Adventures In Restaurant Week Part Deux

I think I can get use to this restaurant week stuff. Select menu, discounted items, 3 course meal...I'd be a fool to not take advantage. Next up on my restaurant quest...Haru!

What the hell is Haru?
Simply put...Haru is a Sushi restaurant. Not like one of those $8 dollar Bento Box kind of places. It's waaaaaay more upscale. Kinda sorta like a Blue Fin or maybe Sushi Samba.

Ugh! Sushi! There's something about raw food (especially fish) that just doesn't do it for me. So you was over there eating a bunch of raw sea animals?
SMH! I was not. Even though I am a Sushi fan the items I chose to order weren't typical Sushi items...actually I didn't order Sushi at all. To start I had the King Crab Dumplings. For an entree I had the Filet Mignon. And for dessert I had the Cheesecake Tempura.

Doesn't sound like the typical Sushi order! With a place catered towards Sushi, how were the other non-Sushi items?
A! M! A! Z! I! N! G! The crab dumplings weren't what I expected. I thought it would be more of a jumbo lump kind of crab meat, but it was more of a paste. Either way I wasn't disappointed. The...Filet...Mignon! COOKED TO PERFECTION! So tender! So flavorful! Just an extremely well cooked piece of steak. And last but CERTAINLY NOT least...the cheesecake tempura. I'm not much of a dessert guy. It's not that I don't like sweets but during the course of a dinner outing, by the time it gets to dessert I'm full! Knowing this, I rarely get dessert. But since it came with the whole Restaurant Week special I said what the hell. THAT CHEESECAKE TEMPURA WAS SO DAMN GOOD!

Looks like the best part of your meal was dessert. Did the other courses not measure up?
The appetizer and entree were amazing! Like I don't have one single complaint about either. But I'm convinced that sweet baby Jesus himself...came down from the Heavens...and crafted that Cheesecake Tempura! It was without a doubt the best part of my already amazing meal.

What was so good about this damn tempura?
Let me paint a picture....
You're at an amusement park, carnival, fair, bazaar, etc. After looking all day you finally find the funnel cake stand. OF COURSE you get some funnel cake because you don't know when you'll ever have some again. You take that first bite and find out that your funnel cake has been filled with sweet, warm cheesecake. But not just any old box cheesecake that can be purchased from some random corner store. This is homemade, hand-crafted cheesecake! So now you're sitting there with cheesecake, wrapped in funnel cake, and some syrup at the bottom of the plate that does nothing but complement. That right there ladies and gentlemen...is what made that Cheesecake Tempura so damn good!

I kind want a piece of that right now! Obviously, the food was good...how was the ambiance and service?
Very clean, dim lighting, pleasant staff, mellow vibe. The type of place you could go to for a romantic evening or an after work get together.

Nice. Recommendations?
GO HERE! Whether you're in the area or not, you NEED to try this place out! And that's all I got to say about that.

Haru Sushi

220 Park Avenue South

New York, NY 10003

The social on the corner...

Being from Harlem, I get extremely skeptical when new restaurants/bars just randomly pop up. I don't know why, but for some reason I went against my better judgement and decided to try out Corner Social.

So what's the problem with new restaurants in Harlem?
Technically...nothing. The issue I have with them is that there is usually sooooooo much hype that surrounds them. Then when you get around to trying the place out you find that it's overpriced, overrated, and just a waste of time. But, like I mentioned before I went against my better judgement and decided to give it a try.

OK. Was it as bad as you envisioned it?
Not really. Nice ambiance, no crowd, decent music, service was pleasant. I must say that I had a really nice lunch outing.

2 questions in and you haven't mentioned anything about the food...guess it wasn't that good huh?
Uhh...so I figured I would take the healthier approach and get the fish tacos (I mean who doesn't love a nice fish taco right?) with an Angry Orchard beer. Sad to say that the beer turned out to be the highlight of my lunch. The tacos were small, bland, and falling apart as soon as I picked them up. Thought the little salsa that they give you would have done it some justice...WRONG! Definitely, wasn't a wise decision on my behalf.

Damn. That sucks. Why didn't try something else while you were there or send the food back?
As much as they try to get you to believe that nothing is done to the food of the customer that sends his/her plate back...I'm not buying it! And I didn't buy something else because I'm not in the habit of buying multiple meals during one sitting (especially since I'm there solo). On top of that, why would I invest more money in a place that has already let me down? But yet somehow, the following day I managed to find myself there again for dinner -_-

So disappointed with your encounter and yet you go back? Why?
Aside from the food, the place is actually very nice when it comes to social atmosphere. So my hunger and lack of wanting to be in the house is what drove me back over there. Needless to say, I DID NOT get the fish tacos!

How was the second time around?
MUCH BETTER! Was with a buddy of mine and we decided to start out with the chicken nachos which were...SLAMMING! Not necessarily the healthiest choice, but they were sooooo good! As an entree I got the turkey burger and salad. Not for nothing, this may have been one of, if not the best, turkey burger I've ever had. Huge patty, great flavor, the fix'ns weren't overbearing...everything was put together very nicely. Hell, even the salad was good! Experience overall was a complete upgrade from the day before.

Glad to hear your second experience was better then your first...anything else I should know about this place?
Keep in mind that this place is a lounge/bar. Don't go into it expecting to get the best meal you ever had. Also, understand that this place is still fairly new so I'm sure they're in the process of playing with items on the menu to see what works and what doesn't.

Recommendations?
Yeah....STAY AWAY FROM THE FISH TACOS! This place is nothing worth traveling far and wide for, but if you're in the area I'd say give it a try

 

Corner Social

321 Lenox Ave

New York, NY 10027

(212) 510-8552

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

One random day at the job one of my co-workers tells me about this place he and his brother use to go to a while back called This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef (TLPHRB...damn! Even when placed in an acronym it's still long...SMH!). Off the name alone I was immediately interested and decided to take a trip down there after I got off work.

That's a pretty catchy name...I'm guessing they sell roast beef?
You would be correct with that assumption. Hot roast beef sandwiches with all types of predetermined fixings or custom...the choice is yours. They do have a slew of sides as well that you can get in addition to your roast beef sandwich.

So what sandwiches did you get and how were they?
Where do I even begin!? I'll start from my first trip and work my way up:

- This Way: roast beef, au jus sauce, and cheese whiz. The perfect entry sandwich to this place. Sandwich was hot and juicy, each ingredient complimented the other, and for a sandwich on a roll it was pretty filling

- That Way: roast beef, mozzarella, and gravy. This one just might be my favorite sandwich but it's messy as hell! I mean the ingredients should speak for themselves.

- The Popeye Way: roast beef, au jus, provolone, and fresh spinach. You're probably scratching your head wondering where the hell that spinach came from and I'd be lying if I didn't say I thought the same thing at first. But believe me...it works. The spinach can be a bit chewy though, so if you're not looking to battle with a messy sandwich and chewy veggies, I'd advise staying aware from this bad boy.

- The Other Thing: pastrami, coleslaw, and spicy brown mustard. I tried this sandwich out of sheer curiosity! I mean if they're making the hell out of those roast beef sandwiches then the pastrami has to be good...and it was but... I'm not a fan of coleslaw and I think I let my greed and wanting to run through the menu cloud my judgement. Though not a bad sandwich the coleslaw really didn't do it for me. Also, there was very little spicy brown mustard...kinda disappointed.

- Lobster Fries: OK...so imagine you have KFC's potato wedges in a bowl of lobster bisque soup (chunks and all). Another thing that I don't think I would have EVER combined, but trust me...IT WORKS!

- Stew Fries: yeah so remember those lobster fries we were talking about a few minutes ago? Replace the lobster bisque with beef stew and you now have stew fries! A fat kids dream.

DAMN! Either you went a bunch of times or you are hands down the fattest dude in America!
I did go a bunch of times, but with those visits there was much...way too much food consumption. Each sandwich sounded so interesting I figured I would try as many as I could that were on the menu.

Well I think that the big question here is how does this sandwich measure up to Fiore's in New Jersey?
As good as these sandwiches are, they don't measure up to Fiore's! I don't think that I would even compare the 2 but for arguments sake comparing Fiore's RB to the Little Piggy RB is like comparing Ruth Chris Steakhouse to Tad's Steakhouse. Yes both are good in their own right BUT if you can you're probably going to go to Ruth Chris. Same thing with Fiore v Little Piggy. 

Damn! Tad's Steakhouse though?
Ok! Maybe not the best comparison. I couldn't come up with another steakhouse that wasn't as fancy as Ruth Chris. Let's be clear though...Little Piggy IS NOT TAD'S in anyway! 

What else is there that I should know about this place?
The place isn't all that big. Yes there is seating space available but don't think you're going to be at a table or anything like that. Bar stools and counter tops. If you're cool with that then you'll be fine.

Recommendation?
If you're into tasty, messy sandwiches that drip all down your hands and arms...you DEFINITELY want to go here

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

149 1st Avenue

New York, NY 10003

(212) 253-1500

----------------------------

 Nom in NY

The best Mozzarella you'll ever have...

So back when I was working at my old job, I received several recommendations from a good co-worker of mine. Unfortunately, the majority of the recommendations were located in New Jersey. Not really having the transportation or the knowledge of how to get around out there, I was pretty reluctant to take him up on these New Jersey suggestions. After much time and consideration I decided it was time for me to broaden my horizons and venture over to this new and uncharted territory and pay a visit to Fiore's in Hoboken, NJ

So what made you finally decide to go?
There were several reasons, but 3 main ones.

1 - the way my coworker RAVED about this roast beef sandwich that they make on Thursdays and Saturdays...there was no way I wasn't going to experience it for myself

2 - someone finally came along (with a car) who was willing to take the trip with me

3 - THEY MAKE THEIR OWN MOZZARELLA...if that's not reason enough I really don't know what is.

Make their own mozzarella huh? You couldn't find a local place that does that? Did you really have to go out of town for deli food?
I'm almost 100% positive that I could have found a place that was much closer to home. However, the majority of my food decisions are based on what I've seen and what I've heard and since I didn't see or hear about anything closer to home I didn't bother doing any research. Word around the town was that Fiore's was the place to go so that's where I had to go so that's where my quest took me. So to answer your question...Yes I did.

OK. So what exactly is this Fiore's place?
Simply put...an Italian deli in Hoboken, New Jersey that specializes in making their signature mozzarella cheese (either fresh or smoked). Of course there are other items on the menu but if you're going to go there...YOU WANT TO GET THE MOZZARELLA.

What did you get when you first went and how did you like it?
The roast beef special was what I heard about so that's what I was there for. Thin slices of rare roast beef piled high on Italian bread with the mozzarella and topped off with hot gravy! I REPEAT...TOPPED OFF WITH HOT GRAVY! I'm going to go on record and say that hands down, this is probably THE BEST roast beef sandwich I have ever had. You have your hot roast beef sandwiches and roast beef sandwiches with all types of dips and Au Ju sauces, but that Fiore's roast beef sandwich is how a roast beef sandwich was meant to be prepared. In addition to that sandwich I also picked up some peppers stuffed with provolone and prosciutto which were DELICIOUS! also.

Is the roast beef sandwich the only sandwich you've had from there?
It's not. They make an excellent Italian combo! So far the roast beef, turkey and cheese, and Italian combo are the only sandwiches I've had. As much as I would love to run through the rest of the items on the menu I just can't bring myself to order anything outside the roast beef.

Cool...anything else that I need to know about this place?
Umm...
1 - it is a deli and there are other sandwiches other then the ones I've mentioned. I believe everyday there is a different special and I'm sure they are equally as good as the roast beef special
2 - for what you get the price is VERY reasonable. For one sandwich you're looking to spend anywhere from $11-$13 bucks. Keep in mind that the sandwich will be almost as long as your arm and thicker then your fist
3 - you don't have to buy everything in a sandwich. Again it is a deli so you can go in and buy a pound of roast beef, a quarter pound of mozzarella, etc. Get your ingredients and make the sandwich how you want when you get home
4 - probably the most important (at least to me) is that the service is stellar! It doesn't matter who you get behind the counter, they are all courteous, friendly, and very generous with the samples :)

 

414 Adams Street 

Hoboken, NJ

(201) 659 - 1655

The Pizza that is Artichoke!

Ok! So just when you thought that good ol' fashioned New York pizza just couldn't get any better...IT DOES!  *sound the trumpets* Ladies and gentlemen!  I am here to tell you that I have been to the mountain top!  I have seen the glory!  I have tasted the heavenliness that is Artichoke Pizza!

Artichoke Pizza?  What the hell is that?

Artichoke Pizza is just that...Artichoke Pizza.  If you want to be technical, it's really called Basille's Artichoke Pizza but I haven't heard one person yet refer to it as such.  Basically, it's the cheesiest, artichokiest slice of amazingness that you will ever have.  Most times when I make a reference to artichoke pizza the first thing out of someone's mouth is, "I'm good...I don't eat artichokes."  Then I follow up with this series of questions...

Me - have you ever had an artichoke?

Them - I don't know...I think so. I know I don't like em

Me - so you don't know if you have even had one before but you are positive that you don't like it...do you even know what an artichoke is?

You - it's a vegetable right?

Me - have you ever had spinach and artichoke dip from like an Applebee's or TGIF?

Them - yes!  I just love that dip

Me - imagine if it was on a pizza...

Them - oh that sounds good...wait is that what artichoke pizza is?

Me - *C'mon Son face*

Usually, that's all it take for me to convince someone to at least try the damn pizza.

So artichoke pizza is just spinach and artichoke dip on a pizza?

Not entirely but there is an extremely high chance that if you enjoy spinach artichoke dip, you'll enjoy that pizza. It's a straight up white slice (meaning there's no red sauce on it) with artichoke hearts, cheese, and I want to say a little spinach (don't quote me...it's been a while since I've had it).  I promise you it's DELICIOUS!

How did you even find out about this place?

It's funny because I would pass by this place and always see a line that went out the door.  Never really thought to look and see what the line was all about.  Long story short though...a friend put me on.  Was hanging out one night and after some drinks, there is nothing better then some grub.  It was suggested to go to artichoke pizza.  Not going to lie...I was a little skeptical at first.  Figured why the hell would I want some healthy ass artichoke slice? Little did I know that it was going to change my life and also that it was the same spot I had passed several times before.  Guess it was fate that brought us together.

Is this one of those places where they call themselves Artichoke Pizza and all they sell coincidentally is artichoke pizza?

Artichoke pizza isn't all that they sell but it's definitely their money maker.  I would say it's a traditional pizza shop with a specialty but now that I think about it the only thing that is quote un-quote traditional, would be their Sicilian.  Other then that they serve artichoke pizza, crab pizza, and margarita pizza.

Have you tried anything other then the artichoke pizza?

I've tried the Sicilian, but that was by chance.  I always say that I'm going to try the crab slice but never do because I'm so caught up on the artichoke.  I vow, one of these days I'm going to try that damn crab slice if it's the last thing I do.

You speak so highly of this place I'm almost afraid to ask if there are any cons?

To be completely honest, the cons don't and won't keep me from going there...EVER (unless they start having issues with cleanliness and all that)!  

1 - Price.  If you can muster up the strength to dig in your pocket and pull out $4.50 for 1 slice, you will find that it's the best $4.50 you will ever spend.  Sometimes you can't really put a price on tasty, over sized pizza.  

2 - This one hurts me more then anything...sometimes the pizza can be on the salty side so make sure you have some water to wash it down with.

Things I've had:

Artichoke Pizza - AMAZING

Sicilian - very good

328 E. 14th Street - 212.228.2004

114th 10th Avenue - 212.792.9200

111 MacDougal Steet - 646.278.6100

 www.artichokepizza.com

Di Di Di Di D Di Di Di..Di Di Dumpling *Nickelodeon Voice*

Don't know if you all are aware but I'm HUGE fan of dumplings! Straight up loves em! Steamed, fried, grilled, sauteed, baked, WHATEVER! With that being said I managed to find a place that sells probably some of the best fast food dumplings I have ever had.

Dumpling guy eh? So what's this place you found?

I actually use to pass by this place a lot but never got a chance to go in because it was always closed. Drifting around on my break one day I bumped into this place again and I can't tell you how happy I was that there were open :)

Enough rambling, the place is called Di Di Dumpling and it's amazing! 

What's so good about this place?

First, the price! Nothing warms my heart more then when I walk into a place to get food and walk out with a receipt that is less then 7 bucks. Not to say that the cost makes the food taste better but there is a sense of fulfillment when you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for grub. $5.95 + tax can get you 5 dumplings and a hearty serving of lo mein or soup or vegetable tempura.

Second, the dumplings are EXCELLENT! Very flavorful, not all oily and greasy, and you can actually taste the difference between the fillings. *Tangent* If you don't know what I mean by tasting the difference...you ever go to the Chinese store and order pork dumplings. Then you go back to the same place and decide that this time you're going to get the chicken dumplings. You get home and realize that your chicken dumplings taste pretty much just like the pork dumplings. So then you try the beef dumplings because you figure all of their dumplings can't taste the same...but you were clearly mistaken! I know I'm not the only one that's been through that. *Back to the story* Also, to give you a little variety, you can get your dumplings one of 2 ways and that's Juicy (which is the traditional boiled dumpling) or Pot Sticker (basically a grilled, crunchy dumpling). In addition to the dumplings they have all types of condiments that compliment them and sides and soups available as well.

Juicy or Pot Sticker...which one do you prefer?

I'm not gonna lie the catchy "Pot Sticker" labeling attracted me to try those types of dumplings and I have been stuck on them ever since. Every time I try to order the Juicy ones, my brain completely cuts off connection to my vocal cords and I end up getting the Pot Stickers. It's almost like I blackout and wake up with Pot Sticker in front of me. Unfortunately, I have yet to try them but I hear they're really good. One of these days I tell ya. But if you're looking for a recommendation...POT STICKERS HANDS DOWNS!

Any cons?

The size of this places isn't the best. It's actually pretty small and can fill up quick. So if you're looking to eat in you better time it right or you may end up having to get your order to go. Also, up until recently they stopped taking credit cards...that's wack!

Last words?

GO THERE AND TRY THE POT STICKERS WITH SOME PEPPERY SAUCE ON THE SIDE! 

---Things I've Had---

Chicken Pot Stickers: excellent

Pork Pot Stickers: good

Lo Mein: good

Hot & Sour Soup: good

Di Di Dumpling

38 Lexington Avenue (diagonal from Baruch College)

www.dididumpling.com

(718) 709 - 8132

Duke of Lunch...

So in my lunch time adventures I have found that I'm getting....uh....LAZY! When I say lazy I mean looking for cafe's rather then places that specialize in one type of cuisine. How does that make me lazy you ask? Well, rather then going to some place that I have heard about or walk past, I have been going to these all purpose cafes and just grabbing something quick for lunch. Until I finally come out of this lunch slump, I figured it would only be right for me to speak about the place that I have been getting my quick lunches from....CAFE DUKE'S

What brought you to Cafe Duke's?
One day, my co-worker and I were discussing Korean food. She was raving about how good it was and I was sitting there with my mouth watering like a crazy maniac. After all was said and done the decision was made that I had to try this Korean food that I heard so much about. She felt that Duke's had the best Korean food in the area, so on one cold afternoon we took the trip over there.

How was it when you went?
The food or the place?
Both!

Oh ok. Well, the place is very similar to Bocca (see "Simple Lunch" for details) in that there are several stations with different items to choose from. Actually, this place is like Bocca on some SERIOUS steroids! When I first walked in I didn't know if I was coming on going. There were people EVERWHERE! If you closed your eyes and couldn't smell the food you could easily mistake that place for the NY Stock Exchange. Busy like I don't know what! And the amount of items that they serve is crazy! I mean hot/cold sanwiches, different types of soups, pizzas (personal pies and slices), salads, pasta, sushi, and a buffet...how is a man suppose to choose! Thank goodness I had a guide to direct me through the madness.

Now for the food...
Since the plan was to get me to try their Korean food, we went right to the station that was serving it. As if I wasn't confused already by the chaos, the menu confused me even more! All I saw on the menu was spicy, tofu, chicken, beef, and vegetables. I had no idea what was going on. Thankfully, my guide was able to explain everything. With what there was to choose from, the popular items were the shredded beef, and tofu soups. Not being a huge fan of tofu, I decided to get the shredded beef with white rice...which also came with a small side of pickled cabbage. The food was pretty good. To be honest, there wasn't really anything overly special about my meal, but it definitely was satisfying. Satisfying enough that I decided to go back.

Well if there wasn't anything special about it why go back?
Mainly, because I felt like I had unfinished business there. My co-worker got a tofu soup and the way it looked when she got it...there was no way I wasn't going to come back and at least try it. Besides, with everything that they serve in that place, there was no way I wasn't going to come back!

Did you eventually get the tofu soup? If so, how did you like it?
Yes I did! I went back and got the spicy tofu soup with seafood and I wasn't disappointed. The soup was exactly what it said in the name. Different seafood items, with a bunch of tofu chunks, in a sea of spicy broth...just how a spicy soup should be! The only issue I have with it, is the texture of the tofu. It was extremely soft...almost like jello. I'm use to tofu being a little more solid and not so loose. But in any event, it definitely wasn't enough to stop me from eating nor ordering it again (the next time was with veggies though..mmmm mmmm).

You seem to really like the Korean food...did you ever manage to try anything else?
Yes the food from the Korean station was rather tasty, but since then I have graduated on to other stations. During one visit, I tried a few items from the buffet. Buffet food is buffet food so there really wasn't anything special about theirs. And I have made FREQUENT trips to the Udon noodle station. It's basically these spaghetti-like noodles (like spaghetti noodles, but waaaay thicker), broth (with or without spicy seasoning), your choice of shrimp or vegetable shumai (dumplings), and a whole bunch of other seasonings and fixing for you to add in there. Mucho delicious!

Recommendations?
Everything that I have had from there was good and I have had more then once. Main thing I would recommend though is the Udon noodle soups. Very tasty, large portion, and not overly expensive.

Cafe Duke's
140 W. 51st Street
(212) 445 - 0010

It's not you, it's MEE

So my co-worker comes in the other day with his lunch and when I tell you the smell was completely driving me CRAZY!...that's exactly what I mean! I thought my little homemade lunch was cool, but I was quickly put to shame as soon as he took his food out of the bag. Holding back the urge to be a savage beast and put my hands in his food, I managed to calm myself and get one question out: "WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT FROM!?" He humbly responded, "MEE Noodle." And so it was done. The decision to track down the source of that heavenly aroma was made and a few days later my adventure began.

What's MEE Noodle?

I thought it was a noodle shop where every item on the menu either came on top of noodles or noodles were on the side. Not the case at all. It's basically a Chinese restaurant with an extensive noodle selection on the menu. They have the classic items like sesame chicken, beef and broccoli, etc., if you aren't looking to take the noodle route.

Did you get the noodles or did you go the safe route?

No noodles for me, but I did try something that I don't normally get. I ordered the roast pork with Chinese vegetables, fried rice, and a hot and sour soup. All for $6.20 plus tax...can't beat that with a bat! Thank God for lunch time specials :)

Was the food as "heavenly" as you'd imagined it would be?
It certainly was! They brought the soup as a starter and it was VERY tasty. Fairly small portion though. You have to be careful when ordering hot and sour soup because it's usually one extreme or the other. MEE's hot and sour soup was just right. Not overly chunky, flavor was perfect, and top things off it had the right amount of spicy.

On to my main dish...I usually try to stay away from the Chinese dishes that have vegetables in them because you end up with a handful of meat and a boatload of veggies! You know what I'm talking about...you get your order and it looks like you ordered a vegetable meadley and they accidentally dropped a few piece of meat in there. SMH! But going against my better judgment, I decided to get the veggies with the roast pork. Surprisingly, one didn't overwhelm the other and there was the perfect amount of both. Speaking of amounts, the portions they give are huge! 2 maybe even 3 people can be satisfied off of 1 lunch special. I know half way in I was waving the white flag and that RARELY happens.

My co-worker that came with me had the General Tso's chicken (not spicy) and that was just as good too. Usually you get the General Tso's or the seasame chicken and the chicken is overly breaded, sticky and soft. Not like a mushy soft, but like fried, leftover soft (if that makes any sense). Not here! That chicken was fried HARD and you could tell as soon as you bit into it! Nice and crunchy how deep fried and sauced up chicken should be.
Just out of curiosity what was it that your co-worker had that made you go there in the first place?He had the BBQ roast pork over white rice. Slightly different from what it was that I got, but I'm sure it's just as good. That will be what I have the next time I go there.
Recommendation?
This is definitely a place that you want to go to. I have tried other Chinese places in the area and it's always something that doesn't sit to well with me. I find myself saying things such as, "too greasy, not enough meat, way too much rice, texture isn't right..." I have absolutely no complaints about this place. Now that I think about it, it's probably the best Chinese food in the area when it comes to price, portion and overall taste. Definitely try it out!

MEE
795 9th Avenue

New York, NY

(212) 765-2929

Cuban sandwich anyone?

In an area like Times Square it can be rather difficult to find good Spanish cuisine. I don't think ya'll understand...I'm from the Uptown area of NYC and when I say GOOD Spanish cuisine I mean the rice is on point, the beef in the beef stew is always tender, the beans are in abundance, the roasted chicken is seasoned so good that you wanna just ask for a side of the skin (only people who have had that type of skin would understand what I mean), and Mojito sauce is ALWAYS on standby. Unfortunately, you won't find exactly what I'm talking about in the Times Square area, but what you will find is a little, hole-in-the-wall spot called Margon's.

What can I expect going to Margon's?
Expect to be cramped up! During lunch hours...people are spilling out of this place. The people waiting to order are being bumped by the people leaving and coming in, lines kinda run into each other, it's loud...I LOVE IT! As packed as it can get I can't say that I have had one bad experience yet. Staff is very friendly and if you're a loyal customer they definitely take good care of you.

I'm not really a big fan of crowds...is it worth waiting in that?
Honestly? Yes it is worth the wait!...especially if you are grabbing and going. You have to keep in mind that the place isn't big at all so unless it's dead empty, it will always seem crowded. They do a good job of spotting folks and seeing their position in line though...and it moves pretty quick for the most part. Now if you are looking to sit there and eat...you may wanna reconsider. The tables are usually always taken. If you are lucky enough to find an empty table, know that the tables are right next to the lines. So you can expect a lot of people walking past your food and standing by/over your table. I'm not really a big fan of all that because that's how accidents happen, so I mainly get my food and go.

So I don't get sucked into the confusion, any tips to help expedite my visit?
Sandwiches and shakes are the lines closest to the door and platters are towards the middle. You can sometimes do a mixed order (like order a sandwich and a side of rice & beans all at the sandwich station), but don't try to get a platter while you're on the sandwich line. You will be instructed to the proper line and your wait time will be increased.

What's better...the sandwiches or the platters?
It doesn't really matter because the food is BANGING!

Margon's is known for their Cuban sandwich (which is EXCELLENT) so I would say for the first visit try that. But what you decide to get really depends on how hungry you are. If you're looking for a quick eat and really aren't that hungry, definitely get the sandwich. For some, the Cuban sandwich can be a bit overwhelming because of all that's in it...but they have several other sandwiches to choose from. The steak, the chicken, and the pork sandwiches are all very good.
Now if you're a hungry man such as myself, then you wanna get the platter. For 8+ bucks you get a portion like you wouldn't believe! I'm talking about one of those you can't close the tin container portions. Like...you can split it with someone else and still be satified portions. Everyday there is a different set of specials for you to choose from, but my 2 favorites are the roasted chicken with yellow rice & red beans or the pork with rice & beans. They throw the gravy on there if you want it and you get some plantains! Aside from the portions, the platters are AMAZING! Everything is well seasoned and the rice...don't even think I can put in words how I feel about their rice. I guarantee...that you will not be disappointed after trying anything from that place. Out of everyone I know, I have yet to hear a single complaint.

With all these good things to say, there has to be something wrong?
Other then the actual size of the place and the crowds, I don't think there is anything bad I can say about this place. I mean if you are one of those health buffs, then this may not be the place for you because the food is very flavorful (calories) and can be a tad bit on the greasy side (even more calories). But if you aren't a Vegan or a Vegetarian, you'll really enjoy this place!

Nice! Well the description speaks for itself so I'm sure you'd recommend it to others...
Ab-sa-freaking-lute-ly

Margon's

136 W. 46th Street

New York, NY

212-354-5013

Fish sandwich from a street cart?

OK! So about 2 weeks ago a co-worker of mines showed me this street cart that sold decent portions of seafood for a reasonable price. Not being one to shy away from a street food vendor I decided to give Kim's Aunt Kitchen a try...

First impression?
I was skeptical off top! I mean street meat is suspect as it is, and now you're telling me that this street vendor is selling seafood? Something just doesn't sound right here. After checking out the menu, noticing how reasonable the prices actually were, seeing that the cart was actually pretty clean, I decided to give it a shot and get me a fried whiting on whole wheat.

Well it was from a street vendor so it couldn't have been that good right?
That damn sandwich was banging! They give you the option of getting lettuce and tomatoes and all that, but I like my fish sandwiches simple. Ketchup, hot sauce, and sometimes a slice of cheese. Back to the sandwich...it was just 2 decent sized pieces of whiting, on 2 slice of whole wheat. For it to be a plain ol' fish sandwich, it was pretty tasty, definitely not cheap with the portions, and extremely reasonable in price. You try getting a fish sandwich from anywhere else and not pay $10+.

Service?
I mean it's a street cart. They're designed for getting people to the window and away from the window as soon as possible. Granted that this place is pretty popular so if you get there during prime time lunch hours you may be there waiting for a bit.

Anything else that I need to know?
Not really. It's a street cart. Limited menu, cheap prices, and great portions

Recommendation?
If you can get past the fact that it's seafood from a street cart, I would definitely suggest you try it.

Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart
46th btw. 5th & 6th Avenue.