The popular lunch takeout spot, Baguette Express, on 37th Street has now closed. Koshertopia has been informed that they are in search of a new location in the same vicinity with seating.
Stay Tuned for more information.
Posts Tagged ‘Sandwich’
Kolette’s Kitchen to Open
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010Koshertopia has confirmed that Kolette’s Kitchen will be opening at 672 Lexington Avenue (between 55th and 56th Street). The new restaurant which will be Glatt Kosher under the supervision of the OK will offer a range of lunch options. With a menu ranging from Middle Eastern Mezze, Deli Sandwiches & Vietnamese Sandwiches Kolette’s Kitchen will be a nice lunch alternative to many kosher consumers who work and live in Midtown Manhattan.
Stay tuned for Opening Day & Specials
NY Lunchbox Opening Second Location
Monday, March 22nd, 2010Koshertopia has confirmed that NY Lunchbox is opening a new location at 844 Second Avenue (corner of 45th St.). The new location which is set to open straight after Pesach will mimic the original location with the same menu – good tasting, quick and healthy fare. The new location will be Cholov Yisrael under the supervision of the OK.
NOIDUE: Poco Ma Buono
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010I couldn’t wait to eat at the Italian restaurant Noidue, (as everyone seemed to be raving about it, but I had to SEE the place for myself) and once I did, I have been back several times. The entrance is a bit misleading, as you have to walk down some stairs to gain access to the door. Noidue is still a fairly new establishment, so I’m ok with the fact that their sign is still a hanging banner. Once inside you clearly feel like you are in a unique underground space. Small arches with interspersed bricks and wooden planks line the ceiling towards the back wall. A gorgeous stone back wall with a wood burning oven is the focal point of the restaurant. The remaining walls are painted a soft lime green.
Noi Due
However, paying attention to the details when you first walk in the door, a decadent dessert cabinet catches your eye! The coffee bar takes up a large space on the right side of the restaurant and it’s wrapped in brick and wood. You are able to stop in and order an espresso drink, without having to sit down. While waiting for our table we were served a lemon spice tea. I thought that was such a nice touch to the ambiance and spoke volumes about the hospitality, since we had not been seated yet.
I happened to be there for dinner and noticed dim lighting, with candles lit on each table. There are mostly tables for two, but they are flexible to move tables together for larger parties. I really liked the lamps that extended from the ceilings. They seemed to be handpicked from the artist themselves. I instantly imagined myself taking over a table in the middle of the day here with my laptop. Seemed like it would be a nice place to just order coffee and get some work done. The restaurant is always full at night (not sure what type of patronage frequents during the day).
Being the graphic designer that I am, I was impressed with the layout of the menu and the logo of the restaurant. By the way, Noidue means (two of us) and Poco Ma Buono (means a little bit good) – I asked the waiter since they wear black t-shirts with the name and logo screen printed on them. The pictures on the back wall are of Italian scenes, but could also resemble Tzfat, which I thought was very interesting.
The wait staff is extremely friendly and may I add good looking. Their eagerness to please each patron adds a positive element to the ambiance of this restaurant. There is a definite buzz to this place, as it is usually full and everyone is chatting away at their tables. I usually don’t talk about the food, but there is no question how good everything tastes and is presented. My brother (a hospitality management major) accompanied me on one of my most recent meals and noted how impressed he was with this restaurant. Enough said.
Click Here for the NoiDue listing
Not Exactly Deluxe
Sunday, March 14th, 2010On 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.
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- Marinara Chicken
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- Kosher Deluxe
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.
Bagel That’s Not Quite Boss
Monday, February 15th, 2010Two 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.
Quick and Casual Lunch Options
Friday, January 15th, 2010I walked into “NY Lunchbox” located at 255 W. 36th St. and immediately felt like I was in a hot spot on Ben Yehuda St. Being that I eat in non-Kosher restaurants, I don’t always get the Jewish experience I did on that cold winter day.
Let me set the scene:
I walked in, there was a crazy long line leading to the register and a woman standing near me was talking on her cell phone; asking her friend, Rifki, what she wanted for lunch. Before the woman placed her order (and Rifki’s), the woman in front of her studied the soups of the day and loudly asked, “Is the soup hot?” I mean, where else on Earth do people ask if the soup is hot other than in a kosher place? I felt my grandmother’s presence with me at that moment. She liked soup – HOT – too.
The place itself is no frills. I sort of felt like I was in a Jewish office and this was our commissary. Or that I was in an airport and this was the one and only kosher kiosk. The way it works when you get to Lunchbox is you stand in line, order and take your food out the door. Or, you put your food on a tray and take it upstairs. There is no so sign indicating where the line starts and the place is organized chaos at its best. Soups, sandwiches, sushi, salads and amazing lunch deals are some of the things you’ll find on the menu. You’ll also find a several people washing their hands, saying Birkat or davening Mincha — things I always appreciate and truly cherish when I’m in a kosher restaurant. For that, I loved the place; however, I’m not rushing to pack my lunchbox there again anytime soon. For under $10 I got their signature wrap, a drink and small salad. I wish they let you mix and match your wraps because there were a few I wanted to try. Whatever wrap you choose, you have to take both halves of it, which seemed silly to me. In any event, the wrap itself was amazing. It was sweet and soft and just out of this world. What was inside it (tofu and veggies) was just so-so. Overall, the experience was pleasant and their prices won’t break your break the bank.
On a day I didn’t feel like going anywhere to grab something to eat, I ordered in from Gan Asia. I was really in the mood for chicken pad thai, so I ordered the dish their Web site claims to be a Thai favorite and steamed vegetable dumplings. The dumplings weren’t cooked enough, so they were disappointing. The pad thai was OK, but nothing special. It was sweeter than I’ve had before, but it didn’t send me over the moon. I’ve had other dishes from Gan Asia before (like their lemon chicken and chicken and broccoli — both were amazing!) So, next time, I’ll skip the pad thai are go for what I know is great. They’re lunch deals are awesome, though, so check it out in case you’re not into pad thai to begin with.
KK
Click here for the Lunchbox listing
Click here for the Gan Asia listing