Minetta Tavern

While I'm sure you've all heard about me saying "I've been waiting to try this restaurant for a long time", I think Minetta Tavern really takes the cake here. I've been hearing about this burger for SO LONG and every time I try to book it on OpenTable the times are abysmal. While my eyes have been set on the burger for some, when M the steak eater extraordinaire declared that Minetta has one of the best Côte de Boeuf in town, I knew it was finally time for me to take the plunge and eat there. Thankfully W was able to get us a reservation for a decent time (calling is much better than OpenTable). Service was very friendly and I also loved the atmosphere. The steak was seriously AMAZING, the burger was delicious but the steak was really what blew me away. Everything was cooked well and I definitely look forward to returning. Definitely make sure you come with a decent sized group so that you can order the steak along with other dishes!

Pasta Za Za - Fresh Pasta with Pancetta, Sage, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg
This was very creamy and well made, the pasta was nice and chewy and the bacon was yummy and crispy. However, I did not think the flavors were very outstanding or memorable. Perhaps an extra kick of sage would make it more interesting. 

Special of the Day - Grilled Octopus 
Perfectly grilled octopus on top of a bed of assorted greens and beans. This was very fresh and flavorful and a great lighter dish before our gluttonous dishes came

Black Label Burger - Selection of Prime Dry-aged Beef Cuts with Caramelized Onions and Pomme Frites 
The famous famous burger. The patty was melt in your mouth and had a great beefy flavor but I didn't have a life changing moment when I bit into it. I know that many of my friends who swear by this burger love it for the patty but I do put a lot of emphasis on the add ons to my burger (cheese, onions, bacon, mushrooms, you get it) so maybe that's why it wasn't that mind-blowing for me. However I do think that this is definitely worth a try and it was an extremely solid burger.

YASSSSSS (this is two orders) 

Dry-aged Côte de Boeuf with Roasted Marrow Bones and Gem Lettuce Salad 
M was right when he said this was amazing. The meat was so incredibly tender and juicy and the char was just out of this world. The steak was cooked so perfectly and the flavor of the meat was also on point. It is definitely a fatty cut but the fat was not overwhelming and was just incredibly rich and flavorful. I had a couple bites with the marrow but it did get a bit too intense after a while The jus is so complex in flavor and takes the steak to the next level. I could not stop shoving my face and I think I shocked my male companions with my black hole consumption. 

What a beautyyyy 

Chocolate Souffle 
I smelt a strong scent of chocolate throughout the meal and I knew that this had to be something that I had to get at the end no matter how full I was. This was whatever you expect a perfect chocolate souffle to be, extremely rich, chocolately, and piping hot. This was the perfect end to the meal and I could not be more pleased. 

Minetta Tavern absolutely did not disappoint. The food was all delicious and I had a great night of food and drink with old and new friends. This is definitely not something I can eat all the time if I plan to fit into my apartment but an absolutely worthy indulgent meal!

Minetta Tavern

113 Macdougal Street

New York

NY 10012

Mercer Kitchen

W used to work at Mercer Kitchen and she recommended we try it out! This post will include pictures from our dinner there and also brunch there. I absolutely love the food there and I also love how its not too difficult to get a reservation given that it's a pretty well known place.

Sashimi Salmon with Crispy Rice - Chipotle Mayo and Ponzu
This is one of my favorite fusion-y things to order and since I am a salmon lover I enjoy this version even more than the more common version with spicy tuna. The chipotle mayo is creamy and delicious and is perfect with the crispy sticky rice below. Each bite is full of flavor and a combination of textures. 

Steamed Shrimp Salad - with Avocado, Mushroom, and Tomato, Champagne Vinaigrette
This is probably not a dish I would order if W didn't specifically recommend it. And boy was I glad she did! The dressing on this salad is the bomb.com. I am not sure what they put in it exactly but its so clean tasting and just absolutely delicious. There is a special flavor in it that I can't put a finger on. The shrimp is also cooked perfectly and everything just works together so well. One of my new favorite salads! 

Tagine of Steamed Black Sea Bass - Carrots Simmered with Orange and Cumin, Couscous
The flavor profile of this dish was quite interesting, it was a bit sweet and also consisted of a lot of citrusy notes and spices. It wasn't my favorite dish but it may be personal preference of the flavor profile. 

Rigatoni with Meatballs - Smoked Chili Tomato Ragu
Oh yesssss this really hit the spot. The pasta was cooked to the perfect al dente and the meatballs were so tender and flavorful. The sauce was also rich in flavor and covered every piece of pasta. A definitely must order if you love hearty dishes. 

Burrata and Fruit Compote and Arugula - Grilled Sourdough 
I got this dish after a Soul Survivor session. This was the perfect post workout meal. The burrata was perfectly luscious and creamy and the fruit compote complemented it perfectly. I also loved the nutty flavor of the arugula and the sourdough was of high quality. 

Buttermilk Pancakes with Market Berries and Whipped Cream 
This was J's dish but I think I may have eaten more of it that he did hehe. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet and I also loved the amount of fruit served with it. A very solid plate of pancakes! 

Mercer Kitchen is a great place to have a lovely meal with friends and I definitely would recommend people trying it out. I've thoroughly enjoyed my meal here on both occasions and definitely see myself returning again.

The Mercer Kitchen 

99 Prince Street

New York

NY 10012

Scalini Fedeli

W has been talking about Scalini Fedeli for sometime and I knew that I had to go try it out! It was absolutely delicious and I think I will bring my parents here when they come for my graduation in May! The atmosphere is very romantic and service was very professional without being too stuffy. The menu is a prix fixe of $75 where you can choose an appetizer, main course, and dessert. They also offer a tasting menu. Their menu changes every once in a while (seems like every 1-2 months) but there seem to be a consistent presence for certain star dishes such as the raviolo.

Amuse Bouche

Soft Egg Yolk Ravioli with Ricotta and Spinach covered with Truffle Butter
This was a dish that was highly rated so I was definitely looking forward to it. The egg yolk inside was deliciously silky and runny. It broke out in a stream of golden yellow when I broke the raviolo apart. The pasta skin had the perfect bite to it and the truffle butter was incredibly fragrant. A definite must order! 

Spaghetti Arrabbiata with Mushrooms, Black Olives, and Minced Spanish Anchovies in a Spicy Tomato Sauce 
This sauce was just out of this world. It was so bold and flavorful, given that you like the ingredients in the sauce since I know that olives and anchovies are not everyone's favorite. The sauce just packed a punch and I loved the spicy kick. Pasta was also the perfect al dente. This was such a great way to rev up ones appetite! 

Parmigiano Crusted Rib Chop with a Apple and Kale Salad 
The chop was very juicy and the parmesan crust was crunchy savory perfection. The apple added a lovely sweet crunch to this dish and the kale salad also went very well with all the flavors. This is the perfect example of a simple dish done well. 

Braised Short Rib with a Cherry Pepper and Port Wine Glaze 
This came highly recommended by our server. While the short rib was cooked well and was very tender, W and I both felt that the flavors were quite normal and not too memorable.

Palate Cleanser 

Warm Caramelized Apple Tart in a Baked Fillo Crust
I actually do not remember if this was truly apple (sorry late post!) but this was delectable! This dish had the perfect balance of textures: luxuriously smooth, creamy cold and sweet ice cream, flakey fillo, and crunchy slithers of almonds.

Flourless Chocolate Souffle with Cappuccino Gelato
Mmmm you can't really go wrong with a well done chocolate souffle, and this was done SO well. This was incredibly rich and was the perfect end to a great meal. 

I really enjoyed my meal here and I look forward to returning.

Scalini Fedeli 

165 Duane Street

Tribeca

New York 

NY 10013 

Sobaya

I posted about Sobaya when I first came to New York and I am shocked that I have not been back since then! I went for dinner last time but I hear that Sobaya has a killer lunch deal so J and I went to check it out before going back to his place to make beer! They sell a limited number of a special bento box which J got but I got a regular tempura and soba set. Everything was delicious and very well priced!

Sobaya

229 E 9th Street

New York

NY 10003

USA

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is my all time favorite breakfast meal (bacon, eggs royale, omelettes.... comes veryyyy close). I use to have it on top of this sweet corn bread from ktown but I recently discovered a mindblowingly good wheatberry bread from Silvermoon Bakery near my apartment. The bread has an assortment of seeds and grain on top of it and when paired with a perfectly ripe avocado with a sprinkle of salt and pepper... there is nothing better.

Szechuan Gourmet

New York has been freaking freezing and I knew that some hearty spicy food would be the ideal dinner for a cold snowy night. Szechuan Gourmet had pretty decent reviews on Yelp so we decided to check it out. It was Friday night and there was a slightly wait (15-20 mins). Once we were seated however, our food came out SUPER fast and I was very satisfied with my meal.

Sautéed Veggies 
Decently made veggies, not too oily.

Marinated Jellyfish
I liked how they cut this into relatively thick strips. The jellyfish was marianted very well and the texture was crunchy and refreshing. 

Scallion Pancakes
Nom.

Beef Slices in Hot Chili Oil
This was another well executed dish. The flavors were extremely bold and I enjoyed how the dish had lots of enoki mushrooms also. However, I usually prefer this dish made with fish filets. 

Deep-fried Cumin Lamb
This dish was not bad, but I did not realize that the rest of my table did not eat lamb and this was WAY too much for one person. The flavor was very interesting but I think the breading was a tad too thick and the meat had that fake tenderizer texture. 

Mapo Tofu
One of my favorite dishes! The tofu was very silky and smothered with a meaty chili sauce. This went perfectly with white rice and I would definitely order this again! 

Overall it was a very solid meal and I think that Szechuan Gourmet is a solid choice if you are in the mood for a spicy feast! 

Szechuan Gourmet

21 W 39th Street

New York

NY 10018