Jane K.'s Profile

I'd been curious about this place for a while and finally had a chance to roll in for dinner on a recent evening. Since it's Lebanese food they offer a lot of typical "middle eastern" dishes but with what I think is a nice, fresh twist. The service was friendly if not a bit absentminded and the menu was pretty vast. I absolutely love labne and don't often see it on menus so took my chance to devour every bit sandwiched between a pita and olives for my appetizer. For the salad lovers out there, Balade has a great selection. Throw in some wine and festive conversation and it was a perfectly nice evening out. My only gripes were that it was a bit overpriced for what it is and was quite cramped. It's nothing fancy but very pleasant.

Had a chance to check out the UES location today and I have to say that the consistency is key. They offer the same great simple Mexican meals, fast food style but with higher quality than you'll find at your local Chipotle. There's a bit more seating at this location than at their Union Square spot and I found the tacos to be stuffed slightly more than their prior renditions.

Overall, a great lunch or snack option in the area. Plus, you can't resist ogling the puppies at the pet store next door. If the Dos Toros carnitas doesn't make your heart melt, the mini dachshunds sure will!

This Middle Eastern coffee chain has burgeoned into a full on "thing" here in Montreal, and I have to say, I was not disappointed.

First off, this location in le vieux Montréal in nicely appointed on rue McGill though also a bit off the beaten track so besides lunch rush, you'll easily have the place all to yourself midweek. The café counter offers and nice selection of panini, wraps, a fresh chopped salad station and 1-2 soups of the day -- plus all your caffeination needs.

The decor is modern, yet wonderfully pretty with comfortable booths, mirrors, communal tables and elaborate chandeliers. The fact that they have free, consistent WiFi is a huge plus and while plugs aren't everywhere, you won't find it difficult to get a comfortable spot with access for hours on end.

This hotel reminds me of what I love about Montreal. It's French, it's modern yet also traditional, it's romantic and artistic, the people are friendly and at the end of the day, it's reasonably priced.

Located right on St. Sulpice, in the heart of Old Montreal, you couldn't get a better location if you're looking for a real getaway. The cobblestone streets, galleries, restaurants and stores have gone through the process of becoming hipper, local and less touristy since I lived here in this city six years ago. Now it's full of five star restaurants, hip cocktail lounges and cafés all in walking distance.

Le Petit Café - basically the lobby - is small and intimate but also perfectly suited to the hotel itself. Petite dejeuner (continental breakfast) is included with the room and served downstairs. The rooms themselves are relatively large, with nicely appointed windows and comfortable beds. I loved how the walls were rustic stone, while inside the room you'll enjoy free WiFi and even a digital temperature massage shower. Some drawbacks were that my in room internet dropped frequently and the closet needed a light, but beyond that I had no complaints.

While I was here on business, I could definitely see myself returning for a romantic weekend vacation. Voila!

In honor of Chinese (Lunar) New Year, I'm going to drop a review on this little dim sum diner nestled in Manhattan's Chinatown. Whether you're a dragon, a hungry tourist or jaded local, there's no reason not to roll through Nom Wah at some point during your Chinatown wanderings.

Through the dingy doorway on Doyers you'll be greeted by rundown diner booth seating, patterned plastic table clothes, and if it's the lunch rush hour - crowds. This isn't the cart-style dim sum I'm used to, nor is it at all upscale. Typically this style of eating is a special treat set against a fancier backdrop, so this casual, cheap atmosphere was a surprise. The prices are pretty average as well, and even a bit pricey compared to what you might find in Flushing. The food itself is average - nothing mind-blowing or original but yummy, greasy and totally comforting on a cold day. Highlights were their turnip cake and steamed dumpling sampler plate. Even talking about it gets my tummy rumbling for a meal fit for a dragon. Rarr.

I've been to a few events at the Lighthouse and have always enjoyed it. While not a huge space, it's well laid out, elegant and sports an extremely excellent view of the Hudson River and Jersey on the other side.

If you're looking to do an event here, it seems to be rather seamless though most certainly pricey. I'd recommend using it in the Spring/Summer months to get the most out of their outdoor - and riverfront - patio. I've heard excellent things about their catering service, though I can't speak to that since I've only been here for food events that have involved outside chefs. I can imagine a wonderful wedding reception here, so definitely one to look into...

I live in a neighborhood of endless options. There are so many incredible restaurants within this rather small radius, however, that I'm still working my way through dining at them all.

Brindle Room is one more notch on my belt, and I was predictably pleased with the rustic American South cuisine served out on their brunch menu. Though slightly crestfallen to find that they only served beer and wines (we were in a bloody mary mood), they do have some nice mimosa-like cocktails that we indulged in. I went with the shrimp and grits (AKA butter soup) and it was just as juicy and salty as it sounds. It was actually so saucy that I could've sopped some of that deliciousness up with a piece of crusty bread. But instead, I decided to stop while I was ahead and left about half my plate untouched.

The restaurant itself is quite small, but the waitstaff are accommodating. I'll certainly be back for that burger - I had several pangs of orderers remorse after seeing so many of those things come out of the kitchen. Yum.

I've actually only ordered take-out and delivery from Atomic so perhaps that alone has caused my less than stellar experience with their wing product. Either way I think the consensus is that if you're a chicken wing aficionado, you will do better to score your dark meat somewhere else. But, if you're a person with an itch for something spicy and fatty and you're in the hood - it's a fine call. The fact that they deliver has lead me more than once to eat Atomic, despite prior disappointments.

Some rules:
- definitely order their seasoned waffle fries
- don't order the boneless, it tends to be very dry
- the carrots and celery they provide tastes like it's been sitting in a bucket of water for 3 days so don't bother with it.

While I hope that I don't turn to their soggy wings again, I know the craving will strike and convenience will likely win out. The search continues to find a great East Village wing spot...

"Calling someone a horsebox is like calling them a mate"

Well mates, this is a damn fine place to watch a sporting event. It's small, grimy and ain't much to look at. But he sure is friendly. With a 12-8pm happy hour offering half off all booze and then a ladies night on Wednesdays with $3 cocktails ... ain't much not to love. The crowd is male dominated, so having only one women's restroom is quite alright. And feel free to order food in if you manage to find some bar space. But that's a cautious bet to make since game day gets packed to the gills. Either way, get in the spirit and get some drinks at the Horse box. We're all mates here.

Ever since I purchased an online deal more than a year ago for eyelash extensions at JJ, I've had somewhat of a steady habit. Look, I'm not doing it every month or anything... But, you know, when I feel like I need a little pick me up, or my own fine, light-colored eyelashes just aren't batting a full game, I find myself back at JJ for a fix. But after a few months off the lashes, I felt like I had my habit under control.

And then they opened in SoHo and ran another 50% off deal with Groupon. And the cycle continues...

And I have to say, I'm very impressed with the new digs. The SoHo space was spacious, nicely lit and inviting. Tea and water in the waiting area, soft music in the lash applying area. The receptionist is friendly and helps with the consultation. And the application process here felt quicker and more efficient than the Midtown location. They also covered me with a warm blanket and gave me a foot massage so I may have just fallen asleep and not realized time was passing. And when I awoke, I had thick, long, dark eyelashes framing my baby blues. Goodbye for now, mascara!

Oh, JJ. I can't quit you.