Bonfire is located at 61 7th Ave South. Website is www.calientecab.com
So called because of the old school taxi parked in front of the place, Caliente Cab Co. is one of the few restaurants in the West Village that is part of a chain, so there is the immediate lack of authenticity that you might feel when you walk into Caliente Cab Company's West Village location. The warmth of the linch staff, though, puts you right back into the warm Latin family feeling that you would expect from some of your smaller, one location operations in the Village. The night time staff obviously has more tables to handle, so they are a little bit distant. Anyway, since the food is standardized so that all locations can have sameness, there isn't a great deal of overwhelmingly specifically Mexican or exciting. The food does complement well the drinks, and the variety in the drinks is definitely suitable for a great time. It does seem like the second drink is a little stronger than the first, which I like, because many bartenders play the reverse game - heavy drink the first time, then lighten up on the alcohol severely each subsequent drink. And, with endless chips and salsa, you could redirect your funds towards drinks and dry up the alcohol with chips....!
Recommendations:
Miami Vice Frozen Margarita!!! Flautas!!
Service - 1 (excellent, nice staff. Food comes quickly - you probably won't finish appetizers before the main course is presented)
Price - 1 (Very reasonable)
Ambience - 1 (relaxed atmosphere, date potential, not too loud for a business lunch, fun with friends)
Cleanliness - 1 (bathroom is clean, tables, counters, and floors all clean. )
Excellence - 1 (Pleasant basically wraps up my explanation of this.)
SCORE: 5 out of 5
!Que Viva Caliente Cab!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Veranda
Bonfire is located at 130 7th Avenue. Website is www.verandanyc.com .
This Mediterranean style restaurant boasts great food, a great staff, beautiful interior, wide open space, appropriate lighting, great drinks, and great food. Did I mention great food? Did I mention that I like this place
After 10 or so, eventually, this place turns into a lounge/club and there are two rooms which allows for many time to have two separate parties or themes. Also, if you are into hookah, this is an excellent location for that.
Recommendations:
No specific recommendation. Everything is as good as it seems on the menu.
I love dancing salsa, so I would recommend Tuesday nights for their weekly Salsa party.
Service - 1 (excellent, nice staff.)
Price - 1
Ambience - 1 (relaxed atmosphere, yet classy and posh. TV show scene caliber - MTV was just there!!)
Cleanliness - 1 (bathroom is clean, tables, counters, and floors all clean)
Excellence - 1 (food is impeccable, portions are amazing, all around great)
SCORE: 5 out of 5
This Mediterranean style restaurant boasts great food, a great staff, beautiful interior, wide open space, appropriate lighting, great drinks, and great food. Did I mention great food? Did I mention that I like this place
After 10 or so, eventually, this place turns into a lounge/club and there are two rooms which allows for many time to have two separate parties or themes. Also, if you are into hookah, this is an excellent location for that.
Recommendations:
No specific recommendation. Everything is as good as it seems on the menu.
I love dancing salsa, so I would recommend Tuesday nights for their weekly Salsa party.
Service - 1 (excellent, nice staff.)
Price - 1
Ambience - 1 (relaxed atmosphere, yet classy and posh. TV show scene caliber - MTV was just there!!)
Cleanliness - 1 (bathroom is clean, tables, counters, and floors all clean)
Excellence - 1 (food is impeccable, portions are amazing, all around great)
SCORE: 5 out of 5
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Karaoke Boho
Ok, I wasn't able to get the exact address, but this is one of my favorite spots. As far as I know, it it on W.4th Street, not far from the corner of 7th Ave.
Talk about specialization: A Karaoke bar that is just Karaoke, and a bar. minus all accoutrements. They have coffee during the day in front, and during the day through the night time you can rent a booth that can fit from 3 to like maybe 30 ( i believe there is one that can hold more than that), at $24/hour, and go to town singing on your own. Or after 7, come by to have a drink at the bar and sing to the other patrons.
Although sometimes the language barrier for some of the servers can retard service a bit, the staff is in general well meaning and pleasant. If you are a regular or a good singer, they do their best to take care of you a little better.
Service - 1 excellent!
Price - 1 (comparable to other bars)
Ambience - 1 (non judgemental, easy flowing)
Cleanliness - 1 (one of the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen in NY or just in general)
Excellence - 1 (My favorite place to do karaoke)
Score: 5 out of 5
Talk about specialization: A Karaoke bar that is just Karaoke, and a bar. minus all accoutrements. They have coffee during the day in front, and during the day through the night time you can rent a booth that can fit from 3 to like maybe 30 ( i believe there is one that can hold more than that), at $24/hour, and go to town singing on your own. Or after 7, come by to have a drink at the bar and sing to the other patrons.
Although sometimes the language barrier for some of the servers can retard service a bit, the staff is in general well meaning and pleasant. If you are a regular or a good singer, they do their best to take care of you a little better.
Service - 1 excellent!
Price - 1 (comparable to other bars)
Ambience - 1 (non judgemental, easy flowing)
Cleanliness - 1 (one of the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen in NY or just in general)
Excellence - 1 (My favorite place to do karaoke)
Score: 5 out of 5
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Empanada Mama
So obviously, people always want to know about things to do and places to go.
Sometimes in the big city, the "what" of something can often outweigh the "how" and "who".
Take the restaurant "Empanada Mama". Located on 763 9th Ave #1, this little restaurant packs a mean punch when it comes to the heavily revered, "always imitated, never duplicated" Latin food staple called "empanadas". "Pan" in Spanish means bread, and what you get in reality is something that tastes like putting the best meat, cheese and spice from any Latin meal, wrapped in a flaky, soft breaded concoction that would remind one of a beef patty only in appearance. You'll probably need a couple of them at least, depending on your appetite, because they are not extremely filling in and of itself.
Finding a place that specializes in empanadas to a Latin food aficionado (like myself, lol) is tantamount to a connoisseur of Asian specialties finding a great Sushi and Sashimi spot. So imagine my joy when I was speaking to my boss and he tells me about Empanada Mama. We ordered it - actually he liked it so much that he ordered it and then went to Midtown to pick it up. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago when I have a meeting in the area of this place. Great! We'll go to Empanada Mama - good choice and bad. The empanadas are flavorful, with many options from which to choose - but the service was horrific. It seemed like I were going to have to beg to place an order. Our food took extremely long, like 30 minutes, and we did not have a large order.
The waiters apparently learned the menu and forget manners. When a waiter pushes past me, and actually takes the time to put his hands on me to encourage me to move out of the way, there is a problem.
So Ratings-wise:
Service - 0.
Price - 1 (reasonable)
Ambience - 0 (felt like I was in the way from the moment that I entered)
Cleanliness - 1 (I must admit that it was pretty clean)
Excellence - 1
Great food, just order an hour ahead and take it TO GO!!!
Sometimes in the big city, the "what" of something can often outweigh the "how" and "who".
Take the restaurant "Empanada Mama". Located on 763 9th Ave #1, this little restaurant packs a mean punch when it comes to the heavily revered, "always imitated, never duplicated" Latin food staple called "empanadas". "Pan" in Spanish means bread, and what you get in reality is something that tastes like putting the best meat, cheese and spice from any Latin meal, wrapped in a flaky, soft breaded concoction that would remind one of a beef patty only in appearance. You'll probably need a couple of them at least, depending on your appetite, because they are not extremely filling in and of itself.
Finding a place that specializes in empanadas to a Latin food aficionado (like myself, lol) is tantamount to a connoisseur of Asian specialties finding a great Sushi and Sashimi spot. So imagine my joy when I was speaking to my boss and he tells me about Empanada Mama. We ordered it - actually he liked it so much that he ordered it and then went to Midtown to pick it up. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago when I have a meeting in the area of this place. Great! We'll go to Empanada Mama - good choice and bad. The empanadas are flavorful, with many options from which to choose - but the service was horrific. It seemed like I were going to have to beg to place an order. Our food took extremely long, like 30 minutes, and we did not have a large order.
The waiters apparently learned the menu and forget manners. When a waiter pushes past me, and actually takes the time to put his hands on me to encourage me to move out of the way, there is a problem.
So Ratings-wise:
Service - 0.
Price - 1 (reasonable)
Ambience - 0 (felt like I was in the way from the moment that I entered)
Cleanliness - 1 (I must admit that it was pretty clean)
Excellence - 1
Great food, just order an hour ahead and take it TO GO!!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Bonfire
Bonfire is located at 404 6th Avenue. Website is http://www.bonfirechicken.com/.
I was told about this by someone at work. I literally have to go here for lunch all the time. Great portions, sides are excellent, lots of healthy choices on the menu.
Recommendations:
Lamb burger, Turkey burger, any size of the chicken, sweet potato fries.
Service - 1 (excellent, nice staff. They put your food in a to-go container, and walk it to your table!)
Price - 1 (I can usually get the 1/2 chicken and finish it in 2 settings, even without sides)
Ambience - 1 (relaxed atmosphere, ample space, TV's on, not too loud,)
Cleanliness - 1 (bathroom is clean, tables, counters, and floors all clean)
Excellence - 1 (food is impeccable, portions are amazing, all around great)
SCORE: 5 out of 5
Manhattan, say hello to your new favorite restaurant.
I was told about this by someone at work. I literally have to go here for lunch all the time. Great portions, sides are excellent, lots of healthy choices on the menu.
Recommendations:
Lamb burger, Turkey burger, any size of the chicken, sweet potato fries.
Service - 1 (excellent, nice staff. They put your food in a to-go container, and walk it to your table!)
Price - 1 (I can usually get the 1/2 chicken and finish it in 2 settings, even without sides)
Ambience - 1 (relaxed atmosphere, ample space, TV's on, not too loud,)
Cleanliness - 1 (bathroom is clean, tables, counters, and floors all clean)
Excellence - 1 (food is impeccable, portions are amazing, all around great)
SCORE: 5 out of 5
Manhattan, say hello to your new favorite restaurant.
How I plan to use this blog
Sp the whole idea of this blog is this:
Many times when you read things that people write about being in or living in the city, they give you these suggestions or tell you where to go, not in any way concerned about your budget. It's all well and good if you just cleared out one of your Swiss bank accounts and you are going to spend your life's savings in one fell swoop, to not really worry about price.
Also, I am a really up front person, so the things that I want to know many times are:again:
Service - Were they pleasant, nice, rude? Did you wait 2 minutes or hours?
Price - Did you pay an arm and a leg, or is it higher priced, but worth the expenxe
Ambience - What type of crowd does the venue draw?
Cleanliness - Can you eat off of the ground in the place, or are the roaches beating you to that?
Excellence of product - How is the product (whatever it is that the venue does)?
It's easy to remember these factors, becasue you can see that they spell out the word space if you take only the first initial. Space is a commodoity in the city, and I feel that the best places in the city make you feel like you have left the hustle and bustle and that you are transported to a space all your own.
I'll give each factor either a 1 (they've got it) or 2 (they don't).
The best places will have a 5, obviously.
That's it. That is how I will arrange my blogs so that they can be of interest and of use to anyone.
Here we go to the first one.
Many times when you read things that people write about being in or living in the city, they give you these suggestions or tell you where to go, not in any way concerned about your budget. It's all well and good if you just cleared out one of your Swiss bank accounts and you are going to spend your life's savings in one fell swoop, to not really worry about price.
Also, I am a really up front person, so the things that I want to know many times are:again:
Service - Were they pleasant, nice, rude? Did you wait 2 minutes or hours?
Price - Did you pay an arm and a leg, or is it higher priced, but worth the expenxe
Ambience - What type of crowd does the venue draw?
Cleanliness - Can you eat off of the ground in the place, or are the roaches beating you to that?
Excellence of product - How is the product (whatever it is that the venue does)?
It's easy to remember these factors, becasue you can see that they spell out the word space if you take only the first initial. Space is a commodoity in the city, and I feel that the best places in the city make you feel like you have left the hustle and bustle and that you are transported to a space all your own.
I'll give each factor either a 1 (they've got it) or 2 (they don't).
The best places will have a 5, obviously.
That's it. That is how I will arrange my blogs so that they can be of interest and of use to anyone.
Here we go to the first one.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Just some guy in the city - Introductory Blog
Ever since I started working in New York City, there are so many things that people just expect you to know, or that would be obvious, that I have had to learn from trial and error. Trial and error is expensive, and uncomfortable, and sometimes not the most fun thing in the world.
When you ask most people for information in this city, you get that kinda aloof 'oh-you-must-be-from-out-of-town' attitude. I am always still getting lost, learning new things, trying to survive, and having fun doing it. So I decided to share this journey, and maybe I'll help some people along the way. So here is the introduction of my new blog - Just Some Guy in the City.
When you ask most people for information in this city, you get that kinda aloof 'oh-you-must-be-from-out-of-town' attitude. I am always still getting lost, learning new things, trying to survive, and having fun doing it. So I decided to share this journey, and maybe I'll help some people along the way. So here is the introduction of my new blog - Just Some Guy in the City.
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