Joya

Packed on a Thursday happy hour. Trendy, loud, and very dim on the lighting. Narrow yet gets a little more spacious toward the back. Suggest to be seated in the back so that you can avoid the line formation from those busy staring-at-you crowd. If you do wait, there is a bar. Portions are greater than the prices. The price is hard to beat, no wonder for the wait. You can get full for $10/ person. You can get stuffed for more than $10.

Dishing it out:

Fried Chicken Spring rolls 2.95: rolled with noodles, vegetables on a light wrap. I was expecting a bigger crunch.


Som Tom Green Papaya Salad 3.95: shredded pickled papaya on a bed of romaine with cherry tomatoes. It was not a matrimony. The combo of coarsely chopped romaine and thinly julienne papaya were very oddly paired. The dish lost its luster with the western romaine.

Pad Thai 6.95: The sprouts were set aside, so that you can mix it into the noodles, with a refreshing crunch. Tasty, well executed.

Woon Sen 6.95: Ordered with shrimp, and overcooked. In fact the whole dish was overcooked. The glass noodles lost its gloss as it did not hold its form. Al dente does not exist in Asian noodles but this was indeed cooked to the dead. Poorly executed as it was very salty.

If I was to return it is because Joya offers a generous portion that fits the bill. I would usually order two Thai Ice Teas but Joya got it right, I was content by ordering one Thai Tea. This is truly the highlight, on my part.

Come to Joya, on a tight budget and bring some of your buddies. You would be thrilled that the tab won't hurt. Just remember to bring the cash.


Joya 215 Court St (at Warren St) Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 222-3484

Txikito

Given that we are in a recession, Txikito is packed with eager patrons waiting to experience the Basque cuisine. Very much like its spanish roots, tapas rein a favorite. The space is small with the option to dine in the bar, the decor is plain jane compared to its spainsh cousins. Basic candle lit and casual. The conservations come in spanish from diners as they use one hand to sample the pulpo to the chorizo, and the other with the menu for more.

For about four tapas and an entree with a dessert come close to $80. Don't expect to get stuffed, at least that's not how its done in spain. But with good conversation going with you dining partner, dinner will fill you just right. Without the guilt of gluttony.

The dish:

TXIKI TXANPI: mini mushroom and shrimp grilled cheese • 8: Mini grilled cheese sandwiches shaped like a mushroom. Fillings of chopped mushrooms and scrimp mixed with mayo

ARRAULTZA: sofrito, palacios chorizo, quail egg • 7: Two identical bruschetta topped with shredded spicy red saugage with a sunny side up egg.

LEKAK: tender green beans, golden garlic, olive oil • 8: Not tender, in fact soggy. Certainly overcooked, perhaps from the can.

PULPO: octopus carpaccio; lemon oil, marjoram, Piment d'espelette • 15: thinly sliced pulpo fanned over a platter. Chewy yet needed acidy.

PIL PIL: legendary Basque salt cod , poached in olive oil w/ kokotxas • 18: Salty, though perfectly cooked, no sauce. Ask for bread to handle the salt.


Go to Txikito to catch up with friends to chat and chat but not just eat and eat.

Txikito 240 9th Ave New York, NY 10001

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Kobe Club

If eating chic and veneer is your genre, then Kobe is your place. Though the dark and provocative décor; shimmering knives dangling over patrons’ heads as the velvet drapes unveils extra exoticism, you can find yourself with the young and under middle aged crowd. Not for the serious romantics for a serious one-on-one—don’t invite the In-laws. Think of Kobe as a night club with the exception that they serve food. It’s loud, and wants to be louder. Choice of music was extremely poor—not sure if you would like JT’s beatboxing to come with your steak. Plus there were spotted repeats—playing FM radio would have been better.

Went during restaurant week, it was a full house. We didn't mind, Kobe would have been very tacky if there was not a crowd. Would you go to a night club if it was half empty? Didn’t think so.

Kudos to the fries with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. It was full of crisp and flavor-did not have to dip the ketchup. The complimentary popovers were warm and soft; sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. The popovers beat all the free breads from any restaurant I’ve been.

Steak:

You come to the Kobe Club for the steak. We ordered the American and Australian Wagyu filet. Served median rare; the texture was perfect. I was expecting more on the flavor. The side of horseradish sauce did not justify the filet. I was looking for more flavor from the natural juices of the beef. That said, I was missing a lot of 'beef' flavor.

Pros: Good for crowds, impress coworkers that you can dish the cash and be hip?

Cons: Dinner for two during restaurant week had a bill near $200. $ 115.00 for an 8 ounce, you do the math.

Gramercy Tavern

Supposedly the best NYC restaurant and one of the renowned in the country. Indeed a tavern decor with comfort classiness. A warm welcoming feeling as you walk through the rustic furnishings. Nothing over the top or pretentious. Surely it was an over the top urban bill for a rustic setting. But the wait staff was highly knowledgeable and attentive. Food and service were impeccable.

Details were on every dish; playing with the palate. I found many inspiriting ideas. Gramercy is the reason why aspiring chefs go to culinary school, so that they can work for the best and emphasize the importance of technique and combining skills to creativity. Instructions were embedded in every dish and carefully executed.

Two person for the three course selection, $82:

Handmade Pappardelle beef ragù and scallions

Smoked Trout sunchoke purée and pickled onion vinaigrette

Rack of Pork & Braised Belly baby turnips and Adirondack blue potatoes

Tilefish Cauliflower and Heirloom Beans

Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding cacao nib ice cream

Coconut Tapioca passion fruit & coconut sorbets, passion fruit caramel and cilantro syrup


Pro: Ask as many questions, it comes with the steep bill.

Con: Expect to fork out two Benjamin’s on a dinner pre fixe for two. (And that's modest)


Gramercy Tavern 42 E 20th St New York, NY 10003 (212) 477-0777

Le Cirque

Dined in the cafe, and with high expectations come very high disappointments. Perhaps service is top notch in the dining room but certainly not in the cafe during Restaurant Week. I dislike how restaurants discriminate their patrons during Restaurant Week. Since when does ordering from the prix fixe menu make you inferior and thrown in the secondary “bourgeois cafe room”? Certainly I felt like a lesser citizen. Aside from the non- existent high caliber five star service, the food was weak. Yes, I said weak. The dishes were a miss. The creme brulee was mass-produced; an unsatisfying piece of supposedly goodness.

I was not excited nor thrilled by the place (though, I was impressed by the many different utensils). Most of the time, I was looking forward to the check. Le Cirque is fancy yet boring. It’s for the desperate middle aged who hasn’t made his/ her first million; envying and trying to fit in with high society. Its pretentiousness extends as far as those celebrity head shots hanging by the hall to restroom.


Le Cirque : 150 E 58th St New York, NY 10155 (212) 644-0315

Dokebi

If you're in Bklyn and craving for Korean BBQ or just Korean, head to Dokebi in Williamsburg. It’s the only Korean restaurant in the neighborhood, hence crowds and waits are often. Very good for groups of friends to eat and chat. Unlimited kimchi and sides, though tiny in portions. Roomy wooden bench seating on the right hand side of the restaurant. There's a bar at the back of the restaurant, lots of space to hang around.

Food:

Seafood scallion pancake was small not much seafood plus not as crispy.

Nakji Bokum (spicy, baby octopus, veggies & noodles) on a sizzling plate (14): Ruby red dish and spicy. Good amount of octopus to balance the heat. Well sized portion. Repeat: Spicy.

Bibimbahp choice of toppings, served w/ vegetables, fried egg and chili sauce over rice with beef (10): typical fried rice but with a sizzling stone bowl for $2 extra. You do get a sunny side up egg, where the yolk is still smooth. Other than that, its fried rice.

If you can't make it to K-town, try Dokebi. Food here is more carefully prepared, though less flamboyant and bustling than K-town.



199 Grand Street (between 1st St & Bedford Ave) Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 782-1424

Marlows and sons

A European feel with all the imported goods displayed as you dine by them. After dining here several times, it is always consistent and rarely disappoints. I always find myself ordering their pressed sandwiches and raw oysters. Known for their oysters, and the demand for them, they are usually fresh. The scene is hip and yup, and everything in between. The young who come to socialize over wine and olives and the young at heart comes to simply enjoy a quality meal. Portions are more than modest but the award goes to the food. Food is not throw into a dish, everything here is well thought out and prepared. Their toasted baguette, a major plus.

Con: Rubbing elbows; very very easy to ease drop. Busy most of the time: wait time.

Pros: Servers have extensive knowledge of the menu. Good place to bring a casual date. Social scene and well prepared dishes.


Marlow and Sons. 81 Broadway Williamsburgh Brooklyn 11211 (718) 384-1441