New York Favorites

I struggled to find more restaurants that I have been to and could discuss, but it looks like I have talked about all of the restaurants I could remember enough information to write about. So I thought to myself, "what can I talk about this week?". Then it hit me, New York favorites! New York favorites are classic foods most New Yorkers eat on a daily basis. You will find this to be very true by observing New Yorkers in their natural habitats.

The first, and probably most famous, New York favorite is the dollar slice of pizza. The dollar slice of pizza is great because it is only a dollar and tastes amazing. Most people will say "there is nothing like the dollar slice" and they are right. You can find a dollar slice on almost every block in NYC and at almost every corner store/deli in most neighborhoods. The dollar slice is a regular-sized cheese slice of pizza, usually topped with garlic, oregano, parmesan cheese, and red pepper, served on a white paper plate. However, these toppings can be change due to ones likings. Most New Yorkers can be found eating a dollar slice after school, during lunch breaks, or for late night snacks during the summers. My favorite dollar slice spot is in Elmont, New York. The pizza shop is located in a shopping area called "The Op" (I know, New Yorkers and their slang). The shop is always busy with high schoolers being that it is across the street from a high school. It is definitely one of the biggest hang out places for teenagers.

The next New York favorite is a drink many of you may be familiar with: the fruit punch Arizona. For some odd reason, New Yorkers have developed a strong bond with this drink. Fruit punch Arizona is the flavor most people would be seen with along side their meals like the dollar slice. Although Arizona comes in many sizes, there is one specific size that New Yorkers tend to buy the most: the over-sized soda can size. It sounds weird, but most people, including myself, do not feel as if they have a complete meal without a fruit punch Arizona. And what makes it even better is that this drink only cost 99 cents! Clearly people in NY love things that only coast a dollar. I have actually seen people count 99 cents to give to the cashier instead of just a dollar (my mom does this all the time). Another key thing about buying the dollar slice or fruit punch Arizona is that you just put the money on the counter and leave. The cashier already knows how much it is and doesn't have to check. Fruit punch Arizona can also be found almost anywhere in New York.

Lastly, a well-known New York favorite is the bacon, egg and cheese. If you are on social media, you might have seen a meme that says New Yorkers say bacon, egg and cheese as one word: baconeggandcheese. I have to admit, that is very true. But this is a classic $1.50 (we added 50 cents!) sandwich that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The bacon, egg and cheese is usually prepared on a roll but can be prepared on a bagel as well. Anyone in New York can tell you that they have had this sandwich at least once in their lives. Because I don't like cheese, I usually order bacon and egg on a roll with salt, pepper, and ketchup. Most people add hot sauce, salt, and pepper to their sandwiches. Unlike fruit punch Arizona and the dollar slice, which taste good no matter where you go, not all deli's make a good bacon, egg and cheese. To find your "spot" you will have to go through a series of trial and error.

I would definitely suggest trying one of these favorites long before going to any of the restaurants I have previously discussed. Maybe they will become one of your favorites!

It's Polo Baby!

You guys may be familiar with the clothing line called "Polo Ralph Lauren". They are known by their popular logo of a knight riding on a horse that is usually seen at the top left corner of shirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. To my surprise, Polo Ralph Lauren has an actual restaurant that is based off the brand. It is called The Polo Bar and it is amazing. The restaurant is located on the east side of Manhattan. This was the first time I have ever been to the east side, and it is very different from the west side. Although, it was a crazy struggle to get a reservation for this restaurant but it was worth it.

My friend and I went on one our many travels to NYC in search of this  restaurant. Thank God for Google maps because the east side of Manhattan is very confusing. As we arrived, there were people standing outside waiting to be called in for their reservations. When our names were called, someone kindly greeted us at the door and walked us to our table. As you first walk in, there is a mini bar and lounge area that is very vintage and unique. The dim lighting adds to the classy feel. The actual restaurant part is located down the swivel, wooden stairs. Also, be aware that there is a dress code. This was the first restaurant I had been to that required a dress code.

The tables and booths were very homey. The tables were dressed in white cloths and pillows were placed around the seating areas. However, the tables were put very close to each other so it felt like you were eating with more people than you came with. The waiter arrived and poured both my best friend and myself water from what looked like a very expensive bottle, only to find out it was expensive-tasting tap water. My favorite part of my meal was the bread they served. I cannot remember the name of it, but it was French and it was the firs time I had ever tasted it. The inside was soft and chewy with cheese basked inside ; the outside was crispy and flaky. It was DELICIOUS!

Now the menu is a little on the expensive side and it does require some knowledge of different types of food. If you are not used to trying new foods on an up-scale menu (veal, salmon, branzino, caviar), I would suggest viewing the menu before hand and making sure there is something appealing to your taste buds. I ordered roasted chicken and mashed potatoes (can you tell I like chicken and potatoes) and it was the best seasoned chicken I have had. There was a dry mix of seasoning on top of the chicken and it provided a burst of flavor. The mashed potatoes were very smooth and creamy. I enjoyed my meal but was not able to finish it (there is more food on the plate than it looks). The couple next to me admired my plate and decided they were going to order the same thing.

Going to this restaurant made me feel like I was in a different world and I loved it. I would recommend this restaurant after going to a few basic restaurants. This is also the perfect spot for a romantic date. A plus about the location of The Polo Bar is that it is just a few blocks away from Saks Fifth Ave (one of the biggest shopping areas in NYC)!

Swishing & Dishing

Calling all #Knicksnation fans: a restaurant that takes pride in the New York Knicks and serves good food! How much better could that get? I myself, was a huge Knicks fan, but now they suck so I'm in between teams. However, when I went to this restaurant, I was still a fan so I was ecstatic when my dad told me he was taking me here. Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine is located in NYC and was founded by the championship winning, 6'4 point guard, Knicks basketball star, Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

The inside of the restaurant is small and a little congested but it is beautiful. There are glass windows that let you see the busy streets of NYC; especially at night. The tables are dressed in white linens and the chairs are grey with precise angles. The ceilings are covered with different 3D designs and colors. They make the atmosphere come to life. One of the things that stands out the most in the restaurant is the bar. There are numerous seats and small tables that are perfect for a sports night with friends.

If you are familiar with Clyde Frazier's commentator language during the Knicks games, the menu will be amusing to read. Being that "wine and dine" is part of the name, the wine menu is labeled specifically to the famous phrases Clyde uses to describe the movements of Knicks players. Some of those phrases include "movin & groovin", "posting & toasting", and my favorite, "swishing & dishing". The addition of these phrases as titles of drinks makes the menu fun to read, even if you have no intention of ordering a drink. Also, other drinks are named after parts of New York like the Bronx Brewery Pale Ale and the "Manhattan". The menu definitely has New York written all over it.

The food on the other hand is exceptional. I cannot remember what I ordered, maybe it was steak or salmon, but I do remember that it was in my mind weeks after my visit. The menu consists of a variety of foods from salads to burgers to pizzas to pasta to savory appetizers. My dad and I were both surprised when our food came because we did not expect it to look so photogenic. The people who prepared the food really took pride in their works of art. Everything on my plate was bursting with flavor and left me wanting more.

Now if you follow people from New York on Instagram or Snapchat, you may have seen people dressed up and taking pictures in what looks like a basketball court. Why would people be dressed up on a basketball court? Well that is because the court they are standing on is located in the back of Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine. It is a mini court decorated with lights and basketballs allowing people to "pretend" they are playing. It is definitely a widely-known place due to the amount of pictures that have been taken there. However, there are always a lot of people waiting for their turn in the court. I wasn't able to take pictures there but I recommend doing so.

Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine is a great place for celebrations as well. The menu is very affordable and the setting provides a great feel for New York.  Out of all of the restaurants I have talked about thus far, I would suggest going to this one first if you ever find yourself in New York wondering where to eat. 

Welcome to Cuba

I usually don't go out of my bubble of American food, but of course my best friend insisted we try Havana Central. I have to say, it was one of the best restaurants I have been to. I also went back for my 17th birthday dinner. Havana Central has many locations but the one I went to is located at Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island; a major tourist attraction. We went to Havana Central on a Friday night and come to find out, they have live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It was very welcoming and made the environment fun. How much better could it get after that?

The inside of the restaurant looks simple but as if it is on an island. The booths have curtains separating one from the other and there are standard dark brown tables and chairs. The waiters were very excited that we came and they ensured I'd be given the best service. It was a plus to know that they cared about their customers. The one thing that caught my eye was how perfectly the food was placed on the plate.

When I received the menu, it was in Spanish but there was an English description of the main dish so it took some time to read everything and figure out what enticed me the most. The menu had many things on it that I have never tried or even heard of. I wanted to order everything and have a tasting-dinner but that would be a costly tasting. For my appetizer, I ordered fried calamari. Fried calamari is my FAVORITE appetizer and it was cooked perfectly here: crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I cannot remember the name of the entree I ordered but, it was shrimp with yellow rice, and black beans on the side. My plate looked like a piece of art and it took me a moment to take it all in. However, I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of my meal before I started eating (as you can see in the picture). The food was served in large portions, so this was one of the rare occasions I did not finish my food. I considered this a good thing though because I was able to have a midnight snack for later.

This restaurant is perfect if you enjoy Cuban food or just a lively environment for dinner. I am sure the food will immediately capture your attention. Also, it is conveniently located next to a mall and a movie theatre; the perfect location for shopping and then a movie/dinner date. I enjoyed my time here mostly because it was not what I was used. I recommend going out of your comfort zone in terms of food. It might be way better than you think.