October 4, 2011
I love coconut desserts, but there aren’t many noteworthy options in Manhattan. That’s why I jumped at Smith and Wollensky’s coconut layer cake. Considering the massive slice of cake – topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and served with a curl of crispy shortbread cookie – the $10 price tag is fairly reasonable for a Manhattan steakhouse. Unfortunately, bigger does not equal better. The citrus-flavored rum sauce beneath the cake felt out of place and I was disappointed by the standard frosting and lack of coconut between the layers of soft cake. It wasn’t a bad dessert, it just didn’t make me weak at the knees. Save your space for steak and lobster.
Smith and Wollensky’s Link 49th Street & 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 753-1530 Open Daily for Lunch Monday – Friday at 11:45am, Dinner 7 nights per week 7pm-11pm, Wollensky’s Grill open 11:30am-2am daily
Posted in MIDTOWN EAST, Smith and Wollensky's 
9 Comments »
October 3, 2011
If you’ve never had a dulce de leche cookie sandwich, also known as an alfajores in Spain and Latin America, now is the time. Thanks to East Village newcomer Zucker Bakery, you can get what I’m sure will be a regular fix for just $2 per bite-size cookie. And there will be a lot of bites, because these buttery cookie sandwiches are held together by chewy caramel and rolled in coconut. Eat them with your morning coffee (Zucker serves Stumptown), as a mid-afternoon snack or post-dinner dessert. Whatever you do, don’t waste any more time, these may be the best bite-sized desserts in the East Village.
Zucker Bakery, 433 E. 9th St., nr. Ave. A; 646-559-8425 Open 8am-6pm Tuesday-Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday, Closed Monday
Posted in EAST VILLAGE, Zucker Bakery 14 Comments »
September 29, 2011
Sometimes after a particularly unsatisfying meal of small to large proportions, I begin to drift off – mentally, that is – to a place where I can forget about the mediocrity I recently ingested and look to the future to decide where I’m going to eat next. Not where I’ll eat tomorrow or next week, but where I’ll eat immediately after I leave the offending restaurant. Pizza is typically my solution in this situation, but last week, I was on the Upper West Side after 10pm on a Wednesday. That left nothing but Big Nick’s and it would be plain masochistic to eat there before 4am, especially while sober.
As I turned onto Broadway from 79th street, I noticed La Caridad 78, the humble Chinese-Cuban restaurant both my uncle Steven and former NY Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton hold in high regard. Uncle Steven favors pepper steak and beef chow fun, strong performers on the greasy, starchy scale. Sifton has a carnal love for the fried pork chops in black bean sauce, which he is known to “murder” annually with fellow NY Times writer Michael Kimmelman.
Turns out there’s a reason they commit murder together: one plate is filled with enough glistening, crisp-edge pork to feed three hungry people, especially if you consider the accompanying plate of yellow rice and black beans. Salty, juicy, and fatty, the pork chops certainly hit the spot. And while it’s not the best food in Manhattan, for $14.40, it may be the most affordable feast. Would I be making a return trip for the pork chops next year? No. I departed with my leftovers and gave them to a homeless man on 72nd street. Satisfaction is one thing, gluttony is another.
La Caridad 78 2199 Broadway at 78th Street, New York, NY 10024 (212) 874-2780 Open 11:30am-12am Mon-Sat, 11:30am-10:30pm Sunday, Delivery Hours: 11:30am-11pm Mon-Sat, 11:30am-10pm Sunday
Posted in La Caridad 78, UPPER WEST SIDE 7 Comments »
September 23, 2011
It may look enticing, but at Ditch Plains on the Upper West Side, mac and cheese on a hot dog tastes like exactly that. I wanted to love it, really. But nothing is done to elevate the stoner-enticing “Ditch Dog” (2 for $14 with fries). It’s just a heap of bland white cheddar macaroni on top of a griddled hot dog. How about a trip under the broiler to add some burnt cheese charm? What about a handful of crispy frizzled onion strings for texture? Maybe some chopped jalapeno mixed into the macaroni would spice things up? Sadly, there was no redemption with the “Sloppy Dog” (2 for $14 with fries) either, just ground beef in overly sweetened tomato sauce. An off-the-menu special gets you one Ditch Dog and one Sloppy Dog ($14 with fries), but even alternating bites, adding drops of Cholula hot sauce and stuffing French fries into the hot dog buns couldn’t assuage my disappointment. I wonder if my college roommate still has those rolling papers?
Ditch Plains 100 West 82nd Street near Columbus Avenue New York, NY 10024 (212) 362-4815 Delivery: (646) 613-2490 Open 11am-2am Mon-Fri, 9am-2am Sat-Sun, Breakfast and Lunch served until 4pm daily 29 Bedford Street at Downing Street New York, NY 10014 (212) 633.0202 Delivery: (212) 219-2126 Open Daily 11am-2am
Posted in Ditch Plains, UPPER WEST SIDE 10 Comments »
September 21, 2011
Zaitzeff is a family name. And their eponymous burger joints – three are scattered throughout Manhattan – bear the marks of a family establishment: friendly service and food, both full of personality. All burgers (Sirloin Quarter Pound, $9.25) are grass-fed and served on sweet, housemade toasted Portuguese buns; better than English muffins. Romaine, tomato and sauteed onions are complementary. American cheese ($1.00) and bacon ($3.25) will set you back a bit. Fries ($5.00) are a la carte, hand cut and cooked in an iron skillet atop the stove so the oil can be changed frequently. A heaping stack of potato arrives at the table somewhere between limp and crisp, perfect for grabbing three at a time and swathing them through a pool of Heinz. You can even order a mixed fries ($5.00) and receive regular and sweet potato. And don’t overlook the full sour pickle, it’s from The Pickle Guys on the Lower East Side and it’s damn near perfect. Zaitzeff is the kind of place every neighborhood is lucky to have.
Zaitzeff Burgers Financial District – 72 Nassau Street at John Street (212) 571-7272 Open 10am-10pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun, East Village – 18 Avenue B at 2nd Street (212) 477-7137 Open 12pm-12am daily, Murray Hill – 711 2nd Avenue b/t 38th & 39th Street (212) 867-3471 Open 10am-11pm daily
Posted in EAST VILLAGE, FINANCIAL DISTRICT, Zaitzeff Burger, Zaitzeff Burgers 5 Comments »
September 19, 2011
The great conundrum for every serious food lover: Do you reveal the little places you love at the risk of making it that much harder to get in yourself? Well life is about sacrifices, and fortunately for me, the biggest I’ve had to make are connected to this blog. Without further adieu, I reveal the East Village’s Dessert Club, ChikaLicious. If you’ve been searching for something sweet south of 14th Street and it hasn’t yet taken you here, you’ve been spinning your wheels. Everything is delicious. Read on for my top picks and an explanation of what you’re looking at above.
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Posted in Dessert Club ChikaLicious, EAST VILLAGE 10 Comments »
September 16, 2011
When a man has family, he has food. Last night, I was running late for dinner, a fairly frequent occurrence for me. I consider it an inherent trait – a skill, if you will – meant simply to increase my appetite for the meal to come. Fortunately, my brother Craig, aka Lil NYC Food Guy, arrived at The Cardinal early.
Curtis Brown, chef and owner, left the kitchen at Bubby’s in Tribeca to open his own Southern joint. Only The Cardinal is much more than that. I happened to know that Chef Brown is from North Carolina and works miracles with a smoker. The fact that pepper bacon comes out of that smoker kind of makes him a hero.
Could this be the real BBQ restaurant the East Village needs? Like any experienced BBQ lover, I called ahead to see what was in stock. Disaster! Only two portions of brisket left. I hang up the phone to frantically call Craig and tell him to reserve the brisket, but I already have a text message. It’s from Craig. “Ordered the brisket. Only two left.” Now that’s what family is for.
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Posted in EAST VILLAGE, The Cardinal 11 Comments »
September 15, 2011
I may have disappeared for a full year, but it was not without reason: I chose a job over my blog. But now I have a new employer and only one thing matters: NYC Food Guy is back!
If you know NYC Food Guy, you know I’m dedicated to finding delicious and affordable food. When the PIX11 Morning News came calling for my top cheap eats throughout the area, I got hungry just thinking about all the great options. The toughest part was deciding which restaurants made the cut, which is why you should check out the video above! If you’re experiencing issues with the video player, you can watch here.
Posted in Best Cheap Eats in Manhattan, NYC FOOD GUY VIDEO 3 Comments »
September 13, 2011
I may have disappeared for a full year, but it was not without reason: I chose a job over my blog. But now I have a new employer and only one thing matters: NYC Food Guy is back!
Whether New Yorkers have missed NYC Food Guy or not, soon they’ll all be missing summer. That’s why you should check out the summery outdoor drinking and dessert spots I highlighted in July on the PIX11 Morning News, before all hints of the heat are gone. If you’re experiencing issues with the video player, you can watch here.
Posted in NYC FOOD GUY VIDEO, Outdoor Drinking & Cold Desserts 1 Comment »
September 12, 2011
I may have disappeared for a full year, but it was not without reason: I chose a job over my blog. But now I have a new employer and only one thing matters: NYC Food Guy is back!
The quote in the title of this post belongs to my lovely 20-year old sister Melissa. She knows what she’s talking about and she can eat, though you wouldn’t know by looking at her. Melissa and I have honed her palate with pancakes at Clinton Street Baking Company, burgers at the Burger Joint and Sicilian pies at Adrienne’s Pizza Bar. She used to be the girl who always ordered chicken fingers for dinner. Now she’s disappointed that Americans are content with processed cold cuts. Mention Boar’s Head and we applaud because it’s better than what they’re serving at Subway. These are sad statements about our turkey sandwich expectations. Torrisi brines their fresh turkey daily and tops it with thin, fresh veggies and a fiery eggplant-hot pepper sauce. A healthy dab of mayo ties it all together. Get the smaller version, on a squishy roll ($9), that way you don’t have to share.
Torrisi Italian Specialties 250 Mulberry Street at Prince Street, New York, NY 10012 (212) 965-0955 http://www.piginahat.com/ Sandwiches only available from 11am-4pm. Torrisi’s all-day sandwich operation, Parm, is opening next door in late September.
Posted in SOHO, Torrisi Italian Specialties Turkey Sandwich 15 Comments »
September 3, 2010
One of the best things to come out of writing this website is the motivation to try new cuisines. The huaraches and pupusas at the Red Hook Ball Fields were the first epiphany; then came dan-dan noodles and ma po tofu at Lan Sheng Szechuan Chinese food. But one cuisine I never had was Malaysian. So when my friend Michael mentioned catching up over dinner at Laut on 17th Street between Broadway and 5th Ave (off Union Sq.), I jumped at the opportunity. What I didn’t realize was that Michael had some friends in the kitchen who were ready to give me a crash course in the cornerstones of Malaysian cooking. Read on for an enlightening look at some serious deliciousness…
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Posted in FLATIRON/UNION SQUARE, Laut 13 Comments »
July 30, 2010
The lovely ladies of La Newyorkina, creators of Manhattan’s only artisanal Mexican ice pops, better know as paletas, are at it again! Saturday marks the debut of a brand new flavor paleta at Hester Street Fair: Honeydew Cucumber. It’s best described by La Newyorkina co-founder Hannah Goldberg:
“They say that it’s not easy being green, especially when one is a popsicle, but this one manages beautifully. A pale green with a delicate and elusive flavor that treads that fine line between sweet and savory – super-refreshing and utterly delicious. I hope you’ll make it down to the Fair to taste one!”
You heard the lady! Get down to Hester Street Fair and try one for yourself, tell them NYC Food Guy sent you.
Related: VIDEO Opening Day at Hester Street Fair
Posted in Uncategorized 19 Comments »
July 28, 2010
On its second day of official business, OliO greeted NYC Food Guy with a full house, bar and all. But while the 1,000 degree oven churned out pies like the brightly flavored Margherita ($12) by the minute, not even the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the governing body of Neapolitan pizza, could prevent the disaster that was the Campagnola ($21) pie. It was the inclusion of burrata on this pie that intrigued me as I’d never had this wet, creamy mozzarella on a pizza. And pairing it with parma prosciutto, arugula and parmesan seemed fool-proof enough. There’s no complaining about the size of the pie, its sufficient for two, but when dealing with authentic Neapolitan pizza, sometimes less is more. Parma prosciutto doesn’t benefit from being sliced any way other than paper thin. OliO’s slices of parma required not just a bite, but a hand – to keep the ham in place while you tear at the thick, fat-streaked pieces. The confusion continued as the overabundant bed of arugula combined with the sharp parmesan to completely eclipse any flavor or texture the delicate burrata attempted to provide. The result is a soggy slice that leaves more fallen on the plate than in your mouth. The dough at OliO is delicious – pliant, slightly charred and mildly smokey – just go easy on the toppings.
OliO, 3 Greenwich Ave nr. Sixth Ave, New York, NY 10011 212-243-6546
Menu [PDF]
Posted in OliO, WEST VILLAGE 9 Comments »
July 27, 2010
A source inside the Artichoke empire tells NYC Food Guy that management was reportedly scouting MacDougal Street in Manhattan’s West Village Monday as the location for a possible third branch of its eponymous slice joint. This very early tip comes on the heels of new signage appearing outside Artichoke’s impending 2nd branch, located on 17th street and 10th Avenue, a development that took nearly a year from the time word of the 2nd branch first leaked in October 2009. This gives us reason to wait at least a few months for West Village developments. Just enough time for Joe’s Pizza to develop a rival Artichoke slice of their own.
Posted in Artichoke Pizza, WEST VILLAGE 1 Comment »
July 12, 2010
Through all my varied, sometimes indulgent, eating over the last three and a half years of NYC Food Guy’s existence, the meals that left the most lasting impression – no matter the cuisine – were comprised of fresh, flavorful ingredients allowed to shine in their near natural form. Fresh, as it turns out, leaves you feeling better than deep fried. This is why I left Northern Spy Food Co. Saturday smiling and fully satisfied.
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Posted in EAST VILLAGE, Northern Spy Food Co. 15 Comments »
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