New York
A Brew House That’s Worth A Visit
With six locations around Manhattan, Heartland Brewery is never too far away. This casual brewery won’t take a toll on your wallet. Open for lunch and dinner, Heartland has a prix fixe menu offered from 5pm-7pm for $28.95. Each location has a slightly different menu but overall the general theme is the same.
I enjoyed a sirloin steak sandwich ($14.95) and sweet potato fries. The fries were fabulous, but then again when are sweet potato fries not absolutely delicious. The sandwich was a good sized portion; the steak was juicy and flavorful, and the melted cheddar along with the toasted onion roll rounded out the meal. I also tasted the buffalo burger made with free-range bison, the chophouse burger, and the Idaho fries (I know, a lot of meat). However, if you’re not a fan of red meat, Heartland offers other dishes such as Ahi Tuna Salad, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, and Wild Mushroom Ravioli. And from what I tasted, I bet all would be excellent.
Not only was the food here great, but for some the drinks could be considered the main event. Heartland’s award winning beer is brewed daily. They offer two beer samplers that give you a taste of either 6 or 7 of their different brews. Their Farmer Jon’s Oatmeal Stout won a medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1995, 1997, and 1999. Choices range from Red Rooster Ale with a caramel toffee roasted nut flavor, an Indian River Light brew with a hint of coriander and the Oatmeal Stout previously mentioned that tastes like espresso and chocolate.
They offer party rooms and a great catering menu. Party hotline number is 212-582-2057
Heartlandbrewery.com
Times Square
127 W. 43rd St.
646.366.0235
Midtown West
625 8th Ave. at 41st St.
646.214.1000
Union Square
35 Union Sq. W. at 17th St.
212.645.3400
Radio City
1285 6th Ave.
212.582.8244
The Seaport
South St. at Fulton St.
646.572.BEER
Empire State
350 5th Ave. at 34th St.
212.563.3433
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Not only does Ellen’s Stardust Diner serve up some classic 1950s cuisine, but it also provides some wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
The staff at Stardust are all extremely talented. Most of them are actors and actresses waiting to be discovered. Some of Broadway’s brightest stars got their start at the Stardust Diner. In between serving food and busing tables, they sing and dance their little hearts out. From Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, the waiters and waitresses have some up their sleeves for everyone. They try hard to get all the customers involved and grab their attention.
The menu at Stardust is clearly based off of American home cooking in the 50s with a few twists and turns that pop up every now and again. Choices range from hamburgers and hot dogs to salad topped with shrimp and grilled vegetable sandwiches. Most of the menu items have cutesy names like the “Monte ‘Cristo’ Hall” and the “Mamma Mia” (better known as a chicken parm sandwich).
While I was there I had to opportunity to enjoy multiple items from the menu. The chicken pot pie ($16.95) was great, but then again it should have been for the price I had to pay for it. In order for me to get my money’s worth the pot pie would have had to been double the size. All of the food was enjoyable, however I feel that spending $10.50 on two hot dogs is a little excessive.
Outdoor dining is available as well as free delivery seven days a week.
Overall, the food at Ellen’s Stardust Diner is overpriced but you have to keep in mind that you’re paying for the entertainment as well. It’s almost as if you’re paying for dinner AND a movie at the same time. This is definitely a novelty restaurant that is worth at least one visit.
1650 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
call: 212-956-5151
fax: 212-956-5834
Some Fine Italian Fare
This Northern Italian eatery is conveniently located within walking distance of some of Broadway’s most popular plays. A night at the theater would go great with the Prix Fixe menu offered at Ciro for only $31 (Prix Fixe lunch menu is $15 if you plan on seeing a matinee). This three-course dinner gives you a taste of some of Ciro’s specialties. It includes an appetizer (soup or salad) an entrée and dessert. Entrees range from chicken parmigiana, trout, veal, and for an extra cost whole Maine lobster is also available.
I found Ciro’s while walking around after seeing the play The Fantasticks at the Snapple Theater. After reading their menu and looking at the décor I knew I would be eating dinner there. White table cloths, candle light and classy decorating made me feel like I was eating at an upscale restaurant for the price of a not-so-upscale one. I obviously ordered off the Prix Fixe menu and got minestrone soup, trout, and cheesecake. I also dabbled in some of what my dinner guests were having. Everything was excellent.
Ciro’s chicken marsala was one of the best marsala dishes I’ve ever had. The mushrooms were fresh and the sauce was rich and flavorful. Just like most of the dishes on the prix fixe menu, it was accompanied by a vegetable medley and a potato croquette. Both of which were done very well. The cheesecake was not your ordinary New York style cheesecake. There was a slight lemony flavor to it which went well with the strawberries on top. It was light and fluffy, not too heavy which made it the perfect end to the three course meal.
Trattoria Ciro
813 8th Avenue, NYC 10019
212-307-5484
www.cirotrattorianyc.com
New Moos on the Upper West Side
My neighborhood has more than its fair share of empty storefronts these days—or at least that’s how it feels when almost all of them were bars and restaurants near and dear to my taste buds. Senor Swanky’s on Columbus Avenue is the latest to go under. Hopefully the site won’t join the ranks of its longtime unleased neighbors. On Amsterdam, the green and red shell pagoda of the late lamented Monsoon has been under renovation long enough to have reopened five times over, if anyone were interested. A few blocks down, the sports bar Time Out hasn’t tapped a keg since the Mets made their last run for the pennant. And on Broadway, the stadium-sized lot that for almost a decade was home to Ruby Foo’s will probably remain a Dim Sum ghost town until TJ Maxx decides to take their mallification of Manhattan a little further downtown. (The realtor has yet to put up a “Will Divide” sign. The space could hold three fighter jets, easily.)
My first-instinct, mistress-of-the-bloody-obvious explanation for all the wide open spaces: “It’s the economy, stupid!” Ruby Foo’s did hightail it out of the neighborhood when its long-term sweetheart lease ran out; and Senor Swanky’s mammoth two-story venue probably seemed a lot wiser an investment when times were flush. But it’s hard not to think there’s some sort of Feng Shui voodoo going on with the smaller places like Monsoon and Time Out, given the number of similarly-sized spots that have become revolving doors for adventurous restaurateurs. The second one newbie joint goes dark, another moves in. So maybe it’s the economy and more …
The Sunburnt Calf is the latest restaurant to do the moving-in part of this tango at 226 West 79th Street. (For Upper West Siders following along, the space was most recently home to the Indian restaurant with the funky-colored awning. In the umpteen years I’ve lived in the hood, at least three other restaurants have tried to make a go of it here.) With any luck, The Sunburnt Calf will be the one that sticks. It’s a better fit. The team behind it found a way to make a tough, sometimes uninviting space work.
The venue was once the bottom floor of a townhouse. To say it doesn’t have much curb appeal is putting it mildly. The front door is set back front the sidewalk with only a small porthole of window allowing the tiniest glimpse inside. And the room that tiniest glimpse reveals is very long and very narrow. There’s next to nothing to suggest the existence of a space large enough for sit-down eating on the premises. So, the first order of business for any tenant is to find a way to get diners inside. The folks running The Sunburnt Calf did that and more.
They had a wildly successful head start. The group owns The Sunburnt Cow and Bondi Road, and their expertise shows. Long before The Sunburnt Calf opened its doors, the new calf on the block made a name for herself around the neighborhood. One day it was a guy in orange cow suit handing out menus … The next, an orange (“sunburnt,” get it?) calf was staring out diorama-style from a window seat display. Then the Moo Mobile, a bright orange welcome wagon with horns, started patrolling the streets.
Finally, there was a four-hour, free food, free booze launch party that spread the word like a foodies’ game of telephone. The line snaked around the corner.
(See photos and the video here: http://www.thesunburntcow.com/calfbook/)
The design shows the same attention to detail. Wooden benches out front now close the distance between the sidewalk and the front door—and offer a nice resting place for smokers to do their thing without blocking the entrance for everyone else. The front door is almost always left open, so curious passers-by can check things out from a polite distance instead of having to boldly march in cold. What they see inside now is a long bar with warm orange outback-at-sunset lighting, and if it isn’t always packed—though it often is—the Aussie music is always inviting.
Obviously, I like my ambiance as much as the next gal, but none of this would matter if the food and drink didn’t deliver. Happily, neither disappoints. The bar has plenty to keep beer-lovers in the drink, with many out-of-the-ordinary brews on tap and in bottles, and, unsurprisingly, more than their fair share of Australian labels. There are as many cocktail specials as there are days in the week (okay, probably more), and the wine selection is more extensive than I would expect at a restaurant this size. The list changes often enough that it makes sense to ask for a taste before ordering. (Much as I love Australian wines, they are not all created equal.)
The food is first-rate and flavorful, and even better, a great bang for the buck. They offer a three-course meal for $18 as a summer special. It’s a great way to sample. The portions are plenty big enough to share a taste or two without having to go hungry. The dishes are all Australian, which in this case means a lot of a surf and turf punctuated by exotic fruits and tangy sauces. (Having never been Down Under, I admit to taking the adorable all-Aussie wait staff at their word.) My fried calamari appetizer had a light cornmeal crust and none of the rubbery texture that too-often makes me regret ordering. The burgers are to drool for, and the fries are the perfect crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside mix. I haven’t made my way through the entire menu yet, but so far my favorite dish is a skirt steak drenched but not drowned in a deliciously spicy marinade.
My only complaint is minor: the dining room goes dark and mood lighty fairly early.
While this makes the breathtaking panorama that stretches across three walls look gorgeous—and draws ample attention to the skylight above, on starry nights especially—it does pose a bit of a problem when it comes down to the physical act of eating. My skirt steak was so tender I could’ve cut it with a butter knife. Had I been able to see it. As it was, cutting of any kind was a little hit-or-miss.
For now, The Sunburnt Calf is going through some deliciously juicy growing pains. It’s not quite sure whether it’s an upscale Aussie bar with kickass food or a reasonably-priced restaurant with great cocktails. Maybe it’s both. In any case, it seems perfectly content to be The Sunburnt Cow’s newest baby. It doesn’t have its own website; but you can friend it on Facebook. But all the pieces are in place. It’s just a matter of time before it starts to feel at home.
The Sunburnt Calf
226 West 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
Main Line: 646-823-9255
Delivery: 646-823-9251
Hours:
Mon – Thurs: 4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Fri:4:00 pm – 4:00 am
Sat – Sun: 11:00 am – 4:00 am
Price: $
Website: http://www.thesunburntcow.com/index.php
An Ode to the Bard – Bardolino
Bardolino
If the scent of tasty pasta is in the air, then you must be at Bardolino. A small to midsized and midpriced Italian restaurant located on 2nd avenue and 78th street in Manhattan.
Bardolino is open and airy and one side is primarily for dining, while the other side is for drinking at the bar. I went for a wedding anniversary celebration and the food is classic Italian – from huge fried calamari to the great penne ala vodka. The portion sizes are reasonable and the food is well seasoned.
The thing that I really love about Bardolino is that the wine cellar is actually in the ceiling! It’s a cool and inventive use of space.
Ceiling Wine Cellar!
While the service can be slow if the restaurant is crowded, the staff is caring. So if you’re on the Eastside and hankering for some pasta, Bardolino is worth a try.
Penne Ala Vodka
Address: 1496 Second Avenue (212) 734 – 2175 Open: Mon – Fri 12 pm until 12 am and Sat – Sun 11 am until 12 am.
Flippin’ over Flipster’s
You can’t miss it. It’s the one with the life sized ceramic cow standing guard.
This unique burger joint has more than just your ordinary burger. Flipster’s offers every kind of meat from beef, bison, and lamb to salmon, tuna, and chicken. Don’t like meat? No problem! While I was there I indulged on the zero burger ($8) that was to die for. It consisted of a gigantic breaded portabella mushroom that was topped with provolone cheese and caramelized onions. I also had a taste of the fried calamari (which was fried to perfection and not greasy at all), onion rings, and shoestring french fries. All delightful.
On one side of our table was the grill where all the burgers were made, and on the other was a great view of the sidewalk. Seeing the cooks do their thing along with some great people watching added to the entertainment of the night. However, if you’re not as lucky as we were, Flipster’s also has a bunch of flat screen televisions throughout the restaurant just in case there’s a lull in the conversation.
Flipster’s is affordable and the service is speedy. Their off peak menu (11-noon, 5pm-6pm, 11pm-midnight) has a variety of items all for only $5 each, and their brunch (Sat and Sun 11am-3pm) is only $7. Now you may ask yourself.. “Brunch? At a burger place?” And the answer is “Heck Yes!” They offer the normal breakfast stuff as well as the Breakfast Burger; a 4 oz burger with ham, cheese, and a fried egg.
They offer outside dining as well if fresh air is what you wish.
Flipster’s
444 9th street (corner of 7th ave)
Brooklyn, NY, 11215
718-832-5500
Price: $
Open 7 days: 11am-midnight
Free delivery: noon-11pm
Gluten-Free Friendly Chain Restaurant Tour
Being a bit of a food snob, I try to steer clear of big restaurant chains. But on my most recent trip to Boston, I found that some of the higher-end chains are nothing short of amazing for those who follow a gluten-free lifestyle. The three that come to mind that have completely separate GF menus are Legal Seafood, PF Changs and Uno Chicago Grill.
Seafood obviously lends itself to GF dishes. If you grill fish simply and pair it with rice or potatoes, you’re right on the money. So what does it take for a restaurant to carve out their own menu for those with the allergy? Probably nothing. But Legal even goes the extra mile with GF bread and some of their delicious soups made without flour. I’d highly recommend trying the lite New England clam chowder and everything tuna complete with jasmine rice.
Want to put Asian food back in your life? Then stop by PF Changs the next time you get the chance. You wouldn’t think that Asian food has a full GF menu, but it does. Sadly, it doesn’t attempt a GF dumpling, but try the chicken lettuce wraps and some friend rice instead. As for entrees, the restaurant takes on one of their signature dishes, lemon chicken. If you blind fold one of you’re gluten-eating friends, ask them if they could tell the difference.
The last stop on the chain restaurant tour should be to Uno’s. They have a menu filled with GF pizza items like pepperoni, veggie and cheese and tomato. Each location has a separate GF menu with other items like steaks, salads and desserts. Can’t hurt to check them out. I find myself feeling deprived of some of the great culinary classics, but if I have the hankering for seafood, pizza or Asian cuisine, I know where I’m making my weekend reservations.
The decor and the great twists on seafood classics combine to make Salmon River a sure bet
Most everyone will tell you that if you want to have great seafood you have to be prepared to open up your wallet and accept the “fact” that it will cost you. That’s why it is so refreshing to see places like Salmon River which not only prove this belief to be false, but basically destroy it while filling up your stomach and satisfying your taste buds with a wide variety of great seafood and traditional Americana cuisine. Of course, the restaurant’s name tells you what you should order, and with five different types of salmon specialties — ranging from Cedar-Planked Salmon to Santa Fe Salmon – you cannot go wrong with any of these choices as they all offer unique and exciting takes on the same basic dish. Because of this wide selection, my personal suggestion is that any true fish lover goes with friends, making it possible for everyone to order something different, and more importantly, for everyone to get a little taste of everything!
The rest of the menu consists of standard seafood fare with anything but ordinary taste. Seafood sandwiches such as the Oyster Po’Boy and the Crabcake Sandwich offer seafood lovers looking to have different takes on some of their favorite dishes the chance to explore new tastes – something every food enthusiasts loves to do. Not to be forgotten is the Homemade Salmon Burger, a truly unique take on an American classic that Salmon River does exquisitely.
The Salmon River menu extends beyond the traditional dinner menu, offering a PreFixe menu that includes all three courses with set options for $24 as well as a breakfast buffet (sorry everyone, no salmon for breakfast, just your standard eggs, waffles, and such). Located near the New York City Public Library, Salmon River is certainly one of the hidden treasures that it is worth swimming upstream to get to.
Salmon River
3 East 40th Street (between Madison and Park Aves)
New York, NY 10016
212-481-7887
www.salmonrivernyc.com
See website for various hours of operation in regards to different menus
Price: $$$-$$$$ (depending on choice of dish)
The picture on the side of Palombo predicts the good times you'll have
Palombo Pasty Shop and Café is the first pastry shop one will encounter as they head into the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy on Arthur Avenue, and if you catch sight of their massive display case of baked goods, it’s likely to be the last one you will see as well. Situated on the corner of Arthur Avenue and 187th Street the smells emanating from their bakery act as a Siren’s Call, almost forcing you to check out the inside, but there’s no need to worry, as the shop and its goods more than exceed what your nose tells you to expect. With two large display cases full of nearly every pastry your little heart could desire – from napoleons to cannoli to fruit tarts and more – there really isn’t any way to go wrong. The café holds a special place in many people’s hearts because of their two display cases, one with larger versions of their pastries, and one with smaller sizes of their creations (just enough to satisfy that sweet tooth without making you feel guilty). In addition to these delectable delights Palombo also serves up some of the freshest gelato you can find in New York – at least without paying an arm and a leg. Most of the patrons will tell you the best bet is to go with the hazelnut flavor, but there are more than enough flavors to satisfy every taste.
Escape with a napoleon and espresso and enjoy the people watching
In addition to their out-of-this-world pastry selection, Palombo can also brew a mean cup of joe. Numerous types of coffees and coffee drinks –cappuccino, espresso (a personal favorite) and more – all help to complete the experience at this quaint little pastry shop.
Just go ahead and order the whole case, think of it as a really big sampler
While there is adequate seating inside the café, in the Spring, Summer and Fall many customers choose to sit outside under the canopy and enjoy the people watching and weather. Often times you will notice professors and students from nearby Fordham University doing just this, but don’t be intimidated, Palombo’s is a delicious escape for everyone.
Palombo Pastry Shop and Café
601 E. 187th Street (at the corner of Arthur Avenue and 187th Street)
718-329-8800
Bronx, NY 10458
Price: $
Vincent's will provide the best cuts...the rest is in your hands!
Most food enthusiasts will agree that making great food at home is just as rewarding, if not more so, than going out for a great meal. Usually the problem is that it is difficult to know where you can get the best ingredients and then even harder to know what to do with them once you get them. Enter Vincent’s Meat Market; located on the Bronx’s famous Arthur Avenue in the heart of that borough’s Little Italy, this meat shop is here to help you get the dining out experience in the most comfortable place there is – your home. The shop is always bustling with customers (many of whom are there each day) and the butchers behind the counter are there to make sure you don’t get lost in the commotion.
The experience of looking through and trying to decide what to get from Vincent’s massive fresh cut selection – they have everything from t-bones to duck to ribs to lamb to well, I could go on and on – can be quite daunting to the inexperienced. However, thanks to the helpful and knowledgeable staff you need not worry. They are able to offer suggestions based on the taste you are looking for, can offer tips on how to prepare your meal, and basically make it so that you can walk in not knowing what a cow looks like, but leave knowing more than even Wikipedia could tell you (without the bias). Vincent’s is known for their Homemade Italian Sausage, of which there are numerous variations, but that doesn’t mean nothing else is worth checking out. The t-bone cuts, ribeye, fresh duck, baby back ribs, and pork chops have all received their fair share of praise. In short, Vincent’s Meat Market is a must try for anyone out there who enjoys the feeling of creating a great meal as much as they enjoy eating one and fortunately this Bronx gem gives you the opportunity to experience both.
Vincent’s Meat Market
(718) 295-9048
2374 Arthur Ave. (between 187th and 186th St.)
Bronx, NY
Price: $$ (depending on type of cut and poundage)
