Debbie "HTG" W.'s Profile

What the hell is going on here?  I've been waiting to try this place since before they opened and never got around to it.  My expectations I admit were through the roof.  And that's never good.  I also went on Christmas day, which is probably not a fair day to judge.  And as much as I want to be charitable on Christmas, I can't believe how disappointing ABC Kitchen was.

The french toast was a deep fried brick.  It tasted and smelled like pure oil.  I couldn't even eat it.  The fried over medium egg was fried hard, returned to the kitchen and came back fried hard again.   And the omelet and scrambled eggs kind of reminded me of airplane eggs.  

There were a few highlights.  Fantastic orange juice, killer Cheddar-Chive biscuits and a great over all vibe to the restaurant.  The service was terrific too.  But man, the food.  And it didn't seem like it was just a bad day either, I'm pretty sure they meant for that french toast to look and taste like that.  

And I certainly wasn't expecting a lumberjack breakfast, but is it wrong to expect a little more than just two triangles on a giant empty looking plate with 3 tiny apple slices?

I know i need to give this place another try, but Im not in a rush.

I love 9th Avenue and I adored Room Service.  It seems like 9th avenue has become Little Thailand which is just fine with me.  And Room Service was EXCELLENT thai food served in a really fun, quirky environment.  Great date place.  Great place to go with friends.  So many appetizers make for good/fun sharing, and everything was delicious.  I'm not a drinker but the drink menu almost made me change my mind.  Girls night out!?

ABSOLUTELY CHARMING in a rustic way. But these old stone and wood cottages were a perfect design to surround the lake.  The buildings each house 6 rooms or so, with a shared center room and a shared porch.  Genuinely feels like you're traveling back in time to a place you read about in an old novel.  Very WPA.  If you're traveling with a group, and you book ahead, you can reserve a whole building for your gang, and hang in the common room, while each having your own room.  Family reunion anyone?

Tiny unimpressive looking cramped supermarket but who cares.  I go for the Argentine Chorizo, every summer as soon as its warm enough to grill.   Just go for the butcher.  Seriously.

What took me so long to get here?  A perfect New York spot, focused on things international.  I can truly say there isn't any other place in New York like it.  Excellent tea selection, best scones I've had in the city, and delicious sandwiches.   And its family owned by people not afraid to set a few rules to make the most of a small space.  MUST visit.

I kind of feel duped by Donna Bells.  

I found Donna Bells when I was walking by, and the place looked so cute and smelled great, so we grabbed a menu, to check it out.  I was so excited by what I read on the menu-- phrases like "all natural" "small batches"  "baked by hand" "fresh each morning" and more all made me feel this was going to be my new favorite midtown bakery.  I loved everything on the menu and was even more thrilled to see they  had sandwiches and casseroles! You have no idea how hard it is to find good, healthy, delicious lunches in midtown.  

I was so excited in fact that I convinced everyone at work that we should  order lunch and dessert from Donna Bells the very next day.

Well....first, they were out of at least half the things we wanted.  HUGE let down right there.  No Banana Pudding, No Mac and Cheese, and there was something else they were out of , but I cant remember what it was.  Strike One.  

So we were bummed, but its okay, there were other things to choose from.  I mean, they had peanut brittle on their menu!!  All I kept saying is-- how often do you find homemade peanut brittle?  Well it turns out, not very often.  It wasn't homemade.  It was packaged.  And not even good.  Strike Two.

And finally, the sandwiches.  Lets just say I felt bad that I had recommended the place.  The consensus was-- it tasted like a school cafeteria lunch.  Or a sandwich you could get at the airport.  Major Bummer.

Having said that, I didn't get a chance to try the biscuits, cakes, or cookies and it seems unfair not to give them a shot.  So I will try again.    But not for lunch.

Gotta give a shout out to the hot brisket sandwich, and a big high five to the triple decker turkey and chopped liver with cole slaw and russian dressing.  

mmmmm now I am starving.  too bad its 1am.

I am so terribly spoiled by a certain sushi restaurant that I'm afraid I'm the unfairest critic out there.  You will probably love Fatty Fish.

If you really like fun creative and interesting rolls, I know you will LOVE Fatty Fish.

If you like things like mango sauce and tobiko and tempura flakes, you will LOVE fatty fish.

For me, I am looking for different things.  If I ask the sushi chefs what kind of sushi they have fresh that day that isn't on the menu and they look confused, I know I'm in the wrong place, for me.  When the spicy tuna is made spicy with mayonnaise, I know I'm in the wrong place, for me.  And when I'm the only person sitting at the bar and they make everything for me at once and put it on a giant plate, its disappointing.  And most of all, when you put tempura into a simple spicy tuna roll without me asking, I REALLY know I'm in the wrong place.  Why does anyone like that taste of deep fried in their sushi?  To me, its the opposite of sushi.

That said, the fish was all good.  And the sushi sandwiches (they look like little club sandwich triangles) looked beautiful and the rolls were all lovely looking and I know many people who would give a four or five star to Fatty Fish, but for me it was just good,  not great.

Really enjoyed this fun quirky space downtown. If you need a place to host a private event, it has a great energy, almost like being in an old fantastic apartment of someone who lived a fascinating life.

It feels homey, lived in, a bit beat up, and full of stories.  

And how much fun is it to tell people you're having your party at 'The Wolly'  and then tell them its located in a fantastic historic building?  Right?

I'm kind of a snob when it comes to greek food because my best friend is Cypriot and his family makes the worlds greatest food and knows the best restaurants.  I generally wont eat Greek outside of Astoria because its usually just not worth it.  

But now I've found my first Manhattan Greek restaurant that I feel can rightfully call themselves a Greek restaurant.

The tzanziki was delicious.  The octopus salad is perfect.  It should have a ray of moonlight follow it to the table.  THAT GOOD.  The Sheftalia was really good, although tasted a touch more middle eastern than greek.

And they have Pork Souvlakia!   Its really hard to even find pork souvlakia.  Don't get the chicken, the pork is so much better!  Is it as good as we make at home?  No, but nobody's is.  But its much better than any other 'greek' restaurant in Manhattan.  The salads are great too.  

The only low point was the Bronzino. Just not what I expect from an otherwise yummy Greek restaurant.  

My advice?  Skip the main course and just till the table with starters. Next time I have to try the dessert. I hear they have galaktapouriko.