A Harding's Night
HARDING'S | 32 E 21st St. (bet. Park Ave. & Broadway) | 212.600.2105 | hardingsnyc.com
Top 'O' The Mornin'!
THE PENROSE | 1590 2nd Ave. (bet. 83rd & 82nd Sts.) | 212.203.2751 | PenroseBar.com
Balls In My Court
THE MEATBALL SHOP (UES) | 1462 2nd Avenue (bet. 76th & 77th Sts.) | 212.257.6121 | themeatballshop.com
A Good "Luke"-in' Sandwich
Lobster Grilled Cheese | Butter-Toasted Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fresh Lobster and Gruyere Cheese | Luke's Lobster (UES) | 242 East 81st St. (bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.) | 212.249.4241 | lukeslobster.com
Jacob's Latter
...The delicious buttermilk fried chicken's taste and juiciness easily reminded me of many happy South Carolina family dinners, while the sausage gravy, while surprisingly light on the flour, was abundant with a variety of spices, the whole combination in each forkful being a delight to every section of my palate.... [Full Post]
Gastropub Is Spot-On
...A worthy addition to the burger pantheon of this fine and finicky city, the clincher being the punchy and salty Roquefort (and my addition of some kicky mustard) wonderfully complimenting the premium ground beef's natural sweetness.... [Full Post]
The Initial Entry Of A New Series
...Taste-wise, the sandwich boasts porky, salty, fatty, sweet, savory, bitter, acidic notes that excite pretty much every type of taste bud on the tongue, with the added bonus of some wonderful aromatics coming off the back of the mouth and up through the nose. Texture-wise, the sandwich boasts smooth, creamy, fleshy, crunchy, crispy, wet, dry, grainy, toasty, which delights every other part of the mouth, like the teeth and gums, and tongue as well. Add to all that as well the sizzling bacon, hot tomatoes, warm tomatoes, cool cider mayo, and ice cold lettuce, and you've got a sandwich that hits on every level.... [Full Post »]
Cheer & "B"s
...the kimchi serving as a feisty slaw, kicking up the cheddar's sharpness, while the fried pork belly added a great crunch with its crispy edges, and grounding the sandwich with its flavorful fat and added saltiness. The egg's warm runny yolk adding some welcome silkiness and richness.... [Full Post]
In Short Order
...Yes, warm, thick slices of bread singing with bouquets of vanilla and nutmeg were a great base for the assortment of berries and melon and cantaloupe. The bacon had perfect "chew" and great flavor without being overly salty. The mellow maple rewarded me by topping mouthfuls of however many different elements I could fit on my fork at one time.... [Full post]
Happy Days
...A perfect medium burger, aromatic toasted rye, gooey swiss, and bright, hot, and flavorful jalapeños made for a pleasingly solid burger-eating experience. The meat was tasty and ran nicely clear with juices, without the toast's crispiness being impaired. The smoky bacon complimented the pinkish beef's natural, sweet, earthiness.... [Full post]
Tre Bene
...He first recommended the truffle egg toast appetizer off the pane-bruschetta menu section. The dish consists of two egg yolks baked on bread, and topped with fontina cheese and truffle oil. The offer the option of adding grated bottarga on top, and me being a new fan of it, decided it was worth the extra three bucks.... [Full post]
Surf & Turf's Up
...I made a tuna tartare, mincing fresh raw tuna with soy sauce, salt, pepper, scallions, fish sauce, and ginger. I chilled the tartare while skillet-grilling an Angus tenderloin steak and making a hollandaise sauce incorporating wasabi paste and a little bit of mustard. After the steak was done and sat for a few minutes, I topped it with the chilled tartare, topped that with a sunny side up egg yolk, and spooned the wasabi hollandaise on top.... [Full post]
Howdy, South Houston
...Fresh turkey was sliced thin, letting more air into each bite, which helped supply more of its flavor. Crispy pieces of porky, salty proscuitto accented the white meat turkey, nicely mellowed by the slightly sharp, cheesy sauce. Perfectly sunny-side up eggs oozed warm and silky over the whole yummy goodness, held up quite nicely by the sturdy Texas toast underneath and robust tomatoes. Ham, eggs, and cheese. Overall, it excelled with the depth of its simplicity.... [Full post]
