January 25th-
I have neglected to write about my restaurant experiences for a long time, as you can see by the title of this blog. So, since I happen to be experiencing a bit of insomnia right now, I am going to give a very brief word on everything and vow to do better next time.
La Portena-
This restaurant is actually not in Manhattan, but in Queens. It was recommended to us by Jessica and Ralph, would drive us there and back, which is the only way I will happily leave the island. The food was very good, inexpensive and plentiful. My favorite was the chimichurri sauce, which I not only took home from the restaurant, but also ate in some form for breakfast for about a month afterwards. Ooo.....I think I will have some right now.
Ok.....I'm back.
Cafe con Leche-
This place has the best coffee in all of Manhattan. It is the first place Nathan and I had breakfast after we moved here, and it is still my favorite. Top dishes are the eggs benedict, empanadas and rum cake. The condiments they offer are also delish! I put their garlic sauce on everything I can. Hmmm.....I wonder if I could get a jar of that, too?
Papillion-
This is our "go to" restaurant in an area of Manhattan where there aren't as many good options. It's a great place for a drink, since there are two huge gorgeous wooden bars, one upstairs and one down. The word seems to be out, because it is always crowded for happy hour. The food is pretty good, too, which is why we keep coming back.
Cafe Luxembourg-
This is my new favorite neighborhood French restaurant. I love the atmosphere. I love the food, and I love eating at the bar. They have good, classic, French food. Giorgio Armani himself was dining here one of the nights we went. I will be back.
Water Moon-
My favorite neighborhood place for happy hour! They have delicious sakitinis and yummy sushi which you can get for a great price at the bar before eight. We go here regularly.
Barbao-
Tonight, or should I say last night, since it is now six in the morning aleady, we meet the Geeters at Barbao for drinks before heading out for dinner on our own. It used to be "Rain". The interior is mostly the same as it was before, but more inviting and warmer. There are little couches and upholstered chairs in place of the tiny ottomans from before. It was great for drinks.
The Place-
This is where we actually went for dinner. It is the cutest, coziest little place- perfect for a cold winter's night, which is was. After having a glass of wine at the bar, we were seated in the dining room. Nathan ordered the short ribs with mashed potatoes, and I ordered the cod with celery root puree. We each ate half, then switched. Both dishes were perfect, but we favored the cod. For dessert, we had the creme brulee and espresso. I loved it. I had a wonderful time here. It's a great place to relax and have good conversation with the one you love.
Showing posts with label French restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French restaurants. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Soho Park / Balthazar / Vosges
September 5th-
My sister flew into town this morning, and after allowing her to catch her breath, we headed to Soho for lunch and shopping. Soho Park, as I've mentioned to everyone who knows me, is my favorite place to go for a cheeseburger. If I'm hungry, and we're in Soho, that is my destination. The place is just cool. It has a hip vibe, a lot of young people are always eating here, and the music is an awesome omage to the eighties. The burgers are juicy and full of flavor..... it isn't the giant eight pound patty of dried up meat that I seem to find all over New York. The bun is soft and moist, and the sauce they put on is a perfect compliment. It is just burger perfection, and the airy, fun atmosphere puts the cherry on top. You don't have to sit amoungst annoying parents and their poiled toddlers like at the Upper West Side Shake Shack, or amoungst tourists at the Shack's Madison Square Park location, and these are just better burgers anyway. After lunch, we managed to shop for hours in Soho....searching for vintage shops while finding others along the way. I managed to fall in love with a handbag, and met my newest Steve Madden obsession......a pair of black patent leather peep toe booties.....to die for. By this time, lunch was way worn off and Kristi, tired from her early morning wake up call, wanted to have a bite and a break. I thought......Balthazar! Of course! We were just barely able to get a table in the bar area, but it was nice to sit down. What did we order? Steak tartare .....and the only acceptable beverage to accompany it.......champagne! Kristi was on vaca after all, and when she told me she had never tried tartare, I insisted we order it. After a few glasses of champagne, I could no longer resist my newest obsession, and we went directly to Steve Madden to acquire them. To celebrate......chocolate! We set out for Vosges. Now, I am not a big fan of chocolate, or of any sweets for that matter, but Vosges makes a curry coconut chocolate truffle that I can never refuse! That was the perfect end to our adventure in Soho.
My sister flew into town this morning, and after allowing her to catch her breath, we headed to Soho for lunch and shopping. Soho Park, as I've mentioned to everyone who knows me, is my favorite place to go for a cheeseburger. If I'm hungry, and we're in Soho, that is my destination. The place is just cool. It has a hip vibe, a lot of young people are always eating here, and the music is an awesome omage to the eighties. The burgers are juicy and full of flavor..... it isn't the giant eight pound patty of dried up meat that I seem to find all over New York. The bun is soft and moist, and the sauce they put on is a perfect compliment. It is just burger perfection, and the airy, fun atmosphere puts the cherry on top. You don't have to sit amoungst annoying parents and their poiled toddlers like at the Upper West Side Shake Shack, or amoungst tourists at the Shack's Madison Square Park location, and these are just better burgers anyway. After lunch, we managed to shop for hours in Soho....searching for vintage shops while finding others along the way. I managed to fall in love with a handbag, and met my newest Steve Madden obsession......a pair of black patent leather peep toe booties.....to die for. By this time, lunch was way worn off and Kristi, tired from her early morning wake up call, wanted to have a bite and a break. I thought......Balthazar! Of course! We were just barely able to get a table in the bar area, but it was nice to sit down. What did we order? Steak tartare .....and the only acceptable beverage to accompany it.......champagne! Kristi was on vaca after all, and when she told me she had never tried tartare, I insisted we order it. After a few glasses of champagne, I could no longer resist my newest obsession, and we went directly to Steve Madden to acquire them. To celebrate......chocolate! We set out for Vosges. Now, I am not a big fan of chocolate, or of any sweets for that matter, but Vosges makes a curry coconut chocolate truffle that I can never refuse! That was the perfect end to our adventure in Soho.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Aqua Grill / Bistro Les Amis
August 15th-
Aqua Grill-
Nathan and I ventured into Soho to the Aqua Grill. We had attempted to eat there before, but it didn't work out, because we didn't make reservations, and there was a long wait. This time we knew better. The place was packed, as always, and we were about to find out why. We were lead to our comfy table dressed in crisp white linens, and handed a menu filled with mouth watering dishes. First, they brought us some delicious bread...cornbread, some very buttery white bread and then crusty French bread. I ate the first two.....the third was just too boring. Then.....the amuse bouche appeared......salmon tartar with avocado on what looked like a long, slender Ruffles potato chip. What a great idea! The menu was filled with so much seafood. There was an amazing amount of different types of oysters. It was overwhelmingly wonderful! We ordered four of them to try.....Blue Point from Connecticut, our old standby, Malpeque from Prince Edward Island, Northumberland from Prince Edward Island and Moonstone from Rhode Island. The Blue Point are always large and buttery. The North Umberlands were also quite sizable. Nathan loved them, but they were my least favorite. I really like the Malpeque, which are a little smaller and less creamy....more concentrated. The appetizer we chose, actually came first....the Roasted Dungeness Crabcake Napoleon with sundried tomato oil. We rarely order crabcakes, because we never seem to like them. They usually have way too much breading, so you can't taste the crab, and are too greasy. We took a chance. Yum! These were very good! Not only was it not greasy, but it had just enough breading to keep it together and that was it. It was a cake made of crab finally- and the crab was tasty! For our entree, we split one of the specials.....the Grouper....one of my favorite types of fish. The grouper was cooked simply and perfectly, and was served on top of croquettes, which I absolutely adore- the outside was crunchy and the instead creamy. What a satisfying dish! I loved it! We skipped desert, but they brought us a small plate of tiny bites of sweetness, which was just the perfect amount. Everything I put in my mouth was sheer pleasure!
Bistro Les Amis-
It was such a lovely night....a hint of coolness in the air...finally giving us a break from the oppressive heat of the summer....and neither one of us really wanted it to be over with yet, so we went for a little walk before heading for home, and stumbled upon a quaint little French bistro on Spring Street called Bistro Les Amis, which was a perfect name for it, because it was so welcoming, like going to an old friend's house. We had to go in, for this was how we found our favorite West Village gem, AOC Bedford. They was hardly anyone in there, it was at least ten thirty or eleven by then, so we sauntered up to the bar for a drink to top off the evening.....Glen Fiddich on the rocks. I don't think I really needed the drink, but the experience was worth the headache the next morning. I plan to come back to this cozy little bistro for dinner sometime.
What an absolutely delightful evening!
Aqua Grill-
Nathan and I ventured into Soho to the Aqua Grill. We had attempted to eat there before, but it didn't work out, because we didn't make reservations, and there was a long wait. This time we knew better. The place was packed, as always, and we were about to find out why. We were lead to our comfy table dressed in crisp white linens, and handed a menu filled with mouth watering dishes. First, they brought us some delicious bread...cornbread, some very buttery white bread and then crusty French bread. I ate the first two.....the third was just too boring. Then.....the amuse bouche appeared......salmon tartar with avocado on what looked like a long, slender Ruffles potato chip. What a great idea! The menu was filled with so much seafood. There was an amazing amount of different types of oysters. It was overwhelmingly wonderful! We ordered four of them to try.....Blue Point from Connecticut, our old standby, Malpeque from Prince Edward Island, Northumberland from Prince Edward Island and Moonstone from Rhode Island. The Blue Point are always large and buttery. The North Umberlands were also quite sizable. Nathan loved them, but they were my least favorite. I really like the Malpeque, which are a little smaller and less creamy....more concentrated. The appetizer we chose, actually came first....the Roasted Dungeness Crabcake Napoleon with sundried tomato oil. We rarely order crabcakes, because we never seem to like them. They usually have way too much breading, so you can't taste the crab, and are too greasy. We took a chance. Yum! These were very good! Not only was it not greasy, but it had just enough breading to keep it together and that was it. It was a cake made of crab finally- and the crab was tasty! For our entree, we split one of the specials.....the Grouper....one of my favorite types of fish. The grouper was cooked simply and perfectly, and was served on top of croquettes, which I absolutely adore- the outside was crunchy and the instead creamy. What a satisfying dish! I loved it! We skipped desert, but they brought us a small plate of tiny bites of sweetness, which was just the perfect amount. Everything I put in my mouth was sheer pleasure!
Bistro Les Amis-
It was such a lovely night....a hint of coolness in the air...finally giving us a break from the oppressive heat of the summer....and neither one of us really wanted it to be over with yet, so we went for a little walk before heading for home, and stumbled upon a quaint little French bistro on Spring Street called Bistro Les Amis, which was a perfect name for it, because it was so welcoming, like going to an old friend's house. We had to go in, for this was how we found our favorite West Village gem, AOC Bedford. They was hardly anyone in there, it was at least ten thirty or eleven by then, so we sauntered up to the bar for a drink to top off the evening.....Glen Fiddich on the rocks. I don't think I really needed the drink, but the experience was worth the headache the next morning. I plan to come back to this cozy little bistro for dinner sometime.
What an absolutely delightful evening!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
French Roast
July 26th-
After we left the theater we were both starving, having not had the time to eat dinner. French Roast was on our way home. Who can resist a 24 hour bistro under those circumstances? Not me. It turned out to be the perfect place to get a couple of appetizers and glasses of wine to fill our bellies. We ordered the Duck Confite and the crabcakes.....neither of which was extraordinary, but both great choices at a time when typically your only choice is between McDonald's and a diner. The atmosphere was perfect for us....not to noisy, not too quiet, not too old, not too young...80's music on in the background. We left happy.
We had already been here once just for dessert, which was fine. Hey....its a 24 hour place, which is great when you're hungry at three or midnight.
After we left the theater we were both starving, having not had the time to eat dinner. French Roast was on our way home. Who can resist a 24 hour bistro under those circumstances? Not me. It turned out to be the perfect place to get a couple of appetizers and glasses of wine to fill our bellies. We ordered the Duck Confite and the crabcakes.....neither of which was extraordinary, but both great choices at a time when typically your only choice is between McDonald's and a diner. The atmosphere was perfect for us....not to noisy, not too quiet, not too old, not too young...80's music on in the background. We left happy.
We had already been here once just for dessert, which was fine. Hey....its a 24 hour place, which is great when you're hungry at three or midnight.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Daniel
July 22nd-
Daniel- wow! Truly an escape into someone else's bourgeois fairy tale life! It was our anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere special, memorable....somewhere to get all dolled up for......somewhere we ordinarily wouldn't go. I chose Daniel. To Nathan's surprise and delight, I had car service pick us up and whisk us away to this culinary wonderland. Everything was very posh, very formal. The service was impeccable. The waiters performed. Our plates always touched the table in unison. Our main waiter said things like, "May I propose...." in his fancy songful voice, and nodded his head in a genteel sort of way as he disappeared to fetch things for us. We had a great table.....maybe the best. A little velvet cushy sofa of our very own in the corner of the main room, set off so we had a great view of everything.....and there was much to see....chandeliers, curtains, pillars.....everything a fancy place should possess. In this place, I definitely could not help but feel that this moment was special. I had originally intended to discuss all of the food in every tiny little detail......but really.....what's the point? Basically, the food was all good, but frankly, I don't need to pay quite this much for even better. Nothing really stood out as the best I have ever had in any category. Maybe my expectations were too high, but for me, the "ta da" of the place is all in the name and the fanciness of it all. In fact, I feel like the portions are way to large for a place that requires you to order their prescribed list of courses. I felt like a turkey being fattened for Thanksgiving dinner, tortured by the amount of food that appeared in front of me throughout the evening. I couldn't even enjoy it. I fully expected to have nightmares of sugar plums dancing around my head ....but with knives. Go once.....and earn the right to discuss it.
Daniel- wow! Truly an escape into someone else's bourgeois fairy tale life! It was our anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere special, memorable....somewhere to get all dolled up for......somewhere we ordinarily wouldn't go. I chose Daniel. To Nathan's surprise and delight, I had car service pick us up and whisk us away to this culinary wonderland. Everything was very posh, very formal. The service was impeccable. The waiters performed. Our plates always touched the table in unison. Our main waiter said things like, "May I propose...." in his fancy songful voice, and nodded his head in a genteel sort of way as he disappeared to fetch things for us. We had a great table.....maybe the best. A little velvet cushy sofa of our very own in the corner of the main room, set off so we had a great view of everything.....and there was much to see....chandeliers, curtains, pillars.....everything a fancy place should possess. In this place, I definitely could not help but feel that this moment was special. I had originally intended to discuss all of the food in every tiny little detail......but really.....what's the point? Basically, the food was all good, but frankly, I don't need to pay quite this much for even better. Nothing really stood out as the best I have ever had in any category. Maybe my expectations were too high, but for me, the "ta da" of the place is all in the name and the fanciness of it all. In fact, I feel like the portions are way to large for a place that requires you to order their prescribed list of courses. I felt like a turkey being fattened for Thanksgiving dinner, tortured by the amount of food that appeared in front of me throughout the evening. I couldn't even enjoy it. I fully expected to have nightmares of sugar plums dancing around my head ....but with knives. Go once.....and earn the right to discuss it.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Bistro Citron
June 5th-
After having an overpriced drink and a greasy, commonplace appetizer at a restaurant close to where I work, Nathan and I decided to venture into Bistro Citron for some real food. We ordered a bottle of wine to start with and they brought us their usual complimentary bread, butter and pate.....which is oh so very good. The butter is cold and so sweet, the pate....so rich....and together on a piece of bread.....heaven. Nathan ordered the hanger steak with shallots accompanied by French fries.....which sounds much more delicious when you read it off the menu....and I had the brie.......yes.....for dinner.....just cheese. I love to have wine and cheese for dinner.....must be the Shanteau in me. The French waiter seemed to understand. We were both ever so content. This place just never disappoints.......and we barely spent more here for this fantastic, decadent meal than we did a mere hour before for our overpriced drinks and commonplace appetizer. Go Citron!
After having an overpriced drink and a greasy, commonplace appetizer at a restaurant close to where I work, Nathan and I decided to venture into Bistro Citron for some real food. We ordered a bottle of wine to start with and they brought us their usual complimentary bread, butter and pate.....which is oh so very good. The butter is cold and so sweet, the pate....so rich....and together on a piece of bread.....heaven. Nathan ordered the hanger steak with shallots accompanied by French fries.....which sounds much more delicious when you read it off the menu....and I had the brie.......yes.....for dinner.....just cheese. I love to have wine and cheese for dinner.....must be the Shanteau in me. The French waiter seemed to understand. We were both ever so content. This place just never disappoints.......and we barely spent more here for this fantastic, decadent meal than we did a mere hour before for our overpriced drinks and commonplace appetizer. Go Citron!
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