Frank's Steaks

Frank's steaks has a long history in Rockville Centre, Long Island. Formerly the Lincoln Inn, Frank's has made a name for itself with their skirt steak, which Zagat once called the 'best skirt steak in the world.'

ABF & I were there for a special group event, and our party took up quite a few tables.

My appetizer: Caesar salad. This is pretty basic--it came with a very citrusy, light dressing instead of the standard heavy, creamy dressing. It also had nice shavings of fresh Parmesan and lots and lots of croutons, which I definitely picked out of there. Yeah, I'm that person.

ABF ordered the French onion soup and it was gorgeous! This was so good with delicious melted mozzarella just oozing over the side. Perfectly browned/broiled spots dotted the cheesy top, and delicious pieces of chunky onion bread floated inside. the best part about this soup--it's not overly salty! Just right, balanced, soothing. I'd definitely get this next time over the salad.

As I mentioned, Frank's earned a lot of its reputation for their Roumanian skirt steak, marinated in duck sauce, garlic, and Worcestershire (among other flavors). I ordered the 'petite' fillet, which comes in at 8 ounces over the standard 16 ounces. This was more than enough for me. It also came with light, refreshing creamed spinach (you could actually taste the spinach!)and decadently silky mashed potatoes (no doubt made with heavy cream and lots of roasted garlic--oh so good). I couldn't finish off the petite plate, even, so this was plenty.

ABF ordered the New York Strip streak--this was succulent! I might have to go for this if we go back--it was much less sweet than my skirt steak.

ABF ordered a glass of their house Merlot which his go-to drink. I ordered a glass of the house Pinot Noir and for once, we both preferred what I ordered! As you know, I often develop 'order envy' with whatever ABF gets--he just has 'the knack.' This time, though, I felt the Merlot was too sweet, while the Pinot Noir was light and a perfect complement to the already sweet-and-salty steak.

The steak tastes very similar to quite possibly the best skirt steak ever had, and that's at the York Grill (on NYC's Upper East Side). Surprisingly, York Grill has not made an appearance on this blog yet but is still, to me, one of the best restaurants in New York .

The best part about Frank Steaks was the service. They greeted every customer there as if they were regulars (and true, many were), but even us! We were a very large party, at least 15, and our server didn't miss a step. He was nice without being 'too nice' or overbearing. He got everyone's order right (impressive), checked on us at the right times, and was really good at what he did. They have lots of little touches, too, like the rock candy sugar stirrer with my cappuccino.

Note--Frank's is not an inexpensive place. Even the chicken entrées come in at around 30 dollars. However, it's satisfying, well-done food with top-notch service. If you're looking for a special occasion, if you want a really nice meal with welcome home service, Frank's is a great place to go.

Frank's Steakhouse

54 Lincoln Avenue

Rockville Centre, NY

Phone: (516) 536-1500

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Time for Tapas: Olea

I met my friend Holly for tapas in Fort Greene, Brooklyn at a place known for a fantastic happy hour. With half-price drinks, half-price tapas, and a low-key, welcoming vibe, Olea Mediterranean Taverna is a favorite of Holly's, and a few bites in I could see why.

Two red wine sangrias to start: the sangria has a delicious, fresh blackberry flavor. It's not too sweet-- sometimes sangria can taste like super-sweet fruit juice. Olea's sangria has a nice balance between the wine and the fruit. Delicious and half-price, and it went down oh-so-easily!

We started with a few small plates: silky, garlicky, and chock-full of cucumbers, with tasty whole wheat pita -delicious.

We also got a favorite of both of ours: bacon wrapped dates with almond slivers inside. Okay, fine, we got TWO orders of this!

Holly convinced me to order the lamb meatballs. Lamb is not a common choice for me. Aside from the amazing lamb chili at the New York Vintners meal (LINK HERE) I don't normally enjoy it that much. These, however, were amazing.

Spiked with cinnamon, Soft, but still holding together, with a tangy, zingy melted goat cheese topping, these were fantastic. I could have gone for another order of these in a heartbeat!

I always order patatas bravas when I get tapas--and these were exceptional. Perfectly crisp but not greasy, with a harissa-spiked mayo that wasn't that spicy.

We ate our fill, had a couple of drinks, enjoyed the people-watching outdoors and just enjoyed a lovely evening in Brooklyn. Personally, I think it's pretty easy to enjoy Brooklyn. ;)

Our bill came to a grand total of $19 per person. That's for 3 drinks pp and more than enough food. What a deal! Even after leaving a nice tip, we still spent easily half what that would cost anywhere else.

I'll be back there in a heartbeat for another day of tapas and sangria-- and if you stop by yourself, let me know!

Olea Mediterranean Taverna

171 Lafayette Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11238

(718) 643-7003

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Brunching in Bay Ridge

I've lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for quite a while, and yet there are still so many delicious places to try. I'm fortunate enough to have friends near and far who aren't adverse to traveling for a good time.

A new friend, K, whom I met through Jen A, has been going to Hom for quite a while, and spoke so highly of it that we jumped on a Living Social deal that included 2 entrées and 2 glasses of their famous sangria for just under 30 dollars. Four of us met on an overcast, super-warm Saturday and were quickly seated out back. The skies looked like they were about to open up, but we decided to live on the edge. ;) (It turned out just fine--not a drop of rain fell!)

Sangria's a lovely thing, but first I need to cool down and pep up with some iced coffee. This was a huge, strong serving of just what I needed--tart, just-acidic-enough coffee ($4).

We did also enjoy a carafe of their white sangria, which goes down very easily! It tastes like white grape juice with peachy overtones, and it is quite refreshing on a muggy summer day. I hear the red sangria is also delicious (next trip!)

A complimentary pile of carbs came out next--from raisin-studded bread to tiny chocolate-chip muffins (as delicious as they were adorable) to flaky, buttery biscuits--this was all too tempting.

I still struggle with mixing sweet & savory, so I had butter on one half and some scrumptious, light strawberry jam on the other. And then later, I had another one, just like that one. Equally nommable.

Jen A ordered the peach pancakes ($12.95), which were fluffy buttermilk pancakes with cinnamon-spiced peaches and a thick, peachy syrup on top of them. I had a few bites of this dish--very yummy! I eat pancakes maybe twice a year, but these were tasty!

The other 3 of us ordered the Green Eggs & Ham (12.95), an omelet with onions, peppers, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and pesto! Pesto in eggs! My new favorite combo! They will gladly hold the peppers, onions, mushrooms, or whatever you like--but I got mine fully loaded.

Seriously--I can't wait to harvest my basil, make some pesto, and put it on eggs! This dish was singing with the flavors of fresh veggies, melty cheese, and that just-enough-touch of pesto. Wow.

It turns out we could only use one of the Living Social deals that day, so we'll have to come back a few more times. It's not cheap, but it's not outrageous either--and the flavors are fantastic. If you're in or near Bay Ridge, try brunch at Hom! They serve it Wednesday-Sunday!

HOM

8804 3rd Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11209

(718) 238-4466

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Casa Nonna

I met up with That Sara the other night for a mid-week dinner-yay! We went to a restaurant that is crazy close to her house: Casa Nonna, a dark, expansive, sprawling restaurant with low lighting and interesting decor (rows of plain white plates on one wall, brass buckets on another, and ceramic rain boot sculptures under a table--just a few things we spotted there that night).

They bring out their housemade bread, a chewy, tasty focaccia with fresh rosemary, red pepper flakes and chewy pockets of what I think was cheese (whatever it was, it was delicious!) Our server brought out a pepper-free version for Sara, who's allergic to all types of peppers.

Even with the fresh rosemary (which I can only take in small doses or I feel like I'm eating a pine tree), I devoured way too much of this. Chewy, salty, tangy, and crispy with a lovely kick of heat? Yes, please.

I ordered a quartino (about 2 small glasses for $16) of their Barbera d'Alba after my first choice, the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, was gone. This was perfect. Spicy, fruity, and a great match to everything I ate.

We were pretty hungry but saving room for dessert, so we skipped the apps and went straight for entrées. Sara got the spinach ribbons with roasted mushrooms. This was fantastic--earthy, well-seasoned, and the spinach flavor really came through in the fresh noodles.

I ordered the pici, or twisted strands, with the pork and beef ragu. The sauce was very good, but the noodles were a bit chewier than I expected. Sara's dish was much better, but mine was still tasty and did the job. I'd get hers next time if I had to choose between the two.

On the house-- 2 mini meringues covered in the most delicious chocolate. The meringues were a bit crunchy, which skeeves me out texture-wise (along with malted milk balls and nails screeching down a chalkboard), but the chocolate was so good that I mostly ignored the texture. For dessert we shared the bomboloni, which are small doughnut holes soaked in limoncello syrup. Delicious! Not as heavy as I expected, and the limoncello syrup and candied orange strips were the perfect accompaniment. This was just enough to share without leaving me feel stuffed.

It's not cheap, with most entrées being over 20 dollars, but the food is well-made and it's a nice, relaxed atmosphere. I wouldn't go out of my way just yet (though I will try it again), but if you're looking for a decent meal in midtown and want to avoid Times Square or Penn Station, this is perfectly in the middle and perfectly tasty.

Casa Nonna

310 W. 38th St. (8th Ave.)

New York, NY 10018

212-736-3000

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Tacosssssss!

A new taco joint has popped up in Bay Ridge, but it took a friend of a friend's rave reviews to get me to stop in one night.

The three of us met for drinks & dinner last night-- during a brief break from recent rain. Ho Brah (surfer speak for "Hey, Brother") offers tacos, empanadas, salads, desserts, Mexican sodas (Jarritos!!) and Mexican Coca-Cola, as well as beer & margaritas. It's not a large space, but it's family-friendly, a great spot to meet for drinks or a light bite, and it will definitely be a new stop for me.

K & I started with the classic margarita, rocks & salt. This was insanely delicious. Bursting with fresh lime juice, no sicky-sweet tang, just enough tart to make your lips pucker. Wow. And a great deal at $8!

Our friend J showed up and we moved to a comfy booth. Jen had the cucumber margarita, which was like the most heavenly cucumber water with a kick. Sweet but not too sweet, and so refreshing!

We started with some guacamole (huge amount, perfect for 3 to share) which came with a smoky-sweet mango salsa, and a smooth red salsa that tasted, to me, like shrimp cocktail sauce with a kick. I stuck mostly to the guac, which was ridiculously delicious, citrusy, and creamy with just the right amount of texture.

The tacos are small, but not mini. 2 per person was a great pick. They all come out on the same platter, unless you ask otherwise (no allergies or anything in our party, so we said bring it on, brah!)

I ordered the Diablo Diego ($3.95), which was 'double-chili marinated shrimp, California cole slaw, pico and chipotle crema. I also got the Bohemian ($3.50) with jalapeno-lime braised chicken, California cole slaw, salsa verde, diced white onion, and chipotle crema. I want chipotle crema on just about everything, please!!

The shrimp taco was okay, but not spicy at all. The chicken had a good zing to it but was not eye-wateringly hot. Note to world--want to shut me up for a few minutes? Slide a Bohemian taco my way! It was, however, so delicious that I barely made a peep. These tacos are super-fresh, just the right amount/ratio of toppings, and I loved the succulent, delicious chicken. Yum.

As you know, I love spicy things, so for my second margarita I ordered the jalapeno. It's described as being 'infused with homemade jalapeno extract and a splash of ruby red grapefruit.' Instead, it tastes like someone took a can of pickled jalapeno juice and stirred some dirt in there. Just awful. That is probably one of the harshest things I ever said on this blog. They need to rework this one, IMHO. I took 2 sips and told our server that I didn't like it, and could I have a cucumber instead? He said no problem, and took away the clearly-unfinished rita, but we still had the drink on our bill. Sure, only $8.00, not a huge thing, but I wish they'd removed it. It was not good. I did not like it or enjoy it. At all. And it takes something being pretty bad for me to even say that on my blog. We ended up leaving a 15 percent tip when I usually leave 20-25 percent, which I opted to do instead of going through the whole "can you take this off the bill" dance which I generally try to avoid. I made it clear that I didn't care for it, I wasn't happy with it, and afterwards, I wasn't thrilled to pay 8 bucks for a margarita I didn't even finish. Oh well--at least it was reasonably priced!

We wanted something sweet for the end of our meal, and we chose the key lime cheesecake. It's really just plain cheesecake with a key lime glaze on it, but we liked it. One round slice (?) was enough for us 3 gals to have a few delicious bites. This is my kind of cheesecake--super firm and cheesy. Yum!

Overall, I'd give Ho'Brah a must-visit rating. You can't go wrong with their standard rita or the cucumber--so fresh and invigorating! I'd go back for the Bohemian taco again, and I'll have to one of their fish tacos next visit (which is probably going to be, I don't know..Saturday?)

Ho' Brah A Taco Joint

8618 3rd Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11209

(718) 680-TACO

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Ruben's Empanadas

After a rainy day movie and girl time, I popped into Ruben's Empanadas with my fellow bridesmaid L and the bride herself, Jen.

Ruben's is a small setup in Chelsea, off 8th Avenue. They heated up our empanadas quickly--I got the special off the day, ground beef and green olives, for about 6 bucks. I also got a Mike's Hard Margarita--why not?

First thing I noticed is there was something about the pastry itself that seemed... off. Was it too doughy or puffy, maybe? I can't even put my finger on it. There was just a lot of air/room inside there.

It was okay, barely. Bland, not much flavor, and even a hearty dose of hot sauce couldn't quite make it sing. I wouldn't go out of my way for this, but if you are in the area, it's a relatively cheap eat and you'll be in and out in no time. If you want really great flavor, honestly, I'd suggest you go somewhere else.

Ruben's Empanadas
224 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
212-242-4404

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Shagwong Restaurant (Montauk)

ABF & I took a spur-of-the-moment trip last weekend to Montauk, the easternmost point of New York (on Long Island). It also just happens to be the site of our second date, waaaaayyyy back in 2008.

I absolutely love lighthouses--there's something so comforting and reassuring about them-- a light guiding ships safely back to solid ground though fair and foul weather alike--and they are also an important part of the scenery in my favorite happy place-the seaside.

All that driving and reminiscing can build up an appetite, and options on a late Sunday night in Montauk are pretty limited. Fortunately, the Shagwong Restaurant was still open. We'd last been there quite a few years ago.

I started with a bowl of their chowder. It's not exactly New England style, but it was still delicious. It was a thinner broth than the creamy New England version, and it had a hefty, smoky flavor from the bacon in the broth. So good!

ABF ordered the fish and chips, a specialty there. The beer batter on this fish is fantastic--I had a delicious, tasty, melt-in-your-mouth bite and loved it. Their tartar sauce is nice and citrusy, too. ABF rated this dish very highly, and he is quite the fish & chips connoisseur.

I was also craving fresh vegetables (yes, this happens!), so I ordered the house salad with blue cheese dressing on the side. It was a super thick and creamy dressing, and a little bit went a long way. It was a fabulous dressing and the salad was fresh, crunchy, tangy, and exactly what I was wanting. It was also bigger than I expected!

Shagwong isn't cheap--I'd put it more in moderate range (fish & chips are $20, which seems a bit high to me, but it's excellent and a big portion, and the salad and chowder were not that expensive, around the $7 dollar range), but the food is just flat-out delicious. The decor is a bit dated, with weathered booths and tables and dim, yellowish lighting, but it's all part of the charm of the place. It's also conveniently located right off Montauk Highway, so it's a perfect stop if you're going to/from the Montauk Lighthouse.

Shagwong Restaurant

774 Main Street

Montauk, NY 11954

(631) 668-3050

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Golden Unicorn Dim Sum

My friend Carlota & I met up a while back for dim sum (speaking of Carlota, she is a Creativity Yenta--if you're looking to get yourself in gear, and can handle some NYC-style tough love, check her page out here) at a (formerly) favorite place of mine: Golden Unicorn. It's on East Broadway, which is a bit of a pain to get to, but until this visit, I always thought it was worth the hike.

Golden Unicorn will keep you full and happy with tons of bite-sized food that doesn't break the bank... but something was off this time. The food was .. okay. Not amazing. Not shut-your-mouth good.

The shrimp dumplings are still tasty--we got 2 orders of these and I happily dunked them in spicy mustard sauce for an extra kick.

The pork buns (photo at top of post) were in a perfectly soft and delicious roll, but the filling was too sweet for me. Meh.

Not sure what these meat-filled dumplings were, but we each took one bite and left them there. Bland and just not worth it.

A standby that hasn't gone down in taste or quality, at least--the sesame bites that I love. Carlota had never had these, and I was happy to see she likes them as much as I do.

You don't go to Golden Unicorn for the service--it's pretty brusque and there can be quite a language barrier (I speak a lot of languages but Chinese is not one of them), but if you're okay not always knowing what you're eating, it can be a fun trip. I just hate to report that the quality wasn't so great.

The meal still wasn't that pricey--about 15 per person including tip and a soda for each of us. I just didn't leave as wowed as I normally do when I hit up GU.

Carlota, I think this means we need to go out to Brooklyn's Chinatown-- East Harbor Seafood Palace (my visit/review here) kicks the pants off of Golden Unicorn!

Golden Unicorn

18 East Broadway

New York, NY 10002

(212) 941-0911

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