A personal blog detailing dining and eating experiences
This rooftop bar is actually pretty good. The view of the New York skyline was great, and also people watching was fun. Had a very Gen Z vibe (even one guy was trying to impress some girl with his trust fund).
FYI, the entrance of it is not obvious (on street level).
I will say drinks are not cheap (it was $25 for one drink… although they do give heavy pours).
I would come back for the people and view.
We went to this really trendy Chinese restaurant. The vibe was very night clubby, and also Gen Z.
Basically when you get in it’s like a Vegas style check in (have people behind a hotel like counter). After, you basically wait in the bar area before you get seated (even if you have a reservation). The bar area is actually quite large, and really good for a pregame (could also go to this restaurant without eating and just chill there). And the DJ was very on point playing great top 40 edm music.
After about 10 minutes we did get seated. We got the chow mein with beef, the dim sum sampler, and something that is like pop corn shrimp (it wasn’t called that, but basically an Asian version of it). Honestly, would get everything again.
For drinks got an Aperol spritz and whisky on the rocks. Can’t go wrong with either of those.
On a side note, there was a downstairs area which looked like it had bomb seating. Also, this place is near the Google office and Tao night club. Would be down to go to this place and explore the area at night next time.
Update (7/21/2024): we went back here for a friends bday. There was 15 of us, so we had to do a fixed menu. The menu is listed below, it I think the highlights for me were the lobster fried rice, the jumbo shrimp, and the cod. Other food was great, but it was just a lot of food (need to pace myself next time).
Went to this speak easy on a Monday night in NYC. Being a Monday, no line.
I was pretty impressed that the speak easy is behind this hidden wall. And it’s disguise as a coffee shop. Also the place is Tesla themed (the inventor).
I will say service was a bit slow, but the menu looked pretty sick (like an engineering notebook from Tesla).
Got a Strawberry magic (it’s like an Aperol spritz, but tasted more orangey). Also got Toki on the rocks.z
Overall yea, like mentioned, would come back.
After eating some Chinese food at a place that had no liquor license, we ended up here, where they have some impressive cocktails.
Apparently this place ins supposed to be know for their ice. It did have some interesting shapes and curvatures, and interestingly enough I learned about what an ice chef is last week in Chicago.
The cocktail I got was called the City Hall, which was very similar to an old fashion, minus the symbols syrup.
Other drinks I got were not so fancey (to help with recovery the next day). Those were a Prosecco, and Basil Hayden on the rocks.
We went here for drinks after working in the Apple New York Office at Penn station. It’s located in Korean Town at the top of a 14 story hotel. The hotel itself does look a bit newer and out of place than the rest of the area. However, getting into the elevator (which took 4 seconds per floor) and the rooftop itself, it didn’t feel as new.
I would say the drinks I had were given (the lychee martini was great and the glass of Glenlevit), however I would rather choose a bar that has a better skyline view and is higher (see below).
This restaurant was my first kitchen table experience. And gotta say, had a really great time. Each meal was served by a different waiter, and they all were fully engaging. They described every meal and drink.
As a friend put it, this place was more about the drinks, and the food was the actual pairing to the drinks.
Some other notes is that this place is from the same group as Alinea, and they do recommend drinks back and forth. Also, my three favorite foods from below is the pea soup (had real crab meat), the scallops, and the scallion fritters.
Here is the complete menu:
Went to this restaurant before a night out in San Lucas Cabo (it was 5 minute Uber ride from main downtown).
The vibe was actually really chill (very tropical).
For drinks, got a boost and vodka (boost is one version of red bull in Mexico). Then got a whisky neat (Johnnie Walker black).
For appetizers, tried a dip that was made from grasshoppers (only had a taste). It wasn’t bad, but likely not to get it again. Also got the fish tacos, which was really good.
For the main course, got the Michoacano, which is a pork Chamorro. It was pretty good. Was a low carb option (since it had vegetables).
The only complaint I had about this restaurant is that the main course came really really slow (almost 40 minutes). (They did say their kitchen broke down as the reason).
One other thing is they had a tequila drink that had a scorpion in it, and mezcal that had a snake in it (see the pictures below).
We went to this restaurant for our first dinner in Santorini. It was recommended by our AirBnb host.
In terms of atmosphere and view, I really liked this place. Got some great sunset pictures here.
For drinks, tasted the Macallen Amber for the first time (apparently it is a different type of “line” from the regular macallen). Honestly, couldn’t really see why it’s worth more than a Macallen 12.
For appetizers, we got the mixed salad, fried calamari, and Greek carpaccio (which is made out of sea bass instead of beef). I’d order all of them again.
For the main, got a lobster pasta. Also really good (although a bit El dente).
Overall, would come back. However, the group might feel a bit different because they didn’t like the service (and gave no tip).
Went to this place for some fancy drinks in New York City.
The one thing about this place is that it’s small, so getting a reservation ahead of time is recommended. We were, however, able to put our name down (for 3, and sitting at the bar), and waited for 1.5 hours (but waited at Park Avenue Tavern, which was close by).
For drinks, got something called Bad Love (very similar to an old fashion), and also tried the Tuna tar tar. The drink was good. The tuna though was not super fresh.
Visited this bar in Korea Town in New York. It is sorta hidden since it is on the second floor of a building, and the stairs to get to it are a bit hidden.
This place has excellent drinks and good. Got a strawberry soju and a whisky sprite (yea, pretty standard). For food, got vegetable dumplings and something called tofu in hell (it’s a sweet spicy sauce). Both great.
Wanted to get some more things that were on the menu, like some sort of traditional rice cake dish or bulgogi dish. I’ll be coming back.
