The Weekly Eater: 11/10 - 11/23
Each Monday going forward, I'm going to give you, my dear readers, a recap of where I ate during the prior week, and a list of where I have plans to dine this week.
Thursday, 11/13: Dinner at Papatzul
No money for a trip to Mexico? Take a mini-vacation from the concrete jungle and escape to Ciudad Juarez via Papatzul. Excellent happy-hour drink specials (think half-price margaritas and sangria), spot-on Mexican cuisine, friendly service and an atmosphere that will truly transport you away from the hustle-bustle. I began my meal with a white-sangria, chock-full of marinated fruit that was just sweet enough not to overpower the delicate balance of alcohol to juice. While I've complained of paying for chips and salsa in previous posts, I did have to fork over $5 (annoying, but still $3 less than what I was charged at Crema). For my entree, I ordered a simple plate of cheese enchiladas with green sauce, which I found to be one of the best versions of the dish I've had in NYC, thus far.
Saturday, 11/15: Dinner at L'Express
Prior to catching Reckless Kelly, a "Texas Country" band from Austin, Andrew and I headed to L'Express for some cocktails and French brasserie fare. For a restaurant that's open 24-hours/day and doesn't get taken too seriously by many self-proclaimed "foodies," I find L'Express to be one of the city's dining jewels. The atmosphere is romantic, lively and charming all at the same time. My meal began with a glass of pinot noir, followed by NYC's best croque monsieur (France's version of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich) served with a side of perfectly cooked fries.
Sunday, 11/16: Brunch at The Odeon
Hugging a picturesque corner of Tribeca stands The Odeon, where art-deco diner-chic meets French brasserie. Phillip and I only had to wait twenty-minutes for a brunch table, and chose to watch the time pass at the large and boisterous bar. After gulping two bellini's, we were seated. A basket arrived with two pieces of homemade bread and an ample portion of butter. As an entree, I ordered the Beef Shortrib Hash, which was one of the daily specials. Two poached eggs topped with a lemony Hollandaise sauce sat atop a mound of hashed potatoes and short rib. While I found the beef gristly and nearly inedible, the other components of my meal (eggs, Hollandaise sauce and potatoes) were fresh and delicious.
Sunday, 11/16: Dinner at El Rio Grande
I'd be a liar if I told you that I wasn't hesitant about dining at El Rio Grande. First of all, the restaurant is a chain, and secondly, nine times out of ten, the Mexican food in NYC leaves much to be desired. Allow me to tell you how pleasantly surprised I was: El Rio Grande is located at the base of an apartment building in Murray Hill. The dining room is illuminated by floor to ceiling windows and tastefully decorated with Southwestern flair. My meal began with a frozen margarita, FREE handmade chips and salsa and an order of velvety smooth chile con queso (a true delicacy to Texas ex-pats). As an entree, I chose the cheese enchiladas that were accompanied by rice and beans. I found the Tex-Mex grub to be quite tasty, the service to be fantastic and the bill to be very affordable.
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Until we eat again,
Lindsay, The Lunch Belle