Restaurant Week is My Favorite Week(s)

I'm happy to report and alert you that my favorite week(s) of the year are upon us - NYC Restaurant Week! While it feels as though I was just treating myself to Japonais and DelMonico's, that was months ago, and I'm on full alert for the second Restaurant Week go-round for the year. Starting on July 12 and lasting until July 30, Restaurant Week is when many unaffordable Manhattan hot spots open their doors each day (excluding Saturday) with a special $35 prix fixe menu for dinner ($24.07 for lunch), featuring an appetizer, dinner, and dessert per person. While menus are often limited, it's a great way to try new place that a resource-limited Manhattan dude or chick such as myself would not even consider otherwise. Restaurants often featured range from Mesa Grill to Tavern on the Green to Blue Water Grill. Reservations open up starting June 30, so start thinking about it now as seatings at the super hot spots tend to go rather quickly. A word to the wise: Do your research. Many places offer the $35 prix fixe, but their traditional menu is price comparable (and often better) so check out the restaurant's own site and menu before booking. Be sure to send us commentary on your Restaurant Week experiences. Happy eating!

Restaurant Roundup: Sushi Lounge - Hoboken

Just across the Hudson lies a little town you may have heard of called Hoboken (or as I like to refer to it, Hob), and in that town lies a small Japanese gem called Sushi Lounge, which I visited last Friday night. A small restaurant with minimal tables, a fancy sushi bar is front and center (along with a bar of the alcoholic variety), available for seating and admiring the hand-rolled creations. Though the inside was a bit loud for a date situation, Sushi Lounge offers a desirable outdoor seating section in which I happily had dinner. 

The Sushi Bar at Sushi Lounge

The Food

Sushi Lounge offers a vast array of Japanese cuisine and sushi rolls that can satisfy both a seasoned sushi vet (Uni with quail egg, Super Toro) or a newbie sushi virgin (edamame, shumai, California roll). Don’t skip the Hoboken roll, a motley assortment of fish and eel in a tempura roll with a delicious spicy mayo that may leave you reaching for water to put out the fire (but in a totally-worth-it kind of way). 

The Hoboken Roll

We also sampled the Chilean sea bass roll (bass cooked in soy glaze with avocado and wrapped in soy paper) and the Super Toro/Fatty Tuna roll (a delicate, superior cut of tuna). Both of these were light, yet deliciously full of flavor. Highly recommended.

Super Toro Roll & Chilean Sea Bass Roll

All 3 were outstanding, and my only concern is that when I return I won’t want to try anything new, but repeat the 3 aforementioned items since I have been dreaming about them for the last 4 days. Not a sushi lover? Not to worry, since their main dishes looked delicious as well, but alas I never made it to them as I filled up on straight up sushi. The question I always face with sushi is: How much to order? For husband and me, 3 rolls, an order of shumai, and a round of drinks were plenty. After all, Crumbs Bake Shop just opened up down the street…

Getting There

For Manhattanites and Jersey Citians alike, a quick trip on the PATH train will deliver you to Sushi Lounge. Just a quick walk from the Hoboken PATH station, Sushi Lounge is located just off the main drag on Hudson Street, a mere 5 minute walk from the train. Since they don’t take reservations for parties under 6 people, I recommend leaving extra time and planning a trip to the bar while you wait.

Sushi Lounge.200 Hudson Street.Hoboken, NJ

Why it Rocks

Delicious, reasonably priced sushi (total bill for 2: under $70) and fun atmosphere make this restaurant one I will definitely be visiting again. Sushi Lounge also offers a rockin' Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 3-6:30, featuring select half price drinks, appetizers, and sushi rolls.

Gripes

Just one - The food just came too darn quickly, making our dinner seem a bit short-lived.

We skipped dessert in favor of the aforementioned Crumbs Bake Shop...article coming up next...

Restaurant Roundup: Mesa Grill

What: Chef and Restauranteur Bobby Flay’s first restaurant, mixing Southwestern flavor, spicy spices, and lots of grilled meat.

Where: 102 Fifth Avenue

Why it Rocks:

Okay, perhaps this is a given New York must, but in all of my city years, I had never been to Mesa, or any of its counterparts, in any other locations in and outside of the country. This has been on my to do list for a looooong time. In a none-too-pretentious atmosphere, the décor was simple and the restaurant was fairly small, both huge pluses in my book. Reservations are recommended (via OpenTable) and we were sat only slightly later than our designated time. Be sure to arrive early for a drink at the super Southwestern chic bar. The food caused surge of new respect for Bobby Flay, whom I’ve always loved in my irrational Food Network obsession. Not sure if it’s the dorky Irish thing or his beyond gorgeous Brooklyn apartment, but Bobby Flay has that sort of geeky sexy thing going on, and his food is delicious to boot. Do NOT skip the Goat Cheese Queso Fundido with blue corn chips appetizer. The only downside is that it essentially diminished my palate for any other cheesy fundidos that I may have had in the past (my beloved Rosa Mexicano, this means you). For dinner, I had the Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and hubby had the Sixteen Spice Duck Breast. Although I’m not by any means a duck-lover, both dishes were the best of their kind, but beware, the pork had a spicy kick. While there are no substitutions on the offered side dishes, if you ask nicely, they may oblige. Either way, the roasted corn is a must. The only downside was that we were both too stuffed to try the

 varied dessert options.

Gripes:

While very open and inviting, it is loud as the high ceilings just allow the noise the travel. Sit upstairs for a little less noise, but be prepared to speak loudly to hear your counterpart. Beware: Blink-and-you-miss-it restaurant entrance

Bottom Line:

I was skeptical that the hype would outdo the actual experience. Fear not, because Mesa delivers in taste like few others. 2 restaurant meals in my recent past stand out in the ‘best food I’ve ever had’ category. The first was a teeny, virtually unoccupied bistro in Budapest. For me, the second is Mesa Grill.

2 drinks a piece, 1 shared app, 2 delicious meals…

Total dinner price: Under $150