City Crab is located on the corner of Park Avenue and 19th Street, in the heart of the Flatiron District of lower Manhattan.  Judging by the number of languages being spoken at the bar, City Crab is no secret to tourists.  But with fresh seafood this good, it would be a hard secret to keep.  And that creates one of the few downsides to the restaurant, that with its open floor plan and bustling business, it’s not a very intimate dining experience.

The bar was a good size, and the wait for my party was a comfortable one.  The bartender was gruff but efficient, and made quality drinks that complimented his witty banter.  The host station was well manned with pleasant, capable hosts, who were easily able to seat my party in a timely manner.  I dined with fifteen others — a going away party for a friend. I had made the reservations online on OpenTable.com less than a week earlier, a convenient feature that makes City Crab even more appealing.

Our tables were put together before we were led to the table, and we sat right down and were given paper menus, as the menu in a fresh seafood restaurant is subject to frequent change.  One of my companions immediately hailed the waiter to explain her shellfish allergy, and he confidently assured her the restaurant had allergic guests often, and the kitchen was well equipped to handle her needs.  On the menu, I spied a three-course prix fixe that I couldn’t resist, since I like to be able to sample as much as possible when covering a restaurant.  I ordered the New England Clam Chowder, Crab Cakes with Steamed Spinach, and NY Cheesecake all for $35.95.

We were quickly given bread baskets, and my Clam Chowder followed shortly thereafter.  It was light, creamy and flavorful, but perhaps not as chunky as it could have been.  The crab cakes I had for my main course were exploding with crab meat — not with breadcrumbs, like many lower quality crab cakes.  The sauce the crab cakes were served with was tangy, and the steamed spinach complimented the dish perfectly.  After these two courses, I was far too full to make too much of a dent in the NY cheesecake, which was not a slice, but a little single-serving cake.  It was a delicious way to end a great meal.

When the check came I used a 15% coupon I received for joining the restaurant’s Insider Club, which only took a minute on the restaurant’s website, and made the overall experience a bit less expensive — although City Crab is by no means bargain dining.  However, you definitely get what you pay for, and in City Crab’s case, that is excellent seafood and top-notch service.

Starting March 1st at 5:30 it’s officially Martini Time!

It was a dark and stormy night…well, dark.  And quiet.  In fact, it was a Monday night.  Monday night in the restaurant world is not a traditionally busy night.  Most chefs actually use Monday as their day off.  But that didn’t keep my wife and I from checking out The Sunburnt Cow in the East Village.  But I will again emphasize the quiet part – from the start of our meal to the end it was just us, the bar tender/waiter/host and the cooks, which was not necessarily a bad thing.

I sat at the bar waiting for my wife to arrive and tried a pint of Steinlager, a New Zealand lager.  The bar tender (who ended up waiting our table too) explained the deal for Monday night – for $20 you get to drink and eat as much as you can for 2 whole hours.  Had it been 10 years ago (I’m currently 32) I would have taken great advantage of such a deal; gorging on chicken wings and sliders, and swigging beer until my stomach and head exploded, but alas responsibilities and an effort to care for my body leaves me these days uninterested in such deals – preferring quality over quantity any day of the week, but I went along with it.  When the wife arrived we were each given a bracelet denoting the time at which our all-you-can binge would end.  I felt like a college kid on spring break again, except I had a winter coat.

We were seated near the kitchen.  The interior of The Sunburnt Cow is dark, very dark.  There are various candles adorning the walls giving the place a romantic hue, which is countered by the loud mix of mostly 90’s rock – a mix the wife & I were happy to hear considering some of the lousy music that comes out these days.  We were both rather surprised when we viewed the menu.  We expected greasy bar food, but instead were greeted with a menu loaded with the likes of oyster shooters, fresh fish stew, kangaroo shepherds pie, and wild boar spare ribs.  Something wasn’t adding up in our minds, but we can’t say we weren’t totally excited to try everything! 

We decided to share an order of Calamari Oz Style – which is fresh squid very lightly battered and fried, topped with kiwi and peppers, and served with a sweet & tangy tartar sauce.  We really like calamari, and in our opinions this is some of the best out there!  The portion is big enough to just whet the appetite (this is why they’re called appetizers – TGI Fridays, take note!).  The flavor is bright, and not too heavy.  We finished the entire bowl and still had plenty of room for the meal.

I ordered the mutton stew with potatoes and carrots, which came steaming hot in a big bowl.  At first I thought the liquid to chunks ratio was a little off – favoring the liquid slightly.  But every time I thought I’d be slurping soup on the next bite I’d find another surprise at the bottom.  The mutton is extremely mild (especially for sheep), and the broth is the perfect blend of spices.  I used the side of toasted baguette to sop up a good amount of it.

The wifey went with the Pesto Shark.  Yes, Jaws!  This dish is chunks of fresh shark tossed with bacon in pesto, served over penne.  Oooh’s and ahhh’s came from her side of the table.  I am a huge fan of pesto, and was absolutely floored by the taste of this dish.  I thought the shark was mild and delicious, and combined with pesto is perfectly divine.

By the end of the meal, we were both satisfied, but not stuffed.  I know they have a sweet tooth down under, so the natural assumption is the desserts are probably very good.  We decided to share a sticky date pudding – not very different from traditional English sticky toffee pudding – served with house made whipped cream, and a fresh strawberry.  I wanted to bathe in this thing it was so good! 

By this point we’d completely forgotten about the deal and the bracelets until our waiter brought us each a Berry Blast – the signature house shot.  We were each two beers in at this point, and it was a school night, but we did the shots anyway.  It reminded me of something I would have drank in the Bahamas on Spring Break – strong and very sweet.

Bottom line on The Sunburnt Cow – the food is outstanding!  Repeat, OUTSTANDING!  The decor is cool.  The draft beers go well with the food. I never thought I would have the chance to order kangaroo or shark in New York City, but now I know where I can.  Next time I will try the kangaroo.

~Sam

To many Americans, the thought of eating tripe (sections of cow, pig, sheep, etc. stomach), save for a guy like Anthony Bourdain is unheard of; revolting, even.  I am not one of those Americans.  While I do appreciate and enjoy a plate of spicy buffalo wings or a turkey club, I also find that I am learning to enjoy more exotic and ethnic foods.  Vietnamese cuisine is not totally foreign to Americans.  In fact, the recent popularity surge in the traditional French-Vietnamese Bahn Mi has given Vietnamese cuisine a new chance to prove itself on the New York City stage with other more traditional dishes.  Bao Noodles in Gramercy Park is bringing New Yorkers what they want, and challenging us to try something new and different and what I came to find out, a spread that may even satisfy the cravings of Mr. Bourdain, himself.

The facade of Bao Noodles blends in with the rest of the block – boring, and typical of the neighborhood.  But once you step inside you’re transported to French Colonial Vietnam complete with tin ceilings, mosaic tile floor, and a big Tiger Beer logo painted on the brick wall.  60’s pop piping in through hidden speakers.

My wife & I were seated immediately, and handed the brunch menus – typical of many NYC restaurants on weekends.  However, Vietnamese brunch isn’t your typical bacon & eggs, French toast, and home fries many of us are used to.  This was going to be an authentic meal.  Not really knowing what I was getting myself into, I was happy to see the price of the meal would be a mere $9.99 per person; a small price to pay even if the meal turned out to be less than satisfying.

We were encouraged to try the honey tripe with poached egg.  I had never tried tripe before, but my wife had – although Italian style.  Being the adventurous eater that I am, I decided I would go for broke.  My wife stuck with a braised pork belly with hard boiled egg, broccoli, and sticky rice.  The meal also featured a complimentary drink – I chose the Bloody Bao – their version of a Bloody Mary.  We also, on their suggestion got two orders of congee – a traditional Vietnamese rice dish.  Hers came with duck, chicken, and pork – mine with mixed seafood.

The waitress, who may I add was quite pleasant and helpful first brought over my Bloody Bao (which, oddly enough tastes like a traditional Bloody Mary – not that I’m complaining) and the wife’s Jasmine Tea.  We enjoyed our drinks, relaxing and taking in the atmosphere when our plates of congee were delivered.

Each had a generous helping of the rice concoction – mixed with scallions and topped with cilantro, and served with fried dough, soy sauce, and fried garlic chips.  I tried mine first.  Without adding the soy or garlic, the seafood had a bright and fresh taste.  Not bland, but not bursting with flavor either.  The addition of the soy and garlic added a little punch.  Hers, on the other hand was out of this world.  The duck was tender and juicy, the pork succulent with hints of honey and spice.  I didn’t get any chicken, but she says it was good too.  The fried dough served as a nice, edible substitute to a spoon.  Just delicious!

The restaurant started to fill up which hardly slowed the service.  Our entrees were brought over just a few minutes after the congee plates were cleared.

Let me start first with the wife’s braised pork belly.  This is a BIG meal.  If you’re not hungry, don’t expect to finish this.  This is a lot of food!  The dish came as thick chunks of pork braised in stock and included a hard-boiled egg.  She let me have the egg.  It certainly had the texture of an egg, but had taken on the flavor of the pork.  Fantastic!  The pork chunks are fatty and tender.  The fat, however can and should be consumed as it melts in your mouth and tastes just heavenly.  The sticky rice and broccoli sides were also good.  She described the rice simply as Awesome!  I must say I could concur.  The only unfortunate thing about this dish was it was too much food for even the both of us to finish, especially after enjoying all the delicious congee.

Chewing tripe is like chewing slightly over-cooked calamari.  You can’t really break it up, but you can gnash it enough to ease any worries you may have about swallowing it whole and possibly choking.  Once you get past the texture, and the fact that you’re eating stomach the flavor of this dish is rather exquisite.  These nasty bits are cooked in a spicy broth with sliced veggies and dried mushrooms, and is served with a poached egg.  Break the yolk and stir it all into the mix, and you’re in for a real treat.  This dish is probably not for the unadventurous, but that, my friends is their loss.  My first experience with tripe was a very positive one.  I would do it again.

For the squeamish, unadventurous, and those who just prefer the simple pleasures of Vietnamese cuisine Bao Noodles has a wide selection of noodle dishes, salads, vegetarian, and the ever-so-popular bahn mi.

I will return to try their dinner.  I suggest you do the same.  And for once, try something different.  The noodles will always be there.

~Sam

Bondi Road and the Sunburnt Cow

Valentine’s Day is an all-day affair at Bondi Road and the Sunburnt Cow!  Both locations will host a special “Cupid’s Brunch” from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 14^th.  Then whether you are single or a pair, Bondi and the Cow have got you covered!

No one to love this Valentine’s Day?  Don’t sit at home feeling sorry for yourself; head down to the Sunburnt Cow for their third annual No Love at the Cow Anti -Valentine’s Day Party!  Join other like-minded singles to celebrate Valentine’s Day the Australian way with $20 happy hour special offering all-you-can-drink (including the Cow’s special “Love Potion”) for two hours.  Mix, mingle, participate in a kissing contest, enjoy a delicious Down Under inspired meal and drown your sorrows away with frosty shots from the “Ice Luge of Love” at the bar.  Who knows, you might even end up finally meeting that someone special.

Sunburnt Cow
137 Avenue C (bet 8^th & 9^th Streets)
212-529-0005
www.thesunburntcow.com

Bondi Road is the place for couples.  Not only are they featuring delicious Down Under delicacies as part of a $20 tasting menu, but you can also take advantage of the $20 happy hour special offering all-you-can-drink for two hours.  Bring your sweetheart and celebrate Valentine’s Day the sexy and laid-back Australian way!

Bondi Road
153 Rivington Street (bet Suffolk St & Clinton St)
212-253-5311
www.bondiroad.com

Mercadito Restaurants

If you and your sweetheart like it HOT, the only place to dine on Valentine’s Day is at your favorite Mercadito restaurant!  On Sunday, February 14^th, Mercadito (179 Avenue B between 11^th and 12^th Streets), Mercadito Grove (100 Seventh Avenue South at Grove Street), and Mercadito Cantina (172 Avenue B between 10^th and 11^th Streets) will offer 5 course family style menus and a special cocktail and shot until 10:00 pm.

The Mercadito that started it all is offering a guacamole tasting, the choice of two botanas or two ceviches, the choice of four of their dizzying array of tacos, one of two side dishes and a dessert for $45 per person.  You’ll fall in love all over again with Mercadito Grove’s Valentine’s menu which features a few different choices among their 5 courses for $45 per person.  Or ignite your night at Mercadito Cantina which is offering the choice of 3 guacamoles, a taco tasting, a “para la mesa,” the choice of two side dishes and, for dessert, a cool and creamy assortment of flan for $40 per person.  Each location will feature the Poción #9 cocktail for $11 and a Shot de la Passión for $4 – the perfect libations to put you in the mood.

All restaurants will be serving an a la carte menu after 10:00 pm.  For reservations, contact Mercadito at 212-529-6490, Mercadito Grove at 212-647-0830 or Mercadito Cantina at 212-388-1750.  www.mercaditorestaurants.com :

Bao Noodles

Torn between whether to celebrate Chinese New Year or Valentine’s Day?  Why not do both at Bao Noodles!

Kick the year of the Tiger off right at Bao Noodles’ Chinese New Year Brunch from noon to 4:00 pm.  Enjoy one of their $9.99 brunch specials featuring the choice of Southeast Asian-inspired delights such as a Vietnamese Omelets (with pork and wood-ear mushrooms or seasonal vegetables), Vietnamese Congee (squid, crab and shrimp or chicken and duck), Egg & Chinese Bacon Baguette (with chilled vermicelli salad), Braised Honeycomb Tripe (with a poached egg and a panko-crusted mungbean rice ball) and Thousand Year Egg (with watercress salad and carrot-ginger dressing).  You can also catch a tiger by the tail (actually by the bottle) this New Year when Bao Noodles features free Tiger Ale all brunch long! The restaurant will be decked out in its year of the Tiger finest, making for a fun and festive afternoon.

As day becomes night, Bao Noodles will feature a special Valentine’s Day Dinner menu from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm.  You and your sweetheart can enjoy a delicious 5 course tasting menu for $40 per person paired with Prosecco, sake and the famous Perfume River cocktail (Stoli Straw, guava and strawberries)created by Bao Noodles’ master mixologist Chris Johnson.  Start dinner off with cool and refreshing Papaya Salad and then your choice of regular of vegetarian Spring Rolls.  Bao Noodles’ signature Lemongrass Short Ribs are served before your choice of main including Tamarind Snapper, Wok Seared Flank Steak and a vegetarian option.  Lastly, Bao Noodles has called on dessert specialist George Majao to create a sweet treat that’s the perfect way to say “I love you!”

Bao Noodles
391 Second Avenue (bet 22^nd and 23^rd Streets)
212-725-7770

The Summit Bar Love Punch Party

There is truly something for everyone at the Summit Bar’s Love Punch Party!  From 6:00 pm to 3:00 pm the Vegas-flavored lounge will offer three stimulating elixirs formulated by resident alchemist Greg Seider.  For $7 per glass you and your sweetheart will have a night to remember with your choice of aphrodisiac punches – one for him, one for her, and one for those who are a little of both!  Single and looking to mingle?  One of the Summit Bar’s punches will definitely lift your spirits and perhaps a little something extra…

The Summit Bar
133 Avenue C (bet 8^th and 9^th Streets)
www.thesummitbar.net

~Sam

Victor’s Cafe
236 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
212-586-7714
www.victorscafe.com

I look forward to Restaurant Week, as it gives me the opportunity to sample some of New York City’s finest restaurants with a prix-fixe menu.  For this excursion, some friends and I visited Victor’s Cafe, a Cuban hot spot that has been serving the theater district since 1963.  Although we had not seen a show, I did notice that Victor’s had a very reasonable after theater menu.

Upon entering Victor’s, our coats were taken, and we met the rest of our party at the bar, where they were enjoying some red sangria and fried plantains.  We were led right to our table, which was nestled between a semi circular couch and a few chairs.  The decor, featuring colorful artwork and bamboo accents, projected the pre-embargo Cuba one might see in an old movie, possibly because the restaurant was only opened a year after the embargo went into effect.  Our waiter quickly procured another pitcher of sangria for the table, and I enjoyed a tasty cocktail while browsing the menu.

The prix-fixe is three courses — an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert. I chose the Croquetas Corral con Salsa Lulu, the Ropa Vieja and the Arroz con Leche.  The Croquetas, which were described as “smoked ham croquettes with Lulu’s savory sauce of roasted tomatoes and cachucha peppers,” were delicious. They looked very similar to mozzarella sticks, but tasted wonderfully different with the spicy red dipping sauce with which they were served.  The Ropa Vieja, the “house specialty” of Victor’s, appeared small but was deceptively filling.  The savory beef was delicious in its edible bowl of fried plantains sitting on a bed of mashed yucca.  The rice was also tasty with a helping of black beans poured over it (not pictured).  The final course was a generous portion of Arroz con Leche.  The cinnamon-kissed pudding was also served in a edible bowl, this time of crispy almond, and was delicious, although I did not care for the tart raspberry drizzle garnishing the plate.

We had arrived at Victor’s at 8pm, and stayed well over two hours.  We were never rushed by the staff, who were as polite as they were attentive.  After our meal, my girlfriend and I, realizing the review would be incomplete without trying Cuba’s signature drink, had the strongest mojitos we had ever tried.  Powerful stuff.

The experience overall was very positive — great friends, great food, and strong drinks — and I would recommend it for any group of friends as well as for a theater nightcap, although I sense it would be slightly lacking for a romantic date.  I would also wager that the atmosphere heats up some with the weather, as it is difficult to truly experience the hot Cuban culture Victor’s aims to replicate in late January.

To view all of the participating restaurants or to book a table, hit the jump.

There’s coffee shops and then there’s coffee shops.  How many coffee shops that you know of are using a Slayer Espresso machine in the city?  Um, none…zip….zero…..zilch. The first machine out east, this $18,000 behemoth is the espresso machine that legends are made of, and lovers of coffee will travel far and wide to experience it.  It’s fitting that a machine this expensive has opened up on Worth Street downtown. RBC NYC opened yesterday to a bit of fanfare and if you feel the need to try out some of the finest espresso, you should leave…..right now.

[via Gizmodo]

Image courtesy of RBCNYC

Chez Lucienne, the Michelin rated French restaurant in Harlem is still assimilating – the heart that is the food is authentic (and delicious!), but the façade is in a state of flux as the newcomer tries to settle into its new home.  The menu in French with English translations not only serves as a tool for the non-French speaking, but echoes the overall feel of the place.   Live jazz swirling around the dimly lit room with burnt red and white brick walls, white table cloths, and dark wood alluding to a time and place – the golden age of jazz in Paris (but careful not to look too closely or the ersatz allusion will be shattered).   The brick walls are wallpapered, the white table cloths are plastic, the dimly lit bulbs are Edison, the plants are fakes, and the napkins are paper.  It is as if mom decided to decorate for a French meal.  It is familiar, charming and down-right homey once unencumbered by the décor expectations of a French Brasserie.   Now for the white glove test – is the food, too, a version of the original?

By no means is it anything but exquisite classic French fare!  We started with the endive salad made with Roquefort, beets and topped off with drizzled walnut oil and the fricassee de champignons sauvages – mushroom fricassee with white wine, parsley, shallots and garlic.   For our main entrée we had the pave de saumon sauce with balsamique – grilled Atlantic salmon with braised endives and balsamic reduction and a beautiful rendition of the veggie plate.  Word to all the vegetarians, so it goes with French food there are no entrees on the menu for our palate, but the specially requested chef’s creation was phenomenal, which included braised endive, carrots and mushrooms.  If you happen to be in the neighborhood you should definitely stop in and enjoy chef Thomas Obaton’s classics.   And for the more adventurous stop by on Wednesday  for Cous Cous & Belly Dancing!

Chez Lucienne

308 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027-4405
(212) 289-5555