Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Omakase, Yose Tofu, Pork Belly
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Linn Japanese Restaurant, Astoria, NYC
Author Archives: Malini Sood Horiuchi
Turkish Grill, Sunnyside, NYC
The Quarter, West Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆ ¾
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$
Must try: Grilled Salmon
(This meal was complimentary which did not affect my review.)
Bi Lokma, Midtown East, NYC
Sripraphai, Woodside, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Chicken Satay, Tom Yum, Green Curry with Roasted Duck, Chu-Chee Shrimp
Thalassa, Tribeca, NYC
Dinner with Chef Alex Hitz and Jacques Torres at the Hearst Show House, Tribeca, NYC
Oh what a night!
This past week on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013, I was invited to cover a progressive dinner party hosted by ELLE DECOR, House Beautiful, VERANDA and Jenn-Air at the Hearst’s Designer Visions show house featuring three stunning apartments in Tribeca.
Celebrity Chef Alex Hitz, House Beautiful’s new food contributor and author of best-selling cookbook My Beverly Hills Kitchen, prepared a fabulous three-course dinner on state of the art Jenn-Air appliances.
Pok Pok Phat Thai, Lower East Side, NYC
Miraj Healthy Grill, Williston Park , NEW YORK
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆ ½
Cost: $$
Must try: Chicken Kabab, Kashkeh Bodemjan
Oficina Latina, Nolita, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$
Must try: Avocado Cilantro Margaritas, Sardinas a la Plancha, Jarrete de Cordero
(This meal was complimentary which did not affect my review.)
Kabul Kabab House, Flushing, NYC
Basta Pasta, Chelsea, NYC
Almondine Bakery, Park Slope, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
The Almondine Bakery now has a second location in Park Slope!
The former pastry chef from Le Bernardin and Windows on the World Hervé Poussot has been serving up delectable treats at this French patisserie in Brooklyn for quite some time now.
Using ultra fresh ingredients, Almondine offers a host of fresh-baked French goods such as croissants, fruit tarts, muffins, macarons, baguettes, pastries and more. They serve delicious coffee using La Colombe beans from Philadelphia and a decadent hot chocolate made with Valrhona chocolate.
The Park Slope Almondine is housed in a small cozy space with a working fireplace, which seats about 25. Located right by the train station, it is really hard not to make a small detour to start your day just right!
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Almondine Bakery | |
| * Overall | |
| ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| DUMBO / American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 85 Water St ((between Main St & Washington St) ), Brooklyn, NY 11201 | |
| * Phone | |
| (718) 797-5026 |
Pacificana, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Food: ☆☆☆½
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Shrimp and Chive Dim Sum
Pera Soho, SoHo, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$
Must try: Adana Cut Roll, Bouillabaisse, Smoked Eggplant w/ garlic yoghurt and Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb .
Gramercy Tavern, Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Prix – Fixe, Mushroom Lasagna
Biang! Flushing, NYC
Miss Lily’s Restaurant, Greenwich Village/ West Village, NYC
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Ackee Dip And Plantain Chips , Jerk Chicken
Jerk chicken does not get better this!
Miss Lily’s is my new Mecca for Caribbean food in New York City.
The menu offers modern Jamaican food, which maintains its authentic roots. Chef Bradford Thompson is French trained and has racked up accolades from Food and Wine and James Beard for best chef. All his skills are evident in just one dish – the Jerk chicken! I have never had a bird more tender yet spiced and grilled to perfect crispness.
I really enjoyed everything I tried there. The plantain chips with Akki dip was fabulous and the curried goat with roti was yummy too, albeit a bit watery for my taste. The hot sauces were really spicy and added all the more to the fun and flavor of this wonderful Caribbean oasis!
Multifaceted in its structure – Miss Lily’s weaves in and out of avatars in its Houston Street location. There are three facets to this spot that you can enjoy.
One is the Miss Lily’s bar/ restaurant part. Then there Miss Lily’s Variety & Bake Shop and Melvin’s Juice Box. This is a West Indian Boutique, record store, casual café, bakery and juice bar all rolled into one. The variety store is home to Radio Lily which is Miss Lily’s Internet radio station where a DJ is live streaming Reggae beats. This creates what they refer to as a “cultural social club”.
Basically what is – is a really cool space to hang out at with great eats at arms reach!
Here is some of what we ate:
Ginger Beer
Jaquitos
Ackee Dip And Plantain Chips
Jerk Chicken
Curried Goat
Roti and Rice and Beans
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Miss Lily’s | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆ ☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| West Village / Jamaican | |
| * Street Address | |
| 132 West Houston St., New York, NY 10012 | |
| * Phone | |
| (646) 588-5375 |
Tableau, The Wynn, Las Vegas
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Ahi Tuna Tartare, Open Faced Dungness Crab Club Sandwich
Tableau might be one of the best-kept secrets at the Wynn.
This elegantly whimsical restaurant is tucked away in a serene corner of the Wynn Hotel. Overlooking a pool and garden, Tableau offers a luxurious breakfast and lunch menu. The food here is top-notch as is the service and the prices.
Known for its Saturday and Sunday brunch – Tableau really offers a wonderful respite from the brisk pulse of the Vegas beat.
Here is some of what we ate:
Ahi Tuna Tartare
Open Faced Dungness Crab Club Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable Salad
Chocolate Dessert
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Tableau | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American New | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd , Las Vegas, NV 89109 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 770-3330 |
Bouchon, Las Vegas, NV
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Beignets de Brandade de Morue, Quiche
Bouchon is housed at the Venetian and is known for its clever interpretations of classic French bistro cuisine.
Thomas Keller is a food icon and eating at Bouchon, which is based on his Napa Valley bistro, was one of the most anticipated events of my trip to Vegas.
Unfortunately my experience turned out to be a rather lackluster one. I think it was more to do with the service versus just the food.
Our server was rather edgy which really took away from the kind of comfort and ease I expected the evening to present.
The food was definitely good but nothing blew me away. I thought the appetizers proved to be better than the entrees. The quiche was amazing as were the cod fritters.
However, overall I was disappointed as I had much higher expectations from a Thomas Keller restaurant. I would go back to give it a fair chance – perhaps for lunch next time.
Here is some of what we ate:
Quiche du Jour
Beignets de Brandade de Morue
Gigot d’Agneau
Confit d’Esturgeon
Truite Amandine
Île Flottante
Tarte au Citron
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Bouchon Bistro | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| French | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard S , Las Vegas, NV 89109 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 414-6200 |
Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Wynn Hotel, Las vegas
Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆ ½
Cost: $$$$
Must try: Lasagnette, Special Mediterranean Fish
The Wynn offers some fabulous dinning options but perhaps the jewel in its crown is award winning Chef Paul Bartolotta’s eponymous restaurant Bartolotta, Ristorante di Mare.
When it comes to quality there are no expenses spared at Bartolotta. This Italian seafood gem has its crustaceans and fish flown in straight from the Mediterranean a few times a week, which offers diners signature items such as orata, purple snapper and pale pink langoustines. The food is outstanding – one of my favorites was the pink shrimp and the lasagnette.
Bartolotta is not just about the food though. Their service is just as flawless as the meal. The servers tend to patron’s needs with tremendous care, weaving in and out of the dining experience with deft expertise.
At Bartolotta you pay top dollar for an extraordinary experience. I think it is well worth the splurge for those really special occasions.
Here is some of what we ate:
Buffalo Mozzarella
Special Grilled Shrimp
Spaghetti All’ Astice
Lasagnette Con Ragu di Crostacei
Summer Rissotto
Branzino
Vegetables
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd , Las Vegas, NV 89109 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 770-3463 |
Wynn Buffet, Las Vegas,NV
Food: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
All buffets are not made equally and the Wynn Buffet is certainly many cuts above the rest!!
I am not a fan of buffets and find that generally they are filled with un-thoughtful, generic dishes to please the hungry masses. The buffet at the Wynn however proves to be very different.
Set in a whimsical dining room within a bright atrium, filled with multicolored fruits and flowers, the offerings are unbelievable in variety, quality and flavor. It took me a good 10 minutes just to walk the buffet to wrap my head around all the options I had.
Fresh salads, soups, seafood, meats, vegetables, sushi, Chinese food, hand pulled noodles, Mexican options, Italian food, vegetables galore, live cooking stations – a room full of desserts…the list just goes on and on and on.
The buffet at the Wynn is priced a little higher than others but for this quality of food – I would say that it’s worth every penny!
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| The Buffet | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3131 S Las Vegas Boulevard , Las Vegas, NV 89109 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 770-3463 |
Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas, NV
Food: ☆☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆½
Ambiance: ☆
Cost: $$
Lotus of Siam is Vegas’s best-kept secret. Okay it’s not so much of a secret ever since Gourmet magazine called it “the best Thai restaurant in the United States!”
I had to find out what all the fuss was about especially since I have been thoroughly spoiled by the splendid Thai food available in Queens, NY. (Lotus of Siam now has opened an outpost in New York City)
I have to say I was blown away. Chef Saipin Chutima, the owner of Lotus of Siam has created truly authentic classic Northern Issan-style cuisine using fresh and bold flavors.
The menu at Lotus of Siam is extensive and overwhelming to navigate without the help of the servers who offer great advice on what dishes to order.
Everything we had was excellent. The waiters will ask you how spicy you want your food on a scale of 1-10. I tried panang curry at a 10 and it really wasn’t that spicy but was very tasty.
As I walked out, belly full, of this nondescript food spot housed in a dinky strip mall, a mile away from the dazzle of the Strip – I knew that I was leaving Las Vegas after really having hit the jackpot!
Here is some of what we ate:
MEE KROB
BEEF SALAD
CHICKEN PANANG
GARLIC PRAWN
CHICKEN WITH MINT AND GREEN CHILI
SEA BASS ON DRUNKEN NOODLE
CRAB FRIED RICE
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Lotus of Siam | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Asian Fusion / Thai | |
| * Street Address | |
| 953 E Sahara Ave , Las Vegas, NV 89104 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 735-3033 |
Jean Philippe’s Patisserie, Las Vegas, NV
Jaleo by José Andrés,Las Vegas, NV
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Must try: Patatas Bravas, Setas al ajillo con La Serena, Espinacas a la Catalana, Patatas Bravas
José Andrés is the culinary mastermind who is credited with bringing authentic Spanish cuisine and the concept of Tapas to the United States.
At Jaleo, which is at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas, Andrés along with Chef Ramon Martinez, offers a delightful blitz of fantastic small plates showcasing the very best of Spanish cuisine.
Andrés has created a remarkable paella pit at Jaleo, lit by all wood fires, which flavors their delicious paella of the night.
The menu is extensive offering over 70 options to diners to pick from. Each dish delights in different ways as do the wonderful drinks. The service at Jaleo is just as charming as the food is. For me, this was a perfect Vegas food spot to kick off an evening of fun.
Here is some of what we ate:
Jaleo Bramble
Gambas Al Ajillo
Espinacas a la Catalana
Setas al ajillo con La Serena
Patatas Bravas
Tortillas de patatas clasica
Pollastre amb Escamarlans
Paella de verduras de Temporada
Gin and Tonic Sorbet
Flan al estilo
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Jaleo by José Andrés | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Spanish | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South , Las Vegas, NV 89109 | |
| * Phone | |
| (702) 698-7950 |