The Meatball Shop

The Meatball Shop is probably one of the first NYC restaurants that I heard about. It has been years since I first heard of it and I finally got around to trying it out last week. Unfortunately it was rather disappointing but I've heard that it has inconsistency issues with its various locations. I think the idea is really cute and I love the set up of the menu, however, the food was not that great and while it was not so bad that I would never return, I also would not specifically recommend it.

I loved how you can pick and choose your own dish (you also do that with the ice cream sandwiches for dessert) 

Classic Beef Meatballs with Marinara Sauce over Polenta 
Our waitress recommended the classic beef balls but they were a complete let down! They were very stiff and definitely needed more fat in the mixture. The marinara sauce was also much too tart and the polenta was not creamy or rich enough. 

Spicy Pork Meatballs with Spicy Meat Sauce 
The pork balls were much more flavorful and also richer in texture. The spicy meat sauce was also more complex in flavors and not as sour. 

Ice Cream Sandwich
The cookies weren't soft enough and my ice cream melted SUPER fast. Flavors were good though and I loved how you can pick two flavors of cookies and the ice cream filling. 

Overall, it was not a bad meal and I would come again for the pork meatballs and perhaps try the mushroom gravy but this is definitely not a place I am particularly yearning to return to. The wines are very reasonably priced though and the atmosphere is casual and cute. I hear that there is another meatball shop called Polpette nearby so I will give that a go next!

The Meatball Shop

447 Amsterdam Avenue

New York

NY 10024

Jado Sushi

While I love traditional sushi, I do enjoy elaborate sushi rolls here and there. I was meeting D and M for dinner and D suggested we go to Jado Sushi in Harlem as she's been multiple times and has enjoyed her meal there. The food was really good and I would be happy to return even though it took quite long for us to get our dishes. Our server was really friendly and everything was well made. The chicken karage was super crispy and juicy and all the rolls were tasty and interesting.

Jado Sushi

2118 Frederick Douglas Blvd

New York 

NY 10026

Dough

I'm not the biggest donut eater but Dough seriously has some of the best donuts I've ever tasted. I really did enjoy Krispy Kreme though when it was opened in Hong Kong but ever since then I haven't particularly raved about any specific donut. The donuts at Dough are sooo chewy and soft and the flavors are also so decadent and delicious. They used to be in Brooklyn so I am so pleased that they decided to open a shop in Flatiron on a street that I frequent often. I've tried a number of their flavors and LOVE the cafe au lait and hibiscus. I initially wasn't sure if I would like the hibiscus because they said it was quite tart but it was actually really great. It's a bit difficult to describe the taste but it's quite refreshing and interesting. If you go around closing time they might also throw in a few free donuts! I have yet to try the tres leches so that's next on my list.

Dough

14 W 19th St

Flatiron

New York

NY 10011

Don Peppe

I've already written a previous post on Don Peppe but it's soooo good that I want to bless you all with food porn pics again! I love how it's always consistently delicious and wished that it wasn't so far! By the way if you are wondering which pasta is the one on yelp with shrimp and creamy tomato sauce... its shrimp luciano... we were trying to figure it out for the longest time and ended up getting the wrong dish but it was still delicious so it's ok! Next time A ;)

Remember it's cash only! Come with good friends and a empty belly :)

Don Peppe

135-58 Lefferts Boulevard 

Jamaica

NY 11420

Jongro

I saw a picture of yukhoe from Jongro and knew I had to come! C later mentioned that the meats there are also super delicious we decided to go there for a early dinner. The set up there is super cute and the meats were great and very well priced. We got the kalbi, pork jowl, and the yukhoe. The meats were so juicy and well flavored and the yukhoe was also very tasty albeit a tad sweet. I loved how they gave you a little pot of egg that cooked over the flame so that it was super silky. I would definitely return!

We went really early like around 5:45/6 and got a table right away. When we left around 7ish there were already a ton of people waiting! 

Jongro 

22 W 32nd St 

New York 

NY 10001

Decoy

Oh my godddd this meal was SO good. Decoy has been known to serve some of the best peking duck in town and I really don't know why it took me this long to finally get here. Apart from the to die for duck, all their other dishes were amazing also and quite creative! When you make a reservation for a certain number of people, you are committing to its set duck menu which is ~70 and includes the duck and a set number of appetizers and mains. I am definitely already planning my next visit! I forgot to take pictures of some of the other dishes but I remember everything was scrumptious! I will make sure to take pictures of all the food next time.

Decoy Chips - Black Garlic Dip
Mmmm I love deep fried fish skin when I hotpot so this was a definite hit with me! Super crispy and tasty! 

Assorted Pickles and Cold Veggie Bites 
I loved the tangy spiciness of these pickles and the veggie bites were also refreshing and interesting. 

Shrimp Stuffed Shishito Peppers 
The shrimp amount was very generous and the batter was thin and crispy with no excess grease. 

Oxtail Dumplings Flakey crunchy skin with a rich oxtail filling... delicious! 

Peking Duck
Oh man this was SO good. I can definitely see why Decoy was named #1 peking duck in New York. The skin was so crispy and had the perfect amount of flavorful fat and the meat was juicy and flavorful. I could eat this forever and ever. 

I had such a great dinner here and can't wait to come back! Make sure you come with a group so you can try more dishes!

Decoy 

529-1/2 Hudson Street

New York 

NY 10014

Isola Trattoria at the Mondrian Soho

I've always seen pictures of this beautiful space and have been wanting to see it for myself. I scheduled a lunch date with T at Isola on a sunny day and had a great time! Unfortunately I recently found out that the management of the entire hotel has been changed and the original restaurant is no more. I think that the new restaurant under the new management will also be Italian but I am quite disappointed because there were some items on the menu that I was planning on trying! Hopefully the new restaurant will be just as good.

Eggs Al Forno - Roasted Tomato, Escarole, Guanciale, Herbed Breadcrumbs
This was T's dish and she seemed to think it was ok. The tomato sauce was flavorful but the dish overall was a bit too mushy

Tuna Carpaccio Fontina, Caramelized Onion, Arugula, Truffle Aioli
This was my fish and I loved it! T thought it was a bit strange but I thought it tasted really good. I think that the tuna carpaccio can be cut up a bit because it looked a little weird just plopped on and also made eating it a little messy. However, the flavors really worked and I would definitely order it again! 

So so pretty! 

I had a great time here and the space really was every bit as beautiful as I imagined. I hope that the new restaurant is sorted out soon and is just as good so I can come again! 

Isola Trattoria 

Mondrian Soho

9 Crosby Street

Soho

New York

NY 10013

Tasca Chino

Tasca Chino is a new restaurant that combines Chinese and Spanish cuisine. The menu seemed pretty interesting so I was excited to try it but unfortunately the dinner was a disappointment.

The sesame bread sticks and the two sauces were pretty good but unfortunately was one of the better dishes of the entire meal

Scallion Pancakes - Anchovies, Fennel Sea Weed Salad
These were pretty standard, not bad, but not great. 

Teriyaki Marinated Octopus - Kimchi, Fingerling Potatoes, Daikon Radish, Chinese Garlic
The octopus was grilled well and was tender. The accompaniments were a bit random and did not go together to create a particularly harmonious dish. 

Patatas Bravas- Hand Cut Crispy Potatoes, Sichuan Pepper Aioli
The potatoes were crispy and fluffy on the inside. I felt that the seasoning on the outside was a bit too robust but this could be due to personal preference. Once again, not bad, but I've had better elsewhere. 

Sea Urchin Caviar Spoon - Marinated Sea Urchin, Caviar, Deviled Quail Egg, Radish & Olive Oil
I've had the sea urchin spoon at Toro which was indulgent heaven so I was looking forward to trying a similar dish at another restaurant. However, I almost wanted to shout out a remix of Zoolanders "WHAT IS THIS? A SPOON FOR ANTS?" when the server placed this in front of me. The little specks of sea urchin and caviar was laughable and the flavors also did not work for me. 

Paella De Coco - Coconut, Shrimp, Clams, Soybeans, Yellow Curry
The rice was much too mushy but the flavors were decent. The clams were a little too small though.

Clay Pots Chinese Rice - Chicken, Chinese Sausage, Bok Choy, Ginger & Bacon 
Another subpar dish... I rather get this in Chinatown.

Chicken Two Ways - Poached & Fried, Broccoli Rabe, Cashew Puree
Oh my god finally a good dish. The fried chicken was very meh but the poached chicken was very juicy and we all enjoyed it. 

Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles - Chili, Lamb, Pickled Radish
Another mediocre dish to round out the dinner. 

As you can tell, we were all disappointed with the meal and will not be returning. I think the concept is interesting, but I think the most appropriate word for this entire meal is "meh". The space is quite nice and our server was very friendly, but the food was not enjoyable. 

Tosca Chino

245 Park Avenue South 

New York

NY 10003

Lafayette

I have a soft spot for French Bistros and spotted Lafayette which is right next to the Noho SoulCycle location. The space looked lovely with large windows and warm lights inside. The menu also looked very appetizing and I am happy to say that the food was also delicious! I had a great catch up dinner with K and we loved every bite! They also make a mean vesper which is a big plus in my book. Our server was also very friendly and professional. I will definitely be back.

Prime Beef Tartare “New Orleans,” Tabasco Aioli, Quail Egg
This was perfectly seasoned and also cut up to the ideal consistency, not too chunky and not too minced. The bread was also amazing with its perfect grill marks and tangy flavor.

Duck au Poivre, Organic Grains, Radish, Smoked Bacon
K and I both widened our eyes when we bite into this. It was absolutely delicious! The duck was incredibly tender and just full of flavor. The organic grains had so much texture and the sauce was very complex and smokey. A must order! 

Roasted Pork Chop, Wild Mushrooms, Brussels Sprouts
While we enjoyed the duck more, this dish was also expertly made. The brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection and the pork chop was juicy and had a great crust on the outside. The apple slices also added the ideal crunch and freshness to this dish. 

I had such a great meal here and will definitely be back! I hear that they do a great brunch also so I am looking forward to trying that. 

Lafayette

390 Lafayette Street 

New York 

NY 10003