Restaurant Week: David Burke Kitchen

Tags

burger, David Burke, David Burke Kitchen, greek yogurt, NYC, Restaurant Review, restaurant week, SoHo

Restaurant week is a seasonal event in NYC where select restaurants offer prefix lunches ($29) and dinners ($42) at a fixed price in the five boroughs. It started nearly 10 years ago and has gotten so popular that the “week” usually lasts about 6 weeks; giving one ample time to get as many deals as possible.

I personally like experiencing a restaurant that I would normally not visit but I also find that the experience is very different on a regular dining day then during restaurant week. Never the less, my family and I always participate.

One such place where we particularly love Restaurant Week lunches is David Burke Kitchen in Soho. There is only one thing that I actually crave here and luckily, it’s offered during restaurant week so I am one happy lady.

It was very easy to obtain a reservation for 1PM on a rainy Sunday in SoHo. My husband, parents, and I arrived hungry and ready to feast. For $29, we were entitled to an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert. Not too shabby. We almost all ordered the same exact thing which means no tasting anything new… but when you know what you like, there isn’t really a need for all that.

I had a cup of coffee which was nice and strong- perfect little jolt!

For starters, everyone minus Brent ordered the plain Greek yogurt with house made granola, nuts, berries, and honey. This is no ordinary bowl of yogurt. I cannot explain why this tastes as good as it does but I have a feeling it has to be the full fat yogurt. It was tart and creamy with a hint of sweetness from the honey and berries. We scraped our bowls clean.

As my entrée, I ordered the burger. A huge heavy burger to go on top of the bowl of high protein yogurt I just scarfed. The burger was delicious but I barely finished half. I packed the burger and fries to go (which were perfect later that evening for dinner!).

Dessert was a super-rich chocolate cake. I managed half and had to give up. Being full was a major factor but the richness on top of that was just too much. I left with a lot of leftovers.

But for $29, the prix-fixe is a great bargain.

While the Restaurant Week promotion is over until Winter, the bowl of greek Yogurt at David Burke Kitchen is worth a trek to SoHo when you’re craving it!

 

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Benoit NYC

Tags

cassoulet, escargot, French, NYC, pate, profiteroles, Restaurant Review

During our countdown to Brent’s departure, we set out for dinner in honor of our 6 month wedding anniversary and restaurant week! I let B take the lead on dinner reservations and he totally outdid himself. We went to the very charming and very old school Benoit in Midtown.

Nothing says romance like French cuisine, though, when I think of French cuisine I am reminded of the episode of Sex and the City where Harry and Charlotte have a romantic night out at a French restaurant. They overindulged and spent the entire evening taking turns in the bathroom.

Thankfully that wasn’t the case for us but I can see how Charlotte and Harry did themselves in. French food is RICH and should be enjoyed in moderation.

We had every intention of being modest by ordering off the pre fixe menu but B thought we were selling ourselves short and suggested we go for the glory and get whatever we wanted.

So we did.

First things first. Bubbles. Not just because of the 6 month anniversary but when we dine out (which has significantly decreased in frequency) we treat ourselves to a sparkling wine or champagne. It goes down easier and we usually have zero negative effects in the AM.

For B’s starter, he went with the pate of foie gras and I went with the escargot. The last time I tried escargot was when B and I took our first vacation together; this time was much more positive and much more delicious. I shared with my mother that I had escargot and she was genuinely curious about what it tasted like. Upon first glance, it looks like green moss. But after a whiff, it’s very garlicky in a beautiful way. Once you scoop it into your mouth it tastes like a stuffed mushroom- so if you like stuffed mushrooms, there is a good chance you will like escargot.

There are two main dishes that I can never say no to: Beouf Bourguignon and Cassoulet. Very heavy and hearty dishes. The latter was available so I went in. Brent ordered the roasted chicken which was delicious.

The Cassoulet, which is essentially a white bean stew with sausage and duck confit was rich and totally did me after 5 bites. No matter though. I packed up the leftovers and enjoyed them the following morning with a poached egg- my fave way to enjoy leftovers.

When the dessert menu rolled around I was beyond stuffed but was somehow convinced to order profiteroles. Delightfully airy cream puffs with a rich chocolate sauce for dipping. And washed it down with a creamy cappuccino and some ice cream.

Talk about Indulgence! The great thing about NYC is the ability to WALK after heavy meal and our train was several long blocks away.

Benoit was a great choice. We got to enjoy a wonderful meal and check another great NY restaurant off the list.

So I finally had a Cronut…

Tags

Cannelle de brodeaux, cronut, DKA, Domique Ansel Bakery, NYC, product review

In 2013, the Cronut came to New York City by way of the Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo. The baker, Dominique Ansel crafted a limited supply of donuts daily and the anticipation drew much plublicity. Upon its release, donut enthusiasts waited in line for hours daily just to get their hands on one of the 200 available cronuts.

I admit, I was one who would read article after article of the beautiful donut croissant hybrid and dreamt of having my own; just to say I have tried it.

I have been to reputable bakeries and tried their dough’ssant and their croissant donuts and all were good, but nothing to make me obsessed. The hype for Dominique Ansel’s Cronut was really making me feel like I was missing out.

…until about a year ago when a friend of mine acquired some cronuts thanks to the cronut preorder online. She had one left and she sold it to me for $5. It was a fig cronut. She told me to eat it immediately as they are best when eaten the day they are purchased.

I took photos of the cronut. I posted the pics to Instagram and twitter. Held my breath and sunk my teeth into the cronut.

“Isn’t it AMAZING?”

Well, it’s not terrible but I did not experience the thing that made me want to get up at 4AM to get in line for one of these babies. Not at $5 a pop either. And if it were up to me, can I have a choice on my flavor? Fig, Chocolate, raspberry- plain even. I need variety.

I chalked up the MEH cronut to the fact that it had been purchased way early in the AM and it was now evening- it clearly wasn’t “fresh”…

Fast forward to Sunday.

I was able to acquire my own cronuts thanks to the online preorder system. I had no idea that when I chose to pick up cronuts on July 19^th that it would be 94 degrees in New York City and that it would take me an hour to get there. My husband and I (really just me as I dragged him there with me like a good wife) braved the heat for the cronuts. The line was long inside the bakery but since I pre-ordered, I was able to skip the line and grab my cronuts.

I glanced over the register and saw the DKA and the Cannelle de Bordeax. These are two of the regular pastries at Dominique Ansel Bakery that are absolutely delicious- there is NEVER a line for them and they are, without a doubt, way better than the cronut. (highly recommended!)

With my huge bag of cronuts, I slowly walked back to the train station so I could enjoy the bananas foster filled cronut as soon as possible. I was so self conscious of my purchase as the entire world could see my bag contained Cronuts- it was a huge YELLOW Bag. Like, HEY LOOK AT MY BAG!

I purchased some for my family and I plus two more to enjoy if I really liked them. . .

I set up our cronut experience. Coffees on deck. Photos taken. Heart racing with excitement.

I took a bite.

And it was good but not mind-blowingly so.

I believe this item was way over-hyped. The texture of the donut was lacking something.  I was fully convinced by the sugar coating and the crisp-looking layers that the cronut would have a slight crispness/flakiness to it and a soft, delicate center with a glob here and there of custard or whatever the filling of the month was. Instead, I sunk my teeth into a donut that was not light and crisp. It was a bit greasy and lacked the texture that I was seeking; much like my first cronut encounter with the fig filling.

I was disappointed. My husband doesn’t like any kind of donut with filling inside-so that was a bust, My parents both preferred the dough’ssant we got from one of other bakeries we frequented and I felt like I wasted a perfectly good Sunday morning, sweating my butt off for something I didn’t even love.

I am still a big fan of Dominique Ansel. His DKA and cannelle de Bordeaux are enough to keep me coming back over and over again. I will just check cronut off my bucket list.

It’s just not for me.

The Palm Tribeca- Lobstah!

Tags

anniversary, dinner, lobster, NYC, tribeca

Well, look who decided to share.

I will admit that in the last few months, when B and I are about to sit down to a dinner at a nice restaurant, he sighs with the “you’re not really going to take photos of your food here, are you?” face and I quickly snap shut my phone case like I was only checking the time. It’s not just B, though. There are restaurants that outright ban photo taking. And as a blogger for fun, stopping for a second to actually eat my meal without remembering the photo op, has been fun as well. I have even noticed service has changed- I never stopped to think of how my constant photo taking effected the folks serving me my dinner.

I won’t completely stop taking photos all together but when the photos come, they will be more specialer (that’s a word because I say so).

Back when I worked in Lower Manhattan, I had a hankering for lobster. I was on the internet searching and searching for a place to have a lobster dinner that wasn’t a shack or bar. It was, after all, my 2 year anniversary with B- our last anniversary before we become Mr. and Mrs. While complaining about the lack of lobster establishments to choose from (other than Red Lobster), my mother had suggested I go to the Palm.

The Palm, which has several locations in NY and several more all over the country, was having a special at the time. A 4 lb lobster, 2 appetizers and a side for $99; to make it a 5lber, add $20. We went to the Palm Tribeca which was in a convenient location for the both of us to get to. We got there at 6pm on a Friday and dinner service was definitely starting to pick up.

We both decided that we were greedy bastards and the 4 lb lobster to share just wouldn’t be enough… so we got the 5 lb. And a 3rd appetizer. And a bottle of champagne.

 

We aren’t wealthy by any means but we do enjoy going on a dinner to splurge or treat ourselves. It’s our monthly ritual. So when we chatted up our server about champagnes (because anniversary!) he talked us into getting the more expensive bottle that was on sale if we joined their club.

So we joined.

We couldn’t resist. They said something about a free lobster on your birthday!!!

 

Our new thing, or should I say Brent’s new thing is Caesar salads before the main course. We ordered our Caesar salads but he added an order of calamari because we were so hungry and its calamari! Both were delicious. The dressing on the Caesar, just thinking about it, makes my mouth water. So creamy and tangy. The calamari was crisp and delicious.

 

The server came over shortly after our appetizer plates were cleared to drape lobster bibs over us. Such service! And when the MONSTER lobster came out in pieces, they shelled that bad boy right in front of us. A little awkward, I will admit BUT the young man assisting us was quite the conversationalist once we started to pull some teeth (Where are you from? How do you like working here?) Once our lobster was completely shelled, we went in.

In hinsdsight, the 4lb lobster was MORE than enough especially after all the starters and the heavy goat cheese and chive mashed potatoes (omg SOOO good), and even as we spooned the last of the mashed potatoes into our mouths and swallowed the last drops of the champagne I couldn’t believe my ears when we both agreed to order dessert.

One dessert. The coffee and donuts special. A brown paper bag filled with cinnamon sugar dusted donut holes with a chocolate and raspberry dipping sauce. And a cup of coffee

Fat assness. We ate all of it and considered walking home. We walked for 20 minutes after. We still were disgustingly full.

Now that we are members, I can’t wait to go back! I’d definitely skip the salad though.

Just kidding. I’d do it all over again! (but maybe skip lunch?)

Bosie Tea Parlor

Tags

afternoon tea, bosie tea, cake, chai, earl grey, macarons, NYC, tea

Dolce Far Niente.

The sweetness of doing nothing.

As we watched Eat, Pray, Love on a random Saturday night, the single phrase that resonated with us was “Dolce Far Niente”; the sweetness of doing nothing. And sure, it might have been cruel to subject my boyfriend to a Saturday night watching the ultimate chick flick, but he really appreciated the film for what it was. Personally, I love the book. My favorite part of the book is the beginning when she was in Italy. After the movie, we were both in awe of the idea that one could experience the joy of doing nothing every day. 

With bills to pay, we don’t have such a luxury. But long ago, when I worked at Starbucks, I remember looking enviously at the people on their 3^rd refill of coffee, donning yoga pants and flip flops while busily stroking away at the keys of their laptop. I have always wanted to experience the freedom to work my own hours and have more flexibility for creativity. But instead I report to work 5 days per week. I clock in at 9. Take my lunch at 1. And clock out at 5. Wash. Rinse. And Repeat.

Granted, I actually enjoy having a job. It gives me a great sense of purpose. And who doesn’t love a regular paycheck? But a small part of me always wonders “Wouldn’t that be nice?!?!”

With the art of doing nothing still sitting with BR and I, we both decided that we needed a mental health day. A day to take off from work and do as we pleased. Whether we take a walk in the park. Grab a bite at a local café. Or just sit by the pool with a good book. It was long overdue and with the weather in New York City a tolerable 80* with a nice breeze, it was the perfect opportunity for such an idea.

After a leisurely morning stroll in the park with Mickey, we set to brainstorming on what to do with our full day of nothing. A quick search via some reliable food sites and I came across a list of the best places for Afternoon Tea in New York City which led me to Bosie Tea Parlor. Bosie Tea is not only in the ideal-for-walking part of the village, but it was also noted for being the best bang for our buck while providing a great afternoon tea experience. So that was that.

We arrived at Bosie Tea around 1pm on a Monday. It was empty except for a few people busily typing away on their respective laptops, sipping pots of tea. The music was a classic blues/jazz station with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong and some french tunes. The music was not blaring but it was just audible enough to be enjoyed without being distracting.

The waitress, who was all smiles, was extremely patient and helpful when it came to taking our orders. We first decided on the type afternoon tea package we wanted. There were 3 to choose from. The Bosie Tea package, the Champagne Tea Package and the Chef’s Tea Package. Since the Chef’s tea required 2 days notice, we opted for the Champagne package which came with 2 pots of tea, 4 warm scones, 4 macarons, 3 tea sandwiches, 2 glasses of champagne and 2 choice desserts from the pastry case; $85. The only difference between the Bosie Tea package and the Champagne package is the addition of champagne and two choice desserts. We have made a note for future reference, to try the chef’s tea.

Once we decided on the tea service, we selected our tea. I was craving something warm and familiar and my favorite tea of all time (so far) is a hot cinnamony chai with foamy soy milk. Our waitress obliged with an enthusiastic smile and mentioned that their chai was especially aromatic. I was super excited.

Had she told me that chais were excluded from the package, I was going to opt for the Earl Grey Crème. BR ordered it so I got to have a taste. A deliciously fragrant and almost “creamy” tea. I have always loved the aroma of Earl Grey tea and think next time, I will have to indulge my curiosity.

The three tiers of deliciousness can be eaten however you wish but I suggested we work our way down from the top. My new love is clotted cream…at least with regard to warm scones and jam. I had zero reservations about smearing a heaping knife full of clotted cream and jam on ever bite. BR did the same.

In addition to choosing a type of tea, we opted when we would like our champagne (we wanted to save it for last), what types of macarons we wanted (salted caramel, maple bacon, raspberry and orange blossom) and the types of sandwiches we wanted (egg salad, cucumber, and smoked salmon).

The macarons were incredibly fresh! And while BR found them to be too sweet for his liking, I had no trouble devouring his. They have a peanut butter and jelly macaron that I MUST TRY!

The tea sandwiches were really good as well. Out of the 3 we selected, we really enjoyed the egg salad and cucumber. The spreads on the sandwiches were not overwhelming and were not messy to eat. They had a generous, yet thin layer of cream cheese/egg salad. The smoked salmon was not a hit with us which disappointed me. I am a huge fan of smoked salmon but this particular smoked salmon had some lemon zest, heavy on the lemon. I have my citrus aversions on savory food as it is; this just didn’t work for me. When we asked our waitress for a 4th sandwich, the curried chicken salad, she felt bad we didn’t like the smoked salmon and gave us a hefty discount to ensure our return.

After our curried chicken salad sandwiches, we received our champagne which immediately made me sweat like the dickens! We didn’t expect to be SO FULL! Its quite a meal.

From the pastry case, BR selected the chocolate éclair. A delicate, yet rich chocolate pastry filled with a vanilla custard. He could only finish half.

I, on the other hand, completely devoured my dessert. It was the perfect size. The Earl Grey mille crepe. Thin and soft layers of crepe with an early grey chantilly cream in between each layer topped with a burnt sugar crust was light, creamy, and the perfect end to this casual feast. What I expected to be sweet and overly fragrant was heavenly, and addicting. By far, the best dessert I have had in a long time.

We spent two glorious hours at Bosie Tea Parlor, enjoying a delicious meal, talking, and not having a care in the world about going back to work or having to be anywhere. We were so in the moment. We felt so relaxed too.

And when our waitress came back with our check, we were completely floored by the $20 she took off the check on account of a disappointing smoked salmon. Her gesture was so appreciated and so unnecessary for a $5 sandwich, that we opted to leave that $20 she took off to her tip.  She wanted to ensure we would return, and that gesture alone made that strong maybe into a definite yes.

A fantastic day, for sure. We are looking forward to our next day to master the sweetness of doing nothing.

Restaurant Week: Gotham Grill

Tags

chocolate, lunch, NYC, Restaurant Review, sea bass, Steak

Last Friday, my mother, BR and I decided to leave work early to take advantage of a leisurely lunch.  Since it was also Restaurant Week, we made reservations at Gotham Bar and Grill, a swanky little restaurant tucked away in between University Place and 5^th Avenue on 12^th street in Manhattan.

From what I already know about Gotham, I can tell you that:

-President Obama has eaten there several times

-My Godfather loves it here, and ate here on his birthday

-I cannot afford it, ever. Except for Restaurant Week.

With this being the first time I ever managed to snag a reservation for Restaurant Week at Gotham, the three of us made a day of it. We dressed up. We left work early. And I documented the whole thing via instagram. If you follow me, then you already know these photos are old news.

It started out as a great day. A light breezy 80ish degree kind of day. BR and I got to Gotham early and waited for my mother. Since it was well after 2pm, we were on the hungry slash cranky side. BR is very serious when he’s hungry or tired. And usually, those make the best photo ops. I captured this awesome pic of BR just looking down the street for any sign of my mom.

Once she arrived, we were seated immediately. I was happy to see we weren’t the only people taking advantage of the $25 pre fix lunch special.

Our server was very charming and witty. He was patient when we needed more time to order. I had offered to split some things with my mom on account that she is a little picky with certain items but she said no because the portions are Gotham are… well, small.

How small?

Well, take a look at her ceviche. With such a grand description of cod fish with watermelon and melon puree with citrus elements, the sliver of fish in a green broth- completely delicious- but oh so tiny. She offered me a bite but I let her enjoy her two bite appetizer. She liked it but was hoping for ceviche reminiscent of the one she got in Costa Rica.

BR and I opted for salad which was also a smallish portion but was very good. Chunks of creamy goat cheese with farm fresh cherry tomatoes and crisp shredded lettuce. It was perfectly dressed in a buttermilk ranch dressing.

For the entrée, BR and mom ordered the Strip Loin with summer corn and sweet polenta. BR looked disappointed. He loved his meal but the 3 slices of strip loin broke his heart. We jokingly spoke of where the next lunch will be immediately following our current lunch. BR was not joking.

I ordered the seared sea bass with sautéed zucchini, smoked eggplant puree and chipotle foam. The fish was cooked perfectly. Nice crust on the skin with tender flakes of fish. The eggplant puree was awesome as was the zucchini… I could totally do without the foam.

Since mom hates polenta, I gave her my vegetables. But the bites that I had, sure were delicious!

We all had the chocolate cake for dessert with almond ice cream. The dessert was waaaay too rich but they only gave us a sliver of cake. The cake appeared crumbly but had a fudgy consistency like a flourless cake. The almond ice cream was far too sweet for my liking.

Overall, we had a pretty decent lunch. Were we satisfied? YES! But we are greedy folks. We need a little more than 3 oz of meat and fish.

I did really like Gotham but I don’t see a follow up in my future…Unless BR hits the lottery.

Capital Grille: Wall Street

Tags

burger, lunch, NYC, Restaurant Review, restaurant week, Steak, wine

It’s my favorite time of year: Restaurant Week.
Ah, Restaurant Week. It’s such a hot debate on some of the Facebook Groups that I belong to. A vast majority of “foodies” scoff at the concept of Restaurant Week altogether. They cringe at the idea of restaurants doling out bargain dinners to the average Joe and defend the hard working people in the industry who get dumped on during the bargain week.
To start, Restaurant Week is a select number of restaurants that offer a flat rate, pre-fixe, 3 course dinner. Lunch, $25. Dinner, $38. Some restaurants are really great for RW, others not so much. These anti-RW people mostly complain about not being able to experience the whole menu or even missing out on the experience of paying a month’s rent on a 3 course dinner.
But for me, Restaurant Week is a glimpse into fairy tale land where I can sit and dine in an establishment I might not otherwise afford. I am okay with admitting I am not a huge financial success, but what I have is adequate to make life livable. I can put food on the table. I can clothe myself. And sometimes, I can dine in a swanky restaurant on a budget.
Thank you Restaurant Week!

Following my humbling experience at the 9/11 Memorial, BR and I made reservations at Wall Street’s Capital Grille. It wouldn’t be my first time at this Capital Grille. The first time was for a Yelp Event hosted by the Generous Pour. I fell in love with the interior of this former bank and when I saw they were among the restaurants participating in RW, I made a reservation for Lunch.
BR has a heart for finance so when he saw the interior of the Capital Grille, he immediately loved it. Not to mention, seeing that the original vault was still intact and offered the room to be rented… note for a possible party in the future after I hit the lotto.

The staff here were very attentive.  Eager to take my coat, the hostess graciously hung our coats and seated us in a lush booth tucked in a corner of the restaurant with great people viewing opportunities. I was given both menus to choose from for lunch.

My heart was set on the RW menu so I ordered from there. The occasion called for a glass of wine. I really liked that Capital Grille had a selection of half bottles for purchase. A full bottle of wine seemed to glutinous for lunch. The half bottle of the house red, a mere $18 was a great deal. And filled our glasses just enough to quench our thirst for a little vino.

The server brought over a bread basket filled with a seeded dinner roll and two crispy sesame crackers along with a pat of soft, creamy salted butter. Dieters go home.
The RW menu offered an appetizer, entrée and dessert. For my starter, I chose between a Caesar salad, mixed green salad and clam chowder. I planned to have an entrée with a salad so I opted for the clam chowder. BR ordered the Caesar.

The clam chowder wasn’t overly spectacular but it was hot, creamy and had enough bits of clam in it to appease me. As far as the wow- factor, there was none. But it was cold outside. And the soup was hot and perfect for the day.  BR’s Caesar had some huge and buttery croutons that I might have reached over to taste.  A little soggy, but good.

The entrée menu had a little bit of this and that to please mostly anyone. Some salmon, a burger, and a steak. I find that when dining on the pre-fixe menus, I get a thrill out of ordering a steak. The sirloin steak with an arugula salad was calling my name. BR ordered the cheese burger and truffle fries.

When ordering steak, I like my steaks medium rare. I asked that the steak be prepared according to the chef’s recommendation. Lo and behold, a perfect medium rare. My darling ordered his burger medium rare as well. It was presented with an aioli, ketchup and spicy mustard. He loves mustard. I loved his aioli and saw fit to use some of it on my steak.

The steak was tender with a lovely red center. It was a hefty steak for lunch so I was grateful for the salad that it came with… anything heavier and I wouldn’t have made it through the evening.
BR’s burger was flavorful! And every bite he took resulted in delectable burger juice dripping from his hands. We both loved it. And while it didn’t look so big, it was certainly filling. The truffle fries were crispy and salty with just the right amount of truffle oil. They were his first truffle fries. He liked them very much.

As we felt the fullness in our bellies, the server came out with dessert. We had a choice between a flourless chocolate cake and a trio of homemade ice cream flavors.  I chose the flourless chocolate cake, BR chose the ice cream. I was too full to press on; however, after a bite of my dense and not-too- rich espresso chocolate flourless cake, I pressed on. I devoured my dessert greedily while BR ate his ice cream. I couldn’t care to try it, but he said it was delicious.

When we finally had enough, our server – who was ever- attentive, gave us his card with our check. For wine, 2 three course lunches, and tax, our lunch came to $74. Considering how much we actually ate, we got a serious bargain. We tipped generously for the wonderful service and rolled ourselves out of our decadent lunch.
If you are feeling inclined, do make a reservation for RW. Treat yourself. You deserve it!

Excellent Pork Chop House

Tags

cheap lunch, chinatown, chinese, NYC, pork chop, Restaurant Review, restaurant reviews

Happy New Year!

While I am anxious to share with you the incredibly exciting and memorable evening I had with my love over the new year, I decided to change things up a little bit by posting a review. If you have been reading the blog for a while, you would know that I used to have a happy balance between restaurant reviews and recipes. And when I moved to Brooklyn, just 7 short months ago, I began cooking more at home. I do still enjoy an evening out or even some take out on the couch but the things I have been most passionate about are the things that I create myself.

I also acknowledge that quite a few of my closest friends consider themselves “kitchen challenged” and while they love the food porn, they really want to know where they can get a great meal in the city.

Today, I grant them that wish.

The other day, during the lull in the office between the holidays, I ventured out to Chinatown for lunch with a colleague. With it being the holiday season, Chinatown was bursting with tourists. My craving for dim sum brought me to my favorite Chinatown landmark but the hordes of people waiting outside for tables led me to search for a new place to dine with 45 precious minutes remaining of my lunch hour.

A few steps over on this awkward and very small street in Chinatown I came across Excellent Pork Chop House. It had been bookmarked on my yelp account for almost a year and while I always had it in the back of my mind, now was good a time as any since it was right in front of me in a time of need.

This place is not fancy.

It’s kind of dingy actually. But to me, it has personality. It wasn’t totally empty. The people that were dining seemed happy. The place smelled great. Like pork chops. (for obvious reasons).  Me and my guest seated ourselves and were given photo albums by a smiley older woman.  I am pretty good at navigating menus but I loved the idea of this photo album. It took away the uneasiness, especially for my guest, of ordering from a new place. With the photo album depicting every item on their menu, I had a better idea of what I was in the mood for.

One thing that is blatantly clear when you are dining at Excellent Pork Chop House is their unabashed use of MSG. Those three infamous letters are everywhere on the menus, just in case you missed it. MSG gets a bad rap. Personally, I don’t mind it. Its purpose in food is to enhance the flavor.

So, after being notified of the addition of MSG, I continued to browse through the album and then I spotted it.

Pork Chop and lo mein.

The photo made it look so appetizing. And this lo mein was unlike any I have tried before. The noodles tasted hand pulled. They were fresh tasting and were tender and not too chewy. They were not greasy. They were savory with crumbled pork and fermented greens on top. The combination was hefty for a measly $5.25.

The pork chop was fried but was not dry. It was one of the best tasting pork chops I have had outside of moms house. I loved the combination of the greens and savory pork with the noodles. I probably shouldn’t have, but I ate the entire thing.

My guest ordered the house made wonton soup. A fresh and clean tasting broth with plump little dumplings floating around made for a delectable and light lunch for $4.

We made note to come back.

The service isn’t top notch. But the staff are not rude. If you need something, a simple wave of your hand or a nod in their direction ought to do it.

This place is cash only. But with lunch for two costing less than $10… you read that right…. this is a place you really need to try.

I have since been back several times. Even once for dinner. Sometimes you just need a bowl full of noodles.

Oh, and you have the option of ordering pork chops a la carte. $2.50 a pop.