Hello 2014! It has been a long, long time since I last
posted. I’m not sure what’s kept me
away, but I’m happy to be back. I haven’t
posted since before Thanksgiving - Since then I have been doing some serious
eating. I’ve been in the kitchen a fair
amount but lately I’ve been going out a ton and to some really amazing places. I thought my first posts of the year would be
restaurant reviews. I’ve mentioned this, but I love making
lists. Anytime someone mentions a good
restaurant they recently went to, I immediately write it down. One of my favorite activities is reading
restaurant reviews and getting a good reservation – I will sometimes do this
for 2 hours at work…I’m sure my boss loves this.
The restaurant is such an important decision – it can make or break a night. My next few posts will be a breakdown of some of my top picks from the last few months. On deck today: L’Artusi and Catch.
L’Artusi – Italian, West Village
I came here in the beginning of December on a Monday night and it was packed – A good sign. It was also the restaurant’s 5 year anniversary, another good sign,and we were given a complimentary glass of champagne. L’Artusi was off to a great start. The 2-level restaurant is trendy and intimate. Overall the plates are small here, so expect to share and order multiple things. Lucky for me, this happens to be my favorite way to dine. Here were my top picks:
We started with the Roasted Mushrooms served with Pancetta, Fried Egg, and Ricotta Salata. I will eat anything with a fried egg on top. Very flavorful and the runny egg mixed seamlessly with the mushrooms.
Next we had the Ravioli – Autumn Squash, Sage, Brown Butter, and Parmesan. This was actual butter heaven. Huge Raviolis drenched in brown butter sauce with a creamy squash filling. The Ravioli was perfectly cooked and the flavor was subtly sweet and salty.
We ended with the Hanger Steak served with crispy potatoes. The meat was well-cooked -- tender and flavorful. The potatoes were delicious.
The cocktail menu and wine list was impressive, but I stuck with vodka & soda all night. They also had an incredible dessert menu – Will definitely need to try when I go back here.
All in all – Highly recommend for a trendy Italian spot in the West Village. Good for small groups, dates, and dinner with family. Come hungry.
Catch – Asian Fusion, Meatpacking
I choose restaurants in Meatpacking when I want trendy and fun, and I had been meaning to try Catch for a while. I love sushi and the neighborhood. I hung in the bar for a bit. It’s a diverse and well-dressed crowd-- Definitely a good after-work scene. The bar’s atmosphere carries over into the dinner scene, too – Trendy, open, and lively.
We started with the Crunchy Rice Cakes – Tuna Tartare, Wasabi Tobiko – I was pleasantly surprised with the different textures of the crispy rice and smooth tuna – This appetizer was very creative and delish.
For dinner we ordered lots of sushi to share - their “Raw and Rolled Platter”. It was a good portion for 2 with a combo of sashimi and some of Catch’s creative hand rolls. All of the fish was good. The rolls were picked by the chef that night, so they probably switch it up. I’ll always take the Chef’s suggestions. All of the rolls were inventive, flavorful, and well presented. None of the sauces or flavors were too overpowering so you don’t miss the fresh fish.
Catch has an incredible cocktail menu, but I went for vodka sodas. My biggest complaint for Catch is that they don’t carry Ketel One Vodka, so I had to go with Belvedere. Tragic, I know.
I would definitely recommend Catch for a big group, girl’s night out, or a date– It’s a fun atmosphere with great drinks and lots of food variety to share. If you’re not into sushi, there are plenty of other options. I would absolutely go back to try their pastas (Lobster Macaroni), raw bar, sides, and cocktails!
Keep your eyes out for more reviews in the next few days. Happy Dining!
The restaurant is such an important decision – it can make or break a night. My next few posts will be a breakdown of some of my top picks from the last few months. On deck today: L’Artusi and Catch.
L’Artusi – Italian, West Village
I came here in the beginning of December on a Monday night and it was packed – A good sign. It was also the restaurant’s 5 year anniversary, another good sign,and we were given a complimentary glass of champagne. L’Artusi was off to a great start. The 2-level restaurant is trendy and intimate. Overall the plates are small here, so expect to share and order multiple things. Lucky for me, this happens to be my favorite way to dine. Here were my top picks:
We started with the Roasted Mushrooms served with Pancetta, Fried Egg, and Ricotta Salata. I will eat anything with a fried egg on top. Very flavorful and the runny egg mixed seamlessly with the mushrooms.
Next we had the Ravioli – Autumn Squash, Sage, Brown Butter, and Parmesan. This was actual butter heaven. Huge Raviolis drenched in brown butter sauce with a creamy squash filling. The Ravioli was perfectly cooked and the flavor was subtly sweet and salty.
We ended with the Hanger Steak served with crispy potatoes. The meat was well-cooked -- tender and flavorful. The potatoes were delicious.
The cocktail menu and wine list was impressive, but I stuck with vodka & soda all night. They also had an incredible dessert menu – Will definitely need to try when I go back here.
All in all – Highly recommend for a trendy Italian spot in the West Village. Good for small groups, dates, and dinner with family. Come hungry.
Catch – Asian Fusion, Meatpacking
I choose restaurants in Meatpacking when I want trendy and fun, and I had been meaning to try Catch for a while. I love sushi and the neighborhood. I hung in the bar for a bit. It’s a diverse and well-dressed crowd-- Definitely a good after-work scene. The bar’s atmosphere carries over into the dinner scene, too – Trendy, open, and lively.
We started with the Crunchy Rice Cakes – Tuna Tartare, Wasabi Tobiko – I was pleasantly surprised with the different textures of the crispy rice and smooth tuna – This appetizer was very creative and delish.
For dinner we ordered lots of sushi to share - their “Raw and Rolled Platter”. It was a good portion for 2 with a combo of sashimi and some of Catch’s creative hand rolls. All of the fish was good. The rolls were picked by the chef that night, so they probably switch it up. I’ll always take the Chef’s suggestions. All of the rolls were inventive, flavorful, and well presented. None of the sauces or flavors were too overpowering so you don’t miss the fresh fish.
Catch has an incredible cocktail menu, but I went for vodka sodas. My biggest complaint for Catch is that they don’t carry Ketel One Vodka, so I had to go with Belvedere. Tragic, I know.
I would definitely recommend Catch for a big group, girl’s night out, or a date– It’s a fun atmosphere with great drinks and lots of food variety to share. If you’re not into sushi, there are plenty of other options. I would absolutely go back to try their pastas (Lobster Macaroni), raw bar, sides, and cocktails!
Keep your eyes out for more reviews in the next few days. Happy Dining!
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