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The ambiance is like a cozy fairy-light place that reminds me of Christmastime year-round. And at Christmastime, the fairylights go from “lots” to “scarily over the top.” At least, that’s what I’ve seen walking by the restaurant in the past. Finally went there for the first time this weekend. I like the big booths, and the dark atmosphere that encourages intimate dining – could be with family, or a date. Either way, go with people you like to be with.
Service was very attentive, from the hostess to the buser. Perfect on all counts. A special touch of the night – women received a long stem white rose. Sure, it was probably for mother’s day, and we were simply on a dinner date, but who am I to decline the gift of a flower? Chase Bar & Grill
Well smack me with a challah and call me lucky. Sure, the baker thought I was visiting from another country when she found out I didn’t know what a Black and White was, but I bought one, and I ate it, and it was good. I also got a little raspberry chocolate ganache cake, fully meaning to share it with a friend – as you should because its size is deceiving and it’s filling – but I didn’t. But I can say I am very grateful there was an actual cake portion to the cake because it certainly was very rich and decadent. The cake was finely layered, enrobed in the ganache, and decorated with gold powder, white frosting and a fat fresh raspberry. Truly sinful. I have a date with the devil.
Say It With Flour
I’d walked by the place, or one of its many fruity imitators a number of times on my stay, but never stopped in. Finally, opportunity. Gray’s Papaya has maintained a Recession Special for years, regardless of being in a recession or not. It was apt now, and a good deal – Two hot dogs and one tropical fruit drink for just a smidge over $5.00. I ordered just a simple hot dog, with sauerkraut, and added mustard. The man behind the counter asked if I was from Virginia. “No, Santa Barbara.” “Santa Barbara!” he said. Then he looked at the man standing in the queue behind me. “Santa Barbara!” he said to him. The man looked surprised and said, “How did you know?” What is up with that, Santa Barbarans all decided to be in New York that week. I didn’t know him, but he did explain to me he was really from Carpinteria. Yes, from an east coast perspective that is Santa Barbara. My hot dog was good.
They are open late, the owner is super nice, the chili cheese fries are TEH YUM. Turn your dog into a combo meal for $2.50, or $3.00 if you want the beverage to be a beer. The combo includes the beverage and choice of fries, churro or giant pickle. If you’re there at the right time, they also have fresh funnel cake. I was there at the right time and took a picture. Extra kudos go to the owner, who has to put up with all sorts of drunken nastiness on the weekend nights, and yet every day is friendly and helpful. I haven’t even been there too many times and he recognizes me and hands me some discount cards. Side note: if you look down at the ground at the entrance, you’ll see a colorful mosaic saying “GO FISH.” That’s from a former occupant of the space. I’m glad Mad Dogs kept the mosaic, it’s piddee.
Mad Dogs
A good place for lunch. A bad place for conversation. I’ve been here twice for business, and once for a birthday. On all occasions it was very hard to hold a conversation, and some of those times it wasn’t that crowded. It’s neat that the staff wear nice jackets and are wonderfully polite. Is this new? The first time I went, our waitress was more of a party girl who kept draping beads on me and my co-workers. Awkward. I had the crab cakes, which were okay. Accompanying veggies were nicely crisp-tender. An order of beignets went sadly uneaten since we were trying to talk and it’s dangerous to talk with all that powdered sugar flying around. The lunch menu is perfectly satisfying. Not big, and not small, a respectful portion with an equally respectful price, less than $10. I’m sure I would have had a better experience if my intent was to party or charm people with my feminine wiles. Palace Grill
Decent and very cheap meaty treats for the working class. I don’t go here for anything fancy, just piles of bbq ribs. Standard orders of ribs (beef, pork, pork babybacks) or bbq chicken hover in the $10 range. A basket of fries is ginormous and spiked with a chile salt. I feel full everytime I look at my photo. You order and pick up at the counter, everything’s fairly self serve This is not the place to come on an intimate quiet date, the Main Street Grill is one big open space with simple booth and barstool style sitting. It is loud and energized indoors, what with all the sports showing on the big screen tvs and red meat umami pervading the room. Vegetarians will shake and quiver uncomfortably in the corner. Main Street Grill I admit it, I love hot dogs. I own this PBS documentary about hot dogs in America that talks about the history and popularity of hot dogs, regional variations, and popular hot dog joints across the United States. That doesn’t mean the Hot Dog Factory got a mention on the show – it didn’t – but what I’m leading up to here is that I got a teaser of all the kinds of hot dogs out there, including the Slaw Dog. That’s a hot dog with coleslaw. Don’t say “ew!” Don’t say ew unless you’ve tried it, okay. And you can try one at the Hot Dog Factory! This is where I had my first, thanks to their menu that offers variations normally associated with different regions. They had the standard dog, chili dog, Chicago style with the pickle wedge and celery salt, NY deli mustard and kraut…and so on. My stomach barely has room for one dog or just chili cheese fries, but I usually order one dog and french fries, and I *want* to order two dogs and french fries. Sometimes life can be unfair that way. Oh, and all seating is outdoors. You order at a walk-up counter outside and can eat it as some small tables. Not good if it’s raining, not that I’ve been rained on before. I can just tell. Hot Dog Factory |
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I had a veal dish, that came with soup or salad, and a portion of penne carbonara. Loved the pasta, it was amply packed with finely slivered bacon. The salad greens were crisp and fresh. I did think it was a little heavy-handed on the dressing – next time I would ask for the dressing on the side.
What trip to New York is complete without a forage for one of my favorite street foods, a hot dog. I may have just eaten a good portion of curry, but walking towards the subway there was Gray’s Papaya.
