Bayside Breakfast Buffet at MandalayBay Resort, Las Vegas, NV

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆½

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

The Bayside Breakfast buffet at MandalayBay Resort is set in a bright room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lush, tropical water garden. The views are nice – the food is not!

There is a large selection of all kinds of foods available from breakfast pastries, to meats, a carving and omelet station, eggs of all kinds, fruits, vegetables – you name it and they have it.

But for all its might in size and variety, there was nothing I tried that was tasty. The eggs Benedict was an overcooked gloppy mess, the hash browns were so crisp they had lost their identity, all the pastries were mediocre at best and the fruits looked like they had been sitting there for at least two days.

I’ve never tried a Las Vegas Buffet but I have visions of it being much better than this.

My advice….skip this one. Try Jean Phillipes Patisserie instead for a true feast for both the eyes and the palate..

Here is some of what we ate:

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Bayside Buffet at Mandalay Bay
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American Traditional
	* Street Address
	3950 Las Vegas Boulevard S , Las Vegas, NV 89119
	* Phone
	(702) 632-7402

Cannelle Patisserie, Jackson Heights, NYC

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $

Must try: Croissants,

Cannelle Patisserie is perhaps one of the most unusual finds in its location at a strip mall in East Elmhurst.

This venture was brought to fruition by Jean Claude Perennou and Gnanasampanthan Sabaratratnam – both Ex- Waldorf Astoria pastry chefs.

Cannelle Patisserie offers Manhattan quality baked goods at super affordable prices. The display cases are a riot of colors, textures and artful creations such as, napoleons, éclairs, profiteroles, all kinds of baked pastries and cookies. They also offer a range of fresh baked breads, quiches, tarts and so on. Their crowning glory is their super flaky croissants, gâteau Breton, Saint Honoré and Paris-Brest

The most wonderful thing about this Cannelle – other than its ethereal offerings is how it reflects the diversity of its surrounding in both its clientele and its staff. At Cannelle, people from all ethnicities, across all ages have found a great homey neighborhood spot to stop by and linger at over fabulous eats.

Here is some of what we ate:

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Cannelle Patisserie
	☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Jackson Heights / American New
	* Street Address
	75-59 31st Ave, East Elmhurst, NY 11370
	* Phone
	(718) 565-6200

Marea, Midtown West, NYC

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$$$

Must try: Crudo, Granchio peekytoe crab, Astice nova scotia lobster

Continue reading →

Maialino, Gramercy , NYC

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Mortadella , Tonnarelli

Continue reading →

Economy Candy, Lower East Side, NYC

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Economy Candy located on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan is a New York institution that has been around since 1937. Owned by Jerry Cohen, this sweet stop is stacked with floor to ceiling racks filled with every imaginable kind of candy.

Continue reading →

Zabb Elee, Woodside, NYC

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Must try: Kai Yang, Crab Fried Rice, Larb, Spicy Shrimp with Basil, Pad Thai

Continue reading →

Gotham Bar and Grill, West Village/ Union Square, NYC

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆☆☆ ½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½

Cost: $$$$

Must try: Butternut Squash Ravioli, Fresh Tagliatelle, Gotham Chocolate Cake, Strawberry Parfait with Black Sesame Cake.

Continue reading →

Pancho Villa Taqueria, San Francisco,CA

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $

Must try: The salsa bar, any burrito

There is a reason why the Espinoza brothers Taqueria has been thriving in the wildly competitive Mission District of San Francisco for many decades now.

Pancho Villa hits a home run when it comes to satisfying that burrito craving that one often gets. Delivering authentic, fresh Mexican food in huge portions has garnered this spot a huge fan following and several awards over the years.

The line is out the door starting pretty early in the day. Service is helpful and pleasant and the digs are clean enough. What rocks is the fresh salsa bar they have the back of the restaurant, which serves up some of the most unique and tastiest salsas, I have had.

Pancho Villa has all the ingredients in being the a cut above it’s competitive rest.

Here is some of what we ate:

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Pancho Villa Taqueria
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Mexican
	* Street Address
	3071 16th Street , San Francisco, CA 94103
	* Phone
	(415) 864-8840

Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Must try: Everything!

The first problem one faces in trying to get to Tartine Bakery is finding it. Located in the Mission District, the only way to identify this spot is by the huge line of people waiting outside to get their share of the outstanding goodies that are being concocted inside.

Stepping indoors one encounters a totally different kind of problem – how not to eat the house?

The display cases flaunt a parade of stunning French inflected baked goods. There are breads, croissants, tarts, puddings, sandwiches, cakes and all kinds of bakes.

The husband-wife team of Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt are several time winners of James Beard awards as well as many other accolades. Using only the freshest of local ingredients and organic as much as possible, the goodies served here are pretty much ‘off the charts!’

Mark Bittman declares that Tartine Bakery is his favorite bakery in the United States – I might just have to agree!

Here is some of what we ate:

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Tartine Bakery
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American Traditional / French
	* Street Address
	600 Guerrero St , San Francisco, CA 94110
	* Phone
	(415) 487-2600

Zaytinya, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Any mezze, Kabab platter, Lamb special

Zaytinya is José Andres’s masterpiece in Washington DC.

Set in a striking space, Zaytinya offers modern mezze dishes from the cuisines of Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. The small plate fare here is exceptional. Dishes crafted with zesty vegetables, tender meats and a perfect balance of spices really keep both the palate and the soul gleaming.

The service was outstanding. Our dishes were brought in and whisked away with a gracious efficiency and the quickly disappearing basket of warm pita bread and drinks were constantly replenished throughout our meal. Everyone from our waiter to the maitre d’ kept tabs on how our meal was progressing. The head chef Michael Costa even created a special spicy dip just for us when we asked for a side of hot sauce.

My experience at Zaytinya was near flawless. Other than a slightly chewy octopus dish, there wasn’t a bite or a moment that I didn’t relish at Zaytinya.

Here is some of what we ate:

HOMMUS

TZATZIKI

BABA GHANNOUJE

FATTOUSH

BANTIJAN BIL LABAN

SEASONAL WILD MUSHROOMS

FALAFEL

SPANAKOPITA

KEBAB PLATTER

PEYNIRLI PIDE

OCTOPUS SANTORINI

LAMB KLEFTICO

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Zaytinya
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American New / American Traditional
	* Street Address
	701 9th St NW , Washington, DC 20001
	* Phone
	(202) 638-0800

Sweet Themez, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Continue reading →

Etete, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Etete means “mama” in Amharic, which is a perfect name for this Ethiopian eatery. The food served in this homey café feels just like it came out of a “mamas” kitchen.

In fact, just about everything about this stand out spot in “Little Ethiopia” reminds you of home – from the warmth of the servers to the ease of the patrons dining there. It feels like everyone is part of one big family.

The food is served family style on a large round steel platter, covered with an injera (a spongy bread). The injera is laden with different colored spiced vegetables, gravies and meats. The food is rich with wonderful flavors and textures that are eaten by hand using ripped bits of injera that scoop the gravies. One can easily go through a heap of injeras without even realizing it!

Do try their sambusas ( lentil filled pasties), which are delicious as is their rich Yemisir Wat ( red lentils).

The food at Etete is very authentic and definitely worth a try.

Here is some of what we ate:

Special Vegetarian Combination

Lentil Sambusa

Injera

Dore Wat (Spicy Chicken)

Goden Tibs

Yeataklit Wat

Yemisir Wat

Tekil Gomen

Tegabino Shiro

Gomen

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Etete
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Ethiopian
	* Street Address
	1942 9th St NW (between N T St & N Florida Ave), Washington, DC 20001
	* Phone
	(202) 232-7600

Founding Farmers, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Fried chicken Egg Waffles, Stuffed French Toast, Fresh squeezed juices

Founding Farmers is an eco-friendly, Certified Green Restaurant that was built from recycled and reclaimed products. This upscale, farmhouse styled eatery is housed within the International Monetary Fund (IMF) building.

At Founding Farmers, the menu offers American classics made from locally sourced and sustainably farmed products. The food here is very good. The freshness of the ingredients used reflects in the exquisite taste of their dishes. You must try their fresh juices the cranberry was really zesty.

However for me the spot lacked soul. Everything from the service to the space seems cold and distant which didn’t gel with all its wonderful methodology. Everything seemed too pristine.

I found that Founding Farmers is more a chic farmhouse accented restaurant that is just green enough for the suit types. For me, I would rather go hang at a more bohemian space like Busboys and Poets where the essence enfolds the place.

Here is some of what we ate:

Crabs Cake Eggs Benedict

Fried Chicken, Eggs and Waffles

Stuffed French Toast

Farmhouse Waffles

Pastrami Hash

Farmers Lemonade

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Founding Farmers
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American New / American Traditional
	* Street Address
	1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW ((between N H St & N 19th St) ), Washington, DC 20006
	* Phone
	(202) 822-8783

Mitsitam Cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$

“Mitsitam” means “ Let’s Eat” in the language of the Delaware and Piscataway people. This is an apt name for the wonderful Native Foods Cafe  at The National Museum of the American Indian

This museum café serves food with a difference. Featuring Native American cuisines from the Americas, this café has several food stations showcasing food from five different regions – Northern Woodlands, Mesoamerica, South America, Northwest Coast and the Great Plains.

Executive Chef Richard Hetzler  is constantly tweaking the menu as the seasons change. You can sample dishes such as Maple Brined turkey, Purple Potato soup or buffalo chili as entrees. Desserts offer Mayan Chocolate cake, Tres Leches and Blueberry Wajapias.

The Mitsitam Café is a wonderful spot to take a break from all that sightseeing and sample cuisine with a difference.

Here is some of what we ate:

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Mitsitam Cafe
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American Traditional
	* Street Address
	4th St & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
	* Phone
	(202) 633-1000

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆½

Service: ☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$

Kramerbooks & Afterword’s Cafe is a Washington D.C institution. Conveniently located right by the DuPont Circle train station, this independent Bookstore/Cafe begins buzzing from early morning until the wee hours of the morning.

They are open 7 days a week featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner menus with a full service bar. On weekends they feature a brunch menu are open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. They have live entertainment Wednesdays through Saturdays from 8 Pm onwards.

The brunch at Afterword’s Café was ordinary – nothing stellar. The plate of bread/ pastry was stale. The service was unexpectedly gruff and indifferent. Nothing would take me back here.

It seems to me that a place like Kramerbooks & Afterword’s Café does well regardless of quality just because of its great location and reputation. Perhaps hanging here with the hipsters in the evenings would provide for a better experience…

Here is some of what we ate:

Pastries

Bay Bridge Crab Omelette

Organic Mushroom Omelette

The Café Benedicts with Crab Cake

Pancakes

Homefries

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill
	★★☆☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American New / American Traditional
	* Street Address
	1517 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
	* Phone
	(202) 387-1400

Busboys and Poets, Washington D.C.

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: Crab cake Sandwiches and home home-fries

Busboys and Poets is an inspired, bohemian bookstore/Cafe/ Lounge, which propounds progressive political ideologies.

This cheery cafe has been brilliantly decorated by carving out comfortable spaces with lounge chairs and sofas amongst walls that are adorned with multi-ethnic art and photographs. Everything here murmurs towards creativity and activism.

There are regularly scheduled poetry jams, film screenings and other shows in the Langston Room, which is a performance space. Here, one can sip on a variety of coffees or nibble on sizable portions of affordable, tasty platters of food

Busboys and Poets was named in honour of Langston Hughes (one of my favourite poets), who worked as a busboy in the 1920s whilst writing poems on the side.

Busboys and Poets is a perfect spot for its diverse clientele to gather together to eat great food whilst being inspired to act.

Here is some of what we ate:

Classic Benedict

Neptune Benedict with Cheese Grits

Mekhleme

Oaxaca Omelette

Crab Cake Sandwich

Falafel Sandwich

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Busboys and Poets
	★★★☆☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	American Traditional
	* Street Address
	2021 14th St NW ((between N V St & N U St) ), Washington, DC 20009
	* Phone
	(202) 387-7638

Bahari Estiatorio, Astoria, NYC

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$

Must try: pita bread, assorted spreads, grilled fish

Continue reading →

Macaron Café, Midtown East, NYC

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆ ½

Service: ☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

Must try: White Chocolate Ganache, Strawberry Rhubarb, Dark Chocolate

Continue reading →

M. Wells Dinette at MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NYC

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆½

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$

Must try: Ham and Cheese Croissant, Squash Soup

Continue reading →

Queens Comfort: Brunch, Astoria, NYC

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ½

Cost: $$

Must try: Disco Tots, Waffle Special

Continue reading →

Al di La, Park Slope, NYC

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$$

Must try: Tagliatelle Al Ragu

Park Slope can truly boast about this neighborhood gem, which serves up simple, seasonally inspired, delicious food.

Al di La Trattoria is a charming little Italian restaurant where meals are artfully prepared in a rustic environment.

The story behind Al di La is simple…

“Anna Klinger and Emiliano Coppa

met while she was travelling through Italy

they fell in love, moved to Brooklyn,

and opened a restaurant

the rest, as they say, is history

– al di la trattoria –

serving Venetian inspired food since 1998

It is just as straightforward as that!”

At Al di La, they are not trying to re-invent the wheel or bring out super inventive, stellar dishes that blow your mind each night. They serve simple food, made from really great ingredients, that tastes marvelous!

And in that very simplicity they manage to Al di La (to go beyond)!

Here is some of what we ate:

Heritage Pork Belly Sandwich

Tagliatelle Al Ragu

Funghi E Polenta

Tagliatelle with Olive Oil

Eggplant Torte

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	al di La
	★★★☆ ☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	Park Slope / Italian
	* Street Address
	248 5th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215
	* Phone
	(718) 783-4565

Blue Water Grill, Union Square, NYC

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆

Cost: $$$

Continue reading →

Momofuku Noodle Bar, East Village, NYC

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Malini Sood Horiuchi

Food: ☆☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆½

Ambiance: ☆☆☆½

Cost: $$

Must try: Pork Bun, Shrimp Bun

Momofuku Noodle Bar was David Chang’s very first eatery that launched his enormously successful Momofuku brand of restaurants.

The concise menu here primarily focuses on ramen, seasonal eats, buns and daily specials. They also offer a fried chicken dinner (priced at $100) for parties of 4-8, which must be reserved in advance. Dessert offers soft serve and cake truffles.

Chang’s eats are inventive and extremely gratifying. The Ramen was good enough though I still think Ippudo rules. However, what I just could not stop eating were the buns! These soft steamed beauties filled with melt in your mouth pork belly or fried shrimp with just the right crunch are seriously addictive.

The Noodle Bar is priced just right, that is of course if you can stop with just eating one order of them buns! I know that I certainly couldn’t.

Here is some of what we ate:

Heirloom Tomato – watermelon, crab, avocado

Pork Bun – hoisin, scallion, cucumber

Shrimp Bun – spicy mayo, pickled shallot, iceberg

Momofuku Ramen – pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg 

Ginger Scallion Noodles – pickled shiitakes, cucumber, cabbage 

Spicy Miso Ramen – smoked chicken, swiss chard, sesame 

Restaurant Information

tabelog.us

	* Overall
	* Restaurant Name
	Momofuku Noodle Bar
	★★★☆ ☆
	* Neighborhood / Cuisine
	East Village / Asian Fusion
	* Street Address
	171 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003
	* Phone
	N/A