Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Brooklyn Diner




I have eaten at Brooklyn Diner numerous times and always leave feeling unsatisfied, mainly because the cost of items at this upscale diner is so inflated. Some of the items I have eaten here are quite good like the Greek salad which you can add fried chicken to and is super tasty. My last meal pictured above was the cheeseburger deluxe which was rated as NY Mags best burger in '07 and a chocolate egg cream. The egg cream at $5.(ouch)was recommended by my dear friend and egg cream expert is one of the few authentically made egg creams and was perfect. The burger on the other hand looked great smothered in onion rings with cheese and applewood smoked bacon. When I tasted the burger, first thing I noticed was that it was overcooked, as was my dining companions, the bun was toasted and undistinguishable and the fries tasteless. Later, I realized that coleslaw was not included in the mix and at $16.75 for a pre-theatre lunch this mama was not happy. The space is very spiffy with an art decoish design though the use of the small space is a tad awkward. Nice john in the rear. No bang for the buck here.
Slow go!

Blue Marble Ice Cream


Farm fresh,organic ice-cream created in small batches in an upstate creamery is the Blue Marble credo. Their second location opened a few weeks ago on Underhill Ave. and Sterling in Prospect Heights. A cute picket fence lined shop is reminicent of the country. Flavors are plentiful with the usual suspects of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and coffee as well as changing flavors and sorbets. I opted for the consientious chip and chocolate chip. Both were super creamy and fresh tasting for $5.50. Their ice-cream is quite good, though seems to lack the same intensity as others that are created on premises. The store also serves freshly baked goods from the bakery, Baked in Red Hook as well as loose teas from in Pursuit of Tea. There is a toilet in the rear of the kiddie area in the back of the store and a garden with kids toys connected to the kiddie playground. Super kid friendly.
Go!

Saigon Grill


Today was my second visit to Saigon Grill and I can't manage to tear myself away from the grilled porkchops which is on the lunch special for $8.75 pictured above and served with jasmine rice and pickeled cucumbers, cabbage and carrots with a tangy sauce and hot spices if you can tolerate it. The pork chops are marinated in a mix of honey and spices and grilled. This being a grill, the pork chops are succulent, sweet and carmelized at the edges. The meat paired with the pickeled salad and jasmine rice offers a great balance of flavors and textures. The space at Saigon Grill is soaring and sumptuous and the lunch specials are almost all under $10. At lunch the restaurant is moderately busy, though I have seen a wait outside at dinnertime where the prices are about 30% higher. I would recommend lunchtime for the real value. Bathroom is multi-stalled, new and unremarkable.
GO!