When you think of great burgers in NYC, such destinations that come to mind are Corner Bistro, Burger Joint, and PG Clarkes, to name a few that are always in many people's "Top Burgers List". The burger that has stood out to me so far as being the best I've had, has come from Blue Smoke, Danny Meyer's barbecue joint on 27th street, off Park Avenue South.
After a thirty minute wait we were seated at one of the front tables by the bar. I first ordered a cup of chili with cheese and onions ($5.75) I would never had ordered chili, but my good friend recommended it, saying that it would be good to dip their cottage fries in. Now, I'm no chili connoisseur, but I will say that it was one of the best cups of chili I have ever had. There was a big sweetness to it that I really enjoyed.
Then came what we were all waiting for: the Bacon Cheeseburger ($9) It was nice and thick, but not overly big. The bacon was crisp and the bun was lightly toasted, just the way I like it. On the side of the plate came onions and pickles and I added a bit to give it some crunch. After adding some ketchup I took one bite and was pleased. Very pleased. This was a great burger. It was nice and juicy and perfectly cooked medium. Our cottage fries ($3.75) came out at the same time, but I couldn't really bother with them, for I was enjoying the burger too much. I downed the burger pretty quickly and moved to the fries. They were a tad dry and definitely needed some seasoning, so I added some pepper. I took my friend's recommendation and dipped them into the chili which was fine. But the real star of this meal was of course that burger.
Does JG Melon have the best burger in NYC? That is hard to say. Obviously it is all subjective and there is no one answer. From what I can remember, I think Blue Smoke's burger was a tad juicier, but I haven't had it in a while. Will I be coming back to have another one of JG Melon's burgers soon? Yes. So for one of New York City's top burgers, JG Melon's is a great destination.
JG Melon
1291 3rd Ave (at 74th St.)
New York, NY 10021
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( 3 / 935 )Tonight I went to the grand opening party for a new restaurant on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel in Times Square called Chop Suey. The consulting chef for this new venture is Zak Palaccio who brought us the Fatty Crab, one of my favorite NYC restaurants.
I heard about the party, but actually wasn't personally invited. I knew it wouldn't be a problem getting in for I have met Zak many times, and could always rely on my magic to get me in. When I walked in the front door of the ground level of the hotel a gal immediately asked if I was going to Chop Suey- I guess I dressed the part. I took the elevator up to the Lobby level to find a typical hotel lounge area with a bar. Pass this bar/lounge area was the restaurant.
The restaurant is a big square place with large windows overlooking Times Square. The view is great and I can forsee this as another big tourist spot, like everything else in Times Square. One cool aspect of the decor was the lights on the ceiling were shaped like shells. There were also leather orange chairs that I found unique. The decor resembles the food- playful and fun.
Since this was the opening party I was able to have the opportunity to taste many of the dishes that will be offered on the menu. The tasting menu of the night consisted of Scallion Pancake with Asian Pear Moustarda, Short Rib with Sakura Cress Salad, Tofu Hot Pot, Rice Cakes, Char Siew, Roasted Wild Mushroom, Seared Mackerel, Fish Dumpling Soup, Roasted Shishito Peppers, Popcorn Shrimp with Pork Floss and XO Sauce, and Curry Leaf Chicken Wings.
I didn't get to try everything that was listed on the menu, but I did try a fare share (by positioning myself by the kitchen door.) I was able to get a nice sneak peak into what this restaurant is and will become.
I thought the addition of the asian pear moustarda to the scallion pancakes was a nice touch that gave the pancakes a nice sweetness to them, although I would have preferred them to be crispier. This was 'party' food, so I assume the quality will be better when it is made to order.
The roasted shishito peppers were interesting for they came topped with a little tuna bottarga, giving a great balance of saltiness and spiciness.
The short rib with sakura cress salad was fine. I enjoyed the texture contrast with the crunchy salad and the juicy short rib.
The flavors of the popcorn shrimp with pork floss and XO sauce were excellent. There was a nice balance of sweetness and hotness.
I really enjoyed the Roasted WIld Mushroom Congee which came with pine nuts and pickled garlic. It had a very mushy texture which was unique and interesting.
The Curry Leaf Chicken Wings were also excellent. They were juicy and tender, and had a nice touch of saltiness to them.
One standout that was not listed on the tasting menu of the night was the Oyster and Bacon lettuce cup. This was a fried oyster topped with bacon and kim chi on a piece of crisp lettuce. I thought the balance of textures and flavors were great. This dish encompassed the essence of this restaurant-fun and flavorful.
I asked Zak how he would categorize this cuisine - was it Korean? He said it was "East Asian". I asked him what inspired him and he stated that he just got back from Seoul when he was asked to do the concept of the restaurant- he wanted it to be fun. And judging from what I had tonight, I think he is on the right track.
All the little tastes I had were definitely playful, flavorful, and fun to eat. I'm not sure I could forsee this as a dining destination, nothing really blew my mind, but if you are in the Times Square area looking for a unique and fun bite, Chop Suey could be a good spot.
Chop Suey
714 7th Avenue (Second Floor of the Renaissance Hotel-bet. 47th and 48th St.)
New York, NY 10036
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( 3 / 879 )Last night I had dinner at Market Table in the West Village. Market Table is brought to us by the guys who brought us The Little Owl (Gabrielle Stulman and Joey Campanero), one of my favorite new spots to open up last year. The chef is Mikey Price, who used to cook at the Mermaid Inn.
This restaurant is interesting for when you walk in, you first enter a general goods store where you can purchase items, the dining room is past this little store. It is a large corner space with large windows where you can look out onto Carmine and Bedford streets. It's not an overly fancy place, I felt very casual and comfortable. The lighting was just dim enough for romance, but not too dark where I couldn't see my food.
I took a seat at the bar and perused the menu. The menu was not too large, about seven appetizers and seven entrees, and some sides, which was fine for me. I decided to get the Crispy Calamari appetizer and the Braised Lamb Shank entree (this was Erin the bartender's recommendation.)
The Crispy Calamari ($9) came with white anchovy, lemon, and a chili mayo. I thought the calamari was fine, nothing too special. I did enjoy the white anchovy and lemon a lot though. I never had fried anchovy or lemon before, and they were great. The anchovy gave the dish a great saltiness to it, and the lemon was a great palate cleanser and really opened up my taste buds. I thought it was a great touch.
The Brasied Lamb Shank ($20) came with gouda gratin, greens and rosemary jus. First off, I need to point out that this is a great deal. Twenty dollars for lamb is unheard of at fine-dining establishments in NYC, and I was pleasantly surprised with the price. The lamb was tender, and fell right off the bone, which was nice, although it could have used some more flavor and seasoning. I enjoyed the gouda gratin, greens and rosemary jus that came with the lamb though. It wasn't an overly complex dish, the sides were simple but all went well together.
Market Table is one of those neighborhood spots, like the Little Owl, which serves very good, straight-forward food, that keeps people coming back. I wasn't blown away, but, I do plan on going back.The casual environment, good food, and good prices are truly appealing.
So for a very good, casual meal in the West Village, Market Table would be a great choice.
Market Table
54 Carmine St. (at Bedford St.)
New York, NY 10014
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( 3 / 982 )A few weeks ago I went to a semi-new restaurant on a small stretch of West 10th street in the West Village called Kingswood. The reason for going there was to write a review for a website based in London. I was very happy for the opportunity.
Kingswood is an Australian restaurant that comes to us from the folks behind Ruby's, an Australain spot in Nolita. I walked in to a bustling restaurant. There were large windows up front by the street, with some tables by them with diners. The centerpiece of the restaurant was a large copper square bar that was pretty busy. Past the bar was a large open space with many tables filled with diners, including one large wooden communal table. I asked if they had a table for one, and the owner knew right away I was from the website and had a table ready for me. (The website is focused on doing things on your own, and the owner of the website had previously met with the owner of Kingswood.)
When I dine out alone, sometimes I like to dine at the bar and other times I like to dine at a table. They are two totally different experiences. I was given the table next to the large wooden communal table which was filled with a party of around ten gals. In fact, one of the gals was sitting in the seat across from me at my table, chatting with one of her friends. I of course told her she could stay, but after two minutes she left. (On a side note, one of the gals at the table next to me had met me over a year ago waiting in line (yes, i was doing magic) at Tomoe Sushi, a great and popular sushi spot on Thompson street in the West Village) This was a great beginning to the meal. Nothing like girls and grub for a single twenty-something!
I first decided to order one of their Australian beers. As I sat there waiting for my beer, the one striking aspect of the restaurant I noticed was that it was loud. It was extremely loud, and the acoustics were horrible. This is not a place I'd want to take a date for an intimate dinner. I was there to review the place for a website that caters to doing things on your own, and I was not sure if I would want to dine here alone again. If I did, I would definitely choose the bar. These were all thoughts going through my head before I even ordered my food.
My main focus when dining out is the food, of course. I ordered the scallop appetizer and the Parmesan crusted Rack of Lamb entree, as well as a side of the truffle fries.
The scallop appetizer was a very good dish. It came with a carrot puree and some citrus. I loved how the sweetness of the carrot puree and the citrus contrasted each other. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and had a nice char on the outside, but were tender.
The parmesan crusted rack of lamb came with tomato orzo and seasonal greens. This dish blew my mind-but not in a good way. Although the lamb was nicely cooked, and the parmesan crust gave it some nice saltiness, I was completely perplexed about what the tomato orzo was doing there. The tomato orzo did not go well with the lamb at all. (Orzo is pasta that looks like rice) I thought it had no reason being on the plate, I did not understand this dish. Maybe it is common in Australia? I'm not sure. But, it was not a good compliment to the lamb at all.
The side of truffle fries were ok. They came with a truffle aioli on them, and they were somewhat crispy, but I can't say I loved them.
Would I go back to Kingswood? Maybe. I think it could be a good place for groups. And I would want to try some more of their food, for I have heard some good things, especially about their burger, which seems to be popular. In fact, it could be the ideal place for a burger and some beer, and maybe getting drunk with Australians. But just remember, you might lose your voice talking to them, trying to talk over everyone else in the restaurant.
Kingswood
121 W. 10th Street (at Greenwich Ave.)
New York, NY 10011
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( 3 / 845 )Last night I decided to go to the new one-month old restaurant in the Lower East side, where its name is its address: Allen & Delancey.
I walked in to find a dark restaurant lit with an abundant amount of candles and walls of exposed brick. It had a modernized gothic feel to it, but in a sexy way.
There is a bar up front, with the main dining room in the back separated by a small hallway. I walked past the bar to the Hostess station to see if there were any seats available. I noticed an open table and asked one of the hostesses where she thought I should eat. She recommended the bar where "Heather would take good care of me." I like being taking care of, and also like making conversation with everyone who works at a restaurant (and eats at a restaurant too) so the bar was where I sat.
I started out with a Manhattan. I figured a stiff drink would be a good way to get the night going (it was 10:30pm). I was excited to check out the menu, for the chef, Neil Ferguson was plucked from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in midtown, a reputable dining destination in NYC.
After perusing the menu and inquiring with Heather what her favorite dishes were, I eventually made the decision to go with an appetizer of Skin Roasted Spanish Mackerel with bacon gnocchi, and apple cider vinagrette ($15). For my entree I chose the Moulard Duck Magret with turnip confit, buttered radishes and foie gras.
The highlight of the meal was actually the bread. The bread is baked in-house, and I was given a plate of one sage and bacon roll, and one regular roll, along with a side of butter. Both rolls were warm, and fluffy, and absolutely delicious. The butter was amazing as well. It was extremely creamy, which I liked. It was one of the best plates of bread I have ever had.
The Spanish Mackerel appetizer was a very interesting dish. The combination of flavors were unlike any I have encountered before. Mackerel is a very "fishy" fish, so the bacon gnocchi and apple cider vinagrette were used to counteract that fishiness. The fish was well cooked, but the dish to me only works when you combine all three elements on one forkfull. I will admit I am not a fan of apples, so that might have been a turn-off. But the bacon gnocchi were not what I expected either. In fact, I was having trouble locating which was the gnocchi and what was apple. I wish the gnocchi had stood out a little more. I was still pleased with the dish and the use of unusual flavor combinations, I just wasn't blown away.
The Moulard Duck Magret was yet another dish with unusual flavor combinations. The duck was presented in the center of the plate cut into many slices. It was perfectly cooked, and nice and juicy. I never had turnip confit or buttered radishes, and both were fine. They were interesting compliments to the duck, and the dish had a very "Autumny" feel to it, but I can't say I loved it. It was something different though, and I love trying new things and experimenting. The best part of the dish though was the foie gras. There was a small piece of duck foie gras at one side of the plate, really not the focus of the plate at all. What made the foie gras so great was it was topped with toasted almonds. It gave it some great texture, as well as some added flavor, and I loved it.
I was too stuffed for dessert, although they all looked interesting, with again some unique flavor combinations, such as one dessert that came with olive oil ice cream!
So, if you are looking for a sexy dining experience, with good food with unique flavors, Allen & Delancey would be a very good choice.
Allen & Delancey
115 Allen St. (and Delancey!)
New York, NY 10002
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