Category: Restaurant News

April 25, 2013

8 Best NYC Restaurants for Outdoor Dining

Meatpacking District After the questionable weather these past few weeks, it’s safe to say that Spring is finally here. When the warmer seasons come around, it’s safe to say most people who eat out in New York City opt for outdoor seating. Especially during lunch and weekend brunch hours, popular restaurants in NYC are packed to the brim and waits for even a table for two can exceed over an hour. Of course there are the staple restaurants known for their sidewalk seating such as Pastis, Cafeteria and Sant Ambroeus‘ West Village outpost, but there are also other great lesser known options out there as well. Check out what we think some of the best New York City restaurants for outdoor dining are! [Photo via]

Nello Balan #1. Nello - While we’re certainly not putting Nello on our list of best Italian restaurants in the city anytime soon, the outdoor dining area is certainly one of the best in New York. Nello is the only al fresco dining option on the Upper East Side area known as the Gold Coast of (57th Street to 72nd Street on Madison Avenue). The refined Italian menu is pretty consistent and so are the high prices. While a plate of pasta costs upwards of $40 and ordering an entree less than $50 just isn’t going to happen, you do get to have lunch or dinner at the best outdoor real estate on the Upper East Side. It may not be a regular destination for most, but we do recommend dining at Nello at least once during the warmer weather. [Photo via]

696 Madison Ave. New York, NY
(212) 980-9099

#2. The Good Fork - This Red Hook restaurant is one of our favorite restaurants in New York. After the restaurant shuttered temporarly after Hurricane Sandy, The Good Fork reopened in its same location earlier this year. The menu consists of both American and Asian influenced dishes and the food is always consistently excellent (our favorite dishes are easily the Homemade Pork & Chive Dumplings and the Pekin Duck Breast). While the nautical theme of the restaurant’s interior may be a bit too quirky for some, the quaint and charming outdoor garden is a perfect place to have a relaxed dinner with friends during the summer months. [Photo via]

391 Van Brunt St, New York, NY
(718) 643-6636

#3. The Standard Grill - The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District is easily one of the most frequented hotels in New York City. Between the stunning views, popular nightclubs and it’s proximity to the High Line, The Standard has really become one of the most popular attractions in the city. In addition the ground level restaurant, aptly named The Standard Grill, is another go-to spot for well prepared American food in an upscale yet casual setting. In the warmer weather, the outdoor area is perfect for grabbing brunch or just splitting one of the restaurant’s famous punch bowls. On Sundays, The Standard Grill also hosts the popular #NotYourStandardBingo party. You can call the restaurant to make reservations for bingo which should be made at least a week in advance. [Photo via]

848 Washington St, New York, NY
(212) 645-4100

#4. Mr. Chow Tribeca – This upscale Chinese restaurant from Michael Chow seems to have a love/hate relationship with New Yorkers. While some loathe the restaurant for it’s high prices and “pretentious” attitude, others praise the restaurant for its clean, minimalist decor and excellent cooking. Whichever side you are on, the outdoor area of Michael Chow’s Tribeca outpost is undisputed one of the best places to dine al fresco in New York City. Elevated just enough to provide excellent views of Tribeca, Mr. Chow manages to serve well prepared food in an elegant setting making it perfect for special occasions or a dinner out with friends. Mr. Chow Tribeca also offers a $42 pre/post theater menu, from 6 PM – 7 PM and after 10 PM, featuring the items from the formerly offered Recession Busters menu. [Photo via]

121 Hudson St, New York, NY
(212) 965-9500

Hamburger

#5. JG Melon – One of the most beloved burger spots in the city is also home to an excellent outdoor dining section. JG Melon is the quintessential 1950s home-style restaurant in New York City. The bar area is always bustling with Upper East Side locals while the back area is more relaxed and perfect for family dining. JG Melon does not accept reservations so the wait times for a table can easily surpass the one hour mark. However, the spacious outdoor section helps to alleviate some of the traffic inside of the restaurant. We recommend getting the bacon cheeseburger with a side of their famous fried potatoes. [Photo via]

1291 3rd Ave. New York, NY
(212) 744-0585

#6. Cafe Boulud – This Upper East Side restaurant is easily the best on our list when it comes to the food itself. Daniel Boulud’s French restaurant is known for its refined cooking and elegant decor. In the warmer weather the restaurant offers outdoor seating which over looks Madison Avenue as well 5th Avenue. For lunch, we suggest ordering off one of the prix-fixe menus and while you’re there, take advantage of the outstanding cocktail program at the lounge next door, Bar Plieades. Cafe Boulud is one of our favorite restaurants on the Upper East Side in terms of overall excellent food, decor and service. [Photo via]

20 E 76th St, New York, NY
(212) 772-2600

#7. Miss Lily’s - Serge Becker’s Jamacian spot Miss Lily’s not only has one of the chicest clienteles in the city, but the restaurant is also one of the best places to have brunch. Both the food and the decor take modern twists on traditional and authentic Jamaican cooking and style. The restaurant’s “Jamacian Breakfast” provides a little bit of everything including Ackee and Saltfish, Callaloo and Festivals. In the warmer months the outdoor patio is a great place to have a meal with friends. To add to the overall atmosphere of Miss Lily’s sometimes you can catch patrons playing dominoes outside. Also, make sure you grab a freshly pressed juice at Melvin’s Juice Bar after your meal. [Photo via]

132 W Houston St, New York, NY
(646) 588-5375

#8. Lavo - Easily one of the most popular restaurants in New York City, Lavo is a family style Italian restaurant located in Midtown. However, the events inside this boisterous eatery are far from family oriented. Lavo is home to the exclusive Lavo Brunch Saturday party and the Rivera Sunday party. But when Lavo isn’t in total party mode, it can be a place to have a relaxing lunch outdoors. The portions are big and the food is generally pretty consistent and solid overall. The outdoor seating provides excellent views of Madison Avenue without being in the middle of all the sidewalk traffic. Make sure to order one of the pizzas while you’re there. [Photo via]

39 E 58th St New York, NY
(212) 750-5588

April 17, 2013

ABC Cocina May Open Early May

Jean Georges Jean-Georges Vongerichten‘s latest culinary venture, ABC Cocina, may have an actual opening date. At first, the restaurant was slated to open mid-February but then the latest report by Zagat mentioned that the new Gramercy restaurant will be opening on April 15th. However the latest news update we read by DNAInfo states that ABC Cocina does not have an actual opening date set in stone (but they did manage to get a sneak peak of the construction going on inside). Despite this, we did notice on the restaurant’s OpenTable page that they are accepting reservations as early as May 1st with some time slots are already fully reserved. ABC Cocina is in the former PiPa location and will focus on small plates and tapas dishes. [Photo via]

OpenTable

April 5, 2013

Where To Eat For Hamptons Restaurant Week 2013

East Hampton While the Hamptons is known as New York’s summer destination, it’s also a great place to go if you’re looking to escape the city for the weekend. While you can forget about anything nightlife related till Memorial Day, there are a number of restaurants and boutiques that remain open throughout the year. Taking a drive out east during the off season is great for those who want to have a more relaxed weekend and experience what the Hamptons has to offer without all the crowds and traffic on the Montauk Highway. The month of April is an especially good time to head out there as, in addition to the nicer weather, certain restaurants will be participating in Hamptons Restaurant Week. From the 7th till the 14th, certain restaurants will be offering three course menus for either $19.95 or $27.95. Since restaurants in the Hamptons are usually a bit more expensive than comparable places in the city, this is a great opportunity to take a trip out east and grab dinner at that restaurant you have been wanting to try. Here are five restaurant’s we suggest you try that are participating in Hamptons Restaurant Week 2013! [Photo via]

Southold New York #1. The North Fork Table & Inn - We really can’t recommend this Southold restaurant enough. Head Chef Gerry Hayden, the former executive chef of Aureole, has created an American menu that focuses on local and high quality ingredients. The restaurant itself is located inside of the charming North Fork Inn which is also a great place if you’re looking to spend the weekend. While the dinner tasting menus normally are $125 a head, but it’s worth the cost, The North Fork Table & Inn is offering a $27.95 three course dinner menu. Let’s put it this way, it’s almost as good as if Daniel were to participate in restaurant week. [Photo via]

57225 Main Road Southold, NY
(631) 765-0177
View menu

#2. RedBar Brasserie - RedBar Brasserie is easily one of the most popular restaurants in The Hamptons. This Southampton American restaurant serves refined classics with a European twist. What we enjoy most about the restaurant’s restaurant week menu is that while there are specific dishes set aside for the prix-fixe menu, you can substitute any item off the regular menu for an additional supplement. This is a great way to try a more expensive dish, such as the fantastic NY Strip Steak with Parmesan Truffle Fries, for a lower cost than if you visited the restaurant outside of the restaurant week period. Unlike the more formal RedBar, the brasserie does not accept reservations. [Photo via]

210 Hampton Rd Southampton, NY
(631) 283-0704
View menu

#3. La Plage – This Wading River restaurant is one of the more underrated restaurants out east. This unpretentious and charming restaurant is perfect for families or those looking to venture outside of the normal and more popular Hamptons destinations. The American menu consists of dishes suitable year round dining such as the excellent Duck Leg Confit and the Warm Spanish Octopus appetizer. We highly suggest checking out La Plage especially during the restaurant week period! [Photo via]

131 Creek Rd Wading River, NY
(631) 744-9200
View menu

#4. Almond – This Bridgehampton restaurant is dubbed by some as the “least Hamptons” restaurant in the Hamptons. Almond looks like a chic yet down to earth restaurant that could be located anywhere. The menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients and consists of refined bistro fare. Almond combines a fun and unpretentious atmosphere with fresh, and skillfully prepared food which isn’t an easy combination to find in the Hamptons. [Photo via]

12 E 22nd St New York, NY
(212) 228-7557
View menu

#5. Stone Creek Inn – This refined French restaurant is another excellent, if not sometimes overlooked, option. Renowned chef Christian Mir has created a modern French menu for his elegant East Quogue restaurant. Stone Creek Inn is perfect for both a casual night out and a more formal dinner and the menu itself is just as versatile. While a dinner here doesn’t come cheap, taking advantage of the special $27.95 prix-fixe menu is a great opportunity to sample the food at this acclaimed Hamptons restaurant. [Photo via]

405 Montauk Hwy East Quogue, NY 11942
(631) 653-6770
View menu

Check out the full list of participating restaurants here!

January 18, 2013

Recipe: Momofuku’s Famous Pork Buns

Love David Chang’s Momofuku restaurants and his world famous pork buns? Yeah we thought so. These savory buns pack a lot of flavor into such a small dish. While it may seem like a pretty intricate dish to create, when you break down all the steps it’s actually quite simple even for beginner cooks. If you want to have a go at trying to make your own pork buns at home, check out the recipe below! [Photo via]

For The Pork:

1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
4 1/2 cups water, divided
2 1/2 lb skinless boneless pork belly, cut into quarters
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

For The Buns:

1 cup warm water (105-115°F), divided
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 tablespoons sugar plus a pinch
2 tablespoons nonfat dried milk
3 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Canola oil for greasing and brushing

Equipments:

a deep 12-inch skillet with domed lid or a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok with lid
Garnish:

hoisin sauce; thinly sliced cucumber; chopped scallions

Brine Pork:

Stir together kosher salt, sugar, and 4 cups water until sugar and salt have dissolved. Put pork belly in a large sealable bag, then pour in brine. Carefully press out air and seal bag. Lay in a shallow dish and let brine, chilled, at least 12 hours.

Make Dough For The Buns While The Pork Is Brining:

Stir together 1/4 cup warm water with yeast and pinch of sugar. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. (If mixture doesn’t foam, start over with new yeast.) Whisk in dried milk and remaining 3/4 cup warm water.
Stir together flour and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl, then stir in yeast mixture (do not add baking powder yet) with a fork until a dough forms. Knead dough with your hands in bowl until all of flour is incorporated. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, dusting surface and hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is elastic and smooth but still soft, about 5 minutes. Form dough into a ball.
Put dough in an oiled large bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, about 2 hours.

Roast The Pork While The Dough Rises:

Preheat oven to 300°F with rack in middle.
Discard brine and put pork, fat side up, in an 8- to 9-inch square baking pan. Pour in broth and remaining 1/2 cup water. Cover tightly with foil and roast until pork is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 450°F, then roast until fat is golden, about 20 minutes more. Cool 30 minutes, then chill, uncovered, until cold, about 1 hour.
Cut chilled pork across the grain into 1/4-inch slices. Chill slices in pan juices, covered, while making buns.

Make The Buns:

Punch down dough, then transfer to a lightly floured surface and flatten slightly into a disk. Sprinkle baking powder over center of dough, then gather edges of dough and pinch to seal in baking powder. Knead dough with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking until baking powder is incorporated, about 5 minutes. Return dough to bowl and cover with plastic wrap, then let dough stand 30 minutes.
Cut 16 (3- by 2-inch) pieces of wax paper.
Form dough into a 16-inch-long log. Cut into 16 equal pieces, then lightly dust with flour and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Roll out 1 piece of dough into a 6- by 3-inch oval, lightly dusting surface, your hands, and rolling pin. Pat oval between your palms to remove excess flour, then brush half of oval lightly with oil and fold in half crosswise (do not pinch). Place bun on a piece of wax paper on a large baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Make more buns with remaining dough, then let stand, loosely covered, until slightly risen, about 30 minutes.
Set a large steamer rack inside skillet (or wok) and add enough water to reach within 1/2 inch of bottom of rack, then bring to a boil. Carefully place 5 to 7 buns (still on wax paper) in steamer rack (do not let buns touch). Cover tightly and steam over high heat until buns are puffed and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Transfer buns to a plate with tongs, then discard wax paper and wrap buns in kitchen towels (not terry cloth) to keep warm. Steam remaining buns in 2 batches, adding boiling-hot water to skillet as needed.
Return buns (still wrapped in towels) to steamer rack in skillet and keep warm (off heat), covered.

To Serve The Buns:

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Heat sliced pork (in liquid in baking dish), covered, until hot, 15 to 20 minutes.
Brush bottom half of each bun with hoisin sauce, then sandwich with 2 or 3 pork slices and some cucumber and scallions.

Cook’s Notes:

Pork belly can be brined up to 24 hours.
Pork can be roasted and sliced 2 days ahead and chilled (in liquid), covered.
Buns can be steamed and cooled completely, then chilled, wrapped tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap, up to 1 day or frozen up to 1 week. (Thaw wrapped frozen buns in refrigerator.) Reheat buns, wrapped in a dampened kitchen towel and then tightly in foil, in a 350°F oven until soft and heated through, about 15 minutes.

[Recipe via Gourmet.com]

January 17, 2013

Top New York City Restaurants For Valentines Day

While it may seem that 2013 has just begun, Valentines Day is less than a month away. This may seem like more than enough time to plan the perfect romantic night out but unless you’re spending the night at home, we suggest making reservations at least three weeks in advance. When picking a romantic restaurant, especially on Valentines Day, we suggest finding something with a more relaxed, quite and intimate atmosphere that serves consistently good food. Also, we don’t suggest spending your night at popular restaurants that do not accept reservations, such as Rosemary’s or Frankie’s 475. While they may be excellent date night spots, waiting up to two hours for a table for two during prime time hours doesn’t sound like the perfect Valentine’s Day to us. With that, we bring you the top New York City restaurants for Valentines Day! Note that we will be leaving out some already well known options such as One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Waverly Inn and La Grenouille so we can include some restaurants that are more off the map. [Photo via]

#1. Daniel - This Upper East Side restaurant brought to us by Daniel Boulud is one of the few restaurants in New York City that is absolutely perfect. From the stunning decor to the well thought out cocktail program to the perfectly designed and executed tasting menus, Daniel is nothing short of perfection. While this level of excellence will be costly, tasting menus start at $116, if you’re looking for a splurge worthy evening that will be sure to impress anyone, Daniel is the place to do it.

60 E 58th St. New York, NY
(212) 288-0033

[Photo via]

#2. Bohemian - A date night at Bohemian will impress your special someone for two reasons. One, it’s kind of impossible to hate the simple yet charming decor of this tiny 25 seat restaurant and two, your date will be impressed that you could find the number none the less score a reservation. Bohemian does not publish a phone number and the only way to get it is through a friend or colleague that has been to the restaurant before. This way, it ensures that the restaurant operates similarly to a private club. While getting into Bohemian may seem pretentious, all the attitude is lost once you walk past the Butcher Shop and through the glass door.

57 Great Jones St. New York, NY

[Photo via]

#3. River Deli – This Brooklyn Heights Italian restaurant is one of the better unknown date spots in NYC. The rustic decor is perfect for a first date or Valentines Day. The menu consists of traditional, well prepared Italian dishes such as Pappardelle Ai Funghi and an excellent Burrata. What makes River Deli even better is all the pasta dishes are generously portioned and none are above $15 while the meat and fish dishes never rise above the $25 mark. This makes River Deli the best date night spot in NYC for those on a budget. Also, the corner of Joralomon St. and Clinton St. absolutely charming and adorable.

32 Joralomon St. Brooklyn, NY
(718) 254-9200

[Photo via]

#4. Tiny’s – This intimate Tribeca restaurant is perfect for those looking for a quiet dinner and a more lively bar scene afterwards. The main level of Tiny’s, brought to us by Matt Abramcyk of the late Beatrice Inn, is a cozy, dimly lit space and even comes complete with a working fireplace. The upstairs does have similar design features that would make it perfect for a date, but the bar does create a much louder and hectic atmosphere than the subtle downstairs. The simple American fare is also great if your date is a less than adventurous (i.e. picky) eater.

135 West Broadway New York, NY
(212) 374-1135

[Photo via]

#5. Sushi Seki – If you and your date love sushi, there’s no better place than Sushi Seki. This Upper East Side restaurant has a laid back decor, but also has the best Omakase menu we’ve tasted in New York City. This is the perfect spot for sushi lovers who are more about the quality of their food rather than being blown away by stunning decor. We suggest grabbing a seat at the bar and ordering the chef’s Omakase. While this piece by piece menu won’t come cheap, you and your date will be having some of the most unique and top quality sushi that New York has to offer.

1143 1st Avenue New York, NY
(212) 371-0238

[Photo via]

#6. Minetta Tavern – This West Village steakhouse is for all those couples looking for a good steak on Valentines Day. It may seem a bit out there but we see nothing wrong with sharing a massive porterhouse for two on a date (though your doctor might when they check your cholesterol). Keith McNally brings us the revamped Minetta Tavern which is home to the famous $30 Black Label burger and the $90 Cote de Boeuf. That Black Label burger is worth every penny as are the top quality steaks. The atmosphere is also more reserved and a bit more charming than the other well known chophouse Peter Luger making Minetta Tavern the best steakhouse for Valentines Day.

113 MacDougal Street New York, NY
(212) 475-3850

[Photo via]

#7. Sfoglia – This Nantucket import serves easily the best pasta we have had in New York City. Yep you heard us, the best pasta in New York City. All the pasta is homemade in the kitchen and Sfoglia is probably the only restaurant where we would order a pasta dish for both our appetizer and entree. The restaurant itself is also quaint and suitable for any date night. The mismatched furniture help give Sfoglia a more low-key vibe to off set the complex Italian cooking. Since the restaurant is small we recommend making reservations sooner rather than later.

1402 Lexington Avenue New York, NY
(212) 831-1402

[Photo via]

#8. The Good Fork – After Hurricane Sandy, we weren’t sure if our favorite Red Hook restaurant would reopen again. Sure enough after the new year The Good Fork opened it’s doors again for service. The quirky Asian/American goes perfectly with the, again, quirky nautical theme of the restaurant. There is also an outdoor garden in the back just in case you enjoy the excellent food so much that you wish to return for, perhaps another date, in the warmer months. If you do happen to head over to The Good Fork, make sure to get the handmade pork dumplings.

391 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, New York
(718) 643-6636

[Photo via]

Tamarind Tribeca

#9. Tamarind – Since Indian food is usually a popular option with date nights, we had to include Tamarind. This over the top Indian restaurant is an excellent choice when looking for a date night in Tribeca. The menu consists of more refined versions of traditional Indian dishes and the decor matches the upscale cooking. This opulent restaurant may be expensive, but it’s definitely one of the best options in NYC for Valentines Day.

99 Hudson Street New York, NY
(718) 643-6636

[Photo via]

#10. Lincoln – We’ll be honest by saying this: finding a date night restaurant on the Upper West Side was no easy task. The minute we thought of the Italian restaurant, Lincoln, we had to include it in our round-up. The restaurant is enclosed with floor to ceiling glass windows that allows Lincoln Center to act as the back drop of your dinner. And if you thought Lincoln couldn’t get any better, the cooking is just as stellar as the decor.

145 West 65th Street New York, NY
(212) 359-6500

[Photo via]

January 11, 2013

Recipe: Mr. Chow’s Famous Beijing Chicken

Want to learn how to make one of New York City’s most iconic modern Chinese dishes? After a little bit of sifting we have come across the recipe used to make the famous Beijing Chicken at Mr. Chow. Who knows, if you learn how to make it as well as the chefs themselves, you can save yourself a $100 dinner! But what will be harder to replicate is the stunning decor and years of history created at the restaurant. Check out the recipe below and see if you can cook up this popular dish yourself at home! [Photo via]

Mr. Chow’s Beijing Chicken

•Fresh chicken breast (cut into cubes)
•Bean sauce
•2 tsp sugar
•8 pieces glazed roasted walnuts (whole)
•2 tbsp hot chicken stock
•1 egg
•2 tbsp vegetable oil
•2 tbsp water
•½ tsp salt
•1 tsp sesame seed oil
•4 cups vegetable oil

To Marinate

1.Mix cubed chicken with egg whites, two teaspoons of vegetable oil, salt and water to marinate the chicken.

To Cook

1.Deep fry the marinated chicken 70% (make sure chicken doesn’t stick together). Drain the oil from chicken and put it aside.
2.Heat the wok with one teaspoon of vegetable oil until medium hot and add bean sauce, sugar, chicken stock and sesame seed oil. Sauté until the sauce thickens.
3.Add Chicken and sauté quickly under a high heat. Add Sesame seed oil and toss in walnuts to finish.

Mr. Chow Tribeca

[Recipe via & Photo via]

January 9, 2013

City Harvest Menu At Le Bernardin

One of New York’s lesser known fine dining deals is the City Harvest menu at Le Bernardin. This three course lunch menu is exclusively offered in the lounge. This $45 menu gets you an appetizer, an entree, dessert and a $5 donation to City Harvest. Price-wise, it seems like a great deal. If you order off the a la carte lounge menu, you will get the chance to order some of Eric Ripert’s more well known dishes, such as the “Le Bernardin” Salmon Rillette with Toast, but keep in mind these are all appetizer portions. In order to make a complete meal, you would to order about three to four items and at about $20 each that sky rockets your bill to over $60 without wine, tax or tip. You might as well order the $72 lunch prix-fixe in the dining room. It comes with more options and better real estate in terms of seating. [Photo via]

Of course when we first heard about this $45 City Harvest menu we were a bit skeptical. Our two major worries were if would we be leaving Le Bernardin Hungry and if this special menu would have the same quality of food that is served on the regular menus? Because let’s be honest, while a $45 three course meal at Le Bernardin may look like a steal, if the food is mediocre and on top of that you leave the restaurant hungry then the meal was really a waste of money. For example, while the special $25 two course menu at WD-50 was a great way for us to try the food since we have been wanting to check it out. But, when we finished our dinner we were not overly impressed with the food and we were still hungry afterwards (naturally, we headed over to Minca to finish our dinner properly).

The City Harvest menu changes weekly and is updated regularly on Le Bernardin’s website. When we visited the restaurant yesterday we received this menu:

Initially, we didn’t receive this menu first. We were given the lounge menu and thought that this menu would be hidden in the back somewhere. However, the City Harvest menu is on a completely separate sheet of paper that you have to ask for. This isn’t the first restaurant to hide special prix-fixe menus (Mr. Chow’s recession buster menu is on a tiny laminated index card) but just as a warning you should ask your server for it once you sit down. [Menu via]

Out of the options we were given, we had the Octopus Carpaccio and the Striped Bass. Since we are allergic to nuts, our server swapped the Hazelnut-Marshmallow Ganache for the Deconstructed Black Forrest Cake. After our initial experience at Le Bernardin, our main goal this time was to not leave hungry. The food prepared at the restaurant is mostly very simple, very light but very small. With that in mind we loaded up on the bread basket (their pretzel bread is a must). But when our appetizers came out, we realized all that bread may have not been necessary. The Octopus Carpaccio was easily one of the best octopus dishes we ever had. The tender octopus went perfectly with the lemon confit and to top it all off the portion was actually the size of a normal appetizer. We wish they would include this on their regular menus. The Stripped Bass on the City Harvest menu is similar to that served on the dinner prix-fixe menu. However this dish comes with a Basil-Mussel Broth mixed with Cannelloni beans rather than the normal Blue Crab Consomme. This second dish was a bit too simple for our liking but the portion of bass was generous and the fish was moist and cooked perfectly. The Deconstructed Black Forrest Cake for dessert was also very good. We enjoyed that the components of the dessert were separated so we had the option of eating each part individually or together (but we will admit this dessert is really made to be eaten with all the parts together). [Photo via]

The City Harvest menu at Le Bernardin is a genuinely good offer. You don’t need to load up on the bread basket before hand and you actually get top quality food. While the fish used in these dishes will be cheaper (think Tuna and Sea Bass rather than Dover Sole) the kitchen doesn’t serve you overly simplistic food to cut down on costs. We recommend the always changing City Harvest menu at Le Bernardin especially to those wanting to try out the restaurant before committing to one of the pricey prix-fixe menus. [Photo via]

Verdict: Oasis

January 4, 2013

Daniel Offers Pre-Theater Menu

Daniel Boulud’s Upper East Side staple Daniel, will now begin serving a new Pre-Theater menu. This three course prix-fixe menu, that also comes with wine pairings, will cost $133 and be served Monday – Thursday from 5:30 PM till 6:00 PM. We’re not sure as to why Daniel has began a pre-theater menu as the restaurant is quite far from the theater district or any theater in general for that matter unless Mr. Boulud was referring to a movie theater in which case your evening would not call for a $133 dinner anyhow. None the less, the menu does not seem too simplified from Daniel’s regular menu and you would save about $43 when ordering the Pre-Theater menu as opposed to the standard three course prix-fixe with the additional wine pairing. But if you’re dining at Daniel, we’re pretty sure that $43 doesn’t mean too much to you anyway.

Pre-Theater

[Menu via]

January 3, 2013

Le Bilboquet Relocates

It looks like the Upper East Side French staple Le Bilboquet has finally closed and is planning to remove to their new location. After the restaurant’s lease ran out at the end of 2012, owner Philippe Delgrange was forced to find a new location for his French bistro. The word around town is it that 20 E 60th Street will be the new address for Le Bilboquet. If that address sounds familiar perhaps it is because Il Mulino’s latest restaurant has just recently opened on the same street and the pricey Chinese restaurant Philippe is also located on that same block as well. [Photo via]

The reason why Le Bilboquet worked so well, in addition to their solid cooking and staff, was because of their location. The charming decor of the original location and the fact that it was the only restaurant on that street that catered to a more trendy and European clientele allowed it to find its niche on the Upper East Side. The original Le Bilboquet was virtually like a less touristy version of Pastis. With Philippe and Il Mulino now on the same block and attracting a similar clientele to that of Le Bilboquet, it will be interesting to see how this move will affect the restaurant. Will it still manage to be one of the better French hotspots just off of Madison or will it fade away over time like other restaurants in the area (Le Caprice just to name one)? Also, does this mean that 60th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue will become the new street for trendy, expensive restaurants?

Whatever the outcome, chances are you will find us at the new Le Bilboquet, once it opens on 60th street early 2013, and we hope the Cajun Chicken will be just as good as it was at the old 63rd street spot. Outside

Old Address: 25 E 63rd St

New Address: 20 E 60th St.

[Photo via]

October 16, 2012

Best Restaurants In New York For White Truffle Season

With fall approaching some may be dreading the cooler weather but for those who love food in New York, fall and winter are usually synonymous with White Truffle Season. These expensive mushrooms are usually found by trained hogs or dogs in certain European countries such as France and Italy and due to the tedious process of harvesting these mushrooms, and also because they are such a rare ingredient, they are quite an expensive item to use when cooking. Despite its high cost, many diners are willing to shell out top dollar for this delectable mushroom simply because these truffles are just that good. When buying these truffles for personal use, the prices can be quite expensive but when ordering a truffle dish at a restaurant some places can charge astronomical prices and provide a small amount of truffles in the dish. However, we have found some restaurants in New York that not only serve up some great truffle dishes but also give you a generous amount of truffles for the money you’re spending. With that we bring you the best restaurants in New York for white truffle season! [Photo via]

#1. Sandro’s - This down to Earth Upper East Side Italian restaurant serves some of the most authentic Italian food we have found in New York City. Chef Sandro Fioriti is always in the dining room greeting and mingling with his guests in addition to serving generous portions of Roman influences fare. However, when white truffle season rolls around Sandro’s prepares a White Truffle pasta that is simply to die for. While the type of pasta used in the dish does vary, the amount of truffles is always enormous making sure that diners get the most bang for their buck. At around $100, the dish may seem expensive but considering the amount of white truffles provided, this pasta is worth every penny. Also, Sandro himself sometimes brings out the truffle itself and shaves some extra on to your plate at no additional cost if he finds you are enjoying your dish! [Photo via]

#2. The Lamb’s Club – If you read our review on The Lamb’s Club, you may notice that we were a bit underwhelmed with the restaurant overall. However, we did enjoy the special White Truffle Risotto. While the dish was only a special of the night we have to recommend it simply because the chef was generous with the white truffle shavings over the risotto. We would have liked to see a bit more rice in the dish to make the plate seem more full but we can’t deny that this was certainly one of the better and, at only at $55, cheaper, white truffle dishes that we had in New York City. [Photo via]

#3. RedBar - RedBar may make us go all the way out to Southampton but we have to feature it on our list. The Linguini with White Truffles is simply a steal considering you get a generous portion of pasta and white truffles for only $35. The dish is finished with truffle oil and topped with white truffle shavings making this a fantastic dish for anyone who loves truffles, or Italian food in general for that matter. While, again, this was a special of the night perhaps the kitchen would be able to make this dish off the menu if they have white truffles in stock. Considering that this is one of the few White Truffle dishes priced under $50 in New York we just have to recommend it! [Photo via]

#4. Babbo – Arguably Mario Batali‘s best known restaurant also happens to serve an excellent pasta dish during White Truffle Season. The Pappardelle with White Truffles and Parmigano is a great option especially considering you’re also getting to sample some of the best Italian food in the city. While the dish may set you back $120, it’s certainly a much better option than the less than stellar than the Fonduta Anellini with White Truffles & Parmigiano dish we had at Batali’s other upscale Italian restaurant: Del Posto. [Photo via]

#5. Dell’Anima - Once we heard that Dell’Anima (meaning “of the soul”) has an offer in which diners can order three grams of White Truffles shaved on anything for $55 we were in there like swimwear. The restaurant is already known around the city for its excellent Italian fare but with this new offer, that’s another great reason to come and sample the cuisine served by chef Gabe Thompson! [Photo via]

For The Buns:

Equipments:

Garnish:

Brine Pork:

Make Dough For The Buns While The Pork Is Brining:

Roast The Pork While The Dough Rises:

Make The Buns:

To Serve The Buns:

Follow Oasis or Mirage