Milk Bar Brooklyn

Milk Bar Brooklyn is not to be confused with David Chang's new sweet tooth: Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar. Milk Bar Brooklyn is a corner storefront located in Prospect Heights; a neighborhood that has been overshadowed by the partiality of neighboring Park Slope. An Australian inspired cafe-eatery where you can order to-go or dine-in: serving caffe lattes, panini all day for lunch; brunch and selected days for dinner. Very unlikely can Milk Bar put Prospect Heights in the food map. But Milk Bar has its own interpretation on what it wants to be and how it fits uniquely in the less-chartered neighborhood.

The brunch menu is simple and straightforward: toasted artisan countryside sourdoughs with poached eggs; fruit granola parfait; ciabatta sandwiches; fresh salad; over-the-counter pastries and cafe varieties. Very practical and basic--nothing on the brunch menu requires intense cooking over the stove top--at least not for Brunch. Think of Milk Bar as a hybrid of a cafe and restaurant; offering sit down service as you are sipping on a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and enjoying the morning paper.

Unlike many brunch places, the cafe opens modestly at 9am to accommodate weekend early birds.

20 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY‎ - (718) 230-0844‎ www.milkbarbrooklyn.com

Strip House

As steak occupies center stage, the Strip House atmosphere is just as noteworthy. Vintage photographs of bygone era strippers cover the seductive rouge walls hanging over the polish quilted red leather banquettes. If Strip House has a mantra it would be: if sex sells then steak will come with that too.

The steak was much straightforward than the lusty décor. The filet mignon and New York strip was up to standard. Perfectly cooked as requested: medium rare. The New York strip is more charred and has burnt marks—as strips can take more flame than a filet. The steaks can stand alone and acceptable without the side sauce. Sides are worth mentioning: served in a petite copper tin measuring cup is the creamed spinach, perfumed with truffles adding a greater depth of flavor; goose-fat potatoes shaped in a golden crust dome as the taste resembles precisely like a pizzeria croquette.

And if you can stomach dessert, I do prefer the caramelized banana tart with vanilla ice cream tucked with whole pistachios drizzled in brown sugar hard sauce.

Strip House has its own theme parting from the old-line steakhouses. It’s highly conceptualized, playful and evocative which evokes a naughty taste bud for the red meat.

Strip House Steak House 13 E 12th St New York, NY 10003 (212) 328-0000 www.striphouse.com

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Petite Abeille

Having had Petite Abeille’s Belgian waffles in mind, I thought it would marvelous to go for bunch. My waffles with strawberry sauce was far from marvelous; the presentation was nice-looking but the technique was basic and straightforward. Not inspiring or captivating for the palate. If it wasn’t for the rainbow color of fruits bedded on top of the waffle I don’t think the waffle would survive on its own. The waffle itself can be made from the box at home by a teenage. The texture was stale-like and missing a moist component; the taste was bland and minimal. The dish scores points in presentation—it will wow your kids. But if you’re looking for a daring, bold and new taste you will not find it here.

Everything made sense when I realized that Petite Abeille was a chain. For the serious eater who frequents Prune in LES, Petite Abeille would not come close to be on the to-eat-list. It’s a fun and appropriate outlet for children and their parents to eat and be uninspired.


Petite Abeille 401 E. 20th Street (between 1st Ave & N Stuyvesant Loop) New York, NY 10009

Sripraphai Thai Restaurant

If you google: Thai Woodside Queens, Sripraphai is the first to be listed on your search. And you're most likely looking for Sripraphai. Not often do I frequent a restaurant twice if unless it was superb the first round. That was the case for Sripraphai. For me Sripraphai was love at first sight; solid Thai family style fare, no frills, gathering locals and unfamiliars to this authenic Thai establishment.

When you're the most well known Thai restaurant in NYC and have ny'ers from all over coming to Queens just for you, it must be good. But fame has its shortcomings. It's a pity when a place gets so popular that it loses its grip on the food-- at least that was the case on my recent visit. Sripraphai is becoming more like a mere attraction than what it was orginally known for.

The seafood papaya salad was pre-made, dull in color which made the tropical salad boring and stale. The quality control on freshness was not considered nor implemented moreso it looked like food that was sitting in critus marinade for some time. Damp in texture and barely a crunch factor, the salad was everything but refreshing.

Disappointing frog legs. Very much like leftovers being cooked over again. Tough juice-less meat stir-fryed with pepper and chilies-- relying too heavily on the chilies thus overwhelming the supposedily delicate meat. Apt out on experimenting or being adventurous on this dish if you're not acquainted with the natural taste of the amphibian. As I did with my dining companion and failed to impress, miserably.

There are good things to note: For an appetizer the sweet and sour pork fits the bill-- flavorful and safe (for the non-adventurous). The notable Shrimp Pad Thai was on point as the shrimp was tender and perfectly cooked served with a side of raw bean spouts and crushed nuts accompanying the noodles--the way it should be.

Even though my second date with Sripraphai was far from prefect, I still believe every Thai lover should make a stop to this Queens destination. Despite its popularity, Sripraphai has proven to have the basic Thai fare down. Granted it's not haute Thai or convenient by any means yet that does not stop people from coming back.


Sripraphai Thai Restaurant 6413 39th Ave, Woodside, NY‎ (718) 899-9585‎ www.sripraphairestaurant.com/

Sidecar Brooklyn

Sidecar works. Its bar and restaurant is cohesive; creating a laid back atmosphere that fits unanimously with Park Slope. On a Friday night, the bar is occupied by crowds of young twenty-something year olds. For dining, seating options are booths and a long high stool counter overlooking all the kitchen action. The décor is casual-Brooklyn but with great intention and an eye for solid comfort food. The menu is American with a twist of bistro fare i.e. rare oysters, pate, etc. Its turkey bacon signature club featuring granny smith apples and cave aged gruyere is different and scores points. The menu consists of common and familiar food but if you look closely at the ingredients it’s much more exciting and refined. It's choice on grass fed beef for its signature burger was not a random draw moreover its level of food consciousness.

No need to dress up, Sidecar wants you to dress down and be down with its casual yet keen veneer. It’s a place to come back more than once to relax, drink and be merry.

Sidecar 560 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 369-0077

Little Havana

Not too many Cuban dining choices in NYC. So when one finds a place and sees 'authentic,' one feels joy. Tucked in the middle of Cornelia street, a petite size room that holds no more than 20 people makes some feel like home. A tight space--where one server can cover the entire evening shift--creates a nice intimate atmosphere as couples whisper. The modest and simple decor accommodates very well to the family style dishes. Neither pretentious nor sophisticated yet the prices are.

I had mistaken my Jumbo Shrimp Ceviche for a lunch salad, initially. The dish did not showcase the shrimp at all, in fact the petty shrimps of four were buried under a bed of greens--resembling a generic salad--which lost its appeal and essence of the ceviche. I did enjoy the shrimp as it was nicely cured in lemon.

If there was one dish to praise, it would be the side dish: maduros. The sweet plantains fried in perfection, literally; leaving a caramelized layer over the sweet tender center that will have you coming back for more.


Little Havana 30 Cornelia St (between 4th St & Bleecker St)
New York, NY 10014 (212) 255-2212
www.littlehavananyc.com

Bossa Nova Brazil

It’s one of those Hell’s kitchen's establishments that continue to exist on its ethnic appeal; cheap happy hour drinks and outdoor seating. Doubtful a foodie goes out of his/ her way to seek out Bossa Nova Brazil's food. Overly salted, muddy rice texture and overcooked cod in its Seafood Paella. Shouldn't paella be served on paella pan? Plated on a dull white flatware—stripping away the intensity and excitement of the dish.

Can one go wrong with empanadas? Yes. Regrettably ordered three beef empanadas that resemble frozen supermarket ones. Dismayed that not a single garnish was used to accompany those lonely patties—no embellishments whatsoever, nothing. The flavor was exactly how it looked: boring. Perhaps one thing that was worth mentioning in a better note was the Brazilian sausage served with yucca. Fried crispy yucca cut into neatly tapered torpedoes; shockingly tender in the inside served with bite size sausages.

If you’re meeting a meaningless date and in the mood for some $5 dollar happy hour 'Brazilian cocktails,' this is your place. Dine al fresco, people watch and hopefully not look tacky.


Bossa Nova Brazil 772 Ninth Avenue New York, NY 10019 (212) 586-5008

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