Despite all the seismic shifts amongst late night hosts in the past year—swapping Leno for Fallon, Fallon for Meyers, Letterman for Colbert—the new generation of late night hosts seem more likely to attack each other with hugs and sincere professional courtesy than tridents and backstabbing. But at least one of them had a real life brush with a knife fight this week—Jimmy Fallon narrowly escaped a brawl at East Village bar Niagara on Thursday. "Fallon was pretty shaken up," a source told the Daily News. "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and chaos erupted around him." [ more › ]
This morning it was announced that the annual Northside Festival (held in June) will be hosting outdoor concerts at North 12th and Kent. According to BrooklynVegan, The War on Drugs will play on June 13th ($20 advance, $25 day of) and Beirut will perform on the 14th ($35). But were you aware that outdoor shows in Williamsburg used to be free and plentiful? Here is an abridged history of Williamsburg Outdoor Summer Concerts B.C. (Before Condos). [ more › ]
That is so critical in how we’re designing the space, trying to bring that counter experience and that human interaction to the new café. So there will be an open slicing area where you can watch the slicing happen, and actually you’ll be able to see it better than you can in the store. Right now you have to peek down poke around, There, we’ll have a slicing counter [and] an old-school soda fountain making our egg creams. There’s going to be almost like a luncheonette counter where you can sit down as you’re watching all the food come together, and you still have that over-the-counter interaction.
In a total lunar eclipse, the full moon turns a coppery red as it passes into Earth's shadow. During the process, the moon's bright glow dims, taking on a red hue because of shimmers of sunlight and sunsets seeping through the Earth's atmosphere.
Name: Christopher Smith & Merete Mueller
Location: Hartsel, Colorado
Size: 127 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months; Own
Christopher and Merete own a tiny house on some of the most beautiful land in Colorado. One hundred miles southwest of Denver, fifteen minutes down a gravel road just outside Hartsel, sits a 127 square foot home. It's cozy, efficient and costs hardly anything to power, but most importantly: it's theirs. Christopher always wanted to own a home in the mountains but never realized how near the possibility was until he started reading about the "Tiny House Movement".
View Dan Silverman's Ditmas Park in a larger map.
A resident of Ditmas Park since 2000, Dan Silverman (the executive chef of The Regency Bar & Grill in the Loews Regency Hotel) likes to ride a bike around his Brooklyn neighborhood and other areas of the borough. He's a five-mile ride away from Coney Island and not far from Rockaway Beach. But in the past few years, he's noticed more and more restaurants—often more upscale—opening in Ditmas Park. Though it started with a trickle from the Farm on Adderly, these days "it's hard to not explore and find something new."
[Photograph: Max Falkowitz]
Pizza: Di Fara in Midwood. If I'm buying, I always order a square pie with porcini mushrooms and baby artichokes. It never disappoints and is always worth the wait. It's definitely my favorite.
Burger: The opening of The Farm on Adderley was a sign things were changing around here—it set the tone of the neighborhood. It's been a favorite since they opened. They have a great burger served on a homemade English muffin. This place also serves an awesome brunch on weekends and is the perfect spot to take kids. I like that they're committed to using local products. They have a whole animal program, too.
[Photograph: Carey Jones]
Falafel: Hands down my favorite falafel is at Olympic Pita. Every time I go I try something new, and I'm never disappointed! They make their own bread and do falafel to order. There's also a fantastic salad bar. They have a dining room, but I always order take out.
Bagel: I get great fresh bagels at Bagel Hole. On the weekends, we like to pick up half a dozen or so and make them up at home. We also send them as gifts and people always rave about them. They're not too big, and they're not too sweet. I reject the big, sweet puffy bagels that a lot of people seem to like.
Coffee: Qathra is my go-to spot for a large black coffee.
Take out: Yen Yen is your typical New York Chinese food. It's always a take out staple for us.
Bar: Sycamore Bar & Flower Shop has a great whiskey selection. Plus, where else can you get a beer on tap while picking up flowers for the house?
[Photograph: Ben Fishner]
Filipino: Purple Yam opened up a few years ago and has been a great addition to the neighborhood. The chicken adobo and kimchi fried rice are staples, but they also serve a dish called sisig, which is chopped up pig's head (cheeks, ears and snout) braised in limes and chilies that's awesome! We've been going since they've been open.
Israeli: Mimi's Hummus has great Israeli food with a large selection of hummus that they make fresh every day. It's impossible for me not to try all of them! They also have a great market next door that has an impressive selection of cheese, charcuterie and gourmet condiments—it's a perfect one-stop shop.
Italian: Lea is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. They serve great wood-oven pizzas, fresh pasta, and nice salads. It's becoming one of our regular spots even though it only opened a few weeks ago. It's not a game changer, but it's great to have in the neighborhood.
Elliot Boblittthree!!
Not too long ago, eating vegetarian in New York meant sticking to buttered noodles and steamed broccoli or slumming it at a high-on-principle, low-on-taste vegetarian-themed restaurant. But not today.
In addition to new waves of vegetarian-friendly ethnic restaurants across the city, more and more chefs are focusing on making vegetables just as delicious as their meaty main course alternatives. We've rounded up some of our favorite vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the city, from casual sandwich spots to fine dining palaces. Some are meat-heavy with a few great meatless options, while others are completely vegetarian but have good enough food to satisfy even the most ardent carnivore.
Ghee Roast at Ganesh Temple Canteen. [Photograph: Max Falkowitz]
Ganesh Temple Canteen: The basement of a Hindu temple in Flushing might seem like a strange place to find a meal, but the Ganesh Temple Canteen makes the best dosa in New York.
Taïm: With some of the very best falafel in town, it's easy to forget Taïm is completely, almost incidentally vegetarian. Don't miss the great vegetable salads, especially the red beet and carrot options.
Thelewala: Never had a nizami roll? It's a flaky paratha wrapped around various fillings, and the crisp okra and tender egg are just as good as the lamb.
B & H Dairy: This old-school Eastern European lunch counter is almost exclusively vegetarian. Don't miss the homemade challah and mushroom barley soup.
Mumbai Xpress: The chaat at Mumbai Xpress is worth the trip out to Glen Oaks, Queens—it's the best you'll find in the city, and some of the best Indian New York has to offer. Try the Tokri Chaat, an edible bowl made of grated and fried potatoes filled with creamy chickpeas, fried chickpea crackers, and onion.
Margherita at Motorino. [Photograph: Nick Solares]
Motorino: With locations in both the East Village and Williamsburg, Motorino is our go-to choice for Neapolitan pizza in the city. The wonderful Brussels sprout pizza also has pancetta, but the vegetarian Marinara and Margherita are great, too.
Awash: Legume and vegetable stews are a focal point of Ethiopian restaurants, and Awash is one of New York's best. Dining with carnivores? Their tartare is also a hit.
Bunna Cafe: A purely vegan Ethiopian spot with fresher, brighter, and more interesting versions of classics. They also do a traditional Ethiopian coffee roasting ceremony in the dining room throughout the day.
Bianca: Bianca's affordable Italian menu has a variety of vegetarian-friendly options. The Lasagnette de Verdure features soft layers of eggplant and zucchini and an amazingly flavorful tomato sauce.
Cocoron: New York has no shortage of serious ramen restaurants, but soba doesn't get the same love. Cocoron seeks to change that, and their excellent buckwheat noodles can be ordered with deeply flavorful vegetarian broths.
Otto: With over a dozen vegetable antipasti as well as vegetarian pizza and pasta options, Mario Batali's casual Otto is a perennial go-to for vegetable lovers.
Ramen at Jin Ramen. [Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]
Jin Ramen: The city's trendiest ramen joints might be downtown, but don't discount Harlem's Jin Ramen. The light, flavorful vegetarian broth is just as nice a match for the excellent noodles as the pork broth.
Saravana Bhavan: If you don't want to trek out to Flushing for your dosa fix, the options at Saravana Bhavan, with locations in Murray Hill and the Upper West Side, are sure to satisfy. Check out the Chili Paneer and Rava versions.
Paulie Gee's: Pretty much any pizzeria can handle vegetarians, but vegans are usually out of luck. Paulie Gee's is a different story, featuring not just one vegan pie, but an entire menu of them, all SE-approved.
Zizi Limona: Zizi Limona's inventive Middle Eastern menu features versions of all the classic dishes you'd expect, vegetarian and not. The Crazy Baba, essentially a hybrid of baba ganoush and tirokafteri, is indicative of the updated yet faithful Mediterranean food you'll find here.
Mushroom hummus at Mimi's Hummus. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Mimi's Hummus: Mimi's makes some of the best hummus in the city. Get yours topped with sautéed mushrooms with tahini-dressed cauliflower on the side.
Il Bambino: This beloved Astoria "paninoteca" offers a variety of veg-friendly sandwiches and small plates that locals swear by.
Le Verdure at Eataly: Le Verdure, Eataly's shrine to vegetables, does its namesake proud. You won't find any fake meat here—Le Verdure is all about pure, honest vegetable dishes.
Mezze Place: Hummus, labne, burekes—Mezze Place is all about sharing great Middle Eastern classics. Order a variety of dips and vegetable plates and dig in.
Tanoreen: Palestinian restaurant Tanoreen respects both meat and vegetables. The Eggplant Napoleon—crispy deep-fried eggplant layered with creamy baba ganoush—is a definite winner.
Family Recipe: In America, Japanese food tends to mean sushi, but the truth is that Japan has a long tradition of vegetarian cooking. Family Recipe draws on this tradition to create Japanese-inflected dishes that carefully feature vegetables.
Fried Zucchini at Telly's Taverna. [Photograph: Max Falkowitz]
Telly's Taverna: Telly's Taverna knows its way around a deep fryer. Lightly battered zucchini, red pepper, and eggplant are all on the menu, as are deeply flavored gigantes beans and fresh dips.
Moti Mahal Delux: Indian restaurants are usually vegetarian-friendly, but few offer dishes as interesting as those at Moti Mahal Delux.
Garbanzos Fritos at La Vara [Photograph: Robyn Lee]
La Vara: The fried chickpeas at this neighborhood restaurant are a standout, but the other small plates, as well as the mains, all make La Vara a Cobble Hill gem.
Dirt Candy: A far cry from the health-conscious, tempeh-crazed vegetarian restaurants that popped up when the health food craze hit, Dirt Candy is all about making delicious, inventive, indulgent food that just happens to be vegetarian (and vegan on request).
Sip Sak: The best Turkish restaurant in the city with a full range of veg-friendly mezze that are substantial enough to turn into a meal, especially with their fresh, poofy bread.
L'Artusi: This bustling West Village Italian restaurant has fantastic vegetarian options. Be careful, though—meat sneaks into a couple of the vegetable dishes.
Narcissa: Narcissa is a fine dining restaurant that cares about vegetables. Inventive dishes like Rotisserie-Crisped Beets and Carrots Welington make this a restaurant everyone should check out.
Roast Carrot And Avocado Salad at ABC Kitchen. [Photograph: Robyn Lee]
ABC Kitchen: Chef Dan Kluger knows his way with vegetables. His menu changes frequently, but the carrot and avocado salad is a standby to keep an eye out for.
ABC Cocina: The newer sister restaurant to ABC Kitchen. Fancy tacos are a focus of the menu, but the best dishes are the seasonal vegetables.
Martha: Martha's menu changes frequently, but you're always likely to find a good variety of sophisticated vegetarian small plates.
Blossom: One of our favorite vegan restaurants in the city, Blossom puts out thoughtful, flavorful food. The Black-Eyed Pea Cake, topped with a chipotle aioli, is a satisfying appetizer, and the mains impress as well.
Hangawi: Hangawi's upscale vegan Korean fare makes it a destination for a special meal in Koreatown. The sesame leaf tofu patties are plump and moist, fried until crisp.
Ricotta Gnudi at Rouge Tomate [Photograph: Lauren Rothman]
Rouge Tomate: Michelin-starred Rouge Tomate takes vegetarian dining seriously. The Ricotta Gnudi, served in a pool of Parmesan cream dotted with herb oil and topped with a woodsy tangle of chewy roasted mushrooms and deeply browned celery root, is a highlight.
ilili: The labne and eggplant small plates at ilili are well worth an order, as are salads and za'atar-topped flatbread.
Kajitsu Kajitsu offers two fixed menus at a time, each taking vegetarian cooking to a new level of artistry. The cuisine is vegan shojin ryori, full-flavored yet tranquil.
Telepan: Telepan's vegetable options shine come spring, but throughout the year you're likely to find some creative vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Dovetail: Mondays at Dovetail are perfect for mixed groups of vegetarians and omnivores—that's the night they serve an excellent vegetarian tasting menu.
Blue Hill NYC: Blue Hill at Stone Barms revolutionized farm-to-table dining. The New York outpost provides no shortage of amazing dishes featuring local meats and vegetables alike.
There are many things to enjoy about East Village newcomer Au Za'atar, from their superlative shwarma to the unexpectedly addictive Arnabeet Mekle, a fried cauliflower dish that would convert any cabbage flower phobes. But it's the wonderfully creamy and smoky Baba Ghanoush ($7) that stole the show at a recent visit to the charming candlelit restaurant. [ more › ]
    
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View Johny Seymour's Williamsburg in a larger map.
John Seymour, one of the co-owners of Sweet Chick, grew up and lived in Manhattan until moving to Williamsburg about 12 years ago—long before the Brooklyn neighborhood became filled with popular restaurants. In that time, Seymour says he's never seen an area of New York transition so quickly. Between all the construction of bigger businesses (there's now a fancy Dunkin Donuts on Bedford) and new residential buildings, he says that Williamsburg offers better restaurant selections than ever before. Here are his favorites in the neighborhood.
[Photograph: Nick Solares]
Pizza: We just had our staff party at The Gutter and got about 20 pies from Paulie Gee's, which is close enough in Greenpoint. I ate a pie and a half by myself. My staff was really impressed. I've had a few of their pies; they're pretty original. It's a little more interesting than your regular pizza joint. It's fun and you know what you're paying for.
Sandwich: Gotta be the number five from Dépanneur. Grilled with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and fig jam on a baguette. I love to stop in here, get a coffee, and while I wait for my sandwich, I usually check out their great style and architectural magazines. I just love that block, too. I used to live right around the corner.
Falafel: Oasis on Bedford. To me that's a neighborhood staple falafel. It's right by the train station and it's been there since I moved here. It may be the first place I had a falafel. The texture is just right. It's pretty straightforward.
[Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Burger: I like to keep it gangster with Pop's—my original burger spot. There's a burger called the Cholo with guacamole, provolone, and chipotle sauce. It's grass-fed beef and that makes a big difference, plus how you season and cook it. It's also across from Sweet Chick, so it's convenient. I'm also a fan of DuMont. [Note: DuMont is currently closed for renovations.]
Bagel: I live two blocks away from Bagelsmith, and my wife always sends me out for a bag of whole wheat everything bagels when we don't have stuff to cook breakfast for the kids.
Coffee: I buy the old school espresso beans at El Beit. I have them grind the beans for me everyday like clockwork, I make lattes at home for my wife and myself. It's a few doors down from Sweet Chick, so I usually stop in for my afternoon iced latte, too.
Kid-friendly: Weather permitting, we go to Urban Rustic. We get simple sandwiches and sit outside by the park. There's outdoor seating, too, and that's great when you have three kids.
[Photograph: Kathy YL Chan]
Bakery: Blue Stove on Graham has some really nice pies and other pastries. It's a coffee shop, too, and one year it was the source for my Thanksgiving pie for my mom.
[Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Date spot: We like to try new spots around the neighborhood when we get the odd date night, but we will go to Rye a few times a year. It's a place we can always rely on and we fill comfortable with everything there, from the food and drinks to the atmosphere.
Take out: We often call in our order from Mesa Coyoacan for their camarones al ajillo and al pastor tacos. It travels well.
Elliot Boblitt6th and ave a.
Looking forward to this one: a cocktail recipe book from Death & Co, an East Village cocktail joint.
Tags: books cocktails Death and Co NYC restaurantsFeaturing hundreds of recipes for signature Death & Co creations as well as classic drink formulas,Death & Co is not only a comprehensive collection of the bar's best, but also a complete cocktail education. With chapters on the theory and philosophy of drink-making; a complete guide to the spirits, tools, and other ingredients needed to make a great bar; and specs for nearly 500 iconic drinks, Death & Co is destined to become the go-to reference on craft cocktails.
Elliot Boblitthere we go Amy!
Last month it was reported that the city's "Build It Back" program in response to Hurricane Sandy had built nothing back. The initiative was designed to rapidly help those whose homes were destroyed with federal relief funds. A year and a half after the storm and eight months after the plan was announced, no repairs had been made. Yesterday, Mayor de Blasio announced that he would immediately reallocate $100 million in federal aid to save and revamp the program. "Construction has started, the first checks are on the way, and we are making immediately policy and staff changes to further expedite and streamline the process—so that New Yorkers get the help they need now," de Blasio said in a release. [ more › ]
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If you're worried Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin might not make it to the end of his epic fantasy novels, at least we'll have a few snippets to...give us more questions. The author recently released an excerpt [SPOILERS EVERYWHERE OBVIOUSLY] from Winds of Winter, the sixth novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. [ more › ]
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[Photographs: Nicole Lam]
On a street dominated by specialized Japanese restaurants, newcomer Hi-Collar brings something unique to the area that you didn't realize you were missing—until you stumble upon it. Wedged next to Curry-ya, Hi-Collar is a sliver of a restaurant that's more of a bar. With only 13 stools, this place is best for solo dining or small groups.
Hi-Collar is a kissaten, a Japanese-style coffee house. Its motto of "flirting with the West" permeates the lunch menu, which consists of popular Western-inspired Japanese dishes.
Katsu sandwich.
What's currently selling out before mid-afternoon is the Katsu Sandwich ($8). A thick slab of berkshire pork is breaded and fried, then placed between two slices of crustless white bread with a smear of sweet tonkatsu sauce. Juicy and a little fatty, the sandwich is kept light by the soft, almost dainty, bread.
Hot cakes.
Speaking of things selling like hot cakes, they serve their own version of pancakes called, fittingly, Hot Cakes ($6.50). Two round spongy cakes are served with a dusting of powdered sugar and sides of orange marmalade and maple syrup. They're your classic pancake but with an impressively fluffy texture.
Tamago sandwich.
If you want eggs for the first meal of the day, you can do no wrong with the Tamago Sandwich ($6.50). A thick piece of grilled Japanese-style omelette rests on a layer of cucumber and mustard-mayo, also between slices of crustless bread. Faintly spicy mustard and buttery egg add richness, and there's a large spoonful of peach yogurt on the side to finish it off.
Omurice.
If you're particularly famished, order the Omurice ($9). The Western-style omelette blankets a hefty mound of rice seasoned with sweet tomato sauce and bits of pork.
Wafu-kinoko oroshi pasta.
There are two items that change their ingredients daily: the Daily Pasta ($8.50) and the HIC Shokudou ($13). The day I went in, the pasta was wafu-kinkoko oroshi, which roughly translates to "Japanese-style Mushroom and Grated Daikon." Cold grated daikon radish and warm marinated enoki mushrooms were served on a bed of al dente spaghetti, then topped with shredded dried seaweed and shiso leaves. Mixed together, the slightly pungent daikon countered the saltiness of the mushrooms. It's a refreshing dish served at room temperature.
Shokudou sukiyaki.
The shokudou is a more formidable spread, served on a tray with multiple dishes arranged in a highly aesthetic manner (as Japanese dishes tend to be). On tone visit, the main dish was sukiyaki with miso paste. Thinly sliced beef is cooked in a red miso stew with green veggies, tofu, and an egg. The side dishes include rice, sliced daikon with seaweed, fish cakes, and a bowl of tofu miso soup.
Row of siphons brewing.
As a kissaten, Hi-Collar takes great pride in their coffee, with specialty beans from Counter Culture, Toby's Estate, Porto Rico Co. Get the Siphon coffee for the visual theater of its chemistry set brewing method. At $5.80 it's by no means cheap, but that's a better price that you'll find at some other coffee shops. Served in worn tea cups or traditional Japanese ceramics, it's as much about the experience as the flavor.
Siphon coffee.
Another kissaten staple is dessert, and Hi-Collar doesn't disappoint, offering sundaes and freshly made cakes. The best is the Chocolate Parfait ($8.50). Served in a tall glass, it comes with chocolate and vanilla gelato from Ciao Bella, coffee jelly cubes, and crunchy homemade granola.
Chocolate parfait.
A cafe by day and a sake bar by night, Hi-Collar brings two highlights of Japanese cuisine under one roof. There's food at dinner, but it's a different menu, so plan your visit accordingly.
About the author: Nicole Lam is based in NYC. She loves carbs, cheese, and has a vicious sweet tooth. Follow her travels and eats on Instagram @niclam
Elliot Boblittuhoh
@evgrieve Did you see that Xian Famous is closed for renovations? I went there yesterday and saw another shocked would-be patron. Horrible!
— Adrianne Jeffries (@adrjeffries) March 20, 2014
Our East Village store will be CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS starting Monday (3/17)!
We hope to be back up and running in 3-4 weeks, with a few more seats and a more open kitchen!
In the meantime, head to our nearby Chinatown spot, open regular hours.
That is a bespoke running shoe made by a small company started by Hitoshi Mimura, who is considered one of the top shoe designers in the world. Mimura had great success at Asics, outfitting Olympic gold medal runners with shoes lighter, grippier, and more breathable than those worn by competitors, but now he has struck out on his own.
"I take 13 measurements of the foot, each foot has to be measured separately," explains the sensei of shoemaking. "I only trust hand-measuring. Currently, each shoe takes about three weeks to make, mainly due to determining which materials to use." Preparation is also key. "For a world championships or Olympics I check the course once or twice. I went to Beijing three times."
A NY Times feature on Mimura written before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing emphasized the designer's reliance on rice husks in the soles for grippiness. Mimura takes his job and his responsibility to the runners very seriously:
Surreptitiously, Mimura made soles of two slightly different thicknesses, to compensate for the fact that Takahashi's left leg was eight millimeters -- about a third of an inch -- longer than her right leg. She had tried a pair of the uneven soles before the Sydney Olympics, but felt uncomfortable.
Still, Mimura felt Takahashi needed such shoes to win and to avoid a recurrence of pain caused by the disparity in her legs. Without Takahashi's knowledge, Mimura gave her the uneven soles, then wrote a letter of resignation, in case she failed to win gold.
"I decided to take full responsibility because I made this pair against her wishes," Mimura said of the letter. "I didn't have to hand it over. It's still in my desk."
That is belief in yourself and in your craft. Many people believe in "giving people not what they want but what they need" but how many of them will put their livelihood on the line for it?
Tags: 2008 Summer Olympics design Hitoshi Mimura running shoes sports
We've got less than a month to go until Game of Thrones returns for its fourth season on April 6th but HBO is pumping up fans of the fantasy series with several fan events, including a big premiere bash at Lincoln Center this evening. And oh hell yes they've brought a big, scaly, fire-breathing friend along to mark the occasion. [ more › ]
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[Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Roberta's may be best known for its pizza, but there's more than just stellar pies drawing crowds to this Bushwick dining destination. Its trademark Brooklyn-style New American menu features a sophisticated seasonal selection of roasted vegetables, grilled seafood, hearty braises, and fresh pastas, all reasonably priced and impeccably executed. Which explains why, on any given night, you may not be seated for anywhere from one to three hours.
So what happens when you've trekked across the city only to find yourself hungry, impatient, and faced with an unbearable wait? Frankly, I have yet to encounter pizza within walking distance of Roberta's worth a comparable mention. But given the neighborhood's rapidly expanding restaurant scene, there's no reason to despair—even limiting yourself to a five-block radius leaves you with a wealth of options.* Here are some of our favorite alternatives.
* Willing to take a little walk? We've got more Bushwick recommendations right this way »
With a recent Bib Gourmand nod from the Michelin Guide and a dedicated following of its own, Dear Bushwick may not be the neighborhood's safest bet for quick seating, but I have yet to encounter a Roberta's-level wait at the self-described "English country kitchen." Though on busier nights the narrow space can teeter between cozy and cramped, it's rarely loud and never raucous. And while it's the kind of place that celebrates meat—Jessica Wilson's skillet pork chops alone have garnered some deserved buzz—you'll find a broad variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes on hand as well. As for drinks, expect some great craft brews and a strong, if somewhat unusual, British-inflected cocktail menu starring gin, rum, and sherry.
Mac and Cheese at Tutu's. [Photograph: Niki Achitoff-Gray]
Also nearby, and boasting a lower budget but similarly comfort-oriented menu, is Tutu's, where simplicity gets a boost of unpretentious creativity. Go for the sandwiches, ranging from a Crispy Catfish Po' Boy ($14) to house-ground burgers ($14+), which come with a generous serving of fries or salad, or place an order for a smattering of appetizers like the sriracha-dosed mac and cheese or tender pork belly bites. With a space big enough to seat multiple crowds, it's an easy and satisfying alternative for those hoping to fill up quick.
Pork Betty ($10) at Momo Sushi Shack [Photograph: Garret Zeigler]
Okay skipping New American? You. Are. Set. Just around the corner from Roberta's is my personal sushi mecca, Momo Sushi Shack. Before the team behind Williamsburg's Bozu rolled out their Bushwick outpost, there weren't many promising sushi options in the area. But Momo delivers on more than just high-quality raw fish, with a broad menu of cooked appetizers, entrées, and specials, along with a selection of sakes diverse enough to please connoisseurs and newbies alike.
Feast for Two at Bunna Café [Photograph: Lauren Rothman]
Unfortunately, Momo's hardly a well-kept secret these days and the wait can often rival that of Roberta's. Luckily, it's just a short walk to relative newcomer Bunna Café. We've already been blown away by the charming atmosphere, warm service, and standout fare at the vegetarian Ethiopian eatery, and it's food worth traveling for in its own right. Plus, it's cheap—I'm talking a $28 Feast for Two. If Ethiopian's not your thing or you're looking to get a meat fix, there's also Falansai, another new Bib Gourmand mention whose menu has nonetheless, in my experience, proved hit-or-miss. But you're sure to be seated quickly, and some wise ordering will easily leave you fully satisfied. I'm a huge fan of the Shaking Beef ($22), or you can check out more recommendations in our full review.
Behind the bar at The Narrows [Photograph: Niki Achitoff-Gray]
If you're entirely committed to dining at Roberta's, then it's worth checking their backyard—conveniently tented and heated throughout the winter—for available seating. On especially busy nights, though, even the patio fills up, in which case I turn around and head straight for The Narrows. When it first opened, the bar couldn't have been more aptly named—it was little more than a dark, though stylish, narrow corridor leading to a refreshingly open backyard. But they've since expanded into the space next door, so there's actually quite a bit of seating to be had these days. With its low-lit Art Deco interior, all-star lineup of craft brews, a daily $1 oyster special (available until 7 p.m.), and a unique collection of house cocktails, it's a great spot to drink out the wait.
If you're looking for a place well-suited to a drink, a snack, and perhaps a full-fledged acceptance of defeat, then settle in at The Anchored Inn, instead. You should probably (definitely) order El Cheeseburger ($12), though there are also tacos, lighter snacks, and a bacon-wrapped hot dog, which I'm pretty sure can never be a bad thing. Want to catch a game while you wait? You'll also find a bunch of TVs, a good atmosphere, and solid drinks selection at Pine Box. Or head over to the ultimate classic in Bushwick dives, Wreck Room, conveniently adjacent to Arancini Bros. should a small, quick, greasy bite be in your deck of cards.
But hey—those are just my picks. What are your Roberta's back-ups?
About the author: Niki Achitoff-Gray is the associate editor of Serious Eats and a recent graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She's pretty big into oysters, offal, and most edible things. You can follow her on Twitter @eatandcry.
[Screen grabs: Maru & Hana Macaron Bed on YouTube]
Maru looks like the kind of cat who appreciates a good cheeseburger, so it's not surprising that when a bed that looks like two plush burger buns was brought into his domain, a battle for ownership of it with housemate Hana ensued.
Take a look at all of the tail swishing and paw swatting in the video below:
[Video: Maru & Hana Macaron Bed on YouTube]
Technically, the bed, (available on Amazon Japan), is a macaron, not a burger. But close enough, right?
Check out Maru's website for the full story behind the bed (and all sorts of adorable photos).
About the author: Erin Jackson is a food writer and photographer who is obsessed with discovering the best eats in San Diego. You can find all of her discoveries on her San Diego food blog EJeats.com. On Twitter, she's @ErinJax
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By now, we all know that time is a flat circle, that everything we've ever done or will do we're gonna do over and over and over again. Three years ago, a call was sent out to knitters around the world after a New Zealand oil spill had left cute little penguins in need of warmth and protection. And this week, that call for penguin sweaters is going out once more. [ more › ]
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[T]he magazine worked with Gigapan "to build a rotating camera that could withstand the conditions atop the tower. An eight-month process of design and construction resulted in a 13- foot-long aluminum jib that would attach to the base of the spire, and serve as a rotating arm for the camera. Over five hours of shooting, the camera produced nearly 600 images that were then stitched together digitally into a single massive image of everything the eye can see in all directions. Users can zoom in and out of the panoramic photo to take in the entire city."
To herald its website redesign, Time has a dazzling (and dizzying) photograph from the top of One World Trade Center, which is also the print edition's cover spread. [ more › ]
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Elliot Boblittperfect
Can be furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished. This renovated apartment has a marble bath, exposed brick, hardwood floors and granite kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a dishwasher as well as a washer/dryer!
