Japanese

Momofuku Noodle Bar – Unique Ramen and Rockin Buns

January 4, 2013 By fritosfg 1 Comment

It’s hard to have a restaurant in NYC that is cool and relevant for even a minute. If you have one for years? Along with an ever expanding empire, a name in the media, and a highly acclaimed magazine? Well then, you are probably David Chang. The man behind the Momofuku has several restaurants, all of which are still so cool that you will have to wait a minimum of 25 minutes, no matter what time of day you walk in. Don’t expect his restaurants to be traditional, but do expect them to be delicious and very inventive.

Case in point: Momofuku Noodle Bar.

This long, light East Village restaurant is always packed, but the tables turn quickly. Expect to be jostled as you wait for your seat (don’t forget to put in your name with the host), and then consider yourself lucky if you get a booth. Most of us are sat at a long, high communal table with stools without backs. Just FYI.

Brisket buns with horseradish mayo, pickled red onions, cucumber, and lettuce

Having already tried the famous pork buns, I went with the brisket buns this time. Wow. Really, really awesome. Very tender brisket, with a melting layer of fat, smoky as if it was on the BBQ, but soft as if it were cooked the Jewish way. Layered on a soft, sticky bun with cool veggies and creamy, hot horseradish mayo, this really hits the spot. It also prepares you for the rest of the meal – not traditional, not totally Korean OR Japanese OR anything else…just totally Chang.

Chilled spicy noodles with sichuan sausage, spinach,a nd candied cashews

Stop the presses. This may be my new favorite noodle dish in NYC.

The noodles are incredibly springy and al dente, with just enough give to absorb the mouth numbing, lip tingling, nose running house made chili oil. The sausage is hot and juicy, filled with Sichuan spices that are warming and aromatic. The spinach soaks up more of that delicious chili oil and even the cashews – not my favorite nut – were a welcome crunchy, sweet note. The portion is extremely generous and the flavor is well balanced. I really can’t say enough about it.

Mint Chocolate Cake Truffles

Not my favorite cake truffles, as they are a bit aggressive in the mint department, but still tasty enough to gobble down whole.

A lunch here will cost you about $20, but I am shocked to say that it’s worth it. The ingredients are high end, the food is really unexpected, and it is so tasty. I am craving those noodles as I write this and can’t think of another ramen in town that is more unique or better balanced in terms of flavor. Add to that excellent, fast service, and you have a restaurant that will absolutely last the test of time.

Actually, it already has.

Filed Under: East Village Tagged With: Asian, Japanese, korean

East Noodle and Izakaya – More Than Meets the Eye

December 5, 2012 By fritosfg Leave a Comment

You know those restaurants you walk right by? The ones that seem just a little too cheap, or where the menu is jut a little too big, or where the deal just seems a little too good to be true? Most of the time you are right to pass those by. Most of the time, you just keep on walking to a smaller, more authentic place, and you are sure to get a better value for your time and money.

BUT…

sometimes, you should go into those places. Like when there are 5 of you who are cold and hungry and just on the verge of whining. Like when this place has a huge table just waiting for you. Like when the atmosphere is jovial and fun, not to say rowdy.

Like when you pass East Noodle and Izakaya on St. Marks. From the outside it’s a tourist trap. From the inside, it’s a melting pot of student teachers form NYU, families with kids, couples on dates, and lone diners at the bar.

It’s ideal for a delicious but inexpensive meal.

Though you could get the agedashi tofu, creamy and custardy within its crisply fried exterior, saturated in salty sauce, or the thick and hearty vegetable pajeon, that isn’t why you come here. You come here for the many delicious yakitori. Here are just a few of my favorite skewered meats and vegetables:

Chicken thigh with scallion

Simple but supremely done. Moist and tender chicken, slightly bitter from the char marks on the outside. Tinged with salty soy and separated from the bite of sharp scallions, this is a delightful skewer.

Chicken thigh with yuzu

Oh, get this. The thigh is rough and charred from the fire, bursting with savory juices within. Atop, it is brushed with sour yuzu juice that is so spicy that it makes the lips tingle. Not overly fiery, it definitely announces its presence, and it’s hot and sour taste compliment’s the meat’s natural sweetness.

Pork belly

Pork, come to mama. Supremely fatty and sweet, with a garlicky bbq sauce on the outside that picked up the savory notes of the pork. If you don’t like pork belly or visible fat, don’t get this. But if you love the natural taste of pork and the mushy taste of well caramelized fat, then jump on this skewer and ride it to the end of the line.

Chicken hearts

Like grilled liver but a bit less chalky and more bouncy. That minerally, iron-heavy taste combined with salty-sweet teriyaki sauce. If you like liver, you will absolutely love chicken hearts. Get over it people…if you have eaten hot dogs, you have eaten offal.

JapChae

Yeah, i know I said it was all about the skewers. But this Korean holdover really deserves mention. Glass noodles sautéed with vegetables. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But these noodles are something else. Tender and slippery, with a good bite. Coated in salty, umami forward sauce that is sweet without being cloying and savory without being aggressive. Sweet onions, soft zucchini, and other vegetables rounding out the dish. This is really something where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Bravo to the chef.

Bibimbap

Traditional? No. But delicious? Yep. Soft and sticky rice, crisped by the dolsot, blended with spicy gochujang, bits of softened vegetables, and strips of long, thin, delightfully fatty gyudon beef. Don’t miss it…it’s addictive.

This whole place is addictive. I defy you to spend more than $30 a person here, with each person leaving stuffed to the gills. The service is fast, the atmosphere is fun, and the food, while not revelatory, is really tasty.

You will be so glad that you stepped into a restaurant that you would normally pass over.

Filed Under: East Village Tagged With: Japanese

Mitsuwa Japanese Gourmet Fair

June 27, 2012 By fritosfg 2 Comments

The next time you want to visit Japan, just book your flight on All Nippon Airways.

Or, you can go to Edgewater, New Jersey.

There, you will find Mitsuwa, a Japanese grocery store where you can find everything from mascara to rice makers to food imported straight from Japan. All the signs are in Japanese and most of the employees are Japanese, too. There is a wonderful Japanese food court and every now and then, there is a food fair with food and chefs flown in from Hokkaido, Okinawa, and other places in Japan.

The prices are also extremely reasonable.

Ready for a little trip to Japan?

If you are lucky enough to come here during a food fair, bypass the right side of the market (where you can get delicious prepared sushi, gyudon, and other Japanese treats) and go straight to the food court on the left side.

You may be lucky enough to see an assortment of croquettes, filled with everything from squid to chicken curry to…

butter and potato. Butter listed first because it is absolutely the predominant ingredient in this patty. It is mashed butter with some potatoes in there. Yet, it is not greasy. Just rich, comforting, creamy mashed potatoes encased in a feather light batter.

If that doesn’t get your engine going, there is no hope for you.

Feel free to ignore the bean paste sweets. I keep trying to love them and I can’t even like them.

Instead, go towards a giant vat of fresh snow crab.

Get a rice bowl topped with salmon roe, the fresh crab, and Hokkaido uni (which is dryer and a bit brinier than the Santa Barbara uni I love).

Or, go with the crab topped inari. The tofu wrapper is supple and sweet, stuffed with slightly sticky rice, crunchy bits of lotus root, and the richest, mildest crab you have ever had. Imported from Hokkaido, it is buttery and almost sugary. Tender and fresh, it is the best crab sushi I have ever had. At only $13 for 4 pieces, it is also a steal.

There are octopus scallion bombs for those of you who love fish cakes…

and a custard filled waffle that is more like breakfast than dessert.

I will leave the tuna pizza crepe to you to try. I’m not that brave.

You can find me at the buttery potato coquette station.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Japanese, review

Jiro Dreams of 15 East Sushi

March 26, 2012 By fritosfg 7 Comments

Art is a powerful medium. It not only reflects the human experience, it makes us question our beliefs and contemplate the meaning of life and if we are alone in the universe.

In the case of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, it also makes us hungry.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a documentary about what many consider to be the finest sushi restaurant in the world. It chronicles Jiro’s life work, his passion for sushi, and his relationship with his two sons.

To get an idea of how serious he is about his sushi, when a young man first comes to apprentice him, he is allowed only to squeeze hand towels for the first 3 years of service. After that, he may start slicing fish. Then, and only then, is he allowed to start making the omelettes.

Jiro doesn’t fool around.

And neither does Chef Shimizu, at 15 East.

This small, almost hidden restaurant in Union Square, has some New York City’s most excellent sushi. After seeing the veritable food porn on the silver screen, I was craving some really high end nigiri and sashimi, and 15 East was the first stop on my list.

The restaurant is done in clean lines and light tones, with a small sushi bar in an anteroom outside the calm dining room. Note that if you make a reservation online, you won’t eat at the sushi bar – you must call in person to make a reservation here.

Though I was craving sushi, that’s not all that 15 East does well.

Foie Gras and Truffle Chawanmushi

This steamed egg custard arrives piping hot, with an earthy scent from the black truffles. The first taste is that umami hit of the foie gras reduction swimming on top, then the rich creaminess of the egg custard. Eggs, truffles, foie gras: the trio to end all trios. Perfectly balanced, perfectly complimentary. Hidden in the custard are meaty mushrooms and slightly spicy radish. This savory custard is indulgent without being heavy – an ideal appetizer

Soba with Santa Barbara Uni

Uni is the pure essence of the ocean, like a silkier version of oysters. At its best, it is salty, clean tasting, and almost melts on your tongue, leaving behind something like the memory of ocean air. This is uni at its best. Perfectly cleaned tongues of uni, dissolving in the mouth, tasting so fresh and almost sweet. Draped over al dente soba noodles, which have very earthy taste that is pleasantly reminiscent of hay. With its deep, soy flavored broth, this is a complex and satisfying dish.

Sushi Omakase

For $28, you get a selection of 7 pieces of nigiri plus half of a roll, all the chef’s selection. If you particularly like or don’t like something, feel free to mention it, and your request will be met with pleasure from the waitstaff.

This could not be a more perfect plate of sushi. Well, rewind…it could. The rice, is, to my taste, a bit too al dente and not seasoned enough. However, that is nitpicking, because it is still good and the fish is fantastic. Everything from needlefish to hamachi to king salmon to seared goldeneye snapper is seasoned specifically and served so that each fish would compliment the other. Some are clean and snappy, some are velvety and rich, some are lightly seared and smoky and others are touched with a bit of ponzu to impart a lightly acidic taste. The negitoro roll is fantastic – fatty, lush, sharp with scallions.

Though this is a perfect lunchtime portion, be aware that your inner sushi beast will be awakened and you will probably order more sushi after this. Don’t blame yourself – after all, you’re only human. And this sushi is divine.

15 East is not the place to come when you want 3 sushi rolls for $10 and a fruity cocktail. It isn’t the place to take someone who thinks that sushi means fusion rolls filled with cream cheese and Doritos. This is a place to spend some serious money in a lovely setting with a passionate waitstaff who loves to discuss the difference between toro and maguro with you.
The sushi is pristine and the cooked dishes are inventive and expertly prepared. Though Jiro dreams of sushi, Fritos and Foie Gras dreams of 15 East.

Filed Under: NYC, Union Square Tagged With: Fine Dining, Japanese, review

Kodama – Theatre District Sushi with the Stars

March 7, 2012 By fritosfg 1 Comment

Eating a meal before the theatre is tricky. You have to be close enough to the theatre to relax and enjoy your meal, but you have to eat somewhere that isn’t…horrible. With few exceptions, anything east of 9th Avenue and west of Park Avenue in the 40′s is either too casual, too expensive, or just too gross.

That is why you need to know about Kodama.

Kodama is not fancy. It isn’t authentic. But it is reliable, with excellent prices, fresh food, and a varied menu. It serves the kind of Japanese food that many foodies frown upon – soba alongside katsu with many Americanized sushi rolls. It has excellent service, awesome lunch specials, and is popular with Broadway actors in between shows. It is an unexpected gold mine for seeing movie stars dabbling in theatre chowing down on tekka maki on a Saturday night.

Tempura Lotus Root

Lotus root has a very mild taste that takes on the flavor of whatever it is served with. It has a texture in between jicama and french fries – firm, but not crunchy. This is dipped in an incredibly light, crisp batter and served with a sweet and salty soy dipping sauce. It is crunchy, it is salty, it is pretty much like more mild onion rings. Highly recommended.

Spicy Tuna Roll, Yellowtail Scallion Roll

Unlike many places that serve chopped fish in their spicy rolls, these are whole pieces of tuna and yellowtail, served with a spicy mayo based sauce and slivers of crunchy scallion, respectively. The fish is always pristine here – fresh, clean tasting, and lush but not too fatty. The spicy sauce is more spiced than really hot, and the scallions provide a sharp, clean contrast to the luscious yellowtail. The rice is always fresh, and while a bit mushy this time, it is well seasoned. Also, the pickled ginger is of high quality.

Yasuda, this ain’t. But if you want a meal that is well priced, quite tasty, and literally steps away from the theatre, you should really try Kodama.

And you might have lunch next to someone whose name rhymes with Killip Teymour Bloffman…just sayin. That happens here.

Filed Under: Midtown, NYC Tagged With: Japanese

Pod – More than Meets the Eye

February 21, 2012 By fritosfg Leave a Comment

I am that rare breed of woman who really enjoys being proved wrong.
Like I was about Pod, a trendy restaurant in West Philadelphia.

The vibe inside this hip place is bachelorette party-anime cartoon-Jetsons chic. Think changing LED lights, a revolving sushi counter, and namesake “pod” booths along the windows. The joint was jumping on a Friday night, but it seems very sceney - not really the type of place that would have great food.

Being wrong can be so awesome.

Lychee Margarita with Spicy Salt Rim
One of the best drinks I have had in recent memory. Smooth, high quality tequila with fresh lime and the sweet, almost velvety taste and mouthfeel of the lychees. The lychee erases the need for sweet syrups that give me sugar hangovers, and the spicy salted rim cuts through the burn of the tequila and the sweetness of the lychee. It is balanced and light – a perfect way to start the meal.

Chicken Potstickers with Mustard Aioli
Crisp, thin wrappers surrounding juicy nuggets of chicken, onion, and ginger. Sweet and savory, there is another layer added when the crisp morsels are dipped into the zippy mustard sauce. There is a good kick of horseradish there, and the taste is far more mustard-y than mayonnaise-y, letting the taste of the chicken shine through.

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice with Serrano Chili
Similar to the dish at Koi, with creamy, fresh tuna, the heat from a sliver of Serrano chiles, and that rice. That incredible rice – sweet, sticky, and salty with steaming insides and crunchy edges, crackling pleasantly next to the smooth texture of the tuna. It could have been a tad spicier, but, then, what couldn’t be spicier in my book?

Rockin’ Spicy Tuna Roll – Spicy Tuna Roll Topped with Tempura Rock Shrimp and Spicy Aioli

This is top notch sushi. Don’t let the flashing lights and admittedly frou-frou cocktails distract you – this sushi is excellent, on par with many serious sushi restaurants. Each grain of rice is perfectly al dente, slightly sweet with rice vinegar. The seaweed is nutty and crisp surrounding the smooth, fatty tuna. Crunchy rock shrimp, sugary and meaty within its light batter, drizzled with a spicy, not to say hot, aioli. Spicy, sweet, soft, and crunchy. With a quick smear of wasabi, this didn’t even need soy sauce. It is a fantastic sushi roll.

Cauliflower Robata with Balsamic Teriyaki Glaze
The most surprising dish of the night. This totally vegan dish is incredibly meaty! The combination of balsamic and teriyaki is a double dose of umami, and paired with tender, almost creamy cauliflower, it’s an undeniably decadent tasting dish. Yet, it’s so light that it could be a diet food. Cooked on the robata, which is a Japanese charcoal grill, the outside is charred and crisp while the inside becomes soft, though not mushy. The glaze is sweet, sour, and piquant, and the result is memorable in every way.

Fluffernutter Spring Rolls with Dark Chocolate Sauce
Fried eggroll wrappers filled with marshmallow cream and melting creamy peanut butter. Dipped in a thin dark chocolate glaze, it’s bitterness cutting through the sweetness and richness of the eggroll.

It was warm and it was sensational.

Pod really proved me wrong. Though the vibe is kind of trendy, the food is anything but. It is expertly prepared, served by knowledgeable waitstaff, in a gorgeous, upbeat setting. I really can’t think of any place in NYC that matches food of this caliber with such unpretentious service. Nor can I think of anywhere serving better cauliflower.
And, trust me when I say that any woman would love to be proved wrong by dining here and enjoying it.

Filed Under: Philadelphia Tagged With: Asian, Japanese, philadelphia, review

Tabata: Confessions of a Ramen Slut

January 10, 2012 By fritosfg 4 Comments

I am a ramen slut. I give myself freely to sodium filled, dried packets of ramen and to high end ramen served with dashi foam in elegant restaurants. All these ramens incite my lust and excitement. But the ramen that I really feel for, with which I could really fall in love? Well, that ramen is the type of ramen that you would find in your Mama-san’s house.

That’s Tabata Ramen.

This minuscule, extremely clean restaurant on the south side of Port Authority ain’t fancy. There is a counter and a few tables in back, coke served from the can, and food that comes out quickly. This is a great place for a quick lunch or dinner – not a place to linger and discuss religion.

Green Salad

Every entree comes with this simple green salad. Just a few leaves of iceberg lettuce with a soy-sesame vinaigrette. Nothing special, but a nice way to cleanse the palate before what is a very hearty meal.

Pork and Egg Fried Rice

So, SO good. This is not the standard, dried out, soy-dominated fried rice at most restaurants. This rice was incredibly fluffy, with soft egg, caramelized nuggets of pork, and a pile of spicy pickled ginger on the side. The rice was so delicate that it made the dish seem much lighter than it actually was. That means you can eat even more of it. Awesome.

Geki Kara Ramen with Hard Boiled Eggs, Roast Pork, Bean Sprouts, Scallions, and Hot Chili Oil
Though this wasn’t quite hellishly spicy, as promised, it was absolutely delicious. Tabata uses chicken broth instead of pork, which gave it an extremely light, unsalty flavor. Usually after I eat ramen, I am dehydrated for hours, but not this time. The texture of the noodles itself was remarkable – springy, pleasantly chewy, and incredibly satisfying. The broth, which had a slow, light burn, was filled with snappy bean sprouts, fresh scallions, and these amazing hard boiled eggs. Amazing because although the whites were perfectly boiled, the yolks were velvety and not quite opaque – they were just a TAD jiggly. Creamy and smooth, they enriched the soup and added heartiness.

Let’s not forget the pork, which was tender and juicy, though not quite as fatty as I prefer.

Gyu-Don

This beef over rice is like Yoshinoya, but about a thousand times better. Thin slices of beef and onions simmered in a sweet soy based sauce until the whole mess is caramelized. The fat on the beef melts and becomes succulent. Sweet, salty, utterly umami. Served over sticky rice, there is nothing more comforting and delicious.

That’s all Tabata is: comforting and delicious. And cheap. And fast. And convenient to Port Authority. Well, I guess it’s a lot more than just comforting and delicious. It really has a lot to offer.

Especially to a ramen slut like me.

Filed Under: Hell's Kitchen Tagged With: hells kitchen, inexpensive, Japanese, review

Oyako Don – Mother and Child Chicken, Eggs, and Rice

December 8, 2011 By fritosfg 3 Comments

When you hear the term “mother and child,” the first thing that comes to your mind might not be “lunch.” But, indeed, that’s just what oyako don is. This Japanese dish served over rice, is comprised of chicken (the mother) and eggs (the child). If you can get around the sneaking suspicion that you are being cannibalistic (the name really is kind of creepy, right?), then you will be privy to one of the most delicious meals known to humanity. It is unbelievably cheap, easy to make, and delicious at any time of the day.

Oyako Don (Adpated from 3 Hungry Tummies)

Ingredients:

1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken (white or dark meat will work), cut into bite size chunks

1 onion, sliced into thin rings

1/4 cup chicken stock

1/8 cup mirin or white wine

1/8 cup soy

5 scallions, sliced into rings

4 eggs, whisked

2 egg yolks (optional)

Oil, in which to saute

Rice for serving

1) Saute the onions in the oil over very low heat until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes

2) Add the chicken to the pan.

3) Add the stock, mirin, and soy sauce to the pan, cover the pan, and let it cook for about 10 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked through.

4) Add the whisked eggs

and scallions to the pan.

5) Cover the pan, and let the eggs cook until they are about 70% cooked through – set around the edges, but still jiggly in the center.

When the eggs are set around the edge, but still slightly undercooked in the center, turn off the heat. Wait for 5 minutes, or until the residual heat finishes cooking the eggs.

6) Put the hot white rice in a bowl, top with the egg and chicken mixture, and top with an egg yolk if desired.

7) Serve

This is the most comforting meal on the face of the planet. The chicken is tender, infused with the salty, sweet, umami flavor of the cooking stock. The onions are sweet and tender, almost like the onions in a French onion soup. The eggs are a unique texture – fluffier than an omelette, with the creaminess of scrambled eggs but the delicate lightness of a souffle. It absorbs the savory flavors of the chicken and the sharp bite of the scallions. The egg yolk really puts this over the top. The steaming rice gently cooks the yolk, and as you mix it in the dish, it makes the whole thing creamy and rich, almost like a risotto. I topped this with a sliced serrano chile, which contrasted pleasantly with the creamy richness of the rest of the dish, but my mom prefers it as is. Because she is a wimp when it comes to heat.

Of course, my never ending spice feud with my mother is a wholly different mother and child blog.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Asian, Japanese, Recipes

Momoya is Meh

November 22, 2011 By fritosfg 1 Comment

I have been known to like chi-chi sushi restaurants before, so I figured I would give Momoya a try. It seemed a little pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for, right?

The UWS location, small but not cramped, is upscale but extremely casual – the lunchtime crowd included moms with strollers, business people on lunch breaks, and know it all food bloggers wearing stretchy pants.

Salad

VERY meh. And this is from someone who loves all those standard salads you get at sushi restaurants. This time, the mesclun greens were weighed down by the thick dressing, rendering them limp and tasteless. The dressing itself was far too sweet, without the spicy, pungent, tart quality that makes ginger dressing so delicious.

Momoya Spicy Yellowtail

Spicy Yellowtail wrapped in Seared Yellowtail with Jalapeno Relish

This was a real conundrum. The yellowtail atop the sushi was incredible – buttery, mild, fatty but not overly so. The seared edges gave it a hearty taste while the rare inside was fresh and soft. The spicy yellowtail mixture, however, was incredibly bland. Was it tuna? Was it yellowtail? Was there any wasabi in there whatsoever? Additionally, the jalapeno relish didn’t have any heat at all. Too bad, because the quality of the seared yellowtail was top notch.

Amsterdam Roll

Spicy Tuna and Shrimp Tempura Wrapped in Soy Paper

I don’t know what this was. A humongous glob of rice wrapped around some non-spicy tuna and some very well fried shrimp. Relatively tasteless and way too huge to eat in one mouthful.

I mean, I ate it in one mouthful. But it was way too big, anyway. This was just…odd. Not great.

Udon with Tempura

First of all: Wow. Now, THIS is a portion size. The tempura on the side was great – snappy shrimp inside crisp tempura breading, creamy eggplant and tender-crisp broccoli, all delicious with a sprinkling from the shaker of togashari pepper. The udon was also quite good – springy, chewy noodles with the perfect texture ina mild vegetable broth laden with meaty shitaki and tender enoki mushrooms. This was a great serving size and quite tasty. But the price was ridiculous – $13 for this? No. Sorry. Not cutting it.

And sadly, Momoya isn’t cutting it. I can eat sushi with cheaper prices and better taste all over the city. Sadly, I can’t recommend this place. But I do recommend you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving – see you after the holiday!

Filed Under: Upper West Side Tagged With: Japanese, review, Upper West Side

West Side Stories: B Cafe and Miyako Sushi

October 25, 2011 By fritosfg Leave a Comment

This is just what it sounds like – a couple of quickie reviews of UWS restaurants. Both are reasonably priced, with relaxed atmospheres and good service. So, how do they fare?:

B Cafe is a small Belgian restaurant that is casual, quiet, and perfect for having a beer with a friend or a relaxed night out.

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Mache, Walnuts and Olive Oil

Such a simple salad, but a perfect one. Tender, herbaceous mache, grassy, creamy goat cheese, meaty walnuts, licoricy fennel and a bracing, mustard dressing that cut through the richness of the cheese and the sweetness of the beets. Oh, those beets. Miniature sized, yellow and purple, so sweet and delicious that my dining partner who “hates” beets promptly ate them all.

Yeah, I was pretty pissed off about that.

Macaroni and Cheese

Bad blogger that I am (that was a test, you should disagree with me now), I did not write down the types of cheese used here. But they were extremely strong – pungent, sharp, woodsy, with underlying levels of funkiness similar to a blue cheese. I love strong cheese, and at first bite, it was a bit strong even for me. However, as I kept eating the flavors mellowed out and I enjoyed the stringy sauce, crunchy cheese on top, and al dente noodles. A large portion and well priced.

Miyako is one of those sushi restaurants you don’ really frequent – if you want the food, you order it in. There is nothing wrong with the small, clean restaurant, it just isn’t a destination -not for a date, not for dinner with the folks, and if you are taking yourself out alone, you might as well go somewhere fancy and eat at the bar, right? Regardless of all that, Miyako is a reliable spot for some fresh, tasty sushi.

Gyoza

Um, no. I love me a good fried dumpling and this ain’t the real stuff. Greasy, limp, chewy skin surrounded flaccid vegetable filling. Not bad so much as…a waste of stomach space. And since dumplings are next to Godliness, this is really a sin.

Yellowtail Jalepeno Roll

Just want chili heads like myself crave. Fresh, silky yellowtail atop still-warm sticky rice, spicy yellowtail and avocado. Topped with a razor-thin slice of jalapeno, the taste is at first mild and slightly salty, followed by the creaminess of the avocado and finishing with the lip-prickling heat of the jalapeno. Fresh, clean, spicy and delicious.

So, there you have it – 2 very good restaurants. Not destination worthy, but I would be pleased to have them down in my neck of the woods.

Filed Under: Upper West Side Tagged With: Belgian, Japanese, review, Upper West Side, Vegetarian