Koshertopia has confirmed that Mendy’s Deli will soon be opening another location at 875 3rd Avenue (Corner of 52nd St.) in the dining concourse downstairs. Its menu will be similar to the menu at Mendy’s-Rockefeller Center. With currently 5 locations in Midtown Manhattan (counting 2 in Grand Central) and 2 in Brooklyn, Mendy’s has grown to become the largest chain of Kosher eateries around.
Stay tuned for opening Koshertopia specials!
Click here for the Mendy’s Rockefeller listing
Koshertopia announced on July 1st that Yogi’s kitchen at 182 Lexington Ave was under the supervision of the International Kosher Council (IKC). Koshertopia has since learned that Rabbi Harry Cohen of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision (OKS) is the correct supervisor of Yogi’s.
Koshertopia has confirmed that The Pasta Factory in Teaneck has officially changed its name to NoBo Wine & Grill. NoBo (North of Bagota), the only kosher restaurant in Bergen County to offer liquor, is boasting a new chef & menu.
Koshertopia has confirmed that Tiffin Wallah has reopened after being temporally closed by the Health Department.
Deal of the Week
The 9 days deal of the week at Eighteen Restaurant has been extended until Sunday, July 25th!
I knew it was only a matter of time before I checked out the new Prime KO restaurant. A buzz has been going around about this place and it came highly recommended by a friend, “Finally a kosher restaurant that got it right!” I had to check it out for myself.
Your first clue that this is not just any restaurant is by the sword that acts as the door handle. Once you enter you are welcomed by friendly hosts behind a reservation area – I don’t remember ever seeing this in a kosher restaurant! The lobby’s walls have cascading Japanese flowers screened on them and round stunning lamps hang from the ceiling. I love the look of these and they are carried out throughout the upstairs of the restaurant. The furniture is leather- a very modern look. I was impressed there was an area to sit down, relax, and wait for the rest of my party to join me. It is also separate from the seating area¬, so you are not on top of anyone trying to enjoy their meal! I was already impressed and I didn’t even enter the main rooms.
I happened to eat downstairs and was guided down a stairway, but I did have a chance to review the top level area. Plenty of seating and a few tables that are close enough to the floor to ceiling windows and watch the passerby on 85th St. Your eye also leads you towards the back-lit red burst that is on the far wall.
Downstairs has a sushi bar with seven barstools as well as a cocktail bar with a television. I’m amazed at how many ‘areas’ this restaurant fit into its floor plan. The walls are tufted in sections and the tables are nicely spread out so you are not on top of the other patrons. The lighting is a bit softer and there are even some ‘nooks’ to sit in, dark wooden floors, and screens on the walls. So many things were taken into consideration to make this place feel calm, yet modern.
Some other observations that I noticed included: nice lounge music playing and as the night gets later, the music gets louder. The bathroom also had music streaming through speakers and some nice touches in there, such as Molton Brown soaps.
Now I usually don’t talk about the food, as this is a design review, but the presentation of everything was so artfully displayed. A friend of mine was saying this week that she isn’t a fish person and wasn’t going to go to Prime KO when I referred it to her. I was aghast as she listed another boring kosher venue she was going to frequent. I mentioned even if you aren’t into fish they have other entries and the desserts itself are worth the trip! I hope she took my advice.
Exclusive deal for Koshertopia Users only! Tiberias, A brand new dairy restaurant located on 34th and Park (45 East 34th Street), is offering a special deal during the 9 days for Koshertopia users to help beat the heat. Present this post when ordering from Tiberias, and receive a free iced coffee!
Minimum purchase of $5.95 required. This deal is valid During the 9 days only (Monday July 12 – 19), so make sure to check them out soon!
Tiberias is a brand new dairy restaurant featuring a wide range of pastas, salads, juice, smoothies and toasts and is open 24 hours (excluding Shabbat).
Click here for the Tiberias listing.
Deal of the Week
This week’s deal of the week comes from Eighteen Restaurant on the Upper East Side. Dine in at Eighteen Restaurant during the 9 Days and present the above coupon for a free hummus or babaganoush platter.
Offer valid for sit-down service during the 9 days (July 12 -19) only. Coupon must be presented to the server when ordering.
Talia’s Steakhouse has become not only a staple restaurant for Upper West Siders, but has become very popular as a destination spot for those all around the Tri-State area. The draw is very apparent from the moment you arrive. The numerous sidewalk tables provide great seating on a nice summer evening. And the interior was dim and comfortable, albeit a bit plain.
My friend and I met the owner Ephraim Nagar, a lawyer turned restaurateur, who named the restaurant after his late daughter Talia. He explained how her spirit lives on in through the satisfaction and enjoyment the patrons feel during their experiences there.
We started to look over the menu, and when Ephraim walked by, I asked him what he recommended. He took the menus out of our hands and said he’d take care of ordering so we could sample a lot of the popular/best dishes. First came the Middle-Eastern platter featuring homemade hummus, Israeli salad, eggplant salad, babaganoush, coleslaw, and carrots, and each were very delicious.
Next up was the Thai steak salad with grilled hangar steak marinated in soy sauce and lemongrass, with mixed greens, chili and red peppers, cucumbers, carrots, mushrooms, and hearts of palm. The flavor of the salad was very unique and tasty, but the pieces of steak were very fatty and rubbery.
As soon as we were a few bites into the platter and salad, they were cleared away to make room for Moroccan-spiced meatballs. My friend’s family is Moroccan and he assured me that these were so authentic they tasted just like his mother’s. They were moist and exploding with flavor in every bite.
Following the meatballs was a platter of fried appetizers including Moroccan cigars, chicken fingers, small hot dogs, and mini-borekas. These were pretty standard, and while tasty, weren’t worth filling up on.
That plate was quickly cleared to make room for the entrees. The chicken dish had been slow-cooked in a clay pot and was some of most tender, moist chicken I’ve ever eaten. The flavor was so distinctive, and it was served with basmati rice. Then came the mother of all entrees: a 30oz on-the-bone prime rib for two. This was hands down the highest quality, leanest, most properly-cooked piece of steak I’ve ever tasted. It was presented on a carving board, only adding to its appeal. We both ate much more than we should have, but it was too hard to let such an incredible cut of meat go to waste!
For dessert, we were served a chocolate soufflé with Tofutti vanilla ice cream and a Tofutti cheesecake. Unfortunately, the soufflé was not cooked nearly enough, and although incredibly rich and chocolatey, it had the consistency of raw cake batter. The “cheesecake” was good, but didn’t taste anything like real cheesecake. I think true Pareve desserts would be better, rather than trying to imitate dairy desserts.
All in all this was a fantastic dining experience. Talia’s has a lot to offer everyone. There is live music is played Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. There is a big screen TV showing major sporting events. Children are very welcomed at the restaurant, and a special kids menu is available. And for those who are a bit more budget-conscious, Ephraim has created a very complete Recession-Proof Menu, featuring prix-fixe meals at various price points ($13, $22, $28, and $39). Talia’s is also available for private events such as Sheva Brachot, for Friday night Shabbos dinners, and even for the 9 Days.
Click Here for the Talia’s Steakhouse listing
Koshertopia has confirmed that both locations of Pinisi Bakery (128 E. 4th St., off 1st Ave. & 18-20 1st Ave., between 1st & 2nd St.) are certified Kosher Dairy under the Supervision of International Kosher Council (IKC). Pinisi Cafe & Bakery is family owned & operated. All baking is done on premises to provide the freshest quality baked products.
