On the 13th, me and my boyfriend decided to make a trip to Rachels Waterside Grill in freeport, ny. This is more of a staple for us so we did know what to expect. But we ordered different things to change it up.
Upon arriving we decided to get a couple of drinks at the bar and my boyfriend ordered a usual dirty martini while I asked the bartender for something with cherry in it. The bartender was very attentive and even remembered us from last time so was very friendly and decided to make something not on the menu which had pear liqueur, vodka, seltzer and grenadine. I don't remember the name but it was very tasty. Our table was ready within five minutes of arriving but we relaxed for a bit before heading to our table.
We were seated in the screened in porch room, my favorite part of the renovations (very excited for when they open up the porch) When we sat down we were planning on an appetizer but our hearts were set on oysters Rockefeller, which ended up being a special item during the summer. As we snacked on the bread, my favorite the brown with the raisins, we decided to look a the wine list first (my favorite part of the meal). First I asked about their amazing Sangria but still not in season (our waitress said so many people are requesting it they believe it will be back on the menu before memorial day, sooner than usual) We were pleasantly surprised that they just updated the list and all wines were extremely affordable, three pinot noirs were either 24 or 26 dollars, very cheap for pinot! We ended up ordering the 99vines pinot noir, and I would highly suggest it! It was perfectly balanced with a nice red cherry taste.
Instead of appetizers, we realized all entrees came with soups or salads and that would be fine instead of an app. I decided to order something new, the pan eared scallops over balsamic, sundried tomato, fresh mozz and artichoke risotto with a salad and their balsamic dressing, a high reco. My boyfriend ordered the paella and a beef barley soup (the best is the soup that comes with your entree comes with the soups of the day). Our salad and soups came quickly and my boyfriend said the soup was very very good. Afterwards, our entrees came with enough time in between to talk and enjoy our wine. My scallops actually ended up coming out prepared the incorrect way and my boyfriend's paella came out hot and covered. This was good because they were able to take my entree back and had my entree to the table in two minutes (my guess they just grabbed the wrong table's entree). The pan seared scallops were delicious with a minimal amount of grease (the way I prefer). But my risotto just tasted like seasoned colored rice, I was not too found of it. I just ate the artichokes out of it. The fresh mozzarella had more of a polly-o taste to it, but guess shouldn't expect too much since it was not an italian restaurant. The most important part is the seafood at a seafood joint, and the scallops were not chewy at all.
But on the other hand, my boyfriend was sadly disappointed with his meal. The shrimp were cooked well, but he just felt that all his seafood did not have the taste he would expect from a seafood restaurant. He also did not enjoy his rice, but guess that's what you get for ordering a mexican meal at a seafood restaurant. (south of the border in wantagh is where it's at for paella). After finishing up our food we were full, and set on stopping at ralphs for the first time since lent was over!, for dessert so left afterwards.
We did not leave with a negative impression just for the fact we have ordered many amazing things at rachels and it wasn't the food that brought disappointment, it was the fact we chose to order the wrong styled dishes at the restaurant. But after receiving a complimentary bottle of wine certificate for my bday in the mail, we will definitely be back in may!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Nisen Sushi Commack
For date night me and my boyfriend were craving sushi so we decided to use open table and make a reservation for Nisen. Boy did we make a great choice.
We decided on 7pm reservations but arrive at 640 so we had time to drink at the bar since I was told their drinks are great. Arriving at Nisen in Woodbury and seeing we had no reservations, we checked our email confirming my boyfriend made the reservations in Commack instead. We were a bit bummed when they said they had absolutely no tables at 7 and couldn't accommodate our mistake but than again it was our mistake. Our impression of Woodbury was great though. It looks like a hole in the wall sushi take out from the outside but it feels like you are entering a new world when you get past the front doors. So we than bolted to the car and drove as quick as we could to make our 7pm reservations in Commack.
Upon arriving there, we were seated immediately. From the outside, the place once again not too impressive but the inside was trendy and fun, especially the sushi bar and private round tables. We were placed in the general dining area at a table that just seemed like a pizza place table packed with others. There were a bunch of families and children and I was a little bummed since I thought this was going to be a really fancy date night. But I decided to not let that get me down and actually give the place a chance, I mean it really is all about the sushi.
First things first, we took a look at the drink menu. It was really big, a lot of sake choices and wine and we both decided to try the $12 sake flight. They served three shot glasses (maybe a bit more than a generic sized shot glass) full of sake and each had a unique taste. One was more flowery while the other was sweet and toasted and the third was fruity. We both loved all the them and were happy we chose to do it.
We ordered the Spicy squid appetizer which is Japanese squid in a spicy sauce with vegetables. The plate came and we were impressed by the size. There was a lot of squid with corn, green beans and mushrooms. The squid was so tender, not even close to chewy, and the sauce was phenomenal. This already started to make the less romantic atmosphere seem unimportant.
For rolls we ordered two specialty rolls, the monkey jump and Scottish Goat roll. The monkey jump had tuna, mango, avocado, chopped yellow tail and chili padi paste on top (labeled hot hot hot on the menu). The Scottish Goat roll had seared ginger salmon, goat cheese, roasted portobello mushroom, japanese salsa and balsamic mirin glaze. I also ordered a piece of eel while my boyfriend ordered a piece of smoked salmon.
First we both ate our pieces of sushi and they were amazing. My eel was warm and soft, the eel sauce on top delicious. He loved his smoked salmon. Next we had a piece of the monkey jump. Very fresh tasting but not spicy at all. I had to put a bunch of wasabi on it to be up to my spicy expectations. My boyfriend wasn't too crazy about the roll but we expected that since he doesn't like mango or avocado. But surprisingly it was not the mango that bothered him but rather the avocado. That was because the avocado was so fresh that it had a strong taste to it but I loved it. Next we tried the Scottish Goat roll. That roll was just absolutely amazing. We both did not expect that at all but we just sat there feeling like we just ate the most extravagant thing ever. We also both were so happy we decided to stay here and order that, and the surroundings could have been a japanese take out in the back of an alley, it would not have mattered. After these rolls we were satisfied and since it is lent and I gave up ice cream while my boyfriend gave up chocolate, we had to pass on dessert. But we both wished we did not have to.
Overall I would rate this restaurant a perfect 10, and am more than looking forward to eating at the one in Woodbury! I would tell any sushi fan on Long Island, if you appreciate amazing sushi and are looking to eat somewhere that has a unique menu with rolls that will blow you away, visit Nisen, it is really bang for your buck high quality.
We decided on 7pm reservations but arrive at 640 so we had time to drink at the bar since I was told their drinks are great. Arriving at Nisen in Woodbury and seeing we had no reservations, we checked our email confirming my boyfriend made the reservations in Commack instead. We were a bit bummed when they said they had absolutely no tables at 7 and couldn't accommodate our mistake but than again it was our mistake. Our impression of Woodbury was great though. It looks like a hole in the wall sushi take out from the outside but it feels like you are entering a new world when you get past the front doors. So we than bolted to the car and drove as quick as we could to make our 7pm reservations in Commack.
Upon arriving there, we were seated immediately. From the outside, the place once again not too impressive but the inside was trendy and fun, especially the sushi bar and private round tables. We were placed in the general dining area at a table that just seemed like a pizza place table packed with others. There were a bunch of families and children and I was a little bummed since I thought this was going to be a really fancy date night. But I decided to not let that get me down and actually give the place a chance, I mean it really is all about the sushi.
First things first, we took a look at the drink menu. It was really big, a lot of sake choices and wine and we both decided to try the $12 sake flight. They served three shot glasses (maybe a bit more than a generic sized shot glass) full of sake and each had a unique taste. One was more flowery while the other was sweet and toasted and the third was fruity. We both loved all the them and were happy we chose to do it.
We ordered the Spicy squid appetizer which is Japanese squid in a spicy sauce with vegetables. The plate came and we were impressed by the size. There was a lot of squid with corn, green beans and mushrooms. The squid was so tender, not even close to chewy, and the sauce was phenomenal. This already started to make the less romantic atmosphere seem unimportant.
For rolls we ordered two specialty rolls, the monkey jump and Scottish Goat roll. The monkey jump had tuna, mango, avocado, chopped yellow tail and chili padi paste on top (labeled hot hot hot on the menu). The Scottish Goat roll had seared ginger salmon, goat cheese, roasted portobello mushroom, japanese salsa and balsamic mirin glaze. I also ordered a piece of eel while my boyfriend ordered a piece of smoked salmon.
First we both ate our pieces of sushi and they were amazing. My eel was warm and soft, the eel sauce on top delicious. He loved his smoked salmon. Next we had a piece of the monkey jump. Very fresh tasting but not spicy at all. I had to put a bunch of wasabi on it to be up to my spicy expectations. My boyfriend wasn't too crazy about the roll but we expected that since he doesn't like mango or avocado. But surprisingly it was not the mango that bothered him but rather the avocado. That was because the avocado was so fresh that it had a strong taste to it but I loved it. Next we tried the Scottish Goat roll. That roll was just absolutely amazing. We both did not expect that at all but we just sat there feeling like we just ate the most extravagant thing ever. We also both were so happy we decided to stay here and order that, and the surroundings could have been a japanese take out in the back of an alley, it would not have mattered. After these rolls we were satisfied and since it is lent and I gave up ice cream while my boyfriend gave up chocolate, we had to pass on dessert. But we both wished we did not have to.
Overall I would rate this restaurant a perfect 10, and am more than looking forward to eating at the one in Woodbury! I would tell any sushi fan on Long Island, if you appreciate amazing sushi and are looking to eat somewhere that has a unique menu with rolls that will blow you away, visit Nisen, it is really bang for your buck high quality.
Don Juan Massapequa Park NY
So wanted to catch up the blog with two new restaurants, first post Don Juan.
After traveling out to Bay Shore with my boyfriend and his family, we headed back home and stopped at Don Juan for dinner at about 8pm. The wait was minimum half an hour which is pretty long for that late at night around town, but that meant the food had to have been worth it. I have been here once before with my boyfriend and while enjoying it, was not overly impressed.
Once our table was finally set, we were in a booth along the windows, nice location. We decided to order drinks, I went with a frozen banana margarita while my boyfriend and his dad had a black and tan beer and his mom just had seltzer. We wanted to order appetizers to munch on while we looked at the menu since everyone was pretty hungry. Our waiter was very attentive which alleviated any anxiousness from having to stand up waiting for a table. (one negative for don juan, there is no waiting area for patrons and the bar is barely big enough to accommodate four people)
We went with jalapeno poppers {baked which was a bonus} and guacamole. Free chips and salsa came to the table as well. The salsa had a nice smooth consistency and a spicy flavor. The chips were not too oily at all, a plus since a lot of mexican restaurants serve heavily fried chips. I started with one jalapeno popper, something I never had. It was very good, with a soft jalapeno inside with cheese and a nicely baked crust outside. I did not like the creamy dip since it's not really my thing but everyone else said the dip was delicious. Moving on to the guacamole. I personally loved it, it had a very fresh avocado taste, not too over seasoned. Others at the table thought it was just a little too much on the bland side but I thought that was the best part of it.
I settled on ordering a grilled chicken lime salad, my boyfriend and his dad ordered combo plates and his mom ordered the chicken fajiti plate. My salad had a full avocado cut up, lettuce, tomato, grilled chicken and a special lime avocado dressing. Overall it was very light and freshly flavored, but it just was missing a little something. When I went to Texas I ordered a chicken avocado salad at an outdoor texmex restaurant. They actually chopped and mashed everything together, making avocado really the base not lettuce, and that added something that I felt Don Juan's salad was missing. My boyfriends combo platter had a quesadilla, burrito, and I believe tostado. He really loved everything and I tried the cheese quesadilla which was soft and melted, not overly cheesy. I also ate his refried beans, I think my salad with beans would have made a big difference in adding that missing something. My boyfriends dad devoured his combo plate, loving everything on it and my boyfriend's mom really enjoyed her sizzling fajiti. I also ordered a raspberry margarita this time, which was delicious.
After dinner it was very late so we chose not to have dessert with it. But we lingered around for a bit, drinking our drinks and relaxing. I think that Don Juan knows what they are doing when it comes to drinks. The frozen margaritas are a must have, with so many flavor options, and they even have sangria as well. They have a lot of beer and wine choices and most importantly, the margaritas and sangrias come in pitchers for a great price.
I definitely recommend making a trip to Don Juan for primarily drinks and than a little added mexican food.
After traveling out to Bay Shore with my boyfriend and his family, we headed back home and stopped at Don Juan for dinner at about 8pm. The wait was minimum half an hour which is pretty long for that late at night around town, but that meant the food had to have been worth it. I have been here once before with my boyfriend and while enjoying it, was not overly impressed.
Once our table was finally set, we were in a booth along the windows, nice location. We decided to order drinks, I went with a frozen banana margarita while my boyfriend and his dad had a black and tan beer and his mom just had seltzer. We wanted to order appetizers to munch on while we looked at the menu since everyone was pretty hungry. Our waiter was very attentive which alleviated any anxiousness from having to stand up waiting for a table. (one negative for don juan, there is no waiting area for patrons and the bar is barely big enough to accommodate four people)
We went with jalapeno poppers {baked which was a bonus} and guacamole. Free chips and salsa came to the table as well. The salsa had a nice smooth consistency and a spicy flavor. The chips were not too oily at all, a plus since a lot of mexican restaurants serve heavily fried chips. I started with one jalapeno popper, something I never had. It was very good, with a soft jalapeno inside with cheese and a nicely baked crust outside. I did not like the creamy dip since it's not really my thing but everyone else said the dip was delicious. Moving on to the guacamole. I personally loved it, it had a very fresh avocado taste, not too over seasoned. Others at the table thought it was just a little too much on the bland side but I thought that was the best part of it.
I settled on ordering a grilled chicken lime salad, my boyfriend and his dad ordered combo plates and his mom ordered the chicken fajiti plate. My salad had a full avocado cut up, lettuce, tomato, grilled chicken and a special lime avocado dressing. Overall it was very light and freshly flavored, but it just was missing a little something. When I went to Texas I ordered a chicken avocado salad at an outdoor texmex restaurant. They actually chopped and mashed everything together, making avocado really the base not lettuce, and that added something that I felt Don Juan's salad was missing. My boyfriends combo platter had a quesadilla, burrito, and I believe tostado. He really loved everything and I tried the cheese quesadilla which was soft and melted, not overly cheesy. I also ate his refried beans, I think my salad with beans would have made a big difference in adding that missing something. My boyfriends dad devoured his combo plate, loving everything on it and my boyfriend's mom really enjoyed her sizzling fajiti. I also ordered a raspberry margarita this time, which was delicious.
After dinner it was very late so we chose not to have dessert with it. But we lingered around for a bit, drinking our drinks and relaxing. I think that Don Juan knows what they are doing when it comes to drinks. The frozen margaritas are a must have, with so many flavor options, and they even have sangria as well. They have a lot of beer and wine choices and most importantly, the margaritas and sangrias come in pitchers for a great price.
I definitely recommend making a trip to Don Juan for primarily drinks and than a little added mexican food.
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