If you’re a food lover and live in New York City then this must be your favorite time of year… Restaurant Week! This is the best time to restaurant hop to some of your favorite eateries or try some new ones that are on your dining bucket list. One in particular that is a must-try happens to be Left Bank, located in the West Village. [Read more…] about Come Celebrate Restaurant Week with Left Bank in the West Village
food
Campeon in Flatiron- Tasty Mexican Food, 80 Inch HD TV’s & More
Yes you read that right. There are not too many places in the city where you can get flavorful Mexican food while enjoying the surround sound from large screen TV’s. [Read more…] about Campeon in Flatiron- Tasty Mexican Food, 80 Inch HD TV’s & More
A Manhattanite in Philadelphia- Where to Eat?
Now that the warmer weather is finally hitting us, so many New Yorkers are looking to take those vacation days that they have stowed away and get out of the city for a bit. With so many different options to travel to, why not settle for something that is literally a 90 minute Amtrak ride away, with endless benefits that will guarantee you a great trip? This is of course, the “City of Brotherly Love” that we know as Philadelphia. At Manhattan Digest, we have visited some great cities in the United States from DC, Providence to most recently San Francisco, and we are very excited to show you why Philadelphia has so many great options to enjoy with such a short distance to get to them. First on our list, my personal favorite- where to eat? Going to another city should never mean hitting up a chain restaurant due to familiarity, you should divulge into the local scene and see what makes that particular city so great in terms of its fantastic food adventures. Staying in the “Gayborhood” part of Philly, there were a couple that really stood out to me for several reasons. Here are some you should visit on your next trip down there. [Read more…] about A Manhattanite in Philadelphia- Where to Eat?
A Manhattanite in San Francisco- Where To Eat? Part Two.
We are back for part two in our series of “Where To Eat in San Francisco”, and we have saved the best for last. Could you believe that a New Yorker can actually find better pizza out west than there is here? That is blasphemy! Well it definitely did happen while I was out there, as well as devouring the best Peruvian food I have ever had as well as some pretty tasty shareable plates inside a hot new hotel. This is the conclusion for where you should eat the next time you are in The Golden Gate city.
[Read more…] about A Manhattanite in San Francisco- Where To Eat? Part Two.
Why You Should Stop Into Aperitif Bistro Wine Bar
French cuisine is one of the most sophisticated cuisines in the world, and is one that is very important to the New York City foodie scene. One place in particular that has this concept down pat is Aperitif Bistro Wine Bar, with two locations in Bayside and Rockville Centre, the latter being a mere 20 minutes outside of Manhattan. I went to the Rockville Centre location the other night, as I heard rave reviews about this and was pleasantly satisfied with the end result.
[Read more…] about Why You Should Stop Into Aperitif Bistro Wine Bar
Why View is Worth The Trip Out East to Long Island
As someone who splits their time between Long Island and Manhattan, I am always looking for what is the best of the best when it comes to the amazing culture that both parts of New York have to offer. I found a hidden gem located out east in Long Island in Oakdale called View, and was glad that I did. This seafood-based restaurant boasts a lot more than your average shrimp cocktail, and is a multi-purpose location that you can have an intimate night with your friends, or even marry the love of your life at. Here’s how.
[Read more…] about Why View is Worth The Trip Out East to Long Island
Late Night Food & Fun at Pounds & Ounces
We all have those late nights. Whether it is hanging out with your friends at a great party until the end of the evening, or cramming for that upcoming final that we have, us Manhattanites know what it feels like to pull an all nighter in so many kinds of ways. Luckily, there is a great restaurant you can go to that will ease your hangover or that last minute cram session with tasty treats and yummy drinks. This of course, is Pounds and Ounces, located in the heart of Chelsea in New York City. Since opening two years ago, P&O has earned the coveted title of neighborhood favorite thanks to its innovative cuisine, captivating cocktails, hip music and one of the liveliest ambiances in all of Chelsea.
For the first time, the P&O Chelsea kitchen will be open daily until 3 AM and offer a night owl menu starting at 11 PM. Hard-core party people know that keeping the festivities going requires serious sustenance and P&O’s new late night menu delivers. In addition to signature items from their regular menu, they have added Disco Fries featuring melted cheeses and homemade chicken gravy; spicy Jalapeno Poppers with Buttermilk Ranch dipping sauce; Angus Beef Sliders served on a pretzel bun with chipotle ketchup all for $7 or the Corned Beef Reuben starring the house-cured corn beef, braised Napa cabbage, Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing for $9.
The bar also rocks the night away with a special cocktail menu of boozy, adults only ice cream shakes like the No.1 with chocolate ice cream, bourbon, whipped cream and chocolate sauce; the No. 2 with vanilla ice cream blended with Baileys, Frangelico and butterscotch sauce and the No. 4 with vanilla ice cream, Pinnacle Strawberry Shortcake vodka and whipped cream. And for those with fortitude and a sweet tooth, the house signature “Jacked” Banana Split featuring banana bread, your choice of ice cream, candy crusted and chocolate-dipped banana lollipops and a ton of whip cream is a gut-busting must!
I was lucky enough to try out the new menu with a friend of mine the other night, and needless to say- they do not disappoint. We opted for two tasty appetizers on the late night menu- the mac and cheese with bacon on top (Bacon is life people) and the super delicious Tuna Tartare. Both of them had sharp contrasts in tastes and textures, one of course being hot and the other one on the cold side, but both had an insane amount of flavor and kept our stomachs satisfied until the next course.
Moving onto the entree portion of the meal, my friend and I kept within the same speed of going after different types of foods that are designed for this kind of menu. He went more on a brunch side with their Steak and Eggs, and I chose one of my favorite sandwiches in the world, the Reuben. The steak was cooked perfectly and blended really well with the scrambled eggs that they provided. The Reuben was chock full of yumminess, packed with a ton of corned beef and thousand island dressing which were just delicious. The fries that came with both meals were tasty and salted to perfection. We each finished off with two of their boozy ice cream shakes, I took the number two (not literally people), and he took the number four as listed above. Both were creamy and great, but could’ve been a little more on the thicker side in my honest opinion. Overall I would give this menu a 9 out of 10 for taste, 8 out of 10 for creativity, and 10 out of 10 for customer service and ambiance.
Definitely stop by Pounds and Ounces no matter what time of day it is. You surely won’t be disappointed while you are there. Check out the website for more information. Happy Eating!
Pounds and Ounces
160 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
646-499-8150
Sushi Dojo NYC Rises Above The Rest
Sure, there are a bajillion places you can go in New York City to have Sushi. So when it comes time to pick out which one is the best and most authentic of the bunch, narrowing it down can be a really tough decision for all you new Yorkers out there. So let me make this one easy- Sushi Dojo on 110 1st Avenue in the East Village.
Executive Chef and prospective partner David Bouhadana, 27, has trained with Iron Chef Morimoto, has worked in some of New York’s top establishments such as Hatsuhana, and has trained for years in Japan. This Florida-raised man fell in love with Japanese culture, language, and cuisine while he was working as a bus boy. “I didn’t find sushi, sushi found me,” said Chef Bouhadana. “I started at 18 under my first master in Florida where I accidentally found myself in the kitchen.” Upon presenting his idea to the investors, David was hired as the Executive Chef for the restaurant and was given the unique opportunity to become a prospective partner in the future.
The term “dojo” is the Japanese word for education, and Sushi Dojo’s atmosphere is complimentary to an educational experience where customers can try new things. Sushi Dojo’s team of chefs consists of professional Japanese individuals who have trained for years and are eager to make every customer feel like their apprentice by sharing knowledge, recommendations, and sushi delicacies.
“Many individuals feel nervous and uncomfortable to try new things due to a lack of knowledge or negative experiences that they have had in the past,” said Chef Bouhadana. “At Dojo we encourage our customers to ask questions and try new things. We want them to learn by doing that and having the most memorable experience by dining in our restaurant.”
As a first time customer, I noticed that the look and feel of the place was quite warm and inviting and had an overall great atmosphere to it. David as well as the waiter and hostess were kind and engaging and made the whole experience a delight for me and my friend. Some of the stand out dishes in my opinion was the Edamame and Nashu Nibitashi (Lightly fried eggplant marinated in Dashi) for the cold plates, the Pork Belly for the appetizers, and any and all of the sushi that is freshly made by David and his team (my personal favorite was the Ikura otherwise known as Salmon Roe. Yum!)
Something to note here is that you won’t be able to order something like a California Roll, as this place pries itself on being traditional and focusing on high quality delicacies. This is definitely something that you would want to try out in the near future if you are visiting Manhattan or already live here. So stop fussing over which sushi place to go to and take the subway down to The East Village and try out Sushi Dojo for yourself. For more information, log on to their official website.
Crumbs Bake Shop’s New Lunch Line with David Burke!
This past Thursday saw world famous bake shop and a James Beard award winning chef and restauranteur come together for a great evening of yummy sandwiches and tasty desserts. David Burke’s Treehouse Bar was the location on Thursday evening to celebrate the co-branding of David Burke and Crumbs Bake shop all new lunch menu, featuring nine different styles of gourmet sandwiches as well as a variety of salads to go along with it.
David Burke is a legend in the culinary field, winning five James Beard awards starting in the early 90’s and currently has ten restaurants opened under his guidance. He came up with some really catchy names to go along with the nine new sandwiches that will be available, two of them mentioned above (Chicken, Pig & Cow and New York Hero). Here are the other names left to pique your interest and taste level-
Smokey Turkey
Angry Roast Beef
David Burke’s Pastrami Salmon
Beet It!
TOMATO & MOZZ FUHGETTABOUTIT!
GO FIGure!
New Sandwich
I tried each and everyone of them (and went to the gym immediately the next day), but my favorite of all of these had to be the New York Hero. The taste was so fresh and delicious! Each of them had their various reasons for success that hopefully will turn Crumbs into more than just a bakeshop!
Tentatively starting June 18th, here are the locations that will feature the new lunch menu here in and out of Manhattan-
Broad St
Park Ave
Park South
Bryant Park
Garment
Grand Central
3rd Avenue
6th Avenue
7th Avenue
West
Newark Airport
Greenwich, CT
Want to know more about Crumbs and David Burke? Log onto David‘s and Crumb’s Twitter page to learn more about the unveiling and their businesses as well! Have fun!