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This eatery is easy to miss, and I live on the same street as it and never took notice! Yet, it's an amazing find, because after 5pm, dinner is only $4! Where else can you find that?? The place...
This eatery is easy to miss, and I live on the same street as it and never took notice! Yet, it's an amazing find, because after 5pm, dinner is only $4! Where else can you find that?? The place serves Chinese food buffet style, so you purchase your $4 plate first, and then pick any 5 entrées. There is a large selection of vegetables, chicken, beef, noodles, pork, even some random dishes like mashed potatoes and fried chicken that aren't Chinese. Add a drink for another dollar. This is including tax, and there's no tip since it's a buffet. The place is cafeteria-ish, but there is plenty of seating up stairs, it's clean and who can beat this price! If you're looking for a fast, cheap, and filling meal, this is it for sure.
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I was at a loss for where to stay in Los Angeles, since the other times I've visited I stayed with friends. The Westwood on Wilshire was a great find. It's located a few blocks from the theaters,...
I was at a loss for where to stay in Los Angeles, since the other times I've visited I stayed with friends. The Westwood on Wilshire was a great find. It's located a few blocks from the theaters, dining and shopping of Westwood/UCLA and on the main Wilshire Blvd. I've since learned from Wilshire, you can get just about anywhere in LA and possibly avoid all that horrendous (yes, it really is that bad) freeway traffic. The hotel looks small, but looks are deceiving in this case. There is a gift shop in the lobby, a restaurant that serves full breakfast or buffet and in the evenings a lounge with a full bar and menu. Both are surprisingly full, especially the lounge, with people having drinks, chatting, watching a game. There is also a fitness room, pool and free internet access (they call their one public computer a "business center," which is pretty funny). The rooms are spacious, with TV, room service and all that. The bathroom could have used a little updating, but it was stocked with amenities from Neutragena. I would suggest a room on the back side of the hotel because it's slightly up on a hill and you get a great view of the city at night. It wasn't too expensive, less than $120/night for sure when booked online. You can't find that in New York! Also, the valet service was very friendly, convenient and helpful with directions for an out-of-towner. Just watch out as that is the only slightly pricey aspect of the hotel (~20$ to park/night for guests)
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Napa Valley is known for its wines and this LA restaurant tries to make the most of that. It features an outdoor patio so you can enjoy the sun year round, and a rustic, "wine cellar" feel in the...
Napa Valley is known for its wines and this LA restaurant tries to make the most of that. It features an outdoor patio so you can enjoy the sun year round, and a rustic, "wine cellar" feel in the main dining room. I stopped in for lunch and was eager to try one of their lunch "flights" - a plate with 3 items from the menu like soup/salad/sandwich. I chose a mixed salad, mushroom soup and a lobster grilled cheese. The salad was fine, lobster grilled cheese was different and I liked it! I never would have thought to put the two together, but it really worked, especially on a flaky, buttery piece of bread. However, my soup was totally cold. Not even a hint of warmth. My mom was with me and had the soup too and hers was sort of warm, but not hot. Mine was 100% cold. Odd, and not good. I could not eat it. Besides that, the service was fine and I'm pretty sure our server was a wanna-be actor because he spoke in this announcer-like voice and made weird facial expressions. Maybe he was practicing. The place has some good offerings, I'm sure a great wine list, over all flavorful food, and is apparently a national chain. Just don't get the soup.
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Cafe des Artistes is located a half block from Central Park on the Upper West Side. The restaurant is housed in an old apartment building called Hotel des Artistes, and you certainly get a turn of...
Cafe des Artistes is located a half block from Central Park on the Upper West Side. The restaurant is housed in an old apartment building called Hotel des Artistes, and you certainly get a turn of the century feel when you enter the building. Even on a blustery winter day, the cafe is cozy, bright and lush, with green plants everywhere and murals by a mid century artist on every wall. The space is detailed in wood and wrought iron and the tables each have a charming pastel mini-lamp. It's probably a glimpse into how the New York elite dined a century ago.
The food is pretty standard. I started my meal with a green salad that just had "champagne" vinaigrette on it, but I honestly couldn't taste anything remarkable about the dressing. A salmon fillet was my main course, and it was perfectly cooked. It broke easily apart with a fork and was soft and flavorful. Polenta with a fruity sauce surrounded it and that was creamy and good too. Dessert was a rich chocolate and walnut cake that was warm and fudgy in the center. The bread basket even had some great and hearty whole wheat rolls. Overall this was an elegant fine dining experience in an equally elegant setting.
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The rink or the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center usually steals the glory from this infamous tourist spot, but the concourse below offers a great dining option. Rock Center Cafe has a total...
The rink or the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center usually steals the glory from this infamous tourist spot, but the concourse below offers a great dining option. Rock Center Cafe has a total panorama view of the ice skating rink, so before or after your skate you can stop by for a meal.
The mixed greens salad with cranberries and goat cheese is excellent. A toasted slice of bread comes slathered with the cheese and the dressing on the salad is light and not overpowering. I also sampled with fired calamari, and it wasn't saturated with oil or overly crispy like some versions can be. You could actually taste the seasoning in the bread crumbs. My entrée was a baked chicken breast with carrots, currants and other seasonings. The dessert was by far the most amazing. I had cheesecake - a HUGE piece! - that was served with raspberries. I tried my friend's chocolate mousse ball/mound thing and it was incredible. It was covered in dark chocolate sauce to the combo of bitter and sweet was amazing and so rich. I could only eat a few bites.
The restaurant provides a good meal and a great opportunity to watch everyone ice skate on the rink while still being warm.
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Mercer Kitchen is located in the upscale Mercer Hotel in the heart of SoHo on Mercer and Prince. The restaurant is down a staircase in the center lobby. Although it's in the basement, it has a lot...
Mercer Kitchen is located in the upscale Mercer Hotel in the heart of SoHo on Mercer and Prince. The restaurant is down a staircase in the center lobby. Although it's in the basement, it has a lot of charm, from exposed brick walls to dynamic lighting. The space is actually pretty big, but some of the corner tables can be cramped.
My meal started with a tuna spring roll appetizer. Unlike a traditional fried spring roll, this was cut into sushi-like circles and wrapped in phylo dough. The flavor was unbelievable and different, like lemon grass and kale. I really enjoyed it and the tuna was just barely seared and delicious. Then I had a roasted chicken entrée, that was just like normal chicken. Nothing remarkable about the dish, although the carrots served on the side had a very good glaze. Tea service and cheesecake followed for dessert. Tea is served in an individual pot which is cute, and the cheesecake was fluffy and like a mousse on a graham cracker bottom. Very yummy!
The portions were perfect and not over doing it. This eatery is modern and chic, so if you're looking for a fancy night out it might be the spot. Definitely make reservations and you might find yourself elbowing with some celebs. (Pierce Brosnan walked in the door as we were heading out)
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Culture Club is a Manhattan spot dedicated to the 1980's...or so one would think. They run a great special where you pay no cover on Fridays if you enter before 11pm, and thankfully we did because I...
Culture Club is a Manhattan spot dedicated to the 1980's...or so one would think. They run a great special where you pay no cover on Fridays if you enter before 11pm, and thankfully we did because I would have been upset otherwise. The club is large, with a dance floor that lights up like one side of a colourful rubics cube. It is filled with 80's pop memorabilia. But, after about 1 or 2 am, they stop playing 80's music. Like, Hello! It's an 80's club. If I wanted to hear something else, I'd go to a real club. That really put a damper on the night and my group soon left. The dj did use some of our suggestions and we got to dance to classics like "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston. And, they charge for water. That practice really annoys me because water is a necessity, and in a club atmosphere, sometimes someone is in distress from drinking too much and legitimately needs water. It should always be free. That annoyed me almost more than the music. So, go before 11, leave by 1, hydrate before you go and you'll have a pleasant 80's flashback experience.
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The small town outside the gates of West Point surprisingly does not have a lot to offer, considering the constant flow of guests in area. A strip mall-like town is about 10 min away if chain...
The small town outside the gates of West Point surprisingly does not have a lot to offer, considering the constant flow of guests in area. A strip mall-like town is about 10 min away if chain restaurants are your thing, but one local eatery is worth visiting. Schade's is a cozy restaurant that fills up after football games and you can always find cadets crowding its booths. Their menu is pretty diverse, with wraps, salads, entrées, Italians sodas, and homemade pizza. The deep dish pizza is a favorite of mine. The dough is just so good, I want to scrape off the toppings and just eat that! When it's crowded, service can be a little slower, but compared with the other options, it's worth the wait. I've also enjoyed their harvest salad and buffalo chicken wrap. It's a cute small town restaurant!
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After hearing from several people about this restaurant that only served macaroni and cheese, I had to try it. I love mac & cheese, and this place did not disappoint. S'mac is brightly coloured in...
After hearing from several people about this restaurant that only served macaroni and cheese, I had to try it. I love mac & cheese, and this place did not disappoint. S'mac is brightly coloured in oranges and yellows, just like a bowl of this delish comfort food. They offer about 10 different varieties of the stuff, with rotating "specials." The owner, Sarita, even works the counter!
How many ways are these to make this seemingly basic dish? Lots, and the 2 I tried were very good. First, portions are served in cast-iron skillets. The Nosh size is the smallest, and even that is hard to finish. It's just so cheesy and filling (and I'm sure has like 400 calories per spoonful, but who's counting). I tried the brie version, which is mixed with mushrooms, figs and rosemary. Soooo delicious. You'd never think this combo would work, but it had a unique flavor to it and the figs added a sweet surprise. My friend tried the Cajun, which was definitely spicy and contained peppers, chicken and sausage. You can change up the kind of cheese you have mixed in or make your own skillet. Also, the dishes can be prepared with whole wheat pasta and with or without bread crumbs on top. There are a myriad of drinks available and salads too if you're not in the mood for this cheesy delight.
Overall, I can't believe how fun and diversified S'mac has made mac and cheese! It's not a place I would go to everyday, since the small portion is so filling that I had to take half home, but if I'm in the mood I would definitely take the trip downtown. Prices are reasonable and they deliver. Finally my carb & lactose dreams have been answered! Visit the fun website: http://www.smacnyc.com/home.html
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Topaz Thai restaurant is a cozy Manhattan eatery in mid town with a great lunch special. Most entrées are prices under $10 and the list is extensive, with vegetarian and meat offerings, curries and...
Topaz Thai restaurant is a cozy Manhattan eatery in mid town with a great lunch special. Most entrées are prices under $10 and the list is extensive, with vegetarian and meat offerings, curries and rices. We started with the papaya salad, which didn't really suit my taste, but the portion was big enough for 2. A chicken/veggie/coconut dish was next, and also a spicy veggie red curry. Rice accompanies all entrées. The dishes were spicy and not over powering and overall good for the $6.95 each cost. The meal was very filling. The restaurant is small, so during work day lunch rush, it fills up and is rather cramped. If you go later in the afternoon, like 2pm, it'll be less busy. Either time, the service is fast.
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