THE KING OF FALAFEL AND SHAWARMA, ASTORIA, NYC


King of Falafel & Shawarma on Urbanspoon


MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL

Food: ☆☆☆

Service: ☆☆☆

Cost: $

I recommend: Falafel

 

And the winner of this years Vendy Awards is……….

Farez “Freddy” Zeideia’s – the King of Falafel and Shawarma.



I really do agree with the king of falafel part. Freddy fries up an unbeatable, oblong shaped falafel, which is absolutely delicious. Its crisp on the outside and the filling is perfectly spiced.

The best part is that you get to try a free falafel while you wait for your order to be cooked up.

Freddy’s halal cart serves up quite a variety of shawarma, falafel and chicken rice combinations.

I really liked the basmati rice that comes with their rice platters. It is very nicely flavored and the pickled turnips that they add to their salad really adds great bite.

All the people working at the King of Falafel and Shawarma cart are super friendly and even though it is a food cart, it has a nice homey, community feel to it.

So if you are in and around Astoria, do make sure that you go and pay homage to the king!


Here is some of what we ate:



FALAFEL




CHICKEN AND RICE PLATE




SHAWARMA PLATE


 

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Hester Street Fair – Food, Lower East Side, NYC

HESTER STREET FAIR – FOOD
Hester and Essex St,
New York, NY.
(Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm, April through December)
http://www.hesterstreetfair.com/


As a foodie, I find the Lower East Side so charming. Quaint little food shops and restaurants are popping up all over the place and I for one just love to explore it all.

One of my most interesting recent finds was the Hester Street Fair located at Hester and Essex Street.

The Hester Street Fair is a brand new street fair, which is modeled on the Brooklyn Flea. At this hip little market one can find everything from macarons to men’s shirts!

Continue reading

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Non-Veg. Restaurant at The Cosmopolitan Club, Chennai, India

NON-VEG. RESTAURANT
The Cosmopolitan Club
63, Mount Road
Chennai – 600002
India
Tel: 044-28530353
http://www.cosmoclubchennai.com/newpage.php?PID=20&MID=3


The Cosmopolitan Club is one of the older clubs in Chennai city (formerly known as Madras). It was started in 1873 to cater to a European only, elite clientele.

Things have come a long way since then and it currently has a huge local membership. The Cosmopolitan Club is now rather run down, but in its hallways hang beautiful photographs that remind us of gorgeous Madras of the past. Continue reading

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Negril Village, Greenwich Village, NYC


Negril Village on Urbanspoon


 

Aren’t Jamaicans the coolest people?

Just by walking into this funky restaurant – I feel like the stress of everyday life drops down a few notches. Step in and within minutes, you are sipping on some exotic cocktail and lilting to a rocking reggae beat. Ya mon!

Continue reading

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The Golden Dragon, Chennai, India

THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Taj Coromandel Hotel
37 Nungambakkam High Road,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai, India
Ph: 044 66002827


Golden Dragon – the Chinese Restaurant at the Taj Coromandel Hotel has always been considered the crown jewels of the Chennai fine dining scene. It was one of the first Chinese restaurants, to introduce fine Sichuan cuisine, to the city.


It has reigned supreme in the promise of a terrific dinning experience all the way from its orange beaded curtain days in the seventies to the newly renovated space created recently. It reached it’s heights of popularity when Chef Hardy Cheung, who was considered one of the best Chinese Chefs in India, took its helm in the nineties. Continue reading

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Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao- Soup Dumplings‎, Flushing, NYC

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
38-12 Prince Street,
Flushing, NY 11354
718-321-3838


Got a craving for soup dumplings?

Let me offer you a fabulous alternative to Joe’s Shanghai… Continue reading

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NIROS OF JAIPUR, Jaipur, India

NIROS RESTAURANT
MI Road
Jaipur
India
Ph: 2374493
www.nirosindia.com


If you ever visit the beautiful pink City of Jaipur in India, you must make a pit stop at Niros for a meal.



Conveniently located on the bustling MI road, right in the heart of the city, Niros is a food haven for locals, tourists and celebrities. Continue reading

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Amaravathi, Chennai, India

AMARAVATHI RESTAURANT
1, 
Cathedral Road
Gopalapuram
Chennai 600086
India



If you are a spice hound as I am, then Andhra food is the way to go. In Chennai city, Amaravathi is known to be one of the more famous places to get authentically spicy Andhra Food. It’s been around for decades and used to be a food joint on everyone’s list.

In great excitement, I dragged a bunch of friends and decided it was time to go and try it out. What a HUGE disappointment it was! Continue reading

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Bee’s Kopitiam, Chennai, India

BEE’S KOPITIAM
49 Whites Road,
Express Avenue Mall Food Court,
3rd Floor
Chennai 600 014
India
Tel: 044 2846 4088
http://kopitiam.beehospitable.com/



Meet BeeBee Martinent – one of the hardest working gals I know. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to eat at her table, you would know that she serves some of the best Malaysian Chicken Rice in the city.


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MAHAMUDRA RESTAURANT AT ISHA LIFE, Chennai, India

MAHAMUDRA RESTAURANT AT ISHA LIFE
50/117, Luz Church Road
Chennai, India
http://ishalife.com/mahamudra/



Mahamudra is the Ayurvedic restaurant at the brand new Isha Life facility.

Isha Life is a holistic fitness center that has recently opened in Chennai city, which propounds the philosophy set forth by Sadhguru of the Isha foundation. The aim of the Isha Life center is to provide a space that creates well being by integrating a fitness studio, a spa, a boutique and a health food restaurant – all under one roof. Continue reading

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LATITUDE, Chennai, India

LATITUDE
Good Earth
Rutland Gate, 4th St
Chennai
INDIA



I just love the name – Latitude – I don’t know why but it sounds kinda cool – “Lets meet at Latitude for lunch”.

This bright and cheery café, housed next to the very popular Good Earth store is a perfect little girly lunch spot. Continue reading

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Leopold Cafe, Mumbai, India

LEOPOLD CAFE
Colaba Causeway
Mumbai, 400001
INDIA
Ph: 22828185
http://www.leopoldcafe.com/



Leopold Café is one of the most popular restaurants located on Mumbai’s Colaba Causeway. The Jahani family, who were Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran, founded it in 1871. It is currently co-owned and run by two brothers Farzadh & Farhang Jahani.

Continue reading

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Calcutta Pan Shop, Chennai, India

CALCUTTA PAN SHOP
103/54, Nungambakkam High Road
Chennai – 600034
Tamil Nadu, India



Back in the eighties, when Chennai was still a deliciously sleepy town, the Calcutta Pan Shop used to be one of our favorite little joints to hit. Every time we went for a drive, we would somehow end up at this little Paan kiosk, right on Nungambakkam High Road. Continue reading

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ANNALAKSHMI, Chennai, India

ANNALAKSHMI
804, Anna Salai,
Chennai -600002
INDIA
Ph: 044 28525109
http://www.annalakshmichennai.com/



“Athithi Dhevo Bhava” which means the guest is god; is the concept behind the popular Annalakshmi Restaurant in Chennai city. This chain of vegetarian restaurants was first opened in Malaysia in 1984 and now has branches in Australia, Singapore and India.

Annalakshmi, which is named after the Hindu goddess of plenty, is a voluntary organization that follows the philosophy set forth by Swami Shantanand Saraswathi. His basic teaching is “to serve, to love and to give”. This is exactly how Annalakshmi works. Continue reading

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Britannia & Co. Restaurant, Mumbai, India

Britannia & Co. Restaurant
Wakefield House
11, Sprott Road
16 Ballard Estate, Fort,
Mumbai 400 038
Ph: 022 22615264



Meet Mr. Boman Kohinoor, one of the most endearing 89 year old that you will ever come across. He’s on his feet everyday at his restaurant Britannia, taking orders and chatting up customers with a true passion for what he does. He’s been there since he was 14 years old and the stories he loves to share with his customers are treasures. Mr. Boman Kohinoor proudly shares letters he has received on behalf of the Queen of England and cuttings and write-ups from all over about his restaurant, that he has carefully collected over a number of years. Continue reading

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SWATI SNACKS, Mumbai, India

SWATI SNACKS
248, Karai Estate
Opp. Bhatia Hospital
Tardeo Road
Mumbai – 400 007
Ph: 022- 65808405


Eating at places like Swati Snacks just plain old make my heart sing!

There is no replacement for this all vegetarian, regional food café which serves up some of the most lip-smacking, authentic Gujrati food you could ever have – anywhere (other than perhaps Gujarat –of course). Continue reading

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Pacific Asia, New Delhi, India

PACIFIC ASIA
Cascade Shopping Arcade
Netaji Subhash Place
Pitampura
, Delhi -110034
India



Hey Delhites..how many of you have been to Pitampura?

I for one had never even heard of it until two nights ago when honestly….what I saw there knocked my socks off.

Malls that are more modern than anything in South Delhi (what I’m used too) and gargantuan eateries that were packed with people at all odd hours of the night. Continue reading

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Xi’an Famous Foods, Flushing, NYC

 

Xi'an Famous Foods on Urbanspoon

 

Stall # 36 marks the spot for Xi’an Famous Foods which is housed in the basement of the Golden Mall in Queens. Here’s where you will find some really incredible hand pulled noodles. It’s best known for its Liang Pi “cold skin” noodles, Savory Cumin Lamb Burger and Lamb Face Salad. Continue reading

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Karim’s – Jama Masjid, New Delhi, India

KARIM’S
Jama Masjid
Delhi – 11006
Ph: 01191-23269880
http://www.karimhoteldelhi.com/restaurants.html



Chandini Chowk is truly India, as it should be experienced. I love every bit of it from the overfilled narrow streets that is equally shared by cars, people, animals, scooters, bicycles and so much more to the small stalls and street peddlers, selling everything from dinky little plastic toys, to mouthwatering food delights.

On one of these little streets is Karim’s, one of the best-known food spots in Chandini Chowk. Karim’s is run by the descendants of the royal chefs who prepared delicacies for the Imperial Kitchens of the Mughal Dynasty who ruled India in the 1700’s. Their recipes have been handed down for generations. Continue reading

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Khan Chacha, New Delhi, India

KHAN CHACHA
Flat 50, First Floor,
Middle Lane,
Khan Market
New Delhi, INDIA
Ph: +919810804114



Khan Chacha is a well-established institution in New Delhi’s enormously popular Khan Market. Housed in their new, modernized digs, here’s where you go to get your fix for the most delicious kabab rolls.

Khan Chacha has a winning formula that is so simple. They serve melt in your mouth kababs, both veg and non-veg and wrap it in a thin, delicate, roomali roti (Indian bread). Throw in a sprinkling of fresh onions, some seasonings and a hit of spicy mint chutney and viola – in minutes you are digging into a really satisfying and healthy quick bite. And all of this for about Rs. 100 ($2) a pop!!!! Continue reading

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Ilili – Brunch, Gramercy/ Flatiron, NYC

 

Ilili on Urbanspoon

 

Philippe Massoud has a story to tell at Ilili (which means tell me). Ilili is a high end, contemporary Lebanese restaurant, located in the Flatiron district.

Massoud’s culinary tales are woven into the nouveau Lebanese cuisine he’s created that draws on his beginnings in hospitality in Beirut and experiences that followed suit in the United States. Continue reading

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Vespa Cibobuono, Great Neck, NY

When you walk into the artsy lair of Vespa in Great Neck, you are warmly greeted by the immaculately suited owner, who fits right in with the vibrantly warm decor. This restaurant is rather an anomaly for a rather staid neighborhood. I think it really brings some much needed zing, to this neck of the woods.

I love the bright red vespa that is parked right outside the restaurant to announce ” We are here!!!” Continue reading

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Shiro – Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Novi, Michigan

SHIRO
43180 West 9 Mile Road
Novi, MI 48375-4125
(248) 348-1212
http://www.shiro-restaurant.com/





Shiro is set in the beautiful Rodgers mansion of Novi, Michigan. It is a real surprise to find a Japanese restaurant in this grand home that pays homage to Antebellum architecture. The interiors are adorned with early 20th century decor. It’s rather quaint to see a sushi bar with large lace valance! The place is very charming and has a lot of character.

The wait staff were very friendly and helpful though a bit disorganized. We ordered sashimi which never came and our waiter would sometimes disappear for long spells of time.

The food was decent (I cant compare it to New York Sushi) but considering where we were – I was pleasantly surprised.

We really went there to eat rolls only.The problem I found with the selection of rolls was that a lot of them had some deep fried element in it and I wanted to try more combinations of fish that were not fried or cooked. I thought that a lot of the sauces and dips accompanying the rolls were a little too sweet.

Here is some of what we ate:



EBI SHUMAI

 

 

This was pretty standard shumai but was served with honey mustard which was interesting.


SHRIMP & VEGETABLE TEMPURA

We tried an appetizer of the shrimp and vegetable tempura. I thought that the batter was a little too thick and the tempura was too crunchy. Really good tempura is a very delicate dish, where the shrimp and batter just melt in your mouth.


ATLANTIC ROLL

Their Atlantic roll had grilled tuna, scallion , cream cheese and was wrapped with avocado and topped with their house special BBQ sauce. I thought these were the best rolls I tried there. The combination of everything made for a really delicious roll.


KISS OF FIRE ROLL

This roll was made of crab meat, spicy tuna, jalapeno, avocado and topped with a hot sauce. This is one of the rolls that s touted as being spicy but it wasn’t. I thought it was a little too sweet but the combination was good. It could have done with more of a hit of spiciness.


CANCUN ROLL

 

This was a shrimp tempura roll topped with chopped jalapenos, mango and sweet and spicy sauce. For me, this roll was entirely too sweet though the extra crunchiness of the shrimp tempura worked well in this roll.


CALIFORNIA ROLL

I thought their California roll was really badly made. The rice was terribly uneven and it was just not appetizing to look at or eat.


SPICY TUNA ROLL

Their spicy tuna roll was sublty spiced  and tasty.


MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL

 

Food: ☆☆1/2

Ambiance: ☆☆☆1/2

Service: ☆☆1/2

 

Price: $$

Overall experience: ☆☆☆

 
I recommend: Atlantic Roll, Kiss of Fire Roll
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Restaurant Information


* Restaurant Name
Shiro Restaurant
* Overall
★★☆☆☆
* Neighborhood / Cuisine
Japanese
* Street Address
43180 W 9 Mile Rd, Novi, MI 48375
* Phone
(248) 348-1212
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Shiro Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Buttermilk Channel, Carroll Gardens, NYC

 

Buttermilk Channel on Urbanspoon

 

MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL
 Food: ☆☆☆☆
 Service: ☆☆☆
 Ambiance: ☆☆☆
 Cost: $$
 I recommend: Country Ham and Foie Gras Terrine, Duck Meatloaf, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

 

 

A long time ago……so the story goes…… during low tide, farmers from Brooklyn could walk their cows across a mile long tidal strait from Brooklyn to Governors Island. It is said that the water currents in this channel were so strong, that it would churn milk into butter – hence the name “Buttermilk Channel.” Continue reading

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OSHA THAI, San Francisco, CA

OSHA THAI
149 2nd St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph: (415) 278-9991
www.oshathai.com



“Osha”  is the royal Thai word for delicious which is what I kept repeating after sampling the food at Osha Thai Restaurant on 2nd street.Osha! Osha! Osha!

Osha Thai is located in the up market SOMA area of San Francisco. The huge space is impressively modern , with many Thai decorative touches.

In 1996, Osha Thai was started as a tiny food spot on Geary by the combined efforts of two sisters, Wassana Korkhieola and Lalita Souksamlane. It has now morphed into an empire of hip-new age Thai cuisine with locations all over San Francisco city.

The food is stylized Thai cuisine. The dishes served at Osha, preserve the authenticity and essence of Thai food and yet focus on being inventive. They use local, seasonal greens and continue to change their menu offerings with new renditions of creative dishes.

In my book, at Osha Thai, they have perfectly blended traditional Thai with the progressive sensibilities of San Francisco. I did discover though that all Osha Thai’s are not equal. I tried the one in the Embacadero and found that the food there was not as good.

Here is some of what we ate:


TOM YUM SOUP

This traditional soup is a bit different at Osha. It tastes like a combination of a Tom Yum and a Tom Kha Kai, which gives it an interesting edge.


ANGRY PRAWNS

In this dish prawns are sautéed with curry paste and Kaffir lime leaf served over fried eggplant in hot plate. It is cooked with fresh Thai green peppercorns, which really adds great flavor to this dish.


LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

This sweet and sour stir-fried chicken dish was good but must be eaten spicy.


GRILLED SEA BASS

This was the best dish of all. The sea bass was flawlessly cooked to a silky tenderness and complemented with a tangy flavorful sauce that enhanced the dish perfectly.


CRAB FRIED RICE

This fried rice was made with egg, onion and green onion with fresh crabmeat. It was really “osha”!!


DESSERTS

Both the desserts were disappointing. Really not worth wasting the calories on – I’d just order more food next time.


Vanilla Sky

This had a crispy roti that was served with vanilla ice cream. The roti was not crispy – it was kind of soggy and too oily.


Chocolate Soufflé

This was a warm chocolate cake, which was meant to have with a heart of creamy ‘A’ grade chocolate. It was over-baked and there was no creamy center.


MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL

Food: ☆☆☆1/2

Service: ☆☆☆

Ambiance: ☆☆☆

Cost: $$$

I recommend: Lemongrass Chicken, Grilled Sea Bass, Crab Fried Rice

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Restaurant Information


* Restaurant Name
Osha Thai
* Overall
★★★☆☆
* Neighborhood / Cuisine
Asian Fusion
* Street Address
149 2nd St ((between Natoma St & Minna St) ), San Francisco, CA 94105
* Phone
(415) 278-9991
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Osha Thai Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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