Restaurant : Udon West
Location : 11 West St. Marks, New York City, NY 10003
Website : http://www.udonwest.com/


Granted, there are many amazing places to eat on St. Marks. Sometimes I wonder how they all compete with each other! But I guess that's the wonderful thing about St. Marks... You don't have to make decisions until you are standing right there, in front of the store or restaurant.
So we were walking one chilly Autumn day and though...

"Hmm... something warm sounds good... maybe noodles?"

Udon West is definitely worth stopping for.
Being the ideal tiny hole in the wall in NYC, Udon West is squished between other flashier looking restaurants.
But who needs flashy for a yummy quick lunch?
So we stepped inside... Only to be intoxicated with the smells of soup broths.


We took a seat at the tiny tables in the back rather than the bar.
Udon West has a very cozy, tiny Japanese noodle bar type feel. With very friendly Japanese waitstaff and often filled with mostly Japanese clients...
Cant be that bad, can it?

Au contraire!

It was amazing!!!


Bunnie's Rating

Money : Cheap Japanese food (like $8-15) ... and they have great combo deals and great lunch deals!

Must Try : Everything we had was great. Personally, it might have been one of the best Chicken Katsu donburi I ever had!

Type : Extremely casual and extremely small... I wouldn't recommend coming with more than 3-4 people! Best I think is single or 2 people. Also keep in mind this is a 'cash only' place!!
Also, you get your own water from a little water dispensing machine by the bar.

Reservations : No reservations... first come first serve.

Okay! So bringing on the food!!


The Chicken Katsu Don
(For those who don't know, its chicken katsu over rice with egg and onions! SO GOOD...
And this combo came with soup!)

The little rice 'doughnuts' we had on the side were okay... nothing to rave about...


The curry soup with udon noodles and Shrimp Tempura
(you cant go wrong with Japanese curry)

And another combo...
Katsu with Nabe-Yaki Udon and a bowl of rice


Pros:
Everything was super yummy... the price was great for the quality... the service was fast, nice and efficient...
And actually, because the place was so tiny and could only fit so many, it never really felt overwhelmingly crowded! Great spot to hit for a quick bite with friends on a late night(I believe they are open til 3am) or even just to go and eat on your own at the bar!!


Cons:
Cash only can sometimes be annoying, but not a deal breaker.
Their rice doughnuts, although very cute, were not particularly as good and I expected...
But the other food made up for it.


So when in St. Marks and feeling like some Japanese food...
Although there are many many other great Japanese food places scattered all down the block (which I intend to blog as well!)... definitely stop in and give this place a try!



Til next blog!


Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!!!

Grilled Mexican Corn on the Corner of Prince and Elizabeth street

Restaurant : Cafe Habana
Location : 17 Prince St. New York, NY 10012
Website : http://www.cafehabana.com/


Tucked into the corner of Prince and Elizabeth street is a delicious little Latin haven... fusing the savory tastes of Cuban and Central Mexico. The place didn't look like much when we first got there... but stepping inside felt like stepping into one of those little side street habanas in Mexico. Very small... very casual... with the delicious scent of rice and grilled corn permeating the air.



Bunnie's Rating

Money : Cheap... definitely a yummy cheap bite to eat with good quality Latin food!

Must Try : Their corn is famous! Definitely give it a shot!

Type : Casual small restaurant... I wouldn't come here with more than 4 people because the booths are very small and the restaurant is pretty cramp. But with all the open windows, theres always a nice breeze blowing through the restauarnt! Good place to go with a small group of friends... might be a little too noisy for children.

Reservations : No reservations... first come first serve. But this place DOES tend to sometimes have a line coming out the door so try (if you can) to not go at peak meal hours!



So speaking of the corn...

We had heard that their corn was some of the best Mexican corn around! Of course we had to give it a try!
My friends tasted their corn appetizer... grilled hot and sprinkled with cheeses and spices that slowly melted from the heat of each kernel. Add a quick squeeze of lime!



And let the entrees begin!

This was their pulled pork... served with a hefty portion of sweet, soft and juicy meat, Spanish rice, and some beans. The pork was really really good...



And this was the Sincronizada Toluca...
Yummy and light... tortillas with chorizo, mozzarella cheese and avocado with a side of salsa!


I had the Steak and Corn Salad...
Skirt steak grilled tender and sprinkled with crispies and their famous grilled corn and covered in their house vinaigrette... SO good...


Pros:
Delicious casual Latin street food with a seat! Great place to walk over to when you are shopping in Soho and want a nice quick cheap bite!


Cons:
Small menu... limited items. But what they do have, they do very very well.



So the next time you are in Soho and in the mood for some yummy Latin food... Definitely come by this place for a quick bite!


Until next time foodies...


Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!!!

Top Chef's Backyard Bliss on Prince

Restaurant : 24 Prince
Location : 24 Prince St. New York, NY 10012
Website : http://www.24prince.com/


My friends and I were wandering around Soho one beautiful Monday afternoon and our tummies had just started to rumble... so the hunt for a place to eat became our mission. Going through our Goldilocks syndrome (This ones wait for a table is too long... This ones menu isnt very exciting... This ones too small... This ones too big...) Ahhh we FINALLY found a place that was JUST right...

A cute little place nestled in the middle of Prince Street, 24 Prince had a very welcoming entry...
Open and airy with friendly people and comfortable looking seating...
After seeing the sign that there was backyard seating, I was sold...
Ive always been one to love eating al fresco, but with streets in NYC just being way too close to the restaurant, with way too many cars... and way too many people crowding the sidewalks... Its just not quite so easy to find a good place to eat outdoors without feeling like your food and drink will constantly be sprinkled with little bits of NYC grimy yumminess...

The inside had a nice bar and nice seating, but my heart was set on the backyard... which was completely adorable! Nice seating with a simple gazebo if you weren't in the mood for direct sunlight.


Bunnie's Rating

Money : Moderate. The quality of the food without question is delicious!

Must Try : Their Iced Tea's were delicious! The have one infused with peach and one with pear... we tried the pear and it was SO yummy... if you like your iced tea sweet, just ask for some simple syrup!

Type : Typical small NYC restaurant layout... Long and narrow... but nicely designed with dim lighting... trendy... The place looks like it could accommodate large parties... (10-12 max?) But I would call ahead of time if that was the case... Otherwise, its a nice little lunch/brunch spot for a small group of 2-4 people... great little spot for a date or just catching up with friends.

Reservations : I was only there for lunch... haven't tried dinner yet... For lunch, reservations definitely weren't necessary.

*Insider Tip!*
Found out this charming little spot's chef and co-owner is Nikki Cascone! She was a Top Chef Chicago contestant for Season 4 on Bravo. A really sweet Chef who was trained at Jean-Georges and decided to start her own little place. I applaud you Chef Nikki... the food was delicious!


And speaking of the food...

Here's what my friends and I tried and all loved...


This was the Ham and Cheese Melt
(Mmmm cheesy salty goodness...)


The Chicken Sandwich
(Refreshing and delicious)


The Hanger Steak Sandwich
(Mmm... steak!)


And the Fish and Chips (herb fries)
(Mine!! ^_^) The Herb fries were AMAZING... and the Fish was flaky and sweet and not oily!



Pros:
The food and drinks were delicious... and the proportions of the dishes were perfect... and the ambiance was fun! Definitely a new hidden favorite in Soho!


Cons:
Seems like a place that could probably get pretty packed up in the evening... but other than that, nothing really comes to my mind!



So if you are in the Soho area... and can't think of a place to eat... Definitely give this place a try!!

Until next time foodies...


Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!!!

Delish BBQ Anytime of the year... WITH a reservation!

Restaurant : Dinosaur Bar-B-Q
Location : 646 W 131st St. New York, NY 10027-7948
Website : http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/nyc


Who doesn't get a craving now and then for some REALLY good BBQ?
I know I do... Probably ever other month or so?
And in a city like New York City.. who needs to ONLY have BBQ in the Summer???

My friends and I search high and low together to find the BEST BBQ NYC had to offer... and I think... wait, I KNOW we found it!!

Deliciously rich and moist ribs... savory side dishes... addictive appetizers... topped off with some good ole fashioned southern sweet tea! You really cant go wrong...



Bunnie's Rating

Money : Moderate-cheap (espcially for the quality and quantity you get)

Must Try : The wings... the ribs... the sweet tea... and the mac'n'cheese (if you are a true mac and cheese lover!) And if you are really lucky... see if they have the Cajun Corn for the veggie of the day... amazing...

Type : Big and loud... The kind of place you would stereotype a biker gang to stop off at to grab a bite. But the place is always hopping with both a great food and bar scene... live band music on fridays and saturdays is always fun!

Reservations : DEFINITELY... They accept open table reservations or you can call. A warning... take their reservations very seriously... I reserve up to 2 weeks prior to eating there if I want to go on a friday or saturday night... no joke. If you decide to walk in... you will probably have to wait anywhere between 2-4 hours for a table... So... if that was the case... they have a take out booth right past the hostess desk!

*Insider Tip!*
Even with a reservation... aim to be at the restaurant with your WHOLE party about a half hour prior to your reservation... because you will still have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table...
Personally, I think reservations just means you get bumped to the front of the line!



So let me start out by saying their wings are AMAZING...
So good that we got this sampler platter (everything else was good too... MMMmmm Deviled eggs... Ol' Bay Shrimp... Onion rings...)


AND an order of Wings for the table! Our favorite marinade is the Mild Garlic Chipotle sauce...
Sweet and mildly spicy with a nice hint of garlic...
If your tongue prefers a more intense burn, they definitely have spicier ones...
But there's also (as always) extra sauce in jars on the table to share in case you want to customize!


Just a little zoom in of HOW DARN GOOD THESE WINGS ARE...
Fresh... juicy... falling off the bone...

(Im shocked you are still here reading this and aren't up in Harlem banging on Dino's door yet)


SO... On to the main event!
THE RIBS!!!


Delicious and tender... so amazingly good...


Pros:

Great place for groups big and small! If you reserve ahead of time enough, they will accomidate! The prices are decent, the food is good, and the ambiance is fun! But expect to be screaming over the restaurant noise at each other as the night progresses.
And afterwards, you can always stop by the Take-Out table behind the Hostess desk... they sell all the Dinosaur BBQ sauces for like $3 each!!!!

Cons:

Can get crowded and noisy really fast as it gets late... do NOT attempt on Fridays and Saturdays without a reservation... simply put... not gonna happen...
Also, make sure that when you bring friends or family, that they would be okay with the noise level... can get pretty intense... especially when theres a big game going!
Its pretty out of the way as well... so plan accordingly!



So... until next entry my fellow obsessive eaters...

Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!!!

ABC Brunch!

Restaurant : Clinton Street Baking Company and Restaurant
Location : 4 Clinton Street (between Houston and Stanton street), NY
Website : http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/


Hidden in the Lower East Side, right on the edge of alphabet city... far from train stations and the usual commercial busy street traffic... and father than the average tourist would care to venture, there is a true New York City brunch treasure.

The Clinton Street Baking Company has been raved about and voted best brunch, pancakes, and biscuits...
And definitely a place Ive long waited to try!

The shop is definitely a small place that you could walk right by if you didn't know it was there. But a friendly warm red casual entry scoops you right off the brick streets and once past the front door, you're surrounded by the warm smells of a pancakes, cookies, and cakes... and the low buzz of people eating and chatting.
You have two options... You can order baked goods right from the front door, or you can sit down and order some of their amazing food... Or better yet, do both!





Bunnie's Rating

Money : Moderate
Compared to what you get, the price is well worth the good food and friendly service.

Must Try : Pretty much everything!! But my favorite is THE PANCAKES!!! Personally I cant stop going back for the Banana Walnut pancakes... the best Ive ever had. They have blueberry ones too but I haven't tried them... yet. And Ive been told the biscuits are amazing...

Type : Charming and small... but the high ceilings keeps you from feeling too claustrophobic when you are packed into the seating booths.

Reservations : They do not accept reservations... so anticipate a wait! It could range from anywhere between 10 minutes to 1 1/2 hours...



Omelet


The Amazing Banana Walnut Pancakes


Pro's

Friendly staff... Comfortable casual brunch setting... consistently amazing food

Con's

Don't take reservations... Isn't a place for a big party (don't come with more than a party of 4 people or you will be waiting a VERY long time)





Overall... I have to say this is one of my top 5 brunch spots!
I'll definitely be back for more...


Until next entry...

Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!

So Soft... So Sweet!

Restaurant : Kyotofu
Location : 705 9th Avenue (between 48th and 49th street), NY
Website : www.kyotofu-nyc.com


Tofu originated with traditional Chinese 'doufu', created by compressed soy, and cut into blocks. Variations range from firm(extremely dense) all the way to silken (extremely soft).
Funny enough, even though tofu originated in China... the Chinese refused to release their secrets of productions... It was the Japanese and Koreans who began to share it with the world.

Tofu can be used in so many ways...
And one of my personal favorites is as a dessert!!
Also known as "doufu hua" in Chinese...
A sweetened silk tofu often served with a sweet syrup, or fruits or creams.

Kyotofu is a adorable little Japanese tofu restaurant that opened up on the west side known for their delicious sweet tofu.

A couple weeks ago, I went with a few friends to test run their brunch!
So while keeping sweet tofu in the back of my mind... we dived into some delicious 'pre-sweet tofu' nibbles...



This is their Mac n' Cheese...
Quite tasty... creamy with a crunchy top.
I would definitely recommend giving this a try!

This is their french toast...
Comes with a shot of syrup and sweet coffee and some home made sausages.
Pretty good as well...
Definitely a nibbling portion... but hey, we are ALL saving room for dessert...

AND... let the dessert begin!!


This is their Cheesecake...
Quite good!
Extremely light and creamy...

And the sweet tofu!!

Of course we ordered the 'Signature Sweet Tofu'
And I must say... it didn't disappoint!!
It was sweet, light and smooth...
Came with a cute little crunchy seaweed chip...
(Which was pretty much forgotten because of the yummy tofu)

And a little parting gift...
Some little coconut cupcakes!

Bunnie's Rating

Money : Cheap-Moderate
The prices aren't bad... but keep in mind this is more of a nibbling and dessert place... So dont come here expecting a huge filling meal that will leave you with a serious food coma...
But brunch does come with a free brunch cocktail!

Must Try : The sweet tofu of course!! And the Mac n' Cheese...

Type : Trendy and small... intimate. A good place for a small group of friends or a couple to grab a bite and sit and chat... The service is good and friendly... A very comfortable setting.

Reservations : I did, but I dont think its entirely necessary... Its a hit or miss...


Pro's

Very sweet and attentive staff... Good food... Intimate setting.

Con's

I wish they had MORE variations of the sweet tofu...
But who knows what happens in the future!

Until next entry...

Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!

A tasty 'Blend' of Cuban

Restaurant : Blend
Location : 47-04 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY
Website : http://blendlic.com/


Craving some good Cuban food? Who doesnt?
What I like about Blend is it food definitely satisfies that craving AND its trendy restaurant environment brings it to a new, and more fun level!


They have some great 'tapatizers'! Ive tried the quesadilla and the calimari.
Both were delicious... but I think my favorite was these adorable little Empanadas!
This is the 5 piece sampler with pollo (chicken), carne (braised beef short rib), quesos (cheese), chorizo (spanish sausage),and espinaca y queso (spinach, cheese, and pecans). They were all really delicious! A good option for if you cant decide! Or are like me... and wanna try a little bit of everything!



And the entree!!
Always the classic and one of my favorites!!
The Arroz Con Pollo with some fried plantaines!

The Pernil (porkchop) is also fantastic...
Another good choice, if you feel like some seafood, is their Paella.



Bunnie's Rating

Money : Cheap-Moderate
They also have great a great lunch deal!

Must Try : The Empanadas were one of my favoite little munch to start out with!

Type : Trendy and friendly. I obsedrved couples, friends, groups, and families all eatting here before!

Reservations : Not necessary... yet


Pro's

Great attentive staff... quality cuban food... and a relaxed trendy atmosphere!

Con's

They are still in the process of getting their liquor license... so might need to wait a little to have a glass of wine or a nice cocktail.




Until next entry...

Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!

A Delicious Dip...

Restaurant : Simply Fondue
Location : The Shops At Atlas Park
71-19 80th Street, Ridgewood NY
Website : www.simplyfonduequeens.com


My first taste of fondue ever was in Paris France. Delicious, savory, creamy bliss.
Who knew I could find some of to this amazing treat right in Queens, New York?
Simply Fondue's fondue isn't what I found in Paris...
But it is definitely a experience worth tasting!
Creative varieties of different cheese and chocolate fondues...
There so much to choose from!

Definitely better than a few of the typical fondue places I found in Manhattan,
where they only have classic simple fondues...
Like Swiss... cheddar.... and white chocolate... dark and milk chocolate...

And you cant beat the seductively trendy decor...

A cute little private booth for VIPs...


And let the fun begin!!


... and if you get a chance...
The 'Sextini' is delicious...


Beginning to heat up the pot...veggies... and bread chunks...
While nibbling on salads


First course...
The Strawberry Spinach Salad


Second course...
The Traditional Swiss Chalet (right) and Italian Fontina (left) fondues!

Soooo good... They were both amazing...

And now the Fondue Grill...


The Third course of the night...
You get to pick 9 items from the menu between 2 people...

Choices include things like teriyaki steak, jerk chicken, bacon wrapped pork, ahi tuna, salmon, scallops, coconut shrimp, etc.

The fun event of this course was we were able to grill everything up in front of us!
So be patient... its yummy!



And the finger-licking last course...
The chocolate fondue!!


The Bailey's Irish Chocolate (on the left) and the Rocky Road Fondue (on the right)



Bunnie's Rating

Money : Moderate-Pricey
Keep in mind that this restaurant operates on a pre-fix set menu!
The four course that I experienced was about $40 for 4 courses...
But there is also the 'chocolate only' option for $10 per person!

Must Try : Everything!!!! They also have a great wine and cocktail list...
Try out the 'Sextini'!

Type : Trendy and intimate. A place thats more designed for couples... but has the great option of a party room in the back for events!

Reservations : On Fridays and Saturdays I would recommend reservations...
Call or go on opentable.com
The place gets very busy 7pm on!


Pro's

Friendly, helpful, and attentive staff... the fondue recipes are delicious
The ambiance is relaxing... and the whole experience is just fun!
Great date place to go and cuddle up in a booth and dip into some fondue!

Con's

Your party should either range between 2-4 max...
or have a huge party and reserve the party room...
The bathroom is a little weird... but has nice decor...
And you have to ask for water refills...



Overall a wonderful experience and I'm definitely planning on going back!!!


Until next entry...

Eat. Drink. And have Dessert!