The Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street between Orchard and Ludlow Streets (Lower East Side)
NY, NY 10002
(212) 995 0099
http://www.thestantonsocial.com/
My New Year’s resolution for New York City restaurants is, “Please someone, feed me.” I always thought New York City was the trendsetter city of all restaurant cities in America. How come the small plates concept has been hot for two years in San Francisco, but it’s now catching on in New York City? Who, besides restaurant owners trying to make money, ever thought conning diners into getting tons of small plates instead of two to three decently sized plates was acceptable? Actually, I have a new, New Year’s resolution for New York City restaurants, “Please leave small plates for tapas.”
It was a Wednesday evening and yet another large dinner with friends on the Lower East Side. It was ten of us on the second floor of the restaurant, next to the bar, and the place was only half-crowded. Since The Stanton Social is a small plates restaurant, we decided to split the table in half, five and five, so that each could get a reasonable portion of each plate. The restaurant also creatively allows you to order additional pieces in a plate, which we found out after ordering unfortunately, but we implemented our new knowledge during our second round of orders.
We started with the edamame with spicy miso and ginger which someone at the table (who had dined at the restaurant previously) exclamed was excellent. The grilled edamame comes topped with a thick sauce that is tasty albeit salty. Overall, though, it was much too messy for a food that is shared by a group of people and shared by numerous hands. The chicken and waffles was unpleasant although no one else at the table agreed or disagreed. It tasted burnt and the syrup, which came on the side, didn’t add much flavor or moisture. Two friends didn’t even see the syrup it came with. I tried it with and without syrup. Both were serious let-downs. You can’t name something chicken and waffles and do that to me, c’mon! The wood grilled pizzetta was simple and good, yet uninventive. It’s a fun addition to the meal considering there’s so little food on each plate, you need to carbo load somehow. Which brings me to the french fries. They were yummy but the servings were even smaller than Core 191 (could things actually get smaller than Core 191?). As a result, the fries don’t help you in your grand scheme to carbo load. Shucks.
The hanger steak was unremarkable, which at that point, didn’t surprise me much. The meatballs and manicotti were fine – again, unremarkable. The best additions to our table were pierogies that were not outstanding but tasty and easy to eat, share, and enjoy and the charred squid lettuce wraps. The lettuce wraps were very good, fun, and interesting. They were, by far, the best dish we had ordered.
For dessert, we shared a chocolate tasting which came with ice cream – too spicy, pudding – delicious, raspberry chocolate cake – decent but dry, and peppermint patties – a cheap addition to the dessert that we only ate out of sheer hunger.
The ambience of the The Stanton Social made up for what the food lacked. Sound level and lighting were well managed on the 2nd level (however, who’s to say what the other floors are like). In addition, the restaurant catered to a group of 10 quite well. Overall, the food was not earth-shattering but was dependably fine. A couple of decent dishes amongst some real snoozers. Perhaps next time, I’ll go to The Stanton Social (to order the lettuce wraps) after eating at Bereket.
Showing posts with label lower east side. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lower east side. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
99 Stanton Street between Ludlow and Orchard Streets (Lower East Side)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 995-0099
Subway: F/V to 2nd Avenue; J/M/Z to Essex Street
Bus: M14A/15 to Houston Street; M21 to Allen or Essex Streets
I love to plan dinners with friends, and with the new year upon us, I thought it would be a fortuitous 2007 to begin the year with a close-friend dinner. I chose The Stanton Social because I had heard good things, I love sharing and tasting, and I figured it may not be too expensive for a group. Also, the reservation was easy to get for a group of 8 on a Wednesday at 7pm (using OpenTable).
Although I arrived 15 minutes late, I was still the first one there, but my dining companions followed soon after. The restaurant was also incredibly accommodating when my table of 8 became 10. A modern loungey entrance greets you as you enter on the main floor of the restaurant with comfortable banquette-like seating on your right, although this sleek look was hampered by a makeshift coat check and coat rack on this cool January night. We were seated on the second floor where a full bar sat in the center surrounded by a dining room. When side-by-side, the chairs at our table, although incredibly comfortable and inviting, didn't allow space for one to be seated at the table without pulling the entire chair out and letting everyone on that side in; I found this annoying and therefore, didn't want to get up the entire meal in order to avoid disturbing my fellow diners.
Everyone at the table was starving, so we decided to order three dishes for every two people; we could always order more as needed. When I asked our server what he recommended, he told me that the French onion soup dumplings were the most popular item on the menu. This annoyed me. I didn't ask for the most popular item; I wanted to know what HE recommended. Strike one against the waiter. (Aside: one of my friends there had tried the French onion soup dumplings before and didn't feel they were worth ordering again.)
We divided the table in half to make ordering and sharing easier. Our side of the table decided on red snapper tacos with mango & avocado salsa, duck confit empanadas, "old school" meatballs with herbed ricotta crepe manicotti, charred squid lettuce wraps with three sauces, braised short rib soft tacos with refried white beans, manchego and tomato relish and finally the dry-aged grilled hanger steak served with pillows of blue cheese. Dishes were served as they were ready and were slightly difficult to share amongst five people, but each person was more considerate of the next, and we made do. What the waiter did not explain was that it's possible to make each dish to serve the number of people you're with (strike two) -- so if the dish generally serves 3, you can ask for a serving for 5 at an additional cost.
We received the red snapper tacos and duck confit empanadas immediately, and I thought the tacos were fresh, flavorful and delicious especially with a squeeze of lime which added a brightness. The empanadas were dry, including the filling, which was disappointing. This could have been remedied, or at least helped, by the blood orange sauce that accompanied it, but one of the busboys took the dipper away before I was able to decide either way.
The charred squid were wonderful, a touch spicy, tender, not chewy or rubbery at all, and had been seasoned and marinated well. Each of the sauces that came with the lettuce wraps added a lovely accent that piqued our tastebuds, and had us wondering what each flavor was (without peeking back at the menu). When we were out of lettuce, I was happy to just munch on the remaining squid. The short rib soft tacos was more filling than we expected, and it was a perfect dish to share amongst our group. I enjoyed the "mini-taco bar" feel that the accompaniments gave to the dish. The short-ribs had been braised well, so that the meat was tender and had the depth of flavor that you would expect.
Our final dishes, the meatballs and hanger steak, came out together. The meatballs were soft and quite good in a bold tomato sauce that almost hid the manicotti which it all sat atop. The manicotti were good, but I prefer manicotti in a more structured tube than the soft crepe that this one had. The hanger steak was also good, cooked medium-rare as requested; however, the blue-cheese pillows that were found in the dish threw off the entire flavor of the meal (and I like blue cheese!), and I wasn't able to get rid of it from that point on. Everything else that I nibbled on the rest of the evening was plagued with the lingering flavor of that rancid cheese.
Although we were all pretty stuffed by the end of it, we decided to try the cookie sampler, which was a disappointing end to a decent meal. The waiter did not indicate which cookies were which, and it was basically trial and error as we went through the plate... mostly errors.
We had some problems with our bill, where our server overcharged us, but he rectified the situation as soon as I said something. Service was slow, and a bit bumbly, but this seems to be the vibe that The Stanton Social tries to achieve. I never felt hurried by the staff; in fact, I felt that I needed to hurry the waiter a bit.
The Stanton Social definitely has things going for it: cool owners, some good dishes, a well-decorated great space (I loved the antique hand mirrors on the walls that gave a vintage twist to the modern look)... and most importantly, a rather inexpensive tab, food-wise: only $35 per person. Keep in mind, we did not drink (I had a raucous evening involving too much Jameson the night before), and there was no raw bar on this occasion, but if you're looking for a fun place to go with a group, definitely keep The Stanton Social in mind.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Chubo
(Eclectic/Global)
6 Clinton Street between Houston and Stanton Streets
New York, NY 10002
(212) 674-6300
http://www.chubo.com
Subway: F/V to 2nd Avenue
Bus: M21 to Avenue B/Clinton Street
When we were invited to a birthday dinner at Chubo, I was surprised because I’ve walked by the restaurant a number of times, and it seemed very small (like most of the restaurants included in the Clinton Street restaurant explosion) which I thought would be difficult for a birthday dinner. Yet, when I arrived, the restaurant appeared very welcoming and cute… little but not tight at all. When only nine of 14 people ended up coming, the waiter (the only staff member I saw in the front of the restaurant) was incredibly accommodating and quickly adjusted our table to feel cozy, even with nine people.
Since I was 45 minutes late (because Clinton Street is not easy to get to, and there were NO taxis to be found when I left), I had to make quick decisions (which is not easy for me). Fortunately, I had read the New York magazine review (http://nymag.com) with their recommended dishes before going, so at least I had an idea. It was a good thing I did, because the menu is very interesting and globally influenced, and I would’ve had a difficult time.
I started with a delicious drink, a plum champagne punch (I love plum and I love champagne). I had eaten a late lunch so I wasn’t as hungry as I would’ve liked, but a foodie friend (whose cholesterol is through the roof, but thinks he can eat anything because he’s on Lipitor - he had just finished a late lunch of brisket and a number of sides at Blue Smoke) was sitting across from me so we decided to share. After divulging New York magazine’s report, we ordered the duck shumai (New York magazine pick) and four kumamoto oysters as our appetizers. The oysters were fine; however, I prefer briny Atlantic oysters to the creamy Pacific types. The duck shumai were STANDOUT. The doughy wrapper were chewy but thin and perfectly cooked. I love dumplings, and I was blown away by these wrappers. The duck confit inside was also good, tender, flavorful – a perfect balance.
Entrees chosen were beef two ways (New York magazine pick) and the seared foie gras appetizer. I also benefited from sitting next to the birthday boy (a good sharer) who ordered the roasted scallops as his entrée. The beef entrée consisted of two parts: (1) hanger steak with a coffee rub and (2) oxtail ravioli served together with steamed asparagus. The oxtail ravioli was amazing. It must have been the same “pasta” as the duck shumai, since it is the same idea. Braised oxtail stuffed in a perfectly cooked doughy yet thin and chewy wrapper. I could’ve eaten an entire plate of these. The hanger steak was fine, not memorable, but tasty enough. The foie gras appetizer consisted of a teeny piece of seared foie gras set atop a disk of corn, maybe? I had a difficult time identifying what was what because it was heavily sauced with a strong fruity component. I quickly passed this off for more oxtail ravioli. The scallops were sliced thin which is a dangerous idea. One bite of scallop was almost tough, chewy and very overcooked whereas the next (a slightly thicker slice) was cooked fine. I heard from others that the sauce on the scallops was delicious, but I had a hard time getting past the loss of the delicate scallop.
Even though we were planning to enjoy birthday cake at the party following dinner, we still indulged in dessert sharing two desserts amongst five people: green tea mousse (New York magazine pick) and the espresso-cardamom soufflé. The green tea mousse failed to deliver; it was rather bland (I was expecting a punchy green tea flavored dessert especially since it was recommended). The soufflé, however, more than made up for the mousse; the cardamom didn’t overpower the dessert like I had thought, adding a mild interesting flavor to the espresso, and the fluffiness of the souffle was perfect.
Overall, Chubo was a hit, and next time, I may try their seasonal ingredient of the day (that night’s was venison, but I didn’t think I could eat four courses). Despite its spotty service as the restaurant filled up – frequently as dinner progressed, I would see our waiter standing by the bar area chatting with people, rather than checking on our water, drinks, etc., and there were only two tables taken (our table and one other four-top) – I would return, even if only for the duck shumai.
(Eclectic/Global)
6 Clinton Street between Houston and Stanton Streets
New York, NY 10002
(212) 674-6300
http://www.chubo.com
Subway: F/V to 2nd Avenue
Bus: M21 to Avenue B/Clinton Street
When we were invited to a birthday dinner at Chubo, I was surprised because I’ve walked by the restaurant a number of times, and it seemed very small (like most of the restaurants included in the Clinton Street restaurant explosion) which I thought would be difficult for a birthday dinner. Yet, when I arrived, the restaurant appeared very welcoming and cute… little but not tight at all. When only nine of 14 people ended up coming, the waiter (the only staff member I saw in the front of the restaurant) was incredibly accommodating and quickly adjusted our table to feel cozy, even with nine people.
Since I was 45 minutes late (because Clinton Street is not easy to get to, and there were NO taxis to be found when I left), I had to make quick decisions (which is not easy for me). Fortunately, I had read the New York magazine review (http://nymag.com) with their recommended dishes before going, so at least I had an idea. It was a good thing I did, because the menu is very interesting and globally influenced, and I would’ve had a difficult time.
I started with a delicious drink, a plum champagne punch (I love plum and I love champagne). I had eaten a late lunch so I wasn’t as hungry as I would’ve liked, but a foodie friend (whose cholesterol is through the roof, but thinks he can eat anything because he’s on Lipitor - he had just finished a late lunch of brisket and a number of sides at Blue Smoke) was sitting across from me so we decided to share. After divulging New York magazine’s report, we ordered the duck shumai (New York magazine pick) and four kumamoto oysters as our appetizers. The oysters were fine; however, I prefer briny Atlantic oysters to the creamy Pacific types. The duck shumai were STANDOUT. The doughy wrapper were chewy but thin and perfectly cooked. I love dumplings, and I was blown away by these wrappers. The duck confit inside was also good, tender, flavorful – a perfect balance.
Entrees chosen were beef two ways (New York magazine pick) and the seared foie gras appetizer. I also benefited from sitting next to the birthday boy (a good sharer) who ordered the roasted scallops as his entrée. The beef entrée consisted of two parts: (1) hanger steak with a coffee rub and (2) oxtail ravioli served together with steamed asparagus. The oxtail ravioli was amazing. It must have been the same “pasta” as the duck shumai, since it is the same idea. Braised oxtail stuffed in a perfectly cooked doughy yet thin and chewy wrapper. I could’ve eaten an entire plate of these. The hanger steak was fine, not memorable, but tasty enough. The foie gras appetizer consisted of a teeny piece of seared foie gras set atop a disk of corn, maybe? I had a difficult time identifying what was what because it was heavily sauced with a strong fruity component. I quickly passed this off for more oxtail ravioli. The scallops were sliced thin which is a dangerous idea. One bite of scallop was almost tough, chewy and very overcooked whereas the next (a slightly thicker slice) was cooked fine. I heard from others that the sauce on the scallops was delicious, but I had a hard time getting past the loss of the delicate scallop.
Even though we were planning to enjoy birthday cake at the party following dinner, we still indulged in dessert sharing two desserts amongst five people: green tea mousse (New York magazine pick) and the espresso-cardamom soufflé. The green tea mousse failed to deliver; it was rather bland (I was expecting a punchy green tea flavored dessert especially since it was recommended). The soufflé, however, more than made up for the mousse; the cardamom didn’t overpower the dessert like I had thought, adding a mild interesting flavor to the espresso, and the fluffiness of the souffle was perfect.
Overall, Chubo was a hit, and next time, I may try their seasonal ingredient of the day (that night’s was venison, but I didn’t think I could eat four courses). Despite its spotty service as the restaurant filled up – frequently as dinner progressed, I would see our waiter standing by the bar area chatting with people, rather than checking on our water, drinks, etc., and there were only two tables taken (our table and one other four-top) – I would return, even if only for the duck shumai.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Essex
(American)
120 Essex Street on the SE corner of Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 533-9616
http://www.essexnyc.com
Subway: F to Delancey Street, J, M, Z to Essex Street
Bus: M9 or M14A to Essex & Delancey Streets
Back in 1999, when Essex was relatively new, this place was more of a lounge than a restaurant, but sometime between now and then, Essex became a full-fledged restaurant. Located in the hip Lower East Side, Essex creates its own warehouse chic feel that fits in with the neighborhood.
If you’re going for brunch, make a reservation. Here’s my personal experience with the crowds at Essex: a few months ago, a group of eight of us tried to have brunch at Essex at noon on a Sunday; I had another commitment at 1:30pm, so I was unable to partake in brunch because by 1:15pm, we still had not been seated. Fortunately, this time around, a reservation had been made, especially since we were a group of 12, celebrating a friend’s bridal shower.
Brunch is a $15 prix fixe and includes THREE (yes, 3!!) brunch-esque cocktails (bloody Marys, mimosas and screwdrivers). Sadly, I wasn’t drinking, so I had to settle for a virgin Mary. These bloodies were SPICY – definitely a wake-up call on a droopy weekend morning. And perhaps it was because we were a group, but everyone who was drinking had more than 3 drinks, and no extra charges were added to our bill.
The food: I’m not exactly sure what type of food Essex is supposed to have. I’ve read “Jewish-Latin fare” and just “Latin” but when I was there for brunch, I saw an omelet, eggs Benedict (classic plus a few variations of), biscuits & gravy, steak & eggs, chocolate-blueberry pancakes, bacon… most of which didn’t sound very Latin or Jewish (especially the bacon) or a combination thereof. I noticed a few “Jewish” dishes: potato pancakes, challah French toast, lots of cured salmon (aka gravlax) and matzo; and their “Latin” aspects: the Cuban sandwich, an egg dish with torilla chips and pico de gallo, but is this enough to classify this restaurant as “Jewish-Latin”? It sounds pretty melting pot to me, which is the definition of AMERICAN.
As for how the food tasted, it was good enough. The chocolate-blueberry pancakes (which I didn’t order) were good enough that I wanted another bite. Actually, the pancakes were delicious. Everything else was less delicious. I ordered the Southern – biscuits & gravy. I am married to a Texan so I know biscuits and gravy. This was not good. Nothing else looked good. Except the pancakes.
Still, the brunch is worth it, just for the drinks. Bring good friends (ideally one or two that doesn’t drink so you can steal their drinks) and bring 20 bucks, and you’ll be golden (or a little pink-cheeked from the mimosas).
(American)
120 Essex Street on the SE corner of Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 533-9616
http://www.essexnyc.com
Subway: F to Delancey Street, J, M, Z to Essex Street
Bus: M9 or M14A to Essex & Delancey Streets
Back in 1999, when Essex was relatively new, this place was more of a lounge than a restaurant, but sometime between now and then, Essex became a full-fledged restaurant. Located in the hip Lower East Side, Essex creates its own warehouse chic feel that fits in with the neighborhood.
If you’re going for brunch, make a reservation. Here’s my personal experience with the crowds at Essex: a few months ago, a group of eight of us tried to have brunch at Essex at noon on a Sunday; I had another commitment at 1:30pm, so I was unable to partake in brunch because by 1:15pm, we still had not been seated. Fortunately, this time around, a reservation had been made, especially since we were a group of 12, celebrating a friend’s bridal shower.
Brunch is a $15 prix fixe and includes THREE (yes, 3!!) brunch-esque cocktails (bloody Marys, mimosas and screwdrivers). Sadly, I wasn’t drinking, so I had to settle for a virgin Mary. These bloodies were SPICY – definitely a wake-up call on a droopy weekend morning. And perhaps it was because we were a group, but everyone who was drinking had more than 3 drinks, and no extra charges were added to our bill.
The food: I’m not exactly sure what type of food Essex is supposed to have. I’ve read “Jewish-Latin fare” and just “Latin” but when I was there for brunch, I saw an omelet, eggs Benedict (classic plus a few variations of), biscuits & gravy, steak & eggs, chocolate-blueberry pancakes, bacon… most of which didn’t sound very Latin or Jewish (especially the bacon) or a combination thereof. I noticed a few “Jewish” dishes: potato pancakes, challah French toast, lots of cured salmon (aka gravlax) and matzo; and their “Latin” aspects: the Cuban sandwich, an egg dish with torilla chips and pico de gallo, but is this enough to classify this restaurant as “Jewish-Latin”? It sounds pretty melting pot to me, which is the definition of AMERICAN.
As for how the food tasted, it was good enough. The chocolate-blueberry pancakes (which I didn’t order) were good enough that I wanted another bite. Actually, the pancakes were delicious. Everything else was less delicious. I ordered the Southern – biscuits & gravy. I am married to a Texan so I know biscuits and gravy. This was not good. Nothing else looked good. Except the pancakes.
Still, the brunch is worth it, just for the drinks. Bring good friends (ideally one or two that doesn’t drink so you can steal their drinks) and bring 20 bucks, and you’ll be golden (or a little pink-cheeked from the mimosas).
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