Stella "meh" Y.'s Profile

Darling little place in the Upper West Side. Finally, a brunch location I can look forward to!

A friend and I just happened to be searching for a spot for brunch on a weekend morning, and this is the one we selected from a choice of three. We were seated at the bar after about a 15 minute wait. Recipe is pretty tiny, it's a long space with a few tables in the front by the window, the bar, and then a few more seats in the back.

The menu had a lot of things that I wanted to try, which is always a good sign. We shared the arugula salad, I had the grilled cheese, and my friend had the pulled pork sandwich.

The grilled cheese was a bit soggy because it was so loaded with butter, and it came in a tiny little skillet that it was grilled in. It had pate!!! And it was portioned perfectly for me -- my stomach hasn't fully expanded by lunchtime so it's always great if I can get smaller portions so I don't leave breakfast/brunch feeling guilty about not being able to eat all of my food.

I was so excited about finding this place that I ordered take out for dinner just two weeks later. I had the pineapple braised short ribs, and despite the fact that it was cold by the time I made it home 30 minutes later (...just 15 or so blocks away), I basically licked my plate clean.

I hardly write reviews anymore because I only use Yelp to find directions and sometimes, look up what a house's specialties are, but I had to write a review for Recipe because I really liked both my experiences there. Can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu!

This is going to be an obnoxious comparison to In N Out review.

Shake Shack taste-wise is OK. I do like the mild garlicky sauce and love the fries.

The patty is mediocre and while In N Out's probably is comparable in quality and size, the entire meal itself at In N Out is half the cost of what a similar meal would cost at Shake Shack.

Also, for a place that really only has 3 types of foods (hamburgers, hot dogs, and shakes), it takes AWFULLY long for them to make anything. It is extremely bizarre, and I blame New York's slow-paced "fast" food phenomenon on the fact that there aren't drive-thrus that would force fast food employees to work at a quicker level.

I'd like to point out, too, that the coke is ALWAYS FLAT. Why!!!

Anyway, Shake Shack definitely has its moments where it hits the spot but I am always truly missing its better West coast counterpart.

I went here a few years ago and I still remember it fondly as ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE HAD IN LOS ANGELES.

I don't know if the was really delish or I was ravenously hungry but it is permanently ingrained into my memory as a really happy place for me (or rather, my stomach).

We ordered plenty of sides along with our ribs and I'm sure the waiter looked at us funny since we were ordering enough to feed a small family.

Nevertheless, I still dream about going back and will have to do so sometime this year!

Glad to see Sprinkles in NY is consistently as good as it is in Los Angeles.

It is hands down my favorite red velvet cupcake that I've tried on either coast. It is always moist, not crummy, the cream cheese frosting is absolutely delish, and the special flavors at Sprinkles is always a treat.

I thought the shoyu ramen soup base was lacking compared to Ippudo. There is a richness and intensity that Ippudo has that Menkui Tei doesn't. I feel bad saying it, but it's one of those things I've come to expect from a restaurant that is in Midtown. The pork in the ramen was a little too chewy and not flavorful enough for me.

Cute little place but for some reason, it felt like it was on its way to being a little rundown...

The sandwiches for the tea didn't seem that fresh and the crepe cake was a bit stale. It is definitely much better at Lady M and totally worth the trip uptown.

It's a good experience for a couple of girlfriends + you but I'm sure there has to be better alternatives in NYC.

This is my absolute go-to favorite when I am back in LA. I love their cakes and their tea. I wish I could find a similar place in NYC!

Just like Hill Country, the food is OK. Good to go if you're in the area and aren't feeling up to waiting for Shake Shack or not wanting to be confused by the weird seating options in Eataly.

The chicken is OK and for some reason, there was no GRAVY to be had with my biscuit! I prefer Korean fried chicken and the sides were nothing to write home about.

Decent strawberry gelato on a popsicle stick. I find strawberry gelatos around the city usually too sweet (but Grom's is always good). My sensitive teeth plus ice cream on a stick wasn't probably the best idea but I did enjoy it in our rare 50 degree February weather. Will have to try the hot chocolate next time.

+ gorgeous men
+ nice bouncer
+ not too long of a wait (15 min was last weekend)
+ lots of space
+ relatively clean bathroom
- cash only at the bar!