Ramen Setagaya [141 First Avenue (bet. St. Mark's Pl. and 9th St.); 34-A St. Mark's Place (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.); 90 University Place (bet. 11th and 12th Sts.); Menu (actual menu more extensive)]
A Japanese import, this burgeoning ramen empire is for pork lovers only; vegetarians need not apply. The specialty here is the Shio Ramen. The salt-based broth is really something else and (as far as I know) it is unique among the many ramen joints popping up all over downtown. Coupled with slices of fatty pork, a soft-cooked egg, and of course, a healthy portion of chewy ramen noodles, it provides a richness of flavor not easily equaled. I highly recommend that you give it a try. I don't think it's for everyone, but if you consider yourself a noodle connoisseur, you must at least be aware of what's out there. If you're extra hungry, start with the gyoza.
The University Place location is the biggest of the three, and with multiple locations, you'll never be waiting around for two hours at Setagaya like you might at Ippudo on almost any night of the week.
Showing posts with label east village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label east village. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Matilda
Matilda [647 E. 11th St. (bet. Aves. B and C), Menu]
Mexican + Italian = Matilda. It's a combination that I can truly say I've never seen before and at Matilda it's pulled off wonderfully. In my visit, my friends and I stuck to the simple small plates and I must say that I'm excited to go back and try some more. For starters, we had the guacamole and the bruschetta. The guac had both a twist and a kick to it that was different from the traditional Mexican flavors. Better yet, in addition to the standard tortilla chips, it came with warm, freshly baked focaccia bread for dipping. This was an inspired idea. Meanwhile, the bruschetta also managed to straddle the line between the cuisines (jalapeno olive oil is a pretty clever ingredient) and I would definitely order it again.
For our main course, my friends and I split the tacos so that we could all have one each of the three on offer (you can only order them in sets of three). Each order came with even more guac and was delicious, but if I were alone and had to choose one, I would take the Alla Fiorentina, which features rare filet mignon and does the best job of incorporating both sides of the Mexican and Italian cooking styles. In terms of decor, Matilda is sleek and well-designed, but not intimidating. When you sit down for dinner there, see if you can find the drink menu...
Mexican + Italian = Matilda. It's a combination that I can truly say I've never seen before and at Matilda it's pulled off wonderfully. In my visit, my friends and I stuck to the simple small plates and I must say that I'm excited to go back and try some more. For starters, we had the guacamole and the bruschetta. The guac had both a twist and a kick to it that was different from the traditional Mexican flavors. Better yet, in addition to the standard tortilla chips, it came with warm, freshly baked focaccia bread for dipping. This was an inspired idea. Meanwhile, the bruschetta also managed to straddle the line between the cuisines (jalapeno olive oil is a pretty clever ingredient) and I would definitely order it again.
For our main course, my friends and I split the tacos so that we could all have one each of the three on offer (you can only order them in sets of three). Each order came with even more guac and was delicious, but if I were alone and had to choose one, I would take the Alla Fiorentina, which features rare filet mignon and does the best job of incorporating both sides of the Mexican and Italian cooking styles. In terms of decor, Matilda is sleek and well-designed, but not intimidating. When you sit down for dinner there, see if you can find the drink menu...
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Zerza
Zerza [304 E. 6th St (bet. 1st and 2nd Aves.) 212-529-8250]
Lovely service and great food make this East Village Moroccan restaurant a great place to try something different. The atmosphere, which includes music and sometimes belly dancing, lends an air of authenticity to the proceedings. As for the food, there are a couple of good appetizers to try. Depending on your tastes, I would recommend the extremely sweet Saganaki (fried Feta cheese with pure honey) or the Marinated Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese. For my main course, I was desperate for some cous cous, so I ordered the lamb variety. It was excellent. The lamb was succulent and the blend of toppings on the cous cous was wonderful enough to make sure that I cleaned my plate. The tagine was good as well. Try a red Algerian wine, which is sweet and a fine complement to the food. If you feel like relaxing, top things off with a hookah.
Lovely service and great food make this East Village Moroccan restaurant a great place to try something different. The atmosphere, which includes music and sometimes belly dancing, lends an air of authenticity to the proceedings. As for the food, there are a couple of good appetizers to try. Depending on your tastes, I would recommend the extremely sweet Saganaki (fried Feta cheese with pure honey) or the Marinated Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese. For my main course, I was desperate for some cous cous, so I ordered the lamb variety. It was excellent. The lamb was succulent and the blend of toppings on the cous cous was wonderful enough to make sure that I cleaned my plate. The tagine was good as well. Try a red Algerian wine, which is sweet and a fine complement to the food. If you feel like relaxing, top things off with a hookah.
Sushi Lounge
Sushi Lounge [132 St. Mark's Place (at Ave. A) 212-598-1188]
All sushi is 50% off all day. And it's pretty good too. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour deal on drinks from 10 pm to 1 am every night ($6.25 pitchers of Kirin!). I had the Zaru Soba, which was decent, but not exceptional. All in all, however, this is a solid option for downtown sushi and a good way to conserve funds if you are going drinking in the area.
All sushi is 50% off all day. And it's pretty good too. Also, they have a fantastic happy hour deal on drinks from 10 pm to 1 am every night ($6.25 pitchers of Kirin!). I had the Zaru Soba, which was decent, but not exceptional. All in all, however, this is a solid option for downtown sushi and a good way to conserve funds if you are going drinking in the area.
Soba-ya
Soba-ya [229 E. 9th St. (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.) 212-533-6966]
A worthy rival to Soba Nippon, and perhaps better than SobaKoh, Soba-ya is well worth a visit for lovers of the buckwheat noodles. The flavor and texture of the noodles here are fantastic, as the full influence of the buckwheat can be felt in every bite. The soba is not cheap for lunch, but it does come with some excellent side dishes (such as salmon or tuna sashimi) that fill out the meal nicely. In addition, the green tea is extremely high quality. Make sure to ask for it. There are other dishes on the menu that are supposed to be good as well, so there is also something for non-soba lovers. Try to come on the early side for dinner because the restaurant is small and fills up quickly.
A worthy rival to Soba Nippon, and perhaps better than SobaKoh, Soba-ya is well worth a visit for lovers of the buckwheat noodles. The flavor and texture of the noodles here are fantastic, as the full influence of the buckwheat can be felt in every bite. The soba is not cheap for lunch, but it does come with some excellent side dishes (such as salmon or tuna sashimi) that fill out the meal nicely. In addition, the green tea is extremely high quality. Make sure to ask for it. There are other dishes on the menu that are supposed to be good as well, so there is also something for non-soba lovers. Try to come on the early side for dinner because the restaurant is small and fills up quickly.
SobaKoh
SobaKoh [309 E. 5th St. (bet. 1st and 2nd Aves.) 212-254-2244]
Top-notch soba in the East Village. You can just get the classic Zaru Soba and you'll probably be happy, but I recommend getting one of the (cold soba) specials instead. I got my soba with soft shell crab and the taste of the shellfish definitely enhanced my soba experience. And if you're in the East Village early, they have a prix fixe menu available until 7 pm every night.
Top-notch soba in the East Village. You can just get the classic Zaru Soba and you'll probably be happy, but I recommend getting one of the (cold soba) specials instead. I got my soba with soft shell crab and the taste of the shellfish definitely enhanced my soba experience. And if you're in the East Village early, they have a prix fixe menu available until 7 pm every night.
Sharaku
Sharaku [14 Stuyvesant St. (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.) 212-598-0403]
Located on one of the few true East-West streets in Manhattan, this friendly East Village spot offers good Japanese food at affordable prices. But for the best deal, make sure to go here on a Monday night, when you can get a wonderful prix fixe special loaded with soba, sushi, soup, and edamame.
Located on one of the few true East-West streets in Manhattan, this friendly East Village spot offers good Japanese food at affordable prices. But for the best deal, make sure to go here on a Monday night, when you can get a wonderful prix fixe special loaded with soba, sushi, soup, and edamame.
Pylos
Pylos [128 E. 7th St. (bet. 1st Ave. and Ave. A) 212-473-0220]
Enjoy fine Greek food in a wonderful atmosphere at this always-crowded East Village restaurant. All sorts of classic dishes are available, and I would recommend starting with the grape leaves and the meatballs. These two appetizers offer good contrasting tastes and textures and are best to be shared among 2-3 people. For my main course, I chose the Cornish Hen and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was sort of like chicken, but with more flavor. Other good options are the duck breast or a fish dish. Also, I would say that Pylos would be very nice for a dinner date, but make a reservation first!
Enjoy fine Greek food in a wonderful atmosphere at this always-crowded East Village restaurant. All sorts of classic dishes are available, and I would recommend starting with the grape leaves and the meatballs. These two appetizers offer good contrasting tastes and textures and are best to be shared among 2-3 people. For my main course, I chose the Cornish Hen and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was sort of like chicken, but with more flavor. Other good options are the duck breast or a fish dish. Also, I would say that Pylos would be very nice for a dinner date, but make a reservation first!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Paul's
Paul's [131 Second Ave. (bet. 7th St. and St. Mark's Pl.) 212-529-3033]
This burger is about as greasy as they come, but it's also very good. It's big and juicy and I recommend that you get it on an English muffin. I know that sounds weird, but trust me on this one. If you want fries, try the sweet potato variety. However, just a burger should be enough to fill you up.
This burger is about as greasy as they come, but it's also very good. It's big and juicy and I recommend that you get it on an English muffin. I know that sounds weird, but trust me on this one. If you want fries, try the sweet potato variety. However, just a burger should be enough to fill you up.
Paprika
Paprika [110 St. Mark's Pl. (bet. 1st Ave. and Ave. A) 212-677-6563]
In case you couldn't tell, I like to eat in the East Village. And I also like Italian food, so Paprika is right up my alley. Set in a cute and cozy Saint Mark's space, Paprika serves up good food at good prices. Start with the excellent Beef Carpaccio, and if you want to split it, they might even do it for you. Then, try one of the pasta dishes, either one of the multiple daily specials or one of the regular menu standards. The Pappardelle with Oxtail Ragu is rich, filling, and tasty, while the Gnocchi is top-notch. If you can still find room, finish off your meal with the delicious Chocolate Souffle cake. Drink-wise, I recommend a bottle of Menabrea beer from Italy as something different, or an affordable bottle of wine as something more standard. Overall Paprika provides a classy Italian dining experience and would make a good date spot (but is also nice as a restaurant for dinner with friends).
In case you couldn't tell, I like to eat in the East Village. And I also like Italian food, so Paprika is right up my alley. Set in a cute and cozy Saint Mark's space, Paprika serves up good food at good prices. Start with the excellent Beef Carpaccio, and if you want to split it, they might even do it for you. Then, try one of the pasta dishes, either one of the multiple daily specials or one of the regular menu standards. The Pappardelle with Oxtail Ragu is rich, filling, and tasty, while the Gnocchi is top-notch. If you can still find room, finish off your meal with the delicious Chocolate Souffle cake. Drink-wise, I recommend a bottle of Menabrea beer from Italy as something different, or an affordable bottle of wine as something more standard. Overall Paprika provides a classy Italian dining experience and would make a good date spot (but is also nice as a restaurant for dinner with friends).
Orologio
Orologio [162 Avenue A (bet. 10th and 11th Sts.) 212-228-6900]
A wonderful little Italian restaurant in the East Village, Orologio offers up a nice variety of delicious dishes at very affordable prices. If you're in the mood for a salad, start with the Insalata Dirucola Enoli (arugula salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts). Then, I would recommend a pasta dish. Two of the better options would be the Spaghetti alla Chitarrina (spaghetti with lamb ragout) and the Tagliolini Bianchi e Neri Piccanti (black and white tagliolini in a spicy tomato sauce). Bottles of wine are mostly in the low $20 range and the clock motif around the restaurant makes for a nice atmosphere. Finally, once you finish dinner, there are a number of fun bars in the neighborhood to cap off your night.
A wonderful little Italian restaurant in the East Village, Orologio offers up a nice variety of delicious dishes at very affordable prices. If you're in the mood for a salad, start with the Insalata Dirucola Enoli (arugula salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts). Then, I would recommend a pasta dish. Two of the better options would be the Spaghetti alla Chitarrina (spaghetti with lamb ragout) and the Tagliolini Bianchi e Neri Piccanti (black and white tagliolini in a spicy tomato sauce). Bottles of wine are mostly in the low $20 range and the clock motif around the restaurant makes for a nice atmosphere. Finally, once you finish dinner, there are a number of fun bars in the neighborhood to cap off your night.
OG Restaurant
OG Restaurant [507 E. 6th St. (bet Ave. A and Ave. B) 212-477-4649]
A wonderful little find in the East Village, this tasty hideaway serves up Asian Fusion cuisine at very reasonable prices. All of the different dumpling options seemed good, but we went with the Signature Shrimp Dumplings and the Curried Beef. We were pleased. For my main dish, I enjoyed the Half Crispy Duck. The scallion crepes that came with the duck were especially creative. The Five Spice Chicken is another solid main course option. Finally, the service was extremely friendly, making the overall experience that much better.
A wonderful little find in the East Village, this tasty hideaway serves up Asian Fusion cuisine at very reasonable prices. All of the different dumpling options seemed good, but we went with the Signature Shrimp Dumplings and the Curried Beef. We were pleased. For my main dish, I enjoyed the Half Crispy Duck. The scallion crepes that came with the duck were especially creative. The Five Spice Chicken is another solid main course option. Finally, the service was extremely friendly, making the overall experience that much better.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Momofuku Ssam Bar
Momofuku Ssam Bar [207 Second Avenue, New York; Menu]
It's hard to keep up with this place, especially considering that its name and reason for its origin, the Ssam (essentially a Korean burrito) isn't even on the menu anymore. But anyway, it's still a great place for a late night meal (it's usually too crowded at peak hours, although being able to wait in the back at Momofuku Milk Bar makes this much more tolerable than it used to be). The menu changes with the seasons and uses lots of fresh, local ingredients, so I recommend sharing some seasonal small plates and starting with the always there, always delicious pork buns.
It's hard to keep up with this place, especially considering that its name and reason for its origin, the Ssam (essentially a Korean burrito) isn't even on the menu anymore. But anyway, it's still a great place for a late night meal (it's usually too crowded at peak hours, although being able to wait in the back at Momofuku Milk Bar makes this much more tolerable than it used to be). The menu changes with the seasons and uses lots of fresh, local ingredients, so I recommend sharing some seasonal small plates and starting with the always there, always delicious pork buns.
Momofuku Noodle Bar
Momofuku Noodle Bar [163 First Avenue, New York; Menu]
The place that launched an empire, Momofuku Noodle Bar has been through many incarnations. Right now I would say that it's best as a late night dining spot where you don't have to worry about crowds and can simply enjoy the world-class pork buns and a noodle soup in peace. Another option is to try the seasonal lunch or dinner prix fixe meal for what feels like a mini-Momofuku Ko experience. All in all, still a great little spot.
The place that launched an empire, Momofuku Noodle Bar has been through many incarnations. Right now I would say that it's best as a late night dining spot where you don't have to worry about crowds and can simply enjoy the world-class pork buns and a noodle soup in peace. Another option is to try the seasonal lunch or dinner prix fixe meal for what feels like a mini-Momofuku Ko experience. All in all, still a great little spot.
Minca
Minca [536 East 5th Street, New York; Menu]
If you're looking for a hearty bowl of ramen noodles, Minca's the spot. But before you order the noodles, there are a couple of very good appetizers you should try for variety's sake since you are probably not going to finish the whole bowl of noodles anyway. The shrimp gyoza is simply excellent, made fresh right in front of you. In addition, the radish salad is very refreshing. The peanut-influenced sauce is wonderful. As for the ramen, I ordered the Shoyu Ramen and I was very pleased with my selection. My friends had the Minca Ramen and Toroniku Ramen, both of which were very good as well. These dishes were all extremely filling, pork-based, and very reasonably priced.
If you're looking for a hearty bowl of ramen noodles, Minca's the spot. But before you order the noodles, there are a couple of very good appetizers you should try for variety's sake since you are probably not going to finish the whole bowl of noodles anyway. The shrimp gyoza is simply excellent, made fresh right in front of you. In addition, the radish salad is very refreshing. The peanut-influenced sauce is wonderful. As for the ramen, I ordered the Shoyu Ramen and I was very pleased with my selection. My friends had the Minca Ramen and Toroniku Ramen, both of which were very good as well. These dishes were all extremely filling, pork-based, and very reasonably priced.
La Palapa
La Palapa [77 St. Mark's Place, New York; Menu]
After walking past this place countless times, I finally went in to eat here. It turns out that the food is pretty good, although not spectacular. Make sure to start off with some Guacamole which is excellent, but you might need two portions because each one is not that big. I tried both tacos and quesadillas. I preferred the quesadillas and would recommend the Bistec, which was noticeably better than my other dishes. It is also worth noting that the margaritas are very tasty and the food is generally spicier than most Mexican places I have been to.
After walking past this place countless times, I finally went in to eat here. It turns out that the food is pretty good, although not spectacular. Make sure to start off with some Guacamole which is excellent, but you might need two portions because each one is not that big. I tried both tacos and quesadillas. I preferred the quesadillas and would recommend the Bistec, which was noticeably better than my other dishes. It is also worth noting that the margaritas are very tasty and the food is generally spicier than most Mexican places I have been to.
La Paella
La Paella [214 East 9th Street, New York; Menu]
Relive your time in Spain (or imagine what it might be like) as you enjoy tapas, sangria, and paella at this charming little restaurant. For the tapas, you're best off going with a big group so you can try a lot of different dishes without breaking the bank, but if you can't do that, pick the few that look best to you. I really enjoyed the stuffed squid with squid ink and tomatoes and the Basque salad (lots of smoked salmon). For the main course, you should probably get paella. I have tried both the Paella Basque and the Paella Negra. I personally preferred the Negra, but you have to like the whole squid ink thing to enjoy that. Both are very filling. For drinks, the sangria is delicious, although it didn't seem to be too strong (related?). On the whole, you should have a very enjoyable dinner and if you can make it for lunch they have great lunch special deal (soup/salad, paella, ice cream) from noon-4 pm every day.
Relive your time in Spain (or imagine what it might be like) as you enjoy tapas, sangria, and paella at this charming little restaurant. For the tapas, you're best off going with a big group so you can try a lot of different dishes without breaking the bank, but if you can't do that, pick the few that look best to you. I really enjoyed the stuffed squid with squid ink and tomatoes and the Basque salad (lots of smoked salmon). For the main course, you should probably get paella. I have tried both the Paella Basque and the Paella Negra. I personally preferred the Negra, but you have to like the whole squid ink thing to enjoy that. Both are very filling. For drinks, the sangria is delicious, although it didn't seem to be too strong (related?). On the whole, you should have a very enjoyable dinner and if you can make it for lunch they have great lunch special deal (soup/salad, paella, ice cream) from noon-4 pm every day.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hasaki
Hasaki [210 East 9th Street, New York; Menu]
It's yet another sushi restaurant in the East Village and guess what...it's delicious! Hasaki offers a wide variety of fresh fish, along with some creative non-sushi entrees. I had an Angus Beef special in which I cooked the meat myself on a hot stone. It was excellent, albeit a little bit of a hassle. The best deal, however, is probably the Sushi Five ($22), in which you get 5 pieces of sushi, along with two rolls, so I would strongly recommend that option. The restaurant is pretty small, so you might have to wait at a peak time, but the food is definitely a cut above some of the more standard places.
It's yet another sushi restaurant in the East Village and guess what...it's delicious! Hasaki offers a wide variety of fresh fish, along with some creative non-sushi entrees. I had an Angus Beef special in which I cooked the meat myself on a hot stone. It was excellent, albeit a little bit of a hassle. The best deal, however, is probably the Sushi Five ($22), in which you get 5 pieces of sushi, along with two rolls, so I would strongly recommend that option. The restaurant is pretty small, so you might have to wait at a peak time, but the food is definitely a cut above some of the more standard places.
Gyu-Kaku
Gyu-Kaku [34 Cooper Square, New York; Menu]
A great place for groups, but also somewhere you could dine alone, this outpost of the Gyu-Kaku chain has some of the most delicious BBQ south of 32nd street. The menu has a lot of options for what you can throw on the grill (you have to cook it yourself), but I would recommend sticking mostly to the beef. The best option, of course, is anything Kobe. We had the Kobe Kalbi and it was simply fantastic. Almost as good however, and much cheaper, was the Harami, marinated skirt steak. A third good beef option is the regular Kalbi. Be careful when you are ordering because each portion is not that big and the tally does add up. It's worth it though. And if you can get there early or late, they have happy hour pricing on one meat each day Monday-Thursday. There is a second location in Midtown.
A great place for groups, but also somewhere you could dine alone, this outpost of the Gyu-Kaku chain has some of the most delicious BBQ south of 32nd street. The menu has a lot of options for what you can throw on the grill (you have to cook it yourself), but I would recommend sticking mostly to the beef. The best option, of course, is anything Kobe. We had the Kobe Kalbi and it was simply fantastic. Almost as good however, and much cheaper, was the Harami, marinated skirt steak. A third good beef option is the regular Kalbi. Be careful when you are ordering because each portion is not that big and the tally does add up. It's worth it though. And if you can get there early or late, they have happy hour pricing on one meat each day Monday-Thursday. There is a second location in Midtown.
Dumpling Man
Dumpling Man [100 St. Mark's Place, New York; Menu]
A decent option if you don't want to go down to Chinatown, Dumpling Man serves up pretty tasty and filling dumplings for reasonable prices. For the standards, they offer pork, chicken, shrimp, and vegetable either steamed (my preference) or seared on one side. I tried all but the vegetable and I would say that chicken was my favorite. The standard dumpling sauce, along with some Sriracha should be all you need, but they do offer some special sauces if you like. Overall, it's a pretty good place for a late-night snack.
A decent option if you don't want to go down to Chinatown, Dumpling Man serves up pretty tasty and filling dumplings for reasonable prices. For the standards, they offer pork, chicken, shrimp, and vegetable either steamed (my preference) or seared on one side. I tried all but the vegetable and I would say that chicken was my favorite. The standard dumpling sauce, along with some Sriracha should be all you need, but they do offer some special sauces if you like. Overall, it's a pretty good place for a late-night snack.
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