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Eat a home-cooked meal with cool strangers

30 Jan

What if a professional chef invited you (and a handful of other strangers) to her house and cooked for you at a very affordable price? Enter Soup Next Door, a newly formed eating community. “Independently minded” chefs create their own menus, people sign up and meet up (sometimes at venues, but more often at homes), and everyone eats. Most of the meals are BYOB and some are as inexpensive as $15 (max price is $40). The groups tend to be small—between 8 and 15 people; upcoming events include “Singles Mingle, Italian Style” and “A Valentine’s Dinner with Jack.”

Totally awesome way to meet new people in a low-key and comfortable environment.

Schedule of Upcoming Events

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Guess what, dudes? Whole Foods has a real bar!

13 Jan

116 Bottles of Beer on the Wall

Living in NYC means being annoyed often. And always within a two-block radius of Whole Foods. (The people! The lines! The prices!) So imagine my delight when I popped into the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle to buy a baguette and stumbled upon a cozy bar in the spot designated for the ne’er-meant-to-be WF wine shop. On Tap elevates the growler service of other locations by inviting shoppers to sit for a sip. There are 10 draft beers (and 116 bottles) starting at $6, plus 8 local wines (around $7 a glass). A locally inspired menu features treats like pickles, pretzels, housemade potato chips, cheese (full plates and ricotta) and curry macadamia nuts. They also tease with cheese curds but are apparently always sold out. Who cares, though … after a beer and a snack, shopping in that crazy place is soooo much more tolerable.

Food Menu Nom Nom Nom

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Chinese-Korean Fusion is a real thing

11 Jan

No, it’s not a gimmick. Yes, it’s good. And in this case, it’s also cheap and centrally located. The new Dong Chun Hong is a sit-down, worth-the-effort, Chinese-Korean spot on Fifth Ave in the low-30s serving signature noodle dishes and more. True—the lighting could be dimmed, but overall this place seems promising. I tried the Ja Jang Myun noodles with black bean sauce (with tiny bits of potato and pork). Apparently it’s a traditional Korean comfort food (my stomach certainly felt comfortable—but not uncomfortably full—after eating it). Bonus: This is one of the few places I’ve been to that serves OB Beer, a rare Korean lager. But back to the food. Even the seemingly boring Soo Cho Myun (a light, stir-fried noodle dish with veggies and seafood) was tasty and satisfying. Walls are adorned with art from local artist Joo hyun Kang, who creates her pieces using beads and sequins. This is an affordable, interesting, filling lunch or dinner option in midtown—with decor and quality to match.

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Jizake is no joke at the somewhat secret Sake Bar Kirakuya

27 Dec

Hidden on the second floor of a random building in K-town lies Sake Bar Kirakuya, which I’m told means “the place where people come and have a good time.” This is not your average East Village sake dive that stinks of fish. Upscale, sophisticated and intimate, Kirakuya offers a special collection of sake—jizake, actually—mostly limited editions from small companies that are not mass produced. Think beyond sushi and sashimi for food pairings (although both are available); the Japanese small plates here are light and affordable. But did I mention the sake? Each bottle has its own flavor and history that the sommelier can explain; he trained in Japan for five years before coming here. I also love that the owner is a solo businesswoman who can usually be found working the room. Definitely a place to bring out-of-towners to show them what makes this city so freakin’ awesome.

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Cheap, yummy steak in Williamsburg—really!

13 Dec

Maybe I should change the name of this blog to iknowcheapthings. Or ilikecheapthings. Because here’s another reasonably priced restaurant, this time in Brooklyn: St. Anselm (Metropolitan near Havemeyer).

As a recovering vegetarian I am weird about meat, especially the inexpensive stuff. But the $15 “Butcher Steak” at the reinvented St. Anselm was great—just locally sourced meat drizzled in garlic butter. Nothing wrong with that, or the $5 sides/veggies like pan-fried mashed potatoes, spinach gratin and long beans. I also appreciated the wine list—pours that will not make you poor (like LI’s Channing Daughters on draft).

The pseudo unfinished farmhouse interior contributes to a low-key feel. Still, it’s usually packed because so small. No reservations = yes wait. At least you can wait while sipping beer or wine next door at Spuyten Duyvil (also owned by Joe Carroll). It’s also across from The Commodore.

If you’re in Williamsburg, St. Anselm is one of the best new-ish deals in town.

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Craft beer bar in Union Square

9 Dec

Union Square always seems like a convenient spot to meet up because it’s so central. But when you actually try to think of a place, nothing spectacular comes to mind. Problem solved with Little Town NYC (15th and Irving). This is a small craft beer bar with NY-inspired food—Long Island clams, Coach Farm goat cheese, Buffalo wings, even a version of Rochester’s famous Garbage Plate. I dare you to look at this menu and not salivate. And the beer! Nearly 100 choices from NY’s “little towns” (get it?), as close as Harlem and far as Utica. Can’t decide? Draft tastes are $2 from 4-10p.m. Still overwhelmed? Pick a themed bucket and call it a day. Little Town is for sophisticated, serious beer drinkers—or people who love Hudson Valley grilled cheese.

Photos: Shaun Vakil

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Mmmm…wine and brussels sprouts pizza

7 Dec

Poor Upper West Side: Your prices are high and your food is mostly bad. Your wine bars tend to be predictable and underwhelming. Until the new Cotta aka Osteria Cotta arrived in your neighborhood.

It’s one of the best values I’ve experienced. Pick from a simple and satisfying menu of Italian apps, pizzas, pastas and dessert served in a warm, rustic interior: wooden tables, wine bottles lining the walls, an open upstairs that makes the place feel cozy and spacious at the same time. The low-lit atmosphere is good for a casual date but that’s certainly no requirement; I went with a girlfriend and had fun chatting up local patrons who knew each other—and the bartender. There were even a few children (not a plus for everyone, but at least the place is welcoming). Great prices for the area, including 50 wines under $50, as well as $12 pizza/pastas, $5 salads, $3-4 small plates, etc. Cotta is so new that its website is not even up, but the time to go is now … before what stands between you and your Baked Ricotta is an hour-long wait.

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Once a jail, now Liberty Hotel in Boston

28 Nov

Every once in a while I visit a repurposed space that wows. That is how I feel about Boston’s Liberty Hotel. The Beacon Hill landmark is an excellent example of preserving history and architecture while creating a modern space that is fully utilized. Formerly the Charles Street Jail, the building was remarkable at its completion in 1851, with four wings extending from a 90-foot rotunda and cupola. Today the atrium space remains striking, with the original 30 oversized, arched windows bringing (moon)light to the lobby and bar area. You can also see steel bars and other vestiges of the early jail cells.

A luxury property, the Liberty Hotel may be out of budget for some. But no matter how imprisoned you are by your salary, it’s well worth a visit just to have a drink—or a meal in the CLINK.

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(The) Harrison is a town but it is also a restaurant

2 Nov

I used to think of Tribeca as “cold”—is that weird? Not sure if it was the staid architecture (brand-new apartment buildings) or lack of personality (meh bars and restaurants), but it always seemed a little off-putting. Well, I might be finally changing my mind. Last week I visited another great Tribeca spot—not new—that managed to make me feel warm and fuzzy.

The Harrison may be where locals eat, but the rest of us won’t be spit on for living above Canal. The yellow lighting practically beckons you from the street—I wanted to be inside! This place somehow manages to be comfy and lively at the same time, where solidly creative food and really great service round out the experience. (Owner Jimmy Bradley has been perfecting this mix for years at The Red Cat in Chelsea.)

So as you head into the holidays when friends and family just looove to visit, consider catching up in a classy, non-pretentious environment that is totally NYC (and anything but chilly).

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Thai Me Up, Thai Me Down

24 Oct

Maybe it’s the proximity to the Theater District and Lincoln Center but friends are always asking me for quick, cheap-eat suggestions near Ninth Ave in the low-50s. After all, a person can only eat at Empanada Mama so many times. The other night I found a new fave in the area: Pure Thai Shophouse. It basically blew every other mediocre, forgettable Thai place in the city out of the water. And while it is a bit cramped (not great for dates), the food was served quickly and was soooo good. How good? I almost rubbed my face in the peanut sauce accompanying the chicken skewers. My friend also raved about his Ratchaburi crab & pork dry noodle dish. I stuck with tofu and vegetables but asked for it extra spicy, then spent much of my meal crying into my Chang beer. Just kidding—it was awesome. (But this place is serious about heat, so don’t fool around if you’re not a pro.) Along with authentic flavors and decor, the funky soundtrack added a nice touch. That, and the fact that I spent about $23.

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