Posts tagged flatiron

Shorty’s Philly Cheesesteaks

We went to Shorty’s for what they claim to be serving authentic Philly Cheesesteaks in NYC. The bread is actually shipped from Philly. Chris, who’s from there, thinks they’re the closest sandwiches he’s had in New York. So that sounds like a good thing.

The restaurant is more like a sports bar than a lunch spot in my opinion. But it was good for people that were there to catch some of the Euro Cup games.

I got the Shorty’s Special –a Beer & a Cheeseteak for $12 (Mon-Fri 12-7pm & 11pm-close). Pretty good deal considering the Cheesesteaks are $9 and the beers start at $5. But it did keep me from trying the Steak Special (Cheesesteak with Broccoli Rabe).

Chris and Sam got us started on Italian Fries (Parmesan cheese) and Onion Rings. They smelled so good when they came out.

The Chicken Cheesesteak looked rather slim on the fillings, but maybe it’s just that the chicken and cheese was camouflaged into the bread. I wasn’t sure there was anything in it.

My regular beef Cheesesteak wasn’t as fully packed as I expected either, but in the end I was totally stuffed. It was more than adequate. I thought it was a decent sandwich. Better when I put ketchup on it. I don’ t know that’s a Philly thing, but I saw Chris do it.

I’m curious to know what other people think. Is it authentic Philly-style Cheesesteak?

Shorty’s - 66 Madison Ave (btwn 27th & 28th St) New York, NY 10016

 

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Marky Ramone’s Cruisin’ Kitchen Meatball Truck

Yesterday, Sam and I walked by this new Meatball food truck parked behind our office (near Madison Square Park & Eataly). It’s Marky Ramone’s (of The Ramones!) food truck, serving meatballs… head by this accomplished chef.

We were headed somewhere else to get food and I asked them when they’ll be back. They said tomorrow (which is today). I thought, “Oh shit. They are going to come back to this shitty spot because they think we are going to come back to get two meatballs?” I walk by this spot everyday and have seen so many lonely food trucks (with the exeption of Kimchi Taco Truck). When we walked back with our lunches, there was no one in line. I said hi. One guy smiled at me, then he saw my food and his smiled dipped. I was thinking, “Shit.” …and they did come back today.

I was pretty surprised that they were men of their word. Were they coming back to this shitty spot because now we were obligated to buy two meatballs? Luckily, there were a few people there in line. I felt relieved.

Sam got the Italian Original (beef balls) with Marky Ramone’s Marinara Sauce and I got the Asian (Pork), since Sam and I are both Asian. We swapped balls to taste each others. You can get them on a roll or with crisps (toasted bread chips or Fried Chinese Noodles for the Asian ones). The meatballs look good in the basket (as in the display), but they put them in plastic containers to go. See the last four photos.

Overall, they were pretty good. But I expected more from such a fiery looking truck with Marky Ramone’s name on it. I was expecting bold flavors or a kicked up spicy meatball that punched me in the face. They were quality balls, but not so rock n roll. Plus, are they worth $7?

I think this Meatball truck will fare better in Midtown or at least over to Park Ave and mid 20′s …not this shitty spot. It doesn’t do me any favors by telling people to park away from my office, but I’m just trying to help.

Marky Ramone’s Cruisin’ Kitchen – Facebook & Twitter

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The Hog Pit’s Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

Before band practice, I killed some time at The Hog Pit –watched some Knicks and ordered the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich ($14). The menu doesn’t seem too cheap, but dang …pretty darn good sandwich. I didn’t think you could put a Chicken Fried Steak between more breading, but Texas Toast does work nice. However, I think this needs a bigger cup of white gravy …maybe two or three.

Also, the place was quite bumpin’. There was a drunk after-work office party and groups of hipsters girls that I felt I could more relate to. …I think I just called myself a cute hipster girl. Dang.

The Hog Pit - 37 W 26th St (btwn Broadway & Madison Ave) New York, NY 10010

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Wahoo’s Fish Tacos in NYC

They recently opened up a Wahoo’s (the west coast fish taco chain) in Manhattan. The first couple of weeks, it was packed full of people in business suits. It’s calmed down a bit since, but still a good crowd. Sam and I were able to get a table pretty easily.

You order at the counter. But if you dine in, they bring it to you on real plates and silverware. The tacos look pretty good on real plates.

Tacos are $2.99. I got the combo (2 tacos with rice and beans) for $7.99 …a fish and a pork. I also ordered a Wahoo’s Green Sauce ($0.69).

The first bite was pretty good. Then I don’t know what happened. Everything was kinda dry and bland. At least it was saved by that tasty Green Sauce (think Sophie’s style green sauce). I don’t know what I would’ve done without it. I’ll probably just come back to buy the Green Sauce (12 oz for $2.69).

Wahoo’s - 333 Park Ave S (btwn 24th & 25th St) New York, NY 10010

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Mexico Blvd Food Truck

Here’s a new food truck that stopped by near Union Square when I was walking around looking for leather gloves. I know it’s unusually warm this time of year, but why is it always hard to find winter stuff in the winter? Everyone is selling Spring stuff now.

Anyway, this monster of a truck was pretty cool and dynamic looking …kinda like a big mechanical bull.

I ordered the Pork Pastor Tortas Sandwich (Pork Tenderloin marinated in their three chiles sauce). It was a nice clean looking and clean tasting sandwich, much to do with the bread and the nicer cut of tenderloin. A non-greasy sandwich that would probably do well with the general office crowd. However, it still had that zing with their authentic style red sauce, which got all over my face and fingers and coat and jeans. That’s a good thing.

It was a decent sandwich that could probably use some stringy white Oaxaca cheese, but did get good when I bit on the jalapeno.

Mexico Blvd Food Truck - http://mexicoblvd.com/

 

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Shake Shack’s Jeremy Lin-Mint Shake

Shake Shack is having a Jeremy Lin inspired shake for a limited time. It’s Chocolate Chip Mint Cookie milkshake ($5.75).

Sam brought one back to the office and let me taste. Super thick. It was good. I wonder if that’s what Jeremy Lin tastes like.

I love cookie dough in ice cream. Now I wonder what Fortune Cookie dough or Almond Cookie dough would taste like in ice cream. Maybe that would be racist, but it more sense, right?

Shake Shack - Madison Square Park. E 23rd St & Madison Ave. New York, NY 10010

Shake Shack Jeremy Lin Mint Shake Shake Shacks Jeremy Lin Mint Shake

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Nasha Rasha Russian Restaurant

Sam took me out to lunch because I won a sports bet. We went to a relatively new Russian restaurant in our work area –Nasha Rasha. From the outside, I thought it was a little too intimidating for a lunch spot. But on the inside, it’s sorta kitschy with neon red communist signs, walls of vodka and cute waitresses in folk uniforms.

They also have a decent sounding lunch Prix Fixe for $15, which turned out to be pretty awesome. Came with soup, salad, drink and entree. The Borsch beet soup was great. Olivier Salad (famous russian salad of potatoes, vegetables & bologna& mayonnaise) was decent potato salad. The drinks were awesome. Sam had the Kompot and I had the Uzvar. Both fruit drinks. Both delicious. I haven’t drank fruit drinks since Hi-C.

Then the waitress brought out our dumpling entrees with these big Russian dolls on top. I didn’t know what was going on when they came out. Cool presentation. I recommend the Pelmeni over the Vareniki. The meat texture was better. Vareniki filling was cat food like. I ate it all because it tasted good with the melted butter at the bottom of the bowl and sour cream. Maybe I like cat food.

Very filling all in all. I’m glad I won. The bill came in a neat box.

I’m trying to think of a good way to finish this post off. All I can I think of is that time Rusty and I let some Russian girls stay over because they Myspaced our band page. Now that I look at that old post, I guess it was a little racist. But it’s probably fine. They locked Rusty out of his room.

Nasha Rasha Russian Restaurant & Vodka Bar – 4 W 19th St (btwn 5th & 6th Ave) New York 10011

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Fresh & Fast’s New Burger

I was invited to try Fresh & Fast’s new burger. Used to be a Pat LaFrieda blend of meat. They now get their beef sourced from Master Purveyors. Gutsy move. All I ever hear about is Pat LaFrieda. I’d like to try this new burger.

In true fashion, the first thing I did there was accidentally knock over a drink on an older lady’s coat. I can’t believe they now serve beer at this place. That’s rad. The lady was pissed though. I was apologetic, but she wasn’t having it. It was hard for me to understand why she was so pissed. But I think that’s because I’m used to having beer and bowls of chili spilled all over me all the time. I just thank Tebow every morning that I live to see another day. No reason to cry over spilled milk.

Now onto the “new and improved” burger. The owner and general manager were very proud of it. They gave me a double cheese with bacon. Holy Moly. Grease oozing out everywhere. I’m thinking that’s how a burger should be. It was good and my hands were a mess. I went to the hand sanitize despenser and accidentally squirted it all over some guys’ fries. They didn’t care. They just laughed. That’s the spirit.

I like the new changes here. New burger, new hand-cut fries, now serving beer and they changed the “N” in Fresh N Fast to “&” …maybe to be steer away from the In-N-Out comparisons?

I remember liking the old Fresh & Fast burger before. The new one is good too. I just always wondered why people would want to wait in line for an hour at Shake Shack, when they could be in and out in a few minutes.

Fresh & Fast - 111 E 23rd St (btwn Park Ave & Lexington) New York, NY 10010

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