LBI

I don't normally go out to eat when I'm down the shore, because I love homemade meals, especially when it revolves around the bbq. We usually stop by White's Barnegat Light Market for some steaks or Surf City Seafood market for some fresh seafood. The only exception to this is The Chicken or The Egg which is hands down my favorite restaurant. Not only can you BYO, but they serve up the best chicken wings I've ever had. I usually go to the "Chegg" atleast once every time I'm down LBI. Sometimes we even stop here on the way back from AC if our wing cravings are strong enough. Although, I have never ordered anything other than wings, people have told me that other menu items are equally as delicious. If in the LBI area, you HAVE to stop by!

My only other dining experience during my week off in LBI was at Yellowfin. My dining experience started at Yellowfin while trying to make a reservation over the phone. After calling a few times with no answer, a man picked up the phone and helped me book my reservation. The guy was a bit arrogant when pretty much laughing at me when I asked for a 7:00 reservation the day of. "We're the best restaurant on the island", he assured me. He went on to tell me that I'd have to call 2-3 weeks out to get a reservation like that. I ended up taking a 8:30 reservation.

Yellowfin was unlike any other restaurant I've been to in LBI. Again, I haven't been to a ton of places, but Yellowfin definitely stood out. Personally, I like going down to the shore for a dining experience less formal than my normal routine; but the inside of Yellowfin reminded me of NYC. Mirrors gave the appearance that the 15 table restaurant was bigger than it was. I think one server was holding down the whole place as many of the tables were 2 or 4. Yellowfin is BYO, which definitely saves money. The service was good, but the food is why you go. I couldn't believe the amount of specials the server rattled off at each table. I like the idea of having specials, but too many specials could be overwhelming for both the staff and the guests. The menu is dominated with fresh seafood, but also has something for a meat lover whether its chicken, lamb, or beef.

My mother started off with crab cakes while I opted to get the foie gras and lobster special. The crab cakes were delicious and had a nice spicy kick to them. The foie gras and lobster sat atop garlic mashed potatoes with a port reduction. The dish was a bit on the heavy side for an appetizer, but quite tastey. I was just surprised to be eating foie gras in LBI while my mom was surprised I was eating foie gras at all. For our next course, my mother got the seafood paella while I got the Halibut. Her paella came with shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams, mussels, calamari, and chorizo. The paella was very flavorful and had a distinct flavor unlike the more traditional Spanish paella. My mom likes this dish because it gives a variety of delicious seafood. Although I liked her paella, I was happy with my halibut. The delicate fish was so fresh and flavorful that I couldn't stop eating it well after I became full. We got so full that we passed on dessert.

I think Yellowfin is a great spot. Granted the atmosphere isn't something I usually look for when at the beach, but the food is. This would be a great spot to take a date. The space is dark and cozy, which could translate into romantic if with the right crowd. Or you could take your mother out for the night and she'll remember when you're her favorite!

I don't usually make it to the bars that often as many of the bars are located on the other side of the island and we usually host a better party around the pool. I did go out to Joe Pops and Nardis during my week off. Nardi's was a waste of time. It was so packed that it was hard to move, let alone have fun and talk to your friends. The bartender was also very light on her pours. She would pour a tooth-full of tequila in a plastic cup and charged $7. I even called her out and she just laughed and said thats the standard. The band was also kind of whack. Nardis is a waste of money and time. Joe Pops on the other hand is the place to be. We go here every year and just take over the bar. We usually don't leave the dance floor till they kick us out. Definitely go to Joe Pops if you're looking for a good bar down in LBI. The only other bars that could come close are the Shell and Marlin.

Coppelia

(coming soon)

Sushi at its Best

Sushi Yasuda located at 204 East 43rd Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave) is a mecca for any sushi lover. I don't usually travel to midtown for food, but Sushi Yasuda is an exception. Everything about this place is simple from the bamboo decor to the food. I guess when you you're so good at what you do, you don't need any frills to draw a crowd.

My dining experience first started on the phone when I called to make lunch reservations the day before. Sushi Yasuda has earned its spot among NYC's best sushi spots, so I wanted to make sure I could get in. The voice over the phone immediately put me on hold, which is annoying; but expected. After a few minutes, the voice returned and made me a reservation for the bar. Sitting at the sushi bar is a real treat. You could speak directly to the person preparing your food, which is awesome. Arriving a few minutes before our reservation, my friend Ed and I sat at the sushi bar and took in the space.

The space seemed minimalistic and simple, which I found refreshing. Bamboo covers the space from the floors to the ceiling. The tables and bar are also bamboo, which puts me in a zen-like state. The design calms me and gets me focused on the reason I came--sushi! Our server brought us menus, but our fate was now in the hands of the chef directly in front of us behind the bar. Six chefs dressed in all white stood like soldiers behind the bar awaiting orders. The only time our chef spoke was to tell us what he had made us. Among his creations were big eye tuna, big eye fatty tuna, bonito, branzino, spanish mackerel, salmon, scallop, shrimp, fluke, yellowtail, eel, and sea urchin. Each was prepared differently with such precision and care. Everything was so fresh and of the finest quality, but that could be expected as world-renowned chef Naomichi Yasuda inspects each fish himself. Chef Yasuda knows exactly how to treat each fish from refrigeration to preparation; but that is not his greatest feat. Rice is sometimes an afterthought to sushi, but it could be the hardest and most complex part of sushi-making. Good rice really enhances the flavor of the fish and really separates amateur sushi chefs from masters. After years of cooking, Naomichi has perfected his art of sushi-making with rice that is subtly sweet with the right amount of stickiness.

Overall, the meal was flawless. The service was attentive, but not overbearing and the sushi was just fantastic. I would definitely recommend Sushi Yasuda whether you are a sushi connoisseur or a beginner. Your chef will guide you through the process and custom design the perfect meal for your palate. The only downside is the price as your bill could get pretty expensive. It will be hard to pull yourself away from the bar knowing your chef has more to show you, but if your on a budget you have to be careful. So delicious! Do yourself a favor and experience this three-star gem.

Burgers in Battery Park

Shake Shack continues its expansion as it recently opened its Battery Park location. Battery Park is an area of the Financial District that doesn't see much activity after 6pm. You have the occasional group of brokers that will hit up a happy hour, but for the most part the area is desolate after business hours. Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group attempts to build up the restaurant scene in Battery Park by opening Shake Shack, North End Grill, and their second Blue Smoke location. I think the area is starving for better restaurant choices, so I think this is a great move for the USHG.

While the other restaurants plan on opening by the end of the year, Shake Shack is up and going. My roommate Greg and I headed to Shake Shack looking to satisfy a burger craving. Not having many options, we decided to check out the new Shake Shack. If you thought that nobody lived down there--think again; because we waited in line at 9:00pm. The service and food was on point and the space felt good. I've been to two other Shake Shack locations and this might be my favorite. The Citi Field location is solid, but you'll miss half the game waiting on line. The Madison Square Park Shake Shack is another location that usually has a huge line, but eating in the park is definitely a plus. The Battery Park location will be a better fit year-around considering you could actually eat inside.

Shake Shack has really proved itself as a successful quick-serve restaurant as it not only expands rapidly throughout the city, but throughout the world. Shake Shack has opened locations in Miami (FL), Westport (CT), Saratoga Springs (NY), Washington DC, and two locations in the Middle East. People love Shake Shack and don't mind waiting for their burger and shake. I won't wait more than 20 minutes, but I've seen lines well over an hour long. If you haven't gone to Shake Shack than check it out. Its become a NYC staple and is constantly praised for its delicious burger.

Friend of the Farmer

(coming soon)

Roofin' it

Rooftop bars are probably the hottest commodity in the city during the summer. I for one always google "rooftop bars in nyc" in order to find the next great spot. It didn't take a search engine to find the roof club at the Gramercy Park Hotel as all I had to do was take the elevator upstairs after work. Once off the elevator, guests are greeted by a spunky hostess that will probably tell you that the club is closed for a private event or that there's standing room only. Either way, the rooftop getaway is a pretty cool spot. If you are lucky enough to get a table, a waitress will offer you cocktails and a small food menu. If not you could you head to the walk-up bar and pick the brains of the bartenders. One bartender made me a swizzle--perfect for the hot summer night while the other bartender innovative cocktail was the old fashioned (great cocktail but not inventive at all). On another visit to the roof, the floor manager (co-worker at Maialino) suggested a Brooklyn cocktail, which was something I never had before (and it was delicious!)

The roof club is covered in ivy, which gives it a secret garden kind of vibe. The beautiful artwork of the Gramercy Park Hotel continues throughout the roof allowing for a more sophisticated crowd including socialites and celebrities. Its a bit pricey, but definitely worth checking out for a laid-back vibe. Dinner at Maialino with drinks on the roof sounds like the perfect date to me. CHECK IT OUTTTT.

All Pig's Go To Heaven

For quite sometime I've wanted to go to Nancy's Pig Heaven on the Upper East Side. This craving started after seeing Nancy's Pig Heaven on the Travel Channel on a program dedicated to naming the country's best BBQ. Unlike all the other BBQ on the program, Nancy's offers Chinese style spare ribs. Succulent ribs glazed in a sweet red glaze make the trip to the UES worth it. The ribs are moist and carry a good amount of meat. You will definitely be licking your fingers afterwards.

But ribs aren't the only thing that Nancy's does well. We also tried the pork butt, suckling pig, and the pan-fried pork dumplings--all were great. The pork butt was pretty much boneless spare ribs so you could imagine how good that was. The suckling pig was good, but it was pretty fatty (but we knew this going into it). Besides being a bit fatty, the suckling pig had great flavor with a nice crispy skin. The dumplings were solid, but couldn't compare to the other dishes.

The service was probably the best service I've ever received in a Chinese restaurant. Normally, I find the service at Chinese restaurants to be awful, but Nancy Lee had her staff in line. Mrs. Lee was also there to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals. She's actually the one who recommended the dishes we ate. Nancy's Pig Heaven isn't cheap, but its definitely worth a trip. If you like pork than Nancy's is a must try. If you don't like pork, I'm sure their other dishes are good as well. Notice the menu is designed "Pork" and "No Pork" so you could easily find what you want whether its "Cold No Pork", "Hot Pork", etc.

I don't normally get up to the UES often, but I'd make a trip to go back to Nancy's. Its not cheap, but its worth every penny as these ribs were the best Chinese spare ribs I've ever had. So grab yourself a seat on their small, outside porch and order some pork. Second Ave will provide some good people watching while your taste buds will be christened with divine swine--all pigs go to heaven here at Nancy's.