Jim "The Traveler" U.'s Profile

This is my happy place.  Everything about this place is wonderful, and it is has the added advantages of being very affordable and not so well known, though that is changing a bit these days.    

I arrived hungry, and I wanted to try as much food as possible.  I began with two types of sashimi, the salmon and the black perch.  The presentation was beautiful.  The selections could not have been fresher even though the perch was flown in from Japan.  Lovely sashimi, perfectly cut, nice temperature, great color, great taste.  The wasabi was real.  An excellent beginning.

I then proceeded to have two appetizers (I'm a glutton for Japanese food), the fugu and the kakuni.  Fugu always has a mystique about it considering its potential ability to be lethal to the would be eater.  But this is a genuine Japanese restaurant, and they have reduced the careful preparation of fugu to a routine.  All the pretense is removed here though; you could very well order this dish without any knowledge of its potential lethality.  This allure aside, the broiled tails of this pufferfish were very good and worth the preparation.  I was very pleased with this delicious, traditional dish.  This was to be outdone though by an even better dish, the kakuni.  Braised pork belly, Japanese style.  I love how something so naturally delicious can be made better through the subtle use of Japanese flavors and careful cooking technique.  This is a truly remarkable appetizer -- so tender from the braise.

For the main course I had the black cod with miso glaze.  Three large, picture perfect pieces of cod perfectly cooked.  It flaked easily and the glaze was subtle and enticing.  The flavor was present in the background of each bite, making the dish so very interesting.  A contrast in textures and flavors was offered up with the inclusion of prepared onions and a Japanese peach.  The entree could not have been better in any way.

For dessert I had the black bean ice cream.  This was served with a tiny pitcher of syrup on the side that, once poured, really brought this dish together.  The blend of savory and sweet and the robust flavor of the ice cream really made this dessert stand out.  This was remarkably good.  

The service was not only especially attentive but very kind as well.  In fact, this is possibly the friendliest restaurant I have ever visited, with Per Se being the closest contender.  It really all began when I walked in without a reservation.  The hostess very kindly explained that there were no tables available but that a seat at the bar should be available in 30-45 minutes.  She offered to take my phone number, and she actually called me not when the spot was ready, but about 10 minutes before allowing me time to walk back.  That was a nice gesture.  Also, there was a delay between the fugu and the kakuni courses that was noticeably long though not so much a problem as I was enjoying my bottle of Echigo beer.  To correct the error, I was provided with a free glass of sake that was the server's favorite.  It was quite good.  Also, every dish when presented was explained in detail, and I was accommodated as much as possible.  That follow through has been noticeably absent in several of the other Michelin starred restaurants I have recently visited, so I was very pleased to see that here.  

Final assessment:  they easily merit 5 stars on Yelp, and I would venture to add that they should have 2 Michelin stars.  I can not think of a single Japanese restaurant in the city that is as good.  My full tasting menu at Morimoto was quite disappointing by comparison.  Highly recommend!

I stopped in here for a drink while waiting on a table at a popular restaurant nearby.  It was dimly lighted with a small bar all in a very long narrow space.  I never saw the infamous photo machine, but I did catch the $6 Hefeweizens on tap.  The bartender was pretty capable, and the clientele was a motley assortment of young, casually dressed people.  It was fine to catch a drink, but I did not have any interest in staying for a long time.  There was just nothing to catch the eye or ears.      

2.75 stars (rounded up)

Michelin madness continues with a visit downtown to the eponymously named SHO Shaun Hergatt (a new addition this year boasting one star).

The restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of a nondescript building.  The entry is grand with a bold use of reds and blacks.  The walk to the table is long and circuitous.  Along the way you will pass the bar / lounge area as well as an amazing alley way where you are flanked by bottles of wine.  The decor is wonderfully punctuated with Asian influenced ornamentation.  Visually this was definitely one of the more interesting restaurants I have been to in the city.  

I went for lunch and opted for the 3-course prix fixe which is available for $30.  For the appetizer, I selected a very strangely word dish.  The menu no longer lists the item, but it was something like Cappuccino di Maitake.  Essentially it was a very intelligent, well crafted cream of mushroom soup that made excellent use of the maitake mushroom bringing out an earthiness that was delectable.  This was further enchanced with the use of ground porcini mushrooms, and a foam topping.  The texture was silky and perfect.  The flavor was robust and wonderful.  What a wonderful beginning to this meal.  

For the entree, I opted for the sous vide pork belly.  I love pork belly, and this was the first time I had it prepared in this way.  It was perfectly cooked and looked beautiful on the plate.  The sauce enhanced the natural flavor and fattiness of the pork in a very nice way.  Texture was contrasted with use of diced daikon and crudite.    

For dessert I had the banana millefeuille with lime mousse and coconut ice cream.  This was the only dish that was not incredibly good.  The dessert was sandwiched between two long strips of an overripe banana.  The mousse was fine, but minimally used.  The ice cream was not memorable.  The dish was fine, but simply not exceptional like the other two.

The service was fairly attentive and friendly.  I did have wine with my meal, and I was surprised that my wine glass was filled to a slightly lower level than I am used to.  It is obviously hard to say for sure, but that was my impression.  You may want to take note of this.   The only other quibble I could find was that the main dining room is not windowless which is only an issue if you are seated next to one of the windows.  The blind does a good job of covering up the window, but you are still afforded a view of an exterior construction elevator and ongoing work.    

Over all, the food exceeded my expectations by a bit, and the price point for lunch was very reasonable.  I would definitely recommend a visit here.  This place would also serve well for a quiet, romantic dinner.

4.5 stars

Heidelberg is a German beer hall and restaurant on the UES.  This is a wonderful place to grab real German draft beer; however, it is not all that remarkable if you just want to get something to eat however.  

Drinks:  On my visit they offered up 8 different draft beers from Germany.  I was particularly taken with the Hof Brau dunkel which had me wishing I was in Munich as I was finishing up my 1/2 liter glass.  That is considered a medium here.  They actually sell 1 liter glasses and the famous boot which is equivalent to 2 liters!  If I want to get drunk to some bad oompah music with friends at a small bar, this place is going to make the short list for sure.

Food:  I opted for the "Sausage Platter for One".  Interestingly enough, they offer variations on this choice to accommodate up to 6 people.  The platter contains:  weisswurst, bratwurst, brauernwurst, red cabbage, German potato salad, sauerkraut, and a side of mustard to accompany the sausages.  The weisswurst was pretty good and reminiscent of what I had in Stuttgart, though this one was served without broth.  The bratwurst was okay, and brauernwurst was a first for me.  I liked it, but I have no idea if it was good or not.  The sauerkraut was a bit sour and devoid of caraway seeds making it distinctly un-Bavarian.  I would pass on this.  The red cabbage and potatoes were unremarkable.  

The service was fine.  The decor was less than inspiring and at times tacky.  I think the place is pretty comparable to Rolf's except that the food is a bit better there.

A very nice instance of the familiar chain bookstore.  Perhaps not as popular as its larger cousins downtown, this place does attract a healthy clientele, and they still manage to put on great book events.  

I went here last nice to see George Packer (New Yorker correspondent, author, former Peace Corps volunteer, etc.) talk about his latest book:  Interesting Times.  The events section is located on the lower level all the way in the back, and it does not attract a standing room only crowd.  In fact, events here are much more intimate.  During the reading last night, there was even a dialogue with the audience which I have never seen before.  The staff kept everything on schedule and were very courteous and professional.  I couldn't believe that Thomas Keller is going to be there this Saturday.  So, I have another reason to go back!  Definitely recommend.

Quite possibly the cheapest food that can be found in the confines of the 5 boroughs of New York City.  My lunch of 10 pork and chive dumplings and a sesame pancake came to a total of $2.75.  And the food was actually decent.  I still have no idea how they can afford to pay rent at these prices which are noticeably lower than the street vendors.  

Seating is limited to two especially narrow counters.  I can't imagine more than 4 people eating in this place at the same time.  The assumption with any order is that it is to-go unless you state otherwise.  Be careful though.  With the dumplings for example, they are kind of starchy; so when they are locked into a styrofoam container while hot, they will adhere to each other and form one giant coagulated dumpling by the time you get to wherever you are going.  The flavors are largely preserved though, so not much is lost.  The sesame pancake was fine, but otherwise not noteworthy.

Highly recommend for the budget conscious, or those wanting to stop for a quick bite.  It is one of the gems of Chinatown, so you will eventually make your way there at some point.  Enjoy.

Have you ever heard of having a Sunday morning brunch with two glasses of champagne for $9.95?  Me, neither.  But at Ottomanelli Brothers you can do just that, and be served so much food, you will be unable to finish it.  

I opted for the frittata which was served with roasted potatoes, strips of bacon, a choice of cheese topping which I took to be ricotta, and a smattering of fresh fruit (grapes, orange, and cantaloupe).  The frittata was simply prepared with onions, green peppers, and tomatoes folded into it. The ricotta ended up being a very large dollop placed on top of the frittata.  If I were to do this again, I would choose the provolone since they actually melt that over the frittata as it is being prepared, instead of adding it after the fact.  Over all this was a pedestrian offering.  The bacon was unremarkable, but the potatoes were fine.  But given the very generous portion sizes, and the ridiculously low price, it is difficult to be too fussy.  I mean, it's really like buying two glasses of champagne and being given a free breakfast.  

The ambience is pretty good here though.  It has a nice neighborhood feel, and they have large flat screen TVs showing primarily sports.  The service was very friendly and attentive.  Definitely recommend for the budget-conscious or those looking for a neighborhood nook.  

3.5 stars

Pinche Taqueria is a staple in the late night diet with it either preceding or following a stint at some of the many great bars in the EV/LES area.  In this context, it works really well.  

When I went, they were already out of their tacos al pastor.  I opted instead for two tacos de pescado and one taco de frijoles.  I am spoiled in having had amazing fish tacos in San Diego in my visits out there.  Alas, these fell a bit short of that very high standard.  The cabbage was plentiful (overly so), and I really failed to pick up any nice, clean flavors from the fish.  I thought the bean and cheese taco was pretty good though.  Portion sizes were reasonable and the prices were fair, so not much is lost in going here.  

Some things to be aware of:

-  Credit cards are taken (with a minimum), but no AMEX.
-  Music volume can vary considerably during a single sitting.
-  Tables are limited, so you may have people waiting intently for you to finish, even if it is really late.

An adequate coffee shop with little in the way of frills.  Service is friendly, competent, and efficient.  The selection of coffee is okay.  I found my triple espresso to be really reasonably priced at exactly 2 cents less than their large coffee and well under $3.  Their menu is eclectic and boasts some more unusual items:  bagels with Nutella, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot apple cider, and glasses of wine.  There was really no ambience to want to hang out here, so this is mostly a pick up and go type place.

Peace Corps volunteers know that their service never ends after two years, since they have a "third goal" obligation to help other Americans learn about their country of service and understand the culture and underlying problems there.  The goal is lifelong.  

My country of service was Burkina Faso.  Having returned, I keep in touch with what is going on with the country and the on-going aid projects by being a member of the Friends of Burkina Faso organization (http://fbf.tamu.edu/).  Often current Peace Corps volunteers try to raise money stateside to support project proposals.  These projects are typically focused on girls' education, AIDS awareness, and previously Guinea worm eradication.  

On the occasion of my 500th review, I want to draw everyone's attention to one such important project that is being administered through Global Giving.  The link is here:  http://www.globalgivin....

Basically, girls often have to walk long distances in order to be able to attend school.  The journey can be as much as 4 miles and is done in oppresive heat.  If a girl wants to attend school, they make the journey and forgo any food for the entire day until they arrive home in the evening.  This is detrimental on grades and ultimately retention.  This current project institutes free lunches for these girls.  The data has shown that this helps considerably in retention rates.  You may be surprised to learn that in Burkina Faso only 1% of the population attends university, and they are mostly men.  So any effort to improve girls' education is viewed with utmost importance.  I encourage fellow readers to learn more about the project and maybe make a donation.  A little bit of money goes a long way, e.g., $15 will pay for 50 meals!  I am going to forgo eating out tonight, and make a donation of the money I would have spent.  There is no overhead in a cause like this, so you can be sure that all of your money is supporting girls at the grass roots level.  Thank you for reading.