Showing posts with label deals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deals. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Angry Wade's Will Make You Anything but Angry

...unless of course your team is playing poorly.

Angry Wade's, on the corner of Smith and Butler Streets, is such a "throwback" that it doesn't even have its own website. A veteran of Smith Street for 12 years, Angry Wade's remains a traditional sports bar unlike the newer yuppie and hipster bars that have popped up throughout the area in recent years. True to its roots, Angry Wade's is home to a long dark wood bar and rickety barstools, like any other dive sports bar in America. Even if there isn't a game, you can entertain yourself by enjoying the coin operated pool table or throw some darts.

With six flat screen TVs, and the beginning of baseball season, it is the perfect place to cheer your for your team. Sit at the bar with a buddy or gather your group at a table near the fireplace, order some munchies, a draft beer, and cheer on. The bar menu includes traditional bar food such as wings, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, jalapeƱo poppers, waffle fries, White Castle sliders, Tombstone pizzas, and the ever popular free popcorn. Each item is $6 or less, except the large pizza which is $9.

The fully stocked bar has a great selection of draft beers including Blue Moon, Brooklyn Lager, Guiness, Magic Hat, Stella Artois, and Bass, just to name a few. There is also an extensive list of whiskey and scotch, thirty different varieties to be exact, ranging in price from $7 to $35 a glass.

Angry Wade's happy hour specials are among the best in the neighborhood. On Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, draft beers and well drinks are 50% off. Now that's a happy hour.

Subway Directions: Take the F or G to Bergen Street then walk four blocks South on Smitih Street. The single story brick building on the corner is Angry Wade's. Enjoy.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Ethos - Greek food in Kips Bay

I have visited Ethos two times in the past four months, which is out of character for me. I tend to like trying new places often, but sometimes it's just best to go with what you know. Ethos is a traditional Greek restaurant in Kips Bay. However, it is no diner. This is Greek dining at it's finest.

The first time I visited to Ethos was for my 25th birthday party in November with eight of my nearest and dearest. I chose Ethos because of it's vegetarian friendly options, reasonable prices, and willingness to accommodate nine people on less than two weeks notice (my bad). The second time I dined at Ethos I went with just my boyfriend for a date night.

There is no bar at Ethos so diners who are waiting for a table have to wait outside or get really friendly near the door. Luckily, the host seated the first to arrive from my party, which wasn't even me. Our table quickly filled up as did the rest of the restaurant. There is not a lot of space to move around in Ethos, so once you are sitting, I suggest staying seated. Favorite dishes from the many ordered were the appetizer plate of olives, the tsaziki sauce, and the fried calamari. We also enjoyed the eggplant dish, lamb kebab, and grilled jumbo shrimp. They also have fresh whole fish to chose from and an assortment of Greek wines and beers. Dessert is always on the house (or at least it was for me) and is a delicious Greek pastry filled with creamy goodness. It is even possible to escape from Ethos on a Saturday night after an hour and a half having spent much less than what you would at comparable Turquoise on the UES.

The great thing about going to Ethos is I know I will be greeted by friendly waiters and served delicious food. I definitely want to visit during the warmer months as they have two garage doors facing the street that I have a feeling will be open to let the cool evening breezes flow through the restaurant, making it feel even more like an escape to Greece (which I someday hope to actually do).

Friday, August 28, 2009

Carvel

I haven't been to Carvel in what feels like forever. I don't know why but I was craving a "Flying Saucer" (a fancy ice cream sandwich). So, I stopped into Carvel #2185 in Bridgehampton, NY, went to the freezer, grabbed a package of 6 already made Flying Saucers with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles of course, and took them home. I enjoyed, immensely. I cannot wait to eat the rest that are sitting in my freezer. My suggestion, invite 5 friends over for a Flying Saucer feast. Enjoy!

Townline BBQ

Townline BBQ is a Texas take-out style barbecue joint located on Townline Road (I wonder how they got their name) in Sagaponack, NY on the East End of Long Island. Townline BBQ is completely unpretentious so feel free to show up ready to get messy, because you will have BBQ sauce dripping down to your elbows.

To get to Townline BBQ take Montauk Highway (East or West, depending where you're coming from). If you're taking the highway West, then Townline BBQ will be on your left immediately after Wainscott. If you're taking the highway East, then it will be on your right right before you enter Wainscott and after passing the Poxabogue Golf Course on your left. You can't miss it, seriously, it's the only building on the edge of a farm (so East End). There is a parking lot and street parking but also feel free to ride your bike if you live or are staying close by.

As I mentioned before, this is a Texas take-out style joint, which means first, that the ribs are dry rubbed (omgosh amazing) and not wet and smothered (you do that yourself with their homemade sauces) and second, that there are no waiters, you order at a counter, and the food comes on a try in plastic and paper containers. Townline is a pretty busy place, so make sure you have someone holding or waiting for a booth while the food is being ordered at the counter. Also, make sure your booth is clean. The second time I visited Townline the bus person neglected to clean my table and so I self-served it, which was slightly irritating.

The interior is all wooden and country feeling with a large center communal table usually overcrowded with people under the age of 10. If you chose to eat outside there are picnic tables on the back patio overlooking the farmland. There is a full service bar on one side with good happy hour specials, a pool table, a dart board, and a giant flat screen displaying whatever sporting event happens to be on at the moment. The most expensive thing on the menu is the full rack of 12 ribs (I got 13 once!) at a reasonable price of $25. Keep in mind this is enough food for two or three people. The sides are all under $5 and the desserts are all under $4. You will not break the bank here, yet another good reason to keep coming back for more. Townline is open weekdays from 11:30am to 10:00pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day (closed Tuesday and Thursday between Labor Day and Memorial Day) and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturdy nights. With hours like that, you have absolutely no excuse not to go here.

You cannot go to Townline BBQ and not order the ribs, unless of course you don't eat pork, then you can order the giant beef short rib or chicken. They even have a vegetarian chili and meat free sides for you vegetarians out there who go to BBQ places to confuse everyone. I haven't tried anything else but the ribs and I don't plan on doing so becuase the ribs are so mouthwateringly delicious. I have daydreams about them, no I am not kidding. I'm sure one of the secret ingredients in the rib rub is a highly addictive drug, and that's why I keep wanting to go back for more. Not to mention, the baked beans are so flavorful that a fight might break out over who gets the last bite. The corn on the cob is slathered in sweet butter and is cooked to a perfect popping crunch. The fried mac and cheese while tasty, was too fried and not enough mac and cheese for my taste. I would have liked it better had it not been fried (and yes I know that defeats the whole purpose of fried mac and cheese). The cole slaw was pretty general as cole slaw goes, nothing outstanding but not bad either, although you do get a lot of it. I can't give you any desert suggestions as I've always been so completely stuffed by that point, but I can tell you that the desserts sitting on the counter have received many an alluring stare from others in my party.

One of the smartest things I have ever seen, is a hand washing station in the main dining area so that you don't leave with sticky fingers. I would like to point out that the water is the perfect temperature.

The last thing I will say about Townline BBQ is regarding their attempt at being "green". While I cannot properly comment on their behind the scenes efforts, their attempt was kind of schizophrenic. The drink cups are bio-friendly, but the plastic utensils and food containers aren't. This seems a bit contradictory to me, but maybe there is something going on that I don't know about. If it were me attempting to have a "green" restaurant (and keep in mind I'm not sure if this is even one of their goals), I would make sure all the plastics were vegetable based from the cups to the utensils to the containers. By no means is this a deal breaker for me, and it is definitely a better attempt than most take out places, the inconsistency just seems odd.

That being said, I cannot wait to go back to Townline BBQ (and I just ate their last night) for another round of ribs and baked beans, and maybe I'll save room for dessert the next time.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A Mid-Week Girl's Date - CiaoBella

Mid-week is a great time to go to restaurants in NYC. There are plenty of tables available and the setting is more serene and less bustly, and you can still get the same great food likely with more attentive service.

Tuesday night I went with a girl friend of mine who I haven't hung out with one on one in a while to a CiaoBella, a delicious Italian restaurant on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 85th Street. I ambled past this restaurant on a prvious Friday night and noticed every seat on the patio and in the dining room was filled and every table covered in yummy looking food. On Tuesday, there were only 4 other tables occupied at 9:30pm when we dined.

The main dining room has a very luxurious feel with crystal chandeliers adorning the ceilng and burgundy walls with mohogany wood accents. Each table is meticulously set with white tablecloths, which always makes for an elegant looking restaurant. European lounge music played quietly ensuring there was no empty silence in the dining room. The service was so eager (probably due to the lack of patrons) that we had three separate servers ask us for our drink order all in a period of 5 minutes. At least we know the servers won't let customers go thirsty or hungry.

On to the food! The bread and sun dried tomato "pesto" that comes with dinner is divine. We enjoyed it so much we asked for a second basket! Our arugula salad with carmelized walnuts and apples almost made us fall out of our chairs. I've had this salad before, but never quite this perfect, every flavor bounced off the other like an echo. I realized that I probably should have ordered my own instaed of splitting, even though there was plenty for each of us with just the one order. We each ordered our own pasta, the papardalle with veal and mushrooms and the goat cheese and spinach ravioli. Both were flavorful and rich without being heavy, which is always a plus. I can't wait to try more of their pasta dishes, especially the seasonal special lobster ravioli.

Let's talk price. I found CiaoBella to be very reasonable. The wines by the glass ranged from $10-$15 (there was also an extensive wine list which I failed to read) while the salad and antipasta topped out at a reasonable $17 for larger sharable plates. The normal size portioned pasta plates ranged from $14-$21. The entrees ranged from $21-$28 and consisted of various fish and meats. I will definitely be going to CiaoBella again on a weekend, with a reservation to ensure that I get a table. On busy nights, they open the upstairs dining room and balcony in addition to the patio and main dining room.

I heard through the grapevine, not from the restaurant directly, that CiaoBella makes their own gelato which I'm sure is heavenly, but I was so full from the pasta and copious amounts of bread, that I unfortunately did not get to try it this time. Next time for sure, because there definitely will be a next time.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Friday Night Date Night on the UES - Dinner and a Movie

What's your perfect date? For me, a perfect date is nothing more than dinner and a movie with some frozen yogurt on the walk home. I know it sounds boring, but it really is a go-to special.

Friday night in NYC is a very busy night. People are out eating, drinking, gallivanting... you name it, people are doing it. Obviously, Friday night is so busy because for the many NYC 9-5ers (alas I am not one) there is no work on Saturday allowing for the well-deserved sleep-in. My boyfriend, Mike, and I decided that we needed a date night, despite my previous nights gallivanting and not getting to bed until 3am and then getting up for work at 6:45am (this is why Friday is much more popular).

We started with dinner at Jasmine on 84th and 2nd. Jasmine is your typical Thai restaurant with nothing outstanding or outlandish. We were seated in prime table location by the open glass paned doors which is perfect for people watching. The only downside of our table was that the staff kept walking past us for access to the shoddy outside patio (I do not suggest sitting out there). We were lucky we arrived at just past 8:00pm, because by 8:30pm the dining room was packed. I suggest reservations for larger parties as I saw at least two of them waiting to be seated. The food was decent with large portions and I took half of mine to go. Our dinner for two consisted of an appetizer and two entrees and an iced tea for less than $40 after tax and tip, which is a moderately priced. The service was nothing spectacular and more lazy than anything. However, we were in and out in less than an hour and 15 minutes and off to see our movie and the 86th Street City Cinemas movie theater between 2nd and 3rd Avenues to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

City Cinemas is not the greatest of movie theaters. With only four screens, this theater is considered small by American standards, but for NYC is actually a good size, as many movie theaters have only one or two screens. X-Men was taking up two screens to allow for more showings, so in actuality there were only 3 "screens" at the time of my visit. What bothered me the most about this theater was that the ceiling lights in the theater stayed on until the feature presentation started as opposed to when the previews started. It was like having a spotlight in my eye. The only spotlight should have been on the actors. The seats in this theater are comfortable enough with liftable arm rests (yay for snuggling), though the seats do not recline. Overall, the experience was average.

After the movie we strolled back down 2nd Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets to Pinkberry for some of their deliciously addicting Greek style frozen yogurt. The yogurt at Pinkberry comes in three flavors, original (tastes like Greek yogurt), green tea, and pomegranate (the last time I was there it was coffee so I'm not sure if the third flavor is on rotation or it just changed). By far the greatest thing about Pinkberry is the fresh fruit toppings. My favorite is kiwi and mango chunks atop a small original, while Mike opts usually for an original topped with bananas and chocolate chips. When we arrived at 11:45pm the line was still out the door and the four small tables inside were completely full. Pinkberry also sells quirky kitchen utensil thingamajigs like standing fly swatters, soap dispensers, and toothpick holders. They are on the shelf by the handicapped accessible entrance collecting dust and generally making for odd decor. With a small cup of original frozen yogurt with no topping weighing it an only $4.00 with 150 calories and 0 grams of fat, this a dessert that cannot be overlooked, for it's price, tastiness, and calorie consciousness.

Dinner and a movie might not be the ideal date for everyone, but I have to argue that it is a classic option that can't be beat. It is great for two reasons; 1) you don't feel like going home after work and changing into swanky clothes or 2) you don't want to risk laying down and falling asleep before you even have a chance to get out the door.