Miss Menu Reviews

By: Shayna Walter

Even though life in NYC can be a little uncertain at times, there is one thing I’m sure of…I will never get tired of dining out in this city.

Follow my latest restaurant adventures, find ideas for your next meal, or even ask for suggestions.

NY Lunchbox

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

A second location of NY Lunch Box location opened a few months ago just blocks from my apartment. So, I was eager to try it since Kosher take-out places are hard to come by that far East in Midtown. I picked up dinner on my way home from work around 6:30pm one night. And even though the website said this location closes at 10pm Monday – Thursday, I was told I by the owner that I had to hurry and order because they were closing at 7pm. Since they were about to close, they were also out of a number of dishes, which aren’t ones that should have been pre-made anyway.

So far, I wasn’t too impressed, but I decided to give it a chance and see if the food would redeem NY Lunch Box for its spotty service. I wanted to try a few different types of food to see how they were. The sushi special caught my eye, which includes any two basic rolls for $8.99. I ordered the salmon cucumber and the spicy tuna avocado rolls. In addition to it being a great price, each roll was made of 8 decent-sized pieces and the fish tasted very fresh.

I also ordered the cheese omelette wrap, which came with eggs, cream cheese, tomato, and scallions. This could easily be featured on their breakfast menu, but it was a welcomed change from the standard tuna or grilled veggie wraps that are found on most deli menus. The eggs were cooked well, not too runny and not too dried out. And the scallions brought a nice flavor to the whole thing.

And finally, I ordered the penne vodka, but they had run out of vodka sauce. So I was able to order linguine with it instead. While the sauce was far from a true vodka sauce, and more like a creamy marinara, it still tasted good. It was a little runny when I first took off the lid, and the noodles were a little chewy.

As I was waiting for my order to be prepared, I looked around the space. For a restaurant that just opened within the past year, it had a sort of dated feel.

I have spoken to a few people who have been to NY Lunch Box and rave about their breakfasts and their sushi. So it seems like those are two things they have really mastered. I will definitely stop by for lunch one day to try a few of the other types of food they have available like salads, hot fish entrees, and pizza.

Click Here for the Lunchbox listing



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Perfect for ‘Noi Due’ (the Two of Us)…or the Whole Family

Friday, August 6th, 2010

The Italian café Noi Due is on the lower level of an Upper West Side building, so it may be easy to walk right passed it if you’re not paying attention. But once you descend the stairs to the restaurant, it feels nothing like the basement space it’s in. It has a warm atmosphere and manages to feel like both an Italian café and an Italian restaurant.

We were greeted immediately by one of the servers, and were seated in a seat right next to the window. I glanced over the menu and was impressed with how many dozens of options there were. I thought it would be fun to share a few smaller things. We started with the funghi ripieni – stuffed mushrooms with feta cheese, baked in marinara sauce and Parmigiano. They were served with a few slices of toasted bread. The marinara sauce was incredible. It had so much flavor, and complimented the earthiness of the mushrooms and the saltiness of the feta cheese.

Next we had the Mediterranean salad, which had romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, olives, feta, za’atar, and a lemon vinaigrette. The salad was was really good, but there was entirely too much dressing.

A lot of the pizzas on the menu looked great, and it was definitely hard to narrow it down. We finally decided on the Melanzane E Formaggi Di Capra pizza, with marinara, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, eggplant, spinach, and oregano. The pizza was my favorite part of the meal. It had the fantastic marinara that was served on the mushrooms, but also had a great mix of toppings.

Noi Due means “the two of us” in Italian, and it is a great location for a date, whether it’s a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or a great Italian meal. But it is also a great spot for a group dinner, as long as you get there early enough to beat the crowd. I was there on the early side during the week and by time I left, the entire restaurant had filled up.



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Talia’s Steakhouse – A Fantastic Dining Experience

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

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



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Prime KO – The UWS’s New Hot Spot

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Restaurant openings and closings happen every day in this city. Some new ones open with much hype and publicity surrounding them, including the latest UWS hot spot, Prime KO. Weeks before the official launch, there were emails/mailers and Facebook fan pages. Now that it has opened, there have been Page Six celebrity sightings and blog postings. So has Prime KO lived up to the hype? Yes and no.

The scene of this Japanese steakhouse is fairly typical…modern and trendy. But, there were a few smaller touches that caught my eye, including a Samurai sword as door handle and leather walls and banquettes lining the lower level.

As I glanced over the menu, I was surprised to see Latin-inspired items, expecting more of a straightforward Japanese menu. In order to get a real sense of the dishes, I decided to share a few small plates and one entrée.

A complimentary tasting of guacamole was brought out to the table with a very creative presentation. The avocado was very fresh, but the guacamole was missing some much-needed spice or kick.

We started with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and spicy tuna ceviche tacos, which were served in a hard taco shell with guacamole and salsa. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the flavoring of the salsa really complimented each variety very well.

Next up was the Prime KO Special Sushi Roll, which was fantastic. This roll included miso black cod and cucumber, topped with tuna and avocado. Dipping the rolls in soy sauce wasn’t necessary since the rolls were sitting in a delicious sweet sauce on the bottom of the plate.

We also had steamed chicken shu-mai, which are similar to dumplings, and stuffed with flavorful chicken and vegetables. This was my least favorite dish. While it tasted good, it wasn’t special enough to differentiate it from the shumai that are available from any sushi take-out.

To round out the appetizers, we ordered grilled chicken yakitori skewers that were covered in a sweet teriyaki sauce. There was a lot of sauce leftover, and we were looking for other things to dip into it…it was that good!

For the main entrée, I split the small Iowa grain fed Chateau-Briand steak. This 6oz steak was just enough to get a taste since I was in a steakhouse after all. It was a little undercooked for how I expected it to arrive, but the flavor was incredible. The waiter explained that this was a result of the steak being finished over Japanese charcoal for the last few minutes of cooking.

The service was very efficient, if not too rushed. The appetizers arrived no more than 5 minutes after our order was placed, and the entire meal took under an hour from start to finish. With many large tables, Prime KO is a great location for a big group dinner, but also has a trendy enough atmosphere to be a great date place. It was hard to come by a reservation at 7pm on a Monday, and as long as the hype remains, I don’t see the crowds letting up any time soon!

Click Here for the Prime KO listing



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Not Exactly Deluxe

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

On a picture-perfect day, it was an absolute must that I eat lunch outside somewhere. I started brainstorming ideas of where I could pick up a quick meal. I walk passed Kosher Deluxe on my commute to/from work, and decided this was the perfect chance to try it.

Although they looked very good, I was in the mood to try something other falafel or shawarma, so I continued on to the back of the restaurant to check out the rest of the selections. There were hundreds of items on the menu board behind the registers including Chinese, deli sandwiches, soups, and even desserts.


I decided to try the Marinara Schnitzel, which was homemade chicken fingers served on a baguette with lettuce, tomato, and marinara sauce. The sandwich was served with a pickle and a small side of coleslaw.

I got to Bryant Park, found a table, and was eager to give this sandwich a try, only to be pretty disappointed. The sandwich had only a few small chicken fingers on it. Slightly redeeming, the chicken itself was tender and tasty. What was lacking any taste at all was the marinara sauce. It was watery and bland, and turned the baguette completely soggy in a matter of minutes. A pickle wedge and a small container of coleslaw were included as well.

The interior of Kosher Deluxe is not so appealing with bright florescent lights and dingy, old floors. So, I definitely recommend getting takeout or having your food delivered.

On a day like today, the seating area was mostly empty, but there was still a big crowd at the registers, and I can see why. It’s quick, it’s reasonably priced, and it has a wide variety of cuisines. Maybe the regulars know what is safe to order and what to pass on. I mentioned my trip to Kosher Deluxe to a few friends after I got back, and they spoke highly of the front counter that serves falafel and shawarma with large salad bar, and also of their Chinese dishes. I think a return trip is in order to give this restaurant another chance at truly living up to its name.



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Bagel That’s Not Quite Boss

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Two things come to mind when I think about the foods that New York City is known for: pizza and bagels.  I like to think that in the 6+ years I’ve been living in New York City, and especially since I started Miss Menu, that I’ve developed a pretty decent ability to separate the good bagels from the bad.  They should be crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Last Sunday, I went to Bagel Boss across the street from Stuyvesant Town.  I was immediately impressed with the variety of bagels, fish, and salads that they had available.  After taking entirely too long to decide what I was in the mood for, I ordered tuna salad on an onion bagel.  The sandwiches came with a pickle and side item, and rather than the usual potato salad/coleslaw options, I was able to choose from a dozen different salads or sides.  I went with something out of the ordinary, what they called a California salad.

Even before my first bite, I was curious about this bagel.  The inside looked exactly like bread.  It appears that they didn’t boil the bagels long enough before putting them in the oven.  Luckily, the tuna was delicious.  It was moist without being too heavy on the mayonnaise.  The salad was really great too and very flavorful.  Pasta was mixed in a light dressing with sun dried tomatoes, red onions, carrots, and green pepper.


I was pleasantly surprised with the size of this sandwich platter and definitely enjoyed the meal all around.  The menu also featured so many other items that I was very tempted to try.  The burekahs, knishes, rugelach, and even the pizza in the back all looked fantastic, but they’ll all have to be saved for another visit!

Bagel Boss was crowded the entire time I was there, but fortunately, the line moved very quickly and tables were always available.  They also do a very large catering business, with baskets and packages available for all sorts of occasions.  Are Bagel Boss’s bagels the bagels that make New York City famous for?  No.  There are definitely better bagels to be had.  But, the selection of salads, sides, and baked goods certainly help make up for it.



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Crying Wolf

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Wolf & Lamb Steakhouse & Delicatessen is located in Midtown.  I noticed on the sign outside that the restaurant considered itself a steakhouse and delicatessen.  I was definitely curious about this combo, as a restaurant usually excels when it has one focus or specialty.  But, I decided to reserve judgment until I could take a look at the menu.

The interior had a warm, casual feeling with dim lighting, exposed brick walls, and ornate mirrors.  We were seated promptly by a friendly host who also turned out to be our server.  As I perused the menu, I mostly saw items that fit on the menu of a steakhouse.  Only a few things would be considered delicatessen items, including a sandwich and appetizers that contained pastrami.

Picante Chicken Tenders
Picante Chicken Tenders

We started with chicken tenders that were tossed in a picante chili pepper sauce.  The flavor of the sauce was fantastic with just the right amount of kick.

For my entrée, I decided on a center-cut rib-eye filet.  Each entrée comes with a choice of a side and I chose the rustic French fries.  I ordered the steak medium well, but was less than impressed with how it was seasoned (or the lack thereof) and cooked. The outside was overcooked, but the inside was close to medium rare.  A steak of this quality should be cooked to the customer’s preference, which was not the case here at all.

Rib Eye and Fries
Rib Eye and Fries

My friend wasn’t in the mood for a steak and ordered the fettuccine in cream sauce with grilled chicken and sautéed spinach.  I tried a bite and have to say that I was impressed with the cream sauce given that there was no dairy in it.  The portion was immense and did not skimp on the chicken. Usually this would be a good thing, but this was possibly the worst grilled chicken I’ve ever eaten at an upscale restaurant.  It was processed and chewy, like the kind found at the grocery store pre-packaged in strips.

Fetuccine
Fetuccine

To round out a pretty disappointing meal, the seemingly friendly host/server who greeted us was no where to be found throughout the meal and shrugged us off twice when we tried to get his attention, before reluctantly coming over to our table.

Wolf & Lamb seems to be a popular restaurant, as most tables were filled on a cold Tuesday night.  The restaurant has a convenient location and a large menu, but I can’t imagine that the food is what keeps bringing people back.  With many other great kosher steakhouses and delicatessens in the area, perhaps Wolf & Lamb should focus on trying to be a great steakhouse or a great delicatessen, rather than being mediocre at both.



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Olympic In Every Way

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Olympic Pita has been going through a bit of an identity crisis lately.  When I first discovered it last year, it was a casual falafel and shawarma restaurant.  Then, it became Baraca with dimmer lighting, more modern décor, a much pricier menu, and sushi!  In recent weeks, the name has reverted back to Olympic Pita.  All of these changes never affected the quality of the food, fortunately.

OlympicPita_laffa
Olympic Pita Laffa

Olympic Pita is fantastic for many reasons, but mainly because it offers something that most pita places in Manhattan do not: homemade laffa.  For those of you who may not know, laffa is freshly-made, over-sized pita baked in a tandoor oven that comes out with the perfect combination of soft and crispy at the same time.  As soon as you open the door to the restaurant, you can smell the laffa baking.

On the way to our table the main dining area, we strolled by the laffa oven and the salad bar.  Everything looked delicious. We started with an order of hummus, which came with a piping hot laffa for dipping. The best way I can describe this combo is “heavenly.”  The hummus was garlicky and creamy, and topped with great tahina and olive oil. Although it doesn’t say it anywhere on the menu, the basket of laffa can be refilled as long as there is hummus left – so, be sure to ask!

Every lunch order comes with a trip to the salad bar. You are allowed to fill up one small plate with a delicious assortment of coleslaw, Israeli salad, pickles, etc.

For my main meal, I ordered a falafel laffa, which comes with hummus, harisa, Israeli salad, and French fries.  I have had fries in pita before, but those were always bland and soggy. Olympic Pita’s fries were actually good on their own, and even better squished in with falafel and covered in hummus! The falafel was absolutely delicious…a little spicy, crispy on the outside, and a ton of flavor.

Even with all its changes and my few minor complaints, I can’t stop raving about Olympic Pita.  It is definitely as good as any falafel I’ve ever had in Israel.

And finally, a few additional Miss Menu pointers…

  • In addition to the sit down restaurant, there is take-out available.
  • The sit down prices are more expensive than take-out, and the dinner menu is more expensive than the lunch menu
  • Do not expect service with a smile – the servers are a little rough around the edges and hard to track down.
  • Gratuity is included in the bill (which probably explains the above statement!), so there is no need to add extra money for tip on top of the total.


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Cafe Classico

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Café Classico truly is a classic café, with a menu so large and varied that there is bound be something for everyone’s tastes.  The restaurant is located in the heart of Midtown on the second floor above The Great American Health Bar (also kosher), so be sure to take the stairway on the left up to the restaurant.

Given its location, Café Classico draws a very large lunch crowd, offering quick service and reasonable prices.  During the evening, the dining room is much more subdued.  If possible, ask for a table along the windows.  It was really enjoyable watching the hustle and bustle of 57th Street from up above in a quiet, comfortable space.

I began to peruse the menu, and there were many items that caught my eye.  The options covered a variety of cuisines: Israeli dishes like kabobs and falafel, deli sandwiches with pastrami or corned beef, and Italian dishes such as pastas and chicken.

I started with the Mediterranean combo platter, which featured hummus, babaganoush, pita, Israeli salad, and pickled vegetables. The hummus and babaganoush were both very tasty, but the Israeli salad lacked any seasoning whatsoever – rather disappointing.

I ordered the Chicken Scarpariello for my entrée, which consisted of pan sautéed chicken breast with balsamic and white wine.  All portions of the entrees are all very large, and each one is served with three side items:  wild rice, spring vegetables, and roasted red potatoes.

The pieces of chicken were extremely tender, and the sauce was very unique and flavorful.  The potatoes were roasted nicely giving them a great crispy texture.  The vegetables were straightforward, but the rice was cold and bland, unfortunately.

And finally, a few additional Miss Menu pointers…

  • It is rare to find a nicer, sit-down restaurant that does not accept credit cards, but Café Classico is cash-only.
  • Private party space is available, as is catering and free delivery with an option to order online.
  • The prices on the lunch menu are much lower than the diner menu, but most of the items are available at either time.
  • A full sushi bar (featuring a sushi chef from Japan) was recently added to the restaurant.


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Le Marais

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Exterior of Le Marais

Exterior of Le Marais

Le Marais is the quintessential French bistro in every sense.  The restaurant is boisterous and dimly-lit, serving fantastic food and wine with often spotty service.  Taking its name and inspiration from the historical Jewish quarter of Paris, Le Marais successfully recreates this atmosphere right here in New York.

Upon entering, you’ll pass through an authentic butcher shop featuring a variety of kosher meats, which I take to mean that the meat served is very fresh and of good quality.  The dining room walls are covered in dark wood paneling with Parisian advertisements, maps, and antique lampposts scattered throughout.Butcher Showcase at Le Marais

I decided to start with a light “amuse-gueule,” or appetizer, of pan seared tuna.  This tuna loin was crusted with sesame seeds, lightly seared, and served on a bed of sliced cucumbers with a sweet glaze on the side.  The tuna was fresh and the sesame crust gave each bite a great texture.

Butcher Showcase at Le Marais

Butcher Showcase at Le Marais

While other menu items like coq au vin, roasted salmon, and merguez with couscous were tempting, I knew having a steak in a steakhouse was a must!  There are a dozen different cuts to choose from, and I ordered the steak au poivre et frites.  This black pepper-crusted tournedo was very lean, cooked well, and was so flavorful…what I (and many others) consider one of the best kosher filets in Manhattan.  Also, like any true French bistro, serving fantastic French fries is a necessity – and Le Marais’s light and crispy frites did not disappoint.  A small green salad also accompanied the steak, rounding out an all-together great entrée.

Steak Au Poivre et Frites

Steak Au Poivre et Frites

Le Marais features an extensive kosher wine list with many wines from France, as well as Israel, California, Australia, and others.  Although I didn’t have any room left for dessert, the menu looked delicious.  Many true French staples are available like crème caramel, tarte aux pommes, and profiteroles.

In fine dining establishments like Le Marais, I always feel that the service should be on par with the food.  My only complaint about my experience here was the service -impersonal and extremely rushed.

And finally, a few additional Miss Menu pointers…

  • The tables are very cramped and the restaurant becomes extremely noisy during peak dining hours.  While this is part of its appeal to some, it may not be ideal for those seeking an intimate, quiet meal.
  • The steaks are always cooked one notch higher than you request (i.e. if you prefer your steak medium, order it medium rare; well done, order it medium well).
  • Make a reservation in advance when possible.  In addition to the usual kosher clientele, Le Marais’s location near Times Square often attracts a number of walk-in tourists, and tables can fill up very quickly.

Click herer for the Le Marais Listing



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