Brunch Bets: Minetta Tavern

I zig when others zag.

After recently editing the Real Cheap Eats Guide along with James Boo of The Eaten Path and a host of others, I figured that I may as well write about Minetta Tavern, a restaurant that, unless we completely compromised ourselves, will never make The Guide. I posted about my first meal there late last year, a meat extravaganza of nearly epic proportions (and I don't just throw the word epic around like some people I know). I have yet to return for dinner. Instead, I've sought out their brunch.

First, an important tip. Always start with the Balthazar cannele instead of the full pastry basket. I know I shouldn't tell a reader to "always" do something, but ALWAYS DO THIS. I am right. Thank me later. While my mother and the maitre'd waxed rhapsodic over the cannele, sharing a silent moment over the the thought of its slightly chewy, caramelized crust, I ate mine in a single bite.

You can order the infamous Black Label Burger for brunch. I won't go into too much detail (just read my first post), but I will say that, while very good, I still prefer The Brindle Room Burger (especially at half the price). Still, this is a damn good burger unlike any other burger in the city.

The Burger at The Little Owl

Full coverage is important, I thought, as I slipped into a seat at the four person bar for an innocuous lunch at The Little Owl in the West Village. I was here to belatedly try the most raved about burger of 2009, an act which reeked of obligation, especially since I'd deviated from my earlier plans to eat at the Spotted Pig.

The burger had been dubbed the "best in the world" by a London Observer columnist who seems to have never visited any of the places in his article. Slightly more respectable outlets such as Saveur declared it the best burger in the city and New York Magazine was similarly gushing in its praise. Still, I'd never bothered.

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I had negative (or merely muted) expectations. I now regret my omission, since The Little Owl makes a damn good burger.

The Spotted Pig: Go Often, But Go Early

To call The Spotted Pig "popular" would be a gross understatement. Ever since opening in 2004, this West Village gastropub has been perpetually packed to the gills with hungry diners. Backed by an array of music industry titans, Chef April Bloomfield and her business partner Ken Friedman, lay claim to one of Manhattan's more popular restaurants-- and most sought after stools. Boasting an impressive beer selection and Bloomfield's refined approach to English pub grub, one would be wise to visit the Spotted Pig during off hours or risk hour-plus waits. But while dinner may indeed be worth the wait, multiple visits have taught me that the best option is weekday lunch.

Brunch Bets: Barbuto

I've wanted to eat at Jonathan Waxman's West Village restaurant Barbuto for quite some time. Problem was, I've never been able to get dinner reservations. Credited with introducing "California cuisine" to Manhattan from his time at the famous Chez Panisse, Waxman has become a celebrity chef in his own right, even making an appearance on Bravo TV's Top Chef Masters. Finally, my futility ended after a co-worker suggested I try brunch, when reservations are much easier to come by.

Obtaining My Weekly Meat Injection at Minetta Tavern

A few weeks ago, my meat intake had reached a critical mass. I'd overloaded on Brooklyn deli fare, burgers and other meat-centric foods too numerous to name (I'll stop there, since any itemized list of such intake is bound to make me depressed). In short, I needed a break from these meaty gastronomic pleasures.

Knowing that Steve and I would soon stuff ourselves like kings (or Keith McNally) at Minetta Tavern, I vowed to not eat meat from that Monday until our meal the following Saturday night.

I mostly succeeded.

Living around West Indians, many of whom consider vegan eating to be a way of life, certainly helped-- as did frequent trips to Sahadi's on Atlantic Avenue for a satisfying mix of salads, pita and hummus. And I would also be negligent not to mention how key peanut butter & jelly sandwiches were that week. Sure, I guess I must confess to inadvertently eating a stray chicken nugget while drunk the night before my big dinner-- but other than that (and by my standards), Noah's Mostly Vegetarian Week of 2010 was an utter success.

...A success that was almost completely undone by our meal at Minetta Tavern.

EN Japanese Brasserie: Style Over Substance

Tucked away on the corner of Hudson Street in the West Village lies EN Japanese Brasserie, the American outpost of this Japanese franchise. Serving upscale izakaya fare in a sleek space, decorated with Japanese motifs, its exactly the kind of restaurant which makes me skeptical. But having heard positive reviews of EN's homemade tofu as well as the their original cocktails, MW and I arrived with open minds and empty stomachs only to walk away unimpressed.

Dinner from a Top Chef at Perilla

I entered Perilla with some initial trepidation. Mixed reviews had me pondering whether it was a solid neighborhood restaurant or one that lured unknowing patrons with the siren calls of a reality food television star at its helm. In case you don't remember or simply don't care, owner and Chef Harold Dieterle was the inaugural winner of Top Chef series but was also a sous chef at The Harrison. Through his combination of culinary skills and determination, Harold emerged victorious and true to his word, used his winnings to open Perilla in 2007. I'm happy to report that I found Perilla to be more of the former rather than the later during our dinner experience. Bolstered by a 30% off coupon from Blackboard Eats, Perilla proved to be surprisingly good as I found chef Dieterle's juxtaposition of flavors, textures and temperatures a winning combination.

New York Neapolitan at Kesté Pizza & Vino

With the possible exception of the hamburger, there may not be a more sacred food to Americans than pizza. Although originating in Naples, this dish has entrenched itself into the very fabric of American culture and our stomachs along the way. As diverse as our country is, so too are the countless regional varieties, styles and types of pizza. Pizza lovers are a passionate bunch, and being such, pull no punches with who they feel makes the best pie. "Best" is a dangerous word, often sparking regional debate over which which variation is superior. But this post isn't about who makes the "best" pizza; that topic will have to tabled for a future post. Instead, this is a recap of a recent lunch The Chief and I had at Kesté Pizza & Vino.

Sticking with the Original at Pearl Oyster Bar

Question: when is paying $24 for a sandwich considered reasonable?

Answer: when that sandwich is stuffed with fresh LOBSTER!

For a bunch of non-New Englanders, New Yorkers sure love lobster rolls. Each year as the temperature outside rises so too does demand for this New England classic. Fortunately, New York offers a vast array of options for lobster addicts to get their "fix;" ranging from full-fledged restaurants to even an underground operation ran out of a Brooklyn apartment. So with all of these options who makes the best lobster roll? As with any Chowhound thread entitled "the best..." there is never a consensus and I usually avoid such nonsense. Like mayonnaise on your lobster roll? Go to Mary's Fish Camp (Manhattan or Brooklyn location). Prefer yours au naturel? Head to Luke's Lobster. From gourmet (BLT Fish) to spartan (Red Hook Lobster Pound) the possibilities are limitless. But when I'm jonesing for a lobster roll I head to Pearl Oyster Bar, and it seems I'm not alone as the place is packed each night. Come too late and you run the risk that Pearl will sell out of their signature item.

Fatty Crab: Great Meal, Bad Value

Steve and I celebrated our friend Jerome's birthday, with 8 of us meeting up at Fatty Crab last night. On the whole, the meal was great, but I was a little put off by the price to portion ratio.

We consumed:

Pork belly and pickled watermelon, very good-- loved the bite of the watermelon after the fat-- but $15 for 4 pieces of pork belly and some watermelon? I was at the Union Square farmers market yesterday and saw a belly for $17. While I understand paying a premium for both, that's damn expensive for what was so cheap only recently (I guess pork belly has jumped the shark, unless you buy it for $4 a pound in C-town). We had to order 2 of these so everyone could get a piece.