Category Archives: Restaurants

Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

After almost 3 months of not eating in a restaurant they’ve finally begun to reopen. We went to one of our neighborhood favorites, Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar. Even with our masks on the waiters and the manager recognized us when we arrived. We were all glad to see one another after so long. Rather than paper and ink the menu was electronic. And water was served in individual sealed bottles. The only seating (tables 6 ft. apart) was outside but the weather was great so no problem there. They always had a partially enclosed outdoor seating, but they added more tables right up to the curb. The City relaxed its outdoor seating regulations for restaurants.

Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

The Digital Menu


Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

Gus lowered his mask for a photo.


Trattoria il Gusto Wine BarTomato spread – better than butter.


Trattoria il Gusto Wine BarAppetizers


Trattoria il Gusto Wine BarEntrées


Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

Waiting for tables.


Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar

Trattoria il Gusto Wine Bar
(212) 579 7970
625 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024

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Spring Shabu-Shabu

Spring Shabu-Shabu

There’s an interesting restaurant in Flushing, Queens, New York. It’s called Spring Shabu-Shabu. Webster’s definition of shabu isa Japanese dish consisting of thinly sliced beef and vegetables cooked briefly in simmering broth at the table. 
From Spring Shabu-Shabu’s website:
“A Japanese-style hot pot, shabu-shabu is a fun and healthy interactive dining experience. Thinly sliced meat or assorted seafood items along with various vegetables, fishcake, and noodles are cooked in a simmering broth in individual pots at the table. The term shabu-shabu is an onomatopoeia, which is derived from the “swish-swish” sound made when the meat is quickly brushed back and forth through the broth to cook.”

Spring Shabu-Shabu.

There are individual pots built into your table. You control the heat level and have a choice of 5 different types of broth that you cook you meal in.
Spring Shabu-Shabu.

Spring Shabu-Shabu.
You order different kinds of meat or fish that is brought to your table and then help yourself to various noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauces.


Spring Shabu-Shabu.

Spring Shabu-Shabu.

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The Lobster House in Cape May

The Lobster House in Cape May

 

The Lobster House in Cape May

The Lobster House in Cape May

The Lobster House in Cape May New Jersey is a classic seafood restaurant. Lunch and dinner in five dining rooms and a full bar is available seven days a week. The Lobster House is located on an active commercial fishing fleet pier in Cape May Harbor. In the warmer months you can eat out on the pier. They also have a take-out shop and a fresh fish market.

The Lobster House in Cape May

THE COMMERCIAL FISHING PIER


The Lobster House in Cape May

ONE OF THE DINNING ROOMS


The Lobster House in Cape May

The Lobster House in Cape May

A LIGHT LUNCH


The Lobster House in Cape May

AN INTERESTING WALL DECORATION


The Lobster House in Cape May

READY FOR CHRISTMAS


The Lobster House in Cape May

The Lobster House in Cape May

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Hollywood Grill

Hollywood Grill

One of the things we like about Hollywood Beach is the choice of restaurants within walking distance of our hotel. There’s Mexican, Turkish, Greek, Peruvian, etc. in addition to good Italian restaurants, and American seafood.
We recently noticed the Hollywood Grill, which serves Armenian food. Not being too familiar with the menu the first time there, we ordered things we knew, like  shishkababs, and salad.

Hollywood Grill
Hollywood Grill

Everything we ordered was good but as we ate, we noticed that the tables around us were covered with platters of unfamiliar things that looked delicious.
Hollywood Grill
Hollywood Grill

We went back the next night and told our waitress, Aisha, that we wanted to be adventurous and order some authentic Armenian dishes. She helped us order and explained how each dish was to be eaten.
Hollywood Grill

Aisha is from Uzbekistan


Hollywood Grill

The recipes were all traditional and from the Caucasus – Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Over the course of our next 3 meals there, we had Georgian wine and Armenian beer, hot borscht, kharcho (lamb and rice soup) and hummus. We had a communally served platter of soft cheese that we rolled up in a bread something like thin pita with radishes, tomato and hot peppers, dolma (stuffed grape leave) that looked Greek but weren’t, broth filled dumplings, mussels, and something Aisha called Armenian pizza. All this with a view of palm trees and the ocean.Hollywood Grill

Too full for dessert but the coffee was perfect.

After 4 visits, we didn’t even get through half the menu. We told Tara, the manager, that if they opened a branch in New York, we’d be regulars.

Hollywood Grill

Tara

Hollywood Grill

Chef


Hollywood GrillHollywood Grill

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The Beer Garden in Battery Park

THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARK

The Beer Garden in Battery Park

Tucked away at the southern tip of Manhattan, on eastern end of Battery Park and behind some flowering shrubbery, you’ll find The Battery Park Beer Garden. THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARKIt’s open for April to October and a perfect spot for tourists to take a break, check their map and make plans for the rest of their day. It’s also great for locals too.

THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARK
THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARKThey’ve got a good selection of lager, pilsner, and IPA on tap as well as bottled.

THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARKThey also have a simple menu featuring grilled items like burgers, as well as paninis and salads.THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARK

THE BEER GARDEN IN BATTERY PARK

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Joe’s of Avenue U

JOE'S OF AVENUE UJoe’s of Avenue U

If your favorite Italian restaurant is Olive Garden and your favorite dish is spaghetti and meatballs (with all the bread sticks you can eat) maybe Joe’s of Avenue U in Brooklyn isn’t for you. Some of the one- and two-star Yelp reviews are pretty funny – submitted by people who don’t know Italian, let alone Sicilian cuisine like arancini, pasta con sarde, and vastedda.JOE'S OF AVENUE U
JOE'S OF AVENUE U
Cod Fish Oreganata

JOE'S OF AVENUE U
Sarde a Beccafico

Someone complained on Yelp that the chef refused make shrimp parm when there were other “parms” on the menu. She obviously didn’t know that cheese doesn’t go on seafood – it’s mortal sin. Instead of dumbing down their menu they tried to educate her but she wasn’t happy.

JOE'S OF AVENUE U
JOE'S OF AVENUE U
Take-Out Selection

If you want to try typical, well-prepared Sicilian cuisine and have an open mind you should go to Joe’s. If what you really want is a standard American red-sauce place, there are plenty of those around.

JOE'S OF AVENUE U

A Siciliani Marionette


Avenue U just off MacDonald Avenue – on the F train


JOE'S OF AVENUE U“Buon Appetito”

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Nathan’s Famous

Nathan's Famous

Nathan’s Famous

There are Nathan’s all around the world but the original is still on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn and it’s been at that location since 1916. It’s open every day – winter too.
Nathan's Famous

The Surf Avenue location is special and has a larger menu than the branches. You can get calamari, lobster rolls, clams on the half shell and even fried frog legs.Nathan's Famous

They have an annual hot dog eating contest. Last year’s winner, Joey Chestnut, won with a new record of 74!

Nathan's Famous


If you’re on the beach and don’t feel like walking to Surf Avenue for a hot dog, they have a location right on the boardwalk.

https://www.facebook.com/robert.iulo/videos/10219635984360289/?t=1


Nathan's Famous

Nathan's Famous

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The Churchill Tavern

The Churchill Tavern
We had a great lunch last Sunday at the Churchill Tavern. They served their traditional Sunday Roast – a choice of roast beef, lamb, pork or chicken with a bunch of sides – and regular menu of English favorites.
Full menu here

They have a wide beer and cider selection on tap and in cans and bottles, including many English brands. There’s a nice selection of Single Malt Scotch too.
If you’re in New York and want good English food and ambiance  you should try the Churchill Tavern.

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Eating in Little Italy

Where to Actually Eat Well in NYC’s Little Italy

I came across an interesting article in Eater New York. It’s a list and description of the best places to eat in New York’s Little Italy.

Here’s Eater’s list –

You can find the complete article here.

Eating in Little Italy

If you’re in NYC, you might find this list useful, and I’ll help with my opinion on the places that I’m familiar with.
Eating in Little Italy
I’ll start with their No. 1 – Emilio’s Ballato. I agree that it should be No. 1. It’s my favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Not only that, it’s located in the building that I grew up in -55 E. Houston St. I remember the original Mr. Ballato and Emilio has continued his high-quality cooking tradition.
After that, I’d rate Il Cortille and Forlini’s as the same quality. They’re both excellent and stand out from the  mediocre red sauce restaurants in the area.
For pizza Lombardi’s is the best. They brought Napolitano  pizza to New York when they opened on Spring Street in 1905.Eating in Little Italy
Umberto’s Clam House is pretty good and famous for that Joe Gallo incident but they should have also included Vincent’s, on the corner of Mott and Hester Street. It’s been around for a long time and was always one of my favorites.Eating in Little Italy
Di Paolo’s is a first rate food store on Mott and Grand Street. I’m surprised the equally good Alleva on the then same block wasn’t also on the list. It was my mother’s go-to Latticini e Salumi.Eating in Little Italy
Their only pick that I take issue with is Ferrara’s. It used to be good but not anymore. Instead of trying to educate their non-Italian customer on what good Italian pastry is all about, they dumbed-down their menu and quality. There are much more authentic patisseries in the area. My choices are Caffé Roma – 176 Mulberry St, Caffé Palermo – 148 Mulberry St. and La Bella Ferrara – 108 Mulberry St.

Eating in Little ItalyCaffe Roma

Eating in Little ItalyCaffe Palermo

Eating in Little ItalyLa Bella Ferrara


The restaurants on the list that I didn’t mention are new to the neighborhood. Maybe you should give them a try and let me know what you think.

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