Cafeteria - A classic Chelsea no muss no fuss spot

On a nice night, few spots beat the sidewalk dining at Cafeteria in Chelsea.

A Chelsea standby, Cafeteria is pretty dependable for good old fashioned spruced up diner food.

Servings are abundant, atmosphere is sufficiently hip (even years after its heyday) and the wait is usually very doable.

Even at primetime on a Friday night, I didn't have to wait for a perfect twospot right on the sidewalk.

What I love is that the restaurant is always crowded enough to make you feel like you are somewhere hip, but never too crowded where the wait becomes unbearable.

I went with the Fried Chicken Salad - an abundant heaping of fried chicken, beans, haricot verts (green beans), tomatoes and chipotle dressing.  The dressing was spicy!

I usually never believe that these types of places mean spicy when they say spicy - but Cafeteria does.

My mouth was burning a couple bites in.  But it was worth it - the salad is no salad for models - this is the real deal.  Definitely filling enough and at $12 bucks - it's one of the great deals in town!

The Braised Short Rib Tacos were also huge portions - 3 heaping tacos overflowing with braised short ribs.  Served with a sweet potato puree, the short ribs were very rich and juicy.

Almost too heavy to eat in a taco, you soon have to resort to fork and knife for this one.  The corn and apple salsa is a perfect way to finish off the dish with a light and refreshing twist.

Other great standbys are the macaroni and cheese trio and of course the burger!

Cafeteria is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  The ultimate diner.  And after so many years I think we can safely say it's now a Chelsea institution that hopefully is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Cafeteria
119 7th Ave (at 17th Street)
212-414-1190

Milk Bar at Chelsea Market - Fresh Dairy from the Farm

Ronnybrook Milk Bar at Chelsea market offers up fresh dairy products from Hudson Valley - pints of ice cream and jugs of milk fill the fridge.

I think the main reason to drop into milk bar is for takeout - as in takeout ice cream pints or ice cream sandwiches, milk or a milkshake and ice cream float.

The dining menu includes expected country favorites like "egg in a hole" and country baked mac'n'cheese.  I stopped in for lunch the other day and tried the mac'n'cheese and a roast chicken sandwich on olive panini bread.

Unfortunately both were a bit underwhelming as the mac'n'cheese looked more like the Kraft version rather than a baked mac'n'cheese.

The sandwich was good - but nothing special - somewhat like the standard fare you could find at any deli around town.

I almost was going to try to blended frozen mint lemonade - but thankfully the guy sitting next to me had one that looked a very suspicious color of green - maybe a bit too much mint?

Anyhow, he had one sip and told me not to order it.  Save my $4.50 and apply it toward a shake!

All in all - Milk Bar is probably really only good for one thing: milk.  Stick with what you know - and always order the house specialty.

Ronnybrook Milk Bar, Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave (Between 15th and 16th)
212-741-6455

Westside Market - Fresh produce, great prices, great beer selection!

So I was staying at my friend Emily's place last summer for a week up on 110th and Broadway near Columbia University. 

Not having spent much time in the area I was pleasantly surprised at all the good food, and especially good grocery stores!! 

One in particular blew me away...

Westside Market on 110th and Broadway is a specialty grocer that serves up the best produce I've found almost anywhere in the city.  Super fresh blueberries @ 2 for $5 is a great deal!  Plus mangoes, pineapples, avocados, strawberries you name it!

As for their beer selection - they've got everything under the sun - local brews, imported, buy it as a six pack or mix and match to please everyone in the house.

They also have an extensive cheese selection and fresh baked pies - even cheesecakes from Juniors!

Westside market also has a location on the Upper West Side and Chelsea - haven't been there so not sure if the prices are as good...but it's worth a trip.

While you are up there, grab a latte from Oren's Daily Roast to taste some real joe.



Westside Market NYC

Westside Market (Upper Westside Morning Heights)

2840 Broadway (110th and Broadway)

New York, NY 10025

p: 212-222-3367

f: 212-222-1500

Hours: Open 24 Hours

Westside Market (Upper Westside)

2171 Broadway (Between 76th and 77th)

New York, NY 10024

p:212-595-2536

f:212-595-2793

Hours: Open 24 Hours

Westside Market (Chelsea)

77 7th Avenue (Between 14th and 15th)

New York, NY 10011

p:212-807-7771

f:212-807-7774

Hours:  Open from 7 a.m. to Midnight - 7 Days a Week

The John Dory - Interesting vibe, great food

Not being a huge fan of April Bloomfield's over hyped  The Spotted Pig,  I was a bit weary of The John Dory - but I was pleasantly surprised.

The John Dory is April Bloomfield's seafood inspired restaurant located on the far west side of Manhattan.  Seems like an awkward location for the Irish, seafood shack vibe of John Dory.

With neighbors like Craftsteak, Morimoto and Del Posto - Bloomfield's more humble seafood shop seems like a small fish in a big pond.

That being said - the vibe of The John Dory is very unique and interesting and surely attracts a wide diversity of diners.

Very colorfully anointed with a beautiful fish tank behind the bar, the restaurant has a decidedly casual beach like feel to it, yet somehow also manages to feel a bit stuffy with an older and buttoned up crowd.

Sitting next to a table with older gentlemen sporting bow-ties and their women in cardigans, I felt like I had been transported back to English tea-time.  Quite strange. It's almost a trip in a time tunnel or travel machine to old Ireland...I guess you'll have to go to see what I mean.

As for the food - I ordered the artic char with spiced shallots and lentils - the flavor combination was interesting and quite potent with a spicy/tangy taste and the fish was cooked nicely. The char was tender and flaky, cooked without any of that fishy scent - and we all know how hard that is.

My friend ordered the grilled octopus and runner beans and was very delighted with the flavor and texture of the octopus - no rubbery taste here!

The restaurant does somehow feel like you should try to their version of classic fish and chips - deep fried fluke. Next time I suppose.

Overall, I think The John Dory is a nice choice for seafood - there doesn't seem to be a big difference between dinner and lunch prices so next time I would shoot for dinner - maybe the crowd then will be a little bit more my style...

The John Dory
 85 10th Ave. (Between 15th and 16th)
212-929-4948
http://www.thejohndory.com/index.html

Amy's Bread - Fresh Baked Bread Worth the Carb Splurge

A proud resident of Hell's Kitchen for 4 years, I was fortunate to have lived just a couple blocks north of the famous original location of Amy's Bread.

Amy's Bread is a glorious tribute to bread and baked goods - a carb lover's heaven and an Atkin devotee's nightmare.

I for one am a true carb lover - for the life of me I will never be able to resist Amy's fluffy muffins, deliciously rich cupcakes...and most of all - the most perfect loaf of bread.

While I usually buy whatever bread is on sale at Trader Joe's for my everyday needs...every now and then the perfect splurge is bringing home one of Amy's luscious fresh baked breads.

My favorite has to be Amy's signature Seminola with Golden Raisins and Fennel. A nice blend of savory and sweet - it is perfect on its own. You don't even need butter!

There is nothing more luxurious than a real loaf of bread.

And keeping bread fresh is easier than you think - simply store in a paper bag for the first couple of days and then wrap in plastic to maintain freshness.

As for reheating - simply sprinkle some water to retain moisture and pop it in the oven at 400F for 6 - 8 minutes. Presto - gourmet bread at home.

The scent of fresh bread baking in the oven is the best way to surprise your honey on a Saturday morning.

Amy's Bread
Hell's Kitchen
672 9th Ave. New York, NYC 10036
212-977-2670

Chelsea
75 9th Ave. New York, NYC 10011
212-462-4338

West Village
250 Bleecker St. New York, NYC 10014
212-675-7802

http://www.amysbread.com/