My Rating System - Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm

See the above picture? That's my happy food face! And to me, nothing beats the amazing feeling you get after tasting something truly scrumptious. I know that I myself am very passionate about my food and you, my readers are probably no different. However, I fully realize that we're all active and time-pressed people here--and we don't always have time to read the full shebang. This is why I'm introducing my new rating system of "mmms" which I'll include at the end of each review section (i.e. Atmosphere, Food, Service/Cost). I hope these ratings will help you scan each review quickly if you're in a rush. And for those of you that live on the juicy details, keep reading!

Now...what is an "Mmmm?"

"Mmmm" is the sound I make when I reaaally love something that I eat or drink. It's the sound of pleasure, followed by a smile on my face--you know exactly what I'm talking about. And yes, there are various levels of "Mmmms", which I'm including in my rating system that goes a little something like this:

1 Mmmm: Mediocre at most--have tasted better!

2 Mmmms: Meaningful yet mild--good stuff but still improving.

3 Mmmms: Magnificent must-have--seconds please?

Hope that these paint a vivid picture for you. Happy reading--and eating!

Mesa Grill - Southwest Meets Celebrity Chef

Mesa Grill - 102 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

212.807.7400

N/W/R/Q/4/5/6 Train to 14th Street Union Square

www.mesagrill.com

Mesa is just minutes away from work and I pass by it everyday. I've been here once for a wonderful, celebratory lunch but I've never tried dinner. Only hearing good things but unable to go on a casual night--it's expensive--I knew that restaurant week presented a perfect opportunity.

Atmosphere:

Your first thoughts when walking in are likely to be "how chic", "niiice place" or "trendy" rather than "rustic" or "Southwestern." It is a Bobby Flay restaurant after all so it's not surprising that it's ultra modern. The only Southwestern-ish touch is the seat upholstering with cowboys on wild horses, swinging lassos--kind of kitschy, kind of cool.

What I love most about the space at Mesa is exactly that, its spaciousness. The ceilings are incredibly high, the dining room flow broken by stunning pillars that feel larger than life. The lighting is funky yet subtle and the warm yellow tones on the walls are comforting.

The crowd that hangs here is young and professional. You'll see a lot of attractive women in smart clothes and men in suits. I know that people from work come here often and Mesa is a popular venue for business lunches and dinners.

Food:

I have only great things to say about the grub--it simply blew me away and my friends Kimberly and Michelle agreed. While the restaurant week menu was not too extensive, it offered wonderful options, which we were eager to try.

I started off with the black bean soup with cream, chile and guacamole. This was so yummy and really thick--it was a perfect way to melt away the winter chill. And even though the portion was large, I ate every last bit. One way that I enhanced the soup was by crumbling a black bean, corn muffin into it--the muffin was already on the table, served before our meal. Kimberly and Michelle both ordered the same app--the Fry Bread Taquitos. Wow! The fry bread was to die for but the jerk chicken that rested on it was even better. It came topped with crunchy cabbage slaw and sweet mango sauce. I think that I would definitely order this next time around.

We all ordered the Sixteen Spice Chicken for our entree, which came recommended by our waiter. And needless to say, we weren't disappointed. The meat was so juicy and flavored to perfection--although it had much spice, it was still gentle on the senses. But I think the best part of this dish was the side of cilantro mashed potatoes and the chunky mango salsa. The mashed were creamy and had a vibrant, herb taste that wasn't overpowering. It was fun to gather a nice forkful of the mashed and dip them into the mango salsa.

The sweet only got sweeter with our dessert selections. Kimberly and I ordered the banana rum bread pudding and Michelle got the vanilla crunch profiteroles. Oh my, was I happy! The bread was clearly a fresh banana loaf which melted in your mouth. The coolest part though was the topping of sour cream ice cream--a nice complement and I've never had anything like it. I highly recommend it! After all that eating, I didn't have it in me to try Michelle's dessert but she assured me that it was as delectable as it looked--and based on our whole experience here, I 100% believed her!

Service and Cost:

No complaints here. Our waiter was again, a little strange but did his job well. Our food came out quickly and the check situation was easy to handle.

Mesa stayed true to the restaurant week concept--$35 prix fix, no bull&*^%! And even though their menu didn't have the choices Molyvos had, the selections were smart and very representative of their regular dinner menu. Yay Mesa!

Sausage, Mushed Peas and Pasta - Can It Get Better?

This recipe came from a very recent episode of Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis--did I mention that I love her? It's an easy and flavorful way to change a boring pasta repertoire. And because the dish is rich and super meaty, guys absolutely love it. Dan devoured it in minutes and went back for seconds.

Here's how to make it from start to finish. And to create a healthier version, you can always substitute the sausage for ground turkey or chicken. I swapped out the Pecorino Romano topping for smoked mozzarella but otherwise I stuck to the recipe--it was that easy!

Molyvos - A Mediterranean Hideway in Midtown

Molyvos - 871 7th Avenue (at 55th Street), New York, NY 10019

212.582.7500

N/R/W/Q Train to 57th Street

www.molyvos.com

I heard good things about Molyvos from friends and from various user reviews. And although it's located in overwhelming Midtown, there's nothing mind-boggling about this warm and cozy spot.

Atmosphere:

As I mentioned, you feel completely removed from busy Midtown Manhattan as soon as you step into Molyvos. The lighting is soft and makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. It's also quite surprising just how large this place is--it extends back to what feels like a full street block.

The walls are colorful, cheery and decked with Mediterranean artifacts--beautiful clay pots, dishes and vases, oil lamps and pictures of Greece. It's all very charming and what I like about it is that it doesn't try to be too modern--like many other restaurants in Manhattan.

Food:

My friends and I chose our meals off the restaurant week menu--of course. It was great because there were lots of choices--the menu was nice and long. It bothers me when a place participates in restaurant week and then offers what feels like nothing.

We all got different appetizers and it was fun to try each other's food. The best one by far was Alexis'--the stuffed grape leaves. First off, it looked gorgeous and second, it tasted amazing. The arborio rice, tomato and garlic sauce really stood out--and the delicious pine nuts helped give it a nice crunch. Maya's giant baked white beans were also tasty and very different from the Greek appetizers I'm used to in Astoria. I especially liked the buttery breadcrumbs found on top! For my appetizer, I ordered the lentil soup with root veggies and pickled onions. The onions were by far my favorite part of this dish--they were incredibly sweet and refreshingly crunchy. And as I contentedly ate my soup, I looked forward to my next spoonful-- hoping for a pickled onion surprise.

My friends and I all ordered the same entree--grilled tile fish (it's a white, sweet fish), on a bed of braised veggies. The fish was wonderfully light and flaky. It also had a great crust, which was both crispy and a little spicy--and the bed of greens made for a nice and light side dish. We were happy with our order and while my friends were full, I finished my meal to the last bite--not because I felt I had to, but because I loved it so much.

We also got dessert as part of our prix-fix--and again, we ordered different options so we could try a variety. I liked all of them in different ways. Maya stuck to a traditional Greek dessert--yogurt with fruit and nuts. This was a great choice and the yogurt was silky, really enhanced by the fruit and nut topping. Alexis ordered semolina custard wrapped in phyllo dough, which was unbelievable. The custard was airy and the crispy phyllo texture provided a nice contrast. My choice of sweet sin was an almond vanilla cake with orange flavoring and cinnamonon cream. While I liked it, it seemed a little oily and I couldn't finish it. If I had to do it over again, I woud've gotten the Greek yogurt.

Service and Cost:

While our waiter was a little strange--he had a weird disposition--he was very efficient and knowledgeable. Our food came out quickly and everything that was supposed to be, was nice and hot. He also handled our complicated three-way check situation with grace. I know that my friends thought he was odd but I've seen a looot worse.

Cost-wise, you know what we're talking about--$35 prix-fix dinner. Something to be said though is that their restaurant week menu had select items where you had to pay extra. My friends and I didn't like this at all. Our mentality is "Why are you offering us a special and then adding $$$ on to it? What is the point of the prix-fix then!" Blah. Things are never what they seem.

NYC Winter Restaurant Week - Because I Couldn't Miss It!

Image by www.nycvisit.com

I know, I know...I write about Astorian food! But I simply couldn't pass up one of the best NYC foodie events that only happens twice a year--NYC Restaurant Week. So this week, I bring you coverage from NY's top of the top eateries that I normally couldn't afford on a regular day. From Molyvos, an upscale Greek place, owned by the Livanos Restaurant Group to Mesa Grill, Bobby Flay's Southwestern food parlor, I hope you enjoy my commentary and try some of these restaurants for yourself. For a $24.07 prix-fix lunch and a $35.00 dinner, you can't go wrong--for Manhattan, that is.

Pinocchio Palace - My Take, Dan's Take

Pinocchio Palace - 32-02 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102
718.932.4976
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I decided to do things a little differently this time. Instead of just offering you my take on this traditional Greek spot, I also passed the critic's baton to Dan. The two reviews might be contradictory at times, but they offer insight about Pinocchio from different angles. And besides, isn't it fun to look through someone else's lens once it a while? Enjoy!

Foodista's Review:

Atmosphere:
The decor here differs a great deal from some of the chicer spots on 30th Avenue like Ovelia, Avenue and Grand Cafe. It’s pretty simple, old fashioned and feels really homey. The waiters are all Greek and speak in their native tongue to some of the patrons. It's also nice to hear traditional Greek music when dining here. The whole atmosphere takes you back to your grandmother's kitchen--and you can't help but expect something really comforting to arrive on your plate.

Overall, Pinocchio is a place where the door is always open—and you do not need reservations, even on the weekends.

Food:
It is a fact, Pinocchio cooks up great Gyros. And this is pretty much the number one reason I come here. Besides being huge, packed with fresh vegetables and creamy tzatziki sauce, the actual gyro meat is soft and juicy. I simply love it! When I’m in the mood to really pig out, I get the Gyro platter which comes with fresh Greek salad and french fries (or lemon potatoes—if you prefer).

Another favorite of mine is their hummus. It comes in a large dish and is incredibly hearty and garlicky—fine with me but friends don’t sit too close! The before-the-main-course pita bread is plentiful and you don’t have to be shy to ask for more.

But besides the Greek fare, Pinocchio offers a variety of American-style dishes such as large brick oven pizzas (these constantly receive rave reviews from Astoria foodies), crunchy calamari, and even burritos--who knew!

Service and Cost:
The staff is friendly and responsive but you sometimes get the feeling that speaking Greek would be a benefit. Our waiter was nice but kind of left us high and dry at the end of our recent meal. Dan was starting to lose his patience, as he almost broke out his "sign your name in the air" move. It's his little way of saying "Can we get the check now?" This always makes me laugh.

Pinocchio is very affordable. A Gyro sandwich costs $6.50 and $11.50 if you upgrade to a platter. Appetizers are pretty much under $10 and most entrees won't cost you more than $15. To give you an idea, our dinner check was only $32 (including an appetizer and drinks).

Dan's Review:

Atmosphere:
I would say that if you were interested in a classic Greek dinner experience, a little on the rustic side, Pinocchio’s Palace would deliver it. The atmosphere is definitely a pleasant one. Dimm-ish lighting and soft-ish music fill the room, the place is not empty, but not crowded either, and the subtle sounds of conversation are also audible. The dining room feels clean, but not new or shiny. It is a nice atmosphere for sure.

Food:
The food at Pinocchio’s is nothing special. I would say it would start at mediocre, and max out somewhere in the pretty good range. For example, the fried calamari is pretty good, while the chicken gyro is slightly above mediocre. I have had the chicken souvlaki there in the past, and it was decent. The pita bread was actually my favorite part of the meal, fresh and hot, but if a Greek restaurant couldn’t get pita bread right I would be surprised. F-dista’s gyro was pretty good, but I have definitely had better. The fries that came with my chicken gyro were weak. Oily, not crunchy, limp. Some of them were a little bit crunchy on the very edges, but overall, they were a disappointment. The side of rice was o.k.

Service and Cost:

The prices at Pinocchio are pretty reasonable. The gyro platter (meat, pita on the side, fries, rice, tatziki) is $11.50. The sandwich by itself is around $6.50. Not too bad; you definitely get full for the money. Especially when it’s free because The Foodista treats you. I did notice that a hamburger platter is only $6.50, but if you do go here to eat, you probably aren’t in the mood for a burger.

The service was o.k. overall. It started out good. The waiter (there was only one) was pretty attentive in the beginning. The food came out relatively quickly, the water was refilled pretty often, etc. Towards the end of the meal, he kind of disappeared, and when we wanted the check it took forever to get it. It was like a tale of two waiters, except that it was only one waiter. And when the check finally came, Foodista took out her credit card and showed it to him, and instead of just taking it at the same time that he gave us the check, he literally ran away, and then had us sit there for another couple of minutes. I suppose I can’t fault him personally for this move, because it seems like every other waiter or waitress on the planet is genetically programmed to do this same exact thing. If they would just wait five seconds after bringing you the check to see if you are paying with a credit card and take it from you then, they would save everyone a couple of minutes, and the world would be a better place for all of us. Maybe someday this will change, but until then I suppose I have to learn to live with it. Or pay with cash.