Jules Bistro |
Excellent |
Charming French bistro with live Jazz. I've eaten here twice, and both times the service has been helpful and friendly and the food is excellent.
This is French bistro like you might find in Paris, with Charcuterie plates, and where the Maitre'd has to pull out the table so you can get in to sit down. So don't expect fancy French Haute Cuisine. Instead, you get wonderful fish, scallops, and steak.
Appetizers and salads $6-9, entrees $14-23, deserts $3-5. (2005-09-11)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Western European |
Chickpea |
Excellent |
Newer, trendier, but also more expensive than the other middle-eastern felafel restaurants in the area. Everything is really good here, from the standards (felafel) to the more creative creations (shawfel - a combination of shawarma and felafel, and the eggplant sandwich). They assemble your order in front of you, so you can choose from a lot of additional toppings - this works great for salads, but it's also a bit too easy to create something that's really expensive. Special recommendation: The Turkey Shawarma is excellent.Basic recommendation: If you want someplace that's a bit nicer with a better selection, go to Chickpea.
Sandwiches $4-6, salads $5-10. Homemade lemonade $1.25. Note, their web site makes the restaurant look more formal than it really is. You can eat-in, but it's not really a formal sit-down type of restaurant. (2005-07-24)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Middle Eastern / Greek |
Klong |
Very Good |
Very very good Thai restaurant, sleek and arty with a gorgeous 20-something waitstaff.And the food is wonderful. I've had a duck with vegetables (it was a special), the beef with red curry, and the chicken satay. Everything was wonderful - spicy, tasty, perfectly cooked, crunchy vegetables when the should be crunchy, and moist, fluffy rice. Recommend: the Thai iced tea with lime - maybe the best non-acoholic drink I've had in a restaurant.
$8-10 noodles, $8-10 curry, $10-16 house specials, $5-6 deserts, $3-5 appetizers. (2005-11-20)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Asian |
Col Legno |
Better than Very Good |
Have you ever seen the movie, "The Big Night"? This is the restaurant that I imagined they would open. They serve no-nonsense Italian grilled food. I've had the quail with polenta and the pizza - both excellent. The pizza was an individual with thin crust, Italian style.
When we were in Italy, we hired a local chef to cook our meals (we rented a villa with 10 friends and family). One evening, she started a wood fire in the wood oven in the villa and cooked an amazing meal of grilled meats and vegetables. If you want that kind of experience in New York City, this is the place for it.
And what's the deal with the pictures of women in the upper windows?
$5-8 Antipasti, $9-11 Pizza (individual sized), $13-17 main courses, $6 deserts. (2005-12-01)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Western European / Italian |
Serafina |
Very Good |
A trendy, upscale Italian restaurant, including some traditional dishes (Penne Arrabbiata, Tortellini in a cream sauce, Rigatoni in a meat sauce) and lots of updated versions (such as raw tuna sashimi with a dipping sauce, spaghetti with a 1/2 Maine lobster, pizza with potatoes, creme fraiche and caviar). I especially like their large and varied selection of salads.
When I ate there, I had the Insalata Fresca, the Penne Alla Carbonara, and the Souffle Di Cioccolato (recommended). All were excellent.
And the building is absolutely beautiful. It's right next to The Public theater, with a spectacular interior that includes vaulted brick ceilings.
Appetizers $5-15, pasta $11-22, entres $15-26, pizza $10-22. (2005-07-12)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Western European / Italian |
Indochine |
Very Good |
I've only eaten here once (so far), but I'm inclined to give this Vietnamese restaurant a good review. I had a green salad (too large, but with a wonderfully light sesamee dressing) and the Tilapia En Papillotte which came amazingly prepared in a paper bag and was totally out of this world. Then to finish off my meal, I had the iced coffee: a wonderfully thick coffee, combined with sweetened condensed milk, and poured over coffee ice cubes (!!) - amazing. The best iced coffee I've ever had.So, all in all a pretty wonderful experience. The place does have an "old world" feeling - like you might get with some old steak house. Turns out, Indochine has been around now for 20 years and has had many famous devotees (Warhol, artist Julian Schnable, others).
Appetizers ($8-14), entrees ($17-23), rice ($4-5). (2006-01-07)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Asian |
Go Restaurant |
Excellent |
Actually, I'm somewhat uncertain of the name - it doesn't seem to exist on the web. But there's a Sushi restaurant right across the street from my apartment, and it's really really good.I went in worried, because everyone in the restaurant is Japanese (and my experience at Oh Taisho! was somewhat alienating). But they were so friendly! The maitre'd, the wait staff, the sushi chefs, everyone was smiling and very nice. I sat the sushi bar and had an Octopus salad (out of this world), a salmon skin roll (nice and crunchy), and chicken skewers (moist and perfectly cooked). The next time I went in I had the rainbow roll (inside-out roll with different kinds of fish criss-crossing the outside - a work of art) and a Katsu Curry (deep fried chicken, sliced, over rice with a brown sauce). Everything was fresh and delicious.
This place is great anytime, but since the menu is so large (and full of easy-to-eat things like tempura and skewers), I suspect it's especially good for taking friends who may not like sushi very much. (2005-09-24)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Asian / Japanese |
Zen Sushi |
Very Good, Reliable |
My favorite sushi restaurant in the neighborhood, just a block away from where I live. Less crowded and more friendly than most of the other, "caffeteria style" sushi restaurants. The sushi is always fresh and with nice thick cuts. Special favorites include the spicy tuna role, the Chirasu (when you want more rice), the regular sushi plate, the sushi mania. The appetizers are weird for western tastes. Have not tried the noodles.Appetizers $4-8, sushi rolls $3.50-5, sushi plates $14-15, dinners $11-16. (2005-07-12)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Asian / Japanese |
Le Miu |
Excellent |
The fanciest and nicest sushi restaurant I've ever been to - Le Miu is expensive ($30 for Chef's sushi selection) but worth it. My sushi came excellently prepared, each item like a work of art, and exceptionally tasty. The restaurant has only been open since 12/2005 - and the chef/owner came from Nobu.
Also had a duck (sliced thin with a wasabi/honey glaze - yum) appetizer. They also have a raw bar (which I haven't sampled yet).
$5-9 salads, $7-12 appetizers, $12-18 appetizers from sushi bar, $5-15 raw bar, $6-15 ala carte sushi, $20-45 sushi/sashimi platters. They also have $45 and $65 prix fix dinners. (2006-01-15)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Asian / Japanese |
Yaffa Cafe |
Very Good |
What a wonderfully colorful place! Step inside and you are assaulted by beads, bright colors, fancy frou-frou, and all manner of excessive decoration. What a pleasure!
I've eaten here several times and have enjoyed it every time. The clientelle is typical East Village. The last time I was there, I heard someone ask (in a nice loud voice for the whole restaurant to hear): "Are you a Lesbian?" Fun! And yes, they will give you a free condom if you ask for it.
And the food is very good too. I've had the chicken curry, the middle eastern platter (humus, tahini, and babaganoush), the tuna melt, and the chicken dijon. All were very good. Brunch is good too. The only thing I might avoid are the pastas (you can get better pasta elsewhere) and the carrot juice (which is nasty - but then again, I hate carrot juice).
$4-6 Soups and appetizers, $8 wraps, $4-7 sandwiches, $8 vegetarian entrees, $12-14 seafood entrees, $9-12 pasta, $2-4 coffee drinks. (2005-11-08)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American / Salmon&Brown Rice Restaurants / Categories / 24 Hour |
9th Street Market |
Very Good |
Very small and very busy, you may have a difficult time finding a table. But if you can, you are treated to honest home cooking (Southern Style) that's tasty and well prepared. I had the catfish (a featured item) blackened and the Mac&Cheese. Both were wonderful, including the sides (sauteed brussel sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes).
(Went a second time and had the chicken fried steak, arugula salad, and cobbler - everything was excellent)
Go in the winter and enjoy the working fireplace! It's a cozy, nice place.
Appetizers and sides ($5-8), entrees ($15-20), wines by the glass ($8). (2006-01-25)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American |
Karen's on Astor Place |
Excellent |
I've eaten here several times, and I always need to remember to go back. It's a wonderful, "healthy eating" place with counter service. Imagine what would happen if health food nuts became business savy and opened up a lunch place. Such is Karen's.
I've had the grilled sandwiches, soups, wraps, cold sandwiches, and salads. Everything was fresh and very good with lots of bean sprouts, shredded carrots, etc. This is one of the best places for vegetarian and vegan food. However, it can be expensive if you're on a budget.
It's also supposed to be a great place for celebrity sightings.
Soups ($3.50-5.50), sandwiches ($5-7), wraps ($6-8), salads ($7/lb), other salads ($5-8), smoothies ($5-6). (2006-02-04)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American |
Cafe Mogador |
Excellent |
What a nice place! Somehow, I actually walked past this Cafe several times before it registered as anything more than just a dive. But it turns out to be a real nice place. Rustic, cosy, and larger than you might expect from the outside.
Cafe Mogador serves Moroccan food. I had the Kefta Kebab (appetizer, ground beef, grilled) and the Bastilla (flakey pastry, stuffed with chicken, eggs, and almond, and sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar (!) ), plus a house salad. Everything was really excellent. Tasty, fresh, and unique. Oh, and this is real middle eastern food through and through (it's not just some cafe that serves hummus).
Went back a second time and had the lamb Tagines (long simmering stew). It came with a large lamb bone, apricot and prune sauce, and basmati rice. Tender and delicious.
Appetizers ($4), salads ($5-9), platters ($6-9), bastilla w/ salad ($14), grill and other entrees ($12-14). (2006-02-05)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Middle Eastern |
Paul's |
Very Good |
Okay, the burgers really are pretty great: Ground sirloin, cooked on a griddle under a cup (to preserve moistness). I was skeptical but came out a believer.
And don't forget to look up at the flying toys hung from the ceiling. Fun!
Went back a second time. The turkey burger was excellent. The "Pizza Burger" was good and very messy, though the Pizza sauce could have used more spice to it. The fries were just fine, nothing special. Note: avoid the pickles.
Burgers ($4-9, two dollars more with fries, lettuce, and tomato), other hot sandwiches ($4-5), eggs - many varieties ($3-5), grilled cheese sandwich varieties ($2-5), milkshakes ($2.25 - consider a 'frosted', a milk shake with extra ice cream). (2006-01-23)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American / Picnic Food |
Baluchi's |
Very Good |
Part of a local New York Chain, Baluchi's has really good Indian food. It's directly across the street from my school, so I've eaten here quite often.
Everything I've had has been good: The Chicken Tikka Masala, the Saagwala, the Rogan Josh. The basmati rice is light, fluffy, and wonderful, the sauces are tasty, and the Pan bread is light and chewy - just right.
Appetizers ($6-8), entrees ($11-14). (2006-02-21)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / Middle Eastern |
La Palapa |
Excellent |
Upscale Mexican restaurant. Considerably more expensive than most of the other two-bit Mexican places in St. Marks, but also considerably better.Simple things like the chips and salsa are just wonderful. Guacamole which tastes like fresh avocado, chunky fresh tomato salsa. Lots of dishes using mole sauce. The chicken enchiladas with red mole sauce was excelent.
Or, you can order the tacos and quesadillas separately - they come in small dishes of 2 or 3 items. Recommendation: order several tacos and/or quesadillas to share. I had the chile rubbed roasted chicken tacos and the three cheese quesadilla. Both very good.
$5 tacos (soft), $6 quesadillas, $7-11 appetizers, $15-20 entrees. (2005-11-05)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / South American Restaurants / Categories / Cleanliness Award |
Stage Restaurant Coffee Shop |
Excellent |
This is a diner with a single counter and a row of seats. If you go at busy hours (breakfast, lunch, early dinner) it will probably be mobbed, with all seats taken (and several people standing for carryout). It's right next to the Orpheum theater and looks like it's been around forever. What vaudeville stars have eaten here? I wonder.I've been to the stage restaurant several times, and have always had a good experience. The food is inexpensive, served fast, and good. It contains all of the standard diner fare (all day breakfasts, huge hamburgers, large entree plates with two vegetables, etc.), plus some Eastern European specialties. Strong Recommendation: The Cold borscht and fruit soup with dill and sour cream, is just fantastic (summer only). Add to that a small plate of fried pierogi and you've got a wonderful, ethnic meal.
Low fat recommendation: The Turkey Burger.
This is becoming a regular place for me. Another recommendation: The Chicken Salad Sandwich tastes like you made it yourself from the roast chicken you had last night. Seriously yummy.
Soups $3-5, hot sandwiches $2-6, cold sandwiches $2-5, breakfast $4-5, entrees $7.50-9. (2005-07-19)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Regional / North American / Diners |
Cafe Brama |
Very Good |
Nice cafe, free wireless (why doesn't everyone do this?) with a delightfully varied menu that makes this place very hard to categorize. Wonderful salads (highly recomended: the St. Marks Salad), excellent tomato soup, Mexican, and various middle Eastern dishes. But lots of small tables means that no one feels out of place with just coffee or tea. Appetizers: 5-10, entrees: 15-20, brunch (very good deal sat. & sun) 12-15. (2007-11-03)| Also In: | Coffee Restaurants / Regional / Middle Eastern / Greek |
Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man |
Excellent |
Really, the place has the feeling of an opium den. You enter and are seated by a wait staff which is clearly over stimulated, you are given some chocolates to eat right away, and then it's just more chocolates and sinful deserts than you can imagine. If you love chocolate, it's wonderful, and oh so decadant. I love that they serve chocolate in little chem-lab beakers.
Oh, and I guess they have other food too... though I barely noticed it. (2007-11-03)
| Also In: | Restaurants / Categories / Deserts |
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