I’m going to be honest about something.

The only reason I came to Smith and Wollensky is because it was featured on The Devil Wears Prada.

Otherwise, I couldn’t care less about your run-of-the-mill steakhouse.

Was my Filet Au Poivre cooked to perfection? Yes.

Was my Manhattan perfectly prepared (not really). But was the split pea soup the best dish of the night??

YES!

Even Miranda Priestly would be hard pressed finding fault in that silky bowl of green puke heaven.

797 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10022
b/t 49th St & 50th St
Midtown East
(212) 753-1530
smithandwollenskynyc.com

Stuffed Brune Landaise Chicken (for 2)
butternut squash, ginger, spinach fricassée
72.

I ate here back in June and completely forgot to write about it. What is wrong with me??

Only when I just walked by the joint a second ago did I realize I never blogged about this lovely and pricey poulty-centric restaurant.

Le Coq Rico has a varied menu all featuring some sort of foul as the star and instead of choosing one of the 6 whole roasted birds (the cheapest was $98 bucks!), we chose a stuffed Brune Landaise chicken for two (for $72 bucks).

The portion was enormous (we took home leftovers) and the starter we choose was this incredibly rich egg and mushroom dish which was as unique as it was fantastic.

Now, unlike some folks, I’m not opposed to ordering chicken at restaurants. I don’t mind spending a certain amount for this simple bird to be prepared deliciously. But I’m not spending $100 bucks for one. Sorry Le Coq.

At least the stuffed bird we ordered had some obvious labor going into it’s preparation. It didn’t stuff itself!

What the hell is Brune Landaise, you ask? Well, let me Google it so I can explain it to your lazy ass.

Actually, since I’m pretty lazy myself, I’m just going to copy and paste what I just found on a NY Post article:

“The restaurant’s top bird is the Brune Landaise — a prized breed from les Landes in southwest France’s Gascony region that Daguin introduced to the US a few years ago, and which she now procures from Mennonite farmers in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. A close cousin is the rare Plymouth Barred Rock, which is distinguished by its red comb and is also on the menu at Le Coq Rico.

All of this makes for a bird that’s not only especially delicious but also uniquely nutritious.”

Another selling point is the birds at Le Coq Rico get the luxury of surviving this cruel world for 120 days before they’re executed, unlike your typical organic chicken (85 days) or the bottom of the barrel supermarket one (40 days).

Basically, these chickens have led marvelous long lives before they’re murdered. Which makes these homicide victims much more yummier.

Negroni For Two

“EGGZ”
Slow Cooked
duck egg, baby spinach, chanterelle mushrooms,
lemon & cream emulsion
17.

Stuffed Brune Landaise Chicken (for 2)
butternut squash, ginger, spinach fricassée
72.

Let’s face it, many of the dishes at Nur are not very photogenic. They are NOT ready for their close-up, Mister Demille!

In fact, one of the entrees we ordered, “Turkish Delight on the Hudson”, looked more like the eerie landscape of some alien planet, replete with killer plants and a lava-spewing volcano (see pic above)!

That being said (typed), the food was inventive and delicious! I want to go back and order it all again!

The breads are where you get the most for your money (because you’re obviously here on a budget) and the loaf of honey garlic challah is sizable and can be eaten with any number of the dishes you order.

The Eggplant Carpaccio was nice but definitely overpriced (there I go again, talking about money. So crude.)

If you do want a lot of bang for your buck, the Horias are definitely worth an order. Two nice sized pitas crammed with delectable lamb kebab.

Instead of ordering any of their more traditional but tasty looking meat entrees, we chose the Turkish Delight on the Hudson.

This is certainly one of the most unusual but delightful dishes I’ve ever had in my entire life. Per my earlier comment about it looking like some alien landscape, please note that the dirt was actually coffee and the volcano was foie gras! It’s pricey at $39 but since you’re not here for the $1 menu, go ahead and order it.

Since I obviously have no class and cannot stop talking about money, let’s just say an evening at Nur will set you back a pretty penny. Choose it for a special date night, an anniversary or maybe your last meal on earth after your doctor just handed you some terrible news.

34 E 20th St
New York, NY 10003
b/t Broadway & S Park Ave
Flatiron
(212) 505-3420
nurnyc.com

MIDDLE EASTERN BREAKFAST
VODKA, LIME, CUCUMBER, HARISSA, SPICES
$15

HONEY AND GARLIC CHALLAH
CURED ONION AND CRÈME FRAICHE
$10

HORIAS
LAMB KEBAB GRILLED IN PITA, EGGPLANT, AMBA, AND MARKET SALAD
$17

SMOKED EGGPLANT CARPACCIO
FIRE ROASTED WITH FETA, RAW TAHINI, DATES, PISTACHIOS, ROSE WATER
$19

TUNA CEVICHE PANIPURI
YUZU BUTTERMILK FOAM, DRIED APRICOTS, ALMONDS, HABANERO
$16

TURKISH DELIGHT ON THE HUDSON
SEARED FOIE GRAS, RHUBARB, FIGS, HONEY LAVENDER YOGURT, COFFEE
$39

Complimentary Treats

La Esquina is a uber casual eatery that has taken over a really old diner and it serves slightly expensive but really flavorful Mexican fare.

The place is threefold: tacos to-go, casual café inside and outdoor seating and then a bar downstairs.

The tacos come in two’s (for the price, they should serve 3) but the lamb barbacoa is awesome! If I was the type of person to say “awesome sauce”, I would. But I would NEVER say that, so just forget the whole thing.

But the best thing on the menu (besides the awesome sauce, dammit, I mean quite tasty Mexican street corn) is the Carnitas Torta.

I usually don’t go for tortas, the bread is too bready and all the shit falls out with the first bite.

Not this one! The bread was light and airy and perfectly grilled and the contents were minimal but packed with aweso….great flavor!

114 Kenmare St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Mulberry St & Mott St
SoHo
(646) 613-7100
esquinanyc.com

Street Corn and Michelada

Carnitas Torta

Lamb Barbacoa Tacos

Eggplant Dip with Market Vegetables

Jessica Koslow is one of LA’s most popular chefs who took a simple concept (delicious things on toast) and ran straight to the bank with it.

Did Jessica single-handedly start the Avocado Toast craze? Is she fully to blame for tricking LA into shoving carbs into their six-pack-coated bellies again?? If so, hat’s off to you, Ms. Koslow!

Tonight, Jessica was the resident chef at the Seaport Foodlab, a sort of pop-up restaurant located in the South Street Seaport featuring 8 chefspreparing delicious tasting menus from July through October. Hint: the Seaport Foodlab ended on 10/11, so try not to hate me for being so late in writing this blog.

The theme of tonight’s tasting menu were the Israeli dishes that Jessica was planning on service at her forthcoming LA restaurant.

While everything was delicious (yes, I’m one of those bloggers who just says they love everything to avoid death threats) my favorite items were the roasted cabbage, the rice dish with pickled rose hips, dill and schmaltz and that unique and life-changing dessert.

It was this strange and wonderful labne milk custard with honey-braised stone fruit, Sqirl’s famous preserves and turmeric flavored millet jack.

What the hell is millet jack, you ask?? I have NO clue but I’m obsessed with it.

Why Jessica has not yet opened up a NYC restaurant is truly beyond me but since LA has been stealing so many of NYC most treasured eateries, it’s high time we take a few of our own. Sqirl, I’m talking to you!

Turmeric Tonic

Frisee Salad, Beecher’s Cheddar & Dukkah

Crispy Jerusalem Artichokes with Barbere

Fried Quail in Schwarma Spices

Oven Roasted Cabbage, Avocado Seed Tahini, Puffed Meyer Lemon, Kraut Powder

Koda Farm Rice, Pickled Rose Hips, Dill & Schmaltz

Braised Tomatoes, Pomegranate Molasses and Walnut Sauce

Passamore Ranch Sturgeon, Hulba, Green Sahawek and Smoked Santa Rosa Plums

Malabi – Labne Milk Custard with Honey Braised Stone Fruit, Sqirl Preserves & Turmeric Millet Jack

I remember seeing a picture of this mouth watering breakfast sandwich on Instagram and could not get one iota of sleep until it was deep in my the darkest pits of my disgusting stomach.

While the sandwich was very delicious, it could have been a few bucks cheaper. However, if this place was located in Manhattan, it would have probably cost nearly $20. So, in summary, I should just shut my face.

The Sticky Bun was definitely worth getting. You could share it with a friend….but let’s face it, you’re starving and that friend is sort of annoying, am I right??

348 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11249
Williamsburg – South Side
(347) 222-6722
sundayinbrooklyn.com

Pecan Sticky Bun / 6

Egg & Sausage, Gochujang Aioli, Crispy Potato, Cheddar, Brioche / 13

Cheddar Scramble, Two Eggs, Long Island Home Fries, Choice Of Breakfast Sausage Or Avocado / 14

This place is NOT good.

The only reason I’m wasting time writing a blog about it is that it’s located on a really nifty hidden street specializing in outdoor dining.

Never having been to this part of FiDi before, I stumbled upon William street, one of the oldest streets in Manhattan and all the ancient buildings are now really bad restaurants with really awesome outdoor seating, perfect for a sunny afternoon brunch or evening booze fest.

Just don’t expect much from the food….

The pretzel balls were hard and dry and contained the sad remnants of dehydrated cheese. They were once fresh, back in George Washington’s day. In fact, these may have been part of his original order and the waiter just found these hidden behind some crumbling brick wall in the basement. They should be in a museum, not in my stomach!

Everything else was just blah. I don’t even want to waste words on it!

Which just kills me because the space is so perfect for eating and imbibing outdoors. It almost pisses me off that the food isn’t better.

19 S William St
New York, NY 10004
b/t Beaver St & Mill Ln
Financial District
(212) 480-8142

http://bavariabarnyc.com/index.html#home

Stuffed Pretzel Balls – $8

Sausage and Fries

Pork Schnitzel Sandwich – $16

LAMB ROGAN JOSH
lamb leg, yogurt, kashmiri red chili, saffron

Junoon is an upscale Indian restaurant that’s been around the block. It’s sort of a bit of a throwback to the Sex and the City era of fancy restaurants. Early 00’s Pan-Asian chic décor, albeit a bit run down along the edges, some Buddhar Bar CD playing in the background, everything a little sexier than it needs to be. So basically, as Samantha Jones would say, Fabulous!

The food is pricey but delicious.

Normally, the basic tasting menu is $80 but during Restaurant Week, it’s only $42 (minus 1 or 2 courses) but it’s still a ton of food for a great deal.

There wasn’t a single thing that we ordered that we didn’t love so instead of boring you with details, just take a gander down below and see if anything strikes your fancy.

Something else fun is Junoon’s Game of Thrones inspired cocktails, I had two and they were both strong and delicious. Just like Jon Snow.

27 W 24th St
New York, NY 10010
b/t 5th Ave & 6th Ave
Flatiron
(212) 490-2100
junoonnyc.com

White Walker – Game of Thrones Inspired Cocktail

ARYA STARK
Brockmans Gin, Japanese umeshu fruit wine, lime, homemade spiced plum compote
$16

GHOST CHILI MURGH TIKKA
tandoor chicken thigh, cabbage slaw, cashew puree, cashew crumble

EGGPLANT CHAAT
crispy eggplant, raita, tamarind chutney, red onion, chaat masala

MURG LABABDAR
tandoor grilled chicken, tomato sauce, fenugreek

SAFFRON SHRIKHAND
green cardamom, candied spiced almonds

DUO OF KULFI
Mango and Pistachio

Nix is a fantastic new Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant that oozes a ton of sex appeal.

I can’t believe I just typed “sex appeal”. 80’s alert! Cue the Vidal Sassoon commercial!

Instead of back peddling on this whole “Sex Appeal-Gate”, let’s just focus on the food and drink.

Both are fantastic (and sexy).

The highlights are the Cauliflower Tempura and the Wok-Roasted Golden Tomatoes. Both bursting with flavor and super fun.

Also make sure you order a dip and some fantastic tandoor bread.

The Pea Dumplings were nice but the Pan Roasted Gnocchi came out nearly cold and light on the promised corn and jalapeno flavors.

The cocktails were quite nice but we both preferred the Baja over the Playa II.

The prices are steep (especially that cold gnocchi for $27!) so come here on a date or an anniversary.

Any event where you want the star of the show to be the SEX APPEAL.

72 University Pl
New York, NY 10003
b/t 10th St & 11th St
Greenwich Village
(212) 498-9393
nixny.com

Baja $14
Fresh mango, paprika, lime, tequila
Playa II $15
Fresh watermelon juice, reposado tequila, champagne foam

Tandoor Bread ($6) and Red Pepper Walnut Dip ($5)

Wok roasted sungold tomatoes, sunflower seeds & banyuls vinaigrette 12

Pan roasted potato gnocchi, zucchini, corn, jalapeño & mint 27

Pea dumplings, radish, ginger & scallion oil 17

Cauliflower tempura with steamed buns & house pickles 18

I’ll have to admit. I was both confused and bored with Atla’s menu, when I was first perusing it online.

I noticed lots of fish options (which I always equate to healthy more than yummy) and I envisioned overpriced and pretentious small plates.

And I’m fine with all of that except for the SMALL part.

But I was pleasantly surprised, no, I was pleasantly shocked at how delicious everything was!

The two highlights were certainly the Arctic Char Tostada (speaking of small, this is a single serving situation) but definitely order the Fish Milanese for the table. Just for that sauce – such delicious lime cucumber mayhem. A more reserved, refined mayhem.

Definitely not a cheap affair, Atla is the perfect place to take your well-to-do pescatarians who might generally have a sizeable stick up their a** but occasionally take it out when the food is good enough.

Trust me, this food is stick-up-ass removable good. Yes, that’s a thing, poor grammar aside.

372 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10012
b/t Great Jones St & Bond St
NoHo
atlanyc.com

Arctic Char Tostada

Mushroom Quesadilla

Fish Milanese