Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant Part 2 (or actually 1)

Yay I found the photos from my first visit that I mentioned in my first post about Clinton Street! This is the time I came here with Y and waited for 2 hours.

Country Breakfast - Three Eggs Any Style, Heritage Maple Cured Ham, Hash Browns, Buttermilk Biscuit
This was yummy but I think I prefer the Southern Breakfast mentioned in my first post more. This hash brown was nicely browned on the outside but I would have preferred them to be thinner and had less potato filling and more crunchy bits. The eggs were cooked perfectly as you can see and the biscuit was flakey and well done. 

Sweet Potato Fries
Crunchy, perfect thickness, and well seasoned. 

Cheese Grits
Hmmmm I love grits. I used to not but I think it was just because I was served a terrible version of it before. When grits are made right they are just decadent and delicious and these were on point. 

Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter and Wild Main Blueberries 
Oh lord these pancakes were just dreaming. Fluffy, sweet, and everything you imagined the best pancakes to be. The maple butter was also perfect and the blueberries were also juicy and sweet. 

Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant

4 Clinton Street (between East Houston and Stanton)

New York

NY10002

Soba Totto

This was my last meal in NYC before finishing up my first year of grad school and it was the perfect meal to wrap things up! I initially wanted to go to Don Pepe but was actually glad that W suggested a more "ching"/light meal. If you remember in my previous post, I really enjoyed Sobaya and has heard that Soba Totto is also delicious. Apart from soba, Soba Totto is also known for its yakitori. The meal definitely did not disappoint and I would be happy to return! The layout was a little strange but it was a great meal full of yummy food and good conversation with W and T.

ToriSen - Fried Chicken Skin Ughhhh so sinful and delicious. It was sooo crispy and the spritz of lemon was a perfect little tang. 

Kurobuta Bang Bang Salad - Berkshire Pork Marinated with Sesame Dressing 
This was a major disappointment. First of all it was teeny tiny. Then the taste was also very lacking. The tomatoes were soggy and not sweet, the pork was fatty and gross. The sesame dressing was also very bland. Do not order this. 

Tsukune - Chicken Meatball Skewer with Okinawa Sea Salt and Yakitori Sauce, Quail Egg upon Request
Very solid tsukune! Not as good as yardbird's but still yummy and full of flavor. 

Negi Pon - Berkshire Pork with Scallion and Ponzu
This was really yummy. The pork was really juicy and had a nice springy texture. The scallions were also a nice touch. 

Teba - Chicken Wing
Once again, a good rendition of a yakitori favorite. The meat was super juicy and the skin was crispy and charred nicely. 

Mochi Bacon
Mmmmm this was sooo yummy and sinful. The bacon was smoky and fatty and the mochi was soft and a bit chewier on the sides where it got a good grilling. This still does not beat my favorite of cheese mochi but definitely worth a try! 

Harami - Skirt Steak and Onion
This was marinated very well in a sweet and savory sauce and the meat was tender and went very well with the onions. 

Chicken Skin, Ox Tongue, Berkshire Pork
All were yummy and served piping hot. 

Shishi Tsuku - Japanese Green Pepper with Chicken Stuffing
This was a really great combination and the pepper and chicken went perfectly well together. 

Assorted Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura
The batter was well seasoned and it was not too thick. The assortment of veggeis was also good and the shrimp was generously portioned.

Uni Soba - Sea Urchin with Grated Mountain Yam
The mountain yam isn't my favorite type of consistency as it is so slimy but this is something that most soba places add onto their soba. The soba texture was ON POINT. It was very firm and delicious and the uni was also fresh and yummy. A delicious and refreshing dish.

Ikura, Snow Crab, and Uni Don
This was a yummy bowl of uni and ikura but nothing spectacularly special. The portions were generous though and it was fresh and the rice was well made.

Earl Grey Mousse
The earl grey flavor was prominent but it was a bit too sweet. Mousses are also not my favorite type of dessert but this was a nice end to the meal. 

Matcha Pudding
Nice matcha flavor but once again nothing to go crazy over. But it is a nice taste to end the meal with.

Overall I think Soba Totto was a good dining experience and worth a visit if you enjoy soba and yakitori. Securing a table was also easy. 

Soba Totto

211 E 43rd Street

New York

NY10017

Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant

Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant is most famous for its fluffy pancakes, but I have actually never ordered them the two times I've been (haha and I don't have a picture of them here either... sorry). Don't get me wrong I did get a couple bites of them from my friends order but I usually just prefer savory breakfast items! The pancakes are really as good as they say it is and a must try if you like pancakes. The other items that I have ordered have also been yummy. I waited for 2 hours or more when I first went with Y and I didn't think I would go again. But when J visited we went and waited for around 40 minutes. I am so certain I have pictures from my first visit too... I will dig them up soon and do a second post since I tricked you guys who clicked in from Facebook into probably thinking there would be some close up drool worthy picture of the pancakes hehe.

Southern Breakfast - Two Eggs any Style, Sugar-cured Bacon, Cheese Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes 
This was really yummy and hit the spot. The fried green tomatoes were quite interesting and not something I've had before. Nothing spectacular, but well made and satisfying. The standout item on the plate was the SUGAR CURED BACON. I loved how the bacon was cut thickly and the sugary sweetness matched with the smokiness of the bacon was just pure perfection. I really loved putting all the components of the dish into one perfect bite. The eggs were runny and creamy and was so good with the crispy tomatoes, the bacon added that savory and smoky element, and lastly the cheesy grits ended it all with a bang! 

I think Clinton Street provides very satisfying and well made dishes in a bright and friendly environment, but I would not wait more than 2 hours a second time. The pancakes really do not disappoint so it is worth a wait if you've never been, but you should put your name down and go grab a coffee or shop around if you decide to come here.

Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant

4 Clinton Street (between East Houston and Stanton)

New York

NY10002

Laut

I haven't seen V in a while and I suggested we visit Laut in Union Square because it was on my ever expanding list of places to eat. V was super excited and told me that she used to visit all the time because she used to live near Union Square before she moved to Williamsburg. The food definitely did not disappoint and I would love to return. Our waiter was super duper friendly and maybe even a teensy bit overly perky but it was not a big problem, I guess he was just having a good day. The only annoying thing was this group of girls next to us that were talking SO loud and also snickered at me using my friends iphone light to shine on the food while I took a photo, but I could care less because now I have good pictures for a new post ha!

Roti Telur - Pancake Filled with Eggs, Scallion, Onion & Pepper Served with Curry Dippings 
The pancake skin was thin and had a great balance of chewiness and crunchiness from the exterior. I also enjoyed the filling of the egg and scallion. The curry dipping was perfect with the pancake and it was a great start to our meal. I will want to try the regular roti next time also. 

Hainan Chicken Rice - Roasted Chicken (with bone), Sesame Oil, Soy Sauce, Ginger, Garlic, Chili Sauce, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Cilantro & Served with Chicken Flavored Rice 
The hainan chicken was not cooked in the way that I was used to and the skin was much more brown and fried but this version was super yummy as well. The rice was infused with flavor and the dipping sauce was tangy and spicy. The chicken was juicy and they give you a generous amount. 

Char Kueh Teow - Flat Broad Noodles with Chives, Bean Sprouts, Eggs & Soy Sauce with Home-made Chili Sauce (with Chinese Sausage upon request) 
I loooove Char Kueh Teow and Laut's version was scrumptious. I highly recommend the addition of Chinese sausage. The noodle was fried well and was at the right dryness and not greasy. The  ratio of of veggies, egg, and sausage to noodle was also perfect. The noodles were saturated with the sauce and had a delicious chewy yet soft texture (those who like hor fun or similar flat noodles should know what I mean!) 

I really enjoyed Laut and would definitely come again!

Laut

15 East 17th Street (between Broadway and 5th Ave)

New York

NY10003

Sunchan

A lot of people have been telling me that Sunchan is a great Japanese restaurant near Columbia campus and I feel really silly for not going earlier! K and I finally tried it out and we just ADORED it. The place is nothing fancy, but you feel right at home and welcomed. The atmosphere is very cosy.  The staff is very friendly and nice and the food is absolutely delicious. There's always a crowd even on weekdays there but I have never had any trouble getting a table without a reservation. I have had the sashimi there and while it is decent, I think it is better to order the cooked food because that's where they stand out. I haven't tried the ramen there yet but E told me that it was very good too. I've tried many other dishes and everything has been scrumptious.

Unagi don
One of Sunchan's most famous dishes is their Unagi Hitsumabushi which is the Nagoya style of eating unagi don. More information is provided here. We didn't order that this time and opted for the regular unagi don because we wanted to try different dishes. The Unagi Hitsumabushi is for two people and looked quite large. I did not expect the unagi to be THIS delicious and our eyes both widened in shock when we had the first bite. The seasoning was perfect and the unagi just melted in my mouth gloriously. The rice was also amazing and was smothered in the sauce. I cannot wait to try the Unagi Hitsumabushi next time! 

Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura
When I first saw this, I thought that the batter would be too thick but it was actually just right when I ate it. The batter was so well flavored and was crispy yet not greasy at all. Very very solid tempura.

Robata Yaki Beef Tongue
The waitress told us that this dish wasn't too big so we decided to order it as well. But it was actually massive! It was flavored well and also cooked nicely with a yummy char on the outside.  The beef tongue was quite yummy but not the best I've ever had.

Sunchan

2707 Broadway (between 103rd and 104th)

Upper West Side

New York

NY10025

Momokawa

I walked to Momokawa  in a crazy snow storm and it was the perfect meal to warm me up. I noticed that there were a lot of Japanese diners here and that is usually a good sign that the place is authentic and the real deal. The decor is nothing fancy and has a traditional cozy Japanese vibe. The food was DELICIOUS. We got the sukiyaki and the ingredients were top notch and the soup base was delectable. It was just absolute perfection on a cold snowy night. Other dishes that we ordered were also very yummy. I highly recommend this place!

Momokawa
157 E 28th Street 
New York
NY10016

Yat Lok Restaurant 一樂食館

Yat Lok is a very famous roast goose restaurant in Hong Kong, the original location is in Tai Po but they have a location in Central so clearly I was not going to trek all the way to Tai Po haha. The roast goose was very yummy but I think I will order half a goose and bring it home to eat next time. The place was just much too cramped and I also didn't like how the goose was put in the soup. The noodles were also good! C and I both got a bowl of noodles and we were eyeing the life out of the half roast goose that the man next to us ordered. The goose was full of flavor and I enjoyed it, was it the best roast goose ever? That is hard to say but it is definitely a very solid roast goose. Apart from being cramped, the street noise was also very loud so I definitely will just order it to go next time!

Yat Lok Restaurant 一樂食館 
34-38 Stanley Street
Central 
Hong Kong

Mel's Burger Bar

M, E, and I were at Butler studying (a welcome change from our campus on 168th) and E recommended Mel's Burger Bar! Mel's Burger Bar has an array of mouthwatering burger selections and it was exactly what M and I wanted after a few hours of being stuck in the library. We looked at the menu and could not wait to get our hands on the food. E was unable to join us :( The atmosphere was hip and comfortable and the service was friendly and efficient. It is a bit of a trek for those who do not live uptown but it is worth a visit if you are craving for a burger with a little extra somethin somethin such as mac and cheese on your patty!

BBQ Wings 
The sauce was very sweet and enjoyable. The wings were lightly coated in a thin crispy batter and I really enjoyed the addition of scallions. 

Fries with Parmesan and Jalapeños
The fries were quite yummy but the portion was MASSIVE. M and I felt that the parmesan and jalapeño flavor could be a bit more pronounced. 

Dirty Hipster - Spinach Dip, Jack Cheese, Onion Rings, Served on a Potato Bun
I loveeee spinach artichoke dip so I knew that this was the burger I had to get. It was ridiculously messy to eat but it satisfied my craving so much. The patty was super juicy and fatty and the dip was creamy and just ridiculously sinful. The onions rings were battered a little too thickly but it worked well as an added crunch to the overall burger. 

The Cowboy - Cheddar Cheese, Chili, Onion Rings, Mushrooms, BBQ Sauce, Served on a Potato Bun 
M had this and I did not get a bite of this but she said that it was yummy. She did forgot to say no mushrooms so that made the burger less enjoyable for her. 

Mel's Burger Bar

2850 Broadway (between 110th and 111th)

New York

NY10025

Mimi & Coco Japanese Street Food

Mimi & Coco was one of those unplanned meals that turned out super delicious. T was getting his 3/4 sleeve tattoo at the lower east side and wanted to eat at Katz's before his appointment. Unfortunately we were too late and there was a massive crowd there so we decided to just hop into any random restaurant to grab a bite. Coco & Mimi looked really cute and welcoming so we went inside and I am so glad we did! The staff is super sweet and friendly and the food is just delicious. This is homey and scrumptious Japanese food at its best. We ate it another time during T's other appointment also. I realized that I've actually seen their sign before when I went to Smorgasburg (still need to post that eeee).

Tonkatsu Curry
The panko crust was crispy and just the right thickness and the pork chop was tender. The curry was rich and tasty. Yum!

Chicken Karaage with Spicy Mayo
Although the tonkatsu curry was good, the chicken karaage is the ultimate winner. The chicken pieces were marinated perfectly and was juicy and succulent. The coating was delicious and crispy. The spicy mayo was also delicious! This whole bowl was just so comforting and delicious. T got the tonkatsu last time and also got this the 2nd time we came.

I don't think Mimi & Coco is a must go if you are visiting New York, but if you live here or have a craving for a delicious home-cooked Japanese meal in a cute and friendly atmosphere, definitely come to Mimi & Coco! Also, they are famous for their tokayaki balls so I definitely will give those a try next time. 

Mimi & Coco

92 Rivington Street (between Orchard St and Ludlow St)

Lower East Side

New York

NY10002