Pines Picks

A Sad Day for Cheesesteak Lovers

David — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:58:01 +0000

In the last few weeks, Carl’s Steaks closed its doors on Third Avenue (around 34th Street). It’s a sad day for cheesesteak lovers in NYC, but hopefully Carl’s Steaks will still be available at Yankee Stadium.

Breakfast Dumplings

David — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:35:23 +0000

Not long ago, I discovered the breakfast dumplings at Norma’s on 119 West 56th (between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). Norma’s is the first place I had ever seen breakfast dumplings on the menu so I got extremely excited about trying them.

Though I was hoping for the best, I was a little afraid each dumpling might turn out to be a disastrously heavy mini-omelet with clumpy pieces of food in it that the chef called a “breakfast dumpling” just to be different. But, what arrived at the table was exactly what I was hoping for: light, airy dumplings that are small, fragrant, and totally delicious.

The breakfast dumplings come out steaming, and are filled with fluffy scrambled eggs and finely chopped mushrooms and shrimp. They are served with a sweet and sour sesame sauce, which matches perfectly with the dumplings. It is worth going to Norma’s just to try the dumplings!

(Note: per my prior Pines Picks, Norma’s has awesome French toast and other delicious breakfast items as well). The dumplings, however, are definitely a unique standout dish. Not surprisingly, I finished them in record time and have been back several times to get more.

What’s happening to Dylan Prime?

David — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:38:13 +0000

Dylan Prime appears to be closed. I don’t know what the story is. I’m not sure if the closure is temporary (I hope) or permanent. This is a great place, and I’m pulling for it!

NEW PINES PICK — Fish Tacos

David — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:33:33 +0000

Rockaway Taco

www.rockawaytaco.com
95-19 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Rockaway Beach, NY 11693
(347) 213-7466

I tried a lot of fish tacos all over NYC. My choice: Rockaway Taco. Rockaway Taco makes one awesome fish taco. The fish they use appears to be tilapia: it is nice and white and flaky. The outside of the fish is crispy, almost tempura like. The tortilla is not soggy at all, and is hot, grilled and delicious. There is red cabbage on the taco, which give it a nice freshness and a good crunch. I recommend the delicious, flavorful guacamole as an added topping: it really adds zest and texture. All I can say is that is all the flavors combined make up an outstanding, not-to-be missed fish taco.

Runners Up

Pinche Taqueria

www.pinchetaqueria.us
227 Mott Street
(Between Prince & Spring Street)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 625-0090

333 Lafayette Street
(Between Bleecker & Houston Streets)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 343-9977

Mole Mexican Bar & Grill

www.MoleNYC.com
205 Allen St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 777-3200

57 Jane St
(Corner of Jane St & Hudson St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 206-7559

1735 2nd Ave
(between 89th St & 90th St)
New York, NY 10128
(212) 289-8226

178 Kent Ave
(Corner of North 4th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 384-2300

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef — Roast Beef Sandwich

David — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:31:45 +0000

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef is a very small hole-in-a-wall type establishment that specializes in roast beef sandwiches. You can eat there or take out, but it is probably better for take out.

You can choose from several types of roast beef as well as other sandwiches, and then you pick if you want a roll or a hero. I tried the “This Way” sandwich and the “That Way” version – among other things, one had Cheese Whiz on it and the other had fresh, melted Mozzarella. I ordered them both on a roll and loved them. The sandwiches are hot and fresh. If you are hungry for roast beef, you should definitely try this place.

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

http://www.thislittlepiggynyc.com/

149 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10003
212-253-1500

Looking for a New Place for Muffins

David — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:50:44 +0000

Sadly, Beacon, the Pines Picks winner for muffins, is now closed so I’m on a hunt for a replacement. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

New Sarabeth’s Kitchen Location

David — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:00:55 +0000

There is a new Sarabeth’s Kitchen where the old Primehouse used to be. It is a really big space, so it is easier to get a table there during crowded times.

They also have a new item on the menu: a popover omelet, served in a popover that is flaky on the outside and has a lot of dough inside. The omelet is light, and the cheese in the popover adds a nice flavor. The omelet also contains cream cheese, which creates more flavor and adds thick, extra flavorful spots inside the omelet. I love Sarabeth’s jelly, and if you add a little bit of jelly to the popover dish it creates a delicious, sweet and savory taste.

Pie Face

David — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:06:58 +0000

I saw a place with a cool name, so I went in to check it out. It was definitely worth the visit.

I was excited to find a great, little bakery (imported from Australia) with awesome regular-sized and mini pies in both sweet and savory varieties. I tried a bunch of the little pies; my favorite was the cherry pie for sweet, and the chicken and mushroom for savory.

The cherry is fresh with a nice sweet and sour flavor. On the sweet side, I also really liked the apple pie, which has lots of apple chunks inside with a sweet jelly like filling.But, my favorite of all the pies was the chicken and mushroom. It has a really soft, fresh crust that is neither mushy nor too crunchy. The crust is also very flaky. The mini pies are fun to eat and great for dessert or a snack.

A few extra things worth noting about Pie Face. Only the savory pies were heated. You might want to heat the sweet pies yourself–I think they taste a lot better when you do. Also, each of the pies has a face on them, and there is a code that tells you what kind you have. And finally, if you want, Pie Face, will add a “stack” to the full-size savory pies—which consists of delicious, hot gravy and mashed potatoes piled on top. It’s a meal in itself, and a really tasty one at that.

Pie Face

www.piefacenyc.com

1691 Broadway
(@West 53rd)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 247-9065

507A Third Avenue
(@ 34th Street)
New York, NY 10022
(855) 444 3388

469 7th Avenue South
(Penn Station)
New York, NY 10018
(855) 444 3388

Worth a Trip to Miami!

David — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:35:47 +0000

Just got back from a trip to Miami where I had the opportunity to dine at the Milos there. If it is possible, the Milos in Miami was even better than the one in NYC. They had all the same delicious menu items with a few added, including a selection of sashimi that was unbelievable. I tried the sashimi sampler, which enabled me to taste several types of fish. I particularly loved the tuna sashimi, which was served with dill and chili spices. All the ingredients combined to create a delicious, light, and tasty flavor. I also loved the smoked salmon which was smokey and savory and had an awesome, smooth texture. Another thing I loved about the Miami version of Milos is that the Greek spreads were served with warm pita, instead of thick bread. Yumm. Maybe it was the warm weather, but there was something really magical about the Miami Milos. Of all the restaurants I tried in Miami, it was by far the best, and I would love to go back someday soon.

NEW PINES PICK – Strawberry Shortcake

David — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:30:01 +0000

Viniero’s Pasticceria and Caffé

www.vinierospastry.com

342 E. 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7070

The strawberry shortcake at Veniero’s makes for one extremely tasty midday snack, or late night dessert. The cake is spongy (in a good way) and perfectly moist, but not soggy. This shortcake contains an awesome homemade fresh whipped cream that tastes amazing. Inside each cake are layers of a ripe, juicy strawberry filling. The strawberries add a sweet yet clean flavor to the cake. The milky cream and the sweet strawberry filling balance each other out which makes the cake just right. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to make a special trip just to have a slice of this cake; I highly recommend that you give it a try.