Don Peppe

November 27, 2016 in Food

I'm not going to lie, the only reason I know of Don Peppe is because of Entourage. The number of times Turtle raved about the linguine with white clam sauce got me drooling out of control. Finally, I decided to make the effort all the way deep into Queens. Living in Manhattan, this isn't exactly the stroll down the street. You definitely need to make a significant effort. But if you like good Italian food, adventures, and Entourage, I definitely recommend it.

Ambiance / Decor / Service

Let's just say the lighting here is extremely bright (good for photos though) and invasive. The space is large, crowded and busy. It can be a bit overwhelming. If you got a sinus infection or a splitting headache, the ambiance may not be the most accommodating. But I liked it, it was warm, welcoming and got that old school Queens feel.

Food

I actually really enjoyed the food. It was solid homey Italian food. They only have one menu hanging on the back wall. Everything is family style.

1) The baked clams were solid, but not my favorite. I felt there were too much breading and not enough clams. However, the seasoning and flavors were nice.

2) Linguine with white clam sauce was my favorite, it was so well made in my opinion. Simple, flavorful and delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked and drenched in warm buttery clam sauce.

3) Chicken marsala. At first glance, it looked kind of lame. At first bite, I wasn't too impressed. It is a very light dish. But after getting deeper into the dish, I realized it was pretty well made. The chicken was tender and the sauce was not overwhelming. I found myself craving it the next day.

4) Red wine. Oddly, the house red wine was served cold. I guess it's just something they do? For a house wine, it actually was legit, despite the cool temperature.

5) Dessert. The cannoli and pistachio Tartufo were so good. Such simple Italian desserts well made.

Reservation

They do not take reservations. I went there around 7pm on a Saturday and the wait was about 30-45min. It wasn't too bad and they have a pretty fast turnover.

Price

I'd say about $40-50 per person including tip and tax.

Zz's Clam Bar

August 08, 2016 in Food

ZZ's Clam Bar is hands down one of my favorite spots in the city. I've been here a handful (10+) times and the food and drinks make me happy every time.

Ambiance / Decor

If you've read my previous reviews of Major Food Group restaurants, you'll know that I've said this countless times before but I always love the setting and ambiance of their restaurants. I usually go to ZZ's on Fridays or Saturdays (because I have a boring corporate job) and they are always playing Latin/Salsa music, momentarily taking you to another setting. It's a small intimate joint with good food, drinks, and music.

The space is very intimate with ~14 seats total and ~9 for dining, but yet it feels spacious. It's got that quirky yet very classy decor where details matter and are appreciated. I absolutely love the crystal chandelier, clean-cut marble tables, and Seafood display by the bar filled with fruits and tropical plants. It's a rare establishment where they got all three right, by all three I'm referring to food, decor/ambiance, and service.

Food

The food is great. Really unique flavors and excellent presentation. They take seafood to another level. It's like designer seafood.

1) Uni toast—Each order comes with two small pieces, but so worth it. Fresh uni served on a buttery soft pretzel toast with chives. It's mouthwatering. I absolutely recommend.

2) Scottish Salmon—The salmon paired with honey mustard is also really good. It's much more simple and goes well together with toast.

3) Chanina Beef Carpaccio, Uni, Lobster and Caviar—I don't know why, but this odd combination just works. It's fresh, heavy (in a good way), and tasty with pieces of lightly buttered toast. Just get it and don't look back.

4) Oysters—You can't go wrong with oysters. They are fresh and delicious!

Drinks

The drinks are absolutely some of the best in the city. I think for $20 it's worth it because you can go to some shitty bar/club/lounge and pay about the same for a shitty drink. I'd rather come here for some hand-crafted drinks where the aesthetics are on point and get a nice Instagram photo. The drinks are also very strong, relative to their peers. For example, you go to some subpar club/lounge/bar and you order a shitty vodka soda, that'll cost you $15-20 and won't even get you buzzed. I'm light weight but I'm not THAT light weight, after 1.5 drinks at ZZ's I'm feeling pretty good.

1) Pistachio—This is my absolute favorite drink! It tastes like dessert with pistachio bits here and there. It is not too sweet and strong enough to get your heart pumping.

2) Cilantro—If you are in the mood for something spicy, then this is the drink for you. It has a nice kick if you aren't afraid of spices. It's served literally in a long pepper where the insides are used in the drink.

3) Coconut—An aesthetically pleasing drink. What's not to like about drinking out of a smoking coconut? It's super fun and picturesque!

4) Carcao—If you are in the mood for something super fruity and tropical yet strong. This is the perfect drink. It tastes really light, refreshing and fruity but is strong and effective. It's also served in vintage Star Wars cups.

Price

No doubt it's pricey for the average person. But, nonetheless, definitely worth it. It's one of those places you come to on a quarterly basis. I would estimate at least ~$150 per person for a full meal and a drink or two.

Reservation

I think one or two weeks in advance will suffice. They only accept reservations 2 weeks in advance I believe.

Carpaccio, Tuna, Foie Grois, Bone Marrow

ABC Kitchen

January 27, 2016 in Food

The first time I ate here was when I moved to New York almost 3 years ago. It is still as hyped and popular as it was back then. I came here on the day Jonas decided to bless this city with a massive snow storm. That obviously did not stop me from trekking to Union Square. Brunch must go on, storm or no storm. I even made it to soul cycle earlier that morning.

Food

The food here is very good and known for its use of exceptionally fresh ingredients that are free of GMOs and other harmful artificial shit. I am really into that healthy organic eating.

1) Roasted beets with homemade yogurt - this dish was so refreshing and appetizing. A great way to begin the meal. You can taste the freshness. The vibrant beets topped with fresh yogurt was just so tasty.

2) Fried oysters with scrambled eggs - the fried oysters for brunch is interesting and surprisingly nice if you are in the mood for something greasy. The insides were soft, full of oyster and flavorful. It goes nicely with the scrambled eggs—very light and simple. I like it.

3) Mushroom pizza with an egg - I love a good egg on anything from rice, noodles to burgers. Overall a pretty solid and healthy pizza I'd say. Tasty and subtle in flavors. It's not super overwhelming but a light pizza for an easy start to the day.

Decor/Ambiance

The space is rather large and has a chic rustic look with intentionally "old" wooden furniture and crystal chandeliers. The colors are warm complemented by white decor and pastel colors. It goes well with the whole organic vibe.

Price

Given the quality I would say that the price is not bad at all. For brunch I'd say expect around $40-55 per person including tip and tax.

Reservation

I'd say at least 1 or 2 weeks in advance for peak times. I think walk ins should be doable given the large space.

Eleven Madison Park

July 02, 2015 in Food

Cheddar - Savory black & white cookie with apple

Our long awaited lunch began in a very interesting manner. After being ranked the 5th best restaurant in the world, I had to find out for myself.

For some odd reason, Eleven Madison Park's electricity was out and unable to prepare 3 out of the 14 highly anticipated courses. At first I was a little sad but I realized that 11 courses were more than enough. Apparently we missed out on the veal and warm foie gras that was served cold instead.

But nonetheless the taste profile and food were impeccable. I enjoyed every moment. It wasn't absurd or overly done. And given our special situation, our meal was only $125 per person—this adjustment alone made the experience 10x better.

Food

I didn't have the highest expectation initially because several friends have told me that it was good but not worth the price. I, however, thought the food was very excellent and the overall 3-5 hour lunch experience was worth the cost.

We began with a teaser, salty cookie with apple that was relatively neutral and a good opening act to the rest of the meal.

My favorite courses were the Caviar Eggs Benedict, Asparagus, Lobster, Sichuan Peppercorn Duck, Whey Yogurt Sorbet and Strawberry Edel Flower dessert.

Their play on eggs Benedict with caviar was not only picturesque but it was possibly the most elegant eggs Benedict I've ever had. The mini english muffins were too cute. The caviar was a very nice touch.

The Sichuan peppercorn duck was absolutely delicious. The skin was perfectly crispy with hints of peppercorn that made every bite so delectable.

I was very impressed with the food overall and must say that I genuinely enjoyed almost every dish. The flavors really suited my taste profile.

It wasn't over the top or flashy—which I preferred because the emphasis was really on the food and overall experience of a proper 3 hour meal.

Ambiance

The space is rather large with very high ceilings. It is spacious enough to allow each party privacy. The decor is classic and elegant with white and warm tones.

Duration

Expect at least 3-5 hours.

Price

$225 per person fixed menu.

Reservation

Advanced reservation ~1-2 months.

Sushi Nakazawa Round 2

April 26, 2015 in Food

I can't believe it's been a year since I've been back at Nakazawa. After having mastered the skill of clicking the reservation button at the stroke of midnight I safely secured a spot once again. This time, I sat in the corner near the window; although my view was not the best, I was served first. This gave me more time to digest before the next piece. I must say, Nakazawa has been consistent with the quality and I was once again impressed. It is still some of the best sushi I've ever had. My favorite pieces include the scallop with yuzu pepper, cuttle fish with shiso, hand piece, and tamago. You can't go wrong with the tuna set.

My top sushi spot still remains Sushi Azabu and Nakazawa. Despite the absurdity in getting a reservation here, I personally think it is worth the hype. I recommend saying that it is your birthday to try and get a seat in the middle.

Don Peppe

Zz's Clam Bar

ABC Kitchen

Eleven Madison Park

Sushi Nakazawa Round 2

Wells Blog

Featured Posts