Ariela "On again, off again" B.'s Profile

The decor here is AMAZING. Clean, modern, clear, white, spic-and-span. The lighting is unique, the chandeliers are swanky, the posters are...well, slightly trippy (they're holographic), the employee getup is impressive. It looks like a seriously upscale place, but the prices really aren't that bad. You can enjoy a full meal for under $25.

Their menu is very simple, with limited choices. But they make it work, because they do all of it well, and with style. I had the Bangkok Fried Rice, and my date had the Tofu Pad Thai. Both were quite good, but REALLY seriously spicy. Like, I-couldn't-even-finish-my-dish spicy. I'm not sure if you can request *less* spice or not, but if spicy is your thing, you will adore the food here. From what I could gather past the burning sensation in my mouth though, everything was prepared very nicely. :p

The waitstaff is phenomenal. Polite, attentive, and very friendly. I never even got to see the bottom of my water glass because of how often it was getting topped off. I love it when restaurants keep an eye on your water level - it's something they don't charge for, so you know they care about the quality of their service. It's kind of the opposite end of "you can tell the quality of a man by how he treats his waiter". You can tell the quality of a waiter by how he cares about what he won't necessarily get tipped for (though that level of attentiveness certainly warrants a good tip anyway).

If you're looking at their website, be aware that their listed hours are a bit off. I mean, aside from the fact that they seem to mix up their AMs and PMs - according to their Sunday schedule, they're open from 12AM-11:30PM, which gives the staff exactly 30 minutes to sleep, and on Saturday, they're only open for one hour, 12AM-1AM! What can I say, I'm easily amused. But on a more serious note, I went there with a date on Sunday, and we got there at 12pm only to be told they don't open at all until 12:30. Good to know.

Overall I had to take one star off for the super spice attack that limited my enjoyment of the actual food. I've had great Thai before that didn't leave me wishing for a jug of milk, so I'll just have to preemptively ask about the heat levels next time. I'd still recommend the place to people in a heartbeat.

You would think the employees in a pet store would know a thing or two about pets. Barring that, you'd think they'd know a thing or two about their own merchandise. My experiences in this particular store say otherwise.

* The employees don't seem to know where any of their own stock is. I had one particularly awful experience with a guy who refused to believe me when I said a particular dog chew was not in stock in the proper aisle for it. All I initially asked was if they carried the product. But despite my telling him he didn't need to look for me (as I already did), he spent a good 5 minutes making a mess of the bags in the aisle trying to prove me wrong. The kicker? When he finished, he held up an entirely different bag to me. It was the wrong kind of chew, for the wrong size dog. He didn't even remember what I asked about in the first place, even though I said the name at least 4 times and described the bag itself. Then when I managed to "prove" the nonexistence of the product in the aisle, he shrugged, said he didn't know what it was (even though there were other products from the same brand lying around), and walked away, leaving the mess. What an ass.

* The cleanup crew in this store leaves a lot to be desired. That said, you WILL inevitably step over (or into) a puddle of dog piss at some point. Sometimes it will crop up where you least expect to see one, like around a corner aisle. Not fun, especially if you're wearing flats. I think the most puddles I've ever seen in one visit was at least 5.

* I was never impressed with the health of their fish here. I had fish for years, and you can tell when they're not properly taken care of. The same goes for their rodents and lizards. They're always a bit too sluggish.

I've been to a bunch of different Petcos over the years, and this one is by far the most haphazard. It's really a huge difference between locations. The one I go to near my house is so much better, with accessible managers and people who know where things are (and what to suggest for particular animals). Here? Not so much. It seems like they just hire any old college kid with no pet experience and hope they last long enough to make it past pee-cleanup duty. From the looks of things, not many do.

Only shop here if you know exactly what you need, and won't need any help to find it (other than what general aisle it should be in). Don't expect much more by way of service or information.

I think I have a new favorite "default" diner when I'm in the Union Square area.

I first came here on a whim with a friend, and we weren't disappointed. Not only is everything crazily inexpensive for the area, but the food is actually really good. It's typical diner food, but much better than many other diners manage to pull off. The cook also doesn't skimp on anything (delux dishes, spinach in your omelet, etc), which is awesome.

The decor is old fashioned with a dash of divey atmosphere, and slightly cramped, but comfortable for a casual meal with someone. It doesn't look like much from outside, either, but don't let that fool you. Give it a try. Be warned though, the place is TINY, and can get crowded. Your best bet is to go there on off-hours, like before or just after "standard" mealtimes (e.g. avoid the 12p-1p lunchtime rush). I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm a little conflicted about Ghenet. But just a little.

The decor is nice. The seats and couches are mostly comfortable (except for the bar stools).

The food itself is pretty good, as were the cocktails. The fare is NOT really "authentic" Ethiopian, but more the trendy, stylized, "Made For Americans" kind. Good, but not a true taste of the country, if that's what you're going for. I had the sega aletcha beef stew, and tried some of what my friends had as well - collard greens, lamb, and another veggie dish. Everything tasted like standard restaurant fare you could get anywhere else, with the exception of the names on the menu and the special injera bread (which is the only unique taste/texture of the whole meal). Don't get me wrong - everything was flavorful (if not a bit oily), but it didn't scream "foreign cuisine" in the least, apart from the fact that you eat with your hands.

The service was genuinely awful. When my group of 5 arrived and my friend asked about seating (they don't take reservations - just a warning), she got a huffy attitude from the bartender I did not expect to see in a restaurant. We were made to stand around in their poorly-designed front "hallway" (just a barrier set up with a bench), and waited a very long time to be seated, even though there were a couple of open tables. When we finally got a table, it took another 10-15 minutes till we could even get the waiter's attention. Nobody even came by to ask about drinks. None of us caused a scene or did anything to insult, and we were all very polite. I really didn't see any logical reason for the crappy service we got from all angles. Not cool.

While the food was decent and tasteful, the bad service killed it for me. In the future when I'm craving Ethiopian, I'm definitely going to find another venue.

Sometimes convenience is like a high five that just waits for you to walk into it. I remember heading toward Union Square one day, thinking to myself, "You know, it'd be really cool if I could find a nearby Staples for some [insert office supply here]." I pulled out my phone and launched my trusty Yelp app, typed in "Staples", and promptly walked into one of their sidewalk "/\" shaped ads that was sitting right in front of the doorway. Well I'll be damned. Staples! Of course, being the total dork I am, I still hit "search" in the app, just to see what would come up. Apparently, I was in the right place. What did we do without GPS? Oh wait, we walked into things. Right.

Anyway!

I've always been a fan of Staples, but there's definitely a difference between particular locations. Sometimes they're just badly run, or full of people who don't know their asses from their elbows.

Thankfully, this is one of the better ones. The place is VERY clean and organized, and the staff actually knows where everything is, and can direct you accordingly. I've come in a few times with depressingly vague descriptions of supplies I needed, and they knew what I was referring to every time. That's a big thumbs up from me.

Also, it's open 24/7. You really can't complain there. The next time I have a 3am craving for hanging folders and dry erase boards, I am SET.

Considering how active I am these days, I'm really surprised that I keep forgetting to come here for my equipment needs. It should be the FIRST thought in my mind when I need stuff, but for some reason, it isn't.

The Repeated Scenario:
I'll need some new workout/hiking/whatever shirts, shoes, weights, or some other items. Proceed to check local stores. Get into a grumpy snit about how I can't find said appropriate things ANYWHERE, and spend more time than should be necessary wandering around even more small local shops and mall stores that would never carry what I need anyway, no matter how hard I stand there and glare at their inventory. It becomes an exercise in futility.

But then! Then, at some point after a good agonizing sulk about my personal misfortune in the matter, I remember the existence of Paragon. I get this momentary flash of epiphany (it never fails), and from then on the only thing that would make my scavenger hunt easier is if I owned a teleportation device and could zap myself into the store without bothering with travel times.

There's a department for every activity and sport under the sun. Well, maybe not crazy obscure stuff, like for elephant-riding tightrope walkers, antarctic nude kayaking, or whatever the super GWR loonies do these days, but hey, you never know. The department staff are pretty knowledgeable, too. It's really nice when I can ask the advice of someone who ACTUALLY USES the thing I'm interested in buying. I've come here to outfit myself for the gym, Zumba, mountain hiking (they carry an awesome line of hiking boots, if that's your thing), and just general "active lifestyle" odds and ends, and I've left satisfied (and slightly poorer) each and every time.

Oh, Paragon. You know my needs. You have all the right toys. You even know the safety procedures for every style and position. And you're so...so BIG.

*pant* Wait. Yes.

The only downside to the whole experience (aside from draining your wallet) is in the purchase line. It can get kind of long at the front, and discounts don't always work as advertised. Make sure you triple check prices with someone before you waste precious minutes standing behind some sweaty jock with a steroid problem and 50 basketball jerseys draped over his arm (and a Shake Weight), only to learn that your chosen item was in fact completely mislabeled.

Suggestion for the economical-minded:
Make a trip to the store, try stuff on, test stuff out, jot down item numbers and stuff you're interested in, and see if you can get a better price online, either through their website or even on Amazon. The physical store is a lifesaver if you need specific items STAT, but if you're really hoping to save a bit of money, do your price comparison homework. The reality is that a lot of what they have IS pricey, but no pricier than any other place that carries the same quality goods. It's still smart to check though. You can always come back again. I know I certainly will.

Their pizza is pretty good, but I would advise against ordering anything non-traditional off their menu, like meatloaf, veal Marsala, or anything that requires a chef's visit to the back kitchen and doesn't scream "standard pizzeria fare". The pizza is where it's at here. Anything more complicated and you're greeted by a mouthful of bland.

Stick to the basics, and you've got a good place for a lunch stop when you're in the area.

So much sugar packed into this little place! They've got just about everything your greedy little sweet tooth can desire. Sour strips (yeah, you know your mouth is already watering just thinking about those), jelly candy, sugared fruit, giant swirly lollipops, jellybeans of all flavors, oodles & oodles of gummies of all shapes and sizes. Gummy sharks. Gummy frogs. Gummy fruit. Gummy donuts. Gummy chocolate. Gummy *everything*. Katy Perry would be proud. And once you've decided you've died and gone to Candy Mountain, you realize they have display cases of CHOCOLATES, too! Yummy looking, delicious-smelling chocolates...

Ah, but what's the catch, you ask? You're a smart cookie, and you know this much wonderful cavity fodder has to have SOME drawback. And alas, it does. Not only is it a bit on the pricey side per pound, but they ONLY take cash. No credit cards. So either be prepared with your dead Presidents, or scout out the nearest [working] ATM before hitting this place up.

Oh, and *try* not to overdo the sugar rush.

I can't speak for their dinner menu or bar, but I did come here for lunch with a friend. It was incredibly uncrowded when we arrived at noon. Actually, it looked like we were the first customers of the day. Not bad.

The space is very nice, with an elegant decor and comfortable atmosphere. Very polished. Even the bathroom was pleasant, though I'm not quite sure about using one corner of it to store a highchair and booster seat. Seems like a problem waiting to happen. But that's not really a negative, just an observation.

My friend and I both ordered sushi rolls, 4 in total. They were nicely sized, and very good. Not the 100% best sushi I've ever tasted, but certainly above average.

Their lunch special prices are worth it, too. Until 3pm you can get 2 rolls for $8.50 and 3 for $11.50. While that's akin to robbery in Brooklyn, it's a steal for Manhattan, especially the UES.

Overall I'd say the place is good enough to go back the next time I'm in the area. That's saying a lot, too, since I don't often go to the UES, and having a "default" restaurant to gravitate toward is always a plus.

A friend brought me here RAVING about the place, but I honestly wasn't impressed.

At first glance, the decor is really eclectic and interesting. Gypsy/witch themed of course, with drapings and decorations of all shapes and sizes, and "creative" (read: crappy) lighting. But when you really look around and search for someplace that's actually comfortable, you're SOL. I guarantee you, any open spot you find will feel awkward to sit in somehow. If you can even find an open spot, as the whole place has a very cramped feel. All their seating is awkwardly positioned: back to high traffic, weirdly shaped chairs, couches slightly too low to the floor to feel "normal" or with deceptively uncomfortable cushions, etc. It's like they intentionally engineered the place to mess with your sense of space so you're juuuuuust at the brink of being ill at ease. But maybe that's the point of the "vibe". I dunno. There are some sofas scattered here and there at odd angles, and I suppose maybe one or two are borderline comfortable, but they'll probably be taken by the time you get there.

My biggest gripe is with the menu. I want to slap whoever designed it, and twice-slap the people who okayed it for printing. That thing is damn unreadable. It's all scrawled out and haphazardly arranged, and I could be misremembering, but I don't think it even lists prices. I have a hard enough time making menu decisions in the first place - giving me an unreadable menu doesn't exactly help with the frustration. It's also incredibly hard to read that gray text on black paper in the sucky lighting.

There's no privacy here for your conversations. Expect to be overheard, and expect to overhear EVERYTHING. That said, the noise level is kinda unpredictable, which may not be good for a dinner date (which I wouldn't recommend this place for anyway).

Expect a looooooooooooong wait for a seating area. I honestly don't know why this place is so popular. I didn't think their desserts and teas were all that phenomenal (they're okay though, I guess), so I can only assume the regulars come here for the vibe, which means they actually LIKE being uncomfortable. People are friggin' weird.