Cedric Bistro

A few months ago, I was minding my business walking north on St. Nicholas Avenue when I noticed that Mojo had disappeared and Cedric Bistro had appeared.  I was intrigued but never really had the time to check it out.  Then Ms. R suggested we meet up one night and see what all the fuss was about.  The space on the corner of 119^th and St. Nick is a prime location. We got a great seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows. We chatted for a while then placed our order. Ms. R ordered a Cheeseburger.

It was a monstrous slab of beef! The side salad and French fries were generous portions. She enjoyed it but didn’t think it was fantastic.  I ordered the Fish and Chips.

I know, I know. Why did I think it was a good idea to order Fish & Chips at a French bistro? They probably put it on the menu for anyone who doesn’t know what to order. The fish was caked in batter and didn’t even look like fish. Once I got through the layer of batter, the fish was moist and well seasoned. But I was so turned off by the batter that I couldn’t really enjoy it. I should have gone with the duck.  Our dessert had an unfortunate addition so they brought us a new one.

The Chocolate Mousse was extremely rich and I definitely got a chocolate high.  We couldn’t finish it. I left Cedric feeling 50/50 about my experience, but leaning towards giving it another try. I refrained from writing my review because I felt partially responsible for my experience.  Don’t get me wrong, every dish at a restaurant should be perfectly executed, however I likely picked the worst dish on the menu. I was fortunate when my family surprised me with brunch at Cedric for my birthday. The brunch menu was more to my liking.  Way too many of us ordered the French Toast.

We all enjoyed it. MJ, my 23-month old nephew also approved, especially after he drowned each piece in syrup. It was nice that they had turkey bacon, but it wasn’t particularly delicious. The best looking and tastiest dish was the Ratatouille Omelet.

Ain’t it a beaut?! I definitely had major food envy.  Thankfully Y-squared was kind enough to let me have a bite. YUM! Stewed vegetables sandwiched between eggs. It was delicious!  The Omelet with Spinach and Goat Cheese was a little less good looking.

Apparently it tasted good though because by the end of the meal the plate was empty.  The highlight of the meal came at the end. Just as I got up and ready to leave, I was told we weren’t done.  And BAM!

Out comes Crème Brulee for meeee! It was remarkable! Much better than the mousse from earlier in the week. I could have licked the bowl if I wouldn’t have embarrassed my family.  My SiL also got dessert for her birthday.

The Profiteroles looked so great that MJ picked up a spoon and started licking his lips before digging in. It was a sweet ending to an awesome birthday weekend. I’m glad I waited before writing my review for Cedric. I can’t guarantee I will return for dinner but they’ll definitely see me for brunch again.

Hungry yet?

Linda Jean's Restaurant

After spending our first day in Edgartown, we decided to explore Oak Bluffs on day 2.  We started by heading to Linda Jean’s Restaurant for breakfast.  Located in the heart of Oak Bluffs on Circuit Avenue, the restaurant had a long wait but we didn’t mind sitting outside across the street for some quality people watching.  When we finally entered the restaurant, the decor reminded me of a suburban diner.  It was crowded but appeared to be well run.  I was pretty quick to order the Spinach and Cheese Omelette.

It was served with potatoes and a biscuit.  The omelette had a little too much cheese for my liking.  The biscuit was FANTASTIC. Light, flaky and buttery I had no choice but to devour it immediately.  The potatoes were also well flavored, but I wish they put more on my plate.  Z’s Cinnamon French Toast was also quite scrumptious.

It worked out well because the platter had everything Z was looking for, sweet and savory.  That’s one of the reasons I like eating at diners. The food at Linda Jean’s was great. Nothing too fancy, but definitely hit the spot and provided fuel for our walk around Oak Bluffs and eventually Vineyard Haven.

Hungry yet?

Among the Flowers

My summer has been filled with lots of weekend activities.  Most have been fun, but all have been exhausting.  Good thing that earlier this summer I planned a long weekend in Martha’s Vineyard with Z.  It was such a relaxing weekend and I totally needed it. It was my first time up in MV and I must say in many respects, it gave the Berkshires a run for its money.  (eeep!) Our first breakfast was not one of those occasions.  We went to Among the Flowers.  A cute little restaurant with tons of outdoor seating…you guessed it, among the flowers.

It was a little chilly outside so when they offered us a seat indoors we were happy to take it.  I was definitely looking forward to sampling some of the treats on the menu.  They took a little while to get our orders but once the waitress arrived it was no problem.  Z ordered the Wild Mushroom, Herb & Goat Cheese omelette.

I must say that although the omelette looked good, I was instantly turned off by the fact that it was served on a paper plate. I instantly started to question whether they had running water and if they valued the environment.  They brought the coffee in a mug so I’m not really sure the logic behind their actions.  When my French Toast arrived, I was equally annoyed with the paper plate.

However, the deliciousness of the dish made it easy to forget why I was upset. I scarfed it down and was left staring at the bottom of a paper plate. Hmmph!  The French Toast wasn't enough for me, so I also ordered a side of Home Fries.

They were well seasoned and the pan fried effect definitely was a good idea.  Overall the food at Among the Flowers was quite good, but the paper plates were a major turn off. I’m sure there were other breakfast spots that we could have tried out but this one was close, the food was good and the price was right. If you’re staying in Edgartown, you should try out Among the Flowers. Just close your eyes to the paper plates.

Hungry yet?

Chocolat Restaurant Lounge

A while back, in my hotel living days, I walked by Chocolat frequently. I was tempted enough that I ended up going to brunch with Ms. R. I ordered the French Toast and was quite happy with they way it turned out.

It was well flavored, rich but not overdone. The glutton in me couldn't help ordering the potatoes.

It was good but not great. Definitely not worth ordering especially when there's a delicious plate of French Toast worth eating. Ms. R ordered the Eggs Benedict.

After my one adventure late last year, I definitely stay away. Apparently she should have stayed away from this one. She noted that the hollandaise sauce was a mess. In short, she said, "I've had better eggs Benedict." Ouch! While we were eating we spied a delicious treat in the form of a Calamari Salad. Though I was tempted, we managed to contain ourselves. But I vowed to return so I could devour the calamari. Several months later, I made good on my promise. This time, I was accompanied to dinner with Ms. K. We started with the Sesame Calamari.

It really was everything I hoped for. Hot pieces of crispy calamari gently placed on a bed of greens and drizzled with a delightful miso ginger dressing and peanut sauce. Wow! This definitely could have been my entree. Every bite was perfect!! We also tried the Shrimp and Crab spring rolls. 

Womp womp! Greaseball central. My fingers were greasy and the wrapper was crumbling. The filling was unappetizing and I couldn't keep eating after a few bites. Before our entrees arrived, we were asked to move tables because they had a party of four coming in and there wasn't enough space. What an odd request. Well we got up and moved.  I guess it’s a good thing that the restaurant was so full on a Sunday night. Eventually our entrees arrived. Ms. K ordered the Beef Short Ribs. It was served with a creamy saffron risotto. 

Apparently the meat was so tender it reminded her of the one her mother used to make. She really enjoyed it. I ordered the Miso Glazed Salmon with bak choy and basmati rice.

The glaze was a little heavy and the rice slightly undercooked. The flavors were good just not perfect. By far the best thing we ate was the Calamari. It was amazing and I could definitely see myself going back for that. Everything else was take it or leave it, including the service. I recommend Chocolat but I think it's best you go there with muted enthusiasm. It definitely seems like a hit or miss on many levels.

Hungry yet?

Stone Street Tavern

After celebrating Ms. O's birthday in style the night before, I woke up famished. Thankfully we had already agreed to head to Stone Street Tavern for brunch. While sitting outside was an option we decided to stay indoors and enjoy a little of the air conditioning. The brunch menu has a lot of options and they had an additional menu with some specials. After spending a little time with the menu, we were ready to order. Considering the size of our group, our food arrived pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it was riddled with errors.

Mr. J ordered the Stuffed French Toast, which he had been raving about since the night before.

He knew immediately that there was something wrong with it. Turns out they sometimes stuff their French toast with bananas. That's called Bananas Foster French Toast. Mr. J's order was corrected and this arrived.

Yup, definitely what he wanted. Blueberries, mascarpone and vanilla sauce. That's what he signed up for.  Mr. M and the elder Ms. O ordered the Huevos Quesadilla.

The quesadilla was filled with cheddar jack cheese, jalapeño, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. It also was advertised as coming with a fried egg. The egg was barely fried it was running all over Mr. M's plate. The waitress told Mr. M that the quesadilla was served with steak fries. Lies!! No fries were delivered. Ms. O's Hangover Burger was served with fries.

The burger was filled with cheddar, bacon, fried egg and onions. Ms. O also asked for mayonnaise and hollandaise. Our waitress forgot - shock! Mrs. A ordered the Omelette Special. The spinach, tomatoes and goat cheese were what made it special but she asked them to hold the goat cheese. It looked really good and I definitely had some food envy.

Mr. A ordered the Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich. No cheese of course. He seemed to enjoy his sandwich.  

I ordered the Salmon Scramble. I asked for no cream cheese.

Of course it was served with cream cheese. The waitress was just not on it. I would put her name out here but I'm hoping it was just an off day. It was also just way too salty! I could barely stand to eat it. The home fries were good though. The company was great so the meal was worth it. If they got our orders right it would have been even better. They may have just been punishing us for sitting inside instead of out.  Overall I can say I was definitely underwhelmed, not whelmed and definitely not overwhelmed.

Hungry yet?

Stewed Breakfast Potatoes

It seems like forever ago when Ms. O and Mr. M came over for brunch.  I’ve been meaning to write about it, but with all the kitchen and bathroom craziness, I really haven’t blogged much these last two weeks. Luckily I had some time to catch up on blogging so expect a few posts this week. 

Considering they bought me an amazing Breakfast and Brunch cookbook and they’ve hosted me for many a meals, it’s only right that they finally come enjoy a delicious brunch at my place.  I was super excited to have them come over and while I was planning on making a lot of dishes I’d already made, I knew it was finally time I try to recreate the Stewed Potatoes I lust after at Il Bastardo.

Ingredients 

6 Idaho Potatoes

1 small onion, chopped

¼ cup green peppers, chopped

¼ cup red peppers, chopped

1 jalapeno minced

1 garlic clove minced

1 10-oz can tomato sauce

1 tbs vegetable oil

1 tbs chili pepper

salt & pepper to taste

Peel and cube the potatoes then boil for about 10 minutes until tender but not mushy.  Drain the potatoes and leave to the side.  In the same pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add peppers, jalapeno, garlic and onions. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add tomato sauce, chili pepper, salt and pepper.

Cook for about 5 minutes then fold in potatoes.

Cover and cook on low heat for another 5 – 10 minutes. The longer you cook it the softer the potatoes will be so you can adjust accordingly.  The potatoes turned out quite good actually.

But they were only part of the brunch.  The rest of it helped me remember why I should cook more often for brunch rather than going out.

French Toast, which you might recognize from this brunch.

Spicy cajun chicken sausage.

The best eggs EVER.

And some super yummy fruit salad courtesy of Ms. O.

After enjoying our meal, we watched a few more episodes of Archer. I’ve heard laughter is good for digestion.

Hungry yet?

Birthday Brunch Part Deux

After a fabulous dinner at Momofuku, we sang our hearts out for several hours at a Karaoke spot then hauled back uptown to sleep for a few hours before brunch.  Yes, it's true, all I did for my birthday was eat! Il Bastardo was so good the first time I went that I decided that a few weeks later it would be the perfect place for my birthday brunch.  Since David Chang is so limiting in how many people can attend his meals, I made sure that I could have at least one meal with as many of my favorites as possible.  I’ve already adequately described what makes this place awesome, so this will be strictly about the food.

The French Toast gets top billing again and several of the diners ordered this fantastic dish. It was just as good as last time.  I also made sure to get a side of the sautéed potatoes. Yum yum yum!!! My next homemade brunch will certainly include my version of these stewed potatoes.  Several people also ordered the Steak and Eggs accompanied by potatoes and spinach.

While I can’t attest to the taste, I noticed several empty plates so I’m sure they were spectacular (or my friends were REALLY hungry!)  

Another popular dish was the Eggs Benedict with Maryland Crab Cakes.

Negative on the soupy eggs for me, but I was all over the crab cakes.  Even my Marylanders complemented the cake. Woohoo!  I also had a chance to sample the pancakes.

They were delicious! Not quite the flavor of the Lemon Ricotta ones, but hey you can’t win ‘em all!  They definitely won on the pasta front.  Ms. O ordered the Rigatoni.

I was a big fan! Al dente  pasta and sauce cooked perfectly.  Il Bastardo was nothing short of awesome. Yea their service was a little slow, but they were very generous. The atmosphere was lively, the company was spectacular and it was a great way to end the fantastic weekend of eating.  Can't wait to go back!!

Hungry yet?

Revel NYC

Brunch fest continued last weekend.  I met up with the 7 lovely ladies who brunch and was really looking forward to dining at Good.  Alas, the 8 of us were too much to handle so I recommended walking over to Little West 12th and seeing if there was a place to seat such a large party.  We ended up at Revel.  It was an up and down experience that leaves me writing this lukewarm review.

Revel does have a beautiful space with an enclosed garden, high ceilings, exposed brick walls and LOTS of sunlight that's to the retractable roof.  However, the okay food and subpar service left much to be desired. Luckily, the conversation was lively and the sun shined brightly upon our table.  We were seated almost immediately which was great considering our large group.  As soon as the menus were distributed, I knew I would have a hard time deciding.  There were several options and considering how hungry I was everything looked great!  Since I had fantastic french toast the day before, I decided to go with the eggs.

Three eggs scrambled well were served with toast, potatoes and a small bed of mesclun greens.  Not bad.  I mean it wasn't great but I sure did eat every bite.  The greens were a welcomed addition on the plate.  The toast was also pretty good, especially because it was served with an assortment of spreads.  The eggs appeared as though they were cooked on the same pan as something else and in fact Ms. R found a piece of spinach in her eggs. Ugh I hope they don't just have one big griddle that cooks everything. yuck.  The potatoes were tasty but could have used a little more umph.  Ms. R ordered pancakes with mixed berries.

There was nothing spectacular about the way the pancakes looked. They definitely had the extra ring which appears when more batter is added after the pancakes have already started cooking. tsk tsk. Apparently the fruit made all the difference and the strawberries were spectacular.  After finishing my eggs, I assisted Ms. R with the rest of her pancakes.  They definitely didn't taste as good as my chocolate chip or pumpkin.  Even my buttermilk taste better. Ms. G ordered the Scotch Eggs

Two poached eggs cradled in brioche, fontina & truffle.  Truffle is always a good look.  Ms. M ordered traditional Eggs Benedict.

I gotta tell you all this brunching really has me thinking I may try the whole runny egg thing again. Not too soon though, I still love well-cooked eggs.  Ms. D and AA ordered the Garden Omelette.

It was "surprisingly good."  Ms. S also thought her French Toast was good.

But she did remark that it was warm rather than hot.  Which leads me to why this review is lukewarm.  I’ve said many times that my main objective on this blog is to focus on the food, but on occasion if the décor or service is notable, I will provide my comments. I was hopeful when we walked in because Revel was bright and sunny. However, the service almost ruined the experience.  There were multiple issues regarding the water. Dirty glasses, objects floating in water - things that you should not have to be bothered with while at a restaurant.  Ms. A ordered coffee and imagine her surprise when she started stirring and felt the grit at the bottom of her cup. Coffee grains? Seriously? It's unclear whether this was instant coffee or they had reached the bottom of the batch.  Either way, it’s unacceptable. As though the coffee incident wasn't bad enough, the orange juice and grapefruit juice were both served with ice.  I mean really Revel, are you trying to cut costs or does your staff not know any better? Shameful.

Last and definitely least was our waitress' inability to get it together.  She was super slow to come take our order which I can sometimes understand. When there's a big group you want them to have time to think about what they want, but in this instance, I saw her socializing with another table.  That's right not servicing, but socializing. Hugging and conversing while another table waits unattended is not okay. When she finally did take our order, she forgot to enter some items and brought some items for the wrong people.  When our check came, that was the final straw. 

There were two additional items on our bill that didn't amount to much, but was just enough to make our math a little more difficult. So we worked it out so each person would pay an even amount and once the extra items were removed, the waitress would actually end up with a little bit extra. Nice right? Wrong.  She came back and informed me that we had miscalculated, her manager had redone the calculations and the three credit cards were charged a little bit more.  Ordinarily I would take issue with this anyway because I don't think anyone should swipe my card if they are going to charge me more than I’ve instructed them to charge, but in this instance I was even more irritated because she had failed to remove the additional items from our bill.

Everything was eventually resolved and she came back to our table sheepishly and stated that we would all laugh about this some day.  Not funny. Brunch at Revel was nevertheless a success because it was the first time we all got together in far longer than I care to remember. It was a bright sunny day, which was a great contrast to the weather the day before.  The food was fine. Nothing spectacular, but certainly not bad. I'd reluctantly eat there again but only if there were no other options in the neighborhood and we could somehow arrange for better service.

Hungry yet?