
Dinner at Robataya, a restaurant in the East Village specializing in robatayaki (a method of cooking food over hot coals in front of customers), often means a meal and a show. All the ingredients are on display before you, and upon placing your order, the robata chefs grab the ingredients (at times comically crawling on their hands and knees on the counter), grills up the food, and then presents it to you from behind the cornucopia of proteins and vegetables atop a paddle resembling a pizza peel. It’s immense fun, and highly recommendable if dining out with out-of-town guests (as long as they aren’t from Japan), but is the food on par with the entertainment value? MORE »
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A month ago, I had the pleasure of dining at Jung Sik Dang (정식당), the Korean fine dining restaurant opened by ex-Bouley alum Jung Sik Yim. Located in the old Chanterelle spot, previously one of my favorite French restaurants, the restaurant must have inherited some good food karma (but hopefully not business karma), because it was one of the best meals I’ve had this year. I was surprised it was so good, because prior to going, I’d read several negative reviews online. The crux of the negativity was that it wasn’t Korean enough, which after eating at Jung Sik, I’m baffled. Sure, the food doesn’t resemble anything from 32nd Street, Flushing, or my mom’s kitchen, but this isn’t your typical Korean restaurant. It’s elevated, modern Korean with a European finesse, but Korean nonetheless. MORE »
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As if you haven’t heard it a million times already, Happy New Year! No New Year resolutions for me this year. I decided resolutions are bullsh*t (c’mon, you all know it’s true), so without further ado, let’s talk food! MORE »
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It was the BF’s birthday (Happy Birthday David!) a few weeks ago, so as I usually do, I took him out for sushi. This year we went to Jewel Bako in the East Village. It’s one of the pricier sushi restaurants in the neighborhood, but I’d say it’s worth it as long as you order correctly. MORE »
Red Bicycle or Kokkino Podilato is probably best known from Giada in Paradise. In the episode, Giada goes to Red Bicycle for breakfast. (She also goes to another restaurant and orders tomato fritters only to wrap them in a napkin for later. Is it just me, or is that ghetto granny-style?) Well, I didn’t go there for breakfast, and in fact, I didn’t even plan to go there because of all the online reviews saying it was overpriced and overrated, but one night while aimlessly wandering the marble streets of Oia looking for a place to eat (the place I originally wanted to go to was closed for a event), my little group stumbled upon Red Bicycle. MORE »