Diablo Royale

Diablo Royale meaning royal devil is a restaurant I pass on the way to the latest installment of Housing Works on West 10th. It is a devilish place with wood walls and antiqued tin ceilings as well as red tiles near the kitchen. Lots of kitchy devils and moody lighting like ceiling chandeliers of devil horns set the vibe. I ate here for the brunch which features a prix fixe menu for $16 with choice of entree, one devil and one angel as well as choice of potatoes and grits. Firstly upon arriving the joint is empty with many lined up at the Cafe Condessa on the next block. The waitress who says pick any table informs me there is no cafe today, so I order the Mexican hot chocolate which true the description is nicely cinnamony and creamy with condensed milk. My devil is a bloody Maria which tastes of the strong Silver Tequila. My breakfast entree was the breakfast quesadilla which is more of a sweetened pancake with eggs, cheese, mushrooms, guacamole and pico de gallo on the side. The bacon mentioned on the menu is missing and the waitress brings a side. The quesadilla is killer with lots of nice flavor combos all in a bite. I ask for chips and salsa and the busboy brings over some. The place is filling up and I notice the next table with some dark chips and ask for some too. They forgot to bring those over previously. Cinnamon and sugared tortillas, dark and sweet. Delish. Other entrees sounded pretty tasty like chicken tortilla chilaquiles and diablo's pancakes with blueberry agave sauce. This place is so cute and the food when you get it rocks. The ladies room here is identified by the naked lady devil on the door.

Alma Restaurant

I finally ate Alma after wanting to eat the food sampled years ago at a Brooklyn Brewery event. I admit I was perplexed about the trip- it being on the other side of the BQE. The walk there from Carroll Street station was actually very pleasant up Union street and passed a few cute stores and restaurants along the way. This three story restaurant is along the burgeoning stip along Columbia street. The restaurant is a three story building on the waterfront hence amazing Manhattan views. The top enclosed floor where we ate for Dine in Brooklyn week three courses for $23 was a great value with breathtaking views. We imagined it was open for dining in warmer weather. The food was very good. Salsas of spicey pumpkin seed and a fresh pico de gallo were served with dense chips. My first course of cerviche was flawless with limey tuna and fresh corn it had flavor and crunch. The second course of Mexican lasagna had a lovely cheesey top, spinach and a mushy pasta bottom. The desserts were a bread pudding and my companions ancho chile chocolate cake served in a ramekin were both good. The crowd was diverse and funky and the reataurant itself a great vibe so we promised to dine here again when the roof was open to enjoy real Spring weather.

Little D Eatery

Little D Restaurant bills itself as a meze restaurant and that is just what it is. A smallish non- descript South Slope spot with a garden in rear serving small plates. I have eaten here for both lunch and dinner and always found the food very tasty and the staff friendly. I ate here for brunch this weekend and had a fantastic Turkish breakfast. My breaky included a hard-boiled egg, house made bread, Turkish cheese, olives, nice red tomatoes, cukes, and house made preserves. WOW! Very fresh ingredients cut up on one plate and delicious bread with rosemary as well as blueberry and orange preserves created the ultimate savory-sweet Mediteranian style meal. The cheese was feta-like though firmer. All this for $9. bucks. All the eggs dishes served are made with eggs from cage free hens. Both the eggs and pork are from NYS farms. Other dishes like Pork Butt Hash and scrambled eggs with biscuits sound extra hearty. Sweeter fare like Big apple pancakes with cinamon butter and NY maple syrup sound yummy too. The brunch menu includes a few dinner items like a small or large size Mac and cheese with cheddar, parmesan, gruyere and breadcrumbs as well as the arugula and butternut squash salad. Next meal there I am primed to try the caramel bread pudding with roasted pecans hopefully in the garden on a warm day.

Sullivan Street Bakery

Moved uptown from it's Sullivan Street location after a break in the partnership, this small out of the way bakery is as good as New York baking gets. Selling to many of the best bakeries around town and using natural leavening methods, Sullivan Street bakery offers one of the most authentic tasting Italian breads and room temperature pizzas in all of the five boroughs. The Pugliese panne is a huge darkly baked dense loaf born to soak up a good extra virgin olive oil. Some breads like panne alle olive are also available in small size rolls. The breads are pricey but are absolutely worth it. Pizza con funghi, cauliflower and my personal fave pizza patate(potato) are square perfectly baked room temp. artisan pizza for a snack or lunch. The pizzas run from about $3.00. Sandwiches with cheeses and veggies or chicken are very good. Also available are a changing variety of pastries and cookies like a cookie baked with nutella and an apple or sour cherry cake. They usually sell these in individual portions. Sullivan Street Bakery also has a bread baking program to interested potential bakers. The new location on 47th Street between 10th. and 11th. Ave is a tad out of the way, but works well when combined with a tour of the Ninth Ave. restaurant scene.

The Farm at Adderly

Located on a burgeoning strech of Cortelyou Road in Flatbush a block from the other popular restaurant Picket Fence, this farmhouse spot is bangin'. Lavender walls and new burnished brown tin ceilings add to the relaxed Brooklyn vibe. An outdoor garden awaits a warmer day. Brunch is a family affair with couples and kids from the nabe and beyond. Expect to wait and for good reason. The food is super and pretty reasonably priced. Lot's of egg dishes like chicken apple sausage, eggs any style home fries and a salad for $8. Smoked bluefish cakes with a fried sunnyside egg, salad and spicy tomato mayo for $9. I had the farm burger with cheddar on an English muffin with fries, and a small salad of Boston lettuce, plum tomatoes and Kearney cukes which was $12. This was one juicy burger and really went well with the English muffin, I usually remove the bun even a good brioche one. The fries were semi skin on and fried to a golden browned perfection and well salted. The little salad had really red plum tomatoes and although I had never heard of Kearney cukes they were crunchy good. I have eaten here for dinner too and the food always rocks. The desserts observed at the next table at brunch looked pretty yummy especially the apple crisp with vanilla ice-cream and the butterscotch pudding with chopped graham crackers on top. The bathroom is another shabby chic affair with a weathered dresser to boot.

Salt

Salt is a sweet spot on a quiet non-touristed piece of MacDougal Street west of 6th. Ave sharing the block with other cute and cozy spots. I think this was my second time in the restaurant which is opened since 2003 and seems to be well received. The exposed brick walls and whitewashed communal tables lend a farmhouse ambience to the spot. A very small kitchen in the rear specializes in seasonal fare. I was there for brunch and the reason I chose Salt was that at 2:30 on a Saturday it was relatively empty. The brunch menu which was sort of a combo lunch/ brunch included soups, eggs, and sandwiches. I started with a cup of cream of tomato which was creamy and satisfying. Next a slow roasted eggplant with a puree of beets and mesclun with a creamy bluecheese dressing. I admit the two pieces of eggplant seemed miniscule for $14. This item is on the dinner menu as an appietizer and is definitely one. Overall, I was underwhelmed by both portion size and overall flavor. The bathroom though was one of the cleanest and best smelling I have come across with a large scented candle and pictures of various types of food groups like legumes and fruits with a cute shabby chic style cabinet and mirror.

Aveda Institute

At this zen like emporium training ground you are able to receive top-notch facial services and hair care using all Aveda products for a song. For skin care, the one hour facial begins in a separate closed off cubicle starting with a sensory journey. Steam, exfoliation, facial massage, an arm and hand massage and one or two masks follow. I have gone to Aveda for this facial for years and it is very uniform no matter who the esthetician. The students here are well trained and the treatment is a very relaxing one. An instructor joins us for a consultation and to make sure the student uses the right exfoliant and mask for your particular skin type. After a little over an hour, I feel refreshed and renewed and smelling like natural botanicals. The one hour facial costs $46 and the school offers other longer treatments. You must book a few weeks in advance as they fill up rapidly especially for Saturday morning appointments.

Beacon's Closet/Williamsburg

This is the granddaddy or grandmommy of all thrift/clothing resale shops. Located on a desolate stretch in a warehouse on N. 11th Street, Beacon's closet is huge. Offering clothes and shoes that are secondhand and once in a while samples for the lucky few. The clothes are all sorted by color and type of garment. Round racks of yellow, blue, pink, black and grey shirts and blouses. Even those who do not normally shop thrift always find a usuable piece here. Clothes ar relatively cheap and finding a new, cute Urban Renewal mini sweater for $21.95 is one example. Secondhand BCBG mules in good condition were $15, and newish Marc Jacobs shorts for $16 were a recent steals. Best part of Beacon's is you can sell your old gear for cash on the spot. A team of evaluators decide on what to buy or they return it to you to bring home or donate to charity. For clothes bought by "the closet" they offer 35% cash of what the tag the item or 55% store credit. I have sold my pieces here and find they are usually looking for hip gear, funky and designer inspired as well as vintage in great condition. There is a second and much smaller outpost of this uber popular clothing exchange on 5th Ave. and President Street in Park Slope.

Egg

It has taken awhile for me to get to egg in Billysburg. Mainly because of my recently increasing enjoyment of eggs in general as well my reluctance to wait for a table at this perrenially crowded spot. Egg is in a space occupied by the former restaurant Sparky. Eggs is a long narrow space in what looks like a former garage with wood beamed ceilings and serving lots of tatted up musician types their morning Joe which is French pressed from sustainably grown beans. I admit that I did not have eggs, but everyone else's looked yummy. My dish of country ham biscuit with Grafton cheese and fig jam was delish. The restaurant uses ingredients from small local producers and the flavor reflects that decision. I enjoyed a combo of fresh squeezed on premises o.j. and grapefruit juice for $2. Another appealing sandwich of eggs rothko- easy cooked egg in a slice of Amy's brioche topped with grafton cheddar, served with broiled tomatoes and a side of meat or seasonal vegetables for $6.50. The prices here a super cheap, no dishes over $7 found on the menu which compares very favorably to other comparable spots in local nabes. So based on the bang for the buck and quality of food, this breakfast spot is always packed. By the by, this spot shares space with another restaurant coming in at 2-3 in the afternoon and serving dinner. This is a smart concept. The afternoon service is brought to you by the folks from Pies and Thighs- the fried chicken experts from South Williamsburg who formerly shared their space with a dive bar.

Carsten Institute/Bargain Beauty

The Carsten Institute is an Aveda style school and salon using Aveda products and French hair techniques. The school located on a second floor in the heart of Union Square offers an array of services all supervised carefully by instructors. These students are not licensed, but are are training to become licensed hair stylists. I had a haircut in the school Friday by Danielle. She expertly cut my hair exactly to my wishes. The teacher came over three times, once during consultation, again to check on the cut and lastly to see the final cut. This was one of the best hair cutting services I had in a long time. The blow dry was lovely too and it all cost $17. Chemical services start at $35 for single process and $35 and up for partial foil highlights.

Beauty Bargain/multi locations

Every Fall and Spring there is a spa week promotion offering beauty treatment basics such as facials and massages as well as scrubs and microdermabrasion etc. All of these treatments are offered at $50 bucks. There is a long list of spas participating and some are pretty posh such as the Great Jones Spa, Essential Therapy and The Red Door Salon. I have been to all three and recommend Essential Therapy for it's Moroccan themed treatment rooms and small but powerful Jacuzzi, hot sauna and steam room. Other states participate in spa week and it is a fun and reasonable way to try a spa and treatment. Spring Spa week is April 14- April 26. You can check out participating salons at www.Spaweek.org.

San Loco

At this chain of cheap Mexican joints the food is served fast and made to order. The vibe is collegiate hangout though the restaurant reflects it's Mexican roots with blue tiles and wood tables. Since 1986 San Loco dishes quality food at muy barrato prices. Using all fresh ingredients even with their guacamole which at $.80 as an add on that is pretty darn cheap. So the food does not taste processed here like it does at other bigger chains.
Quesadillas, enchilladas, and burritos top out at $7 with meat or less with veggies or just rice and beans. My queso loco with rice and beans which was a warm flour tortilla with melted cheese wrapped around a hard shell taco with the add on of guacamole was a cheap dinner of under $5.00. This place stays around and busy because plain and simple the food is good and cheap.

New York International Beauty School

Located in a busy office building on 8th Ave near 35th Street, this beauty school dishes up the usual services with an international flair. At this school of beauty a wash and blow is $10 and yes B.Y.O.B. of shampoo that is or suffer with the cheap stinky almond stuff. This place is no frill, but I have many a fabulous blowout here and usually tip well as the staff is very nice and the students pride themselves on your satisfaction with their work. This place is not too full of clients like the other beauty school in the area (Empire) so it's more relaxing and they even have magazines you can read during your service. Walk in without appointment Monday through Saturday till 2PM and at night Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for the usual services. I have had cuts and color here with fine results. Cuts run about $15 and single process color around $20.

Nail

Yes, this place is called nail and that's what they do here for $6 bucks again a bargain for Manhattan and this nabe with many former cheap spots renovating and charging upwards of $8 for a mani. Well here you get the bare bones treatment in not the cleanest venue, but still a bargain. A few OPI colors in the selection of lots of Esse colors and a pretty nice result for the price. Oh, and Nail is on Avenue A. between 13th. and 14th. Street.

Mark Garrison Salon

This sleek salon is located in a modern townhouse on East 60th. Street with five floors of salon luxury. The assistant program does both cuts and color. Mark Garrision himself is cutting king to many a celebrity cliente. My friend Andrew is the color guru who will whip your dull locks into color and perhaps highlighted perfection. A consultation begins the process with a look at the old color and decision for a new. Mixing done, color is applied and you sit and read all the latest mags while you wait to be done. After washing out and gloss applied Andrew will do a fabulous blowout of your updated color. Color is $70 for single process and highlights . Now that is high style for a song.

Village Voice Choice Eats/Blog Mention

Please check out the Metromix story on the Village Voice Choice Eats event where Frannyonthego was pictured and quoted. The exact link is www.metromix.com/photogallery/snapshots-choice-eats/3370971/content.

Barbounia

Barbounia is a newish greek, I have wanted to eat a for a few months and it sits in a great spot on the corner of Park Ave. and 20th. Streets. It is a cavernous space punctuated by cream stucco walls and hanging vines. Lots of banguettes at lunch created a comfortable dining space. There is an extensive menu and a $19.99 prix fixe for lunch as well extensive wines by the glass. A borek style bread baked on premises served with mixed olives was a good start. There were a few service faux pas starting with the hostess handing myself and another table the dinner menu. I ordered the special cream of asparagus which arrived with a swirl of creme fraiche and was very well seasoned and tasty. The second appetizer of charred octopus over greens with yukon gold potatoes was very good as well. Lot's of the usual mezzes(greek spreads) are available as well as whole or filleted grilled fish as well as souvlaki and greek pizza. A nice size hearth oven looks like it does baking well. Be forewarned, this is pricey spot. Next, the check arrived with the soup being charged at the dinner rate and took almost fifteen minutes to correct. While waiting, I visited the bathrooms which are pretty gorgeous with blue tiles (communal) and stone sinks that look like something out of Aladdin. Nice, frosted glass doors are cool too.

Gallo Nero Wine Bar and Grill

Little Gallo Nero which translates into black chicken is a new spot off ninth avenue owned by the restauranteur of Il Bastardo in Chelsea. Eating there last night at 6:30(Saturday) the first surprise was that it was empty as the restaurants in the theatre district usually clear out only about 15 minutes before showtime. The fact that not many people know about Gallo Nero will surely change as the Daily News was shooting for a review in the paper this week. Gallo Nero's space boasts warm white stone walls and a ceiling lined with warm wood. It is charming, but most important the food. Rolls baked by Sullivan Street bakery and a chickpea dip begin the meal. A very good choice made by the restaurant as some posher spots offer a lesser quality bread. The menu is divided into small plates all of which are pretty cheap and average about $8 bucks. My friend Karen and I shared three small plates. A salad with green apples and goat cheese with lemon vinagrette and balsamic- we asked for both. That dish was $7. The Japanese egglant parmigiana for $9. was truly delish and like the best eggplant parm with a slight twist in the flavor of the eggplant. Next was the porcini mushroom risotto which was also very nicely done with a stong mushroomy flavor. The dessert of banana mouse surrounded by a banana pulp was yummy. All in all this place truly boasts a bang for the buck.

Chelsea Market

I am always shocked when people who are foodies have not been to the temple of all markets, Chelsea Market. Housed in an avenue block long space that once housed a sugar factory and now houses multiple food purveyors as well as the Food Network, Oxygen and NY 1 upstairs. This is one of my favorite places in all of NYC. All senses are awakened in the industrial urban space where the sugary, sweet, goodness entices your nose to walk further along the glazed concrete walkway. Passing the now empty Chelsea Florist on the left, continue into the market and stop for a gaze at the Fat Witch brownie shop surely considered the premier brownie baker with multiple flavors and samples on the weekend. Further up the food chain is Amy's Bread which is baked at the market, and has tables for munching. Ronnybrook Farms Milk Bar which sells their products as well as cooks up some great comfort breakfasts, lunch dinners all with the Ronnybrook milk served at the old fashioned dairy counter. Their ice-creams are quite good and their chocolate chip cookies are a personal favorite. One of the larger purveyors in the market is the Buon Italia Company. This store imports the usual and unusual Italian cheeses, olive oils, breads, jarred goods and pastas. They also have a food section outside of the store with authentic Italian offerings cooked there, and using many imported products. The food is quite authentically Italian, though not cooked to order. More goodies abound with Sarabeth's further on the left which houses their kitchen. Late day half priced specials are usually available after 5PM. There is also a small space for eating inside cooked or baked goodies. Other good dining options include the Thai restaurant which was one of the original tenants and still serves up fresh, food made to order. There is a seafood purveyor in the market selling high quality seafood and some made to order seafood salads, and chowders. Another fave is the Chelsea Market Basket which stocks very cool baskets and small food items, including chocolates and other unusual sweet and savories for very reasonable prices. For fun shopping there is the Bowery kitchen supplies and Marakesh imprts. One last food mecca is the Manhattan Fruit exchange which sells the fruits and veggies and stocks some exotic stuff like passion fruit and unusual varieties of oranges at somewhat reasonable prices.
Check out the website for up to the minute events at the market like salsa on Tuesday evenings and Tango on Friday evenings, yes you read that right. http://www.chelseamarket.com/

Dice Thai Cuisine

So many Thai's so little time. It can be hard to find a truly great Thai among a sea of so many. This little jewel opened a few years ago is one that is truly flavorful and well done. Sitting at the edge of Prospect Park West in Windsor Terrace where many new food spots are popping up quite often in what was once barren of decent chow. Every dish is made fresh and to order. I enjoyed the duck salad of roasted duck with tomatoes, pineapples, cashews over lettuce doused in chili lime juice. The tom kah gai arrives in an earthenware dish with handle which the owner said is from the famous central Bangkok market. The Pad Thai's are all very good here. I especially like the cashew nut entree with cashews, your choice of meat with scallions in a cashew nut sauce, now that's cashewy good. A Monday-Friday lunch special offers a variety of opetions compared to other Thai's and include a spring roll and salad for $5.95 for chicken, veggies or tofu and $6.95 for beef, shrimp or vegetarian duck. Walk it all of a few blocks away in lovely Prospect Park.

Via Emilia

At Via Emilia the cuisine of Modena is spotlighted. Before you walk in you notice the red door to the right of the restaurant beckoning you with it's many written accolades. This modern, space with brightly colored art, red banquettes lining the wall, was an instant hit when it opened some months ago. Located on East 21st Street between Broadway and Park Ave South, I dined there for lunch. Now this spot is cash only and being pretty reasonable that works. Lovely thick, dark, salty focaccia is served right away. I opted for a grilled shrimp salad served simply over arugula with hearts of palms and pieces of parmigiano reggiano. This was a lovely light dish with the shrimp nicely charred and ready to eat. Costing $12.50, it was a nice balance of flavors and definitely plated to order. For lunch many there are many pastas from $8-$15 are available as well as comparably priced panini. Some tempting paninis included chicken and eggplant alla parmigiana served on stirato bread. A panini called Big Luciano is a pressed sandwich with fried gnocco and procuitto- very interesting. The small staff simply consisted of a waitress, busboy and the chef came out to help and brought me the check. There will definitely be a return trip here to try the pastas which are hand made daily except penne, spaghette and farfalle.

Hot Chocolate

I have been meaning to blog this up before our thoughts turn to fiending for ice-cream instead of hot chocolate. I have been sampling many a restaurant's offerings all over town and found some spots offer such a dissapointing weak brew. On the upside some Mexican spots offer a very servicable hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon, something the country is famous for. Anything made without milk is almost not worth drinking. Here are my picks for the standout hot chocolates I have tried around town. Number one, would be the Shake Shack version which is rich, dark and thick with toffee marshmellows. This hot chocolate is almost a meal in of itself, and the lines are shortest in Gramercy Park on the coldest days. My second fave this season is at a charming little bakery on Allen Street on the LES called How Sweet it is.....remember Jackie Gleason's famous line. This is a pink dot of a bakery with artisan baked goods and pastries. The hot chocolate is just the right amount of chocolately goodness and is heaven with a baked accompanyment. Of course, City Bakery deserves an honorable mention, but it is frankly just too rich for my palate.

Aja

This tranquil new space on 6th Ave. and 11th. Street with a large buddha sitting on a waterfall in the back of the beautifully constucted space has a great bangin' bargain lunch. You are welcomed into the restaurant by a large tank full of fish with a backsplash of stones. The restaurant has walls of carved stones and buddahs which are very pretty. Thai, Vietnamese and sushi are all served here with great, gracious service. Just opened a few months their food offerings are well executed. Lunch specials at $9. offer a main course with a salad, soup, rice and choice of spring roll or shrimp and chicken dumplings. Your order arrives in a quartered plate with all fresh offerings. The thai shrimp was freshly cooked, and well seasoned. Sushi lunches start a $10 and include a soup and salad. I indulged in the sushi lunch which is preceeded by a large mesclun salad and mildly flavored miso. The sushi although serviceable included a california roll with too cold rice, but still a good, quick sushi lunch fix on the cheap.

Bouchon Bakery

I have tried to get excited as some other people about Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center. Though it is always exciting to be in the Time Warner Center an urban upscale mall with sweeping views of Central Park and the posh buildings surrounding it. The mix of international tourists and locals as well as the upscale shops and restaurants within the mall make the Time Warner Center unique. At Bouchon, the tarts, pastries and assorted baked goods are first rate, they almost fail to excite me perhaps because of the inflated costs or the pretense of authentic French pastry falls below expectation and unlike bakeries abroad serve their pricey pastries on cheap plastic. My favorite baked goods here are the dense donuts which they serve only once in a while. Brioche's are sweet though the few times I have had them they are a little dry inside. The soups here are quite good albeit pricey. I have had the beet, and just last night the white bean, kale and country bacon soup. Very tasty as they should be at $8.95. The salads are tasteless and premade with decent dressings.

Tres Pommes Patisserie

This is my one of my favorite spots on Fifth Ave, near Garfield Street in the Slopey, Slope. This charming spot owned by the former pastry chef at the ever popular Union Square Cafe in Union Square churns out amazing baked goodies plus homemade ice-cream and chocolates. Everything is simply delish here, with an expert at the helm. My personal faves are the sticky pecan bun loaded with sugary pecans and molasses baked to a golden dark hue, banana bread, homemade oreo cookies, brownies and rocking homemade hazelnut chocolates with a hazelnut on top. A recent addition of jelly donuts are simply killer with a beautifully fried donut with a layer of raspberry jelly and lots of sugar on top. Her ice-creams are luscious which as you know I have a thing for ice-cream. All are creamy fresh and good with a homemade waffle cone, but the caramel ice-cream with caramel pieces is simply delisiouso. Mine yesterday was soft and tasted like caramelized dark brown sugar with crispy caramel pieces, oh so yummy. A few tables are up in front of the store with the kitchen and other baking and ice-cream paraphanalia in the back. A small purple bathroom in the back is there if you need it.

Rachel's

Along the Amsterdam Ave. of Brooklyn aka 5th Ave there are many dining/brunch options some more crowded and overhyped than others. At Rachel's on the mighty 5th. between 8th and 9th. street. this potential brunch destination is neither too crowded or expensive. This funky spot is owned by the original California Taqueria King of Brooklyn Mr. Medina and is a solid food choice. Lot's of old rock and roll posters line the top half of a wall with the bottom decorated in pretty yellow Mexican style tile. A bar and open kitchen lead to an outdoor garden just waiting for the Spring season. Brunch choices start at $5.50 and go up to $6.50 which is a real bargain for this hood. The Pepe is an egg and spicy potato stuffed burrito with salsa roja and melted cheese on top. Other options include french toast, huevos rancheros as well their regular menu being available at brunch. I ate the poblano chicken mole which includes cheese, and your choice of rice and beans for $6.50 plus guacamole for an extra peso. The tortilla chips are fried in house and are yummy. Hot chocolate was so-so, but the marachino cherry on top was so cute. The food here is solid, filling and oh so cheap.