restaurant Archives - NY Foodie Family

Brunch is Back at Goosefeather!

Posted on July 28, 2022 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

*Thank you to Goosefeather for hosting us. As always, all opinions are our own.*

Since its September 2019 opening, Goosefeather has been one of Westchester County’s go-to restaurants for date nights, birthdays and anniversary celebrations. When the Tarrytown restaurant first opened, Chef Dale Talde served his seasonal and modernized Cantonese dishes at both weekend brunch and dinner. The restaurant closed temporarily during COVID and reopened serving only dinner. Earlier this month, Goosefeather finally brought back weekend brunch.

Brunch

On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM – 2:30 PM, guests can once again enjoy some unique menu offerings that don’t exist on the dinner menu. My husband and I recently visited and were able to sample several of the new dishes.

The brunch menu has a small selection of cocktails, such as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or a Goosefeather Sangria or Bellini. My husband ordered the David Lo Pan, which is made with gin, strega, Oolong tea and Yuzu-ade. He was pleasantly surprised at both the name of the cocktail and how delicious it was.

The brunch menu features some favorites from the dinner menu like the Dry-aged beef potstickers, Crispy Shrimp Bao and Sweet Summer Corn. Similar to dinner, the brunch menu encourages diners to order several different dishes to share. There are three sections to the menu: “Bao”, “Smaller” and “Bigger”. Before the food is served, a small vessels of soy sauce and chili garlic oil are delivered to the table.

We were able to enjoy two different bao of the three available on the menu. The Classic Chilled Lobster Bao was a unique Cantonese twist to the seasonal summer lobster roll. We also shared the Market Mushroom Bao with pickled star fruit and Umami butter. This vegetarian dish is one of several on the menu. The bao are served in taco holders, making them easy to pick up and enjoy.

We had two “smaller” dishes, one of which was my absolute favorite. This Shrimp Toast is made with milk bread and topped with a sunny side up egg and nori. The toast had a nice crunch and was filled with shrimp. While the egg and nori flakes were a nice addition, I could have eaten multiple slices of just the toast. The Gem Salad was topped with 8 Treasure Spice and Parmigiano. This is one of the lighter dishes on the menu and one of several vegan and gluten-free selections. While we enjoyed everything we ate, the Gem Salad is probably the least interesting item that we sampled.

We shared two of the “bigger” dishes. The Smoked Salmon Fried Rice has bits of scrambled egg and is mixed with Crème Fraîche. A generous sprinkle of Everything Bagel Spice and dill finish the dish. This was the only dish that I tried with and without some of the chili garlic sauce. While I usually enjoy a little spice on my fried rice, I found it to overpower the smoked salmon fried rice and preferred it without. The Grilled Asparagus Salad is a lighter dish. The asparagus had a nice smokiness and was topped with lump crab, a XO sauce romesco and a 6 minute egg.

Although we do not eat meat, we noticed the Kung Pao Chicken & Mochi Waffles is a very popular dish. Almost every table ordered it during our visit and it looked really tasty! Other meat-forward brunch only dishes include Crispy Pork Wontons, Fried Chicken Dumplings and Goosefeather Double Cheeseburgers.

Hopefully you save room for dessert. We enjoyed sharing the Goosefeather Sundae which featured a vanilla ice cream and lemon sorbet garnished with half an ice cream cookie sandwich. It is large enough to share and was the perfect ending to end our delicious meal. There is one other dessert option, the Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu which sounds very interesting.

There are enough brunch-only dishes that guests who have previously enjoyed dinner at Goosefeather can come for brunch and experience all different menu items. Regardless of whether you visit for brunch or dinner, know you are in for a delicious meal.

The Chef

Chef Dale Talde is probably most recognized from his appearances as a contestant on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef”. The James Beard nominated chef has also written a cookbook, Asian American, which can be purchased at the restaurant. Besides overseeing his restaurant, Chef Talde also hosts the show “All Up In My Grill” on the food and travel video network, Tastemade.

The Restaurant

According to a press release, “the name for Goosefeather is taken from an ancient Chinese proverb which embodies the idea of thoughtful gift-giving.”

Goosefeather is housed on the bottom floor of the King Mansion on the Tarrytown Estate and dates back to around 1840. There are four dining rooms, an intimate bar area and outdoor dining space as well. On our visit, my husband and I dined in the library room which includes much of the original woodwork. Staying on theme, your check is delivered at the end of your meal in a book. The ceilings of all of the rooms are decorated with replicas of artist Joan Miró’s work, which presents a unique contrast between the historical mansion and the colorful, abstract art. My husband and I applaud the decorator who designed the bathrooms, giving them a fun take on the restaurant’s name.

For those looking to enjoy some weekend evening cocktails the Front Lawn Bar has also made a return to Goosefeather. Open Friday nights from 5 PM-10 PM and Saturdays from 6 PM – 10 PM guests can enjoy drinks on the Front Lawn. The bar serves canned spirits including cocktails, wine and beer. Bottle service is also available. On Saturday nights guests can move and groove to the tunes played by the DJ.

The Details:
Goosefeather at Tarrytown House Estate
49 E. Sunnyside Lane
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 829-5454
website

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Friday: 5 PM – 10:30 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 2:30 PM and 4 PM – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 2:30 PM and 4 PM – 8 PM

Reservations can be made online via Resy or by calling the restaurant.

Parking: Ample parking throughout the property.

Price: Dishes range from $13.50-$28.50 each

Dog Haus Biergarten Mohegan Lake Now Open

Posted on December 28, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Dog Haus Biergarten Mohegan Lake is the newest addition to the Cortlandt Town Center. Dog Haus has locations throughout the country, with the Mohegan Lake franchise being the most recent and only the second New York location. Housed in the former Payless Shoe Store, Dog Haus Biergarten is franchised by Andrew Hamerling and Dave Orth and managed by Steve LaBarbera. The restaurant had its official ribbon cutting ceremony on December 14th and was warmly welcomed by the Town of Cortlandt.

Dog Haus dubs themselves a “craft casual” restaurant. They pride themselves on using quality ingredients and offering a welcoming environment where guest will want to stay and hang out. Wooden tables and booths fill the Mohegan Lake restaurant. Wire caged lights and black pipes and accents give the space an industrial feel.

A large bar area takes up the center of the restaurant and offers over 20 different beers on tap as well as a special craft cocktail menu currently featuring 12 different drinks. HD televisions line the walls and the back of the restaurant has two dart boards and a shuffleboard. In warmer months, expect outdoor seating to be available.

But the most important question to ask is, how is the food? We recently ordered takeout from Dog Haus Mohegan Lake to see how their food measured up. All items are made to order, so expect a small wait time. I like how each carton is labeled with what is inside, so you know you got exactly what you ordered.

With a name like Dog Haus, you know the hot dogs will be good. The restaurant offers 6 different specialty Hausdogs ($7.99 each) and 4 specialty Haussausages ($8.99) all with fun names (e.g. Chili Idol and Reservoir Hog). All of the meat that Dog Haus uses is 100% antibiotic- and hormone-free. They also serve a variety of burgers ($10.99) and chicken (sandwiches, wings and tenders).

My son ordered the Cowboy, a smoked bacon wrapped hot dog topped with cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce and crispy onions. This hotdog was devoured in minutes with rave reviews from the teen.

But what does a family of 3 vegetarians order from a restaurant called the Dog Haus? We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the restaurant has a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. They offer Beyond Meat versions of their chicken sandwiches, so we enjoyed a Beyond Bad Mutha Clucka. The sandwich is made of crispy Beyond Meat “chicken” tenders topped with lettuce, pickles and a miso ranch sauce. The Beyond chicken sandwich costs $11.99, while the regular Bad Mutha Clucka sandwich costs $10.99. Please note that this sandwich is not listed on their in-store menu board or in their paper menu. However, I saw it on the online menu and inquired about it when ordering.

We also had the Sooo Veggie Haussausage. This is a Hot Italian Beyond Sausage topped with wild arugula, avocado, tomato, crispy onions and a spicy basil aioli. This is one of their two Beyond Sausage options, which at $8.99 are priced the same as their other Haussausages.

Finally, we tried one of their 5 specialty Hausburgers ($10.99). For an additional $2.49, any of the Hausburgers can be made vegetarian with an Impossible patty substitution. We ordered the Little Mule since besides, the cheeseburger, was the only other burger that had no additional meat ingredients (bacon, chili, etc.). It had an Impossible patty topped with white american cheese, avocado, pickled jalapenos, cotjia cheese, a fried egg and a chipotle aioli. It was bursting with flavor and was our family’s favorite of the three vegetarian options that we tried.

We did not try any of the Dog Haus “On the Side” menu, which includes fries or tots, with the option of adding cheese and or chili cheese. They also offer sweet potato fries, onion rings, chili, slaw or The Love Boat: fries or tater tots topped with Haus chili and Haus slaw!

The Dog Haus is a great new addition to the Mohegan Lake area. It offers family-friendly dining while also serving the bar crowd with its later hours and its large beer and cocktail menu.

The Details:

Dog Haus Biergarten Mohegan Lake
3137 East Main Street
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(845) 915-HAUS
website

Hours: Monday – Thursday 4 PM – 11 PM
Friday – 4 PM – 12 AM
Saturday 11 AM- 12 AM
Sunday 11 AM – 11 PM

*Online ordering coming soon

*Breakfast menu coming soon

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Badageoni Georgian Kitchen {Global Westchester}

Posted on November 2, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

If you have no idea where the country of Georgia is, welcome to the club. It took a Google search for me to discover that the country, approximately the size of South Carolina, is actually part of both Europe and Asia. Luckily, you don’t need to know any of this to thoroughly enjoy Badageoni in Mount Kisco.

Badageoni is the only Georgian restaurant in Westchester County. The 65-seat restaurant is owned by siblings Inga Duignan and Giga Jankarashvili. So what exactly is Georgian cuisine, you ask? Based on its geographic location, Georgian food is influenced by the Mediterranean, Turkey and the Middle East. However, after dining at Badageoni, I can say the food is like nothing I’ve eaten before.

What should you order?

Khachapuri is a Georgian cheese bread and Badageoni serves five different varieties. We opted for Adjaruli Khachapuri because it was the first one listed. We figured this would make it the most popular and perhaps the most traditional choice ($15). This “cheese boat” is stuffed with a hot river of cheese and can be topped with a sunny side egg, which we opted not to get. It is served blazing hot from the oven, finished with pats of butter. The server directed us to mix it all up before eating. In the family of cheesy bread, I would say its closest relative is the calzone.

Badageoni serves several cold plates, most of which are vegetarian. We opted for Pkhali Rolls, eggplant and sweet peppers stuffed with walnuts and Georgian spices and garnished with pomegranate seeds ($15). The 3 eggplant rolls and 4 stuffed peppers along with a piece of Georgian cornbread was perfect for two of us. However, I’d likely order another appetizer if there were additional diners with us.

Khinkali is the national dish of Georgia. We ordered the Potato Khinkali, potato dumplings served with fried onions and yogurt sauce ($16). It was terrific. Although, in hindsight, I wish I had ordered the basic Khinkali as it is the more traditional dish. It is the Georgian version of the soup dumpling and we generally like to order the most representative dish whenever possible.

You break the pastry crust with your spoon and inside is a piping hot crock of dumplings and onions in yogurt sauce. These potato dumplings are not filled and have a similar texture and taste to a soft gnocchi. The yogurt sauce is creamy with a slight tang.

The dessert menu is fairly limited with only four choices: ice cream, ice cream with meringue and caramel, napoleon or badageoni. The server noted that the badageoni is similar to a panna cotta, which sounded interesting. Plus, it’s named after the restaurant. However, when I debated between the napoleon or the badageoni, she recommended the napoleon. We went her expert opinion.

The napoleon ($14) was delicious. I haven’t had napoleon in ages! And the serving was large enough for sharing. My husband and I each had a generous piece and we still had half to bring home for the kids. Georgian desserts are traditionally nut and/or fruit based, so I was surprised not to find a more diverse selection of sweets.

Badageoni is a recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand. This award is given to restaurants that serve delicious food at reasonable prices. While my husband and I are vegetarians, there are a variety of meat dishes served here. From charcoal-grilled meats (Mtsvadi) to signature dishes like Chakapuli (slow-cooked lamb in white wine with tarragon, scallions and herbs) and Tabaka (fried crispy cornish hen) ,there is something for everyone. While vegetarians can find plenty to eat here, vegans have a more limited selection.

Fall and winter are a great time to visit this restaurant. Many of the dishes are heavy on bread, cheese and pastry, which are perfect comfort foods for cold, dark evenings!

The Details:

Badageoni Georgian Cuisine
website
26 East Main Street
Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 864-1666

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Friday – Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Closed Wednesdays

Parking: Street parking in front of the restaurant and a municipal parking lot behind the restaurant (free parking on weekends)

Price: $$ (expect to pay around $100 for two people to dine, (appetizer, khachapuri, two entrees and dessert) not including drinks) Portions are large enough to share an appetizer and/or dessert.

Summer Dining at TBoy’s Bistro {Sleepy Hollow}

Posted on July 7, 2021 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

*I attended a media dinner for purposes of this review. As always, all opinions are my own.*

Westchester County natives Robert and Denise Horton opened TBoy’s Bistro in 2019. The couple is not new to the restaurant business, having previously run restaurants in Mamaroneck, Tuckahoe and Crestwood. TBoy’s Bistro is their latest restaurant, named after Denise’s late father. Located in Sleepy Hollow, this restaurant serves New American cuisine in a cozy, intimate space. Forced to close due to the pandemic, TBoy’s Bistro opened up again in April 2021.

I was recently invited to a media dinner at TBoy’s Bistro to sample the new menu. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening to visit. The weather was perfect for dining in their outdoor patio. The greenery growing along the fence, along with the potted flowers and strings of lights creates a small, private oasis.

TBoy’s Bistro has a drink menu that includes signature cocktails like Ginny From the Blocktail and Whisk Me Away.

I wasn’t drinking alcohol that night and they were able to make me a mocktail version of the Rum Sprinter (minus the rum and Triple Sec). They also have bottled beer and wine by the glass.

What stood out to me about TBoy’s Bistro was the variety of dishes on their menu. Although Chef Robert and Denise are both omnivores, some of their four daughters are vegan and vegetarian. While I am a pescatarian, my husband and daughter are vegetarians. I am very cognizant of restaurant menus that offer dining options for them. It was refreshing to see a menu where there is more than the obligatory Beyond Burger or Margherita Pizza. There is literally something on the menu for everyone here from the meat lovers to the vegans.

For appetizers, my fellow diner and I enjoyed the Seared Sea Scallops over Cauliflower Mash. The scallops were seared nicely and were so sweet!

We shared the Crab and Shrimp Cake which was topped with a roasted corn salad and placed upon a mustard grain sauce. This was one of my favorite dishes of the evening!

We also shared the Roasted Tomato Puff Pastry Tart that was topped with Burrata and a pesto sauce. Who doesn’t love burrata?!

I don’t normally eat huge meals. By the time we ordered the main course I couldn’t decide between the Mezze Rigatoni (Roasted cauliflower and shiitake mushrooms in a Parmesan truffle oil sauce pictured above) or the Mushroom Ravioli pasta special (pictured below). Fortunately, they were able to give us half portions of each.

In hindsight, these dishes had very similar flavor profiles and I probably should have ordered one pasta dish and a seafood entrée. However, I was really in the mood for pasta, having not eaten carbs in awhile, and both of these pasta dishes sounded (and were) so good! If there’s a dinner special that catches your taste buds, I recommend ordering it, since you can always order off the regular menu.

By the time we finished our pasta, my dinner companion and I were too stuffed for another entrée. So we ended our meal on a lighter note with the Red Oak salad. The red onion, Gorgonzola, candied pecans and buttermilk dressing made for a delicious flavor combination.

We of course couldn’t leave without sampling some dessert. The Tres Leches Cake topped with caramel sauce, toasted coconut and a scoop of Longford’s vanilla ice cream was heavenly!

We also sampled the Flourless Chocolate Cake topped with a white chocolate mousse and chocolate sauce. This dessert was so rich and decadent and was the perfect ending to our delicious meal.

It is not often that you see the restaurant owner when you’re dining out. During my visit, Denise had a huge presence stopping by all of the tables and checking in on guests. She is so down-to-earth and approachable and you can tell that she loves the restaurant and the food that she serves.

I can honestly say that everything I ate at TBoy’s Bistro was delicious. There are so many dishes on the menu that I still want to try, which gives me plenty of reasons to return!

Spend a summer evening at TBoy’s Bistro enjoying a craft cocktail and a delicious dinner on the back patio!

The Details:

TBoy’s Bistro
31 Beekman Avenue
Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
(914) 909-6151

Open:
Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 5 PM – 9 PM
Friday and Saturday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Takeout available

Parking – There is limited street parking in front of the restaurant. There is also a public lot with free parking right down the block.

Menu – New American (seafood, beef, poultry) with vegetarian and vegan options

Price – $$ (expect to pay $45-$65/person for an appetizer, entrée and dessert, not including drinks)
Portions are large enough that you can share an appetizer and/or dessert.

Winston Restaurant Debuts New Fall Menu

Posted on October 30, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(I was invited to a tasting of the new fall menu at Winston Restaurant. As always, all opinions are my own.)

Winston Restaurant has been a welcome addition to Mount Kisco since 2014. Named after the dog owned by Executive Chef Michael Williams, the restaurant serves New American cuisine using fresh, high-quality ingredients. I dined at Winston back in December of 2014, during the restaurant’s inaugural year. Even then, my husband and I were impressed with the quality and flavors of the food. It appears that Winston has maintained that high standard of food and service to bring you a memorable dining experience.

Executive Chef Michael Williams recently debuted a new fall menu that I was fortunate enough to get a preview tasting of. Believe me readers, you will not be disappointed! The dishes featured below will be replacing some of the summer-type dishes off the restaurant’s a la carte menu.

Your first decision will be which tasty cocktail to order. And let me tell you, it won’t be an easy one! While Winston has a full service bar and extensive wine list, you will want to try one of their signature cocktails. The fall menu includes (pictured clockwise from top left) a Spiced Apple Margarita, Blueberry Dash, Ginger Redemption, Passion Fruit Bellini, The Herbed Pear and a Pumpkin Mojito. The only other drink, not pictured, is the Gentleman Fig. I love sweet drinks and the Passion Fruit Bellini was right up my alley. Since I had to drive home (and I might be a lightweight) I didn’t try any of the other cocktails. They all have such interesting combinations of flavors and ingredients, and appeared to be well-liked by my fellow diners.

The fall menu includes four new starters (pictured above clockwise) Vegetable Spring Rolls, Beef Negimaki, Beef Carpaccio and Gruyere Potato Dumplings. They were all delicious but I highly recommend the potato dumplings and the carpaccio. The beef carpaccio is topped with an arugula salad and is a nice light dish to start your meal. The potato dumplings are small, fluffy pillows of deliciousness. Accompanied by butternut squash, corn and asparagus, this dish embodies the goodness of fall. The portions are large enough for sharing so why not get both?!

Chef Williams knocked it out of the ballpark with the new entrees on the fall menu! The four entrees (pictured above clockwise) include Pan-Seared Diver Scallops with Cannelini Beans, Chipotle Encrusted Cod atop a Butternut Squash, Corn and Brussels Sprout Leaves medley, Hudson Valley Magret Duck Breast with a Moroccan Honey Glaze served with a potato gratin and roasted cauliflower and Asian Braised Pork Shank atop a combo of Fingerling Potatoes and Savoy Cabbage. Honestly, they are all delicious and I can’t pick a favorite. I think it really depends on what you’re in the mood for. The cod has a bit of a kick from the chipotle crust, but isn’t overly spicy. The braised pork is so tender it falls off the bone. I love duck and the Moroccan Glaze is on point. And look at the perfect sear on those scallops! Again, I recommend ordering different entrees than your dining companions and sharing.

Finally, we can’t forget about dessert. No matter how stuffed I am, I always take a peek at the dessert menu…..just in case there’s something that I have to try. Apple Tart served with vanilla ice cream is the new addition to the fall dessert menu. The nine piece assorted Cookie Plate and The Dirty Winston, a chocolate hazelnut layer cake served with raspberry sorbet are mainstays on Winston’s dessert menu. My advice: skip the cookie plate. If you’re going to splurge on dessert, really splurge! Depending on your sweet preferences both the apple tart and Dirty Winston are really good. However, if you love creme brulee, like I do, you must order the creme brulee trio. While I didn’t sample this dessert during my most recent visit, speaking from my prior dining experience, they are really good! The flavors change seasonally.

Are you salivating yet?! Winston will still be serving their new fall menu from now until the spring. Sunday through Thursday they also have a Prix Fixe Menu. I had never thought of Winston as a “family” restaurant. However, they have a kids menu featuring favorites like a cheeseburger, chicken fingers and pasta. The whole family can enjoy a great dinner out!

The Details:

Winston Restaurant
130 East Main Street
Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 244-9780

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM
Friday & Saturday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Sunday: 5 PM – 9 PM

Parking: Street parking available in front of the restaurant. Village Center Parking Lot is located behind the restaurant. Meters enforced 8 AM – 6 PM Monday through Saturday. Free parking Sundays and holidays.

Price: $$ (small plate/starters average $15, most entrees priced between $25 – $35, most desserts are $10 and under)

Reservations can be made via phone or through OpenTable.

Brunching at Calle Dao {Chelsea}

Posted on October 17, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

{I was invited to a tasting of the everyday brunch menu. All opinions are my own.}

Just hearing the restaurant name Calle Dao, you know you are going to get a global dining experience. Calle Dao serves Cuban-Chinese cuisine, paying tribute to the heyday of Havana’s Chinatown. Located at 461 West 23rd street, the new Chelsea location opened in the beginning of September. This is the second Calle Dao location (the first one is located in Bryant Park).

Owner Marco Britti, a musician by trade, has traveled the world as a drummer. He has spent a good amount of time in Cuba, playing music and studying the culture and food. Calle Dao Chelsea is his seventh restaurant.

The restaurant’s decor reflects more of a Cuban vibe. The white-washed walls lighten the space and each table has its own overhead light. The abundance of potted green leafy plants, Chinese prints and neon lit signs add pops of color. The beats of the Latin music playing will have you tapping your toes and make you want to get up and dance.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bradley Warner helped create the menu at Calle Dao.

The restaurant serves brunch seven days a week. From 11 AM to 4 PM, you can enjoy all the deliciousness they offer! Appetizers are in the $9-$10 range, with options like these Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls and Shrimp Empanadas. I highly recommend the spring rolls that are served with a Mojo Lime Mustard. They really showcase the fusion of the Cuban and Asian cuisines.

Main entrees are priced from $15-$23. I was most impressed with the restaurant’s take on Beef & Broccoli. Tender pieces of smoked short ribs are served with Chinese broccoli and noodles in a garlic hoisin sauce. I just wish there was more than three small pieces of meat. They also serve a vegetarian, mushroom and broccoli version of this dish.

Another one of my favorite entrees was the Chorizo and Garbanzo Hash. The chorizo and garbanzo beans are mixed with sweet potatoes, peppers and onions and topped with sunny-side up eggs. This was a very flavorful dish with a great combo of flavors.

Other dishes I tried were a Lamb Picadillo & Corn Congee, topped with poached eggs and Huevos Al Horno (eggs baked in a white bean stew with Chinese sausage). The picadillo was an interesting fusion of the two cuisines. The Huevos Al Horno was a hearty dish. However, this was one of the few dishes that I felt that I could make myself at home. When I dine out I try to order dishes that I wouldn’t make at home due to the complex ingredients, flavors, or cooking methods.

The menu has a couple of classic dishes like this Cubano sandwich with Mojo glazed pork, cured ham, salami, pickles and Gruyere cheese.

Besides the Mushroom and Broccoli noodle bowl, Calle Dao offers several other vegetarian-friendly options. They make a Black Bean and Mushroom Burger, Shiitake Spring Rolls and two different salads. More breakfast-y options include a vegetarian omelette, Maduro & Eggs (fried rice topped with eggs), Avocado Toast and a strawberry jam and cream cheese filled french toast.

The restaurant has a fully stocked bar and also serves wine and beer. Master mixologist Joy Daniel has created several unique Cuban-Asian cocktails to accompany Calle Dao’s menu. I prefer my drinks on the sweeter side and sampled the “Flor de Oro”. Made with vodka, rose and vanilla infused dry vermouth, cherry jam and fresh lemon juice, this cocktail did not disappoint.

You have to leave room for dessert! I tried both the Bunuelos (fried dough balls, rolled in Chinese Five Spice Sugar and served with a chocolate coconut sauce) and Matcha Tres Leches. Both were amazing, but if I had to recommend only one, I’d vote the Tres Leches.

Whether you are in Chelsea to visit an art gallery, see a show or to shop, take a brunch break at Calle Dao. You are in for a great dining experience!

Conveyor Belt Sushi at east Japanese Restaurant {Updated}

Posted on July 24, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Conveyor belt sushi used to be a rare dining experience that I only saw on television. Luckily, it’s becoming more popular and now, even us suburbanites can partake in the conveyor belt sushi experience. If you are shopping at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, New York and are looking for a family-friendly, non-chain, unique dining experience, east Japanese Restaurant is the place to go.

Guests are seated in booths around the sushi chefs, who have their prep stations located in the center of the dining space. As they prepare different rolls and sushi, they cover and place them on the conveyor belt. The labeled plates travel around the restaurant, and diners take the items they want.

The different patterned and colored plates are priced differently. White plates cost $1.75 each while the gold plates cost $8.00 each. Most plates include two pieces of sushi or three pieces of roll. There are many types of sushi available from the California roll to the specialty Big Thunder Mountain roll. Non-sushi dishes like seaweed salad and fried chicken are also offered. If you do not see what you want or prefer not to go the sushi route, the restaurant offers a full Japanese menu including teriyaki and tempura dishes. At the end of your meal, your plates are collected and you are charged accordingly.

What we love about this restaurant is that we are able to try new dishes without a huge commitment. For a couple of dollars a plate, if we like it, we’ll take another plate of it. If we didn’t like it we at least tried something new! This is a great way to introduce your kids to different types of sushi. Plus, like our kids, they will most likely enjoy grabbing the dishes off the conveyor belt. It definitely makes for a unique and fun dining experience, which we highly recommend! Unfortunately, the only conveyor belt sushi restaurants that we are aware of that are not located in the city are this one and YO! Sushi at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Republic Restaurant (New York City)

Posted on January 16, 2015 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

On a recent trip to New York City, we had to revise our lunch plan, when eating at Eataly was not a viable option. See this post for details. We were with the Mr.’s brother, who lives in New York City and suggested that we go to Republic. He frequents the place and thought that we would enjoy it. The restaurant is located in Union Square, convenient to the subway. When you enter the restaurant, there are a few tables in the front and a long bar to the left. The majority of the eating area is in the rear of the restaurant space and consists of long picnic style tables and benches. It is likely that you will be sharing your table with another party.

Republic can best be described as an Asian Fusion restaurant. They serve small dishes including dumplings, green papaya-mango salad, and crispy tofu. They serve many different varieties of broth noodles, which many people were eating, including spicy beef, curry chicken, lime chicken, and spicy seafood. These small dishes range in price from $5 to $8. Republic serves a variety of noodle dishes as well including pad thai, glass noodles, and peanut noodle salad. Plus, they serve rice dishes including grilled chicken pesto over black rice, seared marinated salmon over curried rice with raisins, and chicken and mushrooms with broken rice and Asian vegetables. These main dishes range between $12 and $15. We visited on a weekday during lunch time and were able to take advantage of their special lunch bento boxes. The Mr., the Mrs. and the kids each chose a different bento box, so we were able to sample three out of the five that they offer. Each came with three different things so it was great that we got to try a variety of their menu items. The Mr.’s brother ordered the Sauteed Curry Chicken, which he had before and enjoyed. There is a small children’s menu that we didn’t really spend too much time looking at. We figured the kids would get more food and variety by sharing an adult bento box. Overall, we enjoyed everything that we ate. The kids especially loved the sautéed mini dumplings and the peanut noodles. The Mrs. really enjoyed the glass noodles and the Asian chopped veggie salad.

The kids shared this!

The Mrs. had this Vegetarian bento box

They have a large non-alcoholic specialty beverage menu as well as a full bar menu including a selection of sakes and Asian beers. While the Mr. opted for a diet Coke, the Mrs. tried the non-alcoholic Asian Basil Lemonade and the kids had a Coconut Lime Cooler and a Pineapple Coconut Cooler. The drinks weren’t too pricey at $4 each.

Asian Basil Lemonade

Coconut Lime Cooler

We had already eaten gelato before coming here for lunch, so we skipped dessert. The dessert menu didn’t look that interesting with a couple of ice cream flavors (green tea and black sesame) sorbet, coconut tapioca and taro-coconut cake. After lunch we strolled the Union Square farmer’s market, located right across the street from the restaurant.

We were very happy with our lunch at Republic. While we, as a rule, tend not to frequent the same restaurants twice in New York City, we would recommend this for a family-friendly lunch or dinner.

Gelato in Eataly (New York City)

Posted on January 9, 2015 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

We took a recent trip down to New York City to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. After seeing the tree, taking the mandatory photos, and visiting the Nintendo Store, we took a trip down to Eataly. We had never been and I had heard so much about it.

According to their website, Eataly is “an original “marketplace” model inviting consumers to be active participants in an innovative food and beverage experience where they shop, taste and savor high quality traditional Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products; a multifunctional marketplace that includes a premier retail center for Italian delicacies and wine, a culinary educational center, and a diverse slate of seven boutique eateries.” The 50,000 square foot entity opened in 2010 and is owned by Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and Joe Bastianich.

It is an Italian food lover’s dream. As soon as you walk through the doors your senses are bombarded with various sights, sounds and smells. And yes, there are plenty of crowds in Eataly…especially over the holiday break. From our understanding, if you were interested in eating fish, you would go to the fish area and try to get a table at Il Pesce. If you wanted, you could stand and nibble on wine and cheese in La Piazza. They cook with fresh ingredients that they sell in the marketplace. You can also purchase most of the food products to take home with you, including one of the 200 different types of cheese and over 30 types of baked bread. We saw cooked lobster pieces in a plastic take-out container that were going for $70/lb.

As I mentioned, the place was super crowded. We didn’t get to see them making homemade mozzarella, or hand-made pasta. We didn’t get to see them rolling out the dough at the bakery. These are things that the kids would have enjoyed seeing. We found the demarcations of one eating area from another weren’t very clear, and there were people everywhere. We weren’t going to be able to get a table at any of the seven restaurants without a huge wait time. With two young children and no clear waiting areas we decided to skip eating lunch there. Unfortunately, because it was so crowded, you couldn’t really stop and just take it all in. The below pastry shots were taken on the fly as we were pushed along with the crowds. But you can’t leave Eataly without some type of treat!

We passed bakery cases showcasing all kinds of delectable looking treats but decided on gelato. My husband and I honeymooned in Italy and have fond memories of gelato.

The chalk drawn menu listed several gelato flavors including chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and some fruit sorbets, including raspberry. We ended up getting a large cup to share, with up to three different gelato selections, for $6.90. I chose Salted Caramel, my daughter chose Stracciatella (sweet cream with chocolate chips), and my son chose Coconut. My husband is not picky and was happy enough with our choices. The gelato was cold, creamy, and delicious and we all voted the Salted Caramel as our favorite. The Coconut gelato, which we were originally trying to dissuade our son from choosing, was actually really tasty, with shreds of real coconut.

Overall, the crowds of the place really detracted from our enjoyment. I felt rushed and was more worried about losing my kids in the crowd than really enjoying the place. While Eataly has restaurants that serve food very kid-friendly food, like pizza and pasta, the long waits were not child-friendly. We would prefer to go again when the crowds aren’t so heavy. Unfortunately, since we make family trips into the city so infrequently, it is highly unlikely that we will be returning to Eataly anytime soon.

Have any of you been to Eataly? Please share your experiences in the comments section.