Caravan of Dreams

Caravan of Dreams (Menu)
405 East 6th Street - Map
Between 1st Avenue and Avenue A
(212) 254-1613
Latin-influenced Vegan/Macrobiotic, Kosher

Probably one of New York City's best vegan restaurants, Caravan of Dreams should be on anyone's list of restaurants to try. Even non-vegan, meat-lovers would find something redeeming about the delicious dishes this restaurant has to offer!

Among their list of virtues, Caravan sports a teudat hechsher - this little certificate proclaiming it to be certifiably kosher by the standards of Orthodox Judaism. So, all those of you who keep strict kosher dietary guidelines can patron this lively and friendly establishment.

Being a repeat customer, it's almost become a staple to order their Un-chicken Nachos - grilled pieces of seitan - a tofu/textured vegetable protein - (which has an uncanny resemblance to shawarma) strewn in with creamy, fresh guacamole, tofu sour cream (which you could swear tastes just like the real thing), beans, salsa, the works! Accompanied, we almost always order a carafe of their sangria - a deliciously sweet blend of their organic red wine infused with fruit juices as well as fresh fruit.

While I personally don't subscribe to the "live" or "raw" vegan diet, their live menu is particularly extensive, and others have sung its praise countless times. I usually order something from their vast entree menu, which is always accompanied by a starter salad - fresh mixed greens with beet and carrot shavings, tomatoes, cucumbers and sunflower sprouts, mixed with an interesting lemon-tamari-ginger dressing.

Of the countless times I have been here, I have sampled most of their entrees, but the ones specifically worth mentioning are: the Caravan Burrito, the Vegetable Medley, the Caravan Feast, the Macrobiotic Platter, and the Santa Maria Stir-fry. While I don't think you can go wrong with any of their entrees (except maybe something from their live menu - just kidding!), the aforementioned were particularly delicious.

Personally, a meat lover, one of the things I always tell people about this restaurant is that you leave satiated like you just ate meat - and for those kosher people out there - the best part is you can now have ice cream for dessert (just not at Caravan - but there is a Tasti D Lite on Second Avenue!!).

I highly recommend going to this place for dinner with some friends/family as the environment is highly accomodating, the waiters are happy, lively, and friendly, and are always willing to make suggestions or recommendations when asked. Reservations never hurt if you're a party large enough (like 6 or more). Their brunch menu is also quite a steal!

Tavern on the Green

Tavern on the Green
West 67th Street and Central Park West - Map
(212) 873-3200
American/Eclectic

Tavern on the Green - one of New York's oldest restaurants, and is touted to be the largest grossing restaurant in the world. I don't know if it is or not, but I can certainly understand why. Tavern, almost synonymous with New York dining (like the Plaza Hotel is synonymous with New York hotels...) left a lot to be desired. For the reputation it carries, I feel it fell significantly short of the mark.

As a native New Yorker, I have had the pleasure of patronizing a whole slew of restaurants, and I don't consider myself to be a professional food critic at all. In fact, just last nite I was watching an episode of The Iron Chef on the Food Network, and I was listening to the judges' review of the dishes served them by the 2 rivaling chefs. Since they have such an extensive background in food, they were equipped to give real professional critiques and praise. But since I'm NOT of those (but one day I will be), I feel I can give more of a "real person" perspective on things.

So, here's my take on Tavern on the Green. The wait staff and hostesses were extremely efficient, polite, and courteous. They accomodated our party of 11 beautifully so, and had a table set up for us right near the windows overlooking their garden. The food was as expected, nothing phenomenal or over-the-top exceptional. Most ordered their mixed green salad which was served with an almond toasted crouton, topped with goat cheese, and dressed with a champagne and shallot vinaigrette. It was light, it was crunchy, and served it's purpose as an appetizer. I, however, broke away from the crowd somewhat, and ordered their seared sashimi tuna, served over a bed of sesame noodles, cucumber, and peanut sauce. The tuna was beautiful, nice and red, with a perfectly seared ring. The sesame noodles were particularly flavorful, and quite whimsical. My mother, who's birthday we were celebrating, was particularly fond of the noodles.

We had all ordered their cedar planked salmon, with the exception of one in our party who ordered their halibut. The salmon was quite filling, and was crusted with breadcrumbs, and served over beet couscous. The salmon was ok, and nothing special to note. The beet couscous was more interesting. Instead of the semolina couscous which is typically a small, almost fine poweder-like texture, they served the larger variety of couscous, which was prepared with small pieces of beet. The couscous dutifully absorbed much of the earthy and sweet beet's flavor, which also added a wonderful dark red/purple shade to the couscous. The couscous was also served with some steamed fennel, which I think didn't add anything to the dish, and in fact, was more of a distraction since it added a sour, almost tart, licorice flavor that I didn't care for in conjunction with the salmon.

To accompany dinner, I had ordered a bottle of their 2003 Domain Chandon Carneros Pinot Noir, which was grown and bottled in Napa Valley. For one who always liked Pinot Noir long before Sideways hit the silver screen, I found this bottle to be particularly delicious. It had a mysterious nose, that hinted toward more interesting things to come. It was medium-bodied, and quite smokey, which I found to be a particularly interesting pairing with the cedar-planked salmon. Others at the table agreed with me.

For dessert, we kept it light, but we did order their Dark Chocolate Cake (that came with a lit candle for my mom) as well as their Creme Brulee. The Dark Chocolate Cake wasn't nearly as rich or creamy as I expected it to be, which unfortunately means I didn't really care for it. It was just ok. The Creme Brulee was up to par, but lacked in it's display, which was really the only thing to the Dark Chocolate Cake's credit.

For anyone who wishes to visit Tavern on the Green, I wouldn't go for their cuisine. I would, however, go because it is in Central Park, and it offers beautiful views. Better luck next time Tavern...

Balthazar

Balthazar
80 Spring Street - Map
Between Crosby Street and Broadway
(212) 965-1785
French Brasserie

By restaurateur Keith McNally (also of Pastis, Pravda, Balthazar Bakery and others), this SoHo gem draws flocks of the rich and famous, and mundane as well. While Balthazar is known for their breakfasts and brunches, chefs de cuisine Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, spare nothing on their dinner menu. While their menu is not overwhelmingly packed, each dish sounds so delicious that it makes it difficult to choose what you would like to eat more.

Having finally patronized this restaurant back in March for my 24th birthday (it was a long-standing desire to finally eat at this well-known establishment), this restaurant made it to my Top 5 list, superceding even Abigael's (which was tastefully chosen for my 21st birthday). While I try to not write reviews for restaurants I haven't been to recently, the experience was so positive, that it remains firmly etched in my mind.

Fearing a lack of reservation, I made mine a month in advance for a party of 8. I generally don't make reservations so far in advance, but I heeded their website's advice - and luckily so since when I called it in, it was apparently the last one left for that day (Sunday evening is apparently a very popular evening dining time).

We started our evening by ordering a few appetizers for the table, which consisted of their Balthazar Salad, Warm Goat Cheese and Carmelized Onion Tart, and their Saffron Risotto. Their appetizers were simply ambrosial, particularly the Balthazar Salad. It was a delicate balance of various ingredients, including but not limited to asparagus and fennel, yet what I found to give the salad that extra umph of surprise was the truffle vinaigrette. It added such a wonderful, earthy dimension to the salad, with a sweet yet earthy, and tart finish - which was just plain fun to eat, combined with the texture of the leafy lettuces, and firm asparagus.

The tarts were a whole new chapter. The musky aroma and flavor of the cheese made my mouth water and yearn for another bite - coupled with the sweetness of the carmelized onions provided for a heavenly experience. The oohs and aaahs around the table as we each sampled from it was a wonderful accompaniment to the savory flavors of the tart.

Finally, the risotto...Ahh, the risotto...All future risotto's are now forever ruined for me. This dish was so perfectly prepared - creamy, delicious, heavenly. The saffron created a beautifully golden hue to the dish, serving as a beacon for the eyes and hands. We were all drawn to it when it arrived at our table. After the round of appetizers, I couldn't wait for the entree to be served.

To accompany the entree, I had ordered their 2001 St. Joseph's Offerus, grown in their Bordeaux region, which was one of the wines recommended by the very French waiter, who wasn't standoffish at all, and was particularly accomodating to everyone's requests and questions (and substitutions). A wine like this, I have not ever experienced. It makes the others I've had almost pale in comparison. It was so complex, so robust, so full-bodied, fruity, and satisfying. It went exceptionally well with the Duck Confit that I had ordered.

This being my first real experience with duck, I am sure I did not make a mistake. It was so buttery in texture, the meat practically fell off the bone. A small part of my brain was desperately trying to get my attention - warning me that with every bite thus far, my arteries were slowly hardening - I paid it no mind. Each bite was worth it. The flavor was so unique and distinct, I find it difficult to find words to convey the awesomeness of every bite I took. Served over a bed of apple chips, the crunchy apple's went exceptionally well with the buttery duck. The chefs clearly knew what they were doing.

For dessert, I ordered (of course) the Creme Brulee. I now know how Creme Brulee should taste, and have an excellent barometer with which to compare all Creme Brulees against. Deceptively heavy looking, a proper Creme Brulee should be anything but. It should have a deliciously crusted carmelized sugar top, and a light, yet rich creamy custard. The vanilla flavor of the custard infused my mouth, accompanied by the carmelized sugar crust on top made for a wonderful contrast of textures. I've sampled some of their other desserts that others had ordered. Not disappointing in the least - sensory overload more like it. Their desserts are designed to stimulate every sense. The display is magnificent, the aroma robust, taste - exquisite, texture - superb, and the sound of people enjoying it....mmmmmm.....

To say the least - I implore everyone to go to this restaurant at least once in their life - it would not be a regrettable experience!

Roy's New York

Roy's New York
130 Washington Street - Map
Between Albany Street and Carlisle Street
(212) 266-6262
Hawaiian Fusion

Housed in the New York Marriott Financial Center in the Financial District, this little Hawaiian hide-away has some of the tastiest food in NYC. While the financial district may be somewhat difficult to navigate for people who don't frequent the neighborhood, once you find where you are, it's actually quite charming. It's clear that the neighborhood caters primarily to a fast-paced business world, with lots of after-work venues, and it does tend to become somewhat of a ghost town after certain hours. Yet Roy's New York seems to be a paradise oasis in the middle of the jungle of buildings and sky scrapers.

As soon as you walk in, the decor already helps to take off some of the stress of the day, with the light, colorful and whimsical feel. It's almost bistro-esque. The wait staff were very accomodating, and particularly attentive. I felt as if they wanted me to feel at home as soon as I walked through their doors.

We were immediately seated at one of their tables, and our gracious waiter made no fuss about trying to get to know us. We immediately felt the warmth that this establishment has clearly cultivated, and set the bar high. Never having sampled Hawaiian cuisine, I didn't really know what to expect, but my geographic knowledge and pop media kept hinting toward some of the more tropical ingredients like coconut, mango, and pineapple. I wasn't altogether wrong, but the cacophany playing on my taste buds was none like I had experienced before.

I ordered one of their fish dishes. As usual, I ordered it medium, having no point of reference with this establishment to risk medium rare. I was impressed with the level of professionalism with which the dish was set, a beautiful display in-and-of-itself. I almost didn't want to ruin it, but then the aroma slowly wafted up and stimulated the olfactory sense. I was almost drooling in anticipation. To accompany the dish, we had ordered a bottle of one of their Pinot Grigio's, assured it was an excellent accompaniment to our dishes. It lived up to it's description.

If you find yourself visiting ground zero one fine evening, and are looking for some delicious and exotic cuisine, coupled with warm heartfelt service, Roy's New York is the place to be.

Luxia

Luxia
315 West 48th Street - Map
Between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue
(212) 957-0800
American/Eclectic

Luxia (pronounced "loo-shah"), is among the Theater District's best kept secrets. Why, you may ask? Simple. It's because of their garden. Well, what's so special about a restaurant having a garden? Normally, nothing, however Luxia is probably the only restaurant in the city (aka Manhattan) that has a living, growing Apple tree in it.

While I admit that the apple tree was indeed the drawing-in factor, the food and service was nothing to scoff at. Somewhat non-descript upon approaching the restaurant, and nothing noteworthy of the ambiance and particular layout of the interior, their garden, however, was most inviting. Once seated, the polite waiters quickly handed us their menu and conveyed the evenings specials. We decided, however, to forgo their a la carte options in lieu of the tempting selection of their prix fixe menu which offered an appetizer, entree, and dessert or wine.

The food was very good, and was served beautifully. Their menu offered wonderful selections, even for the prix fixe, and we all felt like we got the better end of the deal.

While the food wasn't of any particularly interesting note, it was definitely up to par. This place is definitely worth visiting just for the novelty of the apple tree, but if you're looking for more phenomenal food, this place isn't it.

Banc Cafe

Banc Cafe
431 Third Avenue - Map
Between East 30th Street and East 31st Street
(212) 252-0146
American Bar/Grill

This new restaurant/bar in Murray Hill is a great place to go for some drinks or food. It has a lively interior, with a laid-back ambiance. Formerly an Irish bar, it was converted to Banc Cafe. Great date place, friendly wait staff and bartenders.

Their food was particularly attracting, shying away from the more typical "bar food" of burgers and fries, they ventured out with broiled chicken breast with sauted spinach over risotto, and their steak didn't look to bad either - a nice center cut piece. Modifications and substitutions weren't a problem at all, and were particularly accomodating. They had a modest wine list, and one of their cabernet's was deceptivley merlot-like, but blossomed nicely as the evening progressed and had a chance to breathe in some of the air.

This place is definitely recommended if you find yourself in Murray Hill mid-week and you're looking for something to do.

Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Grimaldi's Pizzeria
19 Old Fulton Street - Map
Between Water Street and Front Street
(718) 858-4300
Pizza


When they say "less is more," they have Grimaldi's Pizzeria in mind. The sheer simplicity of this old Brooklyn establishment is what draws people in from all over NYC. Residing in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood (Down Under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge Overpass), expect to see lines out the door to the end of the block consisting of loyal followers to their pilgrimage.

This place offers either dine in or take out of pizza. That's it. They don't accept credit cards either, it's a cash only business! Well worth the wait, once escorted into the modest interior, you begin to feel like a part of an old Brooklyn tradition, gathering with other neighborhood people to share in some really delicious pizza. They have a meager beer and wine selection, but their toppings list more than makes up for it. Their pizza, baked in one of the few remaining authentic coal ovens, is crispy, flavorful, and actually quite pretty.

I would definitely recommend this as a great date place. Start off in the city, walk across the bridge. Grab a bite to eat at Grimaldi's, then walk down to the pier for some ice cream, all on a beautiful sunny day!

Good, inexpensive eats here! Highly recommend!

Calle Ocho

Calle Ocho
446 Columbus Avenue - Map
Between 81st Street and 82nd Street
(212) 873-5025
Latin Cuisine

This kitchy, happening restaurant on the Upper West Side is a great place to go for a high-energy, vivacious, meal. As soon as you walk in, vibrant colors, and the layout of the entrance is fun, yet relaxing and inviting. The bar sports a wonderful selection of various latin-influenced cocktails and mixed drinks to titillate your palate! Also, a novelty not typically found at many latin-type bars/lounges is fresh sugar cane! Yes, you read correctly! :-) Stalks of it are strategically placed on the bar to not only add a sense of latin paradise decor, but as a handy accoutrement to many of the drinks on the menu.

My visit to this cool establishment was due to NYC Summer Restaurant week, where I met with my former co-workers for some after-work dinner to catch up on life, and take advantage of their inexpensive prix fixe dinner. Until our entire party arrived, as we slowly trickled in, we were kindly served drinks at the aformentioned bar (which would be cool to go to even on a night out on the town!). The bartender was upbeat, cool, and had a witty air about her that was off-color in a very fun way. She was more than happy to describe some of the more exotic drinks, and was fairly accomodating. When we finally all arrived, we were escorted to the back, which explodes into a room with VERY high ceilings, sistine-like in its magnitude. Palm trees were placed at various corners to add to the illusion of height, allowing your eye to follow its slender and graceful ascent to the ceiling.

While I wasn't pleased that it took a while to get some service, to their credit, they were packed to capacity, and the quality of the food in terms of presentation, aroma, and taste was very well-done and worth the wait. Also, since we weren't really in any rush (short of developing some light hunger pangs - which I think helped in appreciating the cuisine), it was nice to just sit, sip on our cocktails, and schmooze around. While the large room was fairly loud, it created the fantasy of complete privacy. On a side-note, one of our party brought her baby son with her. Now, I normally don't recommend bringing children, especially infants (and even worse when they walk and run-around), this place was loud enough to even drown out a distant babies cries (not that we heard any) - so this place is definitely stroller-friendly.

When we finally had a chance to place our orders, it wasn't too long until we got our first course. I ordered their Tamal appetizer - described as being "Ecuadorian sweet corn and goat cheese Tamal, shrimp enchilado." Allow me to sing it's praise. The fusion of flavors went very well - the musky gaminess of the goat cheese, spread atop a baked plaintain, somewhat reminiscent of a strip of toothpaste, provided a perfect compliment to the rich savory flavors of the corn and shrimp. For my entree, I ordered their salmon dish served with a light tangerine glaze that not only added a beautiful sheen, but a healthy rich color to the fish, that was served with a side of lobster mash and cucumber salsa. What initially drew my eye to the salmon dish in the first place was the cucumber salsa - it just sounded so interesting and I was curious to see how it would taste, and secondly, I was looking forward to the flavor of the tangerine glaze on my salmon - yum!

I have to say, I was not disappointed. The portion was appropriate, and I didn't feel like I was gorging myself. While I make it a rule to order fish either medium, or medium rare (only if I'm familiar with how the chef prepares fish in the first place, and I'm ensured a decently prepared fish), I found that they cooked the center cut piece exactly to how I prefer it: moist, flaky, and slightly raw on the inside, with it's juices flowing everywhere. Commonly, I find that most of the seasoning tends to stay on the outside of the fish at many establishments that I attend, and I was pleasantly impressed with the harmonious homogeny of flavour infused in every bite, nook, and cranny. The lobster mash was also particularly delicious, delicate in the mouth, satiny creamy, with a distinct flavor of the sea that all seafood lends to its dishes - I found it to go very well with the salmon that tends to have a heartier, more robust flavor. The most impressive was the light cucumber salsa strewn about the plate, almost added as a garnish than as an accompanying side-dish. It's light refreshing flavor and texture was a perfect balance to an otherwise "heavier" counterpart.

I had also requested a glass of their Campo Viejo Rioja (Rioja is a typically Spanish red wine commonly found in many Sangria recipes). While it may be somewhat untraditional to order a red wine with fish/seafood, many of these conventional boundaries are broken these days in order to create a more robust dining experience. Once again, my somewhat inebriated instincts didn't fail me (at this point, I had downed 2 glasses of their red sangria! They also had a white one, which I tasted, and was very good - more of a citrusy overtone) - and the medium-bodied, semi-dry (but more on the dry end) red wine did very well to sort of cleanse the palate between bites, and made for a wonderful "end-note" to complete each balanced fork-full of food (yes, I know "end-note" is a term used in fragrances and perfumes - but for all intents and purposes, that's exactly what it was like!).

For dessert, we were given a selection of their entire menu, of which I chose their Lime Flan. Allow me first to say, that my favorite dessert is Creme Brulee, of which Flan is the closest Spanish analog. While I couldn't finish dessert, the rich flavors, and the creamy custard flan, while arguably a heavier dessert, was also delectable. I had small bites of their Domino Pastelito - a chocolate lover's decadent dream come true! Rich blends of various chocolates, layered to an aesthetically beautiful perfection. The flan was also accompanied by a cappucino that was of decent blend, and not particularly noteworthy in and of itself.

In conclusion, I recommend Calle Ocho for a great way to start the evening with some high-energy fun. Great crowd, friendly service, good food.