Showing posts with label Diner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diner. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
24/7 Dining at Coppelia
I live off the A train in Brooklyn. Late at night, after a long night partying with friends in Manhattan, I usually forsake the $30 cab in order stumble back to the West 4th Street station to ride the train. Now I have a reason to head a little further uptown to 14th Street (and blow that $30 I could have spent on cab fare), where chef Julian Medina of Toloache and Yerba Buena has opened Coppelia, a pan-Cuban diner which intends to fulfill all of my late night dining needs. After operating for over a month, Coppelia just recently fulfilled their original guarantee, and is now open 24 hours a day.
Hazy yellow light accentuates the comfortable, pastel-colored booths in what seems like an optimal place to sweat off an evening's worth of drinks while eating from large plates and an even bigger menu.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
M.Wells: A Taste of Nouveau Québécois
Regular readers of our blog (do any really exist?) probably know by now that Noah and I are steadfast supporters of M.Wells Diner, the Long Island City restaurant that's gotten plenty of attention for serving up typical diner fare with a dose of Québécois flair. (We've written about it here and here.)
Perpetually tempted by a menu that always prominently features at least one (or four) unique foie gras concoctions, we've diligently parsed through their ever-changing options, even ordering a salad when required. Until recently our M.Wells experiences were confined to lunch, but when news broke that this destination diner would finally begin serving dinner (currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), it was only a matter of time before I made a reservation.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Brunch Bets: Diner
Over the course of last year, Diner has quietly become my de facto brunch destination. Maybe it's the fact that it's conveniently located in Brooklyn - albeit Williamsburg - or maybe it's the restaurant's ever-changing menu of excellent food that keeps pulling myself, and many others, back for more. Suffice to say, Diner is a most worthy brunch destination, serving up anything but the typical fare you'd expect to find at your garden variety greasy spoon.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Reaching My Limit at M Wells
The last month, despite my brain feebly pleading with me to eat better, has been filled with gluttony (much of it recounted here and on twitter). Most of the blame can be put on the holidays, etc. etc. etc., but at this point in January I have no excuse to keep eating like this (no, writing a food blog is not a valid excuse).
On Friday I finished work early, and Steve, apparently having nothing better to do, wanted to try M Wells, the popular Long Island City diner. I went a couple times after they first opened (and posted about it), but hadn't been back since leaving Midtown (two subway stops away) for Brooklyn (you mean I have to take the G?)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
"All's Well at M Wells"
M Wells, the new diner in Long Island City from Hugue Dufuor, an alum of Montreal's famous Au Pied de Cochon, has a lot going for it. With so much positive buzz while still only serving a limited breakfast/lunch menu, they are seemingly poised to become a destination spot in Queens once dinner service begins. Currently, they're only open Monday-Friday from 7-3.
Yesterday I hopped on the 7 for the quick ride to LIC. It was obscenely hot and humid, and sweat dripped from my elbows onto the ground as I turned a corner off the subway stop and nearly ran into the unmarked diner. Still sweating, I sat down at the counter and feebly tried to towel myself off with paper napkins while I chugged water as fast as it could be refilled.
The menu contains a little bit of everything, but for the most part can be characterized as classic diner food with some unique additions riffing off of some classic French and American dishes (possibly French Canadian as well, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified to make that pronouncement). At first glance, "chicken skin fried chicken" ($9) was impossible to resist (though I was torn between that, a classic beef tartar, a pork terrine and pork tongue). The chicken skin was marinated before being wrapped in a piece of dark meat, then breaded and deep fried. It was served over a house-made mayonnaise with a lemon wedge and an expertly pickled carrot. The result was inventive, with a great crunch from the crust, but slightly sweeter than I would have preferred. Definitely worth a try though.
The egg-sausage sandwich sounded delicious, especially after reading Joe DiStefano's rave, but I figured I should do my duty and try something different. I debated the two hashes (one with poached egg, bacon and greens, the other with salt cod subbing for bacon, $7 and $9 respectively), but the waitress recommended the cubano sandwich with roasted pork, pickles, mortadella and "cheese from Quebec" as well as the tortilla Espanola. I went with the cubano ($7). It was satisfying, especially with the sinus clearing mustard and gooey cheese, but I think I prefer shredded pork to the thick slices of roast pork served. Yet again the pickles were great, and I downed the whole sandwich.
I was also intrigued by reports that M Wells served Timmy O's Frozen Custard. My waitress recommended the peach-blueberry pie (check availability, as I think it was a daily special), but my profuse sweating had so far not abated, and I went with a banana frozen custard shake ($5) to cool myself down. It was a little thinner than I would have liked, but still delicious.
Incidentally, the service was great-- friendly and enthusiastic without being overbearing. We'll see how they deal with the inevitable crowds, but for now it's a great place to hang out with a newspaper and graze on plates of inventive snacks while watching Dufuor man the griddle.
M Wells manages to capture the New York City zeitgeist for downscale, comfort food prepared with fine-dining skill at reasonable prices (recession, comfort food, blah blah blah ad nauseum). If their breakfast/lunch menu is any indication, dinner could be fantastic and unique (there have been hints of foie gras tamales-- yes please). I truly look forward to a second visit soon. Yet, with so many similar places opening around town, it's only a matter of time before critical mass is reached. Until then, I'm content to ride the wave.
M Wells
21-17 49th Ave (at 21st Street)
Long Island City, Queens
www.mwellsdiner.com
I just took a look at Au Pied de Cochon's menu. If even a fraction of their offerings (or something similar) ends up at M Wells, you can count me as a regular.
Yesterday I hopped on the 7 for the quick ride to LIC. It was obscenely hot and humid, and sweat dripped from my elbows onto the ground as I turned a corner off the subway stop and nearly ran into the unmarked diner. Still sweating, I sat down at the counter and feebly tried to towel myself off with paper napkins while I chugged water as fast as it could be refilled.
The menu contains a little bit of everything, but for the most part can be characterized as classic diner food with some unique additions riffing off of some classic French and American dishes (possibly French Canadian as well, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified to make that pronouncement). At first glance, "chicken skin fried chicken" ($9) was impossible to resist (though I was torn between that, a classic beef tartar, a pork terrine and pork tongue). The chicken skin was marinated before being wrapped in a piece of dark meat, then breaded and deep fried. It was served over a house-made mayonnaise with a lemon wedge and an expertly pickled carrot. The result was inventive, with a great crunch from the crust, but slightly sweeter than I would have preferred. Definitely worth a try though.
The egg-sausage sandwich sounded delicious, especially after reading Joe DiStefano's rave, but I figured I should do my duty and try something different. I debated the two hashes (one with poached egg, bacon and greens, the other with salt cod subbing for bacon, $7 and $9 respectively), but the waitress recommended the cubano sandwich with roasted pork, pickles, mortadella and "cheese from Quebec" as well as the tortilla Espanola. I went with the cubano ($7). It was satisfying, especially with the sinus clearing mustard and gooey cheese, but I think I prefer shredded pork to the thick slices of roast pork served. Yet again the pickles were great, and I downed the whole sandwich.
I was also intrigued by reports that M Wells served Timmy O's Frozen Custard. My waitress recommended the peach-blueberry pie (check availability, as I think it was a daily special), but my profuse sweating had so far not abated, and I went with a banana frozen custard shake ($5) to cool myself down. It was a little thinner than I would have liked, but still delicious.
Incidentally, the service was great-- friendly and enthusiastic without being overbearing. We'll see how they deal with the inevitable crowds, but for now it's a great place to hang out with a newspaper and graze on plates of inventive snacks while watching Dufuor man the griddle.
M Wells manages to capture the New York City zeitgeist for downscale, comfort food prepared with fine-dining skill at reasonable prices (recession, comfort food, blah blah blah ad nauseum). If their breakfast/lunch menu is any indication, dinner could be fantastic and unique (there have been hints of foie gras tamales-- yes please). I truly look forward to a second visit soon. Yet, with so many similar places opening around town, it's only a matter of time before critical mass is reached. Until then, I'm content to ride the wave.
M Wells
21-17 49th Ave (at 21st Street)
Long Island City, Queens
www.mwellsdiner.com
I just took a look at Au Pied de Cochon's menu. If even a fraction of their offerings (or something similar) ends up at M Wells, you can count me as a regular.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)