Monday, March 30, 2009

Grubby: Lexington Candy Shop




If you are unfortunate enough to be wandering around the Upper East Side and in need of an $8 milkshake, this is your spot. Can't comment on the food but it looked like you probably should move along if you want anything but the most basic grilled cheese. Who knows, maybe the man controlling the tiny grill and fryer is actually a savant with sliced bread and mayo.

The fountain is a true throwback - the mint green Hamilton-Beach shake machines, the juicer, the soda water fountain and chocolate syrup pump have probably not changed in over 30 years. Prices on the other hand have adjusted accordingly. Given this, the $5 chocolate egg cream was good and the $5 lemonade was exceptional. I'm really not familiar with egg creams, and have heard that there is a debate about not only where the best egg creams are but even on what constitutes an egg cream. I do however know chocolate and this thing got five big pumps from the syrup container, giving it a dark cocoa tint.

I'm thinking this place survives on lottery ticket sales, loyal longtime customers and for allowing occasional film shoots cuz I'm just not seeing the draw. Nonetheless, if you stumble out of the Whitney, or find your self picking up craiglist furniture as we did (are there any other reasons to be on the Upper East Side?) and you are craving a malted or real-deal shake, give it shot.





Info: 1226 Lexington Ave.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Grubby: Izalco

If, by some chance an outside reader has stumbled upon this blog, I should explain that I lead a
motley gaggle of degenerates on weekly excursions in search of food, delicious encounters, kitsch, booze and general bizarreness. Food Adventure #2 took the crew on Robert Sietsema's trail of the great El Salvadoran cuisine of Queens. In one afternoon we hit up three resturaunts in two different Queens neighborhoods. Pupusas aplenty.




Our first stop took us to Woodside and the delicious Izalco. Izalco won the prize for best all-around Salvadoran, thanks I'm sure to a 4-foot abuelita in the kitchen. Tons-o-kitsch here with mirrored ceilings, stuffed armadillo and a "pink clam" not attached to a woman in the women's bathroom.

Pupusas came with a beautiful rainbow slaw of vinegar and spice. The horchata and tamarindo was enjoyed by most (I preferred Gallo). "Enchiladas" bore no resemblance to the mole and cheese creations of Mexico. These were more like tostadas with a bunch of salsa-ey chopped stuff on top. Superb. The salpicon is a must try. Micro-chopped beef, onions, lime, parsley, etc, served as a cold "salad". The soft elote tamales may have been my fav.

Really, every meal should come with sides of crema. The sweet cream made the fried plantains.


We left full, but with two more restaurants on our list we needed some liquid sustenance...

Info: 64-05 Roosevelt, Queens

Boozey: The MF Scorpion Bar



So, you've just filled up on pupusas and salpicon, you want a drink but don't want to step foot in
another Irish pub. And you have a craving for bodacious tittays. Scorpion is your place.


Maybe a shady hostess bar or just a futbol bar with T&A, the Scorpion served us what we needed: drinks at cheap prices, pool and crazy big boobs.

If anyone reads this and has any more info on this place - give us the scoop.


Info: ? (Sorry for no pics of the barmaids!)

Grubby: El Comal



All the way at the end of the Queens lines lies Jamaica. I think this place is chock-full of grub.

The second stop on our food adventure led us to El Comal. Holly God - the pupusas in this place! This was good shit. The best, Jerry, the best!

The masa-based pupusas tasted so fresh. They were fluffy - almost pancake-y. We enjoyed with frijoles y queso and, of course, the revueltas with shredded pork and queso.

Dominican Presidente was had all around. A few of us dug into some fried chicken which was "good but nothing special".


It is way the hell out there and the decor is better left unmentioned, but the pupusas were worth every minute on that train.

Info: 148-62 Hillside Ave.

Grubby: Rincon Resturante



At this point, we were near pupusa delirium and pregnant with pupusa babies, but we had to carry on! This was a mission and goddamnit we weren't go home until fully sated.

The second we stepped into Rincon, we knew we had made the right choice, as we were met by Victoria, the paper mache giraffe. Safari decor, done in a big way. The dreadlocked photographer has a jungle backdrop in every inch of the resturaunt.


We ordered Presidentes and a pitcher of sangria post-haste. The sangria was a fine cherry on top of the day (the second pitcher, which arrived without us ordering was the coup).


After eating amazing Salvadoran food all-day, the grub was nothing bragable, with a single exception: deep-fried tamales. Oh man. The crispy fried shell and almost creamy corn meal inside, draped in crema with a little bit of crumbly queso blanco. Shit - it's good.

Flan with real whipped cream sealed the deal. If you are going to make the trek to Jamaica, go ahead and plan on doing this and El Comal. You won't regret it.






Info: 92-15 149th St.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Grubby: La Isla Chuchifritos


Just say it..."chuchifritos". Isn't it fun?

The Isle of Little Fried Things. As much as you might think you would want to be stranded there, you don't. Nonetheless, being the closest place for food near my apartment, Chuchifritos has come through.

Pictured here is a greasy queso pastilillo. Fried meat things, fried cheese things, fried plantains, blood sausage, cuban sandwiches, etc., are available. I basically stick with the fried cheese or meat pastilillos - only $1.

It's also got some nice, cheap rotisserie chicken. The dude will wield his cleaver and chop you up a moist bird - take it home with some beans and rice, good for 3-4 meals.

Listen, if you are in the hood, there aren't a lot of great options. The Isla is open late. It is consistent - you know what you are getting and sometimes a fried meat filled pastry is what you need.

Info: Graham and Broadway

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Grubby: Bonnie's


I love Buffalo Wings. I love Blue Cheese. I love the two together - many do not. Given this, wings never really peak for me. They are either very good, mediocre, or awful. Never amazing.

So what. Bonnie's did me right...big time. Nice amount of vinegar with the spice - the medium level was spicy enough (though I might go with hot next time). I had to order two extra blue cheeses.

Thanks to Krista and Joel for sharing this Park Slope spot. 5 or so taps running. They weren't playing annoying sports on loud TVs.


Info: 278 5 thAve. Open 7 days.

Boozey: Melody Lanes

Oh man. This fucking bartender rules. I don't know much about him (Peter?) - so if you do, let us know. I know he likes Rocky and prefers to watch his movies on bootlegged versions so he can hear the audience.


Apparently, this is one of the only bars in this neighborhood, but it is absolutely worth seeking out if you have a soul. By that I mean, if you don't like bowling, you may be a zombie.

During a recent Sunday afternoon, there was poker on one table, dominos on the other, and America's Funniest Videos (no longer Home Videos, thanks Stan) on the TV. Drinks seem to be of varying strength depending on the bartender but pitchers are cheap.

Did I mention its a bowling alley?


Info: 461 37th St, Open 7 days

Boozey: Freddy's Bar & O'Connor's Bar

I'm sure I am deeply offending many people for lumping these two together, but I really think they might be the same place. And I like that place!

If you find yourself in the depressing wasteland of Atlantic Center, do yourself a favor and tell your wife she can browse the Marshall's for another hour and then hightail it to one of these spots.

Both are elongated bars with nice tables. Both have jukes (O'Connor's juke has not dissapointed). Both are drinking bars with patrons and tenders that know what a drink should look like.

Thanks to Aubrey and Dave for showing me the light.

Freddy's: 6th and Dean
O'Connor's: 5th and Bergen

Grubby: Cafe Glechik


I'm just going to get this out of the way now. A lot of the places I end up loving, I have found through Robert Sietsema's excellent writing. This is one of those treasures.

Why go to Brighton Beach you ask? Well, Glechik should be reason #1. (If you have other reasons, please inform - I know there must be lots of cool shit going down but I'm in the dark).

This is home cooking. I think. I don't come from a Russian/Ukrainian home. But I'd imagine your grandma might cook like this, if she were good for anything.

Everything on the menu is pretty good - I don't think anyone has ever ordered a dissapointing dish. Start with pickled vegetables (including pickled watermelon). Order a couple pitchers of juicy compote and a nice, raisin-y Kvas. And go to town. The varenikis (dumplings), sprinkled with wonderful crispy, fried onions, and pelmeni (also a dumpling) are great. Get the pelmeni "Moscow" for cheese and egg. Order sour cream - it is necessary.


Everything is pretty great - stroganoff, schnitzel, fries covered in garlic and parsley, but the real gem here is the Stew "Glechik". An impossibly dark brown, thick gravy surrounds dumplings and two deliciously slow-cooked chunks of what I'm assuming is lamb on the bone. It's intoxicating.

Take a group - although they always seem a little unsure of what to do with big groups. Bring your own vodka.



And get some sour cherry vareniki for dessert.


Info: Open 7 days 9am-10pm, 3159 Coney Island Ave.

Photoshopped Phlyers of Phood Phun #1


Courtesy of Stan

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Grubby: Tuck Shop


Awkwardly billed "The Great Aussie Bite", Tuck Shop was introduced to me by Stephen. This here is drinkin' food - meat, some (not too much) grease, and good gravy (its just Brown and Water).
Open til 4am or so, it will be there for you when the booze isn't.

Steve and I both sat down to our own Guinness Steak and Mushroom pies (with green peppercorn and horseradish gravy). Satisfying. It's got bust-yer-nut umami. For those of you are unfamiliar with the concept of umami, learn it and love it - I will use it often.

We also split a nice pork and sage roll. Greasy, but good.

Super easy location - 1st and 1st, right by 2nd ave F stop. If you are there on a Thursday, between 10-12, duck around the corner to East Village Radio and give a "what's up" to Still Life spinning the stanky shit.

Info:
68 EAST 1ST STREET, Open late, Beer and Wine

Boozey: Local 138

Bare with me. A year later, I'm still trying to form some sort of opinion on bars in NY. I have yet to find tried and true haunts. I think this means I need to patronize more bars, more often.

Given all this, Local 138 seems like an easy enough to deal with LES spot. Proximity to JMZ a plus. No juke here, but decent enough tunes when I'm there. The prices and crowd seem normal enough. Nice box window seats for a small group.

I don't know. Considering how "meh" NY bars have been to me, this place qualifies as "competent".

Info:
138 Ludlow St.

Grubby: Crif Dogs


Dudes...deep fried dogs. All haters that say it's too pricey or too busy, can just go on "living" their healthy, long lives. What took me so long to get to this place? It took being hungover most of the day thanks to shitty whiskey and shitty beer with Will - thanks dude!

I enjoyed a Spicy Redneck: Bacon-wrapped, deep-fried Crif dog, topped with chili, jalapenos and slaw. Honestly, could barely taste the toppings. This shit is all about the crunchy fry! The dog itself, nothing special, but when you pop through that crispy fry crust, you get a "shpritz" of all that deep-fried juice. Crispy bacon trumps all here.



Didn't quite fill me up, so I will always order two from now on(not the Redneck though). Kinda pricey for dogs ($4.75) but shit, its open late and is BYOB. I guarantee the words "deep-fried hot dogs" will be an irresistible siren call some night soon.

I was apparently so bewildered after my meal that I nearly killed myself walking into traffic - one of those red turning to green moments where you are halfway through the street.

Anyone know what's up with the speakeasy with an entrance inside the phone booth in Crif Dogs? If so, what's the deal?

Info: 113 St. Marks Place; Open til 4 on Fri and Sat, 2 otherwise; BYOB