Category: Restaurants

Restaurants

Melbourne Meets East Village

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indian-foodBabu Ji is a restaurant that hails from Melbourne, Australia, which is making its way overseas. To the East Village to be precise. The restaurant’s name could refer to many things: a bureaucrat, a song in the Bollywood movie Salaam E Ishq, title of India’s former Deputy Prime Minister, Ramsevak Singh, among others. The New York eatery is run by husband-and-wife team Jessi (who runs the kitchen) and Jessica (who controls what happens at the front of the Avenue B location).

It’s a pretty hip place too. Bollywood films on the wall (perhaps to tie in with the Salaam E Ishq reference?) and typical Indian street food including the Papdi Chaat which could make a great start for New Yorkers wanting to sample Indian fare but are a bit scared. These are sort of like nachos but using chickpea crisps. Served with an interesting chutney too.

So for New Yorkers wanting to sample a bit of India, check out Babu Ji.

Restaurants

New Addition for East Village Bar Scene

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by Heather Cheryl
by Heather Cheryl

New York’s east village is getting a new addition to its bar scene – Fifty Paces. Located at 413 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A, the bar is quite a trendy get up. Offering a vast wine list and swank menu, it replaces Paul Grieco and Marco Canora’s Terroir – a wine bar franchise who recently parted. Canora took over and rebranded the location, with something completely new.

And what’s with the name? A spin off from the now infamous Fifty Shades of Grey perhaps? According to Canora, no. The name followed the location since he had to keep telling people how to get there – 50 paces up the street from Hearth.

So for those seeking out something a bit different, go get a classy glass of wine, sunflower-seed hummus with crispy toast and an upscale sloppy Joe. It’s a nice place and has two happy hours throughout the evening-night. A true welcome addition to the east village.

Restaurants

Drinking up Manhattan

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by terren in Virginia
by terren in Virginia

Of course, there is the traditional Manhattan cocktail; something that is easy enough to DIY…it’s just pretty much a mixture of sweet vermouth, bourbon whiskey, bitters, topped with a maraschino cherry and an umbrella! It’s not all that pricey either.

But for those who want to go a little bit more out of the box, there is now the GG Manhattan. Served up at the Irvington, on Park Avenue, north of Union Square, as well as offering this rather pricey cocktail ($30 a pop), there are some great food options too.

In actuality, the GG Manhattan is not really all that expensive as it is actually designed for two. It is a sharing drink so can also create and build intimacy. It comes with a couple of rocks glasses, brimming with ice and a flask, that comes very cold and labeled GG Manhattan – but the label just uses a magic marker and piece of masking tape!

For those hungry after their drink, enjoy what has been hailed as “New American [cuisine] with Mediterranean influences.”

Restaurants

UK Cows Return to NY

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cowAfter all the years of talk of mad cows disease hailing from the UK, a fancy restaurant in the Upper West Side is basically saying ‘enough is enough.’ The owners of Daniel Monday have brought in Irish beef for the first time since the 1998 ban was implemented.

According to Simon Coveney, Agriculture Minister in Ireland, there are no health concerns with such high quality beef from Ireland since it is grass-fed.

America is not alone in welcoming back the best of British beef. At the Dubai Food Festival, the Desert Chill team is to be serving gourmet burgers and other meat-based items that hail form the UK. Indeed, ten food trucks came from the UK to join in its Street Feast event, bringing in British offal and more.

Restaurants

Maille Makes it to Manhattan

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mustardFrench Dijon mustard Maille has just arrived in the Upper West Side. There are over 20 varieties showcased here, at the Columbus Avenue/68th Street location. And for those non-experts who want to know more, Pierette Huttner is there to help.

The mustard sommelier enjoys describing the various flavors that range from truffle-type to nutty-type and everything in between. She’ll also suggest pairings such as mashed potatoes with black truffle and Chablis. For those who want to go all out there is the black truffle that retails at $45 for a 4.4 ounce jar.

Perhaps this mustard was just what midtown Manhattan was missing!

Restaurants

Rainbow Room

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rainbow-roomRainbow Room has just re-opened a third restaurant in less than three decades. Offering 9, 431 brunch buffet items with live jazz performances, the remodel of the 80-year-old Gershwin-era building has come into the 21st century through Tishman Speyer, the landlord. Using Gabellini Sheppard Associates as the designers who polished up some of the most notable elements including the crystal chandelier under a 23-foot-high dome and a revolving dance floor, practically everything else is new.

Mirrors help create an optical illusion of the panes being wider than they are. Walls have been redone in a silver-grey fabric, brightening the room, flexible lighting generates a romantic ambience, etc.

And then of course there is the food with a twist. The apple cider doughnut, honey-baked ham, miniature chicken and truffle pot pies, crab claws and shrimps are getting the joint a good name.

Perhaps most significantly about the restaurant is that there has not been such a sky-high dining experience in Manhattan since 9/11. With the Rainbow Room, sky-high dining may have just returned.

Restaurants

Is Denny’s Going Upmarket?

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DennysDenny’s was always the local breakfast bar, fast, not particularly healthy and very kid-friendly.  Now, however, its presence in Manhattan might be giving it a whole new name altogether.  The new Denny’s, set to open in Manhattan’s Financial District, is to offer its wares on a whole new level – $300 breakfast, upscale, with champagne.

The Grand Cru Slam has basically the same stuff as other traditional Denny’s breakfasts, but this time with a twist. The 2004 Dom Perignon Premier Cru Champagne comes with the breakfast, but for those looking for something different yet still upscale, cocktails beginning at $11 will be on offer too.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Belgian Waffle Slam, costing $10.99 will fare with hungry Manhattaners stopping by for breakfast.