Stand 4 for awesome burgers & shakes then walk 4 miles to work it off

I love a great burger place and Stand 4 did not disappoint. I took my Husband, Howie, for his birthday. When we arrived on a Monday evening there was no one at the door to greet us for a couple of minutes. We really didn't mind and took the time to admire the atmosphere. I call it sleek, casual with romantic, dim lighting and a small bar to the right with some high top tables in the front window area for dining. It's a spacious dining room with really high ceilings and lots of modern, streamlined tables and chairs. In the back is an open kitchen and there are several flat screen televisions around the dining room and bar areas so you can watch the game or the day's highlights on ESPN. I loved that they had tv's.

The Hostess arrived with a great smile and attitude and seated us in the dining room. The Server was adorable. He told us that their Happy Hour was until 9pm and that all draught beers and well drinks were $4 (normally $7 & up) so my Husband ordered a Guinness and I got a Coke. My Husband is allergic to soybean oil but since almost every restaurant uses it for frying he usually just suffers the consequences but we thought we would ask anyway. Our Server may have been young but he knew the menu and the products they use. He assured us that they use canola oil and we were thrilled. He even went the extra mile to ask if sesame seeds were ok for my Husband to eat since they are on the burger buns. A real doll. I ordered the signature "Stand" Burger ($10) and Howie ordered the Kobe Burger ($18). We also ordered Sweet Potato Fries with Honey Mustard Sauce ($5) and Hot Fries ($6) which are regular fries with finely diced fresh jalapenos, melted pepper jack cheese and red chile flakes. The menu also offers a variety of other burgers, sandwiches, chili, salads, sides, desserts and their famous shakes.

The restaurant wasn't particularly crowded and our order minus the Hot Fries arrived quickly. We just figured that the runner couldn't carry all the items at once but it soon became apparent that they forgot the Hot Fries. The Server didn't check in with us after our food was delivered to see that all was ok (service miscue number 1) so we had to flag down the runner and tell him that the fries were missing. The Server came over later and apologized and said they would be out shortly. My "Stand" burger was excellent. The patty had nice seasoning, lettuce, tomato, red onion, a side of their thousand island inspired house sauce and a couple of delicious, deep fried, sweet pickles. They were awesome. I can't believe they don't offer them as a side but I bet you can get them if you ask. The Kobe Burger came with frisee lettuce and again the side of pickles. Not as flavorful as the "Stand" Burger but nicely charred and Howie loved it's quality and simplicity. They have ketchup, mustard and Japanese mayo (which can be kept at room temperature so chill) on the tables to dress your burgers. The Sweet Potato Fries were awesome. The oil was fresh and they were crispy and the honey mustard wasn't too sweet. We got the Hot Fries after we finished everything but we ate them and loved them. Spicy good! The Server then brought the check before asking if we wanted anything else (miscue number two) so I said we wanted to order shakes plus I had a Yelp Deal Coupon worth $50 that I bought months earlier for $25. He happily took it as well as our shake order. I got a small Toasted Marshmallow Shake ($6), their most famous, and Howie got the Kahlua Vanilla Shake ($12). Both were awesome but there is definitely something special about the Toasted Marshmallow garnished with an actual toasted marshmallow. Maybe I'll get the Absolut Vodka Toasted Marshmallow next time or try the S'Mores, Apple Pie or Frangelico Chocolate Shake!

Overall, we had a great time and everything was delicious and fresh. The service was a bit lax at times and if I was the Server I definitely would have comped the Hot Fries (miscue number 3) but we didn't complain. I guess we could have but we were enjoying everything too much to bother. Romantic enough for a date, great for kid's (they have their own menu) and and great for large groups and Happy Hour M-F 4-9pm and Saturday 9pm-12am. Also, the neighborhood is awesome for walking off some of those calories. We took a romantic walk through Washington Square Park and caught some live music at The Bitter End for what turned out to be a very enjoyable and delicious birthday evening!

www.stand4.com
24 E 12th Street
212-488-5900
Mon-Sun 11:30am-12am

Superfine is Super-ok!

Another cool & funky Brooklyn eatery. This one in Dumbo, Brooklyn (Down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This gentrified area has plenty of overpriced rental loft space available but it has become a mecca for artists & the culinary community.
Superfine has a nice vibe & bohemian spirit to it. Cool bar, pool table, pleasant alternative music as opposed to the annoying kind & an open kitchen. They even have live music on Sunday Brunch & at other select times. My husband & I went for Friday lunch & arrived at about 2pm. We were immediately told by the Manager that the other patrons that were seated all came at once & haven't gotten their food yet so it would be at least 45 minutes until we ate. Ooookaaaaay. We decided to stay. I have been in the business for over 20 years & the restaurant was NOT busy. The tables he referred to had about 12 Guests total & I really didn't think it would take that long but I was prepared. Our hipster Server in a Fez hat took our drink order fast & placed the menu board in front of us. They offer about 10-12 items with a Mediterranean flare that changes daily. They boast that about 98% of their ingredients are from local farms/artisans, are organic, seasonal & sustainable. Coolio. We sat right in front of the kitchen so I could hear the 3 cooks talking about the orders. They didn't seem rushed at all. The Server was nice & took our order quickly. My husband got a Coney Island Lager because they didn't have any seasonal beers (odd since they claim to be all over the seasonal thing) & I got a Ginger Ale in a nice big pint glass! I hate it when they give you a soda in tiny glass. It would have been nice to have a cooler soda collection like Boylan's or again something local. Howie got the Steak Sandwich with Mustard Caper Aioli & fries ($11) & I got the Superfine Hamburger on a brioche bun with fries ($12). We got our food in 30 min but other patrons did seem like they must have waited a lot longer. I also checked some sites like Yelp & Chowhound & Superfine does have a bad reputation for extremely slow service. We just got lucky I guess. Everything looked good & obviously was prepared with quality ingredients but was bland. People! You have to season meat with at least a good amount of salt & pepper before searing it. That's a big pet peeve for me. Also, the mustard caper aioli which I asked for on the side to dip my fries in (I know, REALLY healthy!) had absolutely no flavor. The capers could not have been in there. What a waste AND they charged me a buck extra for it without telling me. The really skinny fries were delish. Unfortunately, my lettuce, tomato & onion were buried under them so when I found them they were warm & limp. Whose grand idea was that!? Overall, Superfine was just ok but yeah, it was pretty hip.

126 Front St
(between Adams St & Jay St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO
(718) 243-9005

Subway: York St (F), High St (A, C), Clark St (2, 3)
Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Fri 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat 2 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Sun 6 pm - 10 pm

Sunnyside Irish Tavern, PJ Horgan, Delights!

It was the first really cold night of the year in NYC & Howie & I were supposed to go into the city to have dinner & see the tree but our plans changed...quite pleasantly. We decided to stay local & head to Sunnyside, Queens to a local joint called PJ Horgan Irish Bar & Restaurant at 4217 Queens Blvd. He hadn’t been there in a long time but still had sweet memories of their authentic Shepherd’s Pie & Irish Soda Bread. He didn’t have to twist my arm since Irish Pubs are one of my favorite types of places to go to especially during the Winter.

We walked under the el tracks (where we parked) & into an inviting & warm atmosphere. The interior has a dark wood bar and booths with Tiffany style lamps that give off a comforting amber hue. There are also some tables in the back & many chalkboards around with the evening's specials, artwork by Irish artists & assorted antiques. The Bartender & Server were both very friendly Irish women. You gotta love the brogue. We also noticed that several of the other customers were Irish. It definitely added to the feel of the joint.

They brought us a basket Irish Soda Bread & butter. We finished the basket in about 3 minutes. It's not like other soda breads I have had that are very dense. This one was light & fluffy. Very similar to the texture of Italian Panettone. It had the perfect amount of caraway seeds & currants. It would also make great french toast. We asked for another basket. Duh!

I had a rib eye steak, mashed potatoes & sauteed veggies & Howie ordered the Shepherd's Pie. With a couple of pints of Guinness & one of the best Irish Coffees I ever had for dessert it was the perfect Winter meal. The steak was cooked perfectly & the potatoes & veggies were fresh & delish. The Shepherd's Pie was also very good stocked with plenty of ground beef, peas & carrots covered with the same creamy mashed potatoes I had.

This is a great place to go with friends, family or on a date for brunch, lunch, dinner or just a cocktail & conversation. The prices are very reasonable & the food is definitely above the average bar grub . I can't wait to try their burgers, chicken pot pie, fish & chips & of course the Irish Breakfast one of these Sunday mornings for Brunch complete with Blood Sausage! Oh, by the way, we took the rest of that Irish Soda Bread home & it indeed makes awesome french toast!!!!
42-17 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside, NY 11104 718-729-9584 40th Street Stop on the "7" Train

Cafe Boulud: A bargain?! Well, during NYC's Summer Restaurant Week it was!

This Summer NYC's Restaurant Week was awesome! So awesome in fact that it didn't run for the normal 2 weeks but was extended for 6 weeks!!! Restaurants aren't stupid. They actually like to see people eating in them & in the current economy many upscale restaurants haven't been doing so well. So in order to keep up with the Fridays & Applebee’s "Eat your weight in food for $20!" specials these high end eateries offered 3 course lunches for $24.07 per person (What's with the 7 cents!?) & 3 course dinners for $35 per person not including tax & tip. Believe it or not it was still difficult to find someone to go with because to some it was still too pricey. Fortunately, my boyfriend Howie's Cousin Karni from Israel was visiting & as luck would have it she is a foodie!

I chose Cafe Boulud because I always wanted to try one of Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurants but can't afford it. Cafe Boulud is one of those UES eateries (20 E 76 Street) that reeks corporate power lunch or shopping power lunch. The dining room is pretty in an upscale hotel sort a way. In fact, it's located in the lobby of the Surrey Hotel so the simple mostly white room with minimal décor works. It was one of those steamy hot summer days & I wore a long sundress, which was appropriate although everybody else including the Hostess wore business suits. Karni was meeting me & I was early so I waited in Bar Pleiades next door, which is also owned by Daniel.

I brought a book & ordered a double espresso to wake me up because I knew I was going to have wine with my meal. I don't know about the rest of you but when I drink during the day I end up needing a nap pretty much immediately. The small bar is stunning in it's black, gray & white elegance. The espresso was perfect. I tried to read my book ("The Bad Boys Won!" about the '86 Mets. Awesome by the way!) But was distracted by the cocktail the Bartender/Mixologist was concocting. Their signature cocktails are developed & prepared with the same care as the food & use ingredients like orange blossom water, saffron & roasted pear infused vodka & cherry bark bitters. Although I don't remember what he made that day (I'm awful!), I looked at the current menu & see that they are using a lot of seasonal fall ingredients. Their "Gourd-Geous Sling" has butternut squash puree & tonka beans (From Venezuela & used as a vanilla substitute often to flavor tobacco or perfumes & said to improve emotional well being.). Their cocktails range from $14- $20 a pop but are made with such skill & love that it seems cheap. No it doesn't!

Karni showed up also wearing a sundress as if we planned it so at least I wasn't the only one not wearing a Tahari suit. We were greeted by the Maitre D who asked us if we wanted to order a beverage & when we told him we wanted to see the wine list he told us that they were offering a Restaurant Week wine special. A bottle of white or red wine for $24, which he thought, was a great deal. I told him most restaurants don't do this. That is how they make money. You get the cheap meal but pay $15 a glass for wine! I was impressed. We ordered the Cotes du Rhone & then the Waiter or high end Bus Boy (you can never tell in these type of places) gave us some delicious breads. The menu is "inspired by Daniel Boulud's four culinary muses: la tradition, classic French cuisine; la saison, seasonal delicacies; le potager, the vegetable garden; & le voyager, the flavors of World cuisine." The Restaurant Week's menu is seasonal. Karni started with the Scallop Ceviche with red onions, avocado & fried plantain. The texture of the silky scallop in its bright & zesty citrus marinade along with the creaminess of the avocado & the crisp plantain worked perfectly. I ordered the Summer Corn Chowder with espellette (a French red pepper powder), scallions & vanilla oil & it was sublime. It had a subtle heat, which matched the sweetness of the corn perfectly, & the drizzle of the vanilla oil was uniquely delicious. We both opted for the Roasted Leg of Lamb entree since it went so well with the wine although the Seafood Bouillabaisse sounded awesome. Karni ordered her lamb medium well & I didn't scold her but my medium rare lamb was the better looking of the two. It was accompanied by some polenta gnocchi, which had a lovely crispy crust, & heirloom tomatoes & mushrooms swam in the rosemary au jus. Now the portions here are not large but with 3 courses they were the perfect size. This sort of food was not created for you to woof down. You must savor each bite. Making sure your fork has a little bit of each component on it & then sip the wine to get the full affect. I mean it's not often I get to have Food & Wine Magazine "Best New Chef" & James Beard "Rising Star Chef" Gavin Kaysen cook for me.

For dessert I had the Strawberry Parfait with cheesecake, berry compote & vanilla chantilly cream & Karni had the Gianduja (Hazelnut & Chocolate) Gateau with crunchy macadamia fudge & goat milk sorbet. Both were equally delectable. The Maitre D also brought over some of Cafe Boulud's signature warm Madeleine cookies. OMG! They probably brought these to everyone but I swear they made us feel as if these were only for us. The two hot chicks in revealing sundresses. They were amazing!

This was as close to a perfect dining experience as you can get. The service was impeccable. Not snooty. Not too in your face just friendly & accommodating. I cannot wait until winter's Restaurant Week to begin & I promise the review will be out in time for you to partake in it. If you're rich you don't have to wait so get your ass over there! Sorry for taking so long to post a review but I am lazy!

Live Bait one year later. Still magical to me and fun & sexy for the rest of ya!

Howie & I went to the scene of the crime purely by accident (or was it?). We had plans in the city with some of Howie's childhood friends but they fell through. Since we were in the city anyway & it was our 1 year anniversary weekend Howie suggested (yes...it was him) that we go to Live Bait where we discovered a year ago that there just might be something between us.

First off, I love the laid back, divey, bayou atmosphere here. They have a raw bar, booths up front, lots of booths & tables in back, fun lighting accented by neon signs, great tunes playing & very low to moderate prices for a Flatiron area joint! Live Bait specializes in seafood & southern & cajun specialties. We did not get there for Happy Hour this time but just so you know their HH is M-F 4:30pm -6pm. They have $5 beers, house wines & margaritas & a $5 menu with a 1/2 dozen raw clam or oysters, 1/2 lb peel & eat shrimp, chili cheese fries, Cajun calamari, hush puppies, buffalo, bbq or honey bbq wings & jalapeno rings.

We got there around 8pm on this Friday night & sat in a back booth. The guys will love that they allow the female Servers wear their own clothes. Our waitress took a little while to get to our table but I don't think it was the sexy, skin tight mini dress & boots that were the problem. We weren't in a rush so we didn't care & she was very pleasant once she came over so we ordered a couple of tap Brooklyn Ales. I love that they give warm, sweet corn muffins with butter as their bread basket. It was hard not to ask for more but we're trying to be good. We started with a dozen blue point oysters that were pretty good & Howie ordered the Peel & Eat Shrimp & I ordered Fried Chicken with a Waffle. There was more fried batter than chicken but it was tasty & the waffle was delicious. I love sweet with savory so the maple syrup with the crunchy, salty battered chicken might not have been the best ever but we polished it off. The peel & eat shrimp comes in a small portion (1/4 lb for $6.95) but was tasty & if we realized would have ordered more. It's a better deal for Happy Hour! We passed on dessert but I will definitely try one next time like the Key Lime Pie (one of my faves & always good with Southern cuisine or seafood) or the Jack Daniels Pecan Pie or Brownie a la mode. I also wouldn't mind trying the Malted Milk Ball Ice Cream. Mmmmmm.

Live Bait isn't in the Zagat Guide so I have no Zagat review to compare mine with but the bottom line is that Live Bait doesn't have the best food nor the best service but it's fun, good & won't break the bank. I will be going back...hopefully with Howie & you should too especially for Happy Hour! ej eats

Live Bait
14 E 23rd St
(between 5th Ave & East 23rd St)
New York, NY 10010
(212) 353-2400
Wheelchair Accessible

Wo Hops! Still ok!

Met up with some peeps in Chinatown at Wo Hops last Tuesday night when it was 103 degrees! Oy! If I had balls I would have sweat them off! It was the only night that my NY native friend who lives in San Francisco could go so 10 of us each brought a bottle of vino (a plus being byob) & stuck to our seats for what I consider some old fashioned, NY comfort food.

Here's the Zagat Review for Wo Hops on 15 (downstairs) 17 (street level) Mott St. 10013

This "old time" Chinatown "fixture" (since 1938) obliges the "budget-minded" with "killer" Cantonese chow served into the "wee hours"; although it's a "dinky" basement "hovel" with "grudging service", "there's a reason" for those "lines" in the stairwell.

Actually, the Zagat review is pretty spot on & I don't agree with all the reviews in the guide. I arrived late so they had already finished their appetizers & ordered the entrees. I figured since I wasn't that hungry from the heat I would nibble what they ordered but did make sure to get an order of egg rolls. I took the 2nd one home for Howie. They were...ok. They weren't greasy to the touch but they should really change their fry oil more often. You can tell from the color & flavor that it needed a change. I still managed to inhale it. God I missed NY Egg Rolls even if they suck!

Unfortunately, it seemed that every dish they ordered had Shrimps! Shrimp with Cashews, Shrimp Egg Foo Young, Shrimp with Vegetables, Chicken & Broccoli in a Black Bean Sauce (I never thought I would be glad to see Chicken!), Razor Clams in a Spicy Black Bean Sauce & some Steamed Bok Choy & White Rice. I am not an Egg Foo Young Fan but it's one of my Mom's favorites. It's basically an omelette with shrimps covered in a gelatinous but tasty brown gravy & it had good flavor. I could only eat a couple of bites though. Very greasy. The other dishes to me were just...ehh but the Razor Clams had a nice spicy edge in contrast to the other dishes.

Also, if you like big portions you won't be disappointed. The portions are very generous. The craze now a days is Family Style like at Carmines & other Italian restaurants but Chinese Restaurants have always done it & it's always fun to order a bunch of different things to share. If I was ordering I would have balanced it out with maybe some BBQ Spare Ribs, Mongolian Beef & some Fried Rice or Noodles or both. They ended the meal with slices of the sweetest oranges I have ever had in a Chinese restaurant & delicious, crispy fortune cookies although I wasn't thrilled with the fortune: "Trust him, but still keep your eyes open." Hmmmmm? Very interesting. Hey, Howie came from Queens to pick me up that night & ate his egg roll on the Williamsburg Bridge. He agreed. Egg Roll, ehhhh but he inhaled it! I guess I can trust the dude.

I really missed NY Chinese food more than anything when I lived in Chicago & LA. Even more than pizza & bagels believe it or not! I guess it was all those Sunday family dinners when I was a kid in the '70's that makes it more than food to me but rather a little slice of nostalgia!

In a nutshell, Wo Hops is still pretty darn good for the money! If you have friends or family visiting NYC & they like Chinese food & want a real NY experience definitely take them to Wo Hops! Even if it's a large group you will be shocked at how little it costs to eat a ton of better than average & definitely better than other cities Chinese food. Sorry other cities! They sell beer but you can bring in vino which is awesome just don't go when it's crazy ass hot outside! I could definitely see myself during the holiday season going into the city to do some shopping & ending my day at Wo Hops. Go in the fall or winter for sure & hey people who are getting married...I think it's a great spot for a truly affordable Rehearsal or Out of Towners dinner that won't leave you in debt!
ej eats

Welcome home EJ!

That's right! After 20 years of living in Chicago (9yrs) & LA (11yrs) I have moved back to my hometown of NYC! Queens to be exact! I grew up in Hollis Hills & now live in Kew Gardens with my boyfriend Howie. I met Howie at Queens College about 27 years ago where we were just casual friends. On my vacation last summer to NYC we reconnected. Both of us were still single & yes we're normal!

What ended up becoming our first date took place at Live Bait , 14 East 23rd Street in the Flatiron District. It's a divey, southern, seafood joint with a cool bar, booths & a great jukebox! Over a couple of Brooklyn Lagers from the tap & some raw blue point oysters & clams & a few hush puppies (also known as cornbread balls) we realized we both loved food, had similar views on the world & realized how cool we both were & never knew it. The oysters & clams weren't the best we ever tasted (hama hamas, kumomotos & belons anyone!). I've definitely had better balls in my lifetime but the tunes & Howie were awesome.

So, what is this blog about you might be asking yourself? Well, the title kind of says it all. Being back in NY & walking through the streets I am amazed at how many restaurants there are! How can they all stay in business? Literally in Manhattan there are as many as like 8-10 on one city block! I'm not talking about take out delis & Starbucks. They have those too. Like 8 sit down restaurants on one block! Tons of adorable cafes, bistros, fancy & not so fancy places to dine! Each borough (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx &Staten Island) loaded with a wide array of ethnic & trendy eateries. Can a couple with limited funds eat at every single establishment & then can I, EJ, give my take, good or bad, with a little edge & humor & maybe some guerilla video footage? Probably not but I'm gonna have a lot of fun trying. I will figure out what my parameters will be (ie: has to be a joint with table service, only Zagat rated, will I go once a week, will i always go with Howie or mix it up, etc...) in the coming days. I hope you will tune in.
ej eats