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Carnegie Deli

I have always heard raves of this place, so i decided to check it out for myself. Apparently the pastrami sandwich is to die for. At the entrance, the battered yet culinarily iconic awning signified the entrance to supposedly the greatest deli in Manhattan. The line was out the door and along the sidewalk indicating vast popularity. After about half an hour of waiting in the cold East Coast air, we finally warmed up and made our way inside.The atmosphere seemed cramped, but somewhat homey in a way. There were signed portraits of celebrities and all sorts of old Hollywood memorabilia lining the walls. I sat down and a nice big bowl of their house juicy pickles was laid down, a salty yet crunchy way to start off your meal. Then came the sandwich, which I'd rename, a pastrami sandwich on double steroids. There had to be more than 2 pounds of pastrami on this bad boy. Too much to be certain. I couldn't fit the whole sandwich in my mouth so I took off a few slices and wrapped it in the rye bread. Not even the mighty Guy Fieri could fit his chops around this one. The pastrami was cooked nicely but the seasoning seemed to lag on flavor, but that's nothing a little of their signature deli mustard can't fix. Overall, a good pastrami sandwich, but the portions must be slimmed down at least a little. You can feed a family of four for a week with that thing! Other delicious accommodations from their jam packed menu include delicious fries, coleslaw, homeade pickles and their DESSERTS! I skipped it this time, but the small cylindrical stand of revolving cakes and pies laid a hypnotic spell on my brain saying, "Eat ME! Eat Me!" However, I escaped my psychological dilemma and continued outwards. Although I would definitely consider coming back, I would like to make a trip downtown to Katz's first to determine which pastrami sandwich is better. Who will win? We shall see.....

The Awning and the line

Old Glory

The pickles

Even in the winter, the people come!

Yummy???

French Roast

I was in the mood for some traditional French cuisine, so I decided to try this place a friend recommended. French Roast is a very nice, rather chic little bistro with vintage flare. Recommended by the New York Times, this place is a must-to for village- dwellers and all other New Yorkers. A diverse menu of French favorites mixed in with some international delights makes this place a great spot for a lovely dinner in the village. The dim lighting mixed with the wicker chairs and the black and white mosaic flooring gave it an overall feeling of quirkiness yet relaxation. The decor was rather interesting with all sorts of old posters from older times and all sorts of memorabilia. I tried their seafood risotto special. The plate came with perfectly cooked and moist risotto and a wide selection of seafood including clams, mussels, calamari, scallops and shrimp. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the rest was very good as well. It all incorporated well together. I had their Creme Brulee for dessert. The custard was silky, smooth and infused with fragrant vanilla. The caramelized shell was hard and sparkly and it was fun to use your spoon as a hammer to pound through the tough sugar to get to the silky surprise inside. It was a wonderful mean in an enjoyable setting. The staff was friendly and the service was good. It is a great place for a get together with an old friend or a romantic evening. It is a west village wonder.

Entrance with outside terrace

Main dining room

A dim lit table for an interesting setting

Trattoria Dopo Teatro

To tell you the truth, I came across this restaurant thanks to a radio commercial. Not often that happens. According to the description, it seemed like a good spot so I decided to try it out. I made a reservation for Saturday at 7. I must say, I got much more than I thought. Nestled in the theatre district, Trattoria Dopo Teatro is a well known Italian bistro located next to the mighty BBQ king of New York, Virgil's Real Barbecue. That is a great place to eat! (But that's a different story). It may seem small from the outside, but the old saying goes, don't judge a book by it's cover. It starts out with a skinny main dining room. Plenty of seating, a bar, and even a dessert window displaying the delicious edibles for a pre-supper treat. I thought that was it, but I was most certainly wrong. There was in fact a stairwell that led to a whole other level downstairs. Halfway down, the path split to the left which revealed a luxurious  Roman-style room for private guests and large parties. At the bottom, it looked like a whole other landscape. A huge mural surrounded all the walls making it look like you are in an Italian Cafe. There are several sections of the lower level. A main dining room, then another dining area sectioned off by french doors, and another room down a small hallway. It was a maze of hungry eaters. And to think that the waiters have to bring the food up and down and through all these different rooms. Anyway, they sat me in the main dining area downstairs. It was a soothing and relaxing atmosphere with a trickling waterfall on one of the walls and lots of beautiful flora to accompany the light serenade of a master cellist. The menu is fairly big, and there are lots to choose from. I ordered the cold Antipasto sampler and a cavatelli pasta dish with sausage and broccoli rabe. The antipasto consisted of several cured Italian meats such as sopresatta and sicilian salami, that were accompanied by an assortment of cheeses. The main course was delicious. The pasta was cooked al dente, but a little harder, just the way I like it. The sausage and the broccoli rabe along with the fragrant garlic and oil based sauce complemented each other in a perfect yet delicious way. The menu is full of wonderful selections to choose from. For dessert, I had their Tiramisu. Normally when I get Tiramisu, it ends up to be too sweet, or the lady fingers are too soggy and the whole thing just collapses into a gooey mess. Their tiramisu was not to sweet, which impressed me. Also, the lady fingers were dipped enough to retain the flavor of the espresso, but not too long to make them super soggy. It was a perfect ending to a great meal. You can also steal a great deal if you're in a hurry to catch a play with their prix fix menus. I later realized that this is a really popular spot among play-goers who need a fast, yet delicious meal. No matter what occasion, this is one place you wouldn't want to miss!

Stairwell going downstairs

Main Dining Area (upstairs)

Their, "Secret Garden"

Aerial view of dining area (downstairs)

Eataly

Eataly. A one of a kind Italian culinary experience, conveniently located in the heart of the Flatiron district. Owned by esteemed chefs Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and her son Joseph Bastianich. I am a huge fan of Batali and have always loved his culinary style. I wouldn't consider it a restaurant nor a market, but in fact a cross between the two: a, "restamarket". It is hard to describe this place due to it's incomparable uniqueness to other restaurants and markets. It basically consists of one large market offering the finest in Italian ingredients and essentials, mixed in with several small restaurants corresponding to a certain dish, all in one big space. It is truly amazing. There is so much to see, and buy and eat!!! The eatery includes many, "station" like eateries with a bar in front of the chefs and some tables. They include Pizza, Antipasto, Fish, Meats, Cheeses, Pasta, Pastries, Gelato and more. There is so much to explore here. It is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. I recommend the pizzas. They have their own special made duel brick ovens laced with a beautiful gold mosaic pattern. It was very crowded and answers is there, so seating can be tough. The pizza I had was crispy and delicious. The cheese oozed as I picked up a slice. It was topped with mushrooms, herbs and Italian ham. It was a symphony for the senses. Each bite was crunchy yet chewy, a delicious combination. I also tried one of their seemingly millions of types of pastries. As I trailed down the hall of beautiful pastries, I picked out a simple cannoli. It was delicious. The cream was velvety but not too sweet. I also got a small gelato, Pistachio (Thats my fav flavor!). It was good, but not the best that I've had. Overall, the experience was mesmerizing. Who knew such a place would exist? It is super popular among New Yorkers and is currently the most talked about restaurant in Manhattan (You can see for yourselves!   http://www.urbanspoon.com/c/3/New-York-restaurants.html)
It was a delicious experience and filled with vibe and lively people. I'll definitely be back for more. Batali never disappoints!!!

Mario Batali

Front Entrance

The Pizza Ovens

Guidance???

Quite a Hot Spot!

Their undisputed slogan

Brief Intro

First off, I love food. I love to cook and I love to eat. I am very serious with my food and like it done right. If you're a real foodie and want to try a taste of international culinary excellence, there is no better place to complete this task than the greatest city in the world, New York City. An urban jungle full of all different restaurants and shops to shop and savor. Different stores and eateries of diverse cultures at every turn. You can walk two blocks and pass by one restaurant of each major ethnicity. The diversity is great and the food is even greater. I've been strolling the streets of Manhattan for years, trying all the delectable culinary spectacles from many unique sources. I have visited many Manhattan restaurants in the past that have made my taste buds dance and my stomach smile, and I plan to continue so in the future. It is a culinary playground with all sorts of options to try. Whether it is pizza, Thai style noodles, falafel or enchiladas, it is bound to be delicious. You can never run out of restaurants to visit in the city, but be careful where you choose to eat. Some places stand out of the crowd with their culinary expertise, while others hide in dark corners with their culinary absence. By reading this blog, you'll know of the hottest places to grab a bite to eat where you'll know the food will be good and that you will have a great time.