When we visited New Orleans several years ago, we eagerly sought out Willie Mae’s, but were decidedly underwhelmed by the food. It was fine, but not memorable.
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I’ve been to WM in NOLA - it’s fine, but not anything special. Felt like it was more about the hype than the product.
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Dos Amigos in HB. My lovely bride and I got our hairs did next door, and this is right in our neighborhood. Birria ramen, anyone? I was very pleasantly surprised. I knew there birria here was good, and this use of it didn’t disappoint. Noodles had a very nice chew to them. The meximelt was also good.
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I’ve seen birria ramen all over my social media but have yet to try it. Sounds like it would taste awesome though.
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It’s been while since I had the lambneck but wow does that look puny to this lamb shoulder my friend just smoked. Much more meaty and tender then the lamb neck.
Adding this to next cooking project…
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Spent most of September in NYC (with 3 days in Washington DC) so doing a photo dump.
TLDR of trip
- less tasting menus
- focused on eating $<20/meal
- ton of sick wine bars
- NY superiority complex in food is really weird lmao
- a lot of just fine eating - as in it tastes fine, it gets me full, it’s not terrible/offensive, but I wish I cooked instead and saved money instead of spending money on food that doesn’t excite me.
- Drunchies Power Rankings SF/LA/NYC
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- L.A. Taquerias = YunShang Rice Noodle NYC Chinatown = LA KTown Soups > NYC Bodega Sandwiches >> Halal Cart = Pizza > SF Mission Burrito = Late night In & Out
NYC
Scarr’s, Lower East Side
- Sicilian White Slice - tastes like cacio e pepe with a few nuggets of roasted garlic. little denser and shorter than the grandma slice, but its density is kinda nice with the toppings. Edges were bitter and caramelized parmesan-y, pretty good!
- Grandma Cheese - super competent, much fluffier and airier than the Scicilian slice. Structural held up as you ate it (i.e., cheese didn’t fall off, sauce didn’t fall off the place, i noticed this was the case for other inferior square slices on this trip)
Overall super high quality ingredients and reheated perfectly–an underappreciated process and so many pizza places fail on their reheat. That being said, not the most emotional pizza for me and I probably won’t come back unless I’m in the area. Still super super high quality and they mill their own flour; the care is there, just didn’t resonate with me.
Lanzhou Ramen, Manhattan Chinatown
- Competent, bouncy noodles, clean broth, tender beef.
- Just doesn’t hit as much as Norther Cafe MP/1919 Lanzhou/Lan Noodle
- again, not emotional
Chopped Cheeses, Brooklyn
American Choice Gourmet Deli, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- Gonna use my terrible 3am photo that I took outside LOL and steal a photo from google photos LOL
- this was probably my first emotional bite of the trip, probably because I was a couple long island iced teas in, was too cheap to call a cab home, and decided to walk and explore Williamsburg before taking a bus back
- During that walk, see a group of unrelated drunk people all stumble into this bodega, and I’m curious to try my first chopped cheese
- In the best way possible, this tasted like a philly cheese steak mixed with an Ultimate Cheeseburger from Jack in the Box. I’m instantly nostalgic to dumber times in college
- Perfectly crispy chopped beef flanked with green peppers and onions all enveloped in an emulsion of cheese, and mayo in a crispy, fluffy hero.
My curiosity continues, and the very next day, I discover…
Farmer in the Deli 2, Fort Greene Brooklyn
- now sober albeit slightly hungover, needed my second fix of a chopped cheese so I went here
- clearly super different from the chopped cheese from the night before
- there’s crispy iceburg lettuce and a slicer tomato
- the onions taste more caramelized and honestly reminiscent of in n out without the special sauce
- for the money, i don’t think there’s a burger in the LA area that hits as hard as this for me [yucas/innout/pienburger/luckyboy/random pasadena burger joints/BNSD/GoldBurger]. Some of these places may have higher highs, but something about this just felt right to me and personal idk
But overall,
I think all bodegas that have a griddle should do a competent chopped cheese. I didn’t get the chance to go to Harlem, but I very much subscribe to the sentiment that the best bodegas/bagel shops are gonna be the ones most convenient to you, and the marginal improvements may not warrant traveling for. My third and final chopped cheese was in East Village, and that was super competent, so I think that checks out.
Place de Fetes, Clinton Hill Brooklyn
Menu
Bread & Sides:
- Atway Bread w/ Sicillian Olive Oil - $8
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- Great bread, great grassy olive oil. Something-something paying for bread at restaurants
- Great bread, great grassy olive oil. Something-something paying for bread at restaurants
- Don Bocarte Anchovies - $15
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- Big miss for me, briny and fishy in the wrong ways, didn’t pair well with my wine [negative pairing that brought out the iron and metallic notes of the fish]
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- Tried to tame the flavor with the cheese a la Chi Spacca, but that wasn’t quite what I was looking for either, the cheese was too good to stand alone, and I felt like adding the anchovies took away from that.
- Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Ham - $22
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- First time trying Benton’s pork products, was expecting a super smokey product but it came off as a very delicate, delicious cured pork product. Not quite as desiccated as prosciutto or parma ham, and it retained quite a nice suppleness and mouthfeel.
- Kunik goat and cow milk, ny -$14
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- Awesome awesome awesome. Soft, creamy, mildly funky as a seasoning, but never distracting. Smearing it on the crusy atway bread is one of the better pirmal carnal pleasures
Little Gems, Green Goddess, Fiore Sardo - $17
- F*cking incredible. Probably a top 3 little gem salad for me. Green goddess was garlicky and creamy, almost a platonic ideal for me.
- Rounding out the sharpness of the dresing is the shavedrich and pungent fiore sardo cheese.
- Lastly, the addition of toasted sunflower seeds and bread crumbs sealed the deal for me, adding a very nice maillard/caramel warmth to the entire salad.
Tomato Tart, caramelized whey, herbs d’ete - $15
- conceptually, I loved this. Execution wise, massive miss
- puff pastry was super under-done on the bottom, borderline raw.
- otherwise, loved the quality of he produce, and loved the handle part of the crust being as flakey and caramelized as it is.
- the caramelized whey was a viscous, slightly sour, slightly sweet, but deeply umami and caramelized flavor. The closest thing I would describe this as a very toasty roux that smells nutty of brown butter
- basically would have been a great re-interpretation of pizza.
Grilled atlantic Mackerel - $22
- almost perfect dish. Very well butchered/very little bones and crispy skin - reminiscent of the grilled dorade/branzino @ Bavel/Bestia
- the flesh was incredibly supple and the fat was rendered enough for it to melt in your mouth
- However, marred by the typical fishiness associated w/ mackerel
- I’m awaiting the day more hikarimono have their fishiness tamed like how great sushi restaurants do it, THEN cooked in a western format like this. Would quite literally break my mind
Keens Steakhouse, Time Square Manhattan
Prime T-Bone Steak - $64
Legendary Mutton Chop - $65
- maybe i’m just not into steakhouses, but I don’t necessarily see this as being better than any of the players in LA.
- Crust was great for both the mutton and the t-bone, however, because it is such a thick cut, the inner portions of the meat were definitely bland/unseasoned and required some serving salt
- I haven’t had to deal with this issue with steakhouses in LA/Vegas before
- Mint Jelly accompaniment with the Mutton was strange for me. I get what they were trying to do, but it was so distractingly spearminty that it tasted like gum. I think I would’ve much preferred a mint chutney
- Still really tasty and honestly not terrible for the price, probably wouldn’t return though.
L’Industrie Pizza, Williamsburg Brooklyn
- Easily the best pizza of the trip for me
- Of these 3 slices, Fig Jam & Bacon > Anchovy > Parma[prosciutto + ricotta + truffle oil]
- Fig Jam tastes like a grown up version of a BBQ Chicken pizza, salty, sweet, and smokey. I wish there was an onion/pickled onion element to this to balance out how rich the slice is overall, but I’d totally order this again
- Anchovy slice was basically a super competent cheese slice with incredible flavor for the dough, sauce and cheese. The bites of anchovy just provide that punctuated funk that made it all the more enjoyable, but still super enjoyable as a plain slice.
- Parma pizza was a little indulgent for me. I think the truffle oil was super distracting and made the pizza a lot more rich than it currently is. Still super delicious, but would probably ask to omit the truffle oil next time.
- Dough quality is noticeably better than most slice shops
Best Pizza, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- Only had enough room in my stomach for one slice, but a big fan of the white slice.
- Different from Scarr’s
- Much less black pepper
- caramelized onions are a really nice touch
- sesame seed crust is a really nice touch
- dough isn’t as charred/crispy as L’industrie, but that’s OK
- nice hints of lemon to balance out the entire slice. Super solid!
Original Joe’s Pizza, Greenwich Village Manhattan
- After having Joe’s at 2 other locations, can confirm the sentiment that this is the best location by far.
- Cash only, $4/cheese slice is kind of inconvenient but it is what it is
- Probably the best typical NY slice I tried. Crispy, thin, chewy, great balance of sauce to cheese. Great to go after a comedy show
Yunshang Rice Noodle, Chinatown Manhattan
- reusing old photos from June trip because I forgot to take photos oops, but just want to re-emphasize how Goat’d this place is after a night out in Lower Manhattan. Open till 2 am
- Rich flavorful porky broth
- Benefits from mushroom + sour vegetables to make it punchier
- Curry broth makes it laksa-ish
- Mala Spicy Tripe/Couple’s Delight is always a vibe
photos from google/yelp
-coconut curry broth & mala beef + tripe
Washington, DC
Maydan, Washington DC
- An open-fire Mediterranean restaurant. Short summary of it, we’re spoiled in LA by Bavel and Saffy’s and it’s not even close. Obviously, gotta be mindful of the price difference but this just made me think of difference in cooking level.
- Their breads were fine, but just a simple pita that wasn’t anything special.
- Great cocktails and wine list, on par with Bavelstiaffy’s
Tuna Kibbeh Nayeh | spiced raw tuna, endives spears $18
- not even close to Saffy’s version. Tuna came slightly room temp, and had a certain mealy-ness that I associate with cheap sushi joints. Seasoning was fine, and I liked the concept of the endive as a crunchy edible scoop, but overall a miss for me.
Shanklish | housemade cheese, za’atar, olive oil $10
- honestly just tastes like full fat greek yogurt. Wished there were more olive oil and za’atar. Got boring to eat after a few scoops worth.
Lentil Ful with Eggplant | broad beans, lemon, zhough $12
- Again, not really close or comparable to Saffy’s version. This genuinely tasted like taco bell to me, not bad by any means. Not really smokey or charred which I was expecting from the open-fire format.
Ember Roasted Baby Artichokes | marinated in olives, garlic, lemon & oil $16
- This was pretty good. Loved the charr on these, and the artichokes were tender enough to not have any fibrous elements to it.
- Loved the super concentrated bites of lemon, olive, and char.
- Probably would have been incredible with a side-car of Zhoug/ some kind of creamy cooling sauce a la Hillstone group artichokes
Turmeric Roasted Sea Bass | chermoula, tahina $24
- definitely the best dish of the night by far! Following the tune of Saffys/Bavel, this hits very similarly to their branzino
- The chermoula wasn’t whole-seaded to provide that pop of texture, but the crispy skin more than made up for it
- The thick fillet made for a more substantial and meaty bite compared to Bavelstia
- The QPR, especially at being half the price of Bavelstia’s version makes this a clear winner
Unconventional Diner, Washington DC
- After drinking way too many glasses of amber wine at Georgian Wine Bar decided to post-game with some southern food, and this spot rocks. Think of a solid new-American southern restaurant that actually pulls off the execution for some crazy third-culture food pretty well.
“DIRTY” CAESAR Soft Egg | Smoked Tomato | Aged Gouda (sf) $14
- Great ratio of ingredients, loved the crunchy chopped breadcrumbs. Would totally order this in LA
STIR-FRIED OKRA & BROCCOLINI | Fermented Chili | Rice Cake | Flax Seed Crunch $14
- Chinese AF, okra was charred perfectly to be just cooked through and not becoming slimey. Broccolini was perfectly tender and snappy. Crunchy, crispy, salty, chewy, really good bite.
FRIED CHICKEN | Half Bird | Granny Gravy | Biscuit | Slaw $23
- Great biscuit, not ERB level, but pretty damn solid
- Lacto-fermented hot sauce was definitely a vibe
- re: Chicken & Gravy, just think of a more expensive, upmarket Jollibees/KFC. Shatteringly craggly fried chicken with juicy perfectly brined chicken
- Gravy was salty and deep, punctuated with a tone of black pepper. I didn’t mind the saltiness but definitely think it was a touch overseasoned.
Back to NYC, aka burn out on cheap eats so I can move on with my life
Kwik Meals, Midtown Manhattan
- first meal back in NY after a morning train ride from DC, decided to get halal food since it was a 15 min walk from Penn Station
- $12 for a chicken & lamb combo platter, so noticeably more expensive than other halal carts. Accepts credit card
- Chicken & Lamb were incredibly juicy, springy, and well-seasoned. Actually tasted like meat and really satisfies a certain feral craving
- White sauce was whatever, tastes like middle school ranch dressing lmao. salad was fine. Those 2 chunks of random falafel were kind of gross, just tasted like a crumbly roasted mushroom.
- rice was just fluffy unseasoned basmati rice
- Really appreciated the green jalapeno sauce, reminds me of a better Flame Broiler/Waba Grill Green sauce
Farook’s Halal Food, Union Square Manhattan
- $8 cash only for a combo chicken and lamb
- Absolutely delicious, but perhaps too flavorful.
- Almost all of the meat tasted of chili powder and cumin, with I dare even say chicken bouillon powder.
- If you were super drunk and needed a slap in the face, this would be a great bite for that
- In a city where many halal carts have the same super punchy, aggressive flavors as Farook’s, Kwik Meal is a very well-needed change of pace that lets the ingredients speak for themselves.
Joe and Sal’s Pizza, Fort Greene Brooklyn
- philly cheesesteak pizza [lmfao] delicious, even better when taking advantage of solid pizza dough
- Grandma slice. Good, but cheese and sauce falls off the pie after first bite
Luigi’s Pizza, Fort Greene Brooklyn
- Plain Slice - $3 honestly pretty good for a neighborhood joint.
- Veggie Slice - meh, too much going on wasn’t into it
Leo’s Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Pomodorini Slice $4.50 - awesome bread, delicious produce. Would get again
Margherita - $18
- Good! Typical neo-neopolitan slice. Great sourdough crust, maintains is structure without ever getting soggy.
- Great tomato flavor and great mozz quality
San Giuseppe Tomatoes, spicy sausage, onions, olives, provolone - $22
- Solid & high quality, but not emotional
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A big write-up. Thanks!
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Nice vacation eating!
Chopped cheese!
Ya man you gotta go to Blue Sky/Haji’s in Harlem for the OG chopped cheese. I’ve had a few around Manhattan while they are decent doesn’t quite hit as good as Blue Sky/Haji’s. If you are in the East Village check out Sunny and Annie’s.
The Luigi’s on 5th in Park Slope is imo one of the finest examples of NYC style pizza.
Those NYC corner deli/bodegas are one of the greatest things about NYC.
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Interestingly Pizzaria Sei Sergio just went to similar slice shops and declared L’industrie his fav too.
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Your photo does look super legit!
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Keen’s is my favorite traditional steakhouse in NYC, but yeah you gotta like steakhouses.
Good to know. I had these 2 chopped cheeses and was so burned out I figured "there’s no way the OG location can be that much better right? Will definitely check out Harlem next trip!
I was considering going to Luigi’s in Park Slope, but my Sublet was in Fort Greene. I heard the Fort Greene Luigi’s is also really good, even if it’s unrelated so I decided to try it. Definitely solid but at this point I’m so fatigued out from 12+ pizza shops that it didn’t necessarily stand out to me LOL
Will make more time to swing by Park Slope next time, maybe for a Prospect park day!
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Which shelf was this on???
Okay, I’ll fully admit that I didn’t even really understand all of just this part, and so I def haven’t read your entire post (yet). But I am giving it a like b/c just the scrolling I had to do to see how long it was was totally epic, so I imagine the writing, photographing, and eating must be at least as epic. 
And what the heck is “chopped cheese?”
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Need to see inside. Never seen a commercial pork floss that I’ve liked. too crumbly and broken. The ones in little Saigon delis in clear plastic containers are my gold standard, strands of pork floss bliss around $25 per lb
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99 Ranch
Chopped cheese is a NYC deli/bodega sandwich with origins in Harlem.
Ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper/onion, mayo, and ketchup on a toasted hero roll. Like a burger kinda. I suspect the seasoning is some Goya Sazon lol. You can add whatever you want after that you just tell Papi (pretty much every corner deli/bodega can customize whatever the hell you want). Some people ask for hot sauce, jalapeños, mustard, bacon, bbq or buffalo sauce, whatever you want, even adding in bags of chips, or using different cheeses. Throw in a chicken cutlet if you want with some ranch. Hell you can throw in a honey bun from the shelf and Papi will make it for you.
After you order your sandwich you go and pick out a bev and chips/snack. Pay the man at the counter. Your sandwich, bev, and snacks gets bagged up and turn back and throw a few bucks for Papi who made your chopped cheese. Arizona’s are usually the bev of choice! If you go to a fancier place they got organic coconut water too lol. These deli/bodegas change with the neighborhoods lol.
If you are feeling extra sinful get a baconeggcheesesaltpepperketchup (Yes you have to say it like that or else no one knows wth you are saying) on a roll. A double fisting of baconeggcheesesaltpepperketchup and chopped cheese sipping on a Arizona is probably the most NYC thing to do and eat.
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Forgot to dump this pic here. Coffee Guys, 39th and 8th Midtown. Super nice primos with great service and energy. They are Mexican and they put their own handmade salsa verde in a BEC. No need for ketchup and s&p. No tamales available when I went. I love it when a coffee cart or deli/bodega adds some their culture to it. Salsa verde will run out. Those midtown office workers gotta eat.
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