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
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Updated top ten hamburger list for New York City as of july 2010
Hello, today I would like to update my list of the top ten hamburgers in New York City. I have spent a considerable amount of my free time conducting qualitative studies, my aspiration to be a food critic does require some real work once in a while. I have been working on this list over the past year which has involved mostly trying these fantastic selections out (all for the best readers in the world), and have compiled this controversial list. (No two food critics have the same list, let alone the same number one, so debates can become rather heated) I am currently in a state of happiness while being totally full, (I just finished eating the number 4 selection a couple of hours ago), so here we go:
(The following opinions are only mine and cannot be replicated or duplicated without the express written consent of blind blog):
(This list is in random order, not number 1 through 7 from best to worst, and please forgive me for any misspelled words.)
1. Primehouse: They make a great hamburger for lunch or brunch composed of rib eye steak and ground chuck. The beef is very high quality, seasoned properly, with excellent homemade thick cut steak fries.
2. Rare bar and grill: I like this restaurant, and they make an incredible, incredibly expensive, t-bone burger which is out of this world: a hamburger consisting of a blend of sirloin & strip steak, flambéed in tequila, wrapped in apple smoked bacon, topped with cheddar & crispy onions, can you ask for anything more than that?
3. Shake shack: What can I say; I went from the expensive to the affordable. I prefer the newest location on Columbus Avenue where there is much less of a line (near my old internship, hint hint). My favorite is the double burger, which is seasoned just enough to enhance the flavor of the beef, and cooked the way I like. On another note, how about those shakes: they are to die for (literally?).
4. Minetta tavern: When I think about this restaurant, it's all about their black label hamburger ($26 for a hamburger, really? You have to taste it to believe it!) It starts with a patty created from a combination of four cuts of dry aged beef, (the guesses so far are brisket, short rib, strip steak, and rib eye), topped with sweet caramelized onions and placed on a homemade soft bun from their bakery. The charred outside, excellent seasoning and collection of flavors is top notch!
5. Rue 57: This place is very touristy, but their burger is one of the best. I am not sure how they season it but it is served with a mouth watering crispy outside, delicate inside, and just a hint of some mysterious and excellent flavor. Oh yeah, and the fries (crispy pommes frites, shoe string fries from France) aren't bad either.
6. Ottomanelli's: This restaurant might not receive any national attention but it is a local favorite of mine. I consider it to be the best burger in the immediate area (no, not J.G. Melon’s, this is far superior). This restaurant is quality through and through; you can't go wrong with any dish here, although I am not telling you to travel from outside of Manhattan to eat there.
7. Rub bbq: Warning: this restaurant only serves hamburgers three hours a week, Mondays from 6-9 pm, so if interested please arrive as early as possible. This extremely delicious hamburger is smashed then cooked in a skillet at 600 degrees until it is beautifully charred, it is only five ounces and comes with no fries but the taste is exceptional. (By the way, each week there is a special burger of the week which is chosen to highlight the taste from a particular region or a style of preparation, my first time at Rub the flavor was “bacon egg and cheese”)
8. Union square cafe: I can already anticipate the negative comments about this one, and some of you will undoubtedly disagree with this pick. However, it is always rated as one of the top restaurants in the city, and their burger does not disappoint. As usual, I order mine medium well, and I find that especially the smoky crisp outer layer represents a fantastic taste. (Their fried calamari is quite excellent as well.)
9. Peter Luger's: My opinion is biased here, and I haven't tried this burger yet, but everyone puts it on their top ten lists. In addition, if the beef used for the burger is anything like their steak, then we have nothing to worry about.
10. McDonalds: The legendary quarter pounder combined with an order of crispy salted fries is... (Just kidding, but did I fool you?) (Actually their fries are kind of tasty, but I would avoid fast food at all costs after having personally tried 7 out of 8 of these hamburgers before).
A few popular places didn't make my list, and I am still anxious to try out other fine hamburger establishments (Little owl, Spotted Pig, and coming soon: a shake shack in my neighborhood!). Please leave your comments below so that I know what you think about my first list, I have a feeling that it will be very controversial.
Take care
Dan
(The following opinions are only mine and cannot be replicated or duplicated without the express written consent of blind blog):
(This list is in random order, not number 1 through 7 from best to worst, and please forgive me for any misspelled words.)
1. Primehouse: They make a great hamburger for lunch or brunch composed of rib eye steak and ground chuck. The beef is very high quality, seasoned properly, with excellent homemade thick cut steak fries.
2. Rare bar and grill: I like this restaurant, and they make an incredible, incredibly expensive, t-bone burger which is out of this world: a hamburger consisting of a blend of sirloin & strip steak, flambéed in tequila, wrapped in apple smoked bacon, topped with cheddar & crispy onions, can you ask for anything more than that?
3. Shake shack: What can I say; I went from the expensive to the affordable. I prefer the newest location on Columbus Avenue where there is much less of a line (near my old internship, hint hint). My favorite is the double burger, which is seasoned just enough to enhance the flavor of the beef, and cooked the way I like. On another note, how about those shakes: they are to die for (literally?).
4. Minetta tavern: When I think about this restaurant, it's all about their black label hamburger ($26 for a hamburger, really? You have to taste it to believe it!) It starts with a patty created from a combination of four cuts of dry aged beef, (the guesses so far are brisket, short rib, strip steak, and rib eye), topped with sweet caramelized onions and placed on a homemade soft bun from their bakery. The charred outside, excellent seasoning and collection of flavors is top notch!
5. Rue 57: This place is very touristy, but their burger is one of the best. I am not sure how they season it but it is served with a mouth watering crispy outside, delicate inside, and just a hint of some mysterious and excellent flavor. Oh yeah, and the fries (crispy pommes frites, shoe string fries from France) aren't bad either.
6. Ottomanelli's: This restaurant might not receive any national attention but it is a local favorite of mine. I consider it to be the best burger in the immediate area (no, not J.G. Melon’s, this is far superior). This restaurant is quality through and through; you can't go wrong with any dish here, although I am not telling you to travel from outside of Manhattan to eat there.
7. Rub bbq: Warning: this restaurant only serves hamburgers three hours a week, Mondays from 6-9 pm, so if interested please arrive as early as possible. This extremely delicious hamburger is smashed then cooked in a skillet at 600 degrees until it is beautifully charred, it is only five ounces and comes with no fries but the taste is exceptional. (By the way, each week there is a special burger of the week which is chosen to highlight the taste from a particular region or a style of preparation, my first time at Rub the flavor was “bacon egg and cheese”)
8. Union square cafe: I can already anticipate the negative comments about this one, and some of you will undoubtedly disagree with this pick. However, it is always rated as one of the top restaurants in the city, and their burger does not disappoint. As usual, I order mine medium well, and I find that especially the smoky crisp outer layer represents a fantastic taste. (Their fried calamari is quite excellent as well.)
9. Peter Luger's: My opinion is biased here, and I haven't tried this burger yet, but everyone puts it on their top ten lists. In addition, if the beef used for the burger is anything like their steak, then we have nothing to worry about.
10. McDonalds: The legendary quarter pounder combined with an order of crispy salted fries is... (Just kidding, but did I fool you?) (Actually their fries are kind of tasty, but I would avoid fast food at all costs after having personally tried 7 out of 8 of these hamburgers before).
A few popular places didn't make my list, and I am still anxious to try out other fine hamburger establishments (Little owl, Spotted Pig, and coming soon: a shake shack in my neighborhood!). Please leave your comments below so that I know what you think about my first list, I have a feeling that it will be very controversial.
Take care
Dan
Monday, June 14, 2010
totally teriffic tasting: my experience at the Gourmet Latino Festival
Hello everyone, last weekend I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend an event during the first Gourmet Latino festival here in New York City. “The Art of Authentic Cooking & Cocktail Pairing” was an amazing tasting of food and drinks from Ecuador. (I know nothing of the cuisine from this country, but in the end I was more than satisfied with the delectable selections) Iron chef Jose Garces, who is from Ecuador, cooked up dishes which are popular in his country. My favorite of these was macitas fritas, which consisted of tender pieces of pork shoulder which were fried and then braised in the same pot, creating a crunchy and chewy result with a mouth watering array of spices. This afternoon also included a tasting of four cocktails created by top “mixologists”, which seems to be another word for creative and intelligent bar tenders. (I mean no disrespect by saying this, I simply wanted to clarify this term for my readers, in my opinion the mixologists did an terrific job) This was right up my alley, and no it is not what you are thinking: I do not consume alcohol very often. However, sometimes I will think of a new combination for a cocktail, so I can understand the mind of a mixologist. The first cocktail was composed of tanqueray, sherry, Creole shrub (a liqueur containing rum, sugar cane syrup, and orange peel), and orange bitters. My first thought was that this strange combination of ingredients would not mix well; after all I wasn't even familiar with Creole shrub. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth this cocktail was, these various flavors actually formed a delicious drink. The second cocktail called summer time, which turned out to be one of my favorites, contained cognac, lemon and grapefruit juices, licor 43 (a citrus and vanilla flavored liqueur), orange bitters, and lemon thyme. (I know, I would have never thought to add thyme to a cocktail, I suppose this is why I am not a mixologist!) These very different elements combined to make a refreshing drink, manifesting both sweet and sour notes. I can just imagine sitting outside while drinking this cocktail on a warm day in the summer. I will honestly admit that I did not like the third drink, but it is no fault of the creator: I do not like two of its ingredients. However, for the record, this cocktail was a mixture of scotch, lime juice, honey syrup, beer, and chipotle pepper puree (it was poured into a glass with a salt and pepper rim). I applaud the mixologists for their creativity, but being the picky food critic I am, I did not enjoy it. The fourth and final cocktail, while I am sure is very caloric, was another one of my favorites. This was a dessert cocktail which was a frozen combination of grand marnier, Ecuadorian red bananas, and mocha. I was in heaven from the first sip, the sweetness of the mocha blended well with the consistency of the bananas, along with the potency of an outstanding type of grand marnier.
I enjoyed this tasting very much, it introduced me to food, drinks, and flavors which I did not know even existed. In addition, everyone sitting at my table was extremely nice to me and I am thankful for their assistance. (Even after the event they have helped me to remember all of the various ingredients which were used, so thanks to all of you) As an aspiring food critic and future social worker, I find it extremely interesting to learn more about another culture. I gained awareness which increased my competence, while at the same time adding to my knowledge of what people from around the world eat and drink. (Surprisingly it is more than hamburgers, pizza, and fast food) As you can probably tell, I had a great time and I look forward to attending similar events in the future!
Dan
I enjoyed this tasting very much, it introduced me to food, drinks, and flavors which I did not know even existed. In addition, everyone sitting at my table was extremely nice to me and I am thankful for their assistance. (Even after the event they have helped me to remember all of the various ingredients which were used, so thanks to all of you) As an aspiring food critic and future social worker, I find it extremely interesting to learn more about another culture. I gained awareness which increased my competence, while at the same time adding to my knowledge of what people from around the world eat and drink. (Surprisingly it is more than hamburgers, pizza, and fast food) As you can probably tell, I had a great time and I look forward to attending similar events in the future!
Dan
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I like to stay busy!
Hi everyone, yes, as the title implies, I seem to be in a constant state of being busy. This might sound strange at first, but after reflecting on this concept for a while I realized that I actually prefer to have a life which is full with a somewhat busy schedule. In fact, I believe that I get bored with too much free time; I seem to thrive from activity. Therefore, I thought it would be appropriate today if I shared with you a little bit of what I enjoy doing all day long: (if you were thinking “eating dark chocolate and being overly sarcastic” then I am sorry, those two things almost made the top five)
1. Earning a master’s degree in social work: I began my first class in the MSW program last Tuesday and I have really enjoyed my first two weeks. The topic of my class is extremely interesting; pardon the cliché but I actually do learn something new every day (actually I have gained much more knowledge and insight than that).
2. My aspiration to become a food critic: There is something which is extremely delightful about trying out different kinds of food, and every once in a while I come across an opportunity to do so. Last weekend I was presented with one such event, during the first ever Gourmet Latino festival I was invited to a tasting of food and cocktails from Ecuador. You might be asking yourself: “how much does Dan know about Ecuadorian food?” Well… before Sunday the answer was: nothing. Luckily for me, there was a dynamic chef and “mixologist” who were there to teach me. As my readers know, I am very picky, especially about food that is too spicy, but there were certain dishes (such as the masitas fritas, pork shoulder which was fried then braised) which I actually enjoyed very much. (If you would like to read more about this event, you are in luck: there will be a separate blog coming soon. If this type of food does not interest you, why not read my blog anyway?).
3. Working out: After eating all of that delicious food, and just overeating in general, I have been working out on a regular basis. I find it easier to get up really early in the morning and go to the gym before class, that way I don’t have the chance to procrastinate later on in the day. (give me a stationary bike and an iPod and I’m set)
4. Following the Yankees: June is a great month for baseball, and although I haven’t been to any games this year, I enjoy listening to a good game. Despite numerous injuries, the Yankees continue to stay competitive and hopefully will still be close to first place when the entire team becomes healthy. (I am generally optimistic, but I am also a realist: having injuries is one thing, but horrible pitching and poor offense are two things I cannot excuse)
5. Reading: Yes, I said it, I like to read! Audio books have come a long way, and with an hour long trip each way to school, I am truly fortunate to have such excellent entertainment with me along the way. I have even read a science fiction book or two, and I’m trying to be more flexible and branch out into different genres. (within reason of course)
I hope this list has given you some insight into my life and why I enjoy being busy. Thanks for reading, I’ll talk to you next time: I am the busy blogger!
Dan
1. Earning a master’s degree in social work: I began my first class in the MSW program last Tuesday and I have really enjoyed my first two weeks. The topic of my class is extremely interesting; pardon the cliché but I actually do learn something new every day (actually I have gained much more knowledge and insight than that).
2. My aspiration to become a food critic: There is something which is extremely delightful about trying out different kinds of food, and every once in a while I come across an opportunity to do so. Last weekend I was presented with one such event, during the first ever Gourmet Latino festival I was invited to a tasting of food and cocktails from Ecuador. You might be asking yourself: “how much does Dan know about Ecuadorian food?” Well… before Sunday the answer was: nothing. Luckily for me, there was a dynamic chef and “mixologist” who were there to teach me. As my readers know, I am very picky, especially about food that is too spicy, but there were certain dishes (such as the masitas fritas, pork shoulder which was fried then braised) which I actually enjoyed very much. (If you would like to read more about this event, you are in luck: there will be a separate blog coming soon. If this type of food does not interest you, why not read my blog anyway?).
3. Working out: After eating all of that delicious food, and just overeating in general, I have been working out on a regular basis. I find it easier to get up really early in the morning and go to the gym before class, that way I don’t have the chance to procrastinate later on in the day. (give me a stationary bike and an iPod and I’m set)
4. Following the Yankees: June is a great month for baseball, and although I haven’t been to any games this year, I enjoy listening to a good game. Despite numerous injuries, the Yankees continue to stay competitive and hopefully will still be close to first place when the entire team becomes healthy. (I am generally optimistic, but I am also a realist: having injuries is one thing, but horrible pitching and poor offense are two things I cannot excuse)
5. Reading: Yes, I said it, I like to read! Audio books have come a long way, and with an hour long trip each way to school, I am truly fortunate to have such excellent entertainment with me along the way. I have even read a science fiction book or two, and I’m trying to be more flexible and branch out into different genres. (within reason of course)
I hope this list has given you some insight into my life and why I enjoy being busy. Thanks for reading, I’ll talk to you next time: I am the busy blogger!
Dan
Sunday, June 6, 2010
I graduated!... Finally!
Hello world, I do not even have words to express my happiness today: I have finally received my bachelors degree in social work! Now I know some of you are saying: why is this a big deal? Thanks for asking: the magnitude of this achievement represents the end of a long journey for me. When I started college I was unaware that I would be so interested in the amazing field of social work. Therefore, I will admit that I dropped out of school to follow my dream; unfortunately I envisioned a life for myself which ended up being the wrong path. In other words, it did not take me the stereotypical four years to complete my undergraduate degree, and I am almost ashamed to state how many years I have been a college student. (I might have a face that makes me look young, but don’t be fooled!) I have taken classes at a few different colleges; I was on a never ending quest to figure out what I wanted to do with my future. Even though I had many interests, I think about those times now and realize that I had no focus. While I did well at whatever I attempted, I could not find my path. When I decided to go back to school, I chose the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), and this is where I discovered the field of social work. I believe that when I registered for an associate’s degree in human services at BMCC, I was deciding to move forward with my life. I finally understood that I felt the need to help others with disabilities, and I have been on the right track ever since. I truly hope that this blog serves as an explanation as to why, after graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a 3.9 GPA, I am so pleased.
Dan
Dan
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Better brunch blog: uptown lounge
Hello readers, what kind of food critic would I be if I didn’t blog about my latest restaurant adventure? (that’s rhetorical by the way, no answers please) All jokes aside, I have decided to share with you my excellent experience at brunch today. This is a fairly new restaurant, it was my first time there and I was quite impressed. (As the picky or “selective” eater that my faithful readers know I am, it sometimes takes a lot to impress me) Therefore, here is my food critic review:
Uptown Lounge
1578 3rd Avenue
New York NY
4 stars
Brunch can be the most important meal of the day for me, so I was preparing to lower my expectations today, just in case. (I was hoping that this place was not going to choke like A-rod does with the bases loaded, that’s not an insult, it actually happened as I was eating, true story!). At the uptown lounge, you can choose from a wide array of dishes, from omelets to sandwiches to even fish. Your entree is accompanied with your choice of two drinks, alcoholic or not (can you guess which one I chose? Just kidding). The staff was friendly, actually going over the top to accommodate me. I selected the delicious-sounding uptown omelet: filled with ham, mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese.
There was no disappointment to be found at this restaurant. The omelet was expertly prepared and the flavors seamlessly blended together to create quite a tasty dish. The zest of the ham, combined with the mushrooms and sweet onions, and mild but flavorful Swiss cheese, were more than enough to satisfy my brunch craving. The better than average bacon, salty but authentic home fries, (both of which I asked for as extra crispy and were served that way), and whole wheat toast on the side only added to my terrific time.
Before I finish my review and make the decision whether or not to recommend a restaurant, I like to end with a few points just so that you are fully informed. First, the brunch costs $16, which might sound pricy to some. However, it does include the two drinks, the staff is very good with helping out with substitutions or changes in your order, and this price is actually reasonable in my opinion compared to what some other restaurants charge. In addition, my review is only based on brunch, I cannot vouch for any other meals at this establishment. Therefore, now that we have that out of the way…..
I would like to wholeheartedly recommend the Uptown Lounge. I hope all of my readers have the chance to check out the brunch for themselves. Until my next food adventure, take care and stay positive!
Dan
Uptown Lounge
1578 3rd Avenue
New York NY
4 stars
Brunch can be the most important meal of the day for me, so I was preparing to lower my expectations today, just in case. (I was hoping that this place was not going to choke like A-rod does with the bases loaded, that’s not an insult, it actually happened as I was eating, true story!). At the uptown lounge, you can choose from a wide array of dishes, from omelets to sandwiches to even fish. Your entree is accompanied with your choice of two drinks, alcoholic or not (can you guess which one I chose? Just kidding). The staff was friendly, actually going over the top to accommodate me. I selected the delicious-sounding uptown omelet: filled with ham, mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese.
There was no disappointment to be found at this restaurant. The omelet was expertly prepared and the flavors seamlessly blended together to create quite a tasty dish. The zest of the ham, combined with the mushrooms and sweet onions, and mild but flavorful Swiss cheese, were more than enough to satisfy my brunch craving. The better than average bacon, salty but authentic home fries, (both of which I asked for as extra crispy and were served that way), and whole wheat toast on the side only added to my terrific time.
Before I finish my review and make the decision whether or not to recommend a restaurant, I like to end with a few points just so that you are fully informed. First, the brunch costs $16, which might sound pricy to some. However, it does include the two drinks, the staff is very good with helping out with substitutions or changes in your order, and this price is actually reasonable in my opinion compared to what some other restaurants charge. In addition, my review is only based on brunch, I cannot vouch for any other meals at this establishment. Therefore, now that we have that out of the way…..
I would like to wholeheartedly recommend the Uptown Lounge. I hope all of my readers have the chance to check out the brunch for themselves. Until my next food adventure, take care and stay positive!
Dan
Welcome to the updated restaurant awards!
Hello everyone, before I dive in to my food reviews, I thought I would take a quick look at some of the best restaurants around, in my opinion of course! (Sorry McDonald’s, you didn’t make the cut this year despite all of your mcnugget goodness and crunchy French fries). I will be referring once in a while to the Zagat’s food guide, in particular their 2010 ratings
I believe that it is time to review my gourmet adventures in a numerical way. The Zagat guide rates their restaurants in three important ways: food, décor, and service.
Now, we all know that only one of those numbers matter. I’m talking, of course, about food! (no offense to fans of service, and décor: I can take it or leave it, as long as the food is top-notch). However, I strive to be as official as possible, so the following list contains all three ratings:
(All of these restaurant ratings are out of a maximum of 30 points, and they rarely get beyond 27 or 28).
Restaurant name: food décor service
The winner for barbecue food (envelope please): dinosaur's (One of the top two barbecue restaurants in New York City, my apologies to Blue Smoke, you are number two): 22 15 17
The winner for Italian food (although this restaurant technically serves Roman food: sandro's (scrumptious cuisine featuring an incredible bucatini amatriciana): 25 15 20
Best hamburger (readers of my blind blog should not be surprised by this): primehouse (Go for the outstanding brunch, they use a combination of rib eye and ground beef in their burgers and don’t forget to try the steakhouse burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions): 24 23 23
Honorable mention: union square café (On one hand it’s a bit touristy, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, but has a very nice hamburger and fried (I know) calamari): 27 23 26
Winner of best paella: socarrat (I am proud to be one of the first bloggers to write about this outstanding Spanish restaurant, their paella is only ahead of Malaga’s by a little, long waits so get there early and enjoy!): 24 17 20
Winner for best muscles: flex mussels (A fabulous restaurant offering big mussels with 23 different sauces, by the way, if you don’t like mussels maybe this is not the right restaurant for you): 22 17 19
Winner for best pizza (I’m sure I will get in trouble for saying this):lucali's (This excellent restaurant is top two for pizza just ahead of Difara’s, great calzone!): 26 16 19
I feel extremely fortunate to have tried out the excellent cuisine from all of these establishments, in my quest to find the best in every category of food. I guess that readers of my blind blog can finally understand why I am always complaining about the scale and how much I weigh! (Don’t worry, it’s actually alright, I am on a health kick and plan to continuously work out until I work off all of the bad calories).
I want to thank all of my readers for this opportunity, thanks to my great family, outstanding friends, and anyone who is reading my blog.
Dan
I believe that it is time to review my gourmet adventures in a numerical way. The Zagat guide rates their restaurants in three important ways: food, décor, and service.
Now, we all know that only one of those numbers matter. I’m talking, of course, about food! (no offense to fans of service, and décor: I can take it or leave it, as long as the food is top-notch). However, I strive to be as official as possible, so the following list contains all three ratings:
(All of these restaurant ratings are out of a maximum of 30 points, and they rarely get beyond 27 or 28).
Restaurant name: food décor service
The winner for barbecue food (envelope please): dinosaur's (One of the top two barbecue restaurants in New York City, my apologies to Blue Smoke, you are number two): 22 15 17
The winner for Italian food (although this restaurant technically serves Roman food: sandro's (scrumptious cuisine featuring an incredible bucatini amatriciana): 25 15 20
Best hamburger (readers of my blind blog should not be surprised by this): primehouse (Go for the outstanding brunch, they use a combination of rib eye and ground beef in their burgers and don’t forget to try the steakhouse burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions): 24 23 23
Honorable mention: union square café (On one hand it’s a bit touristy, and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, but has a very nice hamburger and fried (I know) calamari): 27 23 26
Winner of best paella: socarrat (I am proud to be one of the first bloggers to write about this outstanding Spanish restaurant, their paella is only ahead of Malaga’s by a little, long waits so get there early and enjoy!): 24 17 20
Winner for best muscles: flex mussels (A fabulous restaurant offering big mussels with 23 different sauces, by the way, if you don’t like mussels maybe this is not the right restaurant for you): 22 17 19
Winner for best pizza (I’m sure I will get in trouble for saying this):lucali's (This excellent restaurant is top two for pizza just ahead of Difara’s, great calzone!): 26 16 19
I feel extremely fortunate to have tried out the excellent cuisine from all of these establishments, in my quest to find the best in every category of food. I guess that readers of my blind blog can finally understand why I am always complaining about the scale and how much I weigh! (Don’t worry, it’s actually alright, I am on a health kick and plan to continuously work out until I work off all of the bad calories).
I want to thank all of my readers for this opportunity, thanks to my great family, outstanding friends, and anyone who is reading my blog.
Dan
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