Edible Eataly – NYC

A dangerous place. The shelves of organic produce whisper suggestively, the fresh mozzarella beckons silently, and the scent of fresh prosciutto seduces even the tightest budget.

After extensive deliberation, I deduced the safest approach:

First, eat a light snack before venturing through Eataly. When you’re not starving, like I was, maybe every-freaking-thing you see won’t look so damn irresistible…

Promenade through the automatic sliding doors (because it’s not so far from Chelsea....) and make a beeline for the modern high-top counters near the center of the store. You can sit at a counter quickly or wander between the food stations they encircle. Who doesn’t want to watch fresh mozzarella made before your eyes while you chow down on the never-get-old classic prosciutto di parma or the sweeter prosciutto St. Danielle.

So I compromised. Instead of buying one of everything in the entire market, I ordered a combo of both prosciuttos. Didn’t love the accompanying bread – a little too hard and dense for what I prefer, but unquestionably, (and unlimited!) fresh whole grain goodness all the same. My only regret is my gastric spatial limitations. I was dying to try some mozzarella and maybe a few bites of one of the enticing veggie sandwiches, but my arteries were already saturated by the generous portion of prosciutto…and it would have been awkward to ask other strangers for a taste of their food…don’t think I didn’t consider it…(Eataly, if you’re reading this, please make a sample platter of everything!)

After you eat, conclude your day-brightening visit by navigating through the market slowly. Slowly enough to drink in the sight of each brightly-colored aisle but quickly enough to resist the temptation to buy one of everything. And try not to come back too often because the rent you pay for the gorgeous 2-bedroom that you share with 6 people doesn’t have much room for Eataly.

Shakin' it at the Shake Shack - NYC

My shack shake brings all the boys in the yard,

And my cheese fries, are better than yours,

Damn right, they’re better than yours,

I could feed you, but I’d have to charge…

No seriously, there were actually more boys than girls in the yard at the Flatiron Shake Shack this weekend, and it only improved the already-vibrant park scenery. There is nothing like the juicy comfort of a Shack burger in the dead of winter or chilling with the girls over cheese fries on the one day it was almost 60 degrees in nyc. Embarassing confession: I highly recommend the Shack Burger BUT I’ve never had it. It’s because I love the Shack-Cago Dog way too much - the sport peppers are an obsession and the celery salt converts a girl who avoids celery more than awkward exes.

The food comes out hot and fast, the cheese is always melted and gooey, and the shakes are creamy and sippably thick. Show a guy just how un-prissy you are by taking a huge bite of your burger, make sure your fingers touch while sharing cheese fries, and sip your milkshake without once mentioning the calories. Better yet, forget boys and grab an outside (in the park!) table with the girls for a pretty view and catch up on last week’s scandals and this weekend’s sketch.

 

MmmMmmm Mela - Boston

Warning: the story you’re about to hear is very sad. If you are Indian and/or a diehard lover of the beautiful dish called vindaloo, brace yourself. Mela is the first place in Boston and Raleigh combined where I ate vindaloo made with perceivable vinegar and it was awesome.

Loved the lamb vinadaloo – the chunks of lamb were abundant and tender though I wish they had soaked up more flavor – however, that’s my main critique at every restaurant so please take that with a grain of coriander. 

When they said the palak paneer was made with FRESH spinach, they weren’t kidding! Usually when I get a dish with pureed spinach, I usually taste only the spices and the spinach just adds texture. In this dish, I could actually taste that slightly bitter kick of spinach through the creamy sauce.

Love the attention to detail, both the food and all the little things: When we asked for extra plates, the plates they gave us were warm. Not out-of-the-dishwasher-still-damp warm, but clearly incubated to not turn your food into a frigid mess. (HintHint Sibling Rivalry…) The server was polite and knowledgeable about the food and everyone had a quiet polish. The staff was good, but they were so quiet about it I never noticed them working - all I remember is that my dining experience was pleasant, everything ran smoothly, and my water glass was always full – quite a feat since the vindaloo gave me tears of joy/capsacin.

Love this place even though it's a little pricey for my liking, but imo, the quality of the ingredients and the savory, well-balanced cooking is worth paying extra. So if you’re craving Indian food minus the fake, Mela just might be what the doctor prescribed.

Island Hopper – Little Restaurant of Horrors - Boston

If you want your food on the same day you ordered it, avoid Island Hopper on weekdays like the plague. True, there was no man-eating plant, but considering the service here, I think Seymour may have removed the plant because customers were feeding themselves to it willingly after waiting so freaking long for water.

Clearly, this restaurant’s way to up the profits was to have one server work the entire place. We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a dour host who looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. After being seated, we were given ample time to peruse the extensive menu. By ample time, I mean 20 minutes. 20 minutes with no drink order, no water, no attention whatsoever. I have no doubt the server was swamped with 7 tables, but is there a reason the other two staff members in the restaurant couldn’t pitch in? How much training does it take to pour two glasses of water?

Warning: if you got the groupon, make damn sure you have a reservation because they WILL ask you. Even after you’re seated.

After 10 more uneventful water-sipping minutes, the Roti Island Hopper appetizer was served. I’ve had both the meat and veggie curry dips and both are equally awesome. The flatbread is exactly like the scallion pancake of my youth, minus the scallion, and it’s thin and chewy throughout. The curry is creamy and just the right thickness to cling to the pancake. Highly recommend.

No wait between courses, and the entrees were hot and clearly freshly cooked.

Me: This looks goooood…

Vegetarian Friend: (spears a piece of pineapple with his forks and is about to open his mouth)

Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo

This is the part where I dive across the table. I am literally supermanning that oh…or that oh so messed up order anyway…We ordered the Malaysian Curry Tofu and Vegetables (which I got) and Nena’s Tofu (stir-fried tofu with pineapple and veggies, served in a pineapple shell), which turned out to be Nena’s Chicken. I swiftly covered that pineapple shell with my entire arm and shouted “that’s chicken!”, thus rescuing a lifetime vegetarian from his first taste of meat. Kick-Ass the movie’s protagonist was right. Ordinary people can be heroes too.

My food heroics aside, the Nena’s TOFU was quite good. A teensy bit salty but not enough for deductions. The curry was thick-enough-but-not-too-hard-to-swallow consistency that is key for all things swallowed. I didn’t see any okra, but it was sweet and the veggies were well-cooked – still firm but not at all raw. And I could seriously eat that curry over rice for the rest of my life and be happy.

The only reason this place has 3 stars is because the food is pretty good and reasonably-priced, and my first experience was great. It’s my second (and LAST) experience that brings it down 1.5 stars. And if you’re vegetarian, I hope that wasn’t chicken.

M is for Mediocre at Metropolis - Boston

The best way to describe this place is comfort food for foodies. Come here for the well-made classics, like the steak or scallops entree. 

Details:

The mussels appetizer had a slightly tangy, smooth sauce – this is the closest to the Mediterranean theme that I saw from this place (see below)

The entrees were good, but ordinary, as in been done, but then again, good will always be good; However, it’s the side dishes that showcase the chef’s attention to detail, which was a pleasant surprise. If I remember correctly, the whipped potatoes had a truffle flavor to them, which made an otherwise ordinary side into something flavorful that I couldn’t stop eating. I ate all of the whipped potatoes on my plate, which I almost never do, especially when they accompany something as rich as hanger steak (which was a lovely pink medium rare). The scallops were also perfectly seared, and both dishes were nicely plated. Presentation seems to be a lost art in Boston, but it seems that Metropolis may have found it.

If I ever come back here (not likely), I'd love to try their risotto - so few restaurants, North End included, can make it properly, and this seems like a place that has perfected the classics. Let me know how it is if you try it before I do!

One major thing that prevented this place from getting a higher rating from me is that I couldn’t see the Mediterranean inspiration, which is irksome from a self-proclaimed Mediterranean bistro. (It says so on their website, just check.) I also wanted a bit more creativity – I shied away from the prix fixe meal (which is a good deal) because I couldn’t get excited about the mundane salad appetizers.

Feedback Sandwich for 5 Napkin Burger - Boston

Something Positive: The service is good here, and the tater tots are phenomenol. A side dish with six little cylinders of crispy-on-the-outside with gooey, well-herbed thick mashed potato-like filling goodness. It was more like a fried mashed potato bite (like fried mac-n-cheese bites) that a tradition tater tot, and my life would complete if only they would sell it in the frozen foods aisle like Ore-Ida fries (only soooo much better than that!

Something Negative: Guys, I know it’s not about size, but when your pickle isn’t long enough, and your pastrami isn’t thick enough, and you’re too heavy on the sauerkraut, you’re in a bad place. Enhancements needed. HINTHINT.

Seriously, it’s ridiculous the fried pickles and pastrami appetizer should be nearly the same price as an entire burger when it’s literally 4 miniscule bites on a plate. The pickles and pastrami are good together, but it’s like the world’s tiniest sandwich minus the bread, and the overwhelming bed of sauerkraut it lies on masks the taste of well…everything but the sauerkraut. Fail.

Something Positive: I think they’re overcompensating for the appetizer with the burgers…My advice: split a burger. It frees you up to order one more dish to share, and I live my life by the rule that if you share the food, it has no calories. (The weight I gain is from lack of exercise alone, and don’t you dare burst my bubble!) The original burger is good. And huge. And good. My half of it completely satisfied my body’s love-hate relationship with greasy food without pushing me too far towards the hate side.

This is a great place to hang if you’re tired of Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang’s, and it’s better for grabbing a beer with the boys (and girls!). Come if you’re trying to please the picky eaters and/or burger lovers. Don’t order appetizers.

My Cup Runneth Over at Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter III – NYC

Where in this city of sky-high prices and matching skyscrapers can you buy happiness for a measly $10?

A pot of tea and two of Alice’s famous scones (get pumpkin and strawberry chocolate) is the perfect study aid and did I mention that last time I was there the staff were supportive of me studying there for 2 hours? I asked the host what the time limit was (1.5 hours) but he made it clear that they wouldn’t kick me out unless they were full.

My best memory here was when, after a long cold NYC winter, my friend Alex and I decided to bring some sunshine to the upper east side the first day it hit 70 degrees. We decided to physically BE the sunshine by wearing sundresses. Though honestly, if you know my friend Alex, her company alone is all the sunshine you could possibly need.

My other fave:

The cumin carrots sandwich made even me, a girl who doesn’t like carrots, want to smack my lips and say “Ehhhh….what’s up doc?”

Side note: My life’s goal if I land a residency in a Manhattan hospital is to buy these sandwiches for my group, and recite Bugs Bunny’s signature phrase after everyone has taken a bite. Those who laugh will be my new best friends. Speaking of Looney Tunes, did anyone else read on wikipedia that they’re doing new episodes again starting this May? Is anyone as excited as I am? If anyone as excited as I am but way too embarrassed to admit it?

Conclusion: While studying at Alice’s, indulge in sophisticated scones where each scone constitutes a moist but crumbly, just sweet enough but not too sweet to call itself a scone meal, hot but refreshing hint-o-mint Casablanca tea, and if you’re hungry a tea egg salad or roasted cumin carrots sandwich. So if you crave a pinky-curling study session or a gossip in summer dresses retreat, sit down at Alice’s – they’ll give you the time to savor every bite.