Locanda Verde "Green Inn"

377 Greenwich St 
New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-3797
www.locandaverdenyc.com/
 

The spacious and beautiful kitchen @ Locanda Verde

Although we dined here two months ago (Yes, it's been that long - my computer crashed and it took me awhile to retrieve all my pictures) I still want to dedicate an entry to Locanda Verde as it left us with a very memorable dining experience. Ever since my cousin started to work at Locanda Verde, the restaurant has been on top of my "to-dine" list. Disgracefully, it wasn't until we actually did our research did we realize that the restaurant is a highly rated and popular dining spot in NYC! As one of Robert De Niro's capital ventures, Locanda Verde, formally known as Ago, is run by executive chef and co-owner, Andrew Carmellini. Reservations are definitely recommended as the restaurant fills up fast - even on the weekdays and before dinner hours! Luckily, I had inside connections (ok, my cousin was the one with the connections) and we were able to squeeze in on a Tuesday at 5:45pm.

Famous Lamb Meatball Sliders - hold your drool!

Despite the freezing rain (remember, this was back in January), we braved the weather and headed to the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant was warm and beautifully designed. It felt like a high-class night club; minus the tight crowd. We were led to the bar area where we ordered a few drinks to start - I had some sort of peach tea mixed with a small dose of alcohol. For a non-alcoholic person, it was weirdly satisfying. Along with our drinks were complimentary assorted nuts for guests to munch on while we waited for our tables to be ready.
 
Once seated, we noticed the open kitchen right next to the bar area. We watched the entire crew work seamlessly together to prepare the perfect meal - I love open kitchens! We were given warm bread with olive oil as dips. For starters, we ordered their signature Lamb Meatball sliders with caprino and cucumber (yay to no pickles!). The mini-burgers were deliciously tender and juicy. Moreover, the slider sauce  didn't sog up the buns as they were evenly spread and seasoned. The caprino was melted underneath the meatball. The cheese wasn't overpowering, but just enough to make it a remarkably enjoyable meatball slider! The dish also reminded me of the meatball sliders from The Little Owl in West Village - both delectable and heavenly! Unfortunately, there were only two sliders between the two of us, which made me slightly sad as I craved for more! In addition to sliders, we also ordered their other signature dish: Sheep's milk ricotta - my foodie partner enjoyed this appetizer because the ricotta had a good creamy texture that wasn't too overwhelming. It was like cream cheese, but a much lighter and fluffier version; and without the strong, gamey taste.

Looking pleased with the chicken & potatoes on the side

Our first entree came as a complimentary dish from the chef (VIP status, yo!!)  Regrettably, I was too excited about our complimentary dish that I completely forgot the dish's name (clearly, not an experienced VIP). The pasta was cooked al dente and mixed with clams. The serving size was enough to cleanse our palate for the next dish.

Our main entree was the Fire-Roasted Garlic Chicken (for two) which came in as a whole plate of different chicken parts. The chicken was well-seasoned with garlic and herbs rubbed on the skin of the chicken. While I usually prefer dark meat over white meat, the chicken at Locanda Verde was so well-cooked that even the white meat tasted juicy. We were able to taste the garlic flavor at every single bite. Along with the garlic chicken, my cousin also suggested a side of Crispy Garlic Potatoes with cheese. These cubed, bite-sized potatoes were fried to perfection and piping hot. The potatoes, along with the red wine, complemented the chicken very well, I'm glad we ordered it!

Free desserts for two - we were pampered silly!

Just when we thought we couldn't eat anymore, the waitress came out with three fully plated desserts!  (moral of the story: knowing someone in the restaurant business can get you fat) In spite of being full, I immediately grew another stomach and began to dig into dessert heaven. We finished the dinner off with coffee and tea.

In general, the food was delicious, the service was exemplary, the price was not absurdly expensive...and it certainly doesn't hurt if you know somebody who works there ;) Highly recommended!

Overall: 4/5

NYC Restaurant Week: JoJo

JoJo
160 E 64th St

New York, NY 10021

Tel: (212) 223-5656

http://www.jean-georges.com/

JoJo is a cute restaurant tucked in the streets of the itzy ritzy Upper East Side. It was my second time at a Jean-Georges' establishment; and while his restaurants are usually more modern and spacious, JoJo was very different from the usual restaurant scenes that I've been to. Walking in, I felt like I was visiting someone's townhouse - there were two floors in total; and we were seated on the first floor. The cuteness of the place made me want to squeal. I was swept away by the gorgeous decor. Yup, swept away! Like a Princess who just found her castle. This was the second spot we visited during Restaurant Week and I must admit that the quaint decor and Victorian-styled furniture played a huge factor when I booked a table at JoJo's.

The service was attentive and friendly. We encountered some issues at the beginning, though. The hostess couldn't find our reservation and we had lost our reserved table. Turned out there was a glitch in the system as the restaurant had placed my original reservation for the following night instead. Ugh, I know. Thankfully, the hostess was able to squeeze in an extra reservation for us..and all is well again!

The food was great - we had the Butternut Squash Soup, a great dish to fight off the frigid weather. The soup was creamy, but light enough to finish. Even though it was Restaurant Week, it was still relatively quiet and private, which I liked. The seats were pretty small and tight-spaced. The tables for two felt like a small coffee table - very petite and cute, but also very cramped!

For the entree, I had the Salmon (served with mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts and truffle vinaigrette). The salmon was cooked medium rare and was soft, moist, and flavorful. If you want something light to balance the creamy soup - this is the dish you'd want to get! The truffle vinaigrette gave the salmon a tangy flavor - this helped avoid the blandness that may sometimes be of concern with lighter dishes. I really liked the mashed potatoes as well - soft, creamy, and fluffy. My foodie partner on the other hand, ordered the Chicken topped with mango salsa, with polenta fries on the side.

While we were hesitant of ordering a chicken entree, we were greedy people and wanted to try every different dish on the menu so we went ahead and ordered the chicken. Bad move! The chicken was not good. How did they mess up the chicken? It was moist on the outside, but rather dry on the inside and flavorLESS. It was quite a disappointment considering this was the only other dish that was offered besides the salmon on the Restaurant Week menu. You'd think they'd be more selective with their dishes?

For desserts, we shared the Passion Fruit Pavlova and the supposedly famous Chocolate Molten Cake. There was no doubt that I completely ditched the passion fruit dessert and dodged right in for the chocolate molten cake. My poor food partner  was left with the healthy..fruity..dessert...while I barbarically dug my spoon into the warm oozing chocolate. Needless to say, one dish was destroyed while the other one was left half-eaten/ barely touched. It was clear which dessert was the better one ; )

I've been told that due to popular demand, JoJo now offers lunch and dinner specials all year round! I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the cheaper deals and dine at JoJo. The atmosphere of this place is gorgeous - dressed with heavy curtains, chandeliers, and different patterned wallpapers - JoJo makes a unique spot for fine dining with the girlfriends and/or boyfriend!

Overall: 3.5/5

NYC Restaurant Week: Morimoto

Morimoto
88 10th Ave
New York, NY 10024
Tel: (212) 989-8883
http://www.morimotonyc.com/

I've been wanting to go to Morimoto ever since..f-o-r-e-v-e-r! I remember talking about visiting the restaurant a few years back with a couple of friends, but our plans never worked out. SO! when the 2011 Restaurant Week list came out, I knew this was going to be my chance to get affordable (and good) Japanese food......ok, and mayyybe get a chance to meet the Iron Chef himself. 

Morimoto's Tuna Tartare

Coconut drink - A++!

The interior of the restaurant is really chic and modern - suitable for young professionals, students, as well as the elderly crowd. Since it was restaurant week, the place was (no doubt) bustling with people. Prior to our food, I ordered a non-alcoholic coconut drink topped with basil. Highly recommended for anyone who loves coconut!

Even though we wanted to take advantage of the restaurant week prices, we couldn't help but look through the menu at other available options. As an extra side, we ordered the Tuna Tartare which was cleverly presented and super delicious! The sauces were laid out nicely on a rectangle wooden tray which included: fresh wasabi, sour cream, seaweed puree, chopped up green onions, avocado, and little rice cracker balls. We certainly attracted a lot of wandering eyes when this dish came out. The tuna itself was very fresh and light. I really liked the combo of rice cracker balls and seaweed puree with the tuna.

The lunch prix fixe they offered came in an oversized bento box. We ordered the waygu and black cod bento box set. The set came with miso soup, fresh salad, fried tempura w/ some sort of creamy sauce, and sushi/sashimi. Unfortunately, the portions were a little tiny (I'll admit that I can eat more than the average girl, but believe me when I say the portions were definitely on the smaller side). I felt bad for the big hungry man across from us. Poor dude. The waygu beef was a little too salty, ordinary, and again...too small of a portion. The black cod on the other hand was great - with just the right touch of sweetness.

The dessert served was a Green Tea Coconut Panna Cotta with berries on top. Taste was good, but nothing spectacular. The service was great considering our waitress had many tables to juggle due to restaurant week. Judging by the Tuna Tartare off the restaurant's original menu (not restaurant week menu), I would come back here again to try their other mouthwatering dishes!

Overall: 3.8/5

Blue Ribbon Brasserie

Blue Ribbon
97 Sullivan St
New York, NY 10012
Tel: 212-274-0404

On a Thursday night, my foodie partner and I ventured our way to South Village. We had read about Blue Ribbon and wanted to give it a try. We arrived at the restaurant around 6:45pm and were seated immediately. The place is the perfect spot for dates and small gatherings; the environment is warm and exudes a cozy ambiance. Our waiter was very attentive and  friendly - he recommended a dish that I would definitely not miss out on: Beef Bone Marrow and Oxtail Marmalade served with warm toast. The oxtail marmalade tasted like a chunk of warm, gooey, fatty...goodie, to say the least. The marmalade mixed with the beef marrow spread on warm toast was like I died and went to food heaven. We finished the entire plate between two people (meant for three) with no problem!

Their raw oysters (from the east and west coast) were decent - the dish came with three types of sauce. I am unable to pinpoint it exactly, but I think I'd prefer east coast oysters more than west coast oysters. They're both delicious, though. I would recommend this dish if you're unsure of what to order and want to play it "safe" : )

My partner and I shared the entree: Hanger Steak with wild mushrooms and onion rings; and they were nice enough to split the portions for us. The steak wasn't extraordinary, though so I personally wouldn't order it again. I would love to try their Roasted Duck next time.

As for desserts, we ordered the Creme Brulee and it was delicious!! Blue Ribbon officially holds the best creme brulee award (so far) on my list! The dessert was a little bit chilled - which made everything more intact and less heavy when consumed. I don't like my creme brulee served room temperature/warm because that tends to bring out the extra sweetness which I don't like.

They also have a wide variety of wine selection. We ordered a bottle of their red wine for $80 - in terms of ROI, it was much more worthy than ordering by the glass. Overall, the experience at Blue Ribbon was wonderful and I am happy to say that I'll be going back in a few days!

Overall: 4.5/5

Fast Food @ Pommes Frites

Pommes Frites
123 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003

One of the many guilty pleasure foods located on St. Marks -- fries -- not just any type of fries, but authentic Belgian fries! Pommes Frites is a frequent craving that I often share with my friends. The hole in the wall is open until 1:00am on weekdays and 3:30am on weekends - not too difficult to spot when you see a bunch of college kids crowding infront of the shop. There aren't many seats available on the inside, but the cramped atmosphere makes it intimate and cozy.

The portions of the fries come in three sizes: regular, large, or double. Personally, I think the regular size is good enough for two people to share (unless you are replacing your dinner with these fries, I don't think the large or double is necessary). The sauce menu is quite extensive, and what makes this place so special is that you can dip the fries in honey mustard mayo, curry sauce, peanut satay sauce... My personal favorites are: mango chutney and pomegranate teriyaki mayo. My partner really loves their wasabi mayo, but I thought it was okay..not highly recommended. Either way, it's going to take me a numerous trips for me to try all of the sauces.

The last time I visited the shop, they had their special truffle fries, which I tried - not impressed. I couldn't tell the difference between these "special" fries apart from the regular. Overall, the fries are hot and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The secret? They are fried twice - they are cooked first and then fried to a golden crisp the second time. Yummmm...

*Sauces are $1.00 each; and 3 sauces gives you a better deal of $2.50