Ames F.'s Profile

I'd never have thought I'd start a review this way, but... BEST rice pudding I've EVER had!  Seriously, I'm not in the habit of hunting out the best rice pudding ever. This one just basically jumped onto my plate and said hello, love me.  To call this rice pudding almost does it an injustice. It's more like dulce de leche with rice. Though I'm a fan of your standard rice pudding with plump, juicy raisins, this is totally different. More like it's classy uptown cousin -- no raisins, just creamy heaven with a dulce de leche effect on the top.

Reason #2 for loving A La Turka: The beef kebab. I'm one of those NYers who is constantly craving steak but can never afford NY steak prices anymore. This is the best value in fillet mignon I've found. Big, juicy, medium rare chunks cooked as kebabs retain their fillet mignon-ness without devolving into meat cinders. Ever.

Also dig the spinach tarator dip with the homemade bread. A Turkish appetizer that will please those who like its Greek cousin, tzatziki. However this is thicker and with spinach instead of cucumbers. Garlicky goodness.

A Tale of Two Sauces.

(sigh) I'm torn. On the one hand, this was the best fillet mignon I've had in years. On the other hand, the total bill for two set me back $250, not including tip*. Yeah, read that again. Let it sink in.

But back to the hand with the food... One of their signature steaks, the Oscar fillet arrived perched in a shallow pool of wine reduction sauce. On its top rested a generous garnishing of crab meat smothered in just the right amount of hollandaise. Omigod. Sinful.

I loved the interplay of the two sauces. The resulting variety of taste combinations meant there was never a dull moment for the ol' taste buds. And the quality of the meat was melt-in-your-mouth-errific. My guest is still talking about how good his un-garnished, un-saucified version was. He gets this faraway, famished look in his eyes that... well... scares me a little, actually.

Word to the wise: Don't bother with the seafood bouquet, unless you absolutely can't live without crab or lobster. Both of us agreed that the best thing in the bouquet was the shrimp, and that we would have been just as happy ordering that alone at a much lower price. Though the bouquet's presentation was definitely something to behold.

All that being said, I was expecting a much more elegant dining experience. Yes, the service was great. But the decor was a little bit too dressed down for the price tag. It reminded me of an informal clubhouse at a country club or a private gentlemen's club. (The British kind, silly. Get your mind out of the gutter.) A romantic dinner for two this is not. Unless you close your eyes. Come to think of it, a simple dimming of the lights would have gone a long way toward making the atmosphere match the quality of the food.

*$250 covered two cocktails, a humongous seafood "bouquet" appetizer, two steaks, a side of creamed spinach, and a bottle of wine.

Deeee-lish! Just perfect for when that "I absolutely MUST have German food right now" mood strikes. Or maybe you're just yearning for Bavarian scenery and lederhosen-clad waitstaff. The food and bier alone would warrant four stars in my book, but alas, the inexplicable slowness of our waitor shrinks my rating to 3 stars.

I can heartily recommend the Jaeger Schnitzel (veal cutlet sauted with mushrooms, cream, & wine), with the most divine spaetzle and sweet red cabbage evah. And the Berliner Weisse bier with a hint of raspberry is reason alone to go. How I managed to overcome the desire to ravage the dessert tray I'll never know, and I'm not sure I'll be able to repeat my self restraint the next time around. Wish me luck...

It may not make you feel dainty ordering it, but the Peg Leg is well worth the price tag. As, come to think of it, is the whole bar experience at the 21 Club. I can't speak to the food, nor the dining room, but the bar is exactly what you'd want from a legendary spot known for its "private club" atmosphere. Thankfully, mere mortals like myself need not have a membership to mix with the stars and expense account crowd, as it's not actually private. It just likes to think it is.

Yes, you can and will spot movie stars and celebutantes there from time to time. (Heather Graham showed up in a gown during my visit.) It's not as hip as other newer spots around town, but it does have that certain cachet that causes limos to line up all along the block. I even spotted a fashion shoot out front, going for the luxury look with a classic 1960s Mercedes convertible, and those iconic jockeys as a backdrop. (Their official site explains the jockeys.)

Yes, it does have a dress code and they do enforce it. If you don't have a tie to go with that sportcoat, they'll provide one.

Now that Yelp has helped me discover this place, I'm going to have to practice incredible restraint. I've just sat here contemplating all the different birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and births that could potentially warrant a gift-giver's jaunt to the Superhero Supply Company. What friend, family, or even foe, could resist a perfectly cut cape? You will certainly spot my alter ego treading the aisles soon.

Everybody could use some help with their nemesis problem, from time to time. And if you're out of work, don't fret! They have sidekick placement services! I wonder if they stock golden lassoes...

There's a new venue in town. But careful, don't blink or you might miss it. That's right, for the 2nd year running, NYC is playing host to the Spiegeltent. All the way from Belgium to the South Street Seaport's Pier 17, this 1920s masterpiece of velvet, teak, stained glass and a thousand (1,000!) mirrors is a beautiful summertime romance for the city of NY.

From noon to the wee hours of the night, our Art Deco mistress plays host to a diverse array of musicians and all sorts of outrageous feats of derring-do, including the cabaret and high-flying thrills of their 2 long-running shows, Absinthe and La Vie.

I first visited Spiegelworld for the Fader Magazine Summer Music Issue Party, which featured the Brazilian buzz band, Bonde Do Role, and old school hip-hop artist, DJ Quik. Outside the main tent, Spiegelworld is a mini oasis, with breathtaking views of the East River and its many bridges, sparkling as far as the eye can see. With riverside tables, private cabanas, an outdoor DJ tent, and a lengthy bar to accommodate the throngs of beautiful people, it was a perfect spot for a private party. But it would be equally equitable for the more mild-mannered vibe of events like summer 07's Badly Drawn Boy and DeVotchKa shows.

The real star of Spiegelworld is the Spiegeltent, herself. It may not look that big from outside, but don't let that fool you. The central dance floor holds a healthy size crowd, with additional space around the perimeter for lingering at a table with friends, loitering at the bar, or lurking around the periphery, looking for a dance partner. The only folks to feel cramped in the space are likely the artists, themselves. If they're more than a four-piece, they'll be seriously squished. That must be why they gravitate toward the types of acts they're booking. Check out the full schedule at their official site.

She was a shining star in last year's summer concert season, garnering both critical acclaim and huge word of mouth buzz. But you better catch Ms. Spiegeltent by 9/23, because just like the disappearing summer, to paraphrase Verbal Kint, "And poof. Just like that, [s]he's gone."

Disappointed. And I had such high hopes.

This is my fave cafe in my neighborhood. Most importantly, they make a mean iced chai. But it doesn't hurt that they've got a nice selection of savories and sweets, either. You'll find me there on weekends, hunkering down over a writing project or two, or out on the benches catching up with friends from the neighborhood. Dog lovers take note: They keep a bowl of fresh water under the benches for use by pet walkers enjoying a caffeine fix.

Eh. Ho-hum. The food was bland, bland, bland. But they do boast one of the best lychee martinis I've had. So my 1-star rating bounced to a 2. Hmmmm, I'm sure that says something about my priorities, but I prefer not to overthink it.

My new favorite Italian restaurant on the UES. I'd passed it a million times and kept drooling each time I looked at the menu. The choice of ingredients just sounded so original, and the prices were relatively low for this 'hood. The wine selection is the part that breaks the bank, being that they've got all sorts of honors for their winelist from a bunch of different magazines. But all their pasta dishes hover below $20, and other entrees stay largely under $25.  

I'm thrilled to report that the anticipation was well founded. Though it's always jam-packed to the gills, and the seating is super tight in the small space, I'm now completely obsessed with Bella Blu. It's all because of their heavenly Gnocchi in Fig & Rosemary sauce. Fig and rosemary? I know! I wouldn't have thunk it, either, but it's fantastic. The gnocchi isn't your usual doughy glob that sits like a brick in the belly. Instead, it's so light it literally melts in your mouth. Yum.

Hmmmm, I think I gotta go make a quick detour by 70th & Lex on my way home...