Shake Shack

E. 23rd St. / Madison Ave. [Madison Square Park]  New York, NY

www.shakeshack.com

Favorite dish: …….Shackburger (duh)

I recently realized that after having been in the city for two summers, I still hadn't been to Shake Shack. I had heard so many great things about this place, and was dying to try it.  My friends Rachel and Remi told me they were planning on going for dinner, so I obviously tagged along in order to fulfill my long-lasting burger craving.  

After we arrived at Shake Shack, the line was long and wrapped around in a circle in Madison Square Park.  It was drizzling, and we weren't thrilled about waiting in a long line, but it ended up moving relatively quickly.

Here's what we got:

Shackburger, topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and shack sauce, and a side of french fries

Shackburger, french fries, and the Concrete Jungle: frozen custard ice cream blended with fudge sauce, bananas, and peanut butter sauce

[shackburger] 

[Rachel digs in]

[concrete jungle]

I absolutely fell in LOVE with Shake Shack just after eating there once.  The burger was outstanding--super juicy and flavorful.  The Shacksauce was a great addition to the burger--it tasted almost like a mixture of ketchup, mustard, mayo, and some spices.  The entire thing was super delicious and I can see why people wait in such long lines in order to get one. Rachel's Concrete was sooooo good too!  Their custard was creamy and rich, and blended with the chocolate and peanut butter made for a perfect combination of sweet and tasty flavors.

So glad I intruded on Rachel and Remi's dinner plans in order to get myself a Shake Shack burger!

XOXO,

Danielle

Peels

325 Bowery.  New York, NY (btwn. 2nd St. & Bleecker)
www.peelsnyc.com

Price: $$
Favorite dish: Build-a-Biscuit

Prior to when I started blogging, I ate at Peels for brunch for my dad.  I enjoyed it so much that my family and I went back to Peels again for brunch so that I not only could enjoy it, but also share my experience with my readers.  My second time back was just as good as the first.  The restaurant has a spacious interior in addition to outdoor seating, which made for a perfect sunny Sunday morning brunch atmosphere.

Here's what we got:

Tropical Muesli with pineapple juice and yogurt soaked oats, mango, strawberries, toasted coconut, and seeds 

[muesli]

Spa Eggs: egg white omelet, sautéed spinach, and goat cheese with a side salad

Farmers Breakfast: fried eggs, smoked bacon, hash browns, and toast

Build-a-Biscuit: biscuit sandwich filled with scrambled eggs, avocado, and cheese with a side of gravy

[scrambled egg biscuit] 

Blueberry crumb cake

  This brunch was completely satisfying and a perfectly portioned meal.  Peels' muesli is famous and a very popular dish.  It definitely was an interesting muesli, as it tasted fresh with all of its fruity flavor.  It was different than what I am used to tasting, however it was still really tasty.  The spa eggs were simple and delicious with the goat cheese and spinach.  The Farmer's Breakfast included fried eggs with perfectly runny yolk.  The hash browns that were included were fantastic.  It was crispy, salty, and flavorful, and we were very close to ordering a second order of potatoes for all of us to share.  I ordered the build-a-buscuit, which I absolutely adored.  I think it was a perfect breakfast sandwich, and included great flavors with the avocado, eggs, and cheese. The biscuits were also wonderfully flaky and buttery.  I would definitely order this exact same sandwich again since I loved it so much.  We also decided to try a bakery selection, as Peels as a wide array of bakery items.  The blubbery crumb cake was moist on the inside, and the outside was crumby and sweet.  Every part of the meal was really excellent.

XOXO,
Danielle

Vynl

754 9th Ave.  New York, NY
www.vynl-nyc.com

Price: $$
Favorite dish: Kung Pao Shrimp Tacos

   This past weekend, my parents, sister, and cousin, Justin, were in the city for Justin's delayed Bar Mitzvah gift, which made for a great weekend to spend time with my family.  Of course, every time they are here for a visit, we make sure to try new and unique restaurants so we get a little taste of everything.  My parents found the restaurant Vynl, located in Hells Kitchen, which houses a music-themed decor, from the walls covered with music posters to each bathroom being a different musical theme (Elvis, Dolly Parton, Nelly, and Cher).  The ambiance was really fun and and funky, and was definitely different from any other restaurant I have been to before.
The menu options were Asian Fusion, which came as a bit of a surprise, however the food options were certainly eclectic, as you can order anything from meatball and tuna sliders to all-day breakfast.

Here's what we ordered:

Kung Pao Shrimp Tacos with cabbage-bell pepper slaw, honey peanuts, and spicy lime creme

Wok Sauteed Calamari with kalamansi, cherry peppers, thai basil, and garlic

Thai Deviled Eggs topped with crispy shallots and basil

Seared Tuna Sliders with with thai spiced aioli and cabbage slaw 

Tofu Pad Thai with bean sprouts, carrots, peanuts, and cilantro

Mac n Cheese with cheddar, jack, and goat cheese, panko cheddar crust, and a side salad

[mac n cheese]

Grilled Cheese with white cheddar, gruyere, bacon, and sun dried tomato jam on on country sourdough bread

[grilled cheese]

Tofu and Eggplant Stir fry with squash, red pepper, sun dried tomato, string beans, jalapeño, and soy garlic sauce

Fried Chicken and Waffles with maple tobasco

Overall, our meal at Vynl was really delicious.  For a starter, we had the deviled eggs, which I thought were really good, but I didn't think they were anything particularly special. The Kung Pao shrimp tacos, however, were great and super addicting.  The tacos were super flavorful, and the peanuts added a really nice salty touch. This was definitely my favorite dish of the meal! The calamari were also amazing-- I'm a huge fan of calamari so it did not disappoint.  The seared tuna sliders were really delicious, which says a lot being that I am not the biggest fan of raw tuna.  I really liked the thai spiced aioli that the tuna was paired with, which made the slider really tasty.  For dinner, I ate the tofu pad thai, which tasted like a pretty standard version of typical pad thai.  It was a tad bit over-salted, however I still enjoyed it. The mac and cheese was great--it was served in a cast iron skillet and had a perfect mix of cheeses.  Justin enjoyed the grilled cheese with bacon, and said it was one of the best things he has eaten.  The tofu and eggplant stir fry had a great mix of vegetables and the soy garlic sauce added a really nice sweetness.  My dad decided to try out the fried chicken and waffles.  I tried the chicken and it was so warm and moist.  As expected, the waffle was also a great addition to the meal.

Vynl was such a fun place to eat and enjoy dinner with my family.  I really loved the decor and the theme of the restaurant, which really made it a fun place to spend time.  I can certainly see myself going back to Vynl in the future, and I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a chill and fun crowd for a night out.

XOXO,
Danielle

The Wren

344 Bowery.  New York, NY

www.thewrennyc.com

Price: $$

Favorite dish: Potato Rosti with smoked trout and poached eggs

This past weekend, Sara, Molly, Frankie, Margot and I decided to kick off our Sunday brunch tradition for this summer. After searching for reasonably priced, yet highly rated, brunch spots, Molly stumbled upon The Wren, which had a small, cute, and cozy vibe located in the East Village.  Having never heard of it before, I was definitely down to try something new.  Despite the rather small size of the brunch menu, almost everything on it looked very unique and tasty, something that definitely got us all excited to eat.

Here's what we ordered:

Potato Rosti topped with smoked trout and two poached eggs, served with hollandaise sauce and frisee

[Potato Rosti]

Smashed Avocado on Toast with soft boiled eggs

Bulgar Wheat Pancakes topped with Ricotta, peaches, bananas, and maple syrup

Just writing up this post and reminiscing about this meal is making me hungry.  Everything that we ordered was absolutely incredible.  Margot, Sara, and I all ordered the Potato Rosti with eggs, and let me tell you it was just as mouthwatering as it sounds.  The Rosti resembled a large tater tot, so it was full of flavor, and was a great complement to the poached eggs.  The smoked trout added an amazing salty bite to the dish, and every part of it worked so well together.  Molly said she loved her avocado toast; anything mixed with avocado really couldn't be that bad. Frankie's pancakes were also extremely tasty (I couldn't leave without trying it…) I loved how they put ricotta cheese on top, which was something I would have never thought to do.  The hearty pancake, cheese, and sweet fruit made for a perfect combination.

I would for sure come back to The Wren in the future. The ambiance was friendly and inviting, and I think it could also be a great spot to visit for dinner.  I highly recommend visiting this restaurant if you are looking for a reasonably priced and delicious meal!

XOXO,

Danielle

Jack's Wife Freda

224 Lafayette St.  New York, NY
www.jackswifefreda.com

Price: $$
Favorite dish: Matzo Ball Soup

After a long but unforgettable school year in Ann Arbor, I am finally back in the city and back to blogging! I have been compiling and even longer list of restaurants to visit this summer, and I cannot wait to try them all.  After the amazing places I visited last summer, there is only more amazing things to try.

Within the first week of being back in NYC,  I made sure to visit Jack's Wife Freda, a restaurant my dad has highly recommended to me several times.  We went together after my first day interning at Helmut Lang, and it was definitely the perfect atmosphere for a fun after-work meal.  The restaurant is small and neighborhood-y, with open sunny spaces and a simple and friendly ambiance.

What we ordered:

Matzo ball soup

Special: Sweet Potato Dip served with feta cheese and pita bread.

Jack's Burger with grilled tomato and fried onion, served with hand-cut fries

(Jack's Burger)

Peri-Peri Chicken served with a diced vegetable salad

   I really enjoyed our meal at Jack's Wife Freda and definitely feel like this would be a great place to  come to meet up with friends for a nice but not too pricey meal.
   The Matzo ball soup was perfect and, in my opinion, was certainly all that it is cracked up to be. The soup was super homey, and tasted just as fresh and amazing as any good matzo ball soup should.  The special for the evening was sweet potato dip, which was something I had never heard of before.  It resembled almost mashed potatoes, but was obviously a bit sweeter.  The texture was creamy, and tasted great paired with the feta-- my dad and I scraped the plate clean.  The burger was cooked perfectly and also tasted great. Although it was nothing super out of the ordinary, it was, however, tasty and satisfying.  My dad's Peri-Peri chicken was fabulous.  The meat was super tender and the flavor was deliciously addicting.
    The brunch menu at Jack's looks amazing, so I plan on coming back soon to try out the breakfast as well.  Jack's Wife Freda is also a hotspot for celebrity spottings, another reason to make my way back ASAP!

XOXO,
Danielle

Macbar

54 Prince St.  New York, NY
www.macbar.net

Price: $$
Favorite flavor: Four Cheese

Mac and cheese lovers rejoice! Finally, a restaurant solely devoted to the beloved all-American favorite of Macaroni and Cheese. Macbar makes their devotion clear the second you walk in their doors. The interior decor is all yellow, and the food is served in macaroni-shaped yellow plastic packaging. Clearly they are obsessed and committed to all things mac and cheese.
The restaurant seems like it is mostly for carry-out, in that the seating is a bit scarce, especially for a crowded night. There is one row of small tables to one side, and that is it. However, their neighbor restaurant, Delicatessen, has a whole section of their menu serving up Macbar specialties. If you're looking for a sit-down, and a slightly nicer meal, then I would recommend trying their Mac and Cheese over there.
Erica, Jenna, and I went to MacBar recently, and we had been anticipating this visit since we first got together this summer. When ordering, you can choose your size, and from what we got, there was really no noticeable difference in size between the small and medium (but there was a slight difference in price).


Here's what we got:

MacBar seating area

Two classics, and one 4-cheese. YUM

CHEEEEESY

The Four Cheese, with queso blanco, fontina, emmental, and gouda.

The Classic…elbow macaroni with American and Cheddar Cheese.

I think she likes it.

she's a little camera shy :)

look at that cheese

come to me

looks too good

Honestly, for Mac and Cheese lovers, MacBar could easily become an addiction. For me, I thought the Mac and Cheese was good, but not fantastic. It hit the spot, and was as comforting as always, but I wouldn't say it was the best I'd ever had. Erica and Jenna might beg to differ, as they seemed to love theirs.
I do like the fact that this restaurant specializes in one thing, and gives customers many many options to choose from…some of them being quite unique, like the Mac Lobsta' and the Margarita Mac. After finishing your Mac, you can conveniently take leftovers home with you in your plastic Macaroni to-go container. (I took mine home as a souvenir). Too cute!

XOXO,
Danielle

The Smith

956 2nd Ave.  New York, NY
www.thesmithnyc.com

Price: $$$
Favorite dish: Whole Wheat Penne (no decisions there!)

This past friday night, I got to hang out with a few of my besties from Michigan: Jamie, Mel, and Dani. We ended up going to dinner in Midtown extremely late (try 10:00 pm), so we wanted to go somewhere that we could get in quickly and be served promptly, but that would still be good. Mel suggested The Smith, and I had heard good things about this restaurant before. Being that we were within walking distance, it seemed like a perfect place to go for a satisfying meal waaaay past normal meal time.
The Smith is a casual, American restaurant, with a fun, inviting, "New York" atmosphere. To get seated right away, we were put at the end of a communal table, which was actually kind of fun (great people watching!) 

Our communal table!!!

We didn't really have a lot of diversity in what we ordered. We all ordered a different variation of the same meal… classic. We got the Whole Wheat Penne, with arugula, wild mushrooms, roasted garlic, and parmesan cheese. 

                   Mel and Jamie's whole wheat penne, plus chicken. (Obvi Mel got hers without cheese)

My whole wheat penne, with grilled shrimp to add protein. The shrimp was actually so good, and added a really good touch of flavor to the pasta. I really liked the oil&garlic sauce that was over the pasta…it was super flavorful and wasn't overwhelmingly garlicky. 

Jnuss takes her noodles to go for a late night snack!

There were actually a ton of good-looking things on the menu and I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to try more than one thing from the menu--all the more reason to go back! From what I did taste though, I do think that The Smith has some really good things to offer. Besides the food, I was just happy to be hanging out and spending time with my friends! (was that cheesy?)

XOXO,

Danielle

Jane

100 W. Houston St.  New York, NY
www.janerestaurant.com

Price: $$--Portion sizes are pretty generous.
Favorite dish: Vanilla Bean French Toast ( :O )

The fact that I am so behind on blogging is not ok…so SORRY to all my devoted readers!! ;)
Last weekend, my friends and I decided to be cute and go for a nice Sunday brunch. We wanted to try Jane, which supposedly has a really good brunch menu, and so we thought ahead and made a reservation so we wouldn't be caught waiting in the blazing New York heat for a table. We still ended up having to wait, being that Whitney, Jess, and Arleigh were so late, but hey, Jane was not to blame for that!
Jane is a casual American bistro on the edge of Soho. It has upstairs and downstairs seating, and the atmosphere is sleek and inviting. The restaurant was packed on a Sunday morning. After reading through the extensive brunch menu, I was completely perplexed and had absolutely no idea what to get but was so excited to try everything.

What we got:

Whitney and Sara both got the mushroom omelette, with baby portobello mushrooms, tomato, fontina, and herbs, served with a side of potatoes. Whit and Sara both claimed it was "sooooooo good!"

Jess ordered the egg white omelet with sautéed spinach, goat cheese, and mixed greens. Although the omelet features goat cheese, she said it tasted kind of bland, but not bad!

Arleigh and I both ordered the homemade granola, with low fat yogurt, honey, bananas, strawberries, and dried cranberries. I had been craving granola so I was sooso excited to eat this. We both thought that the the granola had far too many sunflower seeds mixed in it, which overtook the actual flavor of the granola.

One of the most intriguing items on the menu was the vanilla bean french toast, made with brioche bread, dipped in a creme brûlée batter, and served with maple syrup. Frankie ordered this for her meal, and the rest of us got a half order to share for the table. The french toast was delectable…I absolutely loved it. The inside was really soft and gooey, and the outside was nice and crunchy.

My side of plain scrambled eggs. yes I know…boring. but yummy!!!

I understand why Jane gets so busy for Sunday brunch; they have a really lengthy menu listing a variety of different good breakfast options. When ordering off the brunch menu, you also receive a complimentary cocktail, including alcoholic beverages, or fresh squeezed juices. What a deal! I would definitely come back to Jane to try something new--they had a lot of good looking egg scrambles that I'd love to try. All in all, a good, fun, not too pricey meal to share with friends.

XOXO,
Danielle