VILLAGE TAVERNA

A rainy cold night in Greenwich Village looking for somewhere to dine is not easy. But we lucked out and the place looked crowded which is a sign of a successful tasty restaurant.  The only accommodation was at the bar - but as long as we can order our dinner and eat at the bar, we really don't mind.

Above is the bar area we sat down to order.

About 30 minutes later, my order arrived. This is the shrimp kabob which comes with a salad a a choice of your side order.

My side order was the vegetable rice below.

This is plenty of food. But you can take it back home. I'm having mine for lunch or make some lamb chops with my rice and left over vegetable. I can't wait!

1. Village Taverna
   $$ • Greek Restaurant • 1.9 mi
2. 81 University Pl, New York, NY 10003
3. (212) 982-3457
4. Open today · 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

PIZZA ROLLIO #pizzarollio

This is a new restaurant at The Plaza Hotel's Food Court in the Plaza Hotel's basement by Centrak Park in Nee York City.

This is not your ordinary pizza.  It's like a cracker that has crisp edge and soft by the center. They serve their pizza sliced diagonally to make rectangles about an inch wide so you can roll them when you eat it. Hence Pizza Rollio.

Their most popular order is the Big Bang Supreme which has pancetta, ham, pepperoni, onion, mushroom and mozzarella.  This order comes with a little bit of arugula and greens you assemble on top of each slice then roll to eat. It reminds me of a fresh Philippine egg roll using a thin dough similar to an Italian Piadina - a very thin Italian bread that you heat in very hot oven or toaster oven  to put cold cuts on and eat.

Since I can already visualize the flavor, I opted for Imeldific - their pizza version with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) which is not really that spicy. It just has a little spike. This pizza Rollio has some dab of secret cream they first bake in their hot oven and then some mentaiko spread here and there which creates the flavor.  It also has some peeled slices of cucumbers, and sparingly sprinkled with minced or chopped chives.  You roll each slice to eat it but it doesn't come with greens.  To me this was more like an appetizer portion but it tasted very good.

They added a new salad in the me in this afternoon which is arugula with  some slices of smoked salmon served with a mustard dressing which reminded me of the Scandinavian gravlax sauce , only less thick.

The place is innovative using existing ingredients modified to create a new look and it works!  Perhaps, I could rate this with 1 more star if not for the hefty price considering the fact that I am not being waited on. 

At least if you are staying away from carbs, this may be your answer to the usual pizza.  But to me this is more of a cracker than a thin pizza with a softer center. It's a melting pot or fusion of fresh Asian roll, Italian pizza and other ideas from other nations like the gravlax dressing instead of a sauce on one's salad mixed into one dish.

THE PLAZA FOOD COURT #theplazafoodhall

One East 59th Street, New York, NY 10019

Market Hours:

10:00AM-9:30PM

Sun 11AM-6PM

MAMAN - French Cafe

I had to come here as a Francophile! They did not disappoint me.  I now vote that MAMAN had the best most buttery, flackiest croissant and very light ever yet. Even better than most Parisian croissant.

I just could not stop with 1 croissant - since I could not, I had to buy 2 of the plain ones and a chocolate croissant to take home.

I saw the raspberry tarte as well. I wish I could eat bit as well.

I did have Maman's croque Monsieur with bechamel sauce.  It was very French as well. I was enjoying it that this all the piece I had left when I remembered to shoot a picture of it.

The squash soup was smooth. No photo in that as well but the chocolate chip cookies were large, chewy and crisp outside. 

 It just came out of the oven so the chocolate pieces ministered still swirling at every bite.

I wonder what it would be like to have dinner here?  Unfortunately it is a real cafe serving only light breakfast and lunch type meals. Dinner would be so wonderful!

Specials for the day are written on the mirror.

I need to tell you to order their latte. It's so good!

Superb!

MAMAN

Maman, 239 Centre Street (between Grand & Broome), mamannyc.com.

THE BOATHOUSE in Central Park NYC

A great get away even Monet would love. The setting is pretty by the lake where boat rentals are accessible to set the mood.

Whether you are spending money in the main restaurant or the snack bar, it's a picture perfect place.

We opted for the light sandwiches and iced coffee. The prices are very reasonable.

If you want to be outside closer to the lake by the paddle boat rowers you pay a little bit more for food but you get a real menu like omelettes.

They also have a piano bar.

The Loeb Central Park Boathouse
East 72nd Street and 5th Avenue, New York, NY
Monday12:00 – 3:45 pmTuesday12:00 – 3:45 pmWednesday12:00 – 3:45 pmThursday12:00 – 3:45 pmFriday12:00 – 3:45 pmSaturday9:30 am – 4:00 pmSunday9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Menu:

viewmenu.com

VILLAGIO #Italian

This is a perfect place to see and to be seen restaurant (it's in Central Park South) with good "home-type" Italian food. 

This just opened this year located just west  of Fifth Avenue where many tourists flock to see Central Park and walk around shopping. It is definitely a place to be seen and to see who may walk by or may be in the restaurant.

Above, we were served with breads as you have decided to stay for lunch.  A basket of assorted breads and herbed thin bread plus crisp cracker-type bread were paired with a little bowl if chopped seasoned tomatoes.  I guess it's to make bruschetta with the breads.

Their vongole is an excellent choice. The  clams were fresh and the pasta was cooked al dente. Authentically prepared the Italian way, one may opt for the tomato kind if you want.

Their Ceasar Salad is generously prepared with the Parmesan cheese and anchovies which we requested!

We shared the salad. This was my half.

So far, it has been a very good experience for me. They are new in NYC and I welcome them!

VILLAGIO 

• 40 Central Park S, New York 10019
• (Btwn 6th Ave & Grand Army Plaza)
• villagiorestaurants.com/locations.php
  Villagio On the Park New York, NY 40 Central Park South New York, NY 10019. Tel: (212) 369-4000.
• 
  

Waffled Grilled Cheese Breakfast

INGREDIENTS:

Good quality brioche bread slices 3/4 inch thick.

Block of very good sharp cheese (I used Beecher's - originally from Seattle but also now in NYC)

Melted butter

Serrano ham or prosciutto slices

Good quality eggs

Belgian Waffle machine

DIRECTIONS:

First you butter one side of the bread. Then you put slices of cheese on top - about 1/4 inch thick on the unbuttered  side.   Top it with the slice of buttered slice of bread, buttered-side up.

Put in a pre-heated Belgian waffle maker and cook for about 2-3 minutes till golden brown with some dark brown waffle edges are formed.

You can eat it as is like above or serve it as the base of your sunny side egg and ham/prosciutto/Serrano ham on top for breakfast.

Above was my breakfast this morning - plus half a chocolate croissant from my favorite Eric Kayser boulangerie/Patisserie.

PARIS IN NEW YORK #EricKayser

Since Eric Kayser's French pastry shop opened in the Upper Eastside, I fell in love with the place.

Not only are the pastries consistently of high quality and delectable, their croissants are very light and airy.

My favorites are the chocolate croissants, plain croissants and pleiae.  Pleiae are like long and thinner croissants with much more chocolate inside.

I usually buy a few of these to warm up in the oven at about 300 degrees F for 8 minutes. Perfect like fresh from the oven.

I also eat my late lunches over there.

Besides the cheesy onion soup, I enjoy the tabbouleh salad with shrimp.  It's my substitute for a sandwich.

The shrimp is served with green harrisa spicy sauce under.

Now there are a few of these around the city.

#EricKayser, #Frenchfood

#NewYorkRestaurantWeek - CLEMENT

There is a new Chef at The Peninsula Hotel's restaurant Clement.  This week is New York's Summer Restaurant Week and I have just had lunch at this wonderful special place.

Of course as it is in The Peninsula Hotel, expect the best decor and ambience.

You ascend the dramatic staircase from the entrance to Clement.

Above, a room where you can wait at the top if the staircase.

Or wait at the bar area with some drinks 

The dining area is large with a semi-private area at the end if one were to hold an initimate private gathering.  But to come right down what they have to offer for Restaurant Week:

Above is the warm corn salad with blueberries which I ordered ...

But the peakey toe crab in watermelon gazpacho looked so good when it came; that I would like to return to try.

The main dish I ordered was the seabass perfectly fried then served with a very light broth they poured in.

Above is the braised short ribs that our friend raved about which melted in her mouth.  That makes it two reasons for me to return!

There is a choice of 2 desserts.  Mine was their interpretation of the S'Mores.  The graham cracker is the wafer you see with some chocolate and the marshmallow is under that's been flames to melt and brown on top if a rich chocolate fudgy base. This is served with a mini scoop of vanilla ice cream. (Tastes like vanilla to me)

Or you can choose their light version of a strawberry shortcake pictured above.

They have other main course options including a vegetarian dish made with pasta.  This wonderful lunch at $25 plus tax and tip was a steal by any standard even abroad - and I have traveled!

But a good information to know is that they offer a Pre-Theater $43 prix-fixed 3-course menu plus shuttle service to the theater district; but reservations for the shuttle must be made by 12PM the day of the show.

THE CLEMENT

The Peninsula Hotel

700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street,

New York, NY 10019

#NewThaiRestaurant PEAK THAI

This restaurant opened a few months ago.  I finally tried it for lunch today.

This a small neighborhood restaurant that offers authentic Thai food.  Their menue has some additional choice that I have not had from previous Thai restaurant.  I like their take on the duck with spicy basil sauce which offers a healthy lunch with enough protein and vegetables:

The above duck dish was sautéed with onions and green beans.  I detect a bit of salty fish mixed in - sort of an anchovy taste.  I happen to like it. 

The order comes with a small salad and a fried Spring roll.

The place is open 7 days a week. Lucky for those who live within 3 blocks, they have another take out place in the neighborhood.  Good thing they also accept credit cards but with a minimum of $15 and they deliver for a minimum of $10.  Not only are they reasonably priced for everyday meals,  it's also clean.

PEAK THAI RESTAURANT

301 E 49th St., NYC, NY 10017

1-646-454-1333

1-646-454-0094

ABBOTEGA #NorthernItalian, #Restaurant

This is down the south-most part of the West Village.

After trying the Vietnamese influenced food stop at Varrick st., I bumped into this Northern Italian little restaurant.  I couldn't resist passing it up so I decided to stay for a small dessert.  Looking at the menu, it was described as a chocolate flan with white ganache. I was lead to believe it was like a cake with chocolate inside.  But to call it a flan is far fetched.  This is really a Jean George copy if his "lava cake" which is a light chocolate cake with liquid center.

At this restaurant, they decided to serve it over a white chocolate ganache with some sweet crumbled cookies like biscotti or maybe a meringue. Overall, it made the dessert too sweet for me.  It would have been better served with chantilly sauce or zabaglione.

The place has charm and the street is one of my favorite quiet neighborhoods in the city.

It has a local charm about to it which attracted me to stay.  Judging from the menu and the late lunch the staff was having, I plan to go back and try their lunch or dinner.  They serve Northern Italian  food and their prices for the main course seem reasonable.

This restaurant has several branches in Milan and their first in New York City. They said they soon will open one in Miami, Florida.

ABBOTTEGA

14 Bedford Street, New York, NY 

+1(212)675-9080

FRENCH CAFE - #LeMoulainCafe

My friend had mentioned to me that some people she knows who live in this neighborhood rave about this place.

I can see why.  They have wonderful pastries and a light lunch menu.  However, to me only the pastries are remarkable.

The usual croque Monsieur and croque Madame are again on the menu including the salad Nicoise.  Some other competition serve more than these items at their French cafés.

The ambience is nice:

The pastries look fine. Therefore, I had to veer out of the usual French choice. I picked their Vietnamese inspired sandwich baguette. It's just a sandwich.  Maybe I should have picked the small sandwiches in their glass case found upfront in the glass case instead.

But at least. The price was right.

When it came to the croissants, they were competitively priced. I hope the croissants I bought  pass the test tomorrow when I have it for breakfast.

It's a gem of am addition to the area. I don't think though if I will go out of my way to eat here when i can find things here at any French cafe in the city. The pastries are good but the lunch is average to me so far.

Here's the lunch menu:

Le Moulain Cafe

1349 York Avenue

New York, NY 10079

RUSS & DAUGHTERS CAFE #smokedsalmon

As a regular customer at their over 100 years old store in the Lower Eastside where I buy the best smoked salmon and herring available in the city, I remembered to stop by their new cafe a couple of blocks away south of their store.

It looks like a glamorous diner all sleek and clean.  The daughter recognized me and was pleased I stopped by to try.  I had her describe the items so I could decide what to order.

I am happy with their borscht. 

It is a little thick but really delicious.  No skimping in the ingredients used served with a light crisp pumpernickel or was it rye bread?

The green salad was very light with baby kale, frisée, capers and dill.  Very healthy!

I chose the hot and cold smoked salmon spread served with their homemade waffle potato fries.  This was excellent!  Very good a still reasonably priced.

As a dessert, I opted for the chocolate egg cream.  It was just a bit thicker than I wanted.  It was more like a milk shake.  But the bar tender was kind enough to add more seltzer when I wanted it watered down.

I want to go back again to try their fish chowder next time.

In case you like alcohol, yes they do serve wine and hard drinks too.  They also make their own non-alcoholic beverages - about 5 kinds.

RUSS & DAUGHTERS CAFE

127 Irchard St., New Yirk, NY 10002

(212) 475-4881