Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Ozu

Ozu

565 Amsterdam Avenue

“An Evening with Chris Mathews” at the JCC ended at 9:00PM, and a light meal was in order.  We all decided to go to a neighborhood place, and Bobbie suggested Ozu, a vegetarian restaurant on Amsterdam and 87^th Street. I seem to remember that when Bobbie’s studio was on 88^th Street, we met at Ozu for tea.  I should have stopped there.  My appetizer of steamed kale and hijiki topped with carrot dressing would have worked for people on a soft food diet with the pureed ingredients totally lacking in any seasoning and unceremoniously dumped on the plate.  Teeth, however, were required for the bland salmon rolls made with brown rice that was too hard and sushi that was not bite size.  Ed’s tofu was prepared in a way that delicately balanced the coconut and the curry, but it was delivered lukewarm.

Sunday, May 6, 2012 Nonna

Nonna

520 Columbus Avenue

My foodie friend Steve Kaufman recommended Nonna, and since we were having dinner with Helen and Alfred, an Italian restaurant in the neighborhood was perfect..  Nonna met the two main dining requirements for Helen --- reasonably priced and and a menu containing eggplant parmigiana. The bar at Nonna is nicely anointed with soft touches of lighting and liquor bottles that were displayed in a way that allowed the colored contents to glimmer. The restaurant area unfortunately is not a continuation of the bar and is drab and dreary.

Nonna tries hard in the service area, but there is a mismatch at what Noona thinks it can deliver and what it winds up serving. Nonna’s attempt at innovative cuisine turns out to be fussy and does not work.  Ed’s branzino had oranges on top which robbed the poor fish of its natural taste and turned it into a fruity mess.

Alfred orderd the  “Sunday Feast for $19 “ which turned out to be mostly misses. Alfred generously shared this “feast,” and we all wound up having tastes.  The starting course of arancini, a mozzarella-stuffed fried rice ball was heavy and lacked texture.  Unfortunately, this turned out to be no match for the fried dessert of zeppole which was difficult to chew. The courses in between were not much better.  A Caesar salad with  six large croutons was ordinary in its presentation. The best thing one could say about the pasta dish with sausage, beef tips and meatballs was its size, but this odd meat combination was dry and the tomato sauce was non-inspirational.  And, alas the raison d’etre for eating at Nonna in the first place---Helen’s eggplant parmigiana.   Nonna’s rendition lacked the traditional layering of eggplant and gooey cheese and did not make it on to Helen’s top “10” list.

Friday, May 4, 2012 Malecon

Malecon

764 Amsterdam Avenue

We went with Heidi and Bernie to Malecon, a Caribbean restaurant on the UWS that bills itself as “El Rey del Pollo” or “King of the Roast Chicken.”  How right they are!  In the window, there was a rotisserie with chicken in varying degrees of preparation. Inside, on the left, a long line of people were waiting for take-out orders. On the right, wooden tables were filled with families and couples with their dishes overflowing with food and colorful drinks with umbrellas. This Caribbean enclave looked like fun!  The oversized menu offered daily specials and listed over 100 items

Malecon knows its audience and knows that fancy is not their style.  Malecon’s goal is to serve tasty, well-prepared Caribbean food and have its patrons feel comfortable. Where else could a beautiful salad be served with packets of dressing on the side!  Heidi and I each ordered the half chicken which was scrumptious.  All the seasoning exploded together on the bird and each bite was wonderful.  Yet, it was served on a plate that was a size too small so that the chicken required the hands of a surgeon to ensure that it did not fall off the plate.  A side of steamed vegetables accompanied the meal.   Ed ordered the grilled branzino and a side of crispy fried plantains which more than satisfied his palate.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 Mermaid Inn

Mermaid Inn

568 Amsterdam Avenue

A glass of wine after a one hour dental appointment is always a good idea…..especially if it is at night.  Ed and I planned to meet after my dental appointment at The Mark Hotel on 77^th Street and Madison and head to the bar, but by the time we arrived, there were no empty seats and an obnoxious maître d’. It was 7:30, ,and  we were hungry so we decided to try The Mermaid Inn, a popular restaurant that is a block from our home and located  on Amsterdam and 87^th Street.   We had previously dismissed the idea of dining here because our experience at the bar was less than memorable.  Tonight, we were seated immediately in the back room which to that point we did not know existed.  The room had a country inn feel,  and although the seating was rather close,  the noise level was fine. 

It still is not clear why a restaurant chooses to serve wine in a glass that is more appropriate for a dinner at a bar mitzvah.  For those that are knowledgeable about wine, it does not give them the opportunity to swish and for those who just enjoy a glass of wine with their meal, part of the allure is a good pour that is served in an attractive glass.  The Mermaid Inn serves flatbread crackers with butter instead of bread which would be OK if the crackers were fresher and two guests were not allotted four crackers. The service and the timing of the meal was fine.  Mermaid caters to fish lovers, and except for the lone pork chops, the raw bar, appetizers and entrees are from the sea. There are several interesting choices, and Ed chose the grilled whole fish of the day which was a branzino which was well prepared with a crispy outside and tender fish. The entrée does not include a side which brings the price with an added vegetable to a steep $34.   At this price point, it is reasonable to expect well prepared food in a better than average venue.  My meal consisted of two appetizers of mussels and a chopped salad.  Perhaps it was my own lack of adventure that should be blamed for this less than exciting meal.  Yet, the mussels  in a boring red curry broth with smoked bacon and escarole with battling flavors made  this diner feel like the loser.  The main attribute of the salad was that it was big.

I am told that the Sunday lobster special for $24 is worth trying.  Perhaps…………………………