Chino's (Asian Tapas)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location
173 3rd Avenue
east side of street, between 16th & 17th Streets

Cuisine
Asian Tapas

Since we were stuck far far away from work, visiting a friend, Russian Girl and I decided to have an afternoon of food and beauty.

As we were wandering, we happened upon this restaurant. Hmmm, it seemed fine. We check out the reviews they posted on the window. "Succulent roast pork in foccaccia-like bread, with chinese mustard dipping sauce" or something to that effect. We were intrigued. Asian fusion, huh? Asian Tapas, huh? Ok, we're biting.

There was the lunch special -- for $10, you could get two dishes (appetizers and entrees on the lunch menu), served with a bowl of rice and a drink. Ok, we're biting.

Man, that pork sandwich was good. So were the shrimp dumplings and the seared tuna spring rolls. Each came with different dipping sauces, and the rice, wasn't that bad! Cooked to the consistency of just firm, just soft, a bit on the clumpy side, but not a big deal.

Plus, they also listed kim chee fried rice. Who doesn't love kim chee fried rice?

Jazz Standard (American)

NY Sidewalk Review

Location:
116 E 27th St.
south side of street, between Lexington and Park Aves.

Cuisine:
American

You know me, I'm a burger slut. And eating a burger at Jazz Standard probably doesn't do the menu justice, but I like judging restaurants based on the burger. And the burger there is...Good. Bacon, check. Cheddar, check. Fries, check. The only problem with the burger is the bun doesn't hold up. They do give large kitchen towels for napkins, so it's no thing.

But if you want, you could try the Mac and Cheese, the Ribs, the Calamari, etc. And the desserts are To Die For. And huge.

Oh, plus, there's usually great music there. If SW or YumYum want to edit this post, PLEASE DO.

Panna II (Indian, Indian Row)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location:
93 1st Ave. Ste. 5
west side of street, between 5th and 6th Sts.

Cuisine:
Indian

I always have a great time going to Indian Row. There are great Indian restaurants everywhere else in the city, but there's nothing like a v. cheap, BYO restaurant to get your groove on.

This last time I went, it was a large group. What I love about that particular area is that the hosts get into fights (not fisticuffs, unfortunately) with each other to get customers. You can choose any of the restaurants, but honestly the ones on the lower level (the ones that serve free wine) kinda suck. Go to the ones with the chili pepper christmas lights.

Cheap, cheap, and excellent. Everything we get there is tasty. I used to go all the time with my University friends, and this time was no different. What I love is that you can tell the wait staff that it's so-and-so's birthday, and they'll come up and give you a birthday ice cream treat, Indian-style. Complete with flashing lights, loud music, and clapping hands.

I have nothing bad to say about cheap Indian. Restaurants in Little India are by far better (and cheaper), but if you're stuck on the island and you don't want to travel to Queens, Indian Row is the place for you.

Krik Krak (Caribbean, Morningside Heights)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location:
844 Amsterdam Ave.
west side of street, between 101st and 102nd Sts.

Cuisine:
Caribbean

Yeah, it's pretty good. Not great.

It's a tiny restaurant, more mom and pop style. Deep fried everything except for the salad, practically. Three course meal, all inclusive -- each entree comes with salad, rice and beans, and plantains. They're famous for their griot (deep fried pork) and goat. And they have conch. You have the choice of rice and beans, plantain, salad.

Would I go there again? Maybe. The sauces are spicy, the food's definitely catered to the regulars.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Monsoon
Pho Bang

Monsoon (Vietnamese, UWS)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location:
435 Amsterdam Ave.
southwest corner of Amsterdam and 81st St.

Cuisine:
Vietnamese

Everyone I know who goes to this restaurant loves the food.

Eat everything. EVERYTHING. I love everything here. This restaurant has to be one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Manhattan for me. Ambiance is kitschy, but it doesn't matter. The owners are Cantonese, but that also doesn't matter. They fricking Know Food.

They also have a very decent tea list. The actual list is a bit on the dramatic side, but true to the Asian roots. Props to them. AND the tea is loose leaf and steeped in a decent pot.

That whole beef plate (Bo Buc Lac) is melt in your mouth good. The prawns are giant. The TASTING MENU (I think every restaurant in the world should have a tasting menu).

Ok, don't eat the bean/banana roll dessert. Too beany. And the ginger creme brulee kinda sucks.

A Salt and Battery (Two Locations)

NY Sidewalk Review
Menu Pages Review

Location:
112 Greenwich Ave.
north side of street, between 12th and 13th Sts.

80 Second Ave.
east side of street, between 4th and 5th Sts.

Cuisine:
English Fish and Chips place.

Fave Dishes:
Shrimp
Chips
Haddock
Cod
Sampler platter
Deep Fried desserts (notably, the seasonal Cadbury creme egg)

Ambiance:
The Brit gives this place her seal of approval. Which is good. The east side location is much bigger, and has tables and chairs. The west side location is tiny, only with stools against the wall, but it's worth it. The shrimp. Can I wax poetic about the shrimp? More like prawns, more like succulent morsels of...ok, my mouth is watering just thinking about the shrimp. The scallops are good there, but they were a little TOO underdone for my liking. I love this place. LOVE.

Detractors:
If you're weight conscious, or health conscious, don't go here. It's all deep fried. If they served salad, they'd probably deep fry that too.

Nook (Hell's Kitchen)

NY Sidewalk Review

Location:
746 9th Ave.
east side of street, between 50th and 51st.

Cuisine:
I have no clue. American? French?

Fave Dishes:
Mushroom Cigars (Appetizer, amazing)
Tuna Tartar (Appetizer, good)
Burger (about $11)
Steak Frites (about $16)
Filet Mignon (mmm, juicy goodness)
Rack of Lamb
Apple Crumb (Dessert, good)
Peanut Butter Pie (I love this pie. LOVE)

Ambiance:
An extremely small restaurant. We got in because someone knows the owner. But sshhh, don't tell anyone! Very cozy, BYOB, and decently-priced meals. I enjoyed every single bite of my meal. AND, since it's BYOB, if you have left over beverages, other patrons are more than happy to take what you can't finish. My friends brought two bottles of wine, and ended up with about 6. The wait staff is extermely nice and capable, and since the bathroom is located at the back of the kitchen, the kitchen staff will ask you all sorts of questions. Extremely friendly.


Detractors:
It's tiny. Tiny tiny. The kitchen is tiny, so the food comes very slowly. If I were you, and you lived in the area, I'd order delivery.

Cuisine: Indonesian

Bali Nusa Indah