Sample Restaurant Reviews written by Derek White
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Stage Deli
The world’s a big, big stage for this
notorious deli smack in the middle of the theatre district, infamously famous
for its over-the-top corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, chopped liver,
blintzes, celebrities, salami, smoked fish and New York’s finest cheesecake.
You don’t have to be a star to enjoy a triple-decker combination sandwich
named after the celebrity of your choice, from Mohammed Ali to Winona Ryder, but
it helps to loosen your belt a notch, unhinge your jaw and try to picture your
favorite star coming to grips with the very sandwich you are wrestling with.
Stage Deli also delivers platters for any occasion and even serves breakfast, so
set your sights on the big time and break a leg.
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Imperial Dragon
You might not find dragon meat on the menu, but
you’ll find pretty much anything else that walks, swims or flies, cooked up in
more ways than there are people in the Guangdong province. This Midtown mainstay
has a 20-year history of delivering mouth-watering and belly-filling Szechaun
and Cantonese style chow to Manhattanites. The possibilities are endless—
including delectable and innovative matrimonies such as “Dragon and Phoenix”
(lobster and chicken) to the classic standards such as Peking duck, in a wide
range of palatable flavors and sauces, both spicy and mild. You could order
something different every night and never have the same meal twice. And the
courteous delivery people will be at your door with hot food in hand before you
even hang up the phone.
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Hurley’s Saloon
This NYC historical landmark in the heart of
the Theatre District has been serving up suds and down home pub food since 1892,
surviving prohibition by renting the front of its then Rockefeller Center façade
to Greek florists, while the Hurley brothers ran a speak-easy in back. Legendary
hi-jinx aside, this hold out bar has been dishing up comfort food since before
there was a word for it. The extensive saloon menu features no-frills Irish pub
food with American flair, from potato skins and “New
York’s Finest Chili” to pan seared blackened tuna and French onion soup.
Celebrity sightings and the homey atmosphere don’t come with delivery, but you
will still feel welcome by the friendly service with a smile.
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Shun Lee Palace
Far from being a typical rice and noodle slop
shop, Michael Tong’s palatial eatery is haute Chinese to the hilt, with an air
as deservingly haughty and refined as Gong Li in Shanghai Triad. Heads will turn
at the Peking Duck, the “Ants Climb on Tree,” or “Lion’s Head with
Vegetable” (lean pork fashioned in the shape of a lion’s head). Just
remember, if you opt for Beggar’s Chicken, make sure you reserve it 24 hours
in advance so the chef can sprinkle it with rose petal liqueur every half hour.
Not ideal if you are pinching your pennies, but if you are on an expense
account, trying to impress a client, or simply want to pamper your Buddha belly,
then this is the p-a-lace.
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Shun Lee West
Shun Lee West is just as palatial and
“haute-bourgeois” as its eastside counterpart, Shun Lee Palace, with the
same time-honored excellence and general yumminess that has kept the Michael
Tong dynasty reigning supreme through the golden age of Chinese cuisine in
Gotham. Simply stated, the classic yet innovative regional dishes from the
Shanghai, Hunan, Szechuan and Canton provinces will wok your world. A “spa
menu” is also available for the health-conscious, and there are plenty of
standard options available for those not adventurous enough for dishes like
ragout of oxtail and pig-knuckles. The food may be far from spoiled, but after
experiencing Shun Lee West you will be too spoiled to go back to the regular old
Chinese takeout.
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Korea Palace
For those who think Asian food means Chinese,
Japanese, or Thai—Korea Palace is a great introduction to a distinctive
cuisine characterized by spiciness and a unique brand of BBQ (Gu-Yi). Carnivores
will relish the savory beef ribs and pork or chicken dishes, but seafood lovers
will also delight in the clay pot stews, grilled fishes and even a sushi
selection. The to go menu features exotic party platters and dinner sets to
spicen up those evenings at work, as well as convenient and affordable lunch box
specials. Red peppers, garlic, soy sauce and green onions abound, as does Kimchi
(zesty and spicy fermented pickled cabbage), silky tofu (doo-boo) and other
tantalizing and varied accompaniments, making for an out of the ordinary eating
experience, delivered right to your Midtown palate.
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Salmon River
All rivers lead to the sea, including this midtown fishmonger’s culinary casting. The sister spawn to two other fine NYC establishments, Domenico's and Fagiolini, Salmon River pays homage to the denizens of the deep, especially of the pink-fleshed variety, offering scrumptious seafood with no catch—no fusion confusion, flashy lures or over-priced raw nibbles that leave you hankering for a hamburger. You’ll get hooked on the clam chowder, tequila-cured Salmon or daily selection of fresh roasted fish, and get your daily allotment of omega-3 fatty acids at the same time—all at a price that won’t leave you feeling like you were caught—hook, line and sinker. Don’t let this be the big one that got away.
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Gan Asia
If Ganesha is the half-elephant Hindu god who
removes obstacles, and Gan is a large river in SE China or a garden in Hebrew,
then the restaurant Gan Asia is a cross-cultural fusion of food that will remove
any preconceived notions you may have about kosher Pan Asian takeout. Yes,
kosher. All food is kept and prepared to the strictest glatt kosher standards
with a moshgiach on premise at all times to field kashrut questions. If wrapping
your mind around all of this hurts your head, then just wrap your mouth around
sum-thing from their unique and diverse menu of Chinese, Thai and sushi medleys
to go. Gan Asia has prompt and courteous delivery and has been serving
extraordinary kosher fare with Asian flair to the Upper West Side for seven
years and running.
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Spoons Squared, INC.
What is Italian and Asian and American all
over? Spoons! Not the spoon-slapping card game, but the innovative and exotic
midtown caterer dreamed up by two Korean sisters seeking to take back what Marco
Polo stole from the orient in the first place. Far from being a greasy spoon,
Spoons features eclectic and fresh dishes, from Green Risotto and Mac N’
Cheese to Papaya BBQ Chicken and Bibimbop (a Korean rice and vegetable medley).
Only in New York (midtown east to be exact)! In addition to being beyond
bipolar, Spoons also caters to your specific requests, so don’t be surprised
if the second time you call they remember the ins and outs of your previous
order and serve your next one up on a silver spoon (actually, food is peddled by
pedal, guaranteeing speedy delivery). Prepare yourself for the ItaliAsian
invasion!
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Fuji Japanese
Far from being just a flash in the pan, this
long-standing classic has been dishing out sushi and other traditional Japanese
fare since 1954. If you are indecisive or unfamiliar with the various styles of
Japanese cuisine, then let the chefs call the shots and tantalize your taste
buds with one of the distinctive multi-course dinners or lunch boxes. Or if you
are in the know, mix and match your own a la carte concoctions of sushi,
sashimi, tempura and other delectable delights from the full-service kitchen and
bar. This Japanese mainstay is simple yet diverse; old-fashioned yet fresh; as
solid as the mountain with the same name but still packing some surprising
punches for even the seasoned palate. With these proven staples, served and
delivered with such established reliability, Fuji is here to stay.
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La Giara
If you work in Murray Hill and thought you
couldn’t throw a meatball and hit a decent Italian place that delivers, think
again. The brother restaurant of La Gioconda, La Giara brings an authentic and
warm-hearted slice of Salerno to the East 30s. More than your usual pizza and
pasta pit-stop, this tried and true full service restaurant and bar has a
tongue-bending selection of antipasti, insalates, and entrees to satisfy even
discriminating palates. La Giara translates to “jar” in English, but you
won’t find anything out of a jar here—everything is made fresh from homemade
ingredients just like grandma used to make. The plentiful specials and prix fix
lunches and dinners make ordering easy, and the value in itself is worthy of
repeated encores.
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Essex on Coney Downtown
9/11 may have delayed the expansion of the renowned Essex on Coney Island deli to this newer Trinity street locale, but it was well worth the wait. This kosher delicatessen excels in deli-cious meats, either by the pound, or piled high between slices of fresh bread—with junior sizes available for more delicate mouths. Don’t miss the hot pastrami or corned beef sandwiches (it’s hard not to), but don’t look for Reubens on this voluminous glatt kosher menu offering a variety of deli-ectables from knishes and Matzo balls to burgers, grilled chicken and heroes by the foot—and plenty of sides, salads and soups to stuff you even further. And the convenient downtown delivery service won’t keep you waiting to get your fill.
East 53 Teriyaki House
Not your typical sushi a-fare, the variety at East 53 Teriyaki House will keep you coming back to sample the plethora of accessible and affordable northern-style Japanese dishes—from the curry or Udon noodle bowls, to the lustrous yet subtle teriyaki dishes made fresh from black mushrooms. Be it fish, fowl, vegetable, beef or seaweed, leave it to Master Chef Ando to bring authentic eastern flair to the eastern shores of midtown Manhattan, at a convenience and price you can’t beat with a chopstick. And if you are in a raw mood, of course there are plenty of creative sushi combos and Bento Box specials that make for a quick and easy selection. Be sure to save room for desert!
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Panini & Co
Tired of having to dislocate your jaw to wrap your mouth around the typical NYC deli sandwich? Try a thin and groovy panini sandwich from those that make it their name—Panini & Co. “Hot and Crusty” is the mantra here, with specialty paninis made from homemade breads, sandwiched with fresh and innovative insides—from carmelized onions and portabello mushrooms to Cajun BBQ chicken and grilled steak. Or if you didn’t have time for breakfast this morning, get some eggs on a hot and crusty roll. Find out why this downtown café has been packing them in from all over Manhattan—from Pace students to the Mayor’s office to DeNiro and Pacino. Let Panini & Co do the lunchtime legwork and deliver a hot and crusty one to your desk.
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Mudville 9
Only the most seasoned sports fan would
recognize the name of this downtown wings and burger joint from the archaic poem
“Casey at the Bat,” but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to know what hits
the spot. Mighty Casey may have struck out in the end, but Mudville 9 hits a
home run by slinging burgers, popping jalapeños and swinging bleu cheese-doused
celery stalks. You might take ball 4 and miss the striking waitresses if you
order out, but the wings will be hotter than hot, with 4 leagues of spiciness
and other tantalizing sauces to ruffle your feathers. Get the most bang for your
buck by ordering by the bucket or bountiful party platter, with prices so cheap
you’ll think its 1888.
