Uncle Nick's Greek Restaurant

A few moons ago, I went to Uncle Nick’s Greek Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen with Mr. A. I’ve been there before but it has been a while. We started with the Mussels.  We had a choice of red sauce or white wine sauce. We went with the white wine sauce.

Mmmm Mmmm Good! I keep saying I’m going to make mussels. This was definitely one of those occasions that made me want to make mussels for dinner. Our entrées arrived shortly after. Mr. A ordered the Bifteki.

I thought it was just a beef kebab but apparently it’s chopped sirloin spiced Greek style and grilled. He enjoyed it, but probably not as much as I enjoyed my Kotopoulo Kebob.

Holy Moley! The chicken was amazing! It was so tender and juicy and the spices were fantastic.  The rice was incredibly delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the salad. I literally ate every morsel on my plate.  What a satisfying meal! I have to learn how to make rice like that!

I highly recommend Uncle Nick’s, especially if you’re in the area and need a bite for lunch. The service is good and the food is amazing. 

Hungry yet?

Hudson Hall

A while back I bought the Gilt City offer for a deal at Hudson Hall. Now that Ms. R works so close, it was easy for us to get together and walk over to the Hudson Hotel. When we walked in to the cafeteria I was immediately captivated by the film being projected on the walls. We were escorted to a table with benches and a throne like chair.

After we sat down we were told to help ourselves. Just like in high school, we grabbed our trays and made our way down the line.  We definitely made great selections. We started with the Tuna Tartare. (Like a rookie I forgot to charge my camera, but thankfully Ms. R came to the rescue!)

It was so bright we couldn't help but select it. The tuna was definitely sushi grade and tasted fantastic.  The Flat Bread Pizza was equally amazing.

The serving was really small though so I was left wanting more. Thankfully the Thyme Roasted Chicken came to the rescue.

The chicken was incredibly juicy and the seasoning was perfect. My favorite dish was the Roasted Corn.

It was very fresh and cooked with mushrooms and jalapeño. The jalapeño added a spicy bite that I wasn't expecting but definitely welcomed.  I look forward to replicating this dish in my kitchen.

Hudson Hall has an interesting atmosphere that is great if you're looking for a unique dining experience. It has so many options that dining there can be great for those with a desire for many different flavors. My biggest qualm is the hit or miss possibility of cafeteria style dining, but some dining risks are worth taking!

Hungry yet?

Larsen's Fish Market

On our last day in MV we ventured to the other side of the island for the beautiful beach in Menemsha. The bus ride was long but totally worth it. The sun was intense and I loved it. We chose Menemsha for the beach but also because of the cooked to order seafood at Larsen's Fish Market a few steps from the beach.

After soaking up the rays for a bit, we decided to head over to Larsen's. Z decided on a Lobster Roll.

It was premade but still so good! I ordered a crab cake to start.

It had a little more filing than crab so I didn't love it. Which is why I was really glad I also ordered a lobster!

The poor guy didn't know what was coming. Just a few minutes later I was having him for lunch.

I love lobster. It is so easy to prepare and so flavorful with such little effort. It's really quite amazing. I took my lobster to the beach and enjoyed him while watching the water. Pretty much a perfect lunch. Larsen's is worth the hike because the beach is beautiful and few things feel as great as eating lobster on the beach.

Hungry yet?

The Sweet Life Cafe

For our final dinner in MV we had a tough choice to make. So many delicious restaurants and only one more night. We decided that The Sweet Life Café would be the best way to close out an awesome weekend of great eats.

The restaurant is in a small house in Oak Bluffs. Most of the seating is outside in a dimly lit garden area that's decorated with Christmas lights. We sat outside on what turned out to be a lovely evening. I immediately decided my appetizer would be the Escargot Napoleon. 

When it arrived, I was floored. It was sandwiched on a phyllo dough crust and the snails were sautéed in almond butter, Pernod, spinach and blue cheese fondue. It was so good I found myself pausing many times to truly savor the taste. Z ordered the Sweet Pea Risotto.

It is typically served as a side but they were willing to offer it as an appetizer. The bright green color showcased the freshness of the peas. They were certainly generous with the portion. The risotto was delicious, but a little too filling for an appetizer.  When my entree arrived, I was equally thrilled.

The Grilled Striped Bass was served with heirloom tomato crab and corn salad. It was sitting on a wild rice pancake. The bass was amazingly good. The seasoning really allowed the freshness of the ingredients to shine through. I loved the salad and the crab added a nice textural contrast. The wild rice pancake was a first for me and I really enjoyed it! I may try to recreate it some day. Z's dish was also really good.

Wild Mushroom Strudel with creamy rosemary polenta and asparagus. It was cooked in a porcini broth with truffle oil, braised in white wine then baked. Quite the intricate preparation and it certainly paid off! After the disappointing dessert at Atria, I was really looking forward to something spectacular.

The Caramel Ginger Creme Brûlée did the job. It was served with orange ginger biscotti and the combination was perfect. It definitely had me wanting to lick the bowl.

The Sweet Life Cafe is a must try in Martha's Vineyard. The food is fresh, the staff is friendly and the ambiance is lovely. And besides if it's good enough for Mr. President, it should be good enough for you.

Hungry yet?

The Black Dog Tavern

While we were in Martha’s Vineyard, we tried to explore all parts of the island even if it was just for a couple of hours.  We took the bus over to Vineyard Haven to check out The Black Dog Tavern. The restaurant is right on the water so we sat there and enjoyed a great view before we ordered.  Luckily we have similar tastes so I knew I would get a sample of whatever Z ordered. The Crab Cake Sandwich was out of this world!

It was filled with more crab than the average sandwich.  It was topped with a lemon dill aioli that added a nice tangy zest.  I’ve never had such meaty crab in my life!  

I ordered the Seafood Fra Diavolo.

The combination of salmon, lobster and mussels in marinara sauce over parpadella pasta was excellent.  The marinara sauce although advertised as spicy definitely was lacking the punch I expected. Nevertheless, everything I ate was incredible.  I loved the crab cake sandwich and really enjoyed the seafood fra diavolo.  The Black Dog is more than just a tavern.  They have a café, bakery and even a general store. I scored a nice pair of sweatpants from the general store. After all fall is around the corner.

Hungry yet?