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

Ivan Ramen

Ivan Orkin was originally from Long Island and discovered his passion for Japanese culture and more specifically ramen at a young age. He moved to Tokyo and opened a ramen shop there where it became a success. This was unheard of for a foreigner and in 2013 he opened his first shop back in the US. We went to the shop on Clinton Street  I've had a dish by him during a food fair in Brooklyn but never actually tried his ramen. T said she enjoyed it so we decided to go for dinner one night. I really loved the casual and hip atmosphere and there was a cute bar that we went to right next door while we waited. There were so many things on the menu that sounded delicious and I will definitely be back to try them out!

Chinese Greens & Garlic - Sweet Soy Pickled Love Sauce 
I loved the crispy veggies doused in the perfect amount of tangy sauce. This was a great way to wake up your palate and I also enjoyed the cheeky name of "love sauce". 

Kewpie Ebi - Fried Whole Prawns, Smoked Chili, Watercress, Lemon
Kewpie mayo is magic in a bottle and makes everything taste better. The shrimp was juicy and fried to crispy perfection but I feel that this is a dish you can get at other places but definitely recommended if you are in the mood for it! 

Tofu Coney Island - Miso Mushroom Chili, Yellow Mustard, Scallion
This is one of their most famous dishes and I LOVED it. The tofu had a super thin layer of batter and the miso mushroom chili was just exploding with umami. I could eat this entire plate myself. 

Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen - Tonkotsu Broth, Pork Chashu, Whole Wheat Noodle
The noodles were super chewy and spingy and I loved how the entire bowl is smothered with scallions since I am a scallion fiend. The noodles had a very robust flavor and I've never had mazemen before but I quite liked the thick or "dry" aspect of it.

Ivan's Dan Dan Noodle "Dry Style" - Aromatic Sesame Oil, Spiced Pork Saute, Thick Whole Wheat Noodles, Egg Yolk
This was my friends and I took a bite and also loved it. I love dan dan noodles in general and this version was very interesting and delicious. The flavors were on point and once again I loved the texture of the noodles. 

I really enjoyed my time at Ivan Ramen and I think it's a great spot to go with good friends for a delicious casual meal. I definitely want to come back again soon! 

Ivan Ramen

25 Clinton Street

New York

NY 10002

Wynonna's MayPac BBQ

W, my favorite hostess with the mostest, always spoils everyone with the most delicious BBQ and I was super excited to hear that she was going to have one for the much anticipated boxing match. I was also extra happy because it was the first BBQ of the season after a cold cold winter. Once again the BBQ was damn delicious and I can't wait for her next one! 

I almost want to blow this up as a huge art piece on my wall x_x

Golden Shopping Mall Food Court

I've always heard that Flushing was the real deal when it came to Chinese food but it was always so far away that I never really pulled the trigger and went. W's cousin was visiting and we had a car so it was the perfect time for my first Flushing experience :D We went to the food court at Golden Shopping Mall and I saw Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles which I heard was really good! I LOVE knife sliced noodles so I got that in soup. The noodles were so chewy and it was pretty good but I think I prefer the non-soup/sauce version. We also got other noodles, xiao long baos, and Taiwanese food. The one thing that I loved the most was the chicken skewers from the street cart. They reminded me of my beloved chuar from Beijing. It was incredibly juicy and heavily spiced with cumin etc. LOVE IT. We also got bubble tea (duh) and you can also go the supermarket to stock up before going back to Manhattan.

Golden Shopping Mall 

4128 Main Street

Flushing

New York 

NY 11355

Birds and Bubbles

Every once in a while, I have a craving for fried chicken. Birds and Bubbles sounded like a super cute concept: pairing fried chicken with champagne, so W and I decided to go there for a date night. It was a bit difficult to find as the store front was a little below ground level. The food was really hearty and delicious but I don't think it is a place that I would be dying to return to since fried chicken and southern food is not on my usual rotation of cuisines. However, I really did enjoy my dining experience here!

Forgot which drink this was but the bartender seemed adamant in saying that it's HUGE but honestly this was just dirt off our shoulders for Wyn and I :) 

Deviled Eggs 
Very decently made deviled eggs, the crispy bacon on the top was a nice touch

Shrimp and Grits This was probably one of my favorite dishes of the night. The shrimp was very plump and the sauce was extremely smokey and complex in flavor. The grits were very creamy and hearty. The table next to us ordered it as well and were so disappointed when they heard that it was sold out. The slithers of scallions was the perfect touch of freshness for this dish and the mushrooms and bacon added a great variety of flavors and textures. 

Seasonal Slaw - Apple, Pickled Mustard Seed, Sumac
This was very refreshing and I liked the addition of the apple for the different type of crispness and sweetness. This was definitely a nice refreshing change from our other more heavy dishes. 

Crispy Potato Salad - Shallot Aioli, Capers, Herbs
This was absolutely delicious and W and I both loved this! It was quite unique also and I've never really had a dish like this. The potatoes were at the perfect thickness and was so incredibly crispy while maintaining a light fluffiness inside. The shallot aioli was extremely flavorful and the creaminess was ideal with the crispy potatoes. This was absolutely addicting and a must order! 

Buttermilk Fried Chicken
This is everything you would expect from extremely well made fried chicken. The batter was very well flavored and the meat was super juicy. 

Birthday Cake 
This was probably the most disappointing dish of the night. This was very dense and nauseatingly sweet. 

It was a fine dining experience and I would recommend coming here if you have a craving for quality fried chicken and southern food. I wouldn't say that this is a place I would visit often but I would be happy to come and try other dishes! 

Birds and Bubbles 

100B Forsyth Street

New York

NY 10002