1030 2nd Ave. (btwn 54th & 55th)
New York, NY 10079
(212) 421-3004
www.taksim.us
Turkish food is delish. Lamb, spices, hummus, falafel... what's not to love? Taksim's a wonderful restaurant. A Turkish Delight indeed, Edmund, but this one won't get you in trouble. It's a fairly small restaurant - perfect place to bring 2 or 3 of your friends for a casual, reasonably priced Midtown dinner.
Foodnalysis:
Free Bread - Free. What a glorious word, particularly to eatcheaplyists like yourself. The bread at Taksim is great! Flakey, light, perfect for dipping in...
Tarama (aka Taramosalata) - a salty, smooth Greak spread traditionally made from carp roe, mashed potato or bread crumbs, lemon juice and olive oil. The first time I tried Tarama I thought it was much too salty, however it has proved itself to be quite the acquired taste. A recommended appetizer that compliments the endless bread. Give it a try. Taksim's cacik and stuffed cabbage leaves are also great starters.
Borek - Essentially a Turkish egg roll filled with feta cheese. Tasty, but not the best appetizer for the price.
Lamb Shank - Tender, boneless lamb with eggplant and tomato sauce, served over rice. Quite possibly the best item on the menu (see FN1). This is a good pick -- flavorful and filling.
Adana Kebab Sandwich - If you're deciding between Chicken and Lamb, you clearly did not read the aforementioned footnote. EAT LAMB. You can choose between a platter option served with rice pilaf or, for $3 less, a "sandwich" (read: wrap) option. Well-seasoned meat with Turkish red pepper, onions and tomatoes wrapepd in a large tortilla... mmmm. Here's an tip: fill up on the bread and take half of the wrap to work for lunch. How's that for economical!? I've kindly tested this method for your in advance and can honestly say the wraps passed the decent-leftover test with flying colors.
Footnote 1: It's rather unwise (read: insanely stupid) to go to a Turkish restaurant and not order lamb. Don't do it.
Salary and Wages:
Courteous and attentive staff. Not put-off by constant bread and water requests: definitely a bonus.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Small but not cramped. Clean, not too loud, a nice atmosphere for a laid back dinner. The type of place to bring your buddy, not your boss.
Statement of Cash Flows:
Reasonable, if not a deal for the area. Almost all the appetizers are $5. Main dishes are $12 (with the exception of the $16 lamb shank), lamb and chicken sandwich/wraps were $9.
The Bottom Line:
Tarama + Lamb = Yum.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Taksim
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bouchon Bakery
I apologize for the posting lapse -- there's thing I have called a job that unfortunately takes time away from blogging. I'd quit, but until my "Will Blog For Food!" campaign succeeds, I need the money to fund your literary pleasures. Unless YOU would like to help me fund your literary pleasures...
10 Columbus Circle (59th St. btwn Broadway & W. Central Park)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 823-9366
www.bouchonbakery.com
Let's turn our taste buds to Bouchon Bakery at Columbus Circle. Downstairs from the not-so-wallet-friendly (but-incredibly-amazing-I'm-sure) restaurant Per Se, Bouchon Bakery is also part of famed chef Thomas Keller's restaurant group. Economical friends, this is the closest you will ever get to Tom's illustrious French Laundry, a 62-person restaurant in Napa Valley with $240 prix-fixe menus, $50 corkage fees, and flaming hoops you must jump through to get a reservation. Just consider Bouchon Bakery to be six degrees of restaurant separation from French Laundry, then tell your friends you ate at a Thomas Keller "Restaurant".
The Bouchon in the Time Warner Center consists of a Bakery with simple foods and lovely pastries, and a neighboring Cafe with better food, more selection and, of course, higher prices. This review is based on the Bakery, i.e. the cheapest Thomas Keller food you're ever going to get.
Foodnalysis:
Almond Croissant: A sweet treat. Beautiful exterior abounding in toasted almonds and powdered sugar. Soft inside, could use a bit more raspberry jam... but still a good pick.
Ham and Cheese Baguette: So-so, but definitely not worth $7.95. Served cold, untoasted. The crisp baguette was of good taste but difficult to chew. Ham, swiss and mustard were rather ordinary.
I've also tried other pastries and have yet to be disappointed.
Salary and Wages:
Neutral. They put food on a tray and accept money... pretty hard to ruin that.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
One of the Bouchon Cafe selling points is the beautiful view of Columbus Circle. Fortunately the Bakery has some self-seating tables adjacent to the Cafe, so try and snag a good seat like the following:
Perfect! Way to impress your date. Cross your fingers that they do not see your cheapness (or shall we call it shrewd financial tendencies) behind your classy facade.
Statement of Cash Flows:
Overpriced sandwich, but not too horrible for the area.
The Bottom Line:
A fair sampling of Bouchon bistro fare. Stick to pastries at the Bakery; go to the Cafe for food.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Dining Room Management Group, Inc.
(212) 925-6661
When you hear "Chinese restaurant," what's the first name that comes to mind?
Baked Minced Beef over Rice with Cheese - These baked/cheese type dishes are popular at younger, more hip Chinese restaurants. Try not think casserole or Italian when you see "baked" and "cheese" in this dish. Think… Chinese paella. This dish is tasty for those who aren't quite ready to carp belly or other menu delicacies. The creamy sauce went well with the plump rice and peas, and there was just enough cheese to compliment the dish. A bit on the heavy side, but good for the price.
Chinese Sausage over Taro Rice - Served in a traditional stone rice pot. I particularly enjoy these pots as the bottom edges of the rice are browned and crispy, but not everyone likes their rice to crunch. Note for the health-conscious: Chinese sausages are served with about 60% fat. The dish was filling, but there was not enough meat and taro relative to the amount of rice. Not recommended.
Tea - Unlike most Chinese restaurants, The Dining Room Management Group, Inc. (man, that's way too long a name) does not leave tea pots at each table for diners to refill as they please. Rather, they give each patron one giant tea cup that holds about twice the amount a typical cup holds, then have waiters with giant kettles run around for refills. Very inefficient.
Salary and Wages:
Poor service. We had to flag our tea-runner down multiple times to keep our cups full. Also took about three failed attempts to get our check.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Trendy for a Chinese restaurant. Booths line both sides of the corridor-like restaurant. Bright, colorful lights create a perky ambiance, but the roast ducks hanging in the front window will clear away any doubts you have: indeed, you are in
Let's take this moment to analyze the menu. Notice anything strange about the following?
Don't see it? Have a closer look.
I sincerely hope there are no law clerks being chopped up in the kitchen... I can see the lawsuit now: New York Paralegals vs. The Dining Room Management Group, Inc.
Statement of Cash Flows:
No tax. Always a plus!
The Bottom Line:
Average food, poor service. Much better alternatives down the street.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
La Paella
www.lapaellanyc.com
La Paella offers two wonderful deals: a $12.99 lunch set (available from noon - 5 pm) and an early bird menu ($16.99/person available from 4 pm - 7 pm). The restaurant was suspiciously empty for a Sunday afternoon however, unlike so many times in the past, this was not a sign to flee. A neat taste of traditional Spanish cuisine tucked away from the deluge of Japanese restaurants down the street.
Foodnalysis:
Gazpacho Andaluz - One of two first course options on the lunch set. This tomato-based Spanish soup is served cold. Great for those humid summer days, a so-so choice for fall. The blended soup had a smooth consistency and the cool cucumber-tomato flavor was refreshing.
Mixed Green Salad - The lunch set's other option for a first course. An above-average salad with tangy dressing. Good for those who want to go light before indulging in the paella carb-fest.
Plato de Paella - Choice of meat or seafood. If you like peas, this dish is pea-riffic. Paella typically tends to be pretty pea-heavy, however La Paella's version was a tad much for me. Not the best paella I've eaten, but a fair choice. Large portions -- save room for ice cream!
Green Tea Ice Cream - Interesting menu option in a Spanish restaurant. Perhaps a failed attempt to blend in with the Japanese neighborhood? Pardon the picture (or lack thereof)… sometimes my stomach prevents the camera from getting its turn first. This ice cream is quite different from the typical asian green tea ice team, had a bit of a bitter kick to it. Not bad, just different.
It is also said that La Paella offers excellent tapas, but alas, you will have to see for yourself as I was too cheap to resist a set meal.
Friendly waiter. Yes, that's singular. There was one waiter for the entire restaurant! Granted it was lunch and it was not that crowded, but let's hope they have more help at night. The waiter was fairly attentive, however, and managed to successfully carry several plates at a time during his treks up and down the stairs to the kitchen.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Well decorated and cozy. A beautiful ceiling of dried roses added a romantic touch (although it did cross my mind that those could probably gather a disgusting amount of dust).
$12.99 + tax + tip. Not bad for a filling lunch!
Decent Spanish lunch set that won't break your cartera. Cartera = wallet in Spanish (that AP class really paid off).
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Rice to Riches
37 Spring St. (btwn Mott & Mulberry)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 274-0008
www.ricetoriches.com
There are three things I love about the small stretch of Spring between Mott and Mulberry: Pinkberry (please suppress the overwhelming urge you may have to yell "overrated!"), Lombardi's (wonderful pizza) and Rice to Riches. If you've seen the movie Hitch, you might have caught a small scene where Eva Mendas confesses her affection for Will Smith's dork factor over a bowl of rice pudding. It was filmed at Rice to Riches, the one stop shop for all your rice pudding desires.
Rice Pudding - Rice to Riches' delicious treats will quickly disintegrate any childhood perceptions you had that rice pudding is boring. There's no plain vanilla or chocolate here, folks. Get ready for a tastebud rollercoaster with flavors such as Chocolate Chip Flirt, Hazelnut Chocolate Bear Hug, and I'll Take Eggnog for $200 Alex. My personal favorite is Rest in Peach which is unfortunately only available during the summer. The wonderful thing is that you can sample unlimited flavors before settling. Wonderful for noncommittal people… that is, until you have to commit. 
Note: some puddings say "tastes great warm". NOT. Eat it cold. It's not rice, it's rice PUDDING.
Employees are about as friendly as you could be if you were standing behind a counter for hours, scooping hundreds of mini spoons full of rice pudding samples.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Rice to Riches has a clean, modern feel reminiscent of an Ugly Betty office/Apple store. The bright orange and white lights create a welcoming glow. There are a few seats in the back and some larger counter-high tables in the front. Can get crowded on weekend evenings, but despite the steady stream of customers, it's generally not too overwhelming inside.
Witty signs add to the fun atmosphere.
Statement of Cash Flows:
Rice pudding is available in one of four sizes:
Budget conscious? Take the containers home, wash them out and ta-dah! Chic Tupperware! You will be the envy of all your friends.
For those not in the NYC area, you can have your rice pudding overnighted -- a measly $55 for a Sumo size (smallest available for shipping). Mind you, this is great stuff… but if you are willing to spend $55 on rice pudding, we should discuss your financial priorities.
The Bottom Line:
Rice pudding will never be the same again.
