High Class Mexican

Pampano
209 East 49th (2/3), NYC

Pampano is an excellent restaurant from the king of high class Mexican dining, Richard Sandoval. I visited his other NYC place, Maya, a number of years ago, and it was quite good, although a little stuffy and expensive. But Pampano gets it right on all counts. The space is white and airy with funky beige ceiling fans and a large outdoor sundeck (although it was raining on our visit). The service was friendly and efficient and the menu was alluring and creative. Of course you get what you pay for, and Pampano is on par with other nicer Manhattan restaurants. But he had their delicious pre-fixe $26 lunch. We chose the shrimp empanada, and ceviche for apps. I don’t usually love ceviche, but this was firm and flavorful. The mains were pork enchiladas and skirt steak with garlic chorizo mashed potatoes. The rice pudding for dessert was nice, however the other, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, was surprisingly plain. Everything was outstanding and the portions were quite large. We also ordered the guacamole, but really did not need to. I would definitely recommend Pampano and the lunch menu for a wonderful, luxurious oasis in midtown. It was one of the best meals we have had in quite some time.

The S’Mac Down

S’Mac
345 East 12th Street, NYC

A place that only serves mac & cheese?!? Sign me up! Well that’s what I thought at first, but in really analyzing the nature of this type of “One Trick Pony”, I have had other thoughts lately. S’Mac stands for Sarita’s Mac & Cheese and has gotten a ton of press because of its all-mac & cheese menu and East Village location. The menu is interesting with a dozen or so kooky variations that are considerably more delicious and fun than the Kraft product. We had the Garden Lite, an all-vegetable, and the Parisienne, with figs, brie and mushrooms. They were a tasty snack before our main dinner an hour later.

I think the problem is that there is no heart here. It is a contrived concept that only wants to make money, not genuine grub. The counter person had the same interest in food and love for his job as your typical Duane Reade cashier. This place shamelessly self-promotes and you get the feeling that there will be one in every mall soon. It is similar to Totally Baked (see review), now that I think about it, in its distanced vibe and concept, the difference is that baked potatoes are a great, fun snack food. Don’t get me wrong, I love mac & cheese but I want it with a full meal in a comfortable setting, not in a fast food environment.

As far as these One Trick Ponies, I have been skeptical since I waited on an hour long line for BB Sandwich Bar in 2001. My feeling is that when they are fun snack foods: pudding, hot dogs, fries, knishes, they are great; when they are trying to be mass-produced and a substitute for dinner, they fall short.

Michael Angelo’s

Michael Angelo’s II
29-11 23rd Ave, Astoria
Michael Angelo’s is a local Italian restaurant with a narrow facade that gets lost among other notable establishments on its block, like Stamatis and Club 23. After passing by dozens of times, we decided to finally give it a shot. The inside is small with only a few tables, but there is a sparsely decorated covered patio where we sat. The service was friendly with a strong neighborhood feel, where one should feel at home, although we did not for some reason. The food was fine. The best dish was a warm fava bean and artichoke salad. Fava beans are so underrated in most cuisine, and are really hearty and satisfying. Spud got a standard chicken spinach pasta dish and I had the thin crust mushroom pizza which had a very rich marsala sauce on it. The first slice was great, but went downhill fast - I didn’t even eat the leftovers - which is saying a lot if you know me. Although the plain thin crust cheese pizza looked very good.

So there is nothing wrong with Michael Angelo’s, its just that we wouldn’t rush back. But let me qualify that by saying that we hardly ever go to Italian restaurants. Spud likes to cook Italian and is quite good at it, so unless it’s going to be spectacular, we usually cook or order from the pizza joints. So don’t let me dissuade you from Michael Angelo’s, you might really enjoy it.

Do Not Fear the Roti Boti

Roti Boti
27-09 21st Street, Astoria

Roti Boti is this little hole-in-the-wall place on busy 21st street in Astoria, frequented by cab drivers and mainly people of Indian/Pakistani descent. We always walk by it, but until last weekend, we have been a little intimidated to try it out. We recently read an interview of Ali (owner/chef of amazing Kebab Cafe) from the great local blog Joey in Astoria. Ali recommends Roti Boti - but only at 3 am. But hey, a recommendation is a recommendation, and we certainly did not want to wait until the middle of the night for our adventure.

Roti Boti is in the middle of a major expansion, but is still open for business. There is currently sawdust, exposed fixtures and unpainted walls in the “dining room”, but no one seems to mind with the huge portions, and 50-inch plasma tv already mounted on the wall. We ordered at the counter by pointing to the dishes we desired, from the large selection of trays that have been slow cooked all day. There were also many kebabs and samosa-type pastries. Spud, Mr. Headphones, and myself gorged ourselves on 2 orders of chicken byranni and giant naan, ginger chicken on the bone, chicken tandoori, chick peas in a dark smoky sauce, and some chicken and potato samosas. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. There is no atmosphere and the service is a little confusing for first-timers, but this place is obviously all about the food. We all return because it is so convenient and inexpensive, and it may be quite nice once the renovations are finished.

Afterwards, we went to another previously intimidating establishment four blocks west. Hellgate Social is on a rundown stretch of Astoria Blvd between 12th and 14th street. There is a small red neon sign announcing its location, but it seems as if the door does not exist. Once you push on a metal handle on the black wall, you enter into a beautiful oasis. It is a transcendent experience as the inside of the bar is very spacious with modern chic decor, low lighting and an outside walled-in patio. The drinks were interesting and moderately priced and the clientèle was locals, and thankfully not trendy Manhattanites. Another great find in our hood.

Fortunately, we have been very pleased once we have conquered our fears in Astoria and will look for more off-the-beaten-path joints.

Indoor Food Tour

Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave (15/16), NYC

Today is a nasty rainy day in NYC, the kind where you want to crawl up on the couch, watch movies, and order sesame chicken and chow fun. However, there is a food mecca in Manhattan designed for rainy days like this. The Chelsea Market is basically one big gourmet food court with nearly two dozen eateries. Spud and I went there last year and consumed a great lobster roll from the Lobster Place, a Croque Monsueir from somewhere else, and pastries and coffee from Amy’s Bread. They have other good treats from the Fat Witch Bakery and Sarabeth’s. If you are looking to treat yourself, the Chelsea Market is home to high-end Asians Buddakan and Morimoto. It also houses Food Network studios, so you may just catch a glimpse of your favorite television chef.

Check it out. Unlike the Chinese food, at least you won’t be hungry in an hour…

Some Dim-Sum

Jing Fong
20 Elizabeth St (nr Canal)

There really is no better place to have a large group of people hang out and eat than at a Dim Sum brunch. This past weekend we celebrated Blairitza’s B-day at Jing Fong in Chinatown. There were 12 of us who gathered and we were all thoroughly amused at this institution. You wait outside and then they shuttle you in and up a giant escalator where you pour out into a large banquet hall decorated with colorful dragons and garish flowers. There are hundreds of people seated at large circular tables and everywhere you look there are Chinese men and women with carts filled with small dishes of yummy dim-sum.
We were seated and immediately the fun began……we tried pork buns and shrimp dumplings, fish balls and scary meat balls, gelatinous custard balls and fried sesame crusted dough filled with bean paste, vegetable dumplings and seven treasure sticky rice, scallops and bacon wrapped shrimp, and beef egg foo yung. We even were braved Durien fruit deep fried dumplings, which really did look like bright green caterpillars.
Now, Jing Fong is not the best dim-sum you will get, but it is the true experience that you need to have with a large group of people……the food was definitely so-so, with some of it (especially the meat balls) rendering even slightly inedible…..but, it was FUN, and aren’t birthdays supposed to be just that? Plus we all stuffed ourselves for about $11 each!

Warm Bar-B-Q on the Chilly East Side….

Smokin’ Q
206 East 63rd St (2/3), NYC

Again, as all of you know, I am not a big fan of the Upper East Side around Lexington. Its restaurants definitely lack good grubhub food and prices. My standards are different for this region of Manhattan, so I’ve found that when we find a place that serves great food, even if it’s a little more pricey than usual, we are shocked and pleasantly surprised. I think this has to do with the fact that you usually pay a lot more here for sub-standard eats.
We were recently very surprised with Smokin’ Q, a new Bar-B-Q joint. It’s really cute, with wooden benches and red and white checkered table clothes……you almost forget where you (almost, until you notice all of the button down shirts with sweaters and khaki-pantsed pinched-faced UES-ers) Now, it is not cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for. A large plate of BBQ with two sides and a drink will run you around $22-25, depending on what you order, and since you place an order at a counter, you do not have to pay the 20% tip for service. Also, the servings are quite large, so you can definitely comfortably get away with sharing a large BBQ plate.
The Hubster had the pulled pork and the BBQ shrimp with collard greens and potato salad. I indulged in BBQ brisket and pulled pork with mac -n- cheese and sweet potato mash. The portions were very large…..we both couldn’t finish the food, and not only that, it was GOOD…..real good, in fact. The brisket was some of the best I’ve ever had, with just the right amount of BBQ sauce and the pulled pork was moist and flavorful (albeit slightly fatty). The Hub’s shrimp was incredible…..large sized and perfectly grilled……and they gave 6 of them! The sides were tasty…..the collards were definitely vegetarian, which was slightly disappointing, the mac-n-cheese was creamy and well-baked, the potato salad had a nice mustardy sauce and the sweet potatoes were a bit bland, but a nice sweet addition to the meal.
We really hope this place makes it…..it was a nice respite from all of the other over-priced joints surrounding it! The owner was there immediately greeting us, and he seems like a real nice guy just trying to serve some BBQ! They also have a great $10 lunch deal which includes a BBQ sandwich, drink and side.

Mio Pio Pio

Pio Pio
1746 1st Avenue (90/91), NYC
6 other locations around the city

Pio Pio has been around at least eight years, but lately has expanded its locations to around Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. It is no surprise why its popularity has grown, it has a casual atmosphere, inexpensive food and drinks, and an interesting (but not intimidating) menu. The 1st Avenue location is long and narrow with cramped seating that no one seems to mind once the large plates of grub arrive.

We ordered the Matador Combo which consists of a whole chicken, and large plates of rice & beans, salchipapa (franks and fries - odd combo, but tasty), tostones, and avocado salad. It is enough for 3-4 people, which obviously isn’t quite enough for us, because we also had to have the yucca fries. Luckily, there were other couples with 7 plates covering their small table as well. Everything was tasty, although all the fried foods together were a little overwhelming for us. The chicken was juicy and flavorful, although it had a slight aromatic flavor which was not quite as appealing as some of my favorite chicken joints.

I will definitely return again and order more sensibly and get some of the good looking sangria. My co-corker, Aliyah, who is a regular, recommends a quarter chicken each (with awesome spicy green sauce) and sharing two sides. That sounds pretty good to me. While Pio Pio does not quite deserve a Golden Bozone, I do love my chicken-on-the-bone, and this is a great place to get it.

Mixed Fare is unfair…

Bistro 33
19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria

Bistro 33 is all the buzz in Astoria. It was recently written up in “Time Out” and was voted the best new addition to all of Queens! The Hubs and I walk by it all the time on our way into town, and we often stop and look at the menu, but we never stop in. The confusion of whether “to eat or not to eat” stems from the confusion of the state of the menu. It is French-Japanese Fusion, which is a weird combo, and it is strangely pricey (all mains running $15 to $30), but I adore fusion restaurants if they are done correctly. This place is always packed with a younger crowd, and it is a really great space with outdoor seating so on one of the warmer evenings, we finally decided to overcome our trepidations about the menu and try it out.
Our experience was extremely mixed. We found the service to run hot and cold. At the bar we had a very friendly bartender chat with us, but then our waitress barely acknowledged our presence. The sushi we ordered was phenomenal! Some of the best I’ve had in a while……on the same level as Sushi Samba with their flavor combos. The sesame crusted shrimp was perfectly fried and served with an addictive orange-curry sauce on the side, and the Spicy Tuna Nagimaki was amazing and also served with a tangy sauce. Really, if you are going to go there, try some of the crazy rolls. I have my eye on the Tuna Foie Gras Roll for the next time we try it. Another nod towards the bad service, I mistakenly poured some soy sauce, not knowing how wonderful the other dipping sauces would be and as the waitress was clearing the table she accidentally spilled the soy sauce on the table….well, the table had slats in it and so the soy sauce dripped all over me…..not just a little bit, but A LOT! Now, it’s not the accident that bothered me, but she did not stop and offer tonic water or even say anything…..I found that a bit worrisome.
Anyways, then we got out main course. We had both ordered the Pork Shoulder, which was braised with prosciutto and manchego cheese. It came out slathered in mayonnaise with large chunks of cheese and prosciutto and pickles, topped with seaweed. Truthfully, this dish was a mess. It was the saltiest food I have ever tasted and I couldn’t really eat it. If you know me, you know what a tremendously crazy statement that is.
At least the soy sauce came out of my skirt.

The Perfect Spud

Totally Baked
8 West 18th (5/6), NYC

As you can tell by my pen-name, I am completely and totally obsessed with Potatoes. They are, to me, a perfect food and I absolutely enjoy them in every shape, size and form they come in, although I must admit that I enjoy them as “potato-ey” as possible….meaning that I prefer steak fries to shoe strings and baked potatoes over potato chips. That being said, it was a dream come true to find out that there was a newly opened food establishment called “Totally Baked” that honored my favorite food in its naked form. The menu is terrific and simple, there are 10 Baked Potatoes, each with a different topping. If you enjoy them basic, then stick to the Classic which is loaded with Sour Cream, Bacon and Chives, but if you want an adventure then check out the Brisket (Topped with large hunks of brisket and fried onions all in a marsala wine reduction) or the Pulled Pork (topped with “pernil” pork and mexican slaw). Now, it is not cheap!!! These potatoes cost $10 each and are served with an organic green salad. A lot of comments on other blogs and sights leave me to wonder if the Hubs and I were given some preferential treatment when we went (we happened to mention we were taking pictures for a Food Blog! :- ) Out potatoes were loaded with lots of meat and it was a perfectly filling meal, but other foodies seem not be feeling the potato love, or at least seem to have been denied the amount that we were served. Granted, it is not an overwhelming amount of food, but it can serve as a plentiful lunch if you do not mind paying that much for a classy potato. You can even splurge for the $55 truffle potato…….I think it’s crazy, but, hey, it’s NYC!
The establishment itself is very clean and decorated with all sorts of fun “Potato-abilia”, like fun drawings of Mr. Potato Head himself, “all hail to the Chief Spud!”
The one drawback for me, and it might sound weird, but the staff was overly friendly…..a little too much for me. I don’t need to be screamed “hello and welcome” to as I walk in the door in overly chipper sing-song voices, nor do I need small talk as I decide what I want, or to be given strong hints towards what I should order, or called a “tourist” as I take pictures……hmph! Small pet-peeve, and I’m sure for some it makes them feel special, but I hate forced niceness……