Paradou Brunch : Go for the food and party, but not for the ambiance and conversation!

I had been to Paradou (8 Little West 12th St. between 9th Ave. and Washington St., New York, NY) previously for brunch for my birthday several years ago and loved it! My group was very large and was lucky enough to be seated along the back wall away from the crowds and the pathway for the whole restaurant. I loved the food and the flowing champagne cocktails and vowed it was one of the best unlimited brunch spots there were! After my recent experience, many years later, I disagree with my prior feelings towards this place because it isn't really much of an "oasis" as it is described on its website. Also, there is only one bathroom in the whole restaurant, which makes for a long and unpleasant line when the whole restaurant is drinking unlimited champagne at brunch! 

Yes, the food was top notch with many savory and mouth watering choices, but the crowded dining room and loud atmosphere was not exactly worth it. Even with the flowing champagne cocktail pitchers, I would have liked a more roomy atmosphere. The enclosed patio dining room in the back, which is most of the restaurant, is tiny and filled with long tables for groups with some smaller tables crammed in there for smaller groups. There is very little room to walk in between each table, leaving the waiters and patrons the need to bump into your chair while they squeeze through. I was unfortunate enough to be seated at the table where we were in the main entrance area to the dining room, so everyone on my side of the table was bumped the whole time. Unfortunately, I guess unlimited brunch cocktails comes with a price! 

Another thing that I have never understood about Paradou is the tiered pricing based on the size of party, when essentially everyone is getting the same brunch deal, but some are just paying more for it and some paying less. We had a group of 18, which was nice that a restaurant could accommodate a group that large, however, we had to pay $45 per person for the same brunch deal that other tables of seven or less people were paying $29 per person. I guess this is to discourage large groups and keep the restaurant more peaceful? 

The menu states: 

 Our Unlimited Champagne Cocktail Brunch is $29 for parties of 2 - 7; $35 for parties of 8 - 11; and $45 for groups of 12+. All of these options include unlimited champagne cocktails and choice of entree. The $45 option also includes dessert.

I don't feel that because our group was larger, it warranted paying $16 more per person than a smaller group. I'd gladly pay $29 a person and be very happy not having dessert instead of paying $45 a person and having dessert to share amongst the table. This is still something that boggles me! 

Now onto review the food, which actually is some of the best brunch dishes I have had in a while!

3 Lobster Sliders with Sautéed Taters 
Loaded with lobster meat on a brioche roll, oven-roasted tomato, shaved fennel, sassy Sriracha aioli

The lobster sliders were filled with chunks of of lobster meat and were nice and buttery! The lobster was cooked perfectly with the perfect texture. The fennel gave each slider a nice crunchy bite, while the Sriracha aioli gave each bite that extra added kick! Additionally, the buns were nicely toasted and made for a perfect lobster roll :)
The salad that came along side the sliders was lightly dressed and helped add some tasty healthy nutrients to my brunch. The sautéed potatoes were deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. They were the perfect brunch treat!

Duck Reuben with Sauteed Taters
Duck confit, duck magnet, choucroute, arugula, served on grilled country bread with salad and sautéed taters 

The duck reuben was the better of the two entrees my fiancé and I shared, which is unimaginable when you are comparing anything to a lobster entree! The duck was super tender, juicy, and oozing with flavor. The sauerkraut added a nice crunchy texture with a contrasting flavor to the duck and the cheese. The cheese was melted to perfection and made the sandwich a package of heaven. The bread was perfectly toasted with each bite being perfectly crunchy. The bread was also buttery and delicious. This sandwich was pure gluttony, but every bite was worth it! It was also paired with lettuce and potatoes, which added a hint of healthy, and a taste of brunch goodness. 

Amish Bacon Crack

We also ordered the Amish Bacon Crack appetizer. It was amazing! It was sweet and spicy all at once, because it was candied with sugar and sweetness and then topped with red pepper flakes that made each bite spicy. May not be the BEST bacon dish ever but pretty damn close! Definitely a treat worth ordering!

Dessert Platter
Plate of Citrus Tart, Meringue, and Tarte au Chocolate

Dessert was brought to our large table on 3 platters, and meant for each end of the table to share a platter, and the middle of the table to share a platter. Three desserts were included on each platter and were included in our brunch since we had a large group. The dessert was definitely delicious, but not needed for the extra fee! I definitely enjoyed the Meringue, which was the creme brûlée dessert, since that is one of my favorite french desserts!

I definitely want to try Paradou for dinner sometime, because the back dining room is definitely cute, and most likely more scenic without the loud brunch crowd. I think my brunch days there may have come to end because of the crowded seating and one bathroom! 

Gramercy Tavern: Seasonal, Farm to the Table Excellence

Gramercy Tavern was exceptional from the moment we walked in. The ambiance was very rustic, casual, and warm. It felt very inviting and the service was top notch. Our waiter was also extremely accommodating to our large group of different personalities and needs. We had two gluten-free women at our table, and also a 9 year old who was looking for less extreme dishes. The waiter was very willing to customize the tasting menus and the 3 course menus for the 9 year old so that he could enjoy the dinner experience as well and be just as much a part of the tasting experience. I thought it was very nice of the waiter to be so helpful and patient with our table. 

The cocktail menu was good and offered exceptional choices to choose from. Additionally, we brought a few bottles of wine to dinner since they do offer a corking fee for BYOB. 

The Goodfellow
Famous Grouse Scotch, Lustau Oloroso, walnut, orange bitters

I started with the Goodfellow cocktail. It was a nice blend of scotch, walnut, orange bitters, and sherry. It was smooth, sweet, and smoky all at once. I would have nice it to be a little larger, but I can't complain.

Softest, Creamiest Butter with Salt  - Didn't take photo of bread :(

When it came time for them to serve us the bread and the butter, I already knew I was in for a fabulous meal. Just the butter and bread were amazing to start. The bread was served with salt on the side to sprinkle onto the bread, which added a delicious salty flavor to the creamiest butter that probably exists. Phenomenal!

Gluten Free Bread

The restaurant also had gluten-free bread available, which was nice. When we ordered our meals, the waiter was advised of the gluten allergies at the table and the restaurant should have been prepared to deliver the gluten-free bread at the same time as everyone else's bread. Instead, the gluten-free bread was not ready and had to be requested at the time the bread was served to the table. Because of this late request, it did not come out until the bus boys were clearing away everyone else's bread plates and serving the next course. 

Amuse Bouche of Buckwheat Puff with Pimento Cheese

We were given an Amuse Bouche of a buckwheat puff over a sprinkling of pimento cheese. The puff was warm and airy. It melted in your mouth and was nice to pair with the cheese.

For our tastings, my fiancé and I split everything, so we got to try double of what everyone else did :)

Beef Tartare
Served with Chesnuts and Brussel Sprouts

The beef tartare was one of the best dishes we were served all night. It was super fresh, chilled to the perfect temperature, and had a little bit of spiciness to it. I loved the textural interest the chestnuts added and the savory flavor the brussel sprouts added. We both wanted to lick the plate when we were done.

Squid Ink Spaghetti
Served with kale, mussels, and chorizo

The squid ink spaghetti was unbelievable! It was served with mussels, calamari, kale, chorizo, and also chives. The sauce that it sat in, we both wanted to drink. We both loved the mixture of seafood, meat, and also vegetables all together over the spaghetti which made for a feast of flavors and gluttony.  This dish definitely had a nice kick to it, and we both think it was from the chorizo, which was exceptional. I want more! 

Ramp and Mushroom Broth

The ramp and mushroom broth I only tried a taste of, since I did not order this as my first course. I had to get a taste of the mushrooms since they are one of my favorite vegetables, and my fiancé is allergic :( The broth was extremely flavorful, and the ramp added a nice onion-like flavor. The broth was similar to that of a miso soup, but much much better! The dumplings also were unreal!

Pork Loin & Deckle
Apples, Pecans, and Parsnip

The pork loin & deckle was extremely tender and flavorful. It wasn't overly fatty like most pork dishes are, and was the perfect cut of the meat. It was seasoned with apples, pecans, and pureed parsnip. Dipping it into all the flavors and sauces on the plate added to each juicy bite of pork! The plate presentation was also extremely beautiful. 

Lamb Loin and Shoulder
Chickpeas, carrots, and pistachios

The lamb loin and shoulder was also an exceptional dish. It was served over pureed chickpeas, pureed carrots, and pureed pistachio sauce. The pureed vegetables made for a beautiful plate presentation and also a delicious sauce to dip each bite into. The lamb was cooked perfectly with a nice pink center, just like we wanted. Each bite was juicier than the last!
From the entree menu, my fiancé and I definitely chose the best two choices, especially from all the dishes at our table. We were very happy!

Amuse Bouche of Pomegranate Consommé

Before dessert, we were given a second amuse bouche of pomegranate consommé, which was sort of like a pomegranate pureed juice floating over champagne, prosecco, or some type of sparkling refreshment. It was extremely sweet and refreshing and a nice way to get our taste buds ready for dessert after our extremely savory dinner.

Chocolate - Peanut Butter Mousse, Banana Cake and Blood Orange Frozen Yogurt

For dessert, the menu choices were all so varied with fruity and also chocolatey choices. We of course chose the chocolate option for one of our desserts, which was a peanut butter mousse, banana cake, and blood orange frozen yogurt. All I can say is wow! This dessert was so chocolatey and peanut buttery. The banana flavor of the cake was a nice addition to the chocolate and peanut butter flavor and made this dessert just melt into your mouth.

Pecan - Clementine Marmalade, Cinnamon Cream, Chocolate and Bourbon

The pecan dessert was almost like eating an oversized and over-thick pancake. It was so soft and filled with pecans with a delicious cinnamon, chocolate, and bourbon flavor. Additionally, the clementine marmalade made for a nice citrusy contrasting flavor.

Chestnut - Puff Pastry, Creme Brûlée and Cranberry Sorbet

The chestnut dessert was the most tart dessert because of the cranberry sorbet, but it was very good. The puff pastry and creme brûlée were delicious, especially with the hard sugar top layer which is one of my favorite things! The sugar layer and the puff pastry were a nice combination of soft and crunchy. Also, the plate presentation was exceptional.

Free Chocolates and Caramels 

At the end of dessert, we were also given a plate of chocolates and caramels on the house. These weren't anything special, but definitely a nice touch to the end of the evening. Additionally, as we were paying our bill we were given beautiful cinnamon flavored muffins to take home with us. The muffins were definitely enjoyed the next day for breakfast :)
I definitely would return to this restaurant, especially because it appears that they change their menu often. Almost at any time, you will have a different meal here than the last because of the constant updating, which seems pretty exciting. Although, they better keep the squid ink pasta on the menu forever!
Enjoy!

Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven: AKA Spare Rib Heaven

My fiancé and I have been wanting to try Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven (1420 3rd Ave.)  ever since we saw it on a Travel Channel special featuring their spare ribs! We are glad we did, because the spare ribs were definitely worth all the hype!

Pigs galore outside the restaurant! 

While perusing the menu and deciding on our orders, Nancy Lee herself came over to our table to take our drink order. I was impressed by how she was taking orders and also very present in her restaurant, rather than just owning the restaurant and not being there.

Wonton Soup

Since we went on a frigid night, and since wonton soup is my favorite soup, I figured I had to try the wonton at Nancy Lee's. The wontons were very good, and meaty, but the broth was lacking in flavor. I did love the abundance of scallions since they added some flavor and some crunch.

Pork Buns

The pork buns were very flavorful and tender. The bun portion was extremely doughy, in a good way. They weren't the best pork buns either of us had ever had, but definitely edible and enjoyable.

BBQ Spare Ribs

Now onto the main attraction! The BBQ spare ribs were just deliciously flavorful and they peeled off the bone so nicely. The outer portion of the ribs were nice and crunchy and the meat was tender and delicious. This dish was worth the whole experience of being at this restaurant. We have since ordered in to our apartment just because we wanted our fix of the ribs.

Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce

The shredded pork was perfectly tender with a nice kick, but not too spicy. Personally, this dish was my favorite of all the entrees, however others would disagree since they preferred the Orange Beef the most. Again, I loved the abundance of scallions on this dish as well! They added the crunch that I needed since the pork was so tender.

Sesame Chicken

The sesame chicken was good and crunchy. It wasn't overly saucy, which I did not like. I would have preferred it had been a touch more saucy so that when putting it over rice I could mix the rice into the sauce.

Steamed Shrimp with Vegetable

The steamed shrimp with vegetables was just as it sounded, bland because it lacked sauce. However, the shrimp were humongous and cooked perfectly so that they had that perfect crunch to each bite. I loved the overabundance of vegetables in this dish, and used them to dip into the other sauces. This dish was definitely healthy and was perfect for our friend at the table that is gluten free.

Orange Beef

The orange beef was sweet and spicy at the perfect levels. It was super crunchy and definitely a winner amongst the three guys at the table. I loved it, but still prefer more saucy and non-fried Chinese entrees when I go out for Chinese.

All in all, the food was pretty good Chinese food, but the ribs may be the best spare ribs ever!

Jones Wood Foundry: Traditional English Grub!

I had been to Jones Wood Foundry (401 East 76th St. between 1st. Ave. and York) for a drink about 4 years ago and hadn't wanted to go back since because the night I was there it was so crowded. The bar was tiny and narrow with barely any room to sit down with the crowd. I hadn't realized that night that there is a whole back restaurant area that is quite spacious and inviting. When our friends suggested we go here for brunch, my fiancé and I were a little hesitant based on my previous experience and the fact that the menu sounded extremely heavy. We ended up giving in and were very pleasantly surprised and happy with our experience. It also helped that it was a cold winter Sunday, where heavy comfort food was the perfect medicine to cure anyone's mood.

Freshly Baked Scones and Muffins
Served with Devonshire cream, homemade jam, and lemon curd

To start, we shared an order of the freshly baked scones and muffins for the table. The order included one scone and two muffins. You could tell they were freshly baked and served with homemade jam, Devonshire cream, and the most amazing lemon curd ever! I loved pairing the lemon curd with the poppy seed muffin for the most lemon filled treat. This gluten filled plate didn't last very long at our table!

Curry Chicken Wings 

My fiancé and I shared two starters and one meal for brunch and it was the perfect amount of food. The curry chicken wings were fabulous and represented the large Indian influence in England. They were not over the top with curry flavor, and gave just the right hint of that Indian flair. They were extra meaty and tender and served with a creamy dill dipping sauce that freshened each bite. I looked online at the current menu, and it appears that this delicious appetizer was removed from the menu! :( This was one of our favorite dishes we had at brunch, so that is quite unfortunate. 

Scotch Egg
Breaded soft boiled egg, Myers of Keswick Banger Meat

The Scotch egg was probably the highlight of the meal for both couples. We were all unsure based on the description of this dish, but because of all of the rave reviews we had read online, decided to try it out. The soft boiled egg was wrapped with banger meat, and then breaded and fried. It was a unique mixture of flavors and a dish I wouldn't think to be as amazing as it was! The creamy sauce that accompanied this dish enhanced the flavors, but I felt it did not need the mustard sauce. I would definitely reorder this dish!

Corned Beef Hash
Braised brisket, potato, red pepper, fried eggs

The corned beef hash was probably the moist disappointing dish we had. I normally love corned beef hash and it usually has tons of flavor with a hearty taste. My fiancé and I both felt it was very bland and also on the small side. We only ate this dish because it was there, but didn't love it. We both spent the rest of the meal eyeing our friends' pot pie!

Foundry Pie of the Day
Chicken curry type of filling. Served with Mashed potatoes or Chips.

Our friends ordered the pot pie of the day, which was served with some type of chicken curry filling and accompanied with mashed potatoes. The curry chicken was very curry-ish, but in a very good way. The crunchy pastry shell of the pie was a definite compliment to the curry and counteracted the flavors of the curry. MMM, I wish I had ordered this dish! The mashed potatoes were very creamy and had a slight butter flavor, but not over the top. I would have liked them to be a little more buttery.

All in all, Jones Wood Foundry was definitely a great spot for brunch. Not sure if I would go there in the summer because of the heavy entree choices, but definitely a great spot to warm up in the winter and enjoy nice cocktails with authentic English food. 

Drunken Munkey : Great Indian Food with a Mixology Flair!

My fiancé and I love Indian food and are always very excited when we have the chance to go out for it with another couple. Generally we only have Indian ordered in since it is a heavier meal and also not usually a Saturday night type of activity.

Drunken Munkey (338 East 92nd St. New York, NY) takes Indian food to a whole new level. It does not only have delicious food, but it is also a mixology bar, which makes it a perfect place for a Saturday evening. Indian restaurants are not generally known for having great cocktails, but this one certainly does! The menu is pretty extensive, and the drinks are made very well! 

Lady Mountbatten

Monkey Shoulder Scotch, pamplemousse, strawberry gastrique, fresh lemon and lime juices, peach bitters.

The smoky scotch flavor of this cocktail was offset by the sweetness of the strawberry and peach, with a sourness of lemon and lime. It was the perfect combo of all the flavors that made me savor each sip. Additionally, the round ice cube was a nice touch to this cocktail and gave it that extra flair. 

Paani Puri 

Crispy flour puffs, aloo & chick-pea chaat, tamarind mint water

Before heading to the restaurant I had read Yelp reviews and also looked at photos online of the dishes. By the looks of the Paani Puri in photos, I was reminded of curry puffs that I have had at other Indian and Thai restaurants before. I knew this dish was one that I had to order. Unfortunately, this dish did not live up to what I was expecting, and was the biggest let down of all the dishes we ordered that night. It was served cold, which no one at the table was prepared for. I think that if this dish was served hot, with the mint water broth inside being hot like soup, that everyone would have enjoyed this dish. It was also very bland, and lacked any type of flavor. I guess by reading the description of the dish, I should have avoided a dish that had the words "water" instead of broth.

Stuffed Simla Mirch

Baby bell peppers, seasoned potato mash

The stuffed simla mirch luckily made up for the disappointing Paani puri. The bell peppers were stuffed with a very seasoned potato mash and served with two dipping sauces, where one was sweet, and one was on the more salty side with a little bit of spiciness. The peppers were cooked to perfection with the edges blackened from the grill. This dish I would definitely recommend.

Malabar Coastal Shrimp Curry

Shrimp served in a lime, ginger, garlic, tomato, and onion marinade. Served with Naan, ghee-rice, lemon-daal, raita, & drunken spring onions

The Malabar Coastal Shrimp was full of flavor and similar to a tikka masala or a butter chicken type of dish since the marinade had a creamy, thicker texture. The dish wasn't super spicy, but it was seasoned to perfection and had a nice level of heat to it. This was everyone's favorite dish at the table. We also liked how the entree's were served with rice and also included naan. Generally, you have to order naan on the side when you have Indian food, and it was nice that it was part of the meal.

Bombay Lamb Chops

Tandoori grilled five-spice marinade, string beans, spiced aloo, mint & apple-butter chutney

The Bombay lamb chops were also very delicious. They were heavily marinated in spices that gave them so much flavor. They were cooked to perfection and were very moist and tender on the inside. Done perfectly! They were served atop string beans and included a spiced aloo (potatoes), mint and apple-butter chutney, which was a nice addition to the lamb chops, since I do love mint jelly! The aloo was similar to home fries, which added more flavor and sustenance to this dish. This dish was the whole package!

Cauliflower Foogath 

Side portion of turmeric roasted cauliflower, cilantro, cumin

On the side, we ordered cauliflower and also crispy okra. The cauliflower was roasted and seasoned  with cumin and cilantro. This was definitely a delicious way of eating vegetables and the perfect thing to share with the table. I am not sure if I have seen cauliflower before in Indian recipes, but this dish seemed very unique to anything I have seen at Indian restaurants before.

Crispy Okra

Side order of crispy okra, onions, tomato, chat masala

The crispy okra sounded much better in the description than in actuality. Because it was served crispy, it was very dry and didn't have tons of flavor. This side the table got bored of pretty quickly, and I don't even think we finished it. 

Cricket Rum Ball

Moist & warm rum-infused chocolate cake, white chocolate shavings, creme anglaise, fresh berry reduction.

The dessert menu had many unique choices on it that all sounded delicious and different. Since we were all unfamiliar with Indian style desserts, we took suggestions from the waitress and were very happy with what we were given. The Cricket Rum ball was warm, moist, and infused with rum. It was extremely rich in flavor and was one of those desserts you need just a bite or two of. The berry reduction and creme anglaise was a nice touch and added a sweeter taste to the rich flavor of the chocolate.

Gajar Halwa

Carrot pudding, crushed pistachio, cardamom coconut creme 

The Gajar Halwa was probably the more unique dessert. It was carrot pudding, served with crushed pistachios and coconut creme. Generally carrot pudding doesn't sound that appetizing to me, but this dessert was super sweet and delicious!

I am very glad that a few of my friends suggested I try Drunken Munkey for dinner, because now I am hooked. I definitely want to return again soon. The service was top notch the whole time. The waitress was really great at giving suggestions and answering any questions we had about the menu. She was also honest with us when we asked if we were over ordering, and we reduced the number of dishes we were going to order. Even with how busy the restaurant was, she made sure to keep the level of service constant and great.
I suggest reservations, since the night we went, every table in the restaurant was taken, and we had to wait 10-15 minutes after our reservation to be sat. It was packed!

Telepan - Good, not amazing, definitely overpriced!

We added Telepan  (72 West 69th St. between Columbus and Central Park West) to our Restaurant list after hearing about it on TV. We were really looking forward to trying the Lobster Bolognese, which they are known for, but we had heard that they don't always have it, so we were already concerned going in.

We figured it would be a perfect Saturday night dinner date with two other couples because it is conveniently located on the UWS. 

Upon entering, the place was extremely crowded, but definitely felt like a great date spot. I liked how there were different rooms and areas so that no room felt loud and rowdy. Unfortunately our table was in a tight corner where it was difficult for anyone at our table of 6 to get up to use the bathroom. Also, this corner may be the reason that our service was painfully slow. We aren't the type of people that like to rush in and out, but a 3 1/2 hour dinner is a little extreme. 

Amuse Bouche - Parsnip Soup

We were all given an amuse bouche to start of parsnip soup to cleanse our palate. This was a nice touch, although it wasn't anything amazing, just ok.

Duck Terrine

Duck terrine with mustard 3 ways, and pickled green tomatoes.

My fiancé and I shared two appetizers and an entree. Our first appetizer was very underwhelming, and we both expected so much more for a duck terrine type of dish. I even noticed that this dish is no longer on the menu, and has been changed to a foie grois terrine, and I am sure for very good reason. The duck was lacking seasoning and the typical duck flavor, and we both felt as though we were just eating bites of minced meat. The full seed mustard added nothing to the dish, and its flavor was overpowering and took away from the duck. The other mustards were much better, along with the pickled tomatoes. I would say that this dish thrived in presentation, rather than flavor and excitement.

House-made Mozzarella

Mozzarella, peperonata, broccoli rabe & garlic bread. 

Our second appetizer, the House-made mozzarella was our favorite dish that we had. The mozzarella was extremely creamy and was accompanied with broccoli rabe, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic bread. The bitterness of the broccoli rabe was a nice offset to the creamy glutinous flavor of the mozzarella. The garlic, pepper and onion mixture added the right amount of garlic flavor to the dish!

Lobster Bolognese

Spaghetti, light herbs & shallot-garlic-tomato broth with a lobster tail.

For our entree, we ordered the Lobster Bolognese, which we were so excited to try since it was featured on the TV show that we saw. The lobster was lacking in flavor and the dish was extremely small! I know a lobster tail can only be up to a certain size, but the spaghetti that accompanied the lobster was lacking in quantity and my fiancé was left very hungry! The garlic, tomato, and herb broth was pleasant, but we both felt that there should have been more of it. 

It's not that I wouldn't go back to Telepan, but I am in no rush, and there are plenty of other fish in the sea! Also, the price wasn't worth the ticket of entry.