note: if you dislike violence, drugs, and/or hiphop, this might not be the right movie for you). If you have seen this film, please let me know how you feel about my first movie review.
Dan
Friday, January 23, 2009
Keens steakhouse food critique
Hello world and welcome to my inaugural food critique column. Today I will be reviewing:
Keens Steakhouse
72 W. 36th St.
New York NY
Food Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I appreciated the atmosphere of this steakhouse upon arrival, it has been previously described to me as an "old boys club". I started with the Maryland lump crab cake appetizer. This tempting dish was prepared with just enough spices as not to overwhelm the pallet but definitely was an adequate accompaniment to the luscious crabmeat. For my entre, I ordered (of course) the prime filet mignon with a savory mushroom sauce. The texture of the filet was smooth and I easily cut into it with my knife. The sauce which was served with the steak had the flavor of a fine white wine and flavorful mushrooms. In addition, the steak, which I order red medium well done, had a very nice taste which reflects the cooking time as well as the quality of the cut. As a side dishe I enjoyed crispy hash browns which were fresh and delicious. I give Keens Steakhouse a rating of 4 stars because I truly feel that it provided me with an excellent experience. I have been to several steak house establishments and I feel that Keens measures up to some of them, however I have enjoyed slightly better food in other restaurants. That being said, I encourage all of you to try it for yourself and express your opinion in the comments section!
Dan
Keens Steakhouse
72 W. 36th St.
New York NY
Food Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I appreciated the atmosphere of this steakhouse upon arrival, it has been previously described to me as an "old boys club". I started with the Maryland lump crab cake appetizer. This tempting dish was prepared with just enough spices as not to overwhelm the pallet but definitely was an adequate accompaniment to the luscious crabmeat. For my entre, I ordered (of course) the prime filet mignon with a savory mushroom sauce. The texture of the filet was smooth and I easily cut into it with my knife. The sauce which was served with the steak had the flavor of a fine white wine and flavorful mushrooms. In addition, the steak, which I order red medium well done, had a very nice taste which reflects the cooking time as well as the quality of the cut. As a side dishe I enjoyed crispy hash browns which were fresh and delicious. I give Keens Steakhouse a rating of 4 stars because I truly feel that it provided me with an excellent experience. I have been to several steak house establishments and I feel that Keens measures up to some of them, however I have enjoyed slightly better food in other restaurants. That being said, I encourage all of you to try it for yourself and express your opinion in the comments section!
Dan
Sunday, January 11, 2009
first food critic review: Lucali's
Hi everybody, well it occured to me today that it might be a good idea to start posting food critic reviews for the restaurants where I have had excellent meals. Guess what? I have one for you today. Now, I am an aspiring food critic, so this might not necessarily sound professional yet.
Lucali's
573 Henry St.
Brooklyn, Ny
Rating: 4.25 stars (out of 5)
I traveled through the snow to try Lucali's with four of my friends last night. I was initially worried because of all the hype regarding this restaurant; after all it was the number one pizza restaurant in this year's Zagat survey with a rating of 27/30. However, Lucali's did not disappoint. The ambiance was of a much higher quality than in most pizza establishments. Our waitress was quite helpful and she explained our choices in terms of pizza and toppings. I am personally a fan of mushroom pizza, and when it arrived at our table, a mere 25 minutes later, I was impressed. It started out with a thin crust, and very light as far as pizza is concerned. The crust was extremely crispy and melts in your mouth. Lucali's uses a very nice mix of cheese on the pizza which tasted fresh and flavorful. In addition, the sauce had a great flavor with just the right amount of spices and tomatoes. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience. I have been to a few of the city's best pizza restaurants, and this is comparable with any of them. I had a great time and I would really like to return.
Dan
Lucali's
573 Henry St.
Brooklyn, Ny
Rating: 4.25 stars (out of 5)
I traveled through the snow to try Lucali's with four of my friends last night. I was initially worried because of all the hype regarding this restaurant; after all it was the number one pizza restaurant in this year's Zagat survey with a rating of 27/30. However, Lucali's did not disappoint. The ambiance was of a much higher quality than in most pizza establishments. Our waitress was quite helpful and she explained our choices in terms of pizza and toppings. I am personally a fan of mushroom pizza, and when it arrived at our table, a mere 25 minutes later, I was impressed. It started out with a thin crust, and very light as far as pizza is concerned. The crust was extremely crispy and melts in your mouth. Lucali's uses a very nice mix of cheese on the pizza which tasted fresh and flavorful. In addition, the sauce had a great flavor with just the right amount of spices and tomatoes. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience. I have been to a few of the city's best pizza restaurants, and this is comparable with any of them. I had a great time and I would really like to return.
Dan
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