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

Adventures in Restaurant Week

I can't even believe that restaurant week has been around for so long and I'm just now taking advantage of it. SMH...silly me! Let's not dwell on my negligence, but focus more on my experience.

You're an idiot for taking so long to indulge in restaurant week, but like you said I won't dwell...where did you go?
Ok...no need for the name calling now! First stop, was Victor's Cafe. An upbeat Cuban restaurant located in the theater district. Figured since I'm a huge fan of Spanish cuisine, what better way to start my restaurant week adventures?

Nice! I'm sure you had you're hands full with picking a dish, so what did you end up getting?
To start I had the Shrimp Ceviche. Followed by the "Ropa Vieja" which is shredded Angus skirt steak simmered in garlic, tomatoes, onions, and peppers nestled in a plantain basket. I know I know...it sounds like a lot but it's basically beef stew in a small cup made out of plantains. And for dessert I ended up with the traditional flan.

Sounds like you were eating pretty damn good...any dislikes?
Some. Nothing to keep me from going there again though. First - I thought the shrimp ceviche was a little plain. Just some cold shrimp with chopped up onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Nothing all that special. Flavor was eh. Second - the Ropa Vieja was VERY GOOD, but was a bit on the salty side. The flan was straight though

Doesn't seem like it was that good of a meal...you sure you enjoyed it?
I did enjoy it...thoroughly. But there were some things that could be worked on. Don't get me wrong, I would definitely order those same things again (probably not the ceviche), but just putting it out there so everyone is prepared.

Anything else you want to get off your chest?
Yes...THE SANGRIA IS BANGING!  That's all

Recommendation?
There are definitely other places where the Spanish cuisine is better, but Victor's is worth a shot

 

Victor's Cafe

236 W 52nd Street

New York, NY 10019

(212) 586-7714

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

A little material...

You know...in between stuffing my face with all types of fattening and unhealthy foods meals, I love checking out updated post from some of my favorite blogs.  For any of those interested I highly recommend checking out the links below:

Flix's Picks
If you're a movie buff, or not, you'll definitely enjoy these unbiased, thorough, and very comical reviews about movies. Movies far, wide, popular, underground, foreign, domestic, etc! It's all on there...and if you can manage to find a movie THAT'S NOT on there...I'm sure it's coming soon.

Tech Life
Do not be fooled by the name. This not a blog for or catering too those individuals wearing Coke bottle glasses, pocket protectors, and high waters. This is a BASH! Maybe not necessarily a bash (I got a little excited), but a look into some of the ridiculous things that people say when talking to their IT Department. Working in IT field I'm completely pissed that I didn't come up with the idea first I can completely understand and relate to each post.

Crazy Tragic Almost Magic
Different from the first 2, this blog talks about everything...LITERALLY! Clothes, relationships, feelings, weather, wine, do's and don'ts, childhood, goal setting, and everything else in between. Not in a handbook to life kinda way, but more like a let me share my experiences with you sorta way. Very entertaining and definitely very funny. 

Nom In NY
Very similar to these postings... this blog is about food! By now you should all know that nothing warms my heart more then either a nice plate of food or a recommendation as to where I can get a nice plate of food. Good read and good insight on food in and around NYC. If you're fat like I'm fat, then you want to check this out.

Live from the 212
Having very little to do with New York, this is my other blog that I use to get out my brain diarrhea. There is seriously no set theme behind it. Just brain farts that I was able to elaborate on. Now I don't want anyone thinking I'm full of myself and shamelessly plugging my own blog, but I think to some degree we all have to reread our own material to know what works, what doesn't, and what you want to change. It's worth a look...you might get a chuckle or 2.

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

When world's collide...

Ok...so I'm taking this post from my friend and now co-blogger:

"I'd like to welcome a good friend, and fellow food enthusiast to the What's For Lunch team, Mr. Martin Siry.  He will be doing his own style of food blogging for us, and take it from me, the kid knows how to eat.  Please be sure to check us out both here and also at Nom In NY

Be prepared to be extra hungry, because we have a lot of good things coming up. "

Don't think I could have said it better myself...so I didn't.

Anyway, I hope you are all ready for the food movement that is about to commence!

Peace, Love, and Food! 

Nelly Spellane's

My usual instinct is to avoid going to bars for lunch. Not that there's anything wrong with it but, it's pretty much understood that when you go to a bar for lunch beer and maybe some wings will be the main options (usually it's the only things worth having). But in the case of Nelly Spellane's...I'm definitely going there for the food first.

Bar for lunch eh? What made you come here?
So I came here a while back (when I started my new job) randomly to meet one of my new coworkers. He was there eating and watching some sports, so I figured I would tag along. I think I got something basic like the wings or a burger. Nothing special, but I was definitely satisfied with my choice. As time went on I found myself coming here more frequently. One thing lead to another and I found myself going there a few times out the week for lunch.

I doubt that some wings or a burger was enough to make you go there so frequently...what turned this place from a regular bar to a top choice for lunch?
So, after work I came here with a friend strictly for beer (Guinness to be exact). 1 beer, 2 beer, 3 beers, bathroom run, 4 beers, and I got a little hungry. I wasn't starving but I definitely wanted to eat something before it got too late. Searching the menu, I chose the chilli and maaaaaaaaaaan was I not disappointed. That chilli (w/ cheese and onions) damn near change my life. It was to the point where whenever I went there I would go for the beers but I HAD TO get the chilli. After recommendations about some of the other items on the menu, I decided to start venturing around.

What are some of the items you would recommend?
FIRST AND FOREMOST...the chilli! It's what keeps me going there. Honestly, if they no longer served beer...I would still go for the chilli (no bullshit!). Coming in a very close second, the steak stir fry. Normally, stir fry is the last on my list of choices only because most have waaaaaay too much tangy ass sauce. But the stir fry at Nelly's is nothing short of perfect. Steak, peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, sauteed in light oil, with a scoop of white rice....I'm seriously getting hungry just talking about it! After you've tried those 2, you should be sold and confident enough to try anything on their menu.

Stir fry? At a bar? That just doesn't sound right!
Agreed! And I honestly can't say what made me try it that one day, but I've been endorsing it ever since. TRUST ME! This stir fry is how it should be done! And I'm not even joking right now!

What's the ambiance like?
Typical bar. TV's, stools, table seating, sports banners, jukebox. Nothing out of the ordinary. To be honest, from the look of it you wouldn't even expect the food they make to be so good. 

Sounds good. Anything else I should know?
Good food, $10 lunch specials, AMAZING staff (super friendly and after 2-3 trips you'll feel like family), great location, perfect for all events. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

Nelly Spellane's

18 E. 33rd Street

NY, NY 10016

(212) 792-9673

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 Epiphany

It's no secret that I have been completely slacking with the lunch time blog.  To spare you all of long drawn out explanations I'll give you the cliff notes:

- I got lazy

Don't think I can put it any shorter or simpler then that.

What I am here to say is that I will no longer be bout just lunch, but about food PERIOD!!  Where ever I go, whatever time of the day, whatever the location...I will do my absolute best to make sure that you all get the full experience through my postings.  Don't think there is anything else for me to talk about.

Hope you enjoyed and will continue to enjoy my fat adventures...

Whoever said I didn't eat healthy?

I know that most of you would like to believe that I eat the fattiest and greasiest of foods 24/7. If we were having this conversation 2-3 years ago you'd be right. However, these days I try to keep the high blood pressure to a minimum and let me tell you...that is no easy task when just about everything that is healthy is nasty. Well maybe not nasty but it's no contest when compared with the more fatty choices.  With all that being said I have found a place that provides me with a happy median and actually gets me to go healthy rather then fatty.

So what is this healthy place you speak of?

Nanoosh. If you go by the little phrase on the menu its, "an organic take on classic Mediterranean." Seeing as though I can't really tell what is defined as "Mediterranean" or the difference between organic and non-organic...I'll just take their word for it. But what I do know is that this place prides itself on hummus.

HUMMUS! How exactly do you incorporate hummus into ANYTHING?

Contrary to popular belief, hummus really isn't all that bad. I mean if you're not a fan of chick peas and pasty textures you're not going to like it, but it's a very versatile topping. You can pretty much mix it with anything and have a pretty satisfying meal.

Yeah whatever with that hummus foolishness...what do you get from this place?

For the most part I kept it pretty basic. My first time around I got the hummus chicken bowl (hummus, lettuce, tahini, onions, and chicken breast) and I must say that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The chicken was very flavorful, the portion was decent, and I didn't feel bloated or sluggish afterwards. Next time around I got the Nanoosh bowl (ground beef, hummus, tahini, onions, mushrooms). That turned out to be just as good as the chicken bowl. Honestly, I think that the ground beef may be a little better.

So you're basically just having salads with some sort of protein?

Uh...I guess.  By the contents it could definitely be classified as a salad but according to the menu it's a "wrap/bowl."

Now that we've broken this "wrap/bowl" down to just a salad, what makes it any different from a salad at any other location?

I see someone brought out their interrogation hat today huh? Well, by definition (and by that I mean MY definition) a salad is nothing more then some greens. We (the customers) choose to add all the extra toppings which make it more...uh...hearty or enjoyable. What makes this place different from others in my eyes is the freshness of the ingredients, flavor, and portion. It's plain ingredients that all come together to compliment each other. No it's not a 5 Guys burger and fries, but my appetite is just as pleased and I don't feel like I'm going to need either a nap or a defibrillator.

Ok ok...no need to be all defensive. Any cons to this place?

As much as I enjoy Nanoosh, I do have an issue or 2 with it. First thing being the price. Call me a cheapskate, call me a penny pincher, call me whatever you want but the food at Nanoosh is is definitely over priced. Yeah it's good and yeah it's fresh, but there's no reason why I should be walking out of that place with a receipt that is close to or more then 10 bucks. They could definitely come down some or offer more for those prices. Second thing, which isn't really that big of a deal, but sometimes you can get an order that is a little on the bland side. Might be me and my over obsession with salty foods but that's just how I feel. Third, as nicely as the chicken is flavored, sometimes it can be a little bit on the dry side. Ok, I think I'm done.

Seems like you're a little on the fence with this place...would you recommend it to anyone else?

Don't get me wrong I like Nanoosh...a lot! But I think that my crave for the salty sometimes can cloud my judgement about a place that sells healthy products. Naturally, I'm craving something salty and greasy so when I get an order that is out of my normal I have to adjust. As far as a recommendation goes...I definitely advise you to try this place out. Something a little different that fills you up without the burden of being fatigued afterwards.

Things I've had:

Hummus Chicken Bowl - good

Hummus Nanoosh Bowl - very good

 

173 Madison Avenue (between 33rd and 34th Street)

 www.nanoosh.com

212-447-4345