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There aren't very many nice restaurants in the upper part of Washington/Hudson Heights, and Bleu reigns as one of the only options. It's the default when friends or family make the trek up to the...
There aren't very many nice restaurants in the upper part of Washington/Hudson Heights, and Bleu reigns as one of the only options. It's the default when friends or family make the trek up to the northern end of NYC (aka the "Siberia of Manhattan"), just because it's not a diner, not too spicy or weird (ah, unadventurous relatives), has alcohol and a menu that satisfies both carnivores and vegetarians. Is it great food? Nah, but I've never had anything that wasn't decent. Is it a bit overpriced? Sure, but they can do what they like until they get some neighborhood restaurant competition. They do a nice brunch -- who can argue with mimosas and berry pancakes?
As far as the ambiance, it's a strange little place -- lots of velvet and old wood, some odd art, some crystals and swirls, etc. Kinda faux Euro, but none of it is taken seriously enough to be pretentious (which would be silly considering the location). As far as I can tell, it's mostly locals (regulars and people like me taking their visitors out) -- no tourists or scene kids in Siberia, really. Once I was there for dinner and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, City of Lost Children) was at the next table -- his mother lives in the neighborhood and was taking her family out.
Overall, it's a staple neighborhood restaurant that nicely fits the bill when you need something decent that will please a variety of people.
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I was looking for a place to take a group of 6 last night, and L'Orange Bleue was nearby and still had spots open for dinner. My group was a mixed crowd looking for a number of things from the...
I was looking for a place to take a group of 6 last night, and L'Orange Bleue was nearby and still had spots open for dinner. My group was a mixed crowd looking for a number of things from the evening: exotic food, good music, a NY experience (there were some tourists in the bunch), a good place to gather with friends, etc. L'Orange Bleue ended up being the perfect choice.
Just so we're clear, this is not a quiet little family establishment. The place gets loud and rowdy and there is dancing and pulsing Arabic pop. There were several birthdays in the restaurant last night, and each one was feted with live sparklers, cheers, music, and some special attention from one of the handsome male employees. A belly dancer made an appearance and focused on one person from each table, drawing them onto the dance floor with her flying hips and long red scarf. The music was loud, the lights were dim, and atmosphere was nothing but festive. If you're up for that kind of thing, this is a great place on a weekend night. We were all dancing in our chairs as we ate.
Everyone was very pleased with their meal, and between the 6 of us we tried a nice variety of the menu. I had a salad and spicy pasta with meatballs and vegetables, which was excellent. One friend had the spinach crepe, which was lovely and fluffy and came with a wonderful light tomato sauce. Another friend was very pleased with his shrimp. The show-stoppers were the tagines -- everyone who ordered food cooked in these traditional little Moroccan ovens raved about their dish. I tried a bit of my friend's lamb tagine -- the meat was unbelievably tender and the tiny couscous was the best I've had. We all shared pitchers of decent sangria (nothing special, but not terrible either) and had a perfectly respectable creme brulee for dessert.
Overall, everyone in my group of 6 had a great time and a meal they enjoyed, which is a rare feat, especially in NYC. If you're up for a fun evening (especially a birthday), I'd give L'Orange Bleue a shot.
Note: Amex and CASH ONLY.
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I don't know if it was just the marketing angle preying on my mind and empty stomach, but several friends and I tried this place (9th Ave & 42nd Street location) and all swore we'd never had such a...
I don't know if it was just the marketing angle preying on my mind and empty stomach, but several friends and I tried this place (9th Ave & 42nd Street location) and all swore we'd never had such a great burger. It was fast, fresh and delicious, and there were plenty of options for those who didn't want beef. I had a standard cheesburger, fries and fountain soda and could not have been happier. A friend tried one of their juice blends and raved. The place also scored big by offering varieties of spiced ketchup -- the curried version was excellent!
It's rare that I go anywhere with a group and everyone ends up not only satisfied but also enthusiastic about their meal. A burger, fries and drink will cost a few dollars more than the fast food equivalent, but the health factor and overall pleasant experience is worth it.
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Makes Scents is under new ownership -- it's now called Cassie's. Regular customers know that Cassie Buell was a staple at this store in the Central West End for years -- she bought the business!...
Makes Scents is under new ownership -- it's now called Cassie's. Regular customers know that Cassie Buell was a staple at this store in the Central West End for years -- she bought the business! Same great lady behind the counter, same great products, new name.
Cassie's is a wonderful place for gifts, and carries cards, candles, and several popular lines of bath & body products (Crabtree & Evelyn, Caswell-Massey, Burt's Bee's, etc.). But their speciality is perfume, and you can custom blend oils and scents into your own signature fragrance. This fragrance can then be added to all sorts of bath and body products, including bath salts, massage oil, shower gel, pump soap... so many possibilities.
The place is small but full of interesting items, staff is usually friendly and helpful (especially if Cassie herself is there, which she usually is). I recommend giving yourself some time to browse and sniff and enjoy the place.
They do do some mail order and their full list of perfume oils is available at cassiesscents.com -- note that they also carry a range of traditional essential oils which are not listed.
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Republic
Category:
Restaurants
37 Union Sq W
New York, New York 10003
(212) 627-7172
Republic has excellent food, is centrally located right on Union Square NW, is perfect for a mixed crowd of vegetarians and carnivores, etc. However, to enjoy this restaurant it is imperative that...
Republic has excellent food, is centrally located right on Union Square NW, is perfect for a mixed crowd of vegetarians and carnivores, etc. However, to enjoy this restaurant it is imperative that you go at the right time. Dinner? Forget it, unless you're going early. Weekends? No way. Basically, any possibility of rush hour and you should stay away -- the place gets incredibly loud, inconveniently crowded and obnoxiously scene. Banquet-style long tables and backless benches end up putting you uncomfortably close to neighboring strangers and serve up an inescapable eyeful of butt cleavage from surrounding benches. When the place is full, service is spotty and when the wait staff do show you can barely hear each other over the din...
Despite all these factors, Republic remains one of my favorite restaurants -- the trick is to go during the off-hours. The place is a ghosttown for late weekday lunches -- our company often goes there for afternoon business meetings. Staff are more attentive, food comes almost instantly, there are no volume issues, and the banquet/communal setup doesn't matter when you have plenty of space.
The food is wonderful -- heaping bowls of noodles, spices, meats... a relatively small menu but yet something for everyone. I know it seems ridiculous to recommend a restaurant for only off-hours, but the food really is incredible, and if you can avoid the crowds, Republic is still well worth a visit.
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I've never been much of a gym-goer, preferring to run outside, but recently I've accepted that I won't be able to run on these knees forever and that also I need to strength train in addition to...
I've never been much of a gym-goer, preferring to run outside, but recently I've accepted that I won't be able to run on these knees forever and that also I need to strength train in addition to cardio. So... joined a gym. After shopping around, NYSC was the best deal -- I signed up my final semester of college and so got a marginal student discount (saves $10 or so every month). The option of being able to use sister facilities in other cities (I'm in Boston regularly) was another plus.
The drawback is that there are no NYSCs way uptown -- I have to hop on the subway for 20 minutes to reach the nearest one. And during rush hour they are filled wall to wall. But I've started going later, around 8pm, and usually have the place to myself, which is nice. Facilities are always clean, there are many machines to choose from, there are lots of classes available (I have yet to try those) and there are personal trainers for hire. All in all, compared to my limited experience with other gyms, the NYSC seems a fair deal (it's expensive, of course, but all gyms in the city are grossly overpriced) -- you get out of it what you put into it.
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(I originally reviewed Dr. Thompson under Heights Veterinary Clinic)
Dr. Moses and Dr. Thompson are a husband and wife team who run a small, capable veterinary practice in Washington Heights....
(I originally reviewed Dr. Thompson under Heights Veterinary Clinic)
Dr. Moses and Dr. Thompson are a husband and wife team who run a small, capable veterinary practice in Washington Heights. After a horrible experience with another vet in the neighborhood, I gave them a shot and was delighted by the service, reception and treatment given to my cat. Unfortunately, they don't board, but the helpful staff of young women seemed to be constantly accomodating customer requests for petsitting, which is a nice alternative. Everyone seemed content at this place, even the animals, which makes a nice difference from the other neighborhood vet, which is dark and gloomy and depressing (and more expensive!). The vets themselves were professional but never condescending, gentle with my cat and happy to answer all my questions. I highly recommend taking your animals to them.
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I am a fan of Supercuts -- cheap, relatively stylish haircuts suit me fine. I've gone to Supercuts around the country in all the cities I've lived in, and generally had good experiences. This...
I am a fan of Supercuts -- cheap, relatively stylish haircuts suit me fine. I've gone to Supercuts around the country in all the cities I've lived in, and generally had good experiences. This particular location, however, on 3rd Ave near 32nd St, was the most dismal Supercuts I have ever come across.
The facility itself was not clean -- there was hair everywhere, and some of it had been there awhile. The staff barely communicated with me (I was the only customer on a weekend afternoon, which perhaps should have tipped me off). There was a brush/clipper salesman there and the woman cutting my hair was far more interested in him than me.
I asked for a 1-inch trim and a few layers around my face -- basically easy maintenance on my last cut. I tried to engage the woman to be sure she understood me, and after a few minutes she'd convinced me that she and I were on the same page. I must have said "very basic" about six or seven times...
She then proceeded to chop me like there was no tomorrow. She gave me something entirely different than what I'd asked for. I'm going to have to get another haircut to clean up the mess she made of my head. AND, in the middle of the cut, a bandaid flew off her finger and hit me in the forehead. Needless to say, I was far from satisfied with my experience at this location.
Supercuts in general are fine -- they are McCuts, and if that's what you need, they're more than capable. But avoid the 3rd Ave/32nd St location like the plague!! They were, in one word, AWFUL.
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BookCourt is amazingly still in business, even though a huge B&N looms on a nearby corner. Unlike some independent bookstores, BookCourt's shelves are always full, and full of a great selection...
BookCourt is amazingly still in business, even though a huge B&N looms on a nearby corner. Unlike some independent bookstores, BookCourt's shelves are always full, and full of a great selection (especially travel books). The staff is helpful but not over-eager (just right), and will special order just about anything you need. There is a cute separate kid's section. Every time I've gone to BookCourt there have been plenty of Brooklyn kids and moms browsing very happily through the aisles, which creates a nice neighborhood atmosphere.
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Park Slope Books has a nice selection of used books, though (as with many/most used bookstores) you are likely to have more luck just browsing rather than hunting for something specific. It is not...
Park Slope Books has a nice selection of used books, though (as with many/most used bookstores) you are likely to have more luck just browsing rather than hunting for something specific. It is not as crowded as some of the used bookstores in Manhattan, and has a wonderful old-school bookshop vibe.
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