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Italy’s home away from home – Review of Eataly

March 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY STEPHANIE HARRISON

200 5th Avenue :: Flatiron District
212-229-2560 :: http://eatalyny.com

Fresh vegetables from Eataly

Pasta is not the only dish offer in this Italian market and eatery. Eataly encapsulates a range of meat, fish, cheese, pizza, pasta, gelato, pastries, coffee, and wine and beer.  The place from the outside looks a bit like a corner shop café, but once you step foot inside this palace, the options are endless.  For those of you who enjoy fresh, made-to-order, authentic Italian flavors, this is your haven.

You have an option of Manzo – a more formal dining experience, or La Piazza – the standing table in the center of Eataly.  If you dare to fight for your spot, La Piazza is the spot you want – it’s well worth the wait, and you’re right in the action of the food, fun, and flavors.  The process of La Piazza is a bit confusing; the hustle and bustle of this area forces you to quickly decide what to order, and focus on your fast-paced surroundings.  Have no fear, you can’t go wrong with the Salumi and Formaggi – an assortment of the best cheese and salumi of Eataly.  Normally, I don’t eat much meat or cheese, but this is too good to pass up.  When I spy with my own little eye, the thinly cut slices of meat at the deli, and the blocks of fresh cheese, it’s impossible to not indulge.  A combination of a slim slice of prosciutto cotto mixed with a melt in your mouth mozzarella is to die for.  Share this plate with someone else so that you can try other delectable dishes as well.

Next came the Ostriche (daily selection of oysters).  Some prefer the small, skinny kind, but these were the medium-sized, meaty oysters that slurp right into your mouth.  Add a little vinegar, hot sauce, lemon juice, and freshly grounded horseradish and they’re slurp ready.

If you’re in a hurry, go ahead and pick up these items to go.  Better yet, peruse through the aisles of the market, you can cook up your own authentic Ea-talian entrees.

 

From produce to meats, to fish, to jams, to pasta, Eataly houses a magnificent selection of items for Italian cooking.

Everything is organized beautifully, and most importantly, they are extremely clean.  For you neat-freaks out there, Eataly is the place for you to stock up your pantry.

Truffles of Eataly

 

Photo by Stephanie Harrison

You can even try a $36 miniature sized bottle of balsamic.

Photo by Stephanie Harrison

Or get your hands on these jams, jellies, and sauces.

Next time you’re in the neighborhood, drop by Eataly for some gelato or pastries.  Beware of the line that leads out the door!

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Filed Under: Flatiron District, Food Trends, Italian, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Tribute to Bukowski: Review of Post Office

March 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY MICHELLE WAHLERS

Post Office
188 Havemeyer Street
Williamsburg
718-963-2574 / postofficebk.com/
Photo by Michelle Wahlers

The calendar boasts it is spring, but I would argue otherwise.  I decided to use the chilly weather as an excuse to try Post Office, a whiskey bar located under the Williamsburg Bridge. I met friends and got a table in the middle of the dimly lit, narrow bar. The bartender was willing to help an amateur (me) with the very extensive whiskey, Bourbon and rye list. I decided on the Buffalo Trace on the rocks, and my boyfriend got the Kentucky Vintage, neat. The Buffalo Trace was smooth and had “butterscotchy” tones. The Kentucky Vintage knocked me off my feet and put some hair on my chest with it’s musky, smoky flavor. I preferred the former. The other two guests with us both got Manhattans which were mahogany colored and garnished with a single cherry.


The Post Office’s decor is lovely, vintage and very personal. Above us hung a chandelier, each bulb burning soft. On the tables were candles, which had the habit of blowing out when we moved in to talk to each other. The music playing was a complete throwback, think Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin. The wallpaper was the Eagle Insignia, but I like to think that the true mascot for the place is Charles Bukowksi, whose portrait was hanging above the bar. As a fan girl, I was thrilled.

The menu was scarce, but we all knew what we were getting into. The place is a bar first and this becomes blatantly obvious when you realize the kitchen is about the size of a broom closet and that you can see right into it. I always marvel at kitchens that are so exposed to the public, confidence must run deep. We ordered oysters, deviled eggs, the pickle plate, a grilled cheese with bacon, the pulled pork sandwich and the last filet mignon. (Essentially the entire menu.) As soon as our waiter told me there was only one left I made it a point to reserve it. The food did not arrive promptly, but the service was always assuring us of its whereabouts and re-filling drinks. This is not a place to go for a quick bite, but it never presents itself as such. It promotes leisure and contemplation.

Of all the food we ordered, I have to say the deviled eggs were my favorite. That doesn’t even seem fair when steak is in the equation, but like I said this place is a bar that happens to serve food, not the other way around. Also I have an affinity to deviled eggs and these were made damn near perfectly.  The pickle plate was a fun way to begin the meal, with pickled peaches, beets, mushrooms, blackberries and peppers. (Trust me, somehow this all works together.) The filet mignon was rare but a bit too tough, but the bed of mashed potatoes it was lying on was delicious, swimming in bacon gravy. The grilled cheese was cooked perfectly; the bacon to cheese ration was 50:50 (which to me, is perfect!). The pulled pork sandwich was packed with freshly made coleslaw and thinly shredded pork on a dark toasted bun.

When our plates were cleared and we were warm and full, the place seemed to be gaining real momentum.  A small line formed (no doubt waiting for our table), and we started heading out, although I could have stayed for much longer. The mood was kind and calm, but with a healthy appreciation for the devious, as the portrait above the bar would suggest.

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Filed Under: American, Beer, Brooklyn, Food Trends, Pub Food, Pubs, Reviews, Williamsburg Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Street Food for the Serious Foodie – Review of Wafels & Dinges

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY ERIN PALISIN

Wafels & Dinges

Various Locations in Manhattan
(Truck Schedule: wafelsanddinges.com/location.html)
1-866-429-7329 / www.wafelsanddinges.com
 Email:  info@wafelsanddinges.com

Wafles & Dinges Truck - Photo by Erin Palisin

It seems over the past year the term “street food” has evolved from quick, cheap eats on the go to sophisticated and gourmet snacks, treats and even meals. The food truck industry has been booming everywhere, as evidenced by the popular show “The Great Food Truck Race” on The Food Network channel, and is celebrated each year here in New York with the Vendies Awards that honors our local food truck favorites. (Wafles and Dinges was a Vendy Awards Dessert Finalist in 2009.)

With winter (hopefully) behind us and sunny skies and sandals on the horizon, now is the time to get to know our local food truck vendors. Wafels and Dinges, a Belgian inspired, desert focused food truck, serves up gourmet treats that will make you feel as if you are walking down the streets of Brussels instead of 7th Avenue.

Wafles & Dinges - Photo by Erin Palisin

Unfortunately for my friends and dining companions, menu anxiety is something I regularly suffer from. How will you know if you ordered the wrong thing and missed out on a potentially life changing culinary experience? When I am stuck on what to order, the most natural thing to do seems to ask the experts; in this case my Wafels and Dinges cook/server. My friendly vendie recommended the “de Throwdown Wafel” that challenged Iron Chef Bobby Flay to a wafel throwdown. I was not disappointed, and did not suffer from menu buyer’s remorse as I often do. The spekuloos spread was the perfect topping to the chewy wafel. It looked, tasted and smelled very similar to peanut butter with a hint of cinnamon. It is no doubt why Time Out NY called this the “Best Condiment of 2010”.

Other menu items that sparked my interest were the BBQ Pulled Pork wafel, de bacon + syrup wafel and the de verdekke (their version of an ice cream sandwich). Also make sure to take note of the special of the day like I did my second time visiting the Wafels & Dinges food truck. This time I feasted on a wafel topped with Mascarpone cheese, fresh raspberries, honey sauce, whipped cream and powdered sugar. I chose to go with the liege wafel, which is a chewy, light wafel made from dough as compared to the Brussels wafel which is on the crispier side made from batter. (this being a fun fact learned from my vendie server, Steve. Thanks, Steve!)

Although prices are somewhat higher than you might expect at a food truck (i.e. $6 for my de throwdown wafel), menu options, welcoming vendies and quality treats make it worth the stop. The Wafels and Dinges truck is on the go throughout the city. Either call the toll free number or reference the Food Truck schedule on their website, both listed above.

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Filed Under: Belgian, Food Trends, Food Vending Trucks, Informational, Work day lunches Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Street Food for the Serious Foodie – Review of Wafels & Dinges

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY ERIN PALISIN

Wafels & Dinges

Various Locations in Manhattan
(Truck Schedule: wafelsanddinges.com/location.html)
1-866-429-7329 / www.wafelsanddinges.com
 Email:  info@wafelsanddinges.com

Wafles & Dinges Truck - Photo by Erin Palisin

It seems over the past year the term “street food” has evolved from quick, cheap eats on the go to sophisticated and gourmet snacks, treats and even meals. The food truck industry has been booming everywhere, as evidenced by the popular show “The Great Food Truck Race” on The Food Network channel, and is celebrated each year here in New York with the Vendies Awards that honors our local food truck favorites. (Wafles and Dinges was a Vendy Awards Dessert Finalist in 2009.)

With winter (hopefully) behind us and sunny skies and sandals on the horizon, now is the time to get to know our local food truck vendors. Wafels and Dinges, a Belgian inspired, desert focused food truck, serves up gourmet treats that will make you feel as if you are walking down the streets of Brussels instead of 7th Avenue.

Wafles & Dinges - Photo by Erin Palisin

Unfortunately for my friends and dining companions, menu anxiety is something I regularly suffer from. How will you know if you ordered the wrong thing and missed out on a potentially life changing culinary experience? When I am stuck on what to order, the most natural thing to do seems to ask the experts; in this case my Wafels and Dinges cook/server. My friendly vendie recommended the “de Throwdown Wafel” that challenged Iron Chef Bobby Flay to a wafel throwdown. I was not disappointed, and did not suffer from menu buyer’s remorse as I often do. The spekuloos spread was the perfect topping to the chewy wafel. It looked, tasted and smelled very similar to peanut butter with a hint of cinnamon. It is no doubt why Time Out NY called this the “Best Condiment of 2010”.

Other menu items that sparked my interest were the BBQ Pulled Pork wafel, de bacon + syrup wafel and the de verdekke (their version of an ice cream sandwich). Also make sure to take note of the special of the day like I did my second time visiting the Wafels & Dinges food truck. This time I feasted on a wafel topped with Mascarpone cheese, fresh raspberries, honey sauce, whipped cream and powdered sugar. I chose to go with the liege wafel, which is a chewy, light wafel made from dough as compared to the Brussels wafel which is on the crispier side made from batter. (this being a fun fact learned from my vendie server, Steve. Thanks, Steve!)

Although prices are somewhat higher than you might expect at a food truck (i.e. $6 for my de throwdown wafel), menu options, welcoming vendies and quality treats make it worth the stop. The Wafels and Dinges truck is on the go throughout the city. Either call the toll free number or reference the Food Truck schedule on their website, both listed above.

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Wafels & Dinges (MOBILE CART) on Urbanspoon

Filed Under: Belgian, Food Trends, Food Vending Trucks, Informational, Work day lunches Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

One of Manhattan’s best-kept secrets – Review of The Cowgirl Seahorse

March 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY ERIN PALISIN

The Cowgirl Seahorse
259 Front St.
Financial District
(212) 608-7873 / www.cowgirlseahorse.com

Prickly Pear Frozen Margarita

Although it is not as well -known as its sister restaurant and bar Cowgirl (reviewed on TGP by Carolyn Onofrey in 2010) located in the West Village, Cowgirl SeaHorse is one of the best well kept secrets in Manhattan and a popular neighborhood favorite. Located at the South Street Seaport in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge, the “make yourself at home” atmosphere, beachy décor and friendly (and generously pouring I might add) bartenders and staff make this place an every-day escape from the fast paced New York streets. Buy one get one free happy hours seven days a week, $2 Taco Tuesdays, housemade frozen Maragaritas (including prickly pear and blood orange flavors) and an overall reasonably priced and surprisingly diverse menu are what you will find at the Cowgirl Seahorse.

Pulled pork sandwich with a side of hush puppies and vinegar based cole slaw.

There are several menu items that are complete must haves. My first culinary experience at the Seahorse involved devouring the best pulled pork sandwich I had ever tasted.  The vinegar based barbeque sauce is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. It is flavorful enough to only need a small side to top your pork with. Throw in a side of homemade hush puppies, and the Seahorse had a very happy customer. It took a few visits for me to move on from the pulled pork, but once I did, I certainly did not regret stepping outside of my pork comfort zone. The grilled fish tacos are the most popular menu item, and rightfully so. The light tacos (served grilled or fried, go with grilled) are topped with a light, refreshing mango salsa.

Lastly, one of my mantras of menu ordering is to never order something that I could easily make at home. After all, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of eating out in the first place? In staying true to my beliefs, I very rarely order salads at a restaurant. Unless of course it is the All Chopped Up salad at the Seahorse. I don’t know what kind of addictive substances they put in their lemon poppy seed vinaigrette dressing, but it’s working. However, if your boss is J. Peterman and you need to be drug tested for your upcoming business trip to Africa, wait until your next visit for the All Chopped Up. (Hopefully we have some Seinfeld fans out there, otherwise that reference was totally wasted).

The only warning I leave you with is expect to wait awhile for your food. If you are in a hurry, the Seahorse isn’t for you. Perhaps the long wait for food is just part of the laid-back, vacation style vibe of the whole place. (Although the black-eyed pea salsa and homemade tortilla chips they often set down complimentary at your table paired with one of the aforementioned frozen margaritas make the wait a lot more enjoyable).

Because of its location, expect to find a large Wall Street happy hour crowd that does not seem so Wall Street at all. Instead of heading  to the over-crowded, suit flooded Stone Street, meander over to the Cowgirl Seahorse for a surprise that will keep you coming back for more. Worth the trip downtown for non-neighborhood locals or for tourists soaking in the sights at the South Street Seaport.

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Cowgirl Sea Horse on Urbanspoon

Filed Under: Financial District, Food Trends, Mexican, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

One of Manhattan's best-kept secrets – Review of The Cowgirl Seahorse

March 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY ERIN PALISIN

The Cowgirl Seahorse
259 Front St.
Financial District
(212) 608-7873 / www.cowgirlseahorse.com

Prickly Pear Frozen Margarita

Although it is not as well -known as its sister restaurant and bar Cowgirl (reviewed on TGP by Carolyn Onofrey in 2010) located in the West Village, Cowgirl SeaHorse is one of the best well kept secrets in Manhattan and a popular neighborhood favorite. Located at the South Street Seaport in the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge, the “make yourself at home” atmosphere, beachy décor and friendly (and generously pouring I might add) bartenders and staff make this place an every-day escape from the fast paced New York streets. Buy one get one free happy hours seven days a week, $2 Taco Tuesdays, housemade frozen Maragaritas (including prickly pear and blood orange flavors) and an overall reasonably priced and surprisingly diverse menu are what you will find at the Cowgirl Seahorse.

Pulled pork sandwich with a side of hush puppies and vinegar based cole slaw.

There are several menu items that are complete must haves. My first culinary experience at the Seahorse involved devouring the best pulled pork sandwich I had ever tasted.  The vinegar based barbeque sauce is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. It is flavorful enough to only need a small side to top your pork with. Throw in a side of homemade hush puppies, and the Seahorse had a very happy customer. It took a few visits for me to move on from the pulled pork, but once I did, I certainly did not regret stepping outside of my pork comfort zone. The grilled fish tacos are the most popular menu item, and rightfully so. The light tacos (served grilled or fried, go with grilled) are topped with a light, refreshing mango salsa.

Lastly, one of my mantras of menu ordering is to never order something that I could easily make at home. After all, doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of eating out in the first place? In staying true to my beliefs, I very rarely order salads at a restaurant. Unless of course it is the All Chopped Up salad at the Seahorse. I don’t know what kind of addictive substances they put in their lemon poppy seed vinaigrette dressing, but it’s working. However, if your boss is J. Peterman and you need to be drug tested for your upcoming business trip to Africa, wait until your next visit for the All Chopped Up. (Hopefully we have some Seinfeld fans out there, otherwise that reference was totally wasted).

The only warning I leave you with is expect to wait awhile for your food. If you are in a hurry, the Seahorse isn’t for you. Perhaps the long wait for food is just part of the laid-back, vacation style vibe of the whole place. (Although the black-eyed pea salsa and homemade tortilla chips they often set down complimentary at your table paired with one of the aforementioned frozen margaritas make the wait a lot more enjoyable).

Because of its location, expect to find a large Wall Street happy hour crowd that does not seem so Wall Street at all. Instead of heading  to the over-crowded, suit flooded Stone Street, meander over to the Cowgirl Seahorse for a surprise that will keep you coming back for more. Worth the trip downtown for non-neighborhood locals or for tourists soaking in the sights at the South Street Seaport.

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Cowgirl Sea Horse on Urbanspoon

Filed Under: Financial District, Food Trends, Mexican, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

NYC landmark Gray’s Papaya closed

March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
GraysPapaya

Gray’s Papaya – 8th Avenue Photo courtesy of www.ronsaari.com

Gray’s Papaya on the corner of 37th street and 8th avenue closed its doors this weekend due to unreasonable rent increases, reports an employee at another location.  The chain plans to reopen this store at another Midtown location, but talks remain in the works as to when and where this will occur.


The three store chain was founded in 1973 by a former employee of the similar chain “Papaya King,” and quickly found its way into the hearts of New Yorkers, serving up hot dogs with a signature snap and frothy papaya, as well as other tropical flavored, drinks.


There wasn’t much else like standing at the stainless steel counter on a hot Summer day, snacking on a few of their dogs while people watching.  I’m sure that I’m not the only one who feels a little saddened to say goodbye to this location on 8th Avenue.

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Filed Under: Food Trends, Informational, Midtown, Midtown West, Neighborhood News, Restaurant News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Raw for a week

February 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Buddha Bowl at Quintessence

Buddha Bowl at Quintessence

As an experiment, I decided to try a raw diet for a week.  Eating raw (that is, eating things like raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds among other things) has a steady following, so much so that there are entire stores and restaurants geared toward the raw foodist.

I stopped by some of these stores and restaurants to get an idea of what my options were as I planned my week of meals; if I was going to do this raw thing, I was going to do it right!

Probably the most well known of the raw restaurants in New York City is Pure Food & Wine.  Pure Food & Wine serves gourmet raw food, presented artfully in a serene setting.  A meal here will set you back around $50 per person, but if you’re serious about raw food, or just want to try a great raw meal, Pure Food & Wine is your best bet.  Pure Food & Wine also has a satellite market around the corner called One Lucky Duck.

For a more budget friendly and low key raw experience, check out Quintessence located in the East Village.  While the food may not be as creative or artfully masked as “raw”, Quintessence is a great go-to for the raw foodist.

While I would have loved to eat out for every meal, as eating raw requires a bit more work and preparation than a cooked diet – my budget didn’t allow the luxury and so I headed to High Vibe, a raw-vegan shop with a great selection of raw snacks and ingredients such as kale chips, “mac and cheese” bites, and unpasteurized soy sauce and cold pressed raw olive oil.

For more substantial raw eats (and my favorite stop on my raw food adventures), I went to Westerly Market where they have a wide selection of pre-made raw food items like a raw mock tuna sandwich, raw falafel, and even raw lo mein.

After my week of raw, I highly recommend a raw diet if you’re up for the challenge.  While I craved the meat and dairy that I could not have, I was more energetic both waking up in the morning and at night, not feeling the need to pass out on the couch after work as well as the 3 o’clock slump that I often fall into after lunch at work where my eyes get heavy and a cup of coffee sounds heavenly.  As much as I missed a hot meal my mind was crisp and clear, and the extra pounds I gained this winter seemed to melt off my mid section.

While I certainly noticed a difference in my energy levels, I also found myself feeling unsatisfied – like I was missing something.  It wasn’t until my week was over and I was weaning myself off raw, eating a raw breakfast and lunch and having a cooked meal for dinner that I was both energetic and satisfied.  When I’m feeling bogged down and in need of a detox, I will go raw again but until then if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you really are what you eat and that everything truly is good in moderation, you just have to find your perfect balance.

Interested in raw?  Request a complete list of raw in any city at: rawfoodrestaurantguide.com.

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One Lucky Duck on Urbanspoon

Filed Under: East Village, Food Trends, Gramercy Park, Informational, Organic Kitchen, Raw Food, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comfort food gone wild – Review of No. 7

January 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

No. 7
7 Greene Avenue
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
718-522-6370/no7restaurant.com

No. 7 is a true neighborhood restaurant.  With a small dining area housed in what probably got its start as a stable with high ceilings and a loft space, friendly wait staff, and a surprisingly tiny open kitchen, you’d never guess that No. 7 turns out some truly unique dishes that pack a punch.

The small brunch menu at No. 7 makes your decision easier when everything on the menu sounds so good.  The bologna sandwich ($10) was my choice, served with a fried egg, pickled onion, and feta cheese.  While I wouldn’t normally order a bologna sandwich for brunch (or any other meal), the combination of flavors seemed too wonderful and strange to pass up.

Bologna Sandwich at No. 7

Bologna Sandwich at No. 7

The sandwich came out on a multi seeded hamburger bun and was surprisingly hearty looking, with the bologna about an inch thick and grilled to perfection adding a smoky taste to the sandwich.  The combination of the runny egg, the smoky bologna and salty, tangy taste of the onion and cheese worked surprisingly well together and kept my palate stimulated, never growing bored of the symphony in my mouth.  I found myself mopping up the yolk that had fallen to the plate with my last bites of sandwich, and not really caring what I looked like doing it.

Crispy homefries at No. 7

Crispy homefries at No. 7

As much as I loved my dish, the friends that I was with felt the same about theirs.  In particular the soft boiled fried egg that came with the Bowl of Rice ($8), a crispy on the outside egg, with a wonderfully runny egg center.

The entire menu picks up hints of Asian inspired elements that add an unexpected dimension to the food without being considered “Asian” itself; lychee, muchim, and white rice dotting the menu.

Try No.7 for brunch or dinner and be adventurous, you won’t be let down!

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Filed Under: American, Brooklyn, Food Trends, Fort Greene, Reviews, Trendy Spots Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

NYC loves meatballs – Review of The Meatball Shop

December 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

The Meatball Shop
84 Stanton Street
Lower East Side
212-982-8895/themeatballshop.com

A cranberry and turkey delight at The Meatball Shop

A cranberry and turkey delight at The Meatball Shop

On a Wednesday night, The Meatball Shop is packed.  In fact, nearly every night of the week The Meatball Shop is packed.  The Meatball Shop has one simple concept: meatballs. With options, (but not too many) you can mix and match your favorite meats and sauces to create your ultimate comfort food meal for minimal cost in a trendy Lower East Side restaurant.

After our 15 minute wait outside the crowded restaurant, my guest and I entered the homey low-lit restaurant complete with vintage photographs of someone’s family lining the walls.  Our ditsy waitress was nice enough as she explained the special for the night, a turkey meatball served Thanksgiving-style with stuffing and cranberry sauce and when asked for her opinion, gladly told us which balls and sauces topped her list.

Three silders at The Meatball Shop

Three silders at The Meatball Shop

We ended up ordering the turkey meatball special and the sliders ($3 ea) (a good way to try a variety of flavors).  Our dinner came out quickly, and we dug in.  The turkey meatballs with homemade cranberry sauce were everything that Thanksgiving should be.  The tart cranberries with the mellow meatballs, creamy gravy, and fresh thyme put a smile on our faces as we were aching for just one more bite.  The sliders, a single meatball with a bit of sauce soaked up by the buns that housed them were a bit dry, the standout of the three being the classic beef meatball with a simple tomato sauce.  Although I was wishing for more sauce, the quality of the locally sourced ingredients and the great thought put into each detail of, not only the menu but also the décor was as evident as the owners were, manning the bar and the takeout counter.

For dessert we tried the homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich ($4) with house-made vanilla ice cream.  The simple sandwich alone would keep me coming back to The Meatball Shop with the flavors and textures being on point and not too sweet.  Even though it may have not been the most practical to eat, the cookies being much too hard for the ice cream, the sandwich was an absolute delight.

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Filed Under: Food Trends, lower east side, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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