The place is very white and modern, separated into two rooms. The first room is the bar area/lounge with a few tables where you can grab a drink and a bite. The second room is the dining room with tables and circular booths where you can have a more formal or leisurely dinner. I like the layout of this restaurant a lot for if you need to wait for a table and want to grab a drink, or if you just want to grab a drink, there is plenty of room and lots of space, unlike many new restaurants where it can get cramped while waiting for a table. Also, there is an outdoor patio reminiscent of a greenhouse which will soon be open which I can forsee being very popular come Spring and Summer.
The cuisine is Asian/BBQ which I am a fan of, and after perusing the menu I was more excited because all the dishes were right up my alley. After questioning my waiter Paul on his favorite dishes (he likes them all) I went with a starter of Spit Roasted Pork Belly and and entree of Stuffed Spareribs. Also had a nice Victory Pilsner with the meal.
The Spit Roasted Pork Belly ($13) came with kimchee, takuan, and steamed buns, with a side of scallion tofu. The plate came with all the ingredients separated and basically it was a "do-it-yourself" sandwich. At first I thought it was lazy, like why are you making me do this myself, but after I put all the ingredients together, my mind changed. First off, this dish 100% reminded me of David Chang's famous Pork Buns he serves at Momofuku (they put it together for you there) but with different side ingredients. So, I put one of the two pieces of pork belly in one bun, added some takuan (pickled daikon) and some kimchee, then added the scallion tofu and had my first bite. This was an outstanding appetizer. I loved the crispiness of the skin of the pork belly, the crunch of the takuan, the spiciness of the kimchee, and the uniqueness of the scallion tofu. It all worked well together. I could not stop eating this bun, it was totally addictive. David Chang finally has some competition in the Pork Bun world. I never had scallion tofu before, but I thought it was a nice addition and worked well with everything in the bun. This is definitely one of my favorite appetizers of the year and I can't wait to come back for more!
My entree of Stuffed Spareribs ($23) came with lemongrass bbq, peanuts and thai basil. The dish came out and looked more like a piece of meatloaf then a sparerib. I'm not sure why they have it pluralized either, for it seemed just like one rib to me, but there was a lot of meat, so I could be wrong. I did enjoy the dish though. The sauce was sweet with just a little hit of spiciness. I'm pretty much a fan of any dish that utilizes peanuts with sauces, but I would say that I think there was too much sauce on the dish and the peanut sauce was way too heavy. I think they should definitely lighten up on the sauce so the flavor of the meat can come through more, for the dish seemed to be overwelmed by the sauce.
I definitely plan on coming back to Bar Q to try all the other dishes. So for unique Asian BBQ cuisine in a great space, Bar Q is the perfect West Village spot.
Bar Q
308 Bleeker St. (bet. Grove and 7th ave.)
New York, NY 10014
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( 3 / 614 )Tuesday night I was in the Lower East Side and stumbled upon a new Vietnamese restaurant called Slurp. I thought the name was cool so I stopped in for a bite.
I ordered the Grilled Pork Bun ($15) which came with grilled pork, rice vermicelli, celery, cilantro, cucumber, crushed peanuts and a side of fish sauce. I thought the dish was ok. It definitely needed some more flavor, in fact I had to ask for another sauce (sweet and spicy) after I finished the sweet fish sauce. I have had this dish at other Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown which tasted similar, but for half the price.
I think this restaurant could be a welcome to the neighborhood, but the whole time I was there perusing the menu, I kept on being reminded about all those great authentic chinatown Vietnamese spots, with better food for a cheaper price. So, I guess if you are in the neighborhood and craving Vietnamese this could give you a decent fix, but for a better bang for your buck, I'd head downtown a little further to Chinatown.
Slurp
84 Stanton St. (at Orchard St.)
New York, NY 10002
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( 3 / 606 )Last Friday night I had the pleasure and honor of being invited for a tasting at a new Midtown Japanese restaurant called Omido. Next door to the Ed Sullivan Theater where they film The Late Show with David Letterman isn't a location I'd consider a dining destination, but Friday night I uncovered a rare gem near Times Square. Brought to us by chef Eiji Takase (he was referred to me as Chef Taka) from the popular Sushi Samba restaurants, and a design by the hip AvroKO team, this is one of the top Japanese restaurants in NYC I have encountered.
I walked in to a nearly empty restaurant at 6pm, which by the end of my meal I thought should have been more full due the high quality of the experience. The restaurant is an all dark wood square room, with a semi-hidden dining area in the back, and with a square sushi bar in the center. I actually like the layout of this restaurant a lot, for from any seat you can view the action going on at the sushi bar, so it truly is dinner and a show. The lighting is dark, and is highlighted by the typical AvroKO use of Edison light bulbs. This sleek environment set the mood as an escape from the busy and touristy outside Times Square area.
Before my tasting menu began I tried the Shiso leaf Mojito, recommended to me by my knowledgable waitress Karen. Now, I am not a huge fan of the shiso leaf for it's flavor is just peculiar to me, but its addition actually worked really well in the mojito and it was a great start to the meal that was about to come.
The first dish that came out was the Organic Mushroom Salad ($9.50). It came with citrus soy and butter, and was topped with some green seaweed to give it some color. I really enjoyed this appetizer. The mushrooms were fresh and the citrus soy and butter broth was very soothing. The use of citrus soy gave it just the touch of acidity it needed. This dish was a great way to open up my palate.
(I should mention with this dish and with all the others, Omido's gracious host Christina paired for me sakes and wines that I actually did not write down, but all were perfectly paired with each dish and added to the overall amazing experience.)
My next course was the "Madai" and Pink Grapefruit Sunomono ($14) which came with Japanese snapper and ume grapefruit vinaigrette. I loved the freshness of the snapper, and I thought the use of grapefruit was ingenious, for like the previous dish, the balance of acidity was perfect. Not only was this dish deliciously refreshing but there was so much color on the plate that it was truly a work of art.
My next course was the Yellowtail with Shishito Pepper and yuzu garlic soy ($14.50). This was another winning appetizer. The yuzu garlic soy was simple and delicate, and a great compliment to the freshness of the pink yellowtail. Once again, Chef Taka not only plays with the flavors, but the balance of colors on the plate were extremely artistic.
Next came the Temari roll ($19.50), one of Omido's "Signature Rolls" which consisted of a piece of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail sushi topped with fois gras on a plate with a red mirin soy. These three beautiful pieces of sushi took decadence to the next level. It was some of the richest and meatiest pieces of sushi I have had.
An entree of Kakuni ($14) was served next which is braised short ribs with karashi mustard. Short ribs are common in many NYC restaurants and I have had my fair share of them, but I would have to say that these were the best I have ever encountered. They were extremely tender, juicy, and delicious, and they sat on a sweet sauce that was really tasty. The dish was topped with a little green cabbage that gave a nice crunch to it. On the side of the plate was a little of that karashi mustard for dipping which gave the ribs the perfect kick to it. This dish blew my mind.
Next was the overly popular Japanese dish of Black Cod Miso ($15) served with a pink pickled ginger stick. The fish was fresh and the dish was simple. This was probably my least favorite dish of the night, for I thought it was pretty boring, although I thought the addition of that pickled ginger was a unique touch.
And the food kept on coming. I was given a sample plate of Omido's assorted pieces of sushi and rolls. All was very fresh and some of the best sushi I have ever had. If I was just craving sushi I would not hesitate to come here for sushi alone.
Finally came my last course which was the Mango Parfait dessert ($10), which came with a sake marscapone, fresh mango, cashews, and peanut candy. This was an amazing dessert. It was refreshing, had the perfect amount of sweetness, all sorts of plays with texture, and there was such a unique combination of flavors that I have never encountered. This dish blew my mind. It was the perfect ending to this transporting experience.
Many tourists ask me where to dine when they visit the Times Square area, or before they see a show, and I would of course recommend Omido for some exhilerating Japanese food. But, I would also recommend Omido for anyone who lives in any part of NYC, for I believe Omido is not only a great Times Square restaurant, but it is a great NYC destination, warranting a trip to Midtown from wherever you are. So, for colorful, unique Japanese cuisine, Omido is one gem that sparkles.
Omido
1695 Broadway (bet. 53rd and 54th St.)
New York, NY 10019
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( 3 / 650 )Having gone to The Smith last Friday night, and not being too impressed, I was inspired on Monday night to check out a restaurant with a similar name; Smith's.
Smith's comes to us from two veterans of the NYC restaurant industry, Danny Abrams (The Red Cat, The Harrison, The Mermaid Inn) and Cindy Smith (Raouls), along with chef Pablo Romero (Bouley).
I walked into the not too crowded restaurant around 7pm. There are a few tables up front near the window with a view of a quiet Macdougal Street. Then there is a narrow, white dining area reminiscent of a train car, with a mirrored ceiling. It is modern, but quaint. Past this dining area is the bar, with black and grey walls. It had a sexy vibe that made me think of the restaurant Allen & Delancey, but with a tad calmer feel.
The bar was not crowded at all, so I picked a seat and the bartender Kylie was there to cater to all my culinary needs. After perusing the New American menu I decided on an appetizer of the Steamed Egg, a side of Sauteed Brussels Sprouts, and an entree of Roast Lamb Saddle. I also went with a half bottle of a Stephen Ross Pinot Noir 2006 ($32).
The Steamed Egg ($8) came with creamy Anson Mills polenta and gorgonzola. This was a very unique dish. I'm not sure I have tasted anything like it. Kylie recommended I mix up the egg into it. I really enjoyed the saltiness and the creamy texture of the dish. It was simple, yet tasty.
Kylie had recommended the Brussels Sprouts which were brought out at the same time as my Roast Lamb Saddle. The Sauteed Brussels Sprouts ($8) came with toasted almonds,and were some of the best Sprouts I haver ever encountered. I think Brussels Sprouts are making a comeback in the restaurant industry. We grew up hating them, but today chefs are coming out with some really tasty ways of serving them. Here at Smith's they serve a bowl of the leafs of the sprouts, with the addition of toasted almonds, giving it that perfect balance of texture.
The Roast Lamb Saddle ($27) came with a tomato red pepper ragout, parmigiano puree, and pesto. The lamb was perfectly cooked and great. The parmigiano puree was a great compliment to the juicy lamb and I truly loved the dish. It was the perfect way to serve lamb.
I decided to take a look at the dessert menu even though I was not too hungry and had started doing magic to people in the bar (what a surprise). The one dessert that caught my eye was the Warm Chocolate Brownie with peanut butter mousse and candied sauteed peanuts ($8). Once Kylie mentioned she had to have it once a day, I knew I was meant to order it.
The dish came out while I was entertaining some cute girls at the bar, so I had to take bites in between each magic trick. But each bite was fantastic. The brownie was warm and not too sweet. Dipping a piece of brownie into the delicious and creamy peanut butter mousse was heavenly. And the addition of the candied sauteed peanuts gave the dish a sweet added crunch I enjoyed immensely. This was a great dessert.
I had a great time at Smith's. The food is great and the people are nice. I will definitely be coming back to this Smith- it's the perfect West Village spot.
Smith's
79 Macdougal St. (between Bleeker and Houston)
New York, NY 10012
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( 3 / 873 )Friday night my sisters and I decided to eat dinner at The Smith in the East Village. The Smith comes to us from the team behind the restaurant Jane on Houston street. It should not be confused with Nevada Smith's, Smiths's or B. Smith's.
I got to the restaurant early and decided to entertain the two hostesses and some waiters for 15 minutes with some amazing magic and comedy. After a good 15 minutes of high-energy entertainment my two sisters finally arrived and we were seated in a booth by the bar. The restaurant is a big large space (it used to be a Pizzeria Uno) with white tiled walls adorned with pictures of women that seem to be from the 1920's.
The cuisine is American Brasserie and reminded me of a gourmet diner. I had been craving mac and cheese for a while so I ordered that appetizer along with an appetizer of Braised Bacon with red onion marmalade. My older sister ordered the Lamb Schnitzel and my younger sister got the Skate. We ordered the Fried Calamari for the table.
The Fried Calamari ($9) came Brooklyn Style, meaning it was topped with marinara sauce. It was fine, but nothing special. My Mac + Cheese ($10) was cheesy with a nice crisp to it. I enjoy a little meat in my mac and cheese, that is why I ordered the Braised Bacon with red onion marmalade ($9). I thought there was way too much red onion marmalade with the bacon, and it pretty much drowned the bacon with it's sweetness and killed all the bacon flavor which was upsetting. I decided to dump the bacon into my mac and cheese, hoping this "create my own dish" epiphany would somehow turn out an amazing flavorful dish, but alas, it was just a bacon drowned in red onion marmalade, mixed with mac and cheese flavor.
My older sister did not have much luck with her Lamb Shnitzel ($17) which came with a parmesan crust, smashed potatoes and lemon. Grant it, I only took one bite of it, and that bite consisted of a tough, dry, and flavorless piece of meat. My sister who ate more of the dish stated she was not too happy with it either.
My younger sister really enjoyed her Skate ($16) which came with cauliflower and caper brown butter. I tried one piece of it and although it was nice, simple, and juicy, it bored me.
The dessert menu at The Smith consists of different types of Sundaes. We went with the Birthday Cake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sundaes. They were fun and fine.
I think The Smith is an ok place if you are in college and looking for a decent bite to eat. NYU dorms are right around the corner. But, you must order wisely. When I think of The Smith, the first word that comes to mind is "Fun"-not "Food". It could be a fun place to grab some drinks if you are in the neighborhood.
The Smith
55 3rd Avenue (between 10th and 11th St)
New York, NY 10003
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