Plaza Food Hall

As part of todd english's chain here in nyc, the food hall is ... essentially an european styled food hall. With different stations set around the hall, you can order from any of those. Depending on where you get seated, you may have some nice views of watching the food being prepared. It's actually a classy sit down food place, as opposed to initial impressions of being a large food court. Names are definitely deceiving, especially without researching before going.

Butternut Squash Ravioli

With their signature pastas available in different sizes, we started with the butternut squash ravioli. Arriving before all the other food - this allowed us to sample this first. Whether being hungry had an effect or not, this was definitely a great ravioli. Sizing was a little disappointing, as it disappeared quite quickly. The sweetness of the squash going with the ravioli was a perfect match.

Classic Flatbread Pizza

Couldn't resist the flatbread pizza's, and to go with their simple classic pizza was a smart decision. A light crispy outside with just enough simple flavours. This included some roasted tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella and basil. It's not surprising that simple makes all the difference to enjoy the flavours.

Berber Smoked Pork Shoulder

It was a sunday... and couldn't resist a sunday roast of berber smoked pork shoulder. Not your typical sunday roast, but a nice variation. Grilled focaccia had enough taste, and the smoke pork shoulder was great without any of the dipping sauce. Presentation wasn't the best but the flavours and ambiance of the hall more than made up for it.

Only annoyance, had either a new trainee waitress or she was just too tired. Spilt water 3 whole times while pouring into glasses. Maybe she just couldn't see... and one time was a mini flood on the floor. But I'll give it the benefit of the doubt as it seemed the other tables had no troubles. I would definitely come back, especially with so many choices available here.

1 West 59th Street
(Opposite Central Park)

Cipriani

It's been a while since I've last posted... but I still haven't stopped my quest in continuing to try all the lovely food around here. On the eve of Irene visiting, thought I should give another wall st setting a visit. Set out with lovely greek architecture, in the middle of wall street, featuring 70 foot ceilings... this is definitely a lovely hall setting for any event. As much as I love to enjoy the design and view, I was here for the food.

Cipriani

Butter served in scoops... a very cute touch. Would have look better if the plate was filled, but I'm not sure I could use all that if that were the case.

Galantina Di Pollo

And so I decided to start off with their galantina di pollo. A few thin slices of deboned stuffed chicken meat, served cold. It was reasonable, with the light dressing and that the meat didn't fall apart. A nice light touch to the start.

Cold Broccoli Soup

To add to the starter was some cold broccoli soup. Only downside to this was that the plate and bottom of the bowl was warm. Slight contradiction to the cold soup I must say...

Tagliatelle with Fresh Peas

To go with an interesting night, I opted for their tagliatelle made with fresh peas. A very simple yet effective dish. Pasta was nice, would have preferred it to be a little more al dante, and the pea sauce wasn't too overpowering. However it feel a little plain after a few mouthfuls.

Fruit Tart

To end off, a fruit tart. It's always fun to have some italian where they bring out a whole cart of desserts for you to see and then pick from.

All in all, a reasonable experience here. Food wasn't that impressive compared to other italian places I've been. The location was close to home, and being able to experience the building... that was impressive.

55 Wall Street
(Between William and Hanover Street)

Pronto Pizza

After irene decided to shut down most of nyc, I wasn't really left with many options... What was advertised as the best pizza in ny was only around the corner, and with its dedication to stay open... I was willing to give it a go.

Pepperoni Pizza

Pizza's were available by the slices (or if you really wanted, they could make a whole pie for you). With only the choice of cheese and cheese with pepperoni... of course I got both of them. Surprisingly good pizza for what it's worth. Probably downside is that its a little too oily, but flavour and crisp were there. Also helped that i covered it with chilli flakes too...

As a local pizza store, this definitely surprises. From the view outside, not a pretty place nor a busy place. But locals do keep going back, and rightly so. For a quick slice of pizza, worth the visit compared to all those around.

114 Liberty Street
(Next to WTC Tribute Visitor Center)

Basta Pasta

Finally had the chance to come back here after wanting to for so long. Like I remember, it felt like the best pasta I've had to date, and of course I needed to justify this.

Basta Pasta

It's always nice to see the open kitchen. Typical japanese where hygiene is something that they take care of very well.

Complimentary Starters

The exact same complimentary starters as last time.

Ravioli di Vitello, Proscuitto e Mozzarella

A homemade veal, proscuitto and mozzarella cheese ravioli with fresh tomatoes in parmesan sauce. The parmesan appeared to be a little oily from that initial taste, but otherwise it was reasonably well done.

Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare

My choice of a light pasta meal. Spaghetti with fresh sea urchin, fresh tomatoes and jalapenos in a garlic hot oil. Serving size was reasonable, but somehow I managed to get through this pretty quickly. Either I was really hungry or it tasted really good... or both. The spaghetti was definitely done perfectly, and with the sweet essence of sea urchin spread across the pasta, it was delicious. One of my favourite pasta's to date, and this isn't served in many places.

Cloud

Couldn't say no to dessert, and I had to try the daily specials of grapefruit pannacotta with ricotta gelato. Now I originally thought this pannacotta would have an infused flavour of grapefruit, but instead... there were actual pieces of grapefruit. The presentation didn't seem to workout well, with the off whites on white... not great for photos or presentation. Taste was a little weird too, just didn't feel that the grapefruit matched the pannacotta right, nor did it go well with the ricotta gelato.

Bluebird

Luckily there was backup in a second dessert. Best when it's all there to share. This was the blueberry almond cake tart and honey gelato. Definitely a better choice. The tart was a lil hard on the crust and base, but otherwise nothing to really complain about.

I'm sure I will come back again... just a matter of time. I guess the main thing to note is that I'll be satisfied on the pasta, and not the desserts.

37 West 17th Street
(Between 5th and 6th Avenue)

Habana Outpost

Having been told of this great cuban joint serving superb grilled corn, it was definitely something to try. It wasn't meant to be a classy, but comforting and enjoyable.

Habana Outpost

Set in the outskirts of brooklyn, I was impressed upon entering the place. Nicely set out, with a large open area that was totally packed. Indoors was much emptier, especially when all the livelihood was outside.

Habana Outpost

Even the way to the restrooms were all painted and set out to a theme

Diablo Chicken Plato

And what did I choose? A definite was the grilled corn, done mexican style with cheese, chilli powder and lime! Although I already know how unhealthy it is, it's definitely good!! Couldn't really get enough of it. The main course, was spicy chicken breast, roasted red peppers on yellow rice and black beans. Such a simple meal yet so flavoursome.

A definite must go to place for a nice comforting cuban meal. However the food is a little more mexican than cuban, but that can be forgiven. Although set out all the way in brooklyn, it's ambiance and lively environment more than makes up for it. Best thing is its more than reasonable price.

775 Fulton Street
(Corner of South Portland Avenue)

Social Eatz

After hearing about social eatz only recently being opened in nyc, it was something to go try. Angelo sosa was the runner up in top chef in season 7, and I'm sure there must be some substance behind that. Given that jean-georges is his mentor, there's some expectation.

Social Eatz

Having got to sit in the newly opened outdoor back area, it was actually quite comforting. Although not in the most comfortable seats, the slight outdoor freshness with some small garden was relaxing. The menu came outlined with american comfort food with an asian touch.

Crispy Spring Rolls

As night started to fall, the fake candles gave off an interesting colour. To start, were some crispy spring rolls. These spring rolls were shrimp with ground chicken. Definitely not your typical fillings. But with some duck sauce made of calamansi, it definitely produced an interesting twist with a sweet and sour flavour.

Hot Wings

The typical american hot wings, except that these were glazed with tamarind, palm sugar and japanese spices. It produced a different type of hotness, but not enough to give it a kick for me.

Bibimbap Burger

And of course I had to go with their famous bibimbap burger. Ground beef with slow cooked egg, lettuce, carrots and cucumber. The sesame seeds topped off the bun, and with some kimchi served on the side... A very korean touch to an american burger. Surprisingly, the flavours worked well for a burger. Especially with the yolk running through it all... a nice touch.

And so angelo's asian touch into american comfort food produces a somewhat surprising result. Comfort food is always nice, but with an asian touch - it's definitely weird and works well. Nothing wow about it all, but a simple casual meal that's out of the ordinary. Probably a little over-priced for what it is, but that's what you get for a top chef. Small touches here and there is what produces the difference. The environment is also nicely set out in a classy pub style environment.

232 East 53rd Street
(Between 2nd and 3rd Avenue)

Hsin Wong

And with the lack of simple food over the many months, sometimes random conversations brings up a craving for simple chinese food.

Hsin Wong

And so I set off back to chinatown for a comforting meal. On one weeknight after work, it was definitely extremely empty. But having heard good things about this place, I'm sure it would be fine.

Roast Pork, Roast Duck and Fried Egg on Rice

Funnily enough, I never usually order rice dishes. But not having a rice cooker here... and not taking the effort to get or make rice, made for an exception. With the option of 2 meats, I went with roast duck and roast pork. It also came with a fried egg, and some cabbage on the side in addition to some simple vege soup. Given the craving I was having, it was actually pretty decent. Better than I expected.

For a very simple and cheap meal, I guess you can't go wrong here =) Next time I'll try for the soups and something fancier.

72 Bayard Street
(Near Mott Street)

Regional Thai

It's been a while since having thai food, and even so, it's only been to very few places. Regional thai was nothing fancy, but more of a nice casual and comforting restaurant to satisfy that craving.

Starters

A complimentary starter - which I do not know the name of... Essentially thin deep fried batter? but covered in some sweet sauce. With the sauce unevenly spread around, it was a little too much in certain areas but otherwise an interesting way to start the evening.

Sangria

Unfortunately it's been too long since I went to regional thai, and I don't exactly remember what I ordered to drink (I do think it was sangria...). I do remember that it was served up in an interesting mug (yes and this was just for 1 serving). What I also remember is how strong it was... but it was refreshing in a way.

Royal Mixed Satay

A starter of mixed satay consisting of shrimp, chicken and beef with classic peanut dipping sauce. Somehow the beef turned out to be the winner here. The chicken was just too dry, and shrimp was a little overcooked. The peanut sauce was good, but a little overpowering when too much is applied.

Assorted Dim Sums

An assorted sampler of appetisers. Definitely an interesting presentation of dim sums, especially not knowing what each of them were. I was definite that it wasn't going to be anything exotic, but it would have been nice to know what each of them were before eating.

Tropical Mango Spiced Noodles

I opted for the recommended special of tropical mango spiced noodles. King prawns and sea scallops over spiced angel hair, with thin slices of mango on the side. I was definitely impressed by this combination. The spicy noodles wasn't the highlight, and the spice provided a little bit of a weird flavour. The ripened mangoes were sweet, with the fresh seafood flavour to contrast the spicy noodles. I much enjoyed the sauce and seafood than the noodles, but it was a weird type of refreshingness to the meal.

Unfortunately (somehow it's always the case) that I missed happy hour... in which it serves unlimited drinks for a fixed price. I'm sure it would have been great if I was there for that (to a certain degree?). But it definitely provides a relaxing environment to sit and chill for the night. Food is more than reasonable, given the price and is worth visiting.

208 7th Avenue
(Between 21st and 22nd Street)

Gimme Coffee

So it seems (and it's true) that my coffee adventures have come to a grinding halt. I've actually lost count of how many weekends it has been since the last adventure in finding some good coffee. Never too late to get back on track, it was time to find these hidden coffee gems!

Gimme Coffee

Another little coffee place (as they all are), with nothing too flashy about the store front. Was hoping there'd be something screaming "gimme" given their name, but nothing like that to my disappointment.

Latte

With my typical latte, I was a little disappointed with the minimal coffee art compared to what I have been accustomed to. Presentation is one thing, it's the coffee flavour that matters most. Maybe it's that I haven't had decent coffee for a while or that starbucks and dunkin donuts have just corrupted my caffeine intake ability, I didn't find this coffee to be that great overall. Sure enough, it was nice, satisfying, but didn't give me a coffee hit like I was expecting. The coffee was a little hot, but otherwise ok. I liked the little touch on the coffee cup with their store name. I guess everything is always compared to my favourite la colombe with that unforgettable experience.

228 Mott Street
(Near Prince Street)

HK Wonton Garden

It's been a while since getting the chance to have some nice chinese food, especially just simple stuff like noodles. During my cravings, I was recommended to try this wonton place in chinatown - apparently the best in chinatown here.

Beef Tendons and Wontons

Upon arriving, it indeed is just a little place. With mainly 2 seaters and 4 seaters. At the front was some bbq pork and roast duck hanging on the shelves. It's been so long since wonton, and since this had the great option of beef tendons with wontons and noodles, of course that would be my first pick. To my surprise, I enjoyed the soup and beef tendons. There was also a generous servings of wontons. The issue I found was that the shrimp meat in the wontons were too salty (a hint that it wasn't too fresh??). The noodles were fine, not too soggy and no soap flavour! To top it off, I ordered a soy milk as well, but to my disappointment it was only pre-packaged ones. A nice little touch that I liked was that red vinegar was readily available to add to the soup =)

BBQ Pork, Roast Duck and Wontons

With my craving not settled, I decided to come back again the next day! This time I went a little overboard and went with bbq pork, roast duck and wontons with noodles. Probably a bit of an overkill, as they didn't cut down on the serving size. Although I still feel that the bbq pork and roast duck still isn't as good as what I've had back home, this was relatively satisfying =) Even better today was that the wontons actually tasted quite a lot better. None of that salty flavoured shrimp, and texture was indeed a lot better. I guess yesterday was just a bad batch...

Overall I can say that this is my new little found favourite noodle place. A cheap and quick meal that will always be satisfying. Next few times will be trying all the other combinations available =)

79 Mulberry Street
(Between Bayard and Walker Street)

Ippudo

And so after two previous failed attempts at going to try the famous ippudo ramen, I guess it was third time lucky? The wait this time was only a little over an hour, as opposed to two hours... Which still makes me wonder, is all this hype and wait actually worth it for a bowl of ramen.

Ippudo

Having finally gotten in and seated, it was quite nicely laid out. I didn't expect it to be just a basic place serving noodles, but appearance wise it did exceed what I was imagining. The cleanliness always makes things a little better.

Ippudo

I was given a spot at one of the middle tables, which had tree branches and logs, and candles set out like an open fireplace. It was actually much larger than I thought it would be, but I can see why there would be a long wait. The layout is actually designed to be more for single or couple seating at bar style tables.

Teba Gyoza

I wouldn't just be satisfied with having noodles, and of course given how hard it was for me to get in, I had to try some of their special starters. I went with their teba gyoza, their version of gyoza dumplings. Appearance wise, definitely impressive. Chicken wings stuffed with ground pork and vegetables. Deep fried and served with vinegar shoyu. The catch, there's only limited quantities available each day.

Pork Hirata Buns

Their famous hirata buns. I went with the steamed buns filled with pork, served with their spicy bun sauce. This is not your typical bbq pork bun, and a very different take. The flavours and texture are very different to the norm, and although appearance wise doesn't look anything flash, the taste is well worth it.

Shiromaru Hakata Classic Ramen

And the whole reason I came... shiromaru hakata classic ramen. The original tonkotsu noodle soup topped with pork loin chashu, kikurage, menma, red pickled ginger, sesame and ginger. Of course, that not being enough I added the optional nitamago. A seasoned soft boiled egg where the yolk is still runny. This was definitely good ramen. Actually more than just good. I could easily say this is the best ramen I've had.

But the issue comes down to, is it really worth that two hours of waiting just for an excellent bowl of ramen. Possibly... When you also factor in the cost, there's always a lot of considerations to make. If you're after one of the best ramen, then definitely this is the place to go. I would willingly come back, if the wait is going to be less than two hours.

65 Fourth Avenue
(Between 9th and 10th Street)

Pop Bar

A little bit of a corny name, but essentially popsicles. But to be exact, gelato on a stick. In fact, pretty good gelato on a stick as opposed to mass production ones.

Pop Bar

With a reasonable range of choices in this little bar, gelato, sorbet, yoghurt and even make it yourself, it does provide many options to suit your taste buds. The best thing, fresh natural ingredients made only in small batches at a time daily.

Pop Bar

Additional toppings can be added such as nuts, sprinkles or even dips. Cold, refreshing desserts are always great and satisfying on a hot day. And even on cold days, just means it won't melt.

Pop Bar

I opted for a selection of 6 in a little take away cooler bag. The cooler bag was pretty flimsy, and wasn't able to stop all of them from melting a bit before reaching home. Luckily I had some in store before leaving =)

A simple yet tasty form of gelato, sorbet, or yoghurt on a stick. It was definitely satisfying, but nonetheless, nothing spectacular or amazing. I had higher expectations from what I heard, and was expecting them to even look a lot more impressive. Given the costs, it's actually quite steep for a stick. Though you do pay for what you get, and the question is... is the fresh and natural ingredients all worth it.

5 Carmine Street
(Near 6th Avenue)

Kori

A quick after work dinner was required, and my colleague stumbled across kori. Hidden away in tribeca, this is chic and modern, and not what I had expected. Surprised and excited, I was really looking forward to the food upon entering.

Kori

Couldn't start the night without a quick refreshement - of soju =)

Starter Dishes

As with all korean places, compliment small dishes of cabbage, lettuce and cucumber served out in a cute triangular dish. Nothing fancy about these dishes, but light and refreshing.

Mandoo

Being unable to decide between the vegetable or shrimp dumplings, the waitress was nice enough to provide a half and half! Of course I had to go with fried... and the crispiness of the fried skin is always great. The fillings were not overpowered and simple to enjoy.

Korean style crispy pizza, also known as the seafood pancakes. As a starter, a nice decent serving over a hot plate sizzling to go. The sauce provides a bit of sour contrast to the pancakes. A nice serving, but definitely had some better ones elsewhere that are more memorable.

Spicy Baby Octopus Noodles

The spicy baby octopus noodles as my main. And this presentation was wow, and I definitely loved the spicy flavours. There was quite a lot of octopus available, and the noodles easily absorbed all the spices. So as you bite into the noodles and octopus, you get all the flavours. Served on an oversized bowl styled plate, I was really impressed with it.

From its chic design, this is definitely a hidden gem. Very reasonably priced food and drinks. The modern feel does take away the traditional korean feeling, and lacks a bit of the authentic korean flavours. But overall, a great choice when you're in this side of the town.

253 Church Street
(Corner of Leonard Street)

Pink Tea Cup

Came across here unexpectedly... and the pinkness definitely draws your attention. I'm definite that there's a few friends out there who'd love to come here, just because of the pink!

Pink Tea Cup

Napkins are pink, the flowers are pink... the walls are pink. If only every little thing was pink?

Biscuits

Surprisingly, the first time I've had biscuits that I've not wanted to throw up. I guess these are what biscuits are meant to be like... light, fluffy, warm... with a lot of butter =)

French Toast

French toast... with some icing. Two reasonably large servings for a late breakky. Nothing fancy about the presentation, nice and saimple. I liked the clean look and it tasted well enough.

French Toast

Looks and tastes even better once you start pouring the maple syrup all over it...

I didn't really know what I was in for, or what this place was serving - but it was definitely a nice looking and comforting cafe style place. With an outdoor seating, you can still view the non-stop life of the city on 7th ave. This area is the place to be, for soul food and music - worth coming back to try some heavy southern deep fried goodness over dinner.

88 7th Avenue South
(Between Grove and Barrow Street)