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Discerning Tastebuds Want to Know
Jennifer N.
Location: New York
Blog Posts: 16
Member Since: 6/24/2008
Favorite Cuisine:
French, Japanese, Korean
Recent Eats
Aug 19th
Aug 19th
Aug 7th
Aug 4th
Jul 18th
Brooklyn Brunch is Better... Sometimes
At most places, the lines for brunch are not nearly so ridiculous. This is one of them. We happened upon Bonita a few weeks ago when wandering around the neighbourhood. I had been meaning to check out the one in Williamsburg for a while, so when we happened upon it in this hood, we decided to check it out.
The first thing we were greeted by was a friendly bartender, who later served us some deliciously cold ice coffee with a kick to it (a drop of amaretto syrup, if I recall). We failed to see the specials so I went with an egg dish, but do not forget to check them out. Our waitress informed us that most of the specials revolve around meat, and pork in particular, because their meats are sourced whole from a place upstate, therefore super fresh and organic and all that good stuff. After enjoying the ham quite a bit, I'd have to agree that the meat tastes more vibrant, for lack of a better word.
I haven't been to dinner here, but it will definitely be added to my list for next time.
Bonita
243 Dekalb Avenue ()
Brooklyn, 11205
Tel: (718) 622-5300
Understated French Bistro
As far as French bistros in Manhattan go, many of them fall short significantly. Up until recently, I thought this was one of them. However, unlike so many establishments, Jack has only gotten better with time. The food is solid, the service is amiable and accommodating, and the ambiance is relaxed and cozy. It's quickly become my reliable place for good food in a convenient location.
In its first few years of being around, it had its issues. Food was not consistently good, the service had been spotty, and there have been less than pleasant experiences. However, the past few visits have not only redeemed itself on all counts, but it has shown that this little spot has aged as nicely as the vintages that they serve.
They have daily specials, all of which are quite delicious. The food here is fresh, prepared well with the highest quality ingredients, and simple. The pate is a must if you're a fan, and the seafood paella is quite a treat to the tastebuds. Their burgers are unexpectedly good, and the mussels and frites are a reliable favourite. In recent memory, I can honestly say that every meal I've had has been delicious!
The clientele tends to be a lot of neighbourhood locals, but they are more than happy to serve you, be it a party of two or a group of friends seeking a good meal over good conversation. Highly recommended!
Jack
80 University Pl. (11th St.)
New York, 10003
Tel: (212)620-5544
Not Quite
Everything about this place strongly suggested that I would like it. It's located on a quiet, quaint strip of 13th Street, the host/owner is most gracious, the bartender was wonderful, and the ambiance was casual and potentially romantic. Unfortunately, the service and food fell a bit short of what I would call a good experience.
For places that are between the high end and the low end of dining, I expect a certain level of service. When you're sent to the bar for ten minutes to "prepare" a table that was already empty and looked exactly the same as when we walked in is a little grating. When said table is in the tiniest corner of the entire establishment while other tables are available is also grating. When my primi piatti arrives with my dining mate's insalate, that's getting into rooky territory.
The food was slightly above run-of-the-mill Italian. I think to a certain extent, we're so accustomed to a higher standard of quality in restaurants that sometimes I have to ask myself if I'm not being too harsh. I did just this assessment over this meal, and I have to admit, it's still just slightly above mediocre. The artichoke croquettes were a bit soggy, and the accompanying olive tapenade was overly oiled. The lobster-stuffed pasta was good because the pasta is homemade, but the lobster filling did not taste fresh and the sauce was a bit bland. On the upside, they will happily accommodate dietary restrictions more so than at other places if requested in advance.
Overall, not the worst place in the world for Old World Italian, but there are definitely better options.
Gradisca
126 W. 13th St. (bet. 6th Ave. & 7th Ave. S.)
New York, 10011
Tel: (212)691-4886
A Bit Much
After hearing so many good recommendations of this place, I was looking forward to an interesting culinary experience. Unfortunately, all I got was mediocre Thai food in a ridiculously decorated space. Are those fake doors at each table really necessary in a cramped space where no one seems to know this from that?
The service was terrible from the start. It took three different people to assess where we should be seated, and after 20 minutes of confused staff trying to sort themselves out, we were finally seated. As if the superfluous doors were not bad enough, this is a place where the tables are separated by 2 centimeters of space between each other. Only a slight exaggeration, it was not surprising that I caught more of my neighbour's conversation than my dining mates who, seated across the table, were much further away. The music was at club decibels, so our vocal chords got quite the workout when we tried to converse. Bleh.
If the food was good, all could have been forgiven. However, my Kee Mao noodles, which I requested extra spicy with chicken, arrived bland with beef. The special Pad Thai looked interesting, and after a taste from my dining mates' plate, I concluded that it's not nearly as such once in the mouth. The seafood tasted overly fishy and not at all fresh, and the egg just didn't do anything for me. The drinks, however, they did reasonably well.
All in all, it's a reasonable option for Thai if you're in the area and are more interested in drinking than eating a decent meal over good conversation with friends.
Room Service
166 8th Ave. (bet. 18th & 19th St.)
New York, 10011
Tel: (212)691-0299
Monstrous Sushi
When you first enter Yama, you feel a bit "people under the stairs," but the rest of the space quickly brings you out of that. It's a cozy place with little space and decent decor, in that it's not over-the-top Asian. The tacky factor is nonexistent.
It's not ideal for a group, but on a Wednesday evening during dinner rush, they were able to accommodate six of us, even though only five of us were on time. We all squished into a table but served fairly quickly. The claim to fame here are their huge rolls. Given how big it is, a light eater could get away with ordering one roll. The sushi quality is good but nothing special, the tonkatsu was also good but nothing special, and I would venture the rest of the menu to be likewise. The special fried soft shell crab appetizer, however, was quite deliciously breaded, lightly herbed, and the quality of the crab was above par.
I'd not exactly call it a value, but it's a good option for sushi near Union Square.
Yama
122 E. 17th St. (Irving Pl.)
New York, 10003
Tel: (212)475-0969
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