NOODLE BAR - PAN ASIAN BISTRO

Noodle Bar - Pan Asian Bistro 172 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

(212) 228-9833

Subway: Second Avenue - Lower East Side - 2nd Ave

Open Mon-Thu 12pm-11pm; Fri 12pm-12am; Sat 1pm-12am; Sun 12:30pm-10:30pm

We've been to this place 5-6 times already.   Its my favorite with Great outdoor eating. 

We ordered the Duck salad  which had lots of duck with Ginger, silantro, pineapple, and teriyaki sauce, it was really good

It always has Chinese movies playing on the wall which is entertaining

I ordered my favorite, which is why I come here. The Singapore noodles: Egg noodles curry toufu and chicken in a big bowl.  I love it!  Spicy, tasty and filling.  My Thai-Iced Tea, was just perfect.  the perfect balance.

The Calamari, Jose ordered, was too dry, rubbery and salty.  We'll never order that again.  I think it wasn't as fresh as it could have been.  So it could have just been a one time thing.  Ask the Waiter what's good.

Its always the same waiter working there.  He's ultra friendly and fast and makes you feel really welcome.

No alcohol

Price:  cheap, good value

kid friendly

open late

ZAITZEFF BURGERS NYC

18 Avenue B

Hours:

daily 12pm – 12am

Transit: Essex Street (0.3 mi)    

Candlelit burger place with a Nantucket vibe. Jose loves the interior......  Copper cooking pans and shaded lamps make this place rustic relaxed.  Sirloin burgers or Kobe are on the menu.  They say Their "formula for hamburgers is simple. We get the best ingredients and fuss with them the least. Our American style Kobe beef comes straight from a ranch in Nebraska, so you know it's fresh.". Two locations,  ours is on Ave B and 2nd street.

Our waitress wasn't big on the PR but great on the service.  I thought the burgers are expensive.  Some say that its worth it, but Im a bigger fan of Jackson Hole Burgers.  (Ill be reviewing later for sure)  My burger was rich and good,  wasn't mouthwatering, but was good beef.  Jose ordered the sliders, which three of them was enough for anyone, and great for kids.

Now it looks as if most of the places business is delivery, so if you live in the area that is great.  The place was somewhat empty.  My recommendations are, it's good and a great place to take visitors to NY if you want a quiet place to retreat.  or even a nice place to take family if you don't mind the price for a good quality burger.  The mixed fry's are good with potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Price: expensive: $20.00 burgers

YUCA BAR - COCINA LATINA

Yuca Bar - Cocina Latina
111 Ave A and 7th Street

Open Weekdays 11:30am-5pm, 6pm-11:30pm; Weekends 11am-5pm, 6pm-1:30amSubway: 1st Avenue - 14 Street

This place has a fun flare and a touch of Mexico, Cuba, and Brazil, Jose says it's influence is Havana Vieja.   It has a busy busy bar and young crowd. Bartenders make good-sized drinks.  The white Sangria is a good mix, and is always a good choice.  Jose loves the  Mojitos.  We only waited 10 mins for a table on a busy Friday, not bad.   The banana and yuca tortilla chips are unique.  They are specialists with cerviche:  My salmon had mango and the tuna special had watermelon. A salmon mango "tango" treat.

Parrillada is our 1st choice. When ever we see it, and here it's called "carnitas". Which is a mixed grill of chicken lamb sausage, skirt stake and ribs....  RICO! Even though this says "feeds two"-  it could feed four easily..  The table near us ordered "ponchos" which is satay with chicken beef and charisso that you pass over an open flame yourself..   Very cool

The place is a bit noisy but well worth every sound decimal.   Not kid friendly at night but a great place to bring friends.

Our waitress was really sweet and attentive, even with a Packed house she never forgot us.


Price: $$ Medium with value

FREEMANS @ FREEMAN ALLEY

End of Freeman Alley, off of Christie and Rivington, not far from Bowery.
191 Chrystie Street

Subway: Bowery

Open Weekdays 11am-4pm, 6pm-11:30pm; Weekends 10am-4pm, 6pm-11:30pm

Marcy, a friend, recommended this place and she was right.  We found it rustic and warm....   Actors abound.... (Ethan Hawke, and wife, were eating at the table next to us.) Much like stepping foot into a traditional hunting pub..  Two full bars make the place comfortable with hunting trophies on the walls. Very mixed crowd from trendy, to artists to tourists to wall streeters.  The atmosphere is amazing.

We ordered the ceviche special that was sushi grade fluke fish with cucumbers w/rhubarb, jalapeno & lime juice that was amazing only to be surpassed by the mussels that had a tangy garlic broth, that I ordered.

Colorado lamb topped with a sweet polenta was gamey, I love lamb and order it whenever I can. Jose ordered the PanRoasted Sockeye Salmon w/, tomatoes & padron peppers from the Washington coast a bit spicy on collard greens (why do places always tell you where your food is from? It feels too personal to me).  At first I thought the portions were small, but they were exactly right.  We left the place just full enough.

The waiter staff was amazing, friendly and professional.  We're looking forward to going back to this place during the holidays...

I've heard their Brunches are great, Ill let you know when we get a chance to eat there.....
Prices: $$  12-29/plate 9.00 deserts 
no reservations accepted.  1\2 hour wait when busy.

DESERT TRUCK WORKS

6 Clinton Street

New York, NY 10002-1713

Subway: Essex Street

Open Mon-Thu,Sun 3pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 3pm-12am

This place started out as a delivery truck serving deserts on the street in the East Village.  They opened this place and got rid of the truck.  Was told today that they started the truck again which can be found at Astor place. Check it out when there.  Now this is a great "drop in" desert place... but all the sweets are rich and tasty.  You will not be disappointed.  The coffee's or great and strong, right next to the Clinton Street Bakery.

I had the Boom Boom Berry which is nothing but heaven...  Boom boom berry=summer berry sorbet, with whipped cream fraiche with fresh rhubarb lemmongrace juice

Jose had his Vanilla cream brûlée with real Vanilla beans which I think is the same as Flan, which many would disagree

Price: $$  moderate but worth it

ZUM SCHNEIDER BAVARIAN BEER HOUSE

107 Ave C
 East Village, Alphabet CitY

www.zumschneider.com

Jose and I walked into this place, on a wet and rainy day a few months ago.  It was the perfect place to go to wait out the rain.  Since I lived quite some time in Germany and especially in Munich I was very skeptical that it would be good.  But to my surprise it was if we were transported back to Germany.  The food, the music, and the waitress with the Thick German Accent.   We ordered the traditional cheese and potato salad plate.  Two plates of Sausages, and Nurnberger bratwurst.  As anyone would know, who is from Germany,  Weisswurst is very difficult to make unless in Munich.  I am happy to announce that it was top notch.  After a good bottle of German Wine (I prefer wine over beer).  We found the perfect place to spend a rainy day.....

Price:  $$ Medium

atmoshere: traditional German, Benches and large table seating

Weisswrust

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CASA HAVANA

190 8TH AVENUE

Between 19th and 20th Street, Chelsea

ATTN: VERY BIASED REVIEW

Firstly, in the nature of transparency this is going to be a very biased.  My Husband, fellow reviewer, works here and of course makes the experience so much more wonderful.

Now imagine yourself in Miami, where you are in Little Havana and you decide to pop into a cafe for a quick cortadito and Cuban Sandwich.  This is that type of place.  Basic cuban style home cooking with great counter service... "wink".  You'll find all the locals there, from police from the precinct around the corner, NY1 staff from just up the street, Actors from Law and Order, and most everyone that makes up the diversity of the Chelsea neighborhood.

I particularly come in when they have Sancocho a traditional soup (often considered a stew) and a glass of Sangria, Jose always calls me when its fresh. The paella is also one of my top 10.  With Shrimp, Sausage, chicken and pork that makes it "sabroso"!  The staff is friendly and helpfull and make you feel quite at home... 

This place is great for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner or a great place to stop before a movie or just to stop in for a quick Coffee.  Say Hello to Jose while your there.  He'll know you read our blog.  This is traditional Spanish home cooking much like my Aunt, used to cook in Puerto Rico.  You'll find all the favorites like empanadas, arroz con pollo, bistec encebollado, along with any number of fish specials.... Just ask and they'll be happy to tell you what's good,  Everything is always offered with your choice of yellow or white rice and red or black beans.

I suggest trying their tres leche and a coffee to finish.  The prices are cheap so don't be afraid to eat well.

Price: $ 9.00/plate

children friendly

Local clientelle
open late

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SUGAR CAFE

200 Allen Street  at Houston (212) 260-1122 Our favorite sugar stop.  Where we always tend to end up after a good meal.  Large garage doors open the cafe to the street. And when we walk our dogs they can sit beside us and beg for treats.  This cafe is frequented by all types from grandmas to drag queens.  It's cheap and sweet.  I love the strawberry rhubarb pie and jose always ends up with the eclair or teramiesu.  Always open and a regular menu of Burgers, panninis and salads that we've yet to try.  There is table service available, but we tend to serve ourselves. Price: $ cheap atmosphere:  outdoor people:  friendly Open 24 hours