Saturday night decided I was not much in the mood for cooking so me and my boyfriend were deciding on what restaurant to go out to eat to. We remembered we had a 50$ gift certificate, from restaurant.com, for Thom Thom and decided why not try to get reservations. On opentable the reservation choices were small, 615 or 845, so we tried to call and see if it would be different. We were told the same openings but than after getting off the phone, a 715 became available on opentable and decided it must be a sign. So we made the reservations and ventured off for dinner.
Upon arriving, the dining room was pretty bright, something I was not use to when dining here previously. We were seated right away in the back corner, nice to be away from the main crowd. There were enough people eating but the restaurant was not really packed out at all. We had in mind a sushi dinner, as Thom Thom is a steak, seafood sushi restaurant, and decided to stick to our plan. The one main comment about the food is that the sushi choices are limited but this is not a restaurant one would go to if they are having a sushi crave (try nissen in woodbury or kiku in massapequa).
Our waiter came to the table promptly, asking if we would like to order drinks/needed any suggestions. We were torn between two bottles of pinot noir and our waiter was extremely helpful, being that he worked in a wine distributor for a number of years. We went with the Sean Minor Carneros pinot and than continued to look at the menu. Our waiter brought our wine out pretty quick which was nice to just relax and have a drink before really looking at the menu. One thing to note, as our waiter even told us, they are not looking to rush you in this restaurant at all so you are free to sit back, relax and take your time ordering, something we definitely took advantage of.
The wine was delicious, very cherry taste to it with no harsh tannins at all, a very nice smooth finish. It was a great recommendation and nice to see a restaurant with a knowledgable waitstaff. With the wine came out a bread basket except here, they are little garlic pita triangles, soft and very warm, with a platter of butter, hummus and a cucumber mayo. I love the hummus and was happy to munch on that while looking at the menu. We decided to order one appetizer before looking at anything else, and went with the Ahi Tuna Tartar, the appetizer we like to order at seafood restaurants to test the quality since either it is going to be incredible or horrible, depending on the freshness. After a few minutes the tartar came, with avocado, yuzu and tobiko. The tuna was so fresh and the avocado had a really fresh taste to it, and the sauce that was surrounding the molding was delicious. That was a really great first impression to our dinner date.
With a limited choice in rolls, we decided to order two, one speciality and one classic. The specialty was the rainbow naruto roll, which had tuna, salmon, white tuna, kani kami, avocado, thinly sliced cucumber and mustard soy. We also ordered the bbq eel. When our rolls came out, I was surprised to see the specialty roll was wrapped in the cucumber, not seaweed something different and interesting. My boyfriend got an order of spicy mayo too. The speciality roll was very good, very fresh seafood but it was served a little too cold temperature for me. I did like the variation using the cucumber instead of seaweed it was a nice surprise. The bbq eel roll was just as the other roll, fresh but served a bit too cold. But this is not a sushi restaurant so I knew it was not going to be out of this world.
Finishing off our bottle of wine we both wanted a little something else but decided to go with dessert instead of another roll just because the sushi was decent but not amazing. We ordered the chocolate purse which was a dark chocolate shell with one scoop of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of chocolate ice cream, one scoop of raspberry sorbet with a chocolate drizzle and whipped cream and caramel sauce on the side. Also we ordered a bottle of hana awaka, a sparkling, floral and fruity sake. As our dessert came out it looks great, towered very high with everything. Taking the first bite, everything was delicious. My favorite part was the raspberry sorbet, it was so smooth and refreshing. The sake was very good, this being my first sparkling sake. I think the dessert was a very pleasant ending to our night out.
Overall I would definitely recommend Thom Thom, the tuna tartar appetizer was great, but I would not order sushi. I have had seafood here before and the cooked seafood dinners are excellent, much more worth it. Next time I will stick to exploring the seafood dishes (and definitely would always recommend taking advantage of their great price fix menu!)
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Besito, Roslyn, NY
I don't particularly love mexican but when I find a great mexican restaurant, I love going there. That is how it is with South of the Border and one cute little restaurant I dined in in Old Town San Diego, Casa Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant. I have heard much hype about Besito and since last week was restaurant week on LI, decided to give it a try with my boyfriend.
Thursday I had an interview in the city so I took the train straight to the Roslyn station for a 6:45 reservation. We decided on Roslyn because since it was restaurant week, we figured the Huntington location may be a bit crazy and we just wanted a relaxing date night after I ran around in the city. The roads were a bit confusing in the area but we made it to the shopping center Besito is in. They have a cute outdoor patio area for eating but unfortunately it was raining so we headed inside.
The bar in directly in front when you arrive and it is a very nice size with a good vibe. The atmosphere is a little darker, perfect for a date or a night out with the girls or some friends. We were seated immediately in the back left corner, a corner booth. This was probably the best seat in the house for a romantic dinner, away from everything and able to snuggle in the corner. Right away we were brought the menus and some salsa and fresh chips to snack on. The salsa was really good, a nice spicy bite with some jalapeno and the chips were not greasy at all. I saw the great drink selections and had a feeling this was going to be a great experience.
I ordered their signature frozen margarita, the only frozen drink on the menu, while my boyfriend ordered their signature margarita on the rocks. The difference mine had a house tequila and one other flavor while my boyfriend's had patron. Before the drinks arrived I went to the bathroom, which was relatively small with two stalls, but clean.
Returning to the table my margarita was waiting for me. It was definitely really string but tasted really good, perfect for a summer evening. My boyfriends drink was a lot less strong tasting, for me would be more dangerous! Restaurant week is known to have price fixed menus, app, dinner and dessert for 24.95. Besito opens the whole menu for the deal, but a few entrees cost a bit more if ordered. I decided I just wanted the chile rellenos al hongos (something new for me) and didn't want any appetizers so I didn't do the price fixed. The only appetizer that really was appealing was the tableside guac, where they bring out a cart, make the guac in front of you to your flavor preference. But since my boyfriend doesn't like guac, and it was not included in the price fixed, I went with the entree. My boyfriend decided to order for an app the empanadas hongos, entree filete de res al chipotle. I was excited to try my new food.
We had plenty time to actually enjoy our drinks before our food came out, something I prefer at restaurants. I hate the feeling of someone rushing me and at Besito, you do not feel even close to rushed which is relaxing. For foodies and those out there looking to find a restaurant that encourages the appreciation of food, this is your place.
First my boyfriend appetizer came, empanadas filled with wild mushrooms, goat cheese and salsa manzana (a green sauce). He said it was really crispy and cooked perfect. He let me try a little bit of the filling with the salsa and it tasted so so good, getting me excited for my dish since it was filled with similar ingredients.
As the food came out I ordered another frozen margarita. The margarita came out within minutes, which was perfect since I was able to enjoy my food with the drink. So on to my entree. The description is poblano peppers filled with wild mushrooms, baby spinach, goat cheese pine nuts and topped with salsa ranchera. It was topped with a big spoonful of goat cheese. I cut a piece of the pepper and dipped it in the salsa. It just melted in my mouth. The combination of melted goat cheese with everything else was just amazing. I was so pleasantly surprised with ordering something I usually do not.
My boyfriend's entree was grilled beef filet mignon, rajas, queso chihuahua and chipotle quemado salsa. He said the meat was so tender and juicy, and had a nice smoky taste to it. The portion was so big he was not able to finish it all but definitely was enticed to keep eating by just the smell. He still had a dessert coming though and was ready to wait after the quality of the food so far. He ordered a cheese flan with a chocolate fruit sauce, something we both never had. I am not a big flan person but decided tonight was trying new things so why night. It's presentation was very nice on the plant and we both took a small spoon full. It actually was delicious. The cheese was creamy but not over powering, with a nice balance with the sauce. An unexpectedly yummy taste. We hung around a bit after dessert, neither of us able to finish up everything.
Overall I would highly recommend Besito, though it is a little pricier for the normal restaurant. But the food and drinks, service, atmosphere and overall experience make this mexican restaurant worth a little extra splurge to have a nice night out.
Thursday I had an interview in the city so I took the train straight to the Roslyn station for a 6:45 reservation. We decided on Roslyn because since it was restaurant week, we figured the Huntington location may be a bit crazy and we just wanted a relaxing date night after I ran around in the city. The roads were a bit confusing in the area but we made it to the shopping center Besito is in. They have a cute outdoor patio area for eating but unfortunately it was raining so we headed inside.
The bar in directly in front when you arrive and it is a very nice size with a good vibe. The atmosphere is a little darker, perfect for a date or a night out with the girls or some friends. We were seated immediately in the back left corner, a corner booth. This was probably the best seat in the house for a romantic dinner, away from everything and able to snuggle in the corner. Right away we were brought the menus and some salsa and fresh chips to snack on. The salsa was really good, a nice spicy bite with some jalapeno and the chips were not greasy at all. I saw the great drink selections and had a feeling this was going to be a great experience.
I ordered their signature frozen margarita, the only frozen drink on the menu, while my boyfriend ordered their signature margarita on the rocks. The difference mine had a house tequila and one other flavor while my boyfriend's had patron. Before the drinks arrived I went to the bathroom, which was relatively small with two stalls, but clean.
Returning to the table my margarita was waiting for me. It was definitely really string but tasted really good, perfect for a summer evening. My boyfriends drink was a lot less strong tasting, for me would be more dangerous! Restaurant week is known to have price fixed menus, app, dinner and dessert for 24.95. Besito opens the whole menu for the deal, but a few entrees cost a bit more if ordered. I decided I just wanted the chile rellenos al hongos (something new for me) and didn't want any appetizers so I didn't do the price fixed. The only appetizer that really was appealing was the tableside guac, where they bring out a cart, make the guac in front of you to your flavor preference. But since my boyfriend doesn't like guac, and it was not included in the price fixed, I went with the entree. My boyfriend decided to order for an app the empanadas hongos, entree filete de res al chipotle. I was excited to try my new food.
We had plenty time to actually enjoy our drinks before our food came out, something I prefer at restaurants. I hate the feeling of someone rushing me and at Besito, you do not feel even close to rushed which is relaxing. For foodies and those out there looking to find a restaurant that encourages the appreciation of food, this is your place.
First my boyfriend appetizer came, empanadas filled with wild mushrooms, goat cheese and salsa manzana (a green sauce). He said it was really crispy and cooked perfect. He let me try a little bit of the filling with the salsa and it tasted so so good, getting me excited for my dish since it was filled with similar ingredients.
As the food came out I ordered another frozen margarita. The margarita came out within minutes, which was perfect since I was able to enjoy my food with the drink. So on to my entree. The description is poblano peppers filled with wild mushrooms, baby spinach, goat cheese pine nuts and topped with salsa ranchera. It was topped with a big spoonful of goat cheese. I cut a piece of the pepper and dipped it in the salsa. It just melted in my mouth. The combination of melted goat cheese with everything else was just amazing. I was so pleasantly surprised with ordering something I usually do not.
My boyfriend's entree was grilled beef filet mignon, rajas, queso chihuahua and chipotle quemado salsa. He said the meat was so tender and juicy, and had a nice smoky taste to it. The portion was so big he was not able to finish it all but definitely was enticed to keep eating by just the smell. He still had a dessert coming though and was ready to wait after the quality of the food so far. He ordered a cheese flan with a chocolate fruit sauce, something we both never had. I am not a big flan person but decided tonight was trying new things so why night. It's presentation was very nice on the plant and we both took a small spoon full. It actually was delicious. The cheese was creamy but not over powering, with a nice balance with the sauce. An unexpectedly yummy taste. We hung around a bit after dessert, neither of us able to finish up everything.
Overall I would highly recommend Besito, though it is a little pricier for the normal restaurant. But the food and drinks, service, atmosphere and overall experience make this mexican restaurant worth a little extra splurge to have a nice night out.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Rachels, Freeport again!
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!
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 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.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Vittorios, Amityville
I have been dying to try Vittorios for over a month now since my friend hyped it up, being one of their regular customers. Finally we picked Friday for me to experience this supposedly unbelievable establishment. And I must say, the wait was definitely worth it. To start of, we arrived and I was a bit nervous because it wasn't busy really. I read reviews that the bar placement, which is as soon as you enter, is inconvenient because of the crowd that gathers at vittorios on the weekend. But, as I was told, last night was not even close to a usual Friday for them (the combo of no meat on Fridays for lent and the night before St Pats did it.) We took a seat at the bar waiting for one more person to arrive and I started with a glass of Riesling. Everyone knew my friend there so we were talked to by our waiter and allowed to ease into our 630 reservation, not sitting down until about 730.
As we sat we wanted to just have our drinks and relax, which the waiter was more than accommodating. He brought out the hot steaming bread, purchased daily from a brick oven place in Brooklyn. The crust was nice and crispy and the inside was warm and soft, perfect. I wanted to let my friend do the ordering so he said we have to, absolutely have to order the tuna tartar appetizer so we ordered two of them. Also, we got mussels luciano, the crab cakes, and fresh mozzarella with roasted red pepper. Oh my god for the tuna tartar, a must have appetizer. It is so fresh and the presentation is really nice. The wine sauce with the mussels was phenomenal, as I soaked it up with the bread. The mussels were not fishy at all. The fresh mozzarella was the way it should be and the crab cakes, which I tend not to order because I do not like them pan seared, were melt in your mouth.
My friend left ordering a nice bottle of wine up to me, with my bit of wine experience. I picked the argyle pinot noir and it was a perfect pick. It had a red cherry taste with a bit of complexity. We relaxed and had the bottle of wine, letting our stomachs digest the redic. amount of appetizers we had. What I really like was that the restaurant knows how to provide appropriate service. After finishing the apps, a bunch of waiters came and cleaned up the table, ensuring there were no crumbs and everyone had their silverware. And even though I was full, I was just too enticed not to try an entree.
I left this choice up to the waiter, who was nice and very receptive of what the customer enjoys. I told him I am not much of a meat person and right off the bat, he said off the menu I would absolutely recommend the striped bass. I never have had striped bass before but he said I could not go wrong. My friend ordered the lobster tail, along with my boyfriend, and someone else tried the spaghetti with fire roasted pepper and prosciutto while the last person ordered garganelli with a veal and sage ragu.
I picked the second bottle of wine to come with our dinner, which was the cab sauv stags leap. Another excellent choice, a bit heavier than the pinot, perfect for dinner.
To start with my food, the tomato brodetto the fish was cooked in was to die for. A generous portion of the bass was on top of a bed of spinach. I was so full but had to soak up as much of the tomato brodetto as I could. My boyfriend and friend's lobster tail was oversized and served with spinach and mashed potatoes. My boyfriend said the sauce was rich, a perfect compliment for lobster, and the lobster was cooked perfect. The spaghetti had a nice spice to it since it was fire roasted sauce, and the garganelli was a nice specialty to have, with a generous portion of veal in the ragu.
After sitting now in the restaurant for 3 hours and digesting everything, of course not finishing our entrees, my friend said we will not leave without ordering dessert. Of course they bring a dessert tray over where you pick what looks the best, and of course nothing looked bad! I left it up to him to order the dessert, and he said we had to order the cheesecake and the chocolate molten cake. I am not a chocolate person but it was dark chocolate heaven when you ate it. And you even have the option of a dollop of peanut butter underneath it. I am not a cheesecake person, but my boyfriend said the cheesecake was smooth, light, and delicious.
We sat a bit after dessert to finish off the wine and ending up leaving the restaurant at 1130, 5 hours after getting there. But those were the best 5 hours I have ever spent at a restaurant. The service made you feel like family and that you were their priority, the way a diner should be treated. I will be returning to try the countless other items on the menu that sound amazing. And, as I was told, the specials of the night are always the best part (mmmm tuna tartar!!)
I highly recommend everyone getting down to Vittorios, use a reservation on the weekend, and taking a step into food heaven!
As we sat we wanted to just have our drinks and relax, which the waiter was more than accommodating. He brought out the hot steaming bread, purchased daily from a brick oven place in Brooklyn. The crust was nice and crispy and the inside was warm and soft, perfect. I wanted to let my friend do the ordering so he said we have to, absolutely have to order the tuna tartar appetizer so we ordered two of them. Also, we got mussels luciano, the crab cakes, and fresh mozzarella with roasted red pepper. Oh my god for the tuna tartar, a must have appetizer. It is so fresh and the presentation is really nice. The wine sauce with the mussels was phenomenal, as I soaked it up with the bread. The mussels were not fishy at all. The fresh mozzarella was the way it should be and the crab cakes, which I tend not to order because I do not like them pan seared, were melt in your mouth.
My friend left ordering a nice bottle of wine up to me, with my bit of wine experience. I picked the argyle pinot noir and it was a perfect pick. It had a red cherry taste with a bit of complexity. We relaxed and had the bottle of wine, letting our stomachs digest the redic. amount of appetizers we had. What I really like was that the restaurant knows how to provide appropriate service. After finishing the apps, a bunch of waiters came and cleaned up the table, ensuring there were no crumbs and everyone had their silverware. And even though I was full, I was just too enticed not to try an entree.
I left this choice up to the waiter, who was nice and very receptive of what the customer enjoys. I told him I am not much of a meat person and right off the bat, he said off the menu I would absolutely recommend the striped bass. I never have had striped bass before but he said I could not go wrong. My friend ordered the lobster tail, along with my boyfriend, and someone else tried the spaghetti with fire roasted pepper and prosciutto while the last person ordered garganelli with a veal and sage ragu.
I picked the second bottle of wine to come with our dinner, which was the cab sauv stags leap. Another excellent choice, a bit heavier than the pinot, perfect for dinner.
To start with my food, the tomato brodetto the fish was cooked in was to die for. A generous portion of the bass was on top of a bed of spinach. I was so full but had to soak up as much of the tomato brodetto as I could. My boyfriend and friend's lobster tail was oversized and served with spinach and mashed potatoes. My boyfriend said the sauce was rich, a perfect compliment for lobster, and the lobster was cooked perfect. The spaghetti had a nice spice to it since it was fire roasted sauce, and the garganelli was a nice specialty to have, with a generous portion of veal in the ragu.
After sitting now in the restaurant for 3 hours and digesting everything, of course not finishing our entrees, my friend said we will not leave without ordering dessert. Of course they bring a dessert tray over where you pick what looks the best, and of course nothing looked bad! I left it up to him to order the dessert, and he said we had to order the cheesecake and the chocolate molten cake. I am not a chocolate person but it was dark chocolate heaven when you ate it. And you even have the option of a dollop of peanut butter underneath it. I am not a cheesecake person, but my boyfriend said the cheesecake was smooth, light, and delicious.
We sat a bit after dessert to finish off the wine and ending up leaving the restaurant at 1130, 5 hours after getting there. But those were the best 5 hours I have ever spent at a restaurant. The service made you feel like family and that you were their priority, the way a diner should be treated. I will be returning to try the countless other items on the menu that sound amazing. And, as I was told, the specials of the night are always the best part (mmmm tuna tartar!!)
I highly recommend everyone getting down to Vittorios, use a reservation on the weekend, and taking a step into food heaven!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Two in one... Sapporo & Rachels Waterside Grill
So so busy with work and interviews but time to update this. Haven't been going out to many restaurants since I have to save money but two that I just did.
So Valentine's Day made a necessary excursion to a restaurant since I don't have my own house so cooking the romantic dinner wasn't happening. Me and my boyfriend wanted to keep it low key since we didn't want to be in a restaurant with price fixed menus swarmed with thousands of couples, being rushed and pushed by the waiting staff, and crammed into an available table. We decided sushi was a necessity, specifically with a love boat in mind, and actually made restaurants at Sapporo in Wantagh on Merrick Road.
This Japanese restaurant has been a usual for me and my boyfriend because of its' traditional atmosphere with a room to sit on the floor, a couple of mid level booths and the regular tables. We have been going to Kiku in Massapequa as a regular sushi place but definitely not for the atmosphere just merely the great quality. But I would say Sapporo's quality is comparable to Kiku, just the prices tend to be a bit more. So we arrived at 7 with reservations for a booth since my bf doesn't like sitting on the floor and we came to Sapporo for the environment, so the regular tables were out of question. But when arriving apparently they didn't really plan it well to have a booth open and were going to just be sat at a table, without even asked. This started off my night with a bad experience but since it was Valentine's Day I kept my cool and my bf wanted me to be happy anyway so he agreed to the floor. It actually worked out though because we were sat in a section a step higher than the other section so it was pretty private, only one other floor seating available. As we sat down, we weren't given/offered water but it was fine because we wanted to order drinks. I had to ask the young girl who sat us for a menu and she came pretty quickly. But for the waitress to come to actually take the drink order didn't really happen.
Another couple was seated about fifteen minutes after us and was served water and also had their drink requests taken immediately. This was a bit irritating but once again it was Valentine's Day and we were doing it low key so no biggy. Finally fifteen minutes after that couple's drinks were given our waitress took our drink order (same waitress as them). We decided we wanted something hot so did a large hot sake but also wanted a bottle of wine and were intrigued by the plum wine. The hot sake was very good so we were definitely happy with the choice. The plum wine was a bit sweet for our liking with dinner but it was something to try and was very good so we couldn't complain. It took a bit of time for the waitress to take our order but she brought own green beans with a soy based sauce on top and it was a nice hold over. All of a sudden we were brought an appetizer. I know we didn't order one and the table next to us did, but at Kiku they serve a free appetizer so I figured maybe it was a Valentine's Day treat. Well halfway through it we could tell the person who served it messed up and it was meant for the other table but oh well.... they served us real slow anyway. And the waitress had the nerve to come over and say it wasn't even for us.
So when we had ordered the menu said soup or salad but the waitress never presented the question, which I really didn't notice. Unfortunately I really like the salad with ginger dressing, but not so much Miso soup. Well the two soups came out and I figured might as well try it. The soup actually was not half bad. It wasn't too salty and I didn't hate the tofu. I was pleasantly surprised. We also ordered the large sushi platter since I had my idea of a love boat Valentine's dinner but this time was unpleasantly surprised. Out came our sushi platter that was smaller than the price charged and on a plain white plate, no presentation or boat. This was another strike on the restaurant, especially since the table sat 15 minutes after us got their food 30 minutes before us.
We were pretty hungry at that point and dug in. Another unpleasant surprise. The sashimi was a bit fishy, and the sashimi octopus was incredibly chewy. Not something I wanted. There were rolls with tempura crunch flakes inside, something me and my boyfriend both hate. I don't like mayonnaise or spicy mayo but at Kiku when we get the spicy tuna roll, there is such a small amount of mayo in it that I don't hate it. Well here it tasted like a teaspoon of mayo in each roll. IT was horrible. My boyfriend, who loves spicy mayo, did not even eat it. This was probably the most disappointing sushi experience we have had in awhile. What made it worse was we had not had sushi in a month and were really looking forward to it. This is big deal for a couple who eats sushi once a week typically.. but got to save money.
We definitely did not want dessert and ran out as fast as possible. But when the bill was bought our waitress said oh and the appetizer was compliments of the chef. Well if you mess up a dish and bring it to someone who didn't order it, you would only hope the restaurant would not charge... thanks for nothing.
Sapporo is somewhere that will have to earn my credibility before even considering returning. It will be Kiku from now on.. stay tuned for the next review :)
So shifting gears a bit from a bad to a great experience we move on to Rachel's Waterside Grill in Freeport. Me, my bf, and my friend from The Netherlands visited this establishment on Sunday, March 4. I needed to bring my friend somewhere good since she never visited LI and only been to NY once. I thought that the Nautical Mile had to be best since it has an awesome view and fresh seafood (she hardly gets fresh seafood back home). She also loved the varietal menu so we ventured out around 7pm.
Getting there there was no one there, well typical for a Sunday during March. I was most excited because they built glass around the patio deck on the water to make it winter accessible with a nice working fireplace. During the summer the glass opens to have the wonderful water view. As we were seated against the water, the waiter asked to take our drinks. We weren't quite ready yet but I did ask if they had their sangria since it is definitely my favorite sangria, but unfortunately only a summer thing (guess I'll have to go back ;) ). My friend went with a glass of sweet white (can't remember which variety), I went with the house cab sauv, and my bf the dirty martini. Our drinks came out with a great bread basket which I was excited since I love their brown bread with raisins. The wine was very good for a house and everyone else liked their drinks as well.
Our waiter let us call him over once we were ready since there really was no one there. I decided to be adventurous and try the ahi tuna served with seaweed salad. I love seaweed salad but never had ahi tuna before. I really like tuna sashimi so decided there couldn't be much harm in trying it. My boyfriend went with a nightly special of a white fish, can't remember the type, served with new potatoes and a thai lemongrass sauce. And my friend decided to get the steamed seafood special. It included clams, scallops, shrimp, and seafood stuffed flounder. We also went with a half dozen baked clams.
The clams came out first and that was in fact a bit of a mistake. They were tiny tiny and overpriced. But I must say they were delicious. During the summer I order the Rockefeller oysters, much better choice and excited to come back for them! Our food came out in a timely manner, giving us time to digest but not get impatient.
First I tried a piece of the tuna, which had a wasabi sauce drizzled on top. I actually ended up hating it! Turns out ahi tuna kinda tastes like steak, something I hate more than anything. I only eat chicken and seafood so that was bit of a disappointment. But the seaweed salad was absolutely delicious, and that is very important to me since last time I got seaweed salad it was from Asian Moon in Massapequa and I got terribly sick from it. My boyfriend tried a piece of the tuna and he loved it (probably because he is steak obsessed). Yet the wasabi dressing was amazing so I asked for more of that it put a lot of it on it so I could eat something.
The special my boyfriend ordered, on the other had, was right up my alley. It was delicious and had a more than perfected thai sauce. The fish was not fishy at all and the potatoes tasted perfectly marinated in the sauce. He let me eat one piece of the fish while he hate the other since the portion was tremendous, as well was mine. Next time I think I will try to get something similar to that, or stick to my favorites such as the stuffed LI flounder or scallops.
My friend loved her over sized, bang for your buck priced seafood platter. And she got mashed potatoes, something she eats almost daily at home but hasn't had in the US. (she was doing an internship from January until March in DC). She was just impressed with the quality and tastiness of the fish, glad to make her happy. I have had that platter many times before and was not surprised by how much she liked it. I was glad she found something enjoyable.
We all were unfortunately too stuffed for dessert and decided to head out afterwards. I easily will say, Rachel's impressed me once again, with the atmosphere and the seafood quality. To go out to eat, not like your dish at all, yet still come out with such a positive experience really defines a restaurant doing it right. And don't get me wrong, my dish was perfectly prepared and acceptable, but I just found out I am not a fan of Ahi Tuna.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)