How does one decide where to dine for NYC restaurant week? There are so many options and so many great menus to chose from. I always use restaurant week as an opportunity to explore new dining options. The most recent NYC restaurant week this past January I decided to do just that. I looked at the list of participating restaurants, narrowed it down based on location and cuisine, then started researching. I chose Black Duck because it had something unique that I have been dying to experience in NYC since forever ago; live jazz!
Black Duck has live jazz musicians every Friday and Saturday night starting at 9:30pm for no cover charge. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard me right, no cover charge (are we still in NYC?). You don't even have to eat dinner here to enjoy the jazz. You can sit at the bar and enjoy a cocktail, or sit in one of the Queen Anne chairs up close and personal with the musicians while enjoying a bottle of wine with some friends. If jazz isn't your thing (how uncultured of you!) then enjoy classic James Bond movies playing on the flat screens at 8:00pm on Sunday nights. This is a classy place I tell you.
The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a restored 18th century brownstone, making it quintessentially NYC. It is connected to the Park South Hotel which resides in the brownstone and looks very swank. You can pick up some great discount coupons for Broadway shows and sightseeing tours in the lobby on your way to the restrooms, which are very well maintained I would like to add. I highly suggest reservations at Black Duck on the live jazz nights, even though the restaurant (until publishing of this post) remains a very well kept secret in NYC.
The food at Black Duck may have been overpowered by the amazing cabaret singer Lexy Casano. Everything was delightful save for two things. First, my fish portion from the regular menu (not the restaurant week prix fixe) was very small, even by normal serving size standards. Second, I ordered a white wine which the waitress poured into the red wine glass on the table, after she had placed the white wine glasses down. Then, after she poured, and I tasted, she removed the tasting glass, still with a fair amount of wine in it, and then poured into the empty white wine glass. Having worked in the restaurant business before, if I had made this mistake I would have asked the diner if she would like to hold on to the tasting glass until she was finished. Regardless, the wine lasted well past when we finished our food which left us a great excuse to linger at our table and listen to more jazz.
I will definitely be returning to Black Duck again, if not just for the jazz music. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys less conversation and more music while dining.
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, August 28, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
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