Around and Around they Go, Where it stops…

Kips Bay, NYC

In my world of make-believe, cream isn’t fattening, pizza grows on trees, and sushi comes to me on a conveyor belt. Ok, so maybe the first two things are slightly absurd, but the sushi thing is real. Over the past year, one of my favorite spots to get good sushi with practically no waiting time is East Japanese Restaurant. This gem is located in the northern part of Kips Bay on 3^rd ave. between 26^th and 27^th. If you like sushi and you want it in variety without having to donate a kidney to compensate for it, grab a seat at this merry-go-round of Japanese cuisine.  

The place is slightly small, but they’re extremely efficient with making sure you’re sat quickly. Upon walking in, there is a small bar on the left with all the typical liquors and bottled beers. Directly in front of you are a handful of booths so if you come in a party bigger than 2, you can be accommodated. If you plan on coming with more than 4 people though, odds are they won’t be able to seat you together. The remainder of the seating takes place around the sushi bar. The tobiko flies as two sushi chefs pound out salmon/avocado rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, dragon rolls, and all that other good stuff we love to consume.  With the choice of picking off the conveyor belt or ordering from a full menu of Japanese fare, unquestionably, you need to try their sushi for your first dining experience. You may be thinking, “Sushi on a conveyor belt? Isn’t that unsanitary?” Not here. All their plates are enclosed by plastic covers so you can see what you’re picking up without getting your germs all over the food.

 Each plate is a different price and it’s essentially based on the quality of the fish, the amount of pieces on the plate, and the size of the rolls that you’re picking up. With plates ranging anywhere from $1.50 for 3 pieces of a typical spicy salmon roll up to $6.50 for what would be the equivalent of a Volcano roll, a typical meal can run you anywhere from $10-$25/person.

The service is great and the waiters are very attentive (half because they’re good at what they do and also because they want to get you the hell out). Your water glass will never go empty, your eating area will consistently be cleaned off, and the check will come without time to waste when you’re ready for it!

My recommendation, try the Wasabi Tobiko roll. These come served on the green plates which go for $2.25 each. You get two pieces of this deliciousness and each one is guaranteed to clear your sinuses. Prepare to cry tears of joy after trying this place and if there’s room in that belly to belch out some tunes, take a walk upstairs to their karaoke area.

Notes about this place: They have a live DJ on the weekends at night. If you go on Wednesdays, they offer over 15 different types of rolls on their white plates which are only $1.50.

On my scale of 1-10, 10 being a perfect wacky Wednesday filled with wasabi and sake, I give this place a 9! Get there… ASAP!

John DeMartino III - http://about.me/johndemartino3

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Wam! Bam!… May I have another? :-) -- The Bayou of North Bellmore, Long Island

3 words – Hot Damnnnnn (I’m counting “damn” as 2 words due to the increased amount of “n’s” needed to portray the emphasis I was seeking to express). Looking at this place from the outside and even those first 20-40 steps after you walk in, this place can be confused for a serious dump. The bar area is decorated with cheesy confetti and Mardi Gras items that look like they purchased at a garage sale. The dining area is a poorly disguised seating area from when this place was probably a hoppin’ Irish pub back in the 80’s. Hell, even their website (http://www.bayou4bigfun.com/) looks like my 2 year old niece put this thing together… in her sleep… with a crayon. Now mama always said, don’t judge a book by its cover… and no joke, this place is not to be messed with!

I’ve been to New Orleans before and I like to credit myself with having a good idea of what southern style, New Orleans-inspired food should taste like. I’ve messed around with some of the best crawfish, gumbo, etouffee, and jambalaya you can have. The Bayou seriously competes with the BEST OF THE BEST for New Orleans style cuisine.

I tried this place out with a good buddy of mine. Both of us were pretty damn hungry, so we ate and drank like we were going to the electric chair. We kicked it off with a couple of Hurricane drinks which were recommended to us by the waitress – a combination of 4 rums and juices over ice in a signature Bayou glass. Very good and very strong. For appetizer, we had the crawfish tempura which is topped with their “red hot mayo.” This was a solid appetizer to get us going, but not their best work. My friend then had a cup of the gumbo soup which was probably the best I’ve ever tasted. Big chunks of meat with bell peppers, onions, and great seasonings… YUM! For the entrees, he got the “Uptown Etouffee” with shrimp and I got the “Blackened Voodoo” (also with shrimp). My classic line when speaking to the waiter or waitress when I’m looking to get something spicy is, “I want it hot enough where my asshole burns.” Now I know this is not proper dialogue to share with the public, but this place took me seriously. My tremendously tasty blackened shrimp, which was a meal in itself, were placed over a full dish of jambalaya which had shrimp, chicken, and sausage in it (another full meal). On top of that… a full habanero pepper. I enjoyed every single bite of this dish, down to the habanero pepper, which I also managed to engulf. With tears in my eyes and sweat dripping down my forehead, I’m pretty sure I high-fived my friend.

A lineup of drinks, including the "Hurricane" (far left)

Get to this place if you live in the area and have a fairly priced, but very good meal. Don’t go for the ambiance or expecting to impress a date, but go with the intentions of having a solid meal and feeling completely satisfied when you walk out of there. On my scale of 1-10, 10 being HOLY HABANERO status, I give this place an 8. Points lost on the scenery and corny decorations, but very good food and great service!      

 

"Uptown Shrimp Etouffee"

John DeMartino III

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Beach, Beer, and Unicorns

What’s one place you can play ping-pong, life-size chess, have an arm wrestling contest, eat a good meal that’s accompanied with a delicious foreign beer, all while laying on the beach, in the middle of New York City? If you actually have an answer for this question right now, you and I need to speak directly. I never thought a spot like this was possible, but all this goodness and fun is packed into the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club (http://www.beekmanbeergarden.com/) right near South St. Seaport in Manhattan.

I walked in and a smile instantly came to my face. The entrance area is completely covered by a huge tent, possibly 1/3 of the size of a football field. Under the “tent area” you can grab a burger and fries (or other finger foods) and help yourself to hard or soft drinks at the bar. With cafeteria style seating, nobody is a stranger and everyone is warm and welcoming to have you sit down. After you chow down on those delicious munchies, take a walk to the wild side of this place. Beyond the tent is an area that is created to be exactly like a beach! Sand, fire pits, good music, and good people all while being surrounded by water. Whether you want to relax with a brew and have good conversation with your friends or knock some sand in people’s eyes while cuttin’ a rug on the sandy dance floor, this place is great for both. Everything from young kids to old farts, this place packs in a complete mix of ages and ethnicities. If you’re with the kids, a lost tourist in the heart of the downtown area, or maybe just spending the day with that nagging wife/husband, come anyway - the panoramic views alone are worth making the trip!  

On my rating scale of 1-10, 10 being the chilliest, coolest place on earth… this place is an 8. Definitely an awesome experience at least once!

Also, check out their events page – they run different shows, festivals, and eating-inspired days pretty much on a weekly basis - http://www.beekmanbeergarden.com/event.php

John DeMartino III

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Asceticism? Not for these Monks - Burp Castle

 The other night I got the bar-experience of a lifetime. On the weirdness scale from 1 - holy $hit this is weird (10)… it was a solid 9. What could be better than something out of the ordinary though? Don’t hurt yourself thinking about it - the answer is nothing. I love weird things. In fact, the more “out of the norm” it is, the more intrigued I get. The name of the bar was Burp Castle. A friend of mine who I was with had mentioned this place to me and with the anticipation that we were going to kick a few back followed by some belching afterwards, we stumbled upon a whole lot more than just that (and essentially stumbled out). This place was a twilight zone, and if anyone thinks they can recommend something weirder, first round’s on me.

 Burp Castle is on 7th street in the East Village, right next to the oldest bar in NYC, the legendarily known, McSorely’s. Burp Castle has nostalgia of its own though, being over 100 years old and offering the most unique drinking experience you can get in Manhattan. This place is a Belgian beer bar which sticks to its roots of being a Brewist Monk bar. Yes, you just read that right… Monks… a bar… drinking. Weird, I know. You walk into this old establishment and instantly have a ton of thoughts racing through your head -- “What the HELL did I just get myself into?” “I’m going to kill my friend for choosing this place!” “Ehh, this place isn’t too bad.” –

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the dark setting, lit by small individual candles placed sporadically throughout the bar. And oh yeah, the monk music. Now, I’m not sure if there’s a genre called “Monk Music,” but if there is, this place plays it. Soft music that could be compared to that of a church or synagogue and seems to instantly weigh down your eyelids. If this wasn’t my first rodeo, I may have decided to nap under one of the barstools. Luckily though, I stayed awake long enough to reach the bar.

We were greeted by a real nice bartender as soon as we walked in and she instantly won me over by offering me free French fries. The fries, I found out, were from Pommes Frittes, probably the best place to get French fries in NYC. With an array of over 15 dipping sauces for my fries, I kicked back with a light Belgian beer. Ahhh, nothing better. Aside from the eeriness of not being allowed to speak louder than a whisper, all was real well and as per usual. In talking to the bartender I learned a whole lot – 1, fries are free every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday for happy hour between the hours of 5pm-8pm. She suggested getting there around 6pm though because apparently she likes to make the customers wait and doesn’t order the beautiful tray of fried potatoes until about 6:15pm. The bar, like the rest of the block, is grandfathered into the old law which states that hard liquor can’t be served within 500 yards of a school or church (which Burp Castle and the other 5 bars on the block are). So when coming here, expect an awesome variety of Belgian beers and wines, but don’t expect that shot of Jameson you might be craving. Although the talking level is supposed to be at a “whisper,” things have eased up over the years and you can now talk with a soft tone. Want to challenge the bartender that night? Speak loudly. You’ll be “Shushhhhed.” I asked how they control the crowd on a busy weekend night and apparently most people abide by the unique rule. Get out of line, take a good shushing… and probably a few dirty looks. Nobody likes to hear that damn noise whether it’s directed at you or not.

Definitely check this place out. If not for the free fries 3 days a week, the delicious Belgian beer served only in chilled glasses, go for the ambiance and a good memory to throw in the bank.

John DeMartino III à http://about.me/johndemartino3

Professional reviews and write-ups on Yelp! à http://johndemartino3.yelp.com

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Finger Lickin’ Falafel at Mamoun’s

This tiny little gift from God just happened to be placed in the heart of the East Village on St. Marks street, not too far from my job… And no, blogging isn’t my job. I stopped in on my lunch break with the hopes of grabbing a quick bite and being on my way. I had heard great things about this place and it surely lived up to the expectations. If you’re going here with the hope of sitting down to eat your meal, you better have an alternative plan. There are probably 4 seats and 2 tables in this joint (no exaggeration). Be prepared to stand or attempt cafeteria-style seating on somebody’s lap. You never know, you could make a few new friends while you eat.

Mamoun’s is traditionally known for their shwarma and falafel. I didn’t want to waste a trip and not give it a shot, so I got both. With the choice of chicken or lamb, I went with my favorite meat on planet earth – lamb. The shwarma sandwich was rich in flavor with the combination of the juicy lamb, the delicious tahini white sauce combined with their spicy hot sauce and the lettuce, tomato, and onions all packed into a warm pita for only $5.50. This would have definitely been enough food, but the inner fat-boy in me came out, causing me to get a side of falafel. For only $1 (yes, 1 little measly dollar), I got a side of falafel. Three (3) falafel balls (yes I said balls) in a scrumptious white sauce (yes, I said balls in a scrumptious white sauce… fuel to the fire baby!). On top of that, a bottle of water for a buck and I had a full meal for only $7.50 where I pretty much needed to roll myself out of there!

This place kicks ass and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for good, cheap, Middle Eastern food. Be prepared to have your order ready – there’s one guy manning the register and he doesn’t like to be slowed down – and to pay in cash (they don’t take credit, but there’s an ATM directly in front of the eatery which they will direct you to use). Things to note: tax is included in all their prices, the hot sauce is delicious (and very hot) which goes for $3.50/bottle if you want to bring some home, and their falafel is fried, just in case you’re seeking baked falafel.

I definitely recommend this place and will make it one of my regular spots.

John DeMartino III

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Allow Myself to Introduce... Myself

Growing up in suburbia, I got the chance to eat out probably more than most kids. In my younger years, my mother would always cook. Like the little porker, fat child I was, the combination of my complaining and her busy work schedule ended up discouraging her enough to rarely make a homemade meal… ever. So from about 12 years old, I was in the slow making of becoming a food connoisseur and I didn't even know it.

I would try anything that was put in front of me, from frogs legs to rattlesnake. Hell, you could probably offer me a bull’s testicle and I would take a chomp out of it just to get the experience of trying it. It was all appealing to me though (the food in general, not the testicle). As I got older, two things became particularly important to me – culturing myself with the foods of the world and becoming familiar with as many different places as possible.

Not too long ago, I did a cross-country road trip for a month with one of my best friends. Needless to say, it inadvertently turned into a cross-country taste-test. We spoke to locals and made sure we found the best possible food in each location. We had St. Louis style ribs in St. Louis, we indulged in crawfish, etouffee, and jambalaya in New Orleans, we sampled Chicago style pizza, and had some of the largest, most tender steaks throughout Texas. Trust me, we didn’t miss a beat.

I’ve decided to take this concept of trying all the best foods and experiencing all the best places in one of the greatest cities in the world – New York City. I recently moved into “the city”, as us Long Islanders like to call it, and it truly is the land of ample eateries and endless opportunities. The greatest city in the world has more to offer than I’ll probably ever fully grasp, but my goal is to try it all… and essentially share my thoughts and experiences with all of you!

John DeMartino III

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