Category Archives: NYC Eats

Yes, please!

Diablo Royale has dropped a second spot on NYC, Diablo Royale Este (that is Diablo Royale East in Mexican) this time in the EVill and with twice the space of their West 10th Street joint, including a downstairs bar and a 30-seat garden.  Yes, it will rock numerous tacos and fajitas but they will also be roasting many meats in the backyard.  I am looking forward to the spit-roasted suckling pig (prepared two ways) as well as hitting up the “bordello” in the basement…and Holy Shit it opens today…and Holy Shittier it’s Cinco De Mayo…if you are not going to get your tequila on today, then when will you?  WHEN WILL YOU?

In wonderful news (damn right, I said wonderful!) and as first reported by EATER,  Sarah Jenkins of Porchetta is opening another spot.  The EVILL pork enthusiast said the new joint will also be on East 7th Street, this time focusing on pasta.  The new 74-seat spot has already gone before CB3 and is targeting a late summer opening…can I get an amen!

NYC chef, restaurateurs and restaurants kicked some ass at the James Beard Awards last night, sweeping most of the major awards.   The big winners were:

. Best New Restaurant: Marea
· Most Outstanding Restaurant: Daniel
· Most Outstanding Restaurateur: Keith McNally
· Most Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio
· Best Chef NYC: Daniel Humm

There are several rites of passage for any man who moves to NYC after the age of 18…puking in or around Bowery Bar…getting in a fight and then eating a shwarma on Bleeker Street…spending way to much money at a terrible club/bar and still not having sex (with another person)…getting on the subway and ending up in Queensboro Plaza (when you meant to go somewhere else) and stuffing your face on Arthur Avenue, the so-called “Real Little Italy of NY. ”  Well, I had banged out everything on that list years ago except for Arthur Avenue, which I finally hit up on Sunday.   Among the many restaurants and cafes to choose from, we went with Dominick’s, mostly because it was advertised as having no menu, a tradition of which I am a huge fan (I love being told what to eat).  The place was packed (it was post-Yankee game) and is by no means fancy.  After sitting at one of the communal cafeteria - style tables, an elderly Italian waiter (my favorite type of waiter) asked what we wanted…and he then proceeded to name 350 possibilities.  We went with the Veal Pizzaiola, Meatballs, a Stuffed Artichoke and more.   Although the artichoke was the standout, the food was not incredible.   But does it really matter?  If you’re looking for amazing Italian food, hit up Il Giglio, if your’e looking for house wine, big portions, and a good time ,  then Arthur Avenue (and Dominick’s) is the spot (I also here great things about Roberto, Zero Otto and Enzo’s.)  I haven’t even mentioned all of the pastry shops to eat dessert at after dinner but I figured I would leave that for you to discover.  So if you have already been beaten up on Bleeker and spilled white sauce from Mamoun’s all over your shoes, you should really head on up to the Bronx for some old school Italian eats.

Wow…we have not actually reviewed any food on here for awhile…ok, back to it.  After contemplating it for some time I finally made it to No.7 in Brooklyn.  The idea of fried broccoli and Bavette Steak had danced in my head all day long, but, while the space is great, the food was simply, Eh (yes, that is the technical term.)  The good:   the mussels were fantastic - big, juicy and sand-free, and the oysters fit the same bill.  The Fried Broccoli, Tyler Kord’s pseudo-signature dish, was disappointing. While some people dug it, I thought it was too heavy on the batter.  The Bavette Wagyu steak was decent, but certainly is not going on my list of great steaks (or even good ones).  If you live or play in Ft Greene on the regular,  No. 7 is definitely a cool spot with some good eats…but it isn’t all that.  Chef/Owner Tyler Kord does have a pretty good beard though so I can’t knock the joint too much.

I am not sure how to describe my night at Brooklyn Fare.  A revelation?  Amazing?  Stupendous?  Tight?  (I never know what the kids are saying anymore).  An approximately 20 course small plate bonanza, served in a street side kitchen by chef César Ramirez, is an exploration in market freshness and progressive cooking.  The split pea soup with coconut, anchovies with caramel, sea urchin with pineapple, duck fries (yes, balls people, BALLS) and perfectly cooked lamb were but a few of the highlights (I don’t want to ruin it all…you should be trying to get a reservation right now).  Currently, there are only 12 seats for dinner and Chef Ramirez only cooks one dinner per night.  (They are expanding to 18 seats soon and will be doing two seatings.)  This spot is booking 3 months out, but if you love food then this is a spot you cannot miss.  Oh yea, and its BYOB…so bust out that ’85 Rioja you have been hiding under your bed.

Killer West Coast tacos in Union Square?  Yes!  Check out Dos Toros…a simple, small taqueria with four kinds of tacos, four kinds of burritos and a few other small items.  Finally, a good West Coast taco in NYC (not including you Calexico, masters of tacos)…try them all but don’t miss the Carne Asada…just be careful with the hot sauce…it’s no joke hot!