mangia: UES Pizza- Happiness in a Pie

This small, cosy, pizzeria was perfect on our Sunday afternoon search for a place to stop and grab lunch. We had their Blue Cheese special as well as their goat cheese. They let us order a medium pie and split the pie half half of what we were sharing. It turned out to be perfect, because a whole pie of one flavor would be too overwhelming! We also shared a fresh house salad. I definitely recommend this place for some delicious pizzas!

Nina Argentinian Pizzeria
1750 2nd Ave (btw 91st & 92nd St)
New York, NY 10128

(212) 426-4627

mangia: Tribeca Japanese Delight!

It was a COLD Friday. I had to meet C at this new restaurant I read about from one of my magazines. With fresh made tofu, traditional Japanese dishes, I was curious what we would find at this place. I ordered a glass of Shiraz as I waited for C. The bar is nice, moody, and has these floor to ceiling window which I could spot my friend when she arrived.

We were seated in the main dining room, and it is this 2 story atrium like space. We were seated at the communal table that boast a sand garden and voltives. Each new customer walking in is greeted by a roar of the traditional Japanese welcome.

We started with their specialty, fresh warm tofu. How they serve it, is with a box container, which you spoon to your bowl and then add this soysauce type sauce and with a rustic wooden spoon you eat the fresh and creamy tofu.

Our second dish was the Grilled Churo Toro, which was fresh, and the sauce tangy/salty. Then their Yuba with Freshwater Eel, that was simply delicious, it contains cheese which really made it my favorite, and the crispy layer of fried Yuba... my favorite dish so far!

We then received our delicious Miso Cod, and our Sauteed Braised Duck. We really felt how full all of this was! I had read that their dessert was really good, so we shared a Tofu Mousse, which was devine in that honey sauce. We enjoyed the dinner & will come back!

EN Japanese Brasserie
West Village
435 Hudson St. (bet. Leroy & Morton Sts.), New York, NY 10014
212-647-9196

August 2, 2005

I returned to EN & this time we were a party of 8 gorgeous sister goddesses. Our Appetizer was the Age-Dashi Yuba. We started with 2 salads, the Shabu Shabu salad & the EN Salad. Both were refreshing. We also ordered Tuna & Avocado which was really fresh, & perfect for a taste of sashimi. We also ordered Burddock Root.

Then we received their Chicken entree, their Miso Cod & also our sushi. We ordered a salmon roll, an eel roll, and an avocado roll.

We ended our feast with delicious Clay pot cooked salmon and rice which we mixed salmon roe eggs with, and 2 of their specials, an order of Flounder, and their Bell Fish-a type of sword fish.

The meal was simply delicious. With a party this large, it was great to taste the range of food we had. My favorite will have to be the the Age-Dashi Yuba, the Chicken entree, the Clay Pot Salmon, and the EN salad.

The cocktails were fun and I'll definitely come back again!

mangia: Edgewater/Korean BBQ & NY views

So you ventured across the river, & you find yourself in NJ, either shopping at the massive Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, what have you, or you wanted to venture to the Japanese complex of Mitsuwa, the shopping complex right next door serves the best bagels-That's Three Stars Bagels, as well as the most tasty Korean Barbe-que this side of the river.

Found on 725 River Road, it is the smaller floating restaurant, the other boat, for the restaurant Binghampton floats next door.

Go on up to it's second floor, and you will be greated by a friendly host. Try their Kalbi's, their Seafood Pajun (pancake)... don't forget they will fill you up with their kimchi, potato salad, and other goodies! Then as you enjoy the great food, you can look out into the river, soaking up the view as well as your party!

Wonjo
725 River Road
Edgewater, NJ 07020
(201) 941-3366

mangia: Chilly day? Warm up at Yodo!

Meeting up on a Friday night, M & I decided to grab some dinner, so we ventured to a place he had seen while wandering around the streets of Midtown...

Yodo is on 13 East 47th St & you walk into a very crowded happy hour crowd. Their happy hour special is from 5-8pm, free appetizer with a drink like Kirin, Sapporo or a large mug of Budweiser costing $2 before taxes, or you can get a mix drink or sake for $3 & the free appetizer. Appetizers available are chicken yakitori, eel avocado roll, spicky tuna roll, california roll, one per person.

We actually bypassed the party like scene, and grabbed a dinner. We tried their tasty sausages and shumai! Both were delicious, we also ordered 4 rolls: 1 salmon roll, 1 spider roll, 1 spicy tuna, 1 cucumber eel roll.

We found it to be the perfect spot in the midtown area to grab some good Japanese food, and enjoy an evening dining. The table next to us had some amazing Shabu Shabu, so next time I'll grab that with M or a friend!

Yodo
13 East 47th St
(212) 751-8775