Experience outdoor dining at The Grocery of Brooklyn, New York City

Experience Outdoor Dining at The Grocery of Brooklyn, New York City

The grocery, located in Carrol Gardens in Brooklyn, New York, gives diners a feeling of warmth when dining which is sorely lacking in many modern establishments today. Co-chefs and owners Sharon Pachter and Charles Kiely offer their unique brand of dining experiences from Mondays through Thursdays from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM; Friday’s at 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM; and Saturdays at 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Reservations at The Grocery are also welcome.

The restaurant’s special features are: their outdoor dining experience, where fruit-bearing fig trees compliment the ambiance of the beautiful outdoors to create a romantic atmosphere; and of course their prix-fixe menu. (Prix-fixe menus are common in Europe, though Americans also love the idea of a series of menu put together by the restaurant at a fixed price for the customer to enjoy.) When a prix-fixe menu is ordered, the staff will be very observant about when to take away the previous course and when to serve the next course afterwards – all without hurrying their customers or letting them wait while the servers put on the next course. After taking away your previous course, the staff will also be busying themselves packing up your left overs for you to take home, if you like.)

Featured as one of the 101 best New York Restaurants for 2006, and one of the 12 great spots to really eat out, as well as having been declared the 7^th best restaurant in New York City, the Grocery assures its diners that they will get a really great dining experience.

Price varies from $23 to $26. Cedit cards are accepted, specifically MasterCard and Visa. Reservations are also recommended. Beer and wine are offered here. The most recommended item on the menu is the six-course dinner offered at $75; paired with wine at $100. The food price ranges from moderate to expensive, but the experience is sure worth it. A dinner for two at The Grocery would normally bill you up to $90.

The dishes themselves vary from beautifully prepared duck breasts; sausages with black bean salad, boneless trout stuffed with mushroom. Dessert could be composed of chocolate fig cake, ice cream and fruit sorbet, among others. Some people recommend The Grocery’s specialty dish called slow-rendered duck breast with toasted bulghur, swiss chard, and caramelized red wine.

There are only 30 seats available, so reservations are advised. The most commendable dining experience you will observe here is the consistency of timing when changing the course. The wonderful staffs are always willing to converse with the customers which is always a positive when it comes to maintaining quality service.

People who have experienced dining here rarely make negative comments or feedback about it. Though The Grocery is crowded most of the time, and the place is small, regulars always say it is worth having to deal with the crowds to experience dining at The Grocery again.

Though The Grocery is not highly recommended for kids, it is good when you have a special date, or want a romantic dinner, and for special occasions. Though convening a business meeting here may not be a good idea, it is still possible though. As most restaurants tout the good quality of their service, The Grocery emphasizes the quality of their food, the ambiance, and the well mannered staff.

Jewel Bako - Manhattan's secret jewel box

Jewel Bako – Manhattan’s Secret Jewel Box

Jewel Bako, whose name translates to Jewel Box is a Japanese cuisine restaurant located in Manhattan, New York City. The interior is fair and amusing, the lighting is not spectacular (though satisfactory), and the small yet intimate and glittering ambiance compliments the term Jewel. It is owned by married couple Jack and Grace Lamb and founded back in 2001. Since sushis and sashimis are at the peak of their popularity nowadays, there are lots of competitors in the business but Jewel Bako remains one sushi bar that still stands strong and is always packed with customers.

At Jewel Bako, since it is one of the most popular sushi bars around, service is sluggish but since it maintains a moderately priced menu, it is pretty much a fair deal for diners anyway. Reservations are highly recommended due to overwhelming demand. The restaurant, unfortunately, can only offer street parking. Jewel Bako is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 6:30 PM until 10:30 PM. Jewel Bako serves fresh, and high quality sushi that you can recommend to your New York City crowd.

Food price varies from $35 to $95 (which is considered moderate by sushi bar standards). Some recommend the house specialty called Tuna toro tartare priced at a mere $18, and chef’s omakase at $95. They offer fabulous appetizers, soups and salads as well. Jewel Bako accepts major credit cards such as Diners Club, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, and Discover. With a talented and energetic staff on duty everyday, the Japanese cuisine is competently prepared with the able assistance of their executive chef, Yoshihihiko Kousaka. The chef and cooks are very humble and very much willing to converse with the customers about the variety of fish and the quality of the food that are prepared in-house. Wine lovers may want to taste their Jack Lamb’s sake, though Jewel Bako also offers a lot of wine variations (which may seem a bit pricey, however, so come prepared).

Designed by Hiromi Tsuruta, Jewel Bako has around 30 seats available at the regular dining tables, and about 6 seats at the sushi bar. There is no question why the place is always packed up because compared to other towering sushi empires in the city, Jewel Bako offers one of the best Japanese restaurant experiences you can get.

The ambiance of Jewel Bako has quite a hip, romantic and relaxing ambiance. If you are looking for a place where you can stuff yourself sick with sushi, then Jewel Bako is not the place for you. They offer varieties of sushi at normal (or some may say small) portions. However, one taste will convince you that this is the real Japanese sushi experience.

Jewel Bako is not the most suitable place for conducting business meetings or meeting large groups of people, or even serves a place to take your kids. But if you use it for a romantic night out with your date, then it is perfect.

A consumer’s point of view may vary in many ways. What Jewel Bako does is to keep the consistent quality of their food in its best. The usual appearance of the owners of the place makes it even more intimate for the customers. They may even check up on you from time to time to see if you are fine with your meal. Some customers may really put their eyes on Jewel Bako’s service and comments with the words “as bad as ever”.

But most people who have experienced the dining at Jewel Bako gave a positive approach on how their experience at Jewel Bako goes. Food was always excellent; having fish as fresh as ever, even though the service was called “sluggish” – most of them claim, the dining experience is worth for every penny you pay.

Spice Market - another top restaurant in New York City's meatpacking district

Spice Market – Another Top Restaurant in New York City’s Meatpacking District

What is it about the meatpacking district of New York City that draws in so many entrepreneurs to set up restaurants – and why is that so many of these meatpacking-district-based restaurants become top crowd-drawers that gain widespread recognition from the culinary and gastronomic worlds? Spice Market is yet another of these restaurants that we described, considered among the 25 leading restaurants of the city. It is considered a moderately- to expensively-priced restaurant, with food prices ranging from $15 to $30 for one meal alone. But chances are the prices are not the first thing you will notice about Spice Market – the first thing that will strike you upon entering is that this is one BIG restaurant (estimated to be as large as a bus depot actually.) Then you will notice that the food is predominantly of Southeast Asian influence – Southeast Asian street food that is.

Some well-loved dishes are the softened short ribs that come with green chiles and onions; the curried duck (tagged at $19); and the chicken wings sprinkled with a sticky yet sweet chile sauce. Other dishes that you could sample as a newcomer are the grilled chicken and kumquats (priced at $18); pork vindaloo (that costs $16); cod mixed with a basil-and-chili sauce (which runs to $19); the $29.50 lobster cooked in chili and garlic; a tomato egg-drop soup (priced at $6.50); $10.50 chicken samosas; a $14.50 shrimp dish cooked in black pepper sauce; fried chicken wings (one of the cheapest offerings of the place at $9); the very , very inexpensive $7.50 steamed mussels with lemongrass; and mushroom egg rolls that cost $9.50. There are also the avocado with radish salad, and seasoned minced chicken dishes which reviews say are quite good.

Spice Market does not only keep prices affordable, it maintains high standards for preparation of its dishes – so much so that it has garnered different awards, such as the Best Hot Date award in 2004 from the Best of New York Awards; the Sweet Successes award in 2005 (also from the same body); and the funny Best New Restaurant that isn’t Masa or Per Se award in 2005 (also from Best of New York Awards.) The list of the 101 Best New York Restaurants for 2006 also did a feature on the Spice Market, while the New York Magazine honored Spice Market with a full review back in 2004.

Spice Market operates from Sundays to Thursdays from 12 noon to 12 midnight, and also on Fridays to Saturdays from 12 noon to 1:00 in the morning. You can sample its full bar which surprisingly offers the sake and sojou beverages, aside from other alcoholic drinks. The restaurant accepts reservations online (and why shouldn’t it, with all the space inside the restaurant?) It is possible to reserve a table on the same day that you intend to visit the Spice Market. You can pay for your meals with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club, and American Express.

Per Se of New York City merits entry in Wikipedia

Per Se of New York City Merits Entry in Wikipedia

There are many restaurants in New York City, granted, but not many are able to make it into the Wikipedia with their own page of entry. Per se is called a gourmet restaurant, that is owned and run by its executive chef Thomas Keller at its current location at #10 Columbus Circle (on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center). Keller is assisted by Johnathon Benno, the chef de cuisine. Keller admittedly took a risk putting up another restaurant, since he had his hands full running his other restaurants called Bouchon (with branches in Las Vegas and Napa Valley), and French Laundry (that runs solely in Napa Valley). Having so many restaurants in his cap, Keller was closely watched when he introduced Per Se in New York City in February 2004 – perhaps people were wondering whether he would soar with this new restaurant or fall flat on his back? Whichever holds true, Per Se remained true to the Keller tradition by being able to reap awards by 2005 – specifically garnering a much-coveted three stars from the respected Michelin Guide in that year. Then by December 2006, Per Se made it to the list of the 50 leading restaurants in New York as rated by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Restaurant Magazine followed suit in 2007 by crediting Per Se as the ninth top restaurant of the world, and the second-leading restaurant in the United States for that year.

Per Se’s interiors and exteriors reflect Keller’s decision to hire talented hotel and restaurant designer Adam Tihany to select elements from Keller’s pre-existing restaurants to incorporate into his French-American cuisine restaurant Per Se. There are 15 tables in the dining room which offers paronamic views of nearby Central Park (a key Manhattan centerpiece). If you want more privacy for your party, you might be able to reserve the 10-diner private room. For bigger groups maxing out at around 60 diners, Per Se can offer you the West Room instead. There is also a wine cellar and a salon. Vegetarians will be delighted at the vegetarian prix fixe menu that is offered everyday (one of only two prix fixe menus at Per Se.) Each of the prix fixe menus are tagged at $250 (inclusive of non-alcoholic drinks and a service charge of 20%.) Keller prides himself on maintaining a distinctive hands-on approach to running all his restaurants, including Per Se, so that nothing is felt to be amiss (whether it be in the food, the décor, or the dining atmosphere.)

Per Se may be said to differ from other restaurants with its genial reservations policy (meaning you may set reservations even for dates two months later.) It operates from 5:30 in the afternoon to 10 in the evening on Mondays to Thursdays; while from Fridays to Saturdays it serves diners from 11:30 in the morning to 1:30 in the afternoon, and again from 5:30 in the afternoon to 10:00 in the evening. You may pay with either Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.

Double Nine Address Proves Lucky for Pastis of New York

Double Nine Address Proves Lucky for Pastis of New York

Pastis is another New York City restaurant that is located at a great address: #9 Ninth Avenue – should that tell us that Pastis is a very lucky restaurant having a double nine in its location? Perhaps, because Pastis is said to be among the top 25 restaurants in New York City. Even if you are not superstitious, go to Pastis anyway for the various meals that it serves, such as your basic breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as brunch and supper. Breakfast is served everyday from 8:00 in the morning to 11:30 am. Lunch is only served Mondays to Fridays from 12 noon to 6:00 in the evening. Brunch is reserved for Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10:00 am to 4:30 in the afternoon. Dinner is served everyday from 6:oo in the evening to 12 midnight, while supper is served from Sundays to Wednesdays between 12 midnight and 1 am; on Thursday from 12 midnight to 2:00 in the morning; and from Fridays to Saturday from 12 midnight to 3 am.

Since each meal is different from the others served at Pastis, each meal comes with its own set menu. Meaning, if you come in for breakfast, don’t expect a brunch menu. Pastis basically operates as a French bistro so be ready to order Provencal-style dishes prepared by Pascal Le Seac’h (the Chef de Cuisine), and executive chefs Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, and their team. Prices here are said to hover in the moderate range, which is good news for those who want good food but not the outrageous prices that often accompany them. There is a bar in Pastis where you can order glasses, carafes or bottles of wine (as you like), different house cocktails, and of course any of the varieties of pastis that give the restaurant its succinct name. (Pastis is actually an aperitif from southern France that is laced with the spice called anise.) Some dishes which are said to be quite in demand are the moules frites au Pernod (priced at $18), seared Tuna Nicoise (which costs $16), and the eggplant salad that comes complete with cherry tomatoes, arugula, chick peas and feta cheese (which will run you $11.) Pretty good prices actually for pretty good food.

The restaurant was conceived of by founder Keith McNally who was one of the early few who dared to make the New York City Meatpacking District into a common destination for daring diners. Keith made Pastis in the mold of the brasseries of Paris as they used to be in the 1930s.

Pastis does accept advance reservations, even if the day you reserve a table for will be 30 days hence. However, you have to make reservations by phone or in person since Pastis does not permit reservations initiated through emails. You can also reserve space at Pastis for special occasions or important events with a minimum guest list of 9 which then maxes out at 150 diners. You may choose between reserving just a table (such as the 24-seat communal table) or the whole restaurant if necessary.

Gaze over the waterfront from River Caf of Water Street

Gaze Over the Waterfront from River Caf of Water Street

The River Caf can be found on the waterfront beside the Brooklyn Bridge of New York City, which explains why its name has the River in it. It is one of the most well-loved and spacious restaurants in the city, with an outdoor patio that can accommodate up to 150 diners at one time. The name of its street alone will tell you where it is: #1 Water Street – now how’s that for a Brooklyn address?

Besides being a popular waterfront restaurant, the River Caf (and of course, Michael Buzzy O’Keefe, its owner) have a claim to fame since they have been able to churn out more highly skilled American chefs than any other eating place in the country. Some great names in the culinary world came from River Caf – such as Brad Steelman, Rick Moonen, Rick Laakonen, David Burke, Charles Palmer, Larry Forgione, and Rick Stefan , who have all become renowned in the US for their top-notch cooking expertise. But River Caf itself was a labor of love by Michael O’Keefe since he had to persuade the City of New York through many years of talks to permit him to construct his elegant River Caf restaurant. An additional risk in building River Caf in its current location was that the neighborhood at that time was pretty blighted and neglected by city authorities. But Michael’s gamble paid off since River Caf has been able to gain many accolades since it was introduced in 1977. Even Gault Millau, a respected culinary guide in France, chose River Caf as among the five best restaurants of New York –proving that despite its location, the restaurant could still be a crowd-drawer that serves excellent food. Many attribute the resurgence of the Brooklyn waterfront after River Caf came into the picture to the ongoing presence of River Caf in the area.

This 2007 would be the 30^th year that River Caf has been operating, pretty good for a Brooklyn restaurant. People come to River Caf not just for the excellent food choices, but also because of the nice view of Lower Manhattan that is afforded them from the restaurant. People say River Caf qualifies as a special-occasion eatery, the type of place you bring a date to when you want to impress him or her, or perhaps your boss if you want to earn brownie points in your company. Do not go to River Caf if you desire culinary gymnastics (meaning, food that perplexes rather than just satisfies the belly and the palate at the same time.) Instead, head for River Caf if you want food that is pleasant and comforting to sample in an atmosphere that definitely won’t cause indigestion. For dessert, you might try the chocolate-based replica of the Brooklyn Bridge (it’s rumored to be quite good to eat, not just look at.) Another great feature of the River Caf menu is its vast wine list, which contains around 300 selections that mostly come from California and France. It is possible to order half bottles for certain selections.

Il Laboratorio Del Gelato Is owned by ice cream fanatic

Il Laboratorio Del Gelato Is Owned By Ice Cream Fanatic

The name alone is interesting but what this establishment serves is even better – Il Laboratorio Del Gelato serves great ice cream to the New York City community. But this is not your ordinary American-style ice cream – this is gelato. The difference between ordinary ice cream in the US and gelato is that the former has significant amounts of air and butterfat incorporated into the product. The gelato product has comparatively less air and butterfat mixed into it, which results in ice cream that actually has a creamier consistency and stronger taste (due to the lesser amounts of fat that would usually mask the true flavor of the ice cream.)

Jon F. Snyder owns Il Laboratorio Del Gelato and is said to have the craft of making ice cream gelato running through his veins. Snyder only relies on one machine in Il Laboratorio to create his gelato with most of the production process done by hand. Snyder’s aim is to become a gelato supplier to caterers and chefs within the city, providing a custom lab facility for creating new and richer flavors of gelato for the public to adore.

Snyder’s gelato factory/store sits adjacent to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Snyder likes to look for local suppliers for his gelato products, which could not be possible in years past. Snyder reflects that though his background in the financial world was helpful in its own way, he much prefers his status now as gelato entrepreneur. He would like to see less chains of franchises similar to Starbucks in the US and more small enterprises like Il Laboratorio Del Gelato doing a thriving business providing a personalized and individualistic service to the community. Snyder comments that his gelato recipe has less of an Italian influence to it, with a unique spin that he is very proud of. Il Laboratorio Del Gelato also sells sorbets as well. Some unique flavors of gelato that Snyder has produced are Mexican cinnamon, lime fresh mint, and cayenne pepper (to name a few.) At present, there are 150 flavors of gelatos and sorbets that you can choose from. Twelve of these are on the daily menu, including dark chocolate, ginger, banana, coffee and hazelnut – you may opt to put hot fudge topping on your ice cream if you choose. If your palate gets tired of ice cream, the shop also sells sodas, shakes and different types of coffee for a change of pace.

People who are familiar with the former New York City ice cream icon Ciao Bella Gelato, and who wept silently when that gelato place disappeared from the city, will be overjoyed because Jon F. Snyder was part of that enterprise as well, proving that he has the moxie to claim expertise in the ice cream/gelato world. Il Laboratorio Del Gelato, for its part, has a nice Manhattan location on 95 Orchard Street near Broom Street, and has become known as an inexpensive ice cream and dessert shop in the neighborhood.