Upper East Side

BurgerFi – Go for the Burgers, Stay for the Custard

April 5, 2013 By fritosfg 1 Comment

Let’s talk burgers.

BurgerFi is an UES burger restaurant that – might as well make the comparison here – looks a whole lot like Shake Shack. Antibiotic free beef, frozen custard, and made to order gourmet dogs and burgers. Pair those characteristics with a fast service restaurant concept and its hard to tell the two apart. How, you ask, does the food compare?

Texas Chili Dog

One of my dining companions said that this tasted like 7-11 chili. I would equate it more to Der Wienerschniztel chili, but either way, there you have it. It’s thin, salty, and just slightly zesty with cumin and a bit of cayenne. It’s basically perfect. Slathered over a charred hot dog with gooey cheese sauce and a fluffy bun, it’s really tasty stuff. Nothing out of this world, but very satisfying.

The BAD (breakfast all day) burger, with bacon, cheese, hash browns, and an egg, all drizzled in maple syrup

This burger, which both of my friends got, is really pretty great. The egg is nicely gooey, the bacon is crispy, and the hash browns are…well, they are fried potatoes and onions. How bad could they be, right? The maple syrup adds a really interesting sweet touch – why weren’t people doing this before?! The only downside, for me, was the beef itself. A little thin and served only well done or medium well, they lack seasoning and char. A sad story, since the rest of the burger is so tasty.

Fries

I only had the fries, but damn were they good. Crispy, salty, and fresh cut. These are fries you pay $7 an order for in a fancy gastropub, which make them a really great deal here. Swipe them in some mayo and you will be in heaven.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Concrete

Sorry, Shake Shack. This is where you lose. The custard here is far superior. The concrete here is thick and rich without being overly bitter or chemically tasting. The chocolate is mild, letting the eggy, creamy taste of the custard shine through. The peanut butter flavor takes a backseat, offering a slightly salty backnote to all of that sweetness. Totally craveable.

BurgerFi offers tasty food at great prices. It’s nothing novel, but it does fit a need in that neighborhood. Though the burgers can’t touch Shake Shack’s, the fries are just as good and the dessert options are actually better. Hopefully there are more places like this in the future, because if there is anything I consistently need and want…

It’s a burger

Filed Under: review, Upper East Side Tagged With: American, inexpensive

David Burke at Bloomingdale’s

July 31, 2012 By fritosfg 2 Comments

On a recent Bloomingdale’s shopping trip, I was having a minor meltdown.

Okay, I was having a full-on panic where I refused to try on one more pair of jeans, almost smacked the poor fragrance woman who spritzed cologne on me, and had to breathe into a paper bag to calm myself down.

Before my sister completely threw me in the gutter and disowned me, she thought we should take a break for lunch and see if I returned to normal.

David Burke is a chef who I just love. He is creative, he is technically excellent, and although his restaurants are on the pricier side, the portions and quality more than justify that. But this is a rather casual restaurant in a department store….could it really hold up to his standards?

PopoverEach meal here starts with a warm, oversized popover. These are a little dry for my liking – I prefer a moister, eggier interior.

Apple Sangria

This seasonal special revamps my idea of sangria. This is very light and sugary, with a slight effervescence. It has the sweetness of apple cider with just a little alcoholic tang to anchor it. The fruits are fresh, and more than garnishes, are actual ingredients in the drink. You can order this by the liter, and doing that just makes sense. After all, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Juicy Burkey

A double patty stuffed with carmelized onions, cheddar cheese and bacon. Served with pickles, chilled green bean salad, and duck fat french fries. So big that you need to put your order in early, because it takes about 30 minutes to prep. Just put your order in the second you get there. Don’t even look at the menu before you do…

because this burger is unreal. It is humongous, yet it is ideally cooked. A thick, craggy crust surrounds a rosy interior. Well, two rosy interiors. Each stuffed with sharp, tangy cheddar cheese and sweetly caramalized onions. The patties are coarsely ground and so chock full of flavor that any ketchup or mayonnaise is merely gilding the lily. This burger is possibly the best I have eaten since Louis Lunch. It is really all about the meat – it eats like a steak. The patty is juicy but does not spill all over the plate – rather, it holds its moisture as you eat it. The toppings are delicious, but the meat is absolutely the star. The bun is standard, but holds up well. This burger feeds 2 easily, though if you eat it alone in 25 minutes, you get a free T-shirt. Antacid not included.

The duck fat fries are also memorable. They have a salty, umami -intense flavor that makes it undefinable savory. It is like eating a fry that has already been dragged through meaty juices on a steak frites plate. The delicious burger would be enough, but the fries put this over the top dish…well…over the top.

Oh yeah…there is green bean salad, too. It is light and vinegary, with tender green beans, but next to the burger and fries…who the heck is noticing greenery?

Lobster Bacon Mac and Cheese

3 kosher dietary sins at once: shellfish, bacon, meat + cheese. I couldn’t possibly have any more fun sinning. Al dente noodles in a cheese that is more melty than creamy, with plenty of cheddar cheese and just a bit of cream for richness. Large slices of bacon are crispy and salty, mingling well with juicy, sweet lobster meat. The combination of sweet, salty, crispy, and tangy is truly unique. I would never think to pair these ingredients together, but Burke is right on the money here.

Think of it this way…now you finally have something to atone for at Yom Kippur.

Crabcake Sliders

This plate is another delicious choice, with moist, creamy crabcakes served on slightly sweet potato rolls. The crabcakes are chock full of sweet shellfish and are served with a tart, creamy tartar sauce.

These are a tasty small lunch or an ideal appetizer.

David Burke does it again. He serves delicious, inventive food in a department store…how does he do it? I don’t know and I don’t care – just grateful that he does. The burger is a showstopper, but all the food is fantastic. The prices are what I would expect them to be in this neighborhood, but the food is WAY better than it has to be. The service is lovely, and if you come here for dinner for 2 during the Olympics when any American wins a gold medal, just say the world “gold” and you will get a bottle of wine. If that isn’t enough to get you here soon, I don’t know what is.

And it’s a great way to keep your sister from committing sororicide during a routine shopping trip.

Disclaimer: The restaurant paid for my meal. I was not required to write a review, and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: American, review

Untitled – Danny Meyer’s Upscale, Up-Priced Coffee Shop

July 30, 2012 By fritosfg 2 Comments

Danny Meyer restaurants prove that a big restaurateur can still maintain a high level of service and food at each and every one of his establishments. From high-end dining to some of the most sought after burgers in the city, he brings hospitality to new levels. When you dine at one of his restaurants, you are sure to be well taken care of and served delicious food.

As such, I felt perfectly confident in going to Untitled, his new-ish restaurant at the Whitney. This upscale take on a classic NYC coffe shop is in the bottom floor of the museum, but high ceilings and lots of light from surrounding windows keeps it from feeling dark or dank.

The feel is casual but not totally hole in the wall – this may be a coffee shop, but it is a Danny Meyer coffee shop, after all.

Large, balloon sculptures decorate the ceiling, lending a whimsical and artistic feel to the space.

Coffee

I’m not the world’s biggest coffee fan, but the coffee here deserves special mention. It must be roasted on site or specially sourced, because it is caramel-y and nutty, not at all bitter like so many coffees are. Served in an artistic little ramekin, it is a reminder that you are in an upscale museum. The coffee is so delicious it barely needs any sugar – and this is from someone who prefers her coffee in ice cream from.

Scrambled egg whites, asparagus, mushrooms and chives

I love diner eggs, and these eggs are those, but elevated. Smooth and fluffy egg whites that clearly don’t come from a carton, are strewn with beefy mushrooms, grassy asparagus, and fresh chives. The eggs are soft and supple, versus many egg whites that turn rubbery from fast, hard cooking. The home fries alongside are almost impossibly crispy – as if they are made in a deep fryer versus a sautee pan. A very simple meal elevated by expert cooking techniques.

Spread some creamy butter and strawberry compote, with whole strawberries in there, on the tangy, coarse sourdough toast.

Untitled not a destination restaurant, but it is much better than many museum restaurants are. The food is pricey, but if you are in a museum and starving, what are you gonna do? I would come back to try the burger or some other sandwiches, which seem more judiciously priced than the breakfast options. That way, I could feel a little better about the price tag, because I already am a fan of the tasty food and excellent service.

Filed Under: Upper East Side

Mole Restaurant Brings Mexico City to the UES

July 26, 2012 By fritosfg Leave a Comment

The Upper East Side has a little more flavor and fun, thanks to Mole, the mini-chain of Mexican restaurants that started in the West Village and has now expanded as far as Williamsburg. The restaurant is bustling, colorful, and loud – perfect for an after work drink off the reasonably priced happy hour menu.

The sight of someone making fresh guacamole is enough to get my engine roaring. If that doesn’t do it for you, try a fresh margarita made with one of over 100 tequila.

Sopa de Elote

This soup elevates corn in every way. Thick but not heavy, the soup is filled with sweet corn that bursts with sugar . It is buttery and fragrant with cilantro, which keeps it from tasting too much like New England corn chowder. The crisply fried tortilla shells add crunch and salt. Even on a blisteringly hot day, I couldn’t help but drain my small cup and wish I had more.

Mexico City Style Quesadillas with Mushrooms

Thick, handmade flour tortillas that are slightly coarse and have a pleasant chew are the base of this dish. They are filled with mild cotija cheese and smoky, cumin laced mushrooms. Served with a spicy, citrusy salsa and cilantro-laden guacamole, this is hearty enough to have as a light meal.

Tacos Suadero

These brisket tacos are so good, you think they have come off a truck in LA. That is the highest praise I can give! The double wrapped taco comes on blue corn tortillas that are soft yet not gluey – a common taco pitfall. They stand up well to the juicy brisket, braised into melting submission. It has a deep, dark flavor that is lifted by fresh onions and a squeeze of lime juice.

Enchiladas de Mole Poblano

The mole here is imported from Mexico City by the owner’s mother in law, and it is unreal. I tasted so many flavors in there: sesame, raisins, sweet poblano chiles, rich chicken stock, and the bitter taste of chocolate that lingers on the tongue like the taste of coffee after you have finished your cup. Served over tender crepes fille with juicy pulled chicken, it is a complex and unexpected taste of Mexican cuisine. It certainly puts my mole to shame.

Desert Trio – Tres Leches, Flan, and Chocolate Cake

Though dessert in a Mexican restaurant is typically an afterthought, sweets here should really be put on the front burner. Though the tres leches is a bit dry for my tastes, the flan is fantastic – eggy and rich, with notes of toffee, pecans, and fresh cream. The chocolate cake is as classic as what you wish your grandma had made you after school – dense, fudgy, and intensely chocolate. It wants only for a glass of ice cold milk.

Mole breathes new life into the UES. This is a wonderful restaurant for young people, or even families, and has an excellent staff, a fair price point, and truly delicious food.

*Disclaimer: This was a press dinner. I was not required to write a review, and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: Mexican, review

2nd Avenue Deli

July 19, 2012 By fritosfg 1 Comment

2nd Avenue Deli isn’t somewhere I normally frequent…it is on the Upper East Side, it is expensive, and (let’s be honest), the pastrami can’t hold a candle to Katz’s. But, when I found myself up there for an assignment, I thought that I might as well make a meal out of it.

The deli is classic old school NYC – dark, cavernous, with a lengthy menu and servers who are either gruff , old, sassy, or some combo of the three. And awesome in their own ways. For example, if you don’t order enough, you are likely to get told that there will be a mandatory order of fries tacked onto your meal. And you will eat them, too…you don’t want to get yelled at.

Pickles

LIke any good deli, you get a plate of pickles and a plate of coleslaw. The vinegary slaw is a bit more sweet than I like, but the pickles are pitch perfect. Tangy dill pickles, crunchy new pickles, and delightfully sour pickled tomatoes. A plate of these will drive your blood pressure through the roof, but are heaven when paired with a Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda.

The #6: Turkey, Chopped Liver, cole slaw and Russian dressing

Now this…THIS is a sandwich. Fresh roasted turkey is juicy and flavorful, a good match for classic, mayonnaise-based slaw. The chopped liver is almost as good as mine – rich, minerally, a little sweet, and filled with the pungent crunch of finely diced onions. Served on musky rye bread with tangy Russian dressing, it is all good things that Jewish food is: heavy, comforting, and guilt laden.

Stuffed Derma

This Jewish version of stuffing is fantastic. Moist and soft, with texture of polenta, it is filled not only with garlic and onion, but with the liquid gold that is chicken stock. This makes it fatty but not greasy, rich but not overwhelming.

Served with thick gravy, this is comfort food at its finest.

Instant Heart Attack Sandwich

Click here to see my opinions on this monstrosity.

Spoiler alert: I love it.

Egg Cream

Each meal here ends with a tiny shot of a chocolate egg cream. There is neither egg nor cream in this old fashioned drink – just seltzer, milk, and a little chocolate syrup. The bubbly drink here is incredibly rich and chocolatey, which must be due to using the best chocolate syrup of all time, Fox’s U-Bet.

The 2nd Avenue Deli is a great representation of a classic NYC Jewish Deli. While it lacks the fantastic pastrami and old school atmosphere of Katz’s, it still has some delicious and traditional food, including that wonderful stuffed derma. The prices are high, but come on…you can easily share a sandwich and a side and be full for hours.

Or at least until your server pressures you into ordering dessert.

Gotta love that Jewish guilt.

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: Deli, Upper East Side

Spring Natural Kitchen, Sarabeth’s, and Veselka Bowery

May 10, 2012 By fritosfg 1 Comment

Every now and then, these posts make a showing on the blog – just bits and pieces of restaurants that I have visited around the city that deserve some acclaim.

Spring Natural Kitchen Turkey Burger

The UWS rendition of this SoHo restaurant is a bustling, casual eatery that is nice enough for dinner with the parents but relaxed enough for a solo drink at the bar. The seasonal and natural menu features one of the best turkey burgers in the city. Thick and very juicy, it has a phenomenal texture. It must have breadcrumbs in the patty, because it is soft and pleasantly tender, like a wonderful meatball in a meatball sub. The spices are robust, with herbs like oregano bringing out the meaty flavors of the turkey. Served with fresh shoestring fries and tart homemade Russian dressing, this is one burger that really doesn’t have me missing beef. As an added bonus, the prices are very reasonable.

Sarabeth’s Potato Waffle

Sarabeth’s will always have a huge wait for brunch on the weekends. Pick straws, get one of your party to go 45 minutes early to put your name on the list, and by the time you get there, your name will be called. When there, you would do well to order the potato waffle with sour cream, apple compote, and chicken-apple sausage. The waffle has a crispy exterior and a fluffy inside that is like a knish – mashed potatoes within a waffle! When dipped in some sour cream, this is one delightful brunch. Paired with the sweet and savory sausage, it is a pricey but delicious indulgence. Go here with your parents or your kids – it’s a great family place.

Veselka Bowery Pierogies

This new incarnation of the classic Veselka Diner is definitely tonier, with a large loft-like feel in an airy space. There is also a slightly more upscale menu, including a fabulous beet and dill martini, but the old favorites remain. Come here for the pierogies – get them pan fried on a bed of sweet caramelized onions. Filled with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, tender pot roast, or creamy goat cheese, these are the Ukrainian answer to gyoza. Crunchy on the outside, steaming warm on the inside. Smother them in sour cream and gobble them up. At about $10 for an order, it is a tasty bargain in a hip setting.

Now the only problem will be how to fit in all the food you clearly have to try.

It’s a tough job, but I know you are up to the challenge.

Filed Under: Lower East Side, NYC, Upper East Side, Upper West Side Tagged With: review

Peri Ela’s UES Turkish Cuisine

November 20, 2011 By fritosfg 4 Comments

The Upper East Side. Not my usual stomping grounds, but for a chance to see Nigella Lawson speak at the 92^nd St. Y, I will pay a ridiculously high cab fare and go to a neighborhood where the average age is 74, the drugstores close at 8 pm, and the food scene is usually bleak.
Usually.

Peri Ela is a tiny Turkish restaurant that you just know hasn’t been redecorated in about 30 years. Part grandma’s house with lace curtains and wooden tables, part 80’s nightclub with a full bar and overblown pictures of models, it feels quaint, odd, and anything but corporate. Add that to the somewhat confused hostess and waitstaff, and I somehow knew….I was in for a terrific meal.

Cacik

Smooth yogurt, crisp cucumber and just a touch of dill. Looser than tzatziki, and less garlicky. Not really tangy, more cooling. Simple and tasty.

Hummus

Creamy but with texture, hearty and nutty with tahini. Once again, the lack of garlic was apparent in a good way. It let the more subtle, gentle flavors of the chickpeas and tart lemon shine through.

Fried Vegetables with Yogurt Sauce

Thin slices of eggplant, zucchini, and carrots, shallow sauteed and served with an incredibly creamy, tangy yogurt sauce that had the pucker of lemon but the richness of cream. The zucchini was tender and sweet, the carrots were vibrant with just a bit of bite, and the eggplant was the star of the night. The eggplant pieces tasted confited because they were so creamy, soft enough to be eaten with a spoon, with crisp, caramelized edges. It was so sweet and meaty next to the tangy yogurt sauce. This dish was outstanding in every way.

Manti

These Turkish ravioli are one of my favorite dishes of all times, and this was a very good representation. Thin skinned dumpling skin surrounded tiny parcels of spiced beef, all in yet another yogurt sauce – this time, very mild next to the tart, acidic tomato sauce with it. The beef was aromatic with cinnamon and coriander, and the dumplings, no bigger than the pad of my index finger, were simultaneously filling but light. Truly a pleasure.

This whole meal was a winner. Though the service was a bit scatterbrained, it was prompt and very sweet. The prices here are moderate, the portions are large, and the food is wonderful. It’s almost enough to make me come to the Upper East Side just for dinner.
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: review, turkish, Upper East Side

Dos Toros: Mexico on the UES

September 16, 2011 By fritosfg Leave a Comment

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: New York is SADLY lacking in Mexican food. Sure you can get some great guacamole, but it will cost you. If I want a quick burrito that weighs the size of a toddler and is filled to the brim with quality ingredients, it’s either Chipotle or nothing.

Or, perhaps it’s Dos Toros.

Opened by brothers Leo and Oliver Kremer, Dos Toros aims to emulate the Mission Style Mexican food that the boys grew up with in San Francisco. That means burritos simply stuffed with everything but the kitchen sink,and the salsa comes in versions of hot and incendiary.

Plus, the restaurant uses sustainably produced and humanely raised produce and meat whenever possible.

It couldn’t be more me if it was called “Dos Fritos.”

The Upper East Side location is tiny, with a counter where you order your burrito, quesadilla, tacos or platter, then pay and sit down to eat.

Be sure to treat yourself to a Mexican Coke or a Jarritos if you want to keep it authentic.

Burrito

With Rice, Pinto Beans, Black Beans, Carnitas, Guacamole, Habanero Salsa, Pico de Gallo, Sour Cream.

This was a good burrito that would have been great if there were just a tad less rice. It was quality rice – Spanish style, with sweet tomatoes and zesty cumin. But there was too much of it – it obscured the taste of the smokey pinto beans, the tender black beans and the pork. The pork was fantastic – not at all greasy or flaccid, but moist with crispy edges here and there. Deeply satisfying, this would have been as good on a fork as it was in the warm griddled tortilla. The guacamole was outstanding, and they were very generous with it – buttery, creamy avocados blended with sweet onion and fresh cilantro. And the salsa…oh yeah we will get to the salsa…

Chicken Quesadilla with Guacamole and Habanero Salsa.

This is not the classic quesadilla. This is more of a mini burrito, with a thin layer of mellow jack cheese under juicy pieces of charbroiled chicken, that excellent guacamole and lashings (upon the request of my dining partner) of habanero hot sauce.

I like it hot. You KNOW I like it hot. This was really REALLY hot. So hot that my lips started tingling. So hot that I broke out in an immediate sweat. So hot that we both needed beers to quell the burning.

Well, it was a good excuse to get the beers anyway.

Dos Toros is a great option for a low priced lunch or quick dinner on the UES. Though the prices would be a bit high in the East Village, uptown is a different story. Not many places up here offer quality food at low prices, and not many places in the city offer such high quality, low brow Mexican food. It’s what you want when you are sober, it’s what you want when you are drunk and it’s what you want when you are in between.

NYC may finally have found its casual Mexican restaurant.

*Note: My meal was paid for by the restaurant. I was not paid or required to write a review, and my opinions are my own and, I feel, impartial.*

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: inexpensive, Mexican, review, Upper East Side

Sel et Poivre – I’m a Lover of Their Liver

February 14, 2011 By fritosfg 5 Comments

Sel et Poivre is an Upper East Side French bistro that vacillates between the different regions of France.

It features the hearty organ meats of Lyon, the saffron tinted bouillabaisse of Marseille and the classic steak frites of Paris. Does it succeed?

The bread was disappointing at first. Crunch, yes, but without that floury, yeasty, sour taste of a true French baguette.

HOWEVER…

The butter totally transformed this bread. Like Cinderella slipping on her glass slipper, this bread became the belle of the ball once slicked with a pat of the creamiest, sweetest butter imaginable. I could have eaten this butter with a spoon, but the bread was slightly more socially acceptable.More than that, the bread’s bland taste really let the butter shine through. I tasted the glory of the butter, versus just the taste of the bread.

Well played, Sel et Poivre…well played.

Bouillabaisse.

Excellent version of this soup. The red snapper base was briny and tasted of the ocean, with earthy notes of potato and sweet onions.

Adding a dollop of the garlicky rouille, the pungent Gruyere cheese and a tiny crisp toast made this one of the standouts of the meal. This is a dish for someone who likes the taste of seafood – while not fishy, it absolutely tasted of the sea. That was the best part about it, actually, just not for someone who is not as crazy about seafood as I am.

Celeri Remoulade with Beets.

I LOVE Celeri Remoulade. I love beets. I should have loved this…but I didn’t. The use of saffron was an interesting and bold choice, but not an especially wise one. The heady saffron totally overwhelmed the mild taste of the celery root and competed with the beets’ natural sweetness. What I did like was the use of roasted beets with the celery root. Taking the saffron out of the equation might make this dish a total star.

Skate with lemon, butter and capers.

This was delicious! Now HERE is a dish for someone who thinks he/she does not like fish – this is basically the gourmet version of fish fingers. Mild, clean tasting fish slathered in a rich but not heavy buttery sauce, tart with lemon and just salty enough from the capers. It is a flavor explosion, not from the fish, but from the well balanced sauce. The fish was a bit mushy, which could be solved with a thicker dredging in flour and being fried in a hotter pan, but the flavor was so good, I really didn’t even notice it.

Calves Liver a La Lyonnaise

When something is served a la Lyonnaise, it incorporates sweet sauteed onions as a main ingredient. When the something served a la Lyonnaise is liver, it has the potential to be a favorite dish of mine. When the dish is done as perfectly as it was here, it is hands down a REVELATORY experience! This was my favorite dish of the night, and one of the best liver preparations I have ever had in my LIFE…my LIFE, I tell you!!! The thin fillet of liver was tender and velvety throughout, with not a stringy or tough part in it. A ightly crisped, browned exterior surrounded a rich, funky livery-y silken interior. The sweet onions brought a whole new taste to the dish, and the creamy mashed potatoes were a perfect compliment. This is my new favorite liver preparations in NYC.

Steak au Poivre

This dish was not as successful as its predecessors. Though the sauce was excellent – a spicy, creamy, rich delight – the steak itself was a bit tough and sinewy. It tasted very bland , lacking that deep, umami-filled, beefy taste that truly great steak has. This was a big letdown, as the steak itself was cooked to a perfect medium rare.

Terrine de Chocolate.

A French restaurant should excel at desserts. Sadly, this merely made the grade without succeeding it. Though the taste was rich and chocolaty, it was slightly bitter and the texture was too grainy for my taste.

This meal, if not stellar, was very good.. Thought the dessert and celeri remoulade were not quite to my liking, the liver and skate were out of this WORLD. The price point is excellent, the decor and service are charming, and the wine list is extremely extensive and varied. Head here for some bouillabaisse and liver a la Lyonnaise and you will not be disappointed.

Of course, I WILL be disappointed if you don’t take me with you.

*Note: My meal was paid for by the restaurant. I was not paid or required to write a review, and my opinions are my own and, I feel, impartial.*

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: french, review

Cascabel Taqueria’s Tasty Tongue Tacos

February 2, 2011 By fritosfg 2 Comments

I love Mexican food. I live in New York. And I am not rich enough to eat at Dos Caminos every night. Occasionally, these three facts work against each other.

No more.

Cascabel Taqueria is a small, casual Mexican restaurant on the Upper East Side (otherwise known as the Land of Jewish Grandparents). They were not too crowded on Sunday for brunch, so an 11:30 am taco breakfast it was!

Relaxed, bright, super casual.

Loved the zippy, tangy tomatillo sauce. The Devil Fire sauce was a little too smoky for me.

You know what wasn’t too smoky? The creamy, fatty, gently spicy, cilantro laden guacamole with hot and not too salty freshly fired tostadas. HOT DAMN! The combination of slightly warm, corny chips with avocados just can’t be beat. I would put this guac up against any in NYC, and it is by far the cheapest I have tried.

Pickled tomatillos, tomatoes and onions. Vinegary, tart, firm, with the faintest bite from the onions. Gentle but tangy. Could have drank the brine.

In fact…did drink the brine.

Don’t judge.

The Lengua tacos-braised veal tongue / spring onion / garlic oil / serrano chili. I have never had tongue before and this. was. AMAZING!!! Think the meaty, hefty taste of beef brisket with the incredibly soft texture of long braised short ribs cross bred with the fatty, unctuous taste of marrow. It was just so tender, beefy and delicious. I could imagine this stewed in red wine over polenta, but don’t know if it would be better than the lightly spicy and garlicky way it was served here. In two soft corn tortillas, with a dollop of that creamy and herby guacamole…that, my friends, is LOVE!

Oh…you are scared to try tongue? Does it gross you out?

Have you ever eaten a hot dog? Or a McNugget? Or, for that matter…airplane food?

Yeah, I rest my case.

Quick, delicious, incredibly cheap? With a full bar? The only complaints I have is that it is not located closer to me.

Although, for my pants size…that might actually be a good thing. Because I could eat here every day.

Filed Under: Upper East Side Tagged With: inexpensive, Mexican