Monday, March 25, 2013

Carbone

Do you like to sing Volare and Mambo Italiano with your meal? This old school throwback with new school updates scores a homerun in the food field though you will pay dearly for the experience. Food comes and comes and comes- starting with lovely parmigiano cut from the wheel, house cut proscuitto and tasty grandma bread. Next comes the bread basket- oofah. They season imported grissini in house and they are great. I ordered diver scallops- Sorrentina style- amazing! Table prepared Ceasar with house croutons was flavorfull. Beef ribs with cherry peppers are juicy and slightly spicy. The standout dish was the creamed escarole. The menu descriptions are limited, but this huge serving of pancetta filled, cheese topped escarole($12) is simply genius. The Torrisi Brothers hit high notes in the former Rocco space. No room for dessert which comes on a dessert cart because I was so stuffed in a good way. The food is a gargantuan family-style feast. Dessert looked a tad pedestrian. GO!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Darling Coffee

Darling Coffee is a coffeshop cum bakery in a spacious sunny shop in Inwood. I saw it on the travel channel and it was worth the trip uptown for it's sumptous baked goods. I went with sweet and savory....starting with a quiche- spinach, artichoke, mushroom and fontina. Dark, perfectly crisped crust, cheesey goodness. The hummingbird cake an amalgam of banana, apricots and hazelnuts was moist and good. The blueberry scone was also quite good. Best brownie in the universe might be here- chocolate with walnuts. Creamy with noticable toasted walnuts was simply divine. Lots of tables that were taken up by singletons on there laptops on Sunday otherwise great seating in the spacious shop. GO! GO!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Montmarte

Montmarte is a charming, French feeling spot in the old, beloved Gascogne space. It is intimate & urbane and since recently opening, fills a void in Chelsea. The food is updated French classics and tasty. Bread is from Sullivan St. bakery and goes well with soft butter. The amuse bouche of scallop & pistachio was lovely. I went with the skate($26) which is served with winey, mustardy cabbage. The dish was tasty, but arrived awfully fast which is usually a red flag in a restaurant. The potatoes souffle($10) with goat cheese was like fried potatoes on steroids. So delicicious and a good counter-balance to the skate. I was full and passed on dessert. Montmarte inherits the small, but sweet garden from Gascogne and will be beloved in warmer months. GO!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Salvation Taco

Salvation Taco is my taco salvation. The large room plus lounge in rear serves Mexican street food elevated to a whole new level. The friendly host said, "Sit wherever you like." on a quiet Wednesday. The server also friendly and quite knowledgeable helped to make my meal memorable. The menu is divided into snacks, tacos and desserts. Starting witht the tomatillo and jicama salad($5) the limey, crunchy jicama is a bright start to the meal. I went with the al pastor, fried fish with mayan mayo and skirt steak with pecan and chipotle- tacos are $3, $4 and $5. The al pastor was my favorite just the right zing and leaving me wanting more. The dessert(don't miss) chocolate pudding($7)with a slice of candied orange and housemade whipped cream is so divine you may lick the dish. Bravo April Bloomfield! GO! GO!