Guest Foodista Courtney Reviews Dhaba

She reviewed Marvin, then Seasonal, and now Guest Foodista Courtney, tackles modern Indian food at Dhaba, from the heart of Manhattan's Curry Hill. Enjoy her colorful and always insightful review.

Dhaba - 108 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016
212.679.1284
6 Train to 28th Street
www.highwaydhaba.com

My roommate and I walked the 15 blocks from our East Village apartment on a cold February evening to try and work up an appetite to better indulge in our approaching Indian feast. Dhaba, the Indian word for restaurant just outside of town, is conveniently located in Manhattan's "Curry Hill," a crowded block of Indian restaurants, each one trying to outshine the other (with only a little less sparkle than our East Village 6th street).

Atmosphere:
Hundreds of colorful fabric spools decorate one side of the restaurant, while hanging silver light bulbs, rainbow beads and random colorful pieces of fabric hang from the ceiling. The waitstaff cruises between the aisles pushing carts of food and pre-app chips. The room is warm and smells like curry.

Food:
Avoid ordering fried appetizers like Kurkuri Bhindi because they are drowned in vinegar. Crunchy okra tastes like British French fries. The Khatte Baingan, an eggplant drenched in sauce and parmesan cheese, should also be avoided. If only I had some naan lifeboats with our appetizers, I could've made an Indian pizza. The appetizers weren't all bad, the Lusani Gobi (pictured above) was a male favorite. What was not a male favorite was the Chicken Tikka Masala, a disappointment when it's usually a classically great dish. The other entrees we ordered were quite delicious--like the classic Tawa Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower in a tomato based sauce) and the Navratan Korma (fresh veggies, pineapple and nuts in a creamy almond sauce), which was very filling. Our dessert, the Suji Ka Halwa, a mixture of cream of wheat, cinnamon and sugar was fantastic and tasted like a yogurty ice cream of wheat. The menu is large, a bit overwhelming, and it's important to pick your entrees carefully. Best bet - take a peek at what your neighbors ordered.

Drinks - We ordered a bottle of French white wine, a Sancerre that hit the tongue like a chardonnay and then disappeared like a pinot. It was fantastic. Our after dinner coffee and Baileys were American and delicious.

Service and Cost:
The service at Dhaba is slow on crowded nights but attentive on slow nights. The waitstaff is friendly and eager to tell you the best dishes, but a little on the nervous side. Starters and side dishes range from $1.50 - $10.95, breads from $2.50 - $4.95, main courses from $10.95 - $20.95, all-you-can-eat lunch buffet is $9.95 (except Sunday, $12.95).

1 Mmmm

Tierra Sana - Pay What You Want (No Joke)

Tierra Sana - 100-17 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills NY 11375
718.830.0544
F Train to 67th Avenue
www.tierrasana.com

Recession specials have gotten creative. One that I came across recently made me stop in my tracks--Tierra Sana's "Pay What You Want Tuesdays." I didn't understand how it could be! "Truly there must be some catch," I thought. But the only way to find out was to see for myself. So when my friend Crystal and I had dinner there this week, we not only validated the legitimacy of this deal, we also fell in love with the place.

Atmosphere:
Tierra Sana in Spanish means healthy land, which is exactly the way it felt inside--earthy, organic yet approachable and cozy. The color palate is soothing and rich in hues, as birch tables and chairs contrast with deep maroon walls and sheer curtains. The dining furniture is eclectic and ranges from traditional tables and chairs to loungy, couch seating--sending a message that Tierra doubles up as a traditional sit down restaurant as well as a laid-back cafe/lounge. I noticed a couple of people with laptops and others with reading/writing material. The staff didn't seem to mind, as patrons are left to relax and linger as long as they want. There's no feeling of stress, rush or the faintest trace of the hectic city life, which is just wonderful.

Food:
Not reading the menu beforehand, I didn't know what to expect. I, along with most people hold the stereotype that healthy/organic food is just not as tasty as bacon and lard--and that's why my expectations were low. However, Tierra proved me wrong, as everything we enjoyed that night was prepared with care, plenty of flavor and most of all love.

Smoked Chili Lentil Soup - I always appreciate a good, hot soup and it went perfectly with the unseasonably cold March day we were having. Tierra's chili was not only hearty, it was packed with many delicious veggies--there was everything from sweet squash and beans to tender carrots. Everything was fresh and aromatic, seasoned with smoky seasoning. The flavors in the soup worked beautifully and the portion was generous.

Salmon Burger - Usually wary of non-meat burger variations, something told me to trust Tierra to do it right. And while my eyes were still cautious when this dish arrived--the meat looked ham-pink and kind of thin--my stomach was sold all the way. The meat was fresh and didn't taste fishy--it tasted like a good burger should. I loved dipping the salmon into the refreshingly cool yogurt dill sauce that came with it. Actually I loved the sauce so much that I dipped everything into it--tomatoes, lettuce, onions. I can't neglect to mention the whole grain bun because it was phenomenal. Not gritty or dry, the bread was fluffy, fresh and slightly sweet--it was the perfect way to sandwich this baby.

Zucchini Enchiladas - Crystal ordered these because they sounded non-traditional and interesting. Her portion was large and she seemed to love it, despite the warning that it was "very spicy." I tasted it with caution and it wasn't too hot at all, it was done just right with a distinct kick that wasn't offensive. The zucchini had a nice grilled flavor and the sticky rice and beans looked yummy--I didn't try the rice but Crystal said it was awesome.

Vegan Brownies - Our dessert was complimentary, as we were surprised with a beautiful plate of vegan brownie strips. The nucleus of the dish boasted a cold strawberry dipped in chocolate and topped with coconut shavings. I've never had a vegan brownie before and was delighted at how much I liked it. It was more bitter than a traditional brownie and definitely more chocolaty than buttery. I enjoyed popping the brownie strips into my mouth and felt less guilty about eating them, as opposed to if they were full-fat. I recommend this dessert to everyone!

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was friendly and hospitable. Her service started off mediocre, as we had to chase her down for a menu but after that, she was great. She even offered us a free organic wine tasting, which we loved and appreciated. Overall, everyone was very nice and it was especially sweet of them to bring us an on-the-house dessert.

The cost was truly unbeatable. For all the food that I just mentioned, our "suggested" total was $21 excluding tip. Because it was "pay what you want Tuesday," we were able to fill in our own amount and pay what we felt like. Because the food and the service were so top-notch, we didn't want to skimp out and ended up leaving $26 for the entire meal including tip. The price that we "gave" our meal was $19 and the rest was tip.

Tierra Sana also offers other weekly specials such as "Treat a Friend Mondays," where your friend eats for free and even a $9.95 all you can eat buffet on Thursdays from 4pm - 8pm.

3 Healthy Mmmms

Bar 36 - Is It Closing?

I walked past Bar 36 on Monday and saw sad looking cardboard in the windows. The place looks closed and it appears that it'll remain closed for good. I tried calling them and inquiring but no one picks up. Come to think of it, I haven't seen this place open in a long time, especially on the weekends. Not having a great experience there myself, I can't say that I'm surprised but we'll see what happens - if it'll open under new management or if it'll close altogether. Time will tell...

If you know more, please drop me a note.

Bar 36 - 36-05 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

718.715.4420

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

www.bar36.com

Blackbird's - It Aint All That On All Counts

Blackbird's - 41-19 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.943.6899
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.blackbirdsbar.com

Because I've heard a lot of great things about Blackbird's, I've been wanting to check it out for some time. So when I found out that a local singer, Suzy Sellout, who by chance happens to work with me was performing there, I took it as a sign and went. Although Dan and I enjoyed the music, the food was mediocre at best.

Atmosphere:
Blackbird's is a welcoming place - from its cheery exterior to its cozy interior. It's very much set up like a bar--a narrow main room with bar seating as well as casual tables surrounding it. The walls are decked with kitchy memorabilia that you'd see at a local bar or even a diner. But the coolest part is that the back is set up for live performances such as the one we saw last night. While the acoustics could be better, it provided a comfortable place to enjoy a good live show--and the best part was that it was free.

Food:
After much hype, the one thing that I was dying to try was Blackbird's grilled cheese. Both Dan and I ordered it and while he liked it, I was underwhelmed. Here's why...

The Avenue Grilled Cheese - Although this sandwich sounded and looked impressive, served on fluffy white Texas toast and stuffed with American cheese, bacon, fresh avocado and tomatoes, it was just mediocre. I thought that the bacon smelled funny and tasted too greasy--it wasn't crunchy enough for me and didn't have that lovely smoky taste. The cheese was a disappointment because it was American - blech. I'm not a fan of artificial processed cheese and this is exactly what it was--Velveeta heaven. The avocado and the tomatoes were yummy though and as fresh as could be.

Something else that completely repelled me was my side of slaw. I usually love a good, crunchy slaw but this one was the last scrape of the barrel. Our server literally told me that they "found" some extra slaw before putting it in front of me. The taste and smell was terrible and reminded me of garbage.

While my side dish was unacceptable, Dan's fries were delicious and crispy. I should've gotten those. What was I thinking?

Beer - We each got a tall glass of beer to wash down our grilled cheese. I ordered the Gruut, a Belgian amber ale while Dan got the Coney Island Lager, considered to be a hybrid beer. I loved the full bodied taste of the Gruut, which was slightly sweet and caramely. Dan's was flavorful as well but more on the bitter side--and he was happy with that.

Service and Cost:
I wasn't thrilled in this area either. Our waiter seemed confused and disorganized. He didn't know the menu very well and was a little too casual with us. We waited about 20 minutes for grilled cheese, which was too long for a simple sandwich. I just didn't understand what the holdup was. Overall, the service definitely needed servicing.

The prices were moderate. For two sandwiches and three beers, we paid about $42 including tax and tip. While this wasn't expensive, the fact that I wasn't happy with my experience made me resent it a bit.

1.5 Mmmms

DaFranco Ristorante - Coming Soon

This weekend I saw that a new Italian restaurant will be opening in the Pistilli Riverview East building on 24th Avenue and 21st Street. The location will be quite convenient for the residents in the building and it'll join the already existing organic pharmacy on the ground level. I'm excited to find out more about it and promise to post a menu as soon as I get a hold of it. If anyone knows more about it, please give me a shout. I think that an Italian place will be a good addition to that neighborhood, as there's currently a lack of them. We shall see what surfaces...

DaFranco Ristorante Italiano - 19-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102

Skillet Brownies - A Fudgy, Scoopable Delight

It's no secret that I love dessert--and mostly chocolate. While brownies are a dear favorite of mine, I despise the generic cake mixes that give it an artificial, flavorless taste. That's why I got excited when I stumbled upon a from-scratch brownie recipe, making use of an unconventional baking tool, the skillet.

Besides the fact that the recipe was super easy and was made from ingredients I already had at home, it was fun to serve and simple to store. All I had to do was scoop it out with an ice cream scoop. The messy yet fun presentation was a nice surprise to my friends who I served it to. I think they appreciated the simplicity and loved the fudgy, homemade taste. I recommend this brownie to novices and experienced cooks alike.

To get the recipe, click here. Note: you can substitute the heavy cream for low-fat milk--I did and it turned out great.