The first time I strolled into this place with a friend of mine we both got the distinct impression it was a gay bar, which would have been fine...I guess. I thought they may have filled the void left by Dick's, the rather unsavory looking place cat-a-corner that is now closed. The L.A. barman, who has been sober 3 years, was wearing a kelt with no undershirt and some other tell tale signs that fit the shit. After a conversation with our friend behind the bar he told us he chooses to wear the get-up as opposed to the boring dress code, which is also fine. Furthermore, we found the owner wins the Tony every year for costume design on Broadway and offered to make it for him free of charge. The original sentiment was put to rest.

This time around was my second time there and I was somewhat excited to perhaps greenlight it as an offical stomping grounds after a second rigorous (getting drunk) litmus test the place would have to endure. The story behind the bar was mildly entertaining, I was surprised to find. Involving Andrew Carnegie, wildcatting and the west. It has been challenge to find a foil to the usual drab/hokey nature of those things. After sometime our party ballooned to 10+ and I slunk out with a more intimate group of friends, but, the bill here was one of the great treats of the night. 3 mixed drinks, 3 beers, 1 glass of wine and 4 shots of Vodka came to $65 total. Averaging at about 6 bucks a drink. The decor has jumped on the whole Bourgeious Pig, Clover Club type atmosphere, but with the story to back it I enjoyed the setting as much as the price. In addition to a somewhat rave review the food looked pretty damn tasty and one of the few things I would recommend without actually trying.Good for mid-day beer or late night drinks. I can see myself coming here many more times.

Crowd: Typical. Not too scene-e.
Drinks: Extensive whiskey selection, priced moderately, more than 2 beers/wines gets you a gold coin good for one of either.

Shoolbreds
197 2nd Avenue (12th Street)
NYC, 10003
12PM-?

File under Things to Do section because there was no eating involved. I finally went and checked this spot down on Smith Street out. There's been a lot of brew ha since word got out that  mixologist Julie Reiner of Flatiron Lounge, among others, was opening a 'pricey' spot on Smith and Baltic in the Cobble Hill area of Brooklyn. Mutterings that the area is no place for $12 drinks etc...I personally am not at odds with it. As long as we are years from the pricing fallout, I'll be a patron. The decor was period (speakeasy), but not over the top. The service was measured, I wouldn't say slow though. The only thing I can definitively say is that I had the best Negroni I have had in New York bellied up to that bar, which by the way was mahogany and resurrected via 1890s coal miners bar of Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania (amazing). Otherwise, typical patron fare for the area, though I almost felt like I was in Manhattan for a while. They have small plate food. All bitters and such are house made and menu drinks are pre-depression/classic cocktails. I will go back and if you are in the area you should stop by. 

[where: 210 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201]

    Last Sunday the 7th annual Bastille day festivities and Petanque tourney set it off on Smith between Bergen and Pacific streets, centering on Dean. This area, known affectionately as BoCoCa (BOerum Hill, CObble Hill CAroll Gardens) contains the 3rd largest expat French community in the US so basically everyone was just walking around, speaking French, drinking in the street and eating merguez. I guess there was more to it, but you get the idea. John Quadrazzi (local concrete man) donates sand for the tourney every year. A bunch of local rest. kicked in some eats including Robin de Bois and Stinky Brooklyn . . . .It's a long wait until next year but remember the day and come buy me a stiff one while I kick your ass at Petanque, bitch. Bwahaha.


[Where: 11201]

Sahara Restaurant

2337 Coney Island Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11223-5001
Phone: (718) 376-8594

     [where: 11223]

    837 Union St, Brooklyn

    Every single person in this sprawling cafe has a laptop.  Their screen is displaying either a word document or blog page.  A den of creativity or a complete farce?  I can't tell at this point but I'm pretty sure admission to this ridiculous scene costs some money, $3 for a small iced coffee?  Outrageous.  The place exudes the family oriented Park Slope neighborhood.  One of the restroom doors has a "diaper changing station" sign scribbled in crayon.  A pack of young mothers sit next to the entrance with their infants, they breast feed and trade mothering tips.  Suburban hell.  They do have a good musical taste.  Maybe I can steal some energy from these busy bees... Are they really busy?

[where: 11215]

    Upon a recommendation from close friends, I skipped work today and took a stroll up 3rd Avenue to  30th and Lexington. I have mentioned downtown campiness before and this eatery had a couple suspects, but for the most part I loved the crowd, wait staff and especially the food. After a short debate on the influence of their decor (French country or English cottage) we decided to  fuck it and enjoy the meal with nice conversation. When entering Penelope there is a baked goods section directly in front of you. Apparently the carrot and red velvet cake is delicious.

    We decided to forgo the treats though and jump right into our meal. First off we ordered what was definitely the best spinach artichoke dip I have ever had (came with assorted homemade breads). I thought this dish only existed in the realm of frozen foods and chain restaurants so I was somewhat skeptical but in the end I was eating off the spoon. I washed the dip down with an Arnold Palmer as my main course was just arriving. A classic lobster roll piled atop a fresh baked brioche  and a side of homemade fries. It was a little heavy after the dip, but  delicious nonetheless.

    My date opted for the "really really good" (her words) chicken meatballs accompanied by a lemony dressing and an arugula salad. The way the menu read you would be hard pressed to find something you would not like.  I cannot explain how enjoyable this meal was, you simply have to see for yourself. We ate at around 4 o'clock but I have heard the brunch is amazing/the best. Fair warning there is known to be a wait during lunch when the mid town power hour is in effect, but we had no problem. Lastly, probably some of the best service I have had in a while.  I absolutely loved everything about this place so please don't take anyone who will annoy me. For more info click here -------> Penelope.

[where:10016]

    So, as I made my way through NoLita searching for that perfect place to eat brunch with a friend, we decided to forgo a trusty standby in favor for Barmarche.  It was voted Best of Citysearch's 2006 for brunch and late night dining.  I guess a lot can change over 2 years because after leaving this place I felt like it belonged in New York Magazine's Openings and Closings... Filed under the later.

    We were promptly seated at a small table next to the window.  I was a bit fond of the birch tree trunks running from the floor to windows and the gold trimmed mirrors.  After looking over the menu I settled on Monterrey Eggs (I guess they thought they were too fancy to call them Huevos Rancheros) and my friend chose the standard Eggs Benedict.  That is when the flaws of this place started to expose themselves.

    The atmosphere was awkward.  There was a strange aura in the place and it wasn't a good feeling.  It was like the NoHo Star which I feel is equally uncomfortable. Except the Star is noisier which makes it slightly more bearable.   At one point I was so thrown off by the forced behavior of the other patrons that I told my friend I was going to look for a Village Voice bin outside.  Hey, we all act on a stage there is no reason to make it obvious.  Escape sadly was my only way out, I left her to fend for herself in the ring. 

   I walked around for ten minutes around and couldn't find a fucking bin for the VV.  What is wrong with this neighborhood?  I returned empty handed and found out that our order was just placed.  It took long enough... 

   We received our food, mine was mediocre at best my friends Benedict wasn't cooked properly and there were egg shells in it.   The waiter also interpreted a request for mayo as a request for milk.  Milk for what? We didn't order coffee.  They also never fulfilled our request for ketchup.  We looked at each other and it was at that point we decided we needed to get out of this place as soon as possible.

    This review doesn't deserve any further attention.   The food was average and overpriced (really overpriced).  The atmosphere was terrible.  An assorted mix of people from a recycling bin in the Hamptons who all pretend to be something they aren't.  Their solstice from a long work week is brunch at Barmache and shopping in SoHo.  I won't be caught dead here again. A culinary adventure at the corner of spring and Elizabeth turned into a nightmare... Like the 4th Indiana Jones.  Barmarche is not worthy of its location among far better eateries.

Italians and Russians. Regulars sauced at the bar, sea breeze specials, sand dunes and salty air. Where you say? Gaeta? Dubrovnik? Cabarete? None other than Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn my friends. I have been hanging down by the bay for 10 years now and it plays boy....oh it plays. No need for clever segways anyway. Through experience I have learned there is nothing better than sitting at the OTB and betting on the ponies. I find the best place to go is Il Fornetto on Emmons Avenue. Long stretches, photo finishes, gray horses and people throwing their lives away on expensive wheel bets provide an unparalleled variety of entertainment. Order a Billy Special and fade into the lazy Sheepshead summers. Maybe you'll make a buck and remember where you heard about it.  The pizza and burgers are passable, but your best bet is across the street at the one and only Roll 'n' Roaster. Burgers, onion rings, roast beef...etc. If you make your way down there, wake me up and buy me a drink. Bay etiquette demands it of you.

Il Fornetto (OTB)
2902 Emmons Avenue
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
718 332 8494

Roll 'n' Roaster 
Emmons and Nostrand
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
718 769 6000

VIA SUBWAY: Take the B or Q to Sheepshead Bay Road

    She would regularly cook for me at odd hours of the night, among my favorite dishes were her dosas.  The dosa is a south Indian speciality made of rice and beans and is basically like a crepe; thin, crispy, delicious.  I could eat hundreds of them.  So delicious with chutney.  She gave me the history of the dish and it immediately shot up to my top ten favorite food dishes.   So when I heard that there was a place that specialized in dosas I had to investigate!

   I made my way to SoHo of all places in search of the Hampton Chutney Company (68 Prince Street).  The place was packed with people and I thought to myself "just another 'ethnic dish' exploited by a bunch of fucking yuppies."  I wouldn't say the selection of dosas is "authentic" but I must give them credit, among the over priced fusion-food options I did see the classic Masala dosa (a dosa stuffed with potatoes and onions).  There were a variety of options to cater to any palate such as avocado, arugula & cheese, chicken, tuna, smoked turkey, etc.  They all sounded mouthwatering and by the looks of it they gave a generous portion of food.

    I ordered the #12 (grilled chicken with goat cheese, spinach & roasted peppers) and a mango lassi (yogurt drink).  It was delicious.  The mango chutney was mediocre, I've had better.  Overall the meal satisfied my taste buds, I was content.  I guess my only complaint would have to be the price.  The cost of my meal was nearly $20.  Okay, okay yes it was good and yes it is in SoHo.  But I couldn't help but feel like a sucker when I realized that a box of dosa mix is only $3 to $4 (a box makes a lot of dosas).  I personally think they are overpriced but they are so good you have to go at least once.  However, I think I will try and rekindle the fire with my ex-girlfriend so she can stay in the soul kitchen.

    If you are in search of quality Indian food at a decent price I suggest scouring Curry Hill or go to Banjara in the East Village.  They don't have dosas but they have delicious khati rolls at a reasonable price.