Compass: Do's & Don'ts

Compass on the Upper West Side: do try the salmon tartare. Don't go for the lobster. Do have some of their delicious bread. Don't go for non-seafood fare. Do take a date (it's cozy and nice), but don't expect ultra crazy gastronomic fireworks.

What's for Brunch?

There are about a million different options in New York City for brunch. Long gone are the days when french toast and waffles were your best options. Most restaurants today have dedicated brunch menus and enticing "drink included" specials to lure you in on an otherwise sleepy Sunday morning. Here are some of my most recent brunch discoveries that are worth noting.

New Taste of the UWS

In a land where Foursquare still considers to be Far, Far Away, the food scene has rapidly bubbled into one of Manhattan's finest. As a relatively new resident of the Upper West Side, I have absolutely zero recollections of the desolate dining environment that this neighborhood once was. Instead, I was met with blissfully fresh macarons from Bouchon Bakery, sinfully aromatic prosciutto from Salumeria Rosi, and soul-warming locavorian entrees from Recipe. The New Taste of the Upper West Side's Best of the West event showcased over 40 of these amazing gourmet restaurants, dessert havens, and brunch bistros from my 'hood. A few were no-brainers, but I did encounter some pleasant surprises. My tasting favorites, favorite UWS restaurants, and more pics on the next page!

Isabella's

Every weekend, there's always a line outside of Isabella's on 77th and Columbus. The outside seating is usually packed with people chowing down on pancakes and sipping mimosas. On Sunday, B and I decided to see what the commotion was all about. Our wait was a substantial 35 minutes long (we were told that it would be closer to 20 minutes), but ultimately proved to be worth it. We were given homemade banana bread and sweet olive/raisin bread to start. I ordered the Crab Benedict that came with a side of salad, a slice of cantaloupe and also a bellini. B ordered a burger that came with spicy fries, pickles, and a bloody mary. Our total bill came to $30, which we found to be quite awesome. My Crab Benedict tasted fantastic: the eggs were perfectly poached and the came at just the right temperature. Also at $15 per person, I will definitely be returning.

Bouchon Bakery Macarons

As a reward for completing a two-day Hunter Education course (prerequisite for a hunting license), I bought myself a trio of heavenly macarons from Bouchon Bakery at Columbus Circle. After being stuck in a room with over 70 macho guys in the middle of the Bronx for many, many hours, I was in desperate need of some girly comfort. I purchased two chocolate macarons and a pistachio one at $3 each. I quite enjoyed the chocolate ones, but the pistachio was the showstopper. Unlike most macarons, which are delicately petite in size, Bouchon blows theirs up to triple the size. Each bite was a duet of crisp chewiness and luscious cream; also well-balanced in sweetness and texture. If you're willing to share, each would make a good snack for two.

Click for more pics!

Gus & Gabriel Gastropub

B and I discovered the Gus & Gabriel Gastropub last summer, right after watching the July 4th fireworks. Since then, we've been back several times for their delicious "Smothered" Chicken and eclectic beer selection. It wasn't until Friday that we decided to take advantage of their daily $15 deal: burger of choice, beer of choice, and nachos. The burger also comes with cole slaw and fries. That's an incredible amount of food for one person! I ordered a Weihenstephan Weiss Wheat beer and a medium-rare fried egg, bacon, and gruyére cheese burger (held off on the onion rings). It was very tasty for a burger, but I'm not sure how anyone can eat it like a burger though. It's as tall as it is from the tip of my nose to the bottom of my chin.

Eighty One

I apologize for not writing for awhile! For the past week, I've been stricken with a nasty cough (residual of a cold) and haven't been able to put my thoughts together. Today, I'm feeling a lot better. At least good enough to finally review Eighty One (from last Friday).

Restaurant Week: Nougatine

The double date Restaurant Week dinner that I had been looking forward to for weeks fell way short of my expectations. Since Noutagine is a highly rated Jean Georges restaurant, which even shares a kitchen with the Jean Georges Restaurant, you would naturally assume that something was wrong with our company, and not the food. To the contrary, S^2 were quite wonderful to dine with (as I had already learned from our first eatventure) and my meal left me wanting. There were distinct "winners and losers" on the Restaurant Week menu, which averaged the experience out to "good, but not anywhere near great."

Gari

I felt rather self-conscious when I first stepped into Gari. There were only a few patrons at 6:45PM, so everyone's attention was on us. We were greeted with a sharp "IRASSHAIMASE," which is a customary welcome at Japanese restaurants and businesses. Behind the sushi bar lined a row of five chefs who patiently waited to craft their next masterpiece. I usually like to sit at the bar, but only when the chefs are completely preoccupied and thus would have no time to observe my less-than-perfect table manners. But there was no escaping the unintended exhibitionism here. The giant glass windows and bright lighting insinuated that this place nor its guests had anything to hide.

Restaurant Week: Dovetail

When A.G. of Always Eating alerted me to the pre-release of the Restaurant Week Winter 2010 participants list, I attacked OpenTable with the enthusiasm that I usually reserve for Gilt Groupe's Final 70% Off Sales. Dovetail was the restaurant that I confirmed reservations for (although it will be the second that I attend, after an unplanned dinner to Nice Matin). The lovely name "Dovetail" means to join together harmoniously. Technically, it's a joinery technique found in skilled woodworking. While the dishes weren't literal translations of the name (although the Rabbit Mille Feuille did look a bit like it), the concept was beautifully expressed in the taste and surroundings that my good friend A and I so happily enjoyed.

Restaurant Week: Nice Matin

I've walked past Nice Matin over a hundred times and have always wondered, "why is it so busy?" B and I decided to investigate as to why this neighborhood French bistro was so hot when the world around it was cold. 

The Mermaid Inn UWS

Happy New Year everyone! On New Year's Eve, B and I went to dinner at The Mermaid Inn on the Upper West Side. They had a $45 prix fixe menu that included an amuse-bouche, choice of appetizer, choice of entree, and dessert. Although the intimate lighting was a bit too low for my camera, I tried my best to capture my meal. The Canon G10 is generally awesome, but it's not so great at taking low-light shots without a lot of noise.

Rickshaw Dumplings

Normally I enjoy making my own dumplings at home. I usually buy packs of 50 frozen dumplings from Vanessa's Dumpling House on the Lower East Side for $9. Today, I decided to try some "trendy" dumplings from the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck on 75th and Broadway. After seeing Anita Lo on Top Chef Masters, I was very excited to discover that her dumpling truck regularly goes to the Upper West Side.

Nonna

I met up with S at Nonna on the Upper West Side a few days ago to catch up. Nonna has been on my "to try" list for quite awhile. As soon as I moved to the neighborhood, my friend M strongly recommended it. We first started out by sharing some baked mussels in savory broth with roasted plum tomatoes, garlic and focaccia chips. It took me back to the day of the Landmarc mussels and beer tasting. Once again, I fell in love with the broth a bit more than the mussels.

Salumeria Rosi

I found a hidden gem on the Upper West Side with my good friend C this weekend. Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto has a great assortment of meats. Top to bottom: Buttery Mortadella with pistachio that brings back enhanced childhood memories. Assortment of meats to taste including prosciutto, soppresatta, capicola, and more!

Haru Upper West Side

Spicy sushi at Haru Upper West Side