Updates!

I just got home from a food filled day in the city. Expect full reviews on all the places I went tomorrow or Monday, I'd write them now but I'm kind of tired and I wouldn't write them as well as I'd like to if I did it now. Never the less, here's a basic overview:

1. I GOT INTO Le 55's (formerly Merkato 55) BRUNCH PARTY WITHOUT A RESERVATION! Despite the fact that the entire upper level was mostly empty, Merkato's (I call it Merkato as I happen to like that name better) brunch party was worth the wait and the food was better than expected.

2. The Sullivan Bakery (ironically not on Sullivan St. but on 47th between 10th & 11th ave) is a great place to go for good bread and pizza...except the location is awful.

3. I've realized why they call Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, its hell to get to and once you're there you want to leave.

4. Nespresso on 64th and Madison is a more elegant and upscale version of Starbucks.

5. Monkey Bar DOESN'T live up to its hype. The food is decent and the decor is like a 50s cabaret bar but there was practically no one there and everyone who was there was clearly over 60. Graydon Carter has some slack to pick up and you might as well go to Le Cirque.

6. I have a personal feud with NY Magazine. They often over hype restaurants (cough* Monkey Bar *cough) and base their reviews solely on public relations instead of quality. But on the other hand its a great tabloid!

7. Payard on Lexington Ave could care less about food allergies...but their chocolate mouse happens to be good if you're near a hospital.

8. The 42nd street pedestrian mall is a giant tourist trap and is a waste of any true New Yorker's time. Beach chairs + 42nd St = WASTE OF SPACE!!!!

9. The high line (about the 7th time I've been up there in the past 3 days) is spectacular even in the rain and is a quick way to get from Gansevoort St to 20th St & 10th ave.

10. As much as the New York Magazine has hyped up this restaurant, I still want to go to the Minetta Tavern before I leave for Africa as it's owned by the same owner of Pastis (Keith McNally).

11. Nero D'Avola's brunch didn't look like too much was going on over there. My next stop for a Saturday brunch party is Bagatelle.

12. Buddha Bar (25 Little West 12 St) officially hates me as every time I've made a reservation there, I've always had to cancel! I'd hate me too if I were them.

13. And finally, I leave for Rwanda in about 2 weeks!


Merkato 55 (or Le 55) goes Chapter 11

The famous Meatpacking District brunch spot Le 55 (formerly known as Merkato 55) just filed chapter 11. After being bought out by Brazilian Model Fernanda Mott, Merkato changed its name to Le 55 and switched over to a Mediterranean menu instead of an African menu. Don't worry Le 55 promises to keep their brunch parties up and running, their liquor flowing and their patrons dancing as the actual restaurant rather than their brunch service is in more danger of closing than anything else. Anyone have any word on their new menu?

Media_httpwwwurbandaddycomuploadsassetsimagearticlesstandard60e84c2ad4c48ee33eb3316a5511b3cbjpg_hyrgoowjhtonche

DBGB

Media_httpwwwurbanspooncomblink1445316biglinkgif_shjgiswakxgakze

DBGB (Daniel Boulud Good Burger) is located on 299 Bowery (across the street from Double Crown). DBGB is just one more reason why the Bowery is the up and coming Meatpacking District. DBGB is essentially an elegant pub. They specialize in ales (their wine list contains at least 20 different types of beers) and foods such as sausages and burgers, but don't think Boulud forgot the roasted lamb legs and foie gras either. Upon entry the doors have little phrases on them which as of Saturday was finished! The bar is just a regular bar section for walk-ins, nothing spectacular around it. The dinning room is where the "party" is (not like the energy is anything close to Tao's energy level, but it is better than the bar area's). The crowd is very diverse as it spreads out from college students to families with children to...well...the elderly (but the chic elderly, after all it is Daniel Boulud's restaurant). The kitchen is perfectly visible from any table in the dining area as they are split off by racks and shelves of kitchenware. Rustic plates, cups, mugs and utensils sit on shelves around the dining room accompanied by pasta boxes and the occasional rooster. Now for the food. Dishes such as the Vermont Sausage and Yankee burger were a big hit. The more up-scale dishes such as the lamb leg and skate were good, but the portions were a bit small for the price tag (average price for an entree was $23). Basically, stick to the bar food (sausages, burgers etc.) and don't bother with the other things unless you're really that interested. People with nut allergies need to be careful as DBGB doesn't make their own spices, and they claim that the spices may contain traces of nuts. But the servers are very cautious and take the proper precautions to prevent an allergic reaction. In conclusion, DBGB is worth going to. The bar food is where its at and just leave the rest alone. The New York Post was at DBGB last Saturday, so once that review is published good luck getting a table!
Media_httpcurbedcomuploads20095dbgbjpg_ejagevgnldyqcpp

Updates!

I haven't really gotten a chance to update my blog, so I guess I'll do it now!

  • DBGB officially opened Monday June 8th (I happened to get a reservation for Saturday). (212) 933-5300
  • Merkato 55 changed its name to Le 55 after being bought out by a Brazilian Model. Le 55 will now serve up a Mediterranean menu instead of their current African menu. Also they will begin to focus more on their brunches, not that they don't already. A Sunday Chill Brunch should be added in the near future. (reservations@merkato55nyc.com)
  • Minetta Tavern is the new Pastis. Keith McNally's dining dynasty has expanded to Greenwich Village where Keith has opened his latest gold mine. Celeberties flock to this former speak-easy for great food and classical atmosphere. (212) 475-3850
  • 25 Little West 12th St (formerly Buddha Bar) is no longer as packed as it used to be. They have reservations for any day, any hour and for any party size.
    (212) 647-7314
  • Nero D'Avola looks like it has a pretty good brunch party of its own going on. I passed by it last Sunday (after brunch at Pastis) and it looked like a toned down Merkato 55 brunch (you know with out the insane dancing). Loud dance music fills the Meatpacking District sidewalks and unlimited drinks during brunch time keeps everyone happy! (212) 675-5224
  • Every Thursday night Tavern on the Greene will be converted in to a club! Dinning tables will be converted into bottle service tables. Lines are expected to flow through out the park.
  • The owner of Marquee opened up Avenue in Chelsea. Avenue is in a much more intimate space than Marquee and is also much smaller. And on that note if you had trouble getting into Marquee, getting into Avenue will be next to impossible. 116 10th Avenue (bet. 16th and 17th Streets)
  • The Shake Shack opened its second location (the one in CitiField doesn't count) on the West Side of Manhattan. And the best part, this Shake Shack doesn't have 2 hour lines! This is a much more family oriented Shake Shack as it does contain a play area and stroller parking. So the trend-setters/followers and hipsters will still have to continue to wait on that 2 hour line that wraps around Madison Square Park to get their precious Shack Burger. (646) 747-8770 (366 Colombus Ave)
  • B.R. Guests opened 675 Bar in the Meatpacking District. If the velvet rope at Tenjune or Cielo doesn't work out for you, go there I suppose. 212-699-2410
  • *A Bathing Ape releases gold/silver BapeSTAs & RoadSTAs (and my prediction is they become sold out in a week)
  • BBC/Ice Cream has come out with nothing worth buying
  • The Supreme x Budweiser release drops June 11th.
  • American Apparell had their "rummage" sale last weekend.
  • SATs=Living Hell
  • Orenzo Jone's Mixtape is still one of the best CDs I've listened to all year.
  • Ultra.Tech Mixed by Danny Woo is spectacular (only available on Itunes)
  • Twitter is making a bit more sense to me and is becoming slightly more addictive, though I still think its the ultimate stalking utility rather than a social network.
  • Moccasins & Americal Apparell Deep V-necks = life
  • I leave for Kigali, Rwanda in 20 days.

Momofuku Noodle Bar & Momofuku Milk Bar

Media_httpwwwurbanspooncomblink777704biglinkgif_eiflwfyfeceenaw

Media_httpwwwurbanspooncomblink353059biglinkgif_jldajcyndaljlgz

Now while I haven't yet achieved a reservation at Momofuku Ko, I have had the chance to visit/eat at 2 of the 4 Momofuku restaurants owned by David Cheng. If you haven't heard of Momofuku (and any socialite, hipster, food-lover, chef, restaurateur or subscriber to the New York Magazine has heard of Momofuku), I'll tell you a bit about it. Momofuku is a series of upscale Modern-Asian restaurants owned by David Cheng. Momofuku Ko is the hardest one to get a reservation to and is the only Momofuku out of the 4 that accepts reservations. Getting a reservation at Momofuku Ko is harder than getting into Yale, let's just put it that way. But I've never been to Ko so I'll just tell you about the 2 I have been to, Momofuku Milk Bar & Momofuku Noodle Bar. I'll begin with the milk bar.
Momofuku Milk bar is essentially a trendy bakery that serves desserts with modern twists on them. Oh, if you're allergic to nuts (like I am), avoid this place like the plague. Every item on the menu (except the soft serve ice creams) have some form of legume or nut in them. I had the soft serve. Momofuku Milk Bar basically takes odd flavors and puts them into soft serve ice creams. They have mint chocolate, "fire ball" (which tastes like Big Red gum) and licorice. I enjoyed the mint chocolate, and the fire ball was interesting. Am I running back like the rest of the trend-followers of Manhattan, no, but Momofuku Milk Bar is worth to visit once or twice.
Media_httpwwwblackbookmagcomimagesguidesmomofukubakerymilkbarf626jpg_pziljmiuhygadae

Momofuku Noodle Bar is a trendy noodle bar with a small menu. The restaurant features a bar as well as a bar style seating area in front of the kitchen. You have 3 appetizer and entree options (6 options total). The menu isn't very expensive and the most expensive thing on the menu is $22. I ordered the Momofuku Ramen. This was a giant portion of ramen noodles, accompanied with pork, scallions, radish, seaweed, if I'm not mistaken duck, and well of course the broth. I'm horrible at eating noodle dishes, but I have to say this was worth the agony and embarrassment. I'd definitely go back to Momofuku Noodle bar in the near future for a quick lunch.
Media_httpgraphics8nytimescomimages20071017dining21desi6001jpg_mjodfgafdekedeb

DBGB opens June 8th!

And you thought I was excited for the Air Yeezys to drop this Saturday...please. Daniel Boulud's highly anticipated restaurant on Bowery is opening JUNE 8th! If you don't know, Daniel Boulud is one of the best chefs in the western hemisphere and may be considered the king of fine dinning (though Jean-George and David Bouley may have a thing or two to say about that). DBGB is titled after the famous bar CBGB. DBGB will not feature foods like in Boulud's other restaurants, but the food will be more "down to earth" so to speak. So I appologize on the behalf of Daniel Boulud: sorry there will not be 5 different types of caviar to sample. But on the other hand, there will be an abundance of sausage! The menu consists of sausages, burgers, small plates, steaks and things of that nature. So now the middle class can afford a dinner at one of Boulud's restaurants instead of only the select few willing to pay $125 per person for a pre-fixe menu. We don't have images of the final product of DBGB, so on June 8th the finished restaurant will also be revieled! Now the hard part comes, getting a reservation! DBGB's number is 212-460-5777 and reservations will start being taken on June 8th. Forget the latest Supreme release, DBGB is what we need to be waiting in line for!
Media_httpnewyorkmetromixcomcontentimagefull1181080560370_jnjiioyoiihauxt


Air Yeezy Sneakers drop THIS SATURDAY!

Well, due to my SATs I won't be waiting in like for the new Air Yeezys to drop. But if you want to get on line NOW! All though this colorway isn't the greatest, people are still flocking to stores early to cop a pair. These shoes are $215 and you can get them at House of Hoops, select Footlocker stores, Nike Sportswear and other places I failed to mention. If you want them GET ON LINE NOW!
Media_httpwwwhypebeastcomimage200906nikeairyeezykhakipink2jpg_jcpawjcmygajptp

US.BAPE.COM

*A Bathing Ape just launched their US website...WHOO! This means we get a more updated site than Bape.com and the bittersweet part...we get a US ONLINE STORE!!!! This is a good thing as now we don't have to trek to SoHo for Bape gear nor do we have to make phone orders! But this also means Bape has become less exclusive and more and more people will eventually get a hold of these items. But, never the less this is good news for us Bape lovers! GO NIGO!
Media_httpbballsmlfileswordpresscom200811nigojpg_idxixydublhjtos

*A Bathing Ape BapeSTA Hoodie Pack

Because I think Bape ran out of animals to put on hoodies, they decided to put them on sneakers! *A Bathing Ape just released their BapeSTA Hoodie Pack today at your not-so-local Bape stores. There's four pairs which dropped and they are the...you guessed it!...Shark, Tiger, Panda and Cow BapeSTAs!! No word on pricing, but I'd assume they'd go for around $200-$250 in a Bape store, then double that online! Go get a pair!

Media_httpwwwhypebeastcomimage200905bapestahoodypack00jpg_gepcmqtcggotcha