Market Table

Picking a restaurant for my birthday is a lot harder than you think. Momma dukes and Kim were coming into the city to take my to lunch and they left me to pick the restaurant. I consulted my book with tons of restaurants that I want to go to, but I kept doubling back unsure of what I felt like...or what they were in the mood for. I decided to check out Market Table in the West Village. On the corner of Bedford and Carmine, Market Table has the warm neighborhood feel with seasonal, American cuisine by chef Mike Price. It was actually exactly what I wanted.

Market Table was the brainchild of Gabe Stulman and Joey Campanaro (Little Owl), but their partnership soured as Campanaro took over and Stulman went on to open Joseph Leonards and take over Fedora.

We arrived early, so we were able to grab a seat; but when we left the place was mobbed with people trying to get a table. The vibe was cozy and allowed for conversation. The corner spot combined with big windows allowed us to gaze out into the picturesque streets of the West Village. Our server was very nice and did a pretty good job. He didn't really say much other than recommend the duck appetizer over the scallops. The duck confit with a poached egg was a treat, but I'm a sucker for scallop crudo. Even better than the duck was the warm octopus salad which came with fingerlings, chorizo, frisee, and an olive puree.

For entrees, my mom decided to go with one of the chalkboard specials-- a fried oyster sandwich. Her oyster sandwich was quite good, although I prefer oysters raw (thats just me). My mom loved the sandwich! Kim got the chicken salad sandwich which I didn't try, because I was too full from my massive burger. This burger had great flavor from the properly seasoned beef to the carmelized onions and cheddar. Market Tables fries were also pretty good and for some reason I didn't feel as bad eating them.

We ended with Kim's favorite part of the meal-- a chocolate terrine. The chocolate terrine was accompanied by sea salt, caramel popcorn, and pistachios. It was a really good, especially when you had all those flavors on one spoon-full. Overall, I was very happy we decided to go to Market Table. The ambiance was perfect and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. Market Table adds to the list of awesome West Village restaurants!

Bartenders Night Out

(drinks at Lani)

AOC in the West Village was our first stop on my birthday bar/restaurant crawl. After some beers and sandwiches, we headed to Lani Kai for some cocktails. After a few Queens Parks Swizzles and Mai Tais, we went to the Pegu Club for more cocktails. Being bartenders, we definitely appreciate a well crafted cocktail. Up a flight of stairs at this quiet West Houston spot is an awesome cocktail lounge that exudes a sexy and exotic vibe with its subtle asian accents. It's named for, and inspired by, a hangout for British colonial officers in Rangoon in the early 20th century. We had reservations otherwise we would have stayed longer.

(drinks at Pegu Club)

We headed east to Fourth Ave for our 8:00 reservation at Ippudo--an east village ramen favorite. Even with a reservation, our party of six had to wait in the packed bar area as tables were being turned. We didn't wait long although the crowded room made it seem longer. We were lucky enough to post up against the bar for a Sapporo while we watched the masses try to score a table. We were seated in an awesome three-sided booth that aligned the back wall. Ippudo is known for their ramen, but there were other delicious treats on the menu. The pork buns were among the best I've ever had while the baby octopus with wasabi was a nice treat. Shishito peppers were another delicious appetizer to stimulate your appetite before your ramen.The Ramen was incredible! The broth was so rich and flavorful that I barely spoke during dinner. I got the original "Tonkotsu" noodle soup topped with Ippudo's secret "Umami Dama" miso paste, pork chashu, cabage, kikurage, scallions, and fragrant garlic oil. I topped my ramen with pork belly! Now I know why they consider ramen Japan's soul food.

Next, we headed to Bowlmore; but there was a 2 hour wait so we headed to Fat Cat in the West Village. Fat Cat is an awesome place to go whether with friends or on a date. Ping pong, billiards,

shuffle board are just some of the games available. So grab a beer and get the competitive juices flowing. Live jazz plays and everyone is merry.

Move Over Beef!

"Get steak for your birthday", said Chris, one of my coworkers, when I asked: where should I go for my birthday? I don't usually go to steakhouses--not because they're not good; but because you could have a more elaborate and exciting meal for the price. But Chris was right, you should treat yourself to a good steakhouse atleast once a year. Only Keen's isn't known for their steaks, they're known for their "legendary mutton-chop". Don't get me wrong, Keen's puts out some of the best meat in NYC; but the mutton is what separates them for the competition.

Dodging people only seemed right as I walked against the flow of traffic at rush hour. People were hustling to Penn Station to catch their train as all rules of politeness are tossed out. Keen's is on West 36th St--only a few blocks away from Penn Station. Keen's was very much like any other steakhouse I've been in: a man's club. To Keen's credit, I felt like it had a bit more character. You definitely got that old school New York vibe, especially when you looked up all the pipes that lined the ceiling. Back in the day, Keen's had a pipe club so the pipes belonged to the members before smoking was prohibited in restaurants. There was a lot of history if you took the time to check it out.

So on to the legendary mutton chop-- a 26 oz saddle of lamb that can please any carnivore's appetite even if they thought they were coming for steak. The mutton chop served at Keen's is among the best lamb that I've ever had--only probably is that its hard to get all that delicious meat. its one of those dishes you wish you were eating at home, so that you could pick it up with your hands enabling you to get the hard to reach crevices.

The t-bone was not to be overlooked as Ed and I split both. It was our birthday dinner and both of us were well pleased. A light Bordeaux paired beautifully with our meat and brought us further into food ecstasy. Get some hash browns and some asparagus to round out your meal. Overall, a great dinner. Keen's should definitely be on your radar!

Treat Yourself!

Its been a few months from my last visit to Marea and I couldn't stop thinking about the octopus and bone marrow fusilli. Being my birthday week, Genesa, fellow bartender, and myself decided to treat ourselves to a three course lunch and a bottle of their cheapest Chablis. She started with the grilled octopus; which was accompanied by smoked potatoes, pickled red onions, radish, chilies, and tonnato (creamy mayo based sauce flavored with tuna). I got the trio of crudo: seppia, pacific jack mackerel, and marinated razor clams. The seppia might have been my favorite of the three, although all were very delightful. Both antipasti were delicious and got us ready to our pasta course. For pastas, Genesa got the spaghetti with crab and sea urchin while I got the fusilli. We ordered full orders of pasta, which was probably a bit ambitious; but we managed to eat all of it (thanks to G!) For secondi, G got the creekstone farms' prime sirloin with bone marrow pazanella and braised romaine while I got the scallops. Although I didn't need more food, I thought the scallop entree was a bit small. Only three scallops made it to the plate--but I guess thats normal? The scallops were cooked nicely although they might have gone a couple seconds too long. The pearl onion agrodolce combined with caperberries and parsley root was a nice touch. House made biscotti came with my espresso while house made chocolates came with the check. An expensive, but awesome lunch! Remember you need to treat yourself!

"Hogwarts for Hipsters"

In Sam Sifton's NYT review, he calls The Breslin "Hogwarts for Hipsters." He goes on to compliment Chef April Bloomfield for putting out delicious food, although he kind of rags on how heavy and fatty the food is. Yes, the food isn't healthy by any means; but the flavor is there. We started with scrumpets (braised lamb that is breaded and deep-fried) off the snacks menu. For appetizers we got the razor clams, the duck salad, and the seafood sausage. This was definitely my favor part of the meal. Razor clams sat in a chili broth and were topped with a ham which added a beautiful saltiness while not overpowering the clams. The seafood sausage with a beurre blanc sauce was another winning dish. My favorite was the balsamic duck salad made with brussels sprouts and pomegranate seeds. For mains, I got the grilled trout which was the whole fish--head and tall on. The fish itself had good flavor, but there's something unappetizing about picking tiny bones out of my mouth while trying to enjoy. I guess that's what I deserve for not getting the pigs foot. I tried Greg's poussin--baby chicken smothered in vinegar which was decent, but the lamb burger stole the show. Chargrilled lamb served medium rare with a house made cumin mayo and feta cheese on a sourdough bun. The burger came with thick steakhouse fries that were cooked three times. A side of braised escarole was way to heavy to be a veggie; but the flavor was good. We ended the night with a chocolate dessert and shots of whiskey sent out by my friend Peter. I really enjoyed my meal there while the others seemed to be underwhelmed.

Bloomfield's elevated bar food is good, but I think the place is more of a scene than anything else. Whether you're in the bar room or the dining room, the restaurant has a hipness that ropes you in. It also has a built in clientele being in the Ace Hotel. I will definitely be back at the Breslin to try that pigs foot; but I want to hit up the John Dory first.

Lunch

Lamb Chops at Union Square Cafe were delicious.

Brunch

In a city full of flash in the pan restaurants, Freeman's has endured the finicky and spoiled NYC restaurant scene. Freeman's opened back in 2004 by William Tigertt and Taavo Somer and despite a less than great NYT review it is still jam packed. So packed that we had to wait an hour to be seated for brunch. But is the meal worth the wait? Its hard to say. I often ask myself that after waiting in the Shake Shack line.

But brunch was good! I think it was more the company than the food; but thats all that really matters. Then again, my burger was quite delicious. Cooked perfectly medium rare, this burger had great flavor --you could tell they used high quality meat. The fries that accompanied the burger were also delectable. I NEVER finish my fries, but my plate was clear after my meal. We started off with Devils on Horseback and the artichoke dip--both good, but nothing to call home about. The hot toddies seemed more citrus forward rather than spice forward; but they still were enjoyable especially after waiting for our table in the alley.

All in all, I would recommend Freeman's. Its moderately priced, so its a good place to go without breaking the bank. Also, it almost feels secretive being down the alley off the street; which adds to its excitement. We lucked out in a back room that looked like a dining room in the country. We shared a table with a couple of ladies; but pretty much felt alone. It was quiet in this room and allowed us to enjoy conversation--an essential element to every brunch. The decor was a bit stranger with ram's head and other stuffed animals on the walls; but it added to the mystery of Freemans. I'm not sure how this restaurant hasn't gotten old; but I'm glad it hasn't. Its interesting to see if Peels (its sisters restaurant) will last as long!