Shopsin's roulette...
Heading to NYC soon for the first time (I'm a Chicago boy) and one of the places i want to hit up is Shopsin's. I was thinking of telling Kenny, "make whatever you want and I'll eat it. I am not picky and i like good food." however, based off of what i have read, i feel like asking that question is akin to playing Russian roulette.... as in, i may get a randomly delicious meal, I may get shot in the face with Kennys mouth bullets and told to leave... which would be a shame but i will deal with it if it came to that. reason i am even asking is two fold a) i like surprises and b) i am indecisive when it comes to large menus full of good food. if this is a dumb idea, i will just go with an order of sliders and be done with it... either way i am pretty excited.
happy eating,
clay
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18 Comments:
I don't think this is a good idea. ;)
If you go, make sure to check the hours. Closed Sunday and Monday. Short hours on Saturday.
Adam Kuban at 4:35PM on 03/31/09
i kinda figured... thanks for the heads up on the hours though! man, so many places i want to try cause of SE, i cant wait...
hookrilla at 6:07PM on 03/31/09
Don't ask Kenny, if you must ask for help, try one of his kids. They're usually pretty nice.
kathryn at 9:35PM on 03/31/09
DUDE!!!!!
I think you'll be okay asking Kenny in all honesty. Tell him you came from Chicago, you read about his cooking on Ed Levine's website and his restaurant was your first stop in NYC. If he tells you get the F*CK out, give it right back to him. "I came all the way from F*CKING Chicago, now make me something delicious!" If all else fails, you'll have a great story to tell the folks back home. And if you get scared, just get some sliders or this orgy of deliciousness:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/12/04/shopsins-general-store-spending-19-on-breakfast-never-felt-so-right/
NYC Food Guy at 12:25AM on 04/01/09
If your priority is to actually eat a meal there, don't take your chances. Look at the menu online before going, make a selection with several solid alternates. Leave the cellphone off and concealed from view. Don't try to be witty or make friends. It will be worth it.
savecara at 12:46PM on 04/01/09
I'd say check out the menu and pick something. Kenny's pretty nice generally unless someone is being a moob, but the menu is huge and it's easier for everyone for you just to pick something. It's sort of like if someone said to you, pick me a restaurant to go to in Chicago with no other qualifiers. It's like, do you want fancy/casual, expensive/budget, any allergies, no-go on any foods, spicy/mild, etc. you get my drift. Maybe if you narrow it down to a few things, and one of the boys can help you pick from 2-3 things. Personally, I have to recommend the poutine if you like gravy cheese curdy fries! He gets the cheese curds from Saxelby Cheese next stall over.
ps. The bigger of the two sons is hilarious! Don't let him catch you taking video on your cellphone, especially of him. He will toss you like a bad habit. He did it to someone last time I was there. It was pretty hilarious.
cg_ups at 3:38PM on 04/01/09
I agree: look at the online menu, pick a small selection of things that appeal to you (they list, like, every ingredient for everything, so there's no mystery), and then pick on the day. Don't tempt fate. Not on your first time.
Especially because it's not like Kenny's likely to take your order himself, anyway.
Kenny has said that he likes people who know what they want. He doesn't like people who ask the waiter to choose for them. He has high standards for his customers. Don't blow it.
klg19 at 4:31PM on 04/01/09
i'd be more of an observer than a person who's making requests....
if he makes eye contact with you or exhibits any humanly connection, i'd chance it at that point -- but knowing his MO, i'd keep my mouth on the water glass.....
pooch at 6:45PM on 04/01/09
moob?
cybercita at 8:40PM on 04/01/09
In my neck of the woods "moob" is a term for "man boobs" - not sure if that was the meaning here.
radley24 at 11:34PM on 04/01/09
a jewboy and green chili cheese fries.
seikel at 9:43AM on 04/02/09
wow, thanks for all the great feedback gang! I honestly figured it would stop with Adam so i haven't checked back until now. It definitely is one of the places i want to visit most and i really do want to eat there but if i got kicked out, it wouldn't be the end of the world (New York has other places to eat). i will definitely keep the cell phone tucked away as i am not the kind of person to take pictures of food anyway... i take pictures with my mouth ;). @NYC Food Guy... i like your approach, that is just the kinda guy i am. i really hope i do get to end up eating there... either way, i will let you guys know! thanks again to everyone that gave their two cents...
hookrilla at 12:32PM on 04/03/09
Hookrilla,
Great minds think alike man. Thanks.
If all else fails and you end up down on the Lower East Side looking for food. Investigate Doughnut Plants on Essex and Grand.
Also check out Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2009/02/20/nyc-best-sandwiches-tinys-giant-sandwich-shop-is-no-pun-vegetarians-welcome/
And Sugar sweet sunshine for banana pudding:
http://nycfoodguy.com/category/dessert/sugar-sweet-sunshine-banana-pudding/
NYC Food Guy at 7:56AM on 04/06/09
thanks NYC Food Guy!!! i am gonna get all up in that deliciousness... i seriously cannot wait!
hookrilla at 12:00PM on 04/06/09
@hookrilla: hope you have a great trip to the city. Seriously if you want to actually try the food at Shopsin's I'd recommend you choose something from the menu yourself. Your request is likely to just piss Kenny and Zach off and the food is too good to leave to chance.
BrooklynBrownie at 11:37PM on 04/06/09
i live in NYC and have never been to Shopsin's, but damnit can it REALLY be that good? that you would all take Soup Nazi treatment for some freaking scrambled eggs or whatever it is he serves? its new york city, people, it can't be THAT good, can it?
mh330 at 3:11PM on 04/07/09
@mh330: haha, i hear you. i think it is just a place to go for good/creative food and a unique (people wise) experience. like i said, if i get shot down, i am not gonna jump on here (or anywhere else for that matter) and say that "Shopsin's sucks" or "Kenny sucks" as i am fully aware of what i am getting myself into. like it or not, Kenny does have the right to set the rules and treat people how ever he feels. if you dont like it, dont go (comment was not directed at you mh330 :) ...) i will deal with it and go eat at one of NYC's many other delicious offerings. again, thanks for the tips/concern guys! oh, and BrooklynBrownie, i have two things... thanks, i hope i have a great trip too! also, i will be staying in Greenpoint... where should i stop for a brownie fix?
hookrilla at 3:54PM on 04/07/09
i will try and keep this brief but i just got back from NYC and i couldn't have had a better time. made it to Shopsins with a friend. ordered sliders, a jewboy, and fries... delicious, absolutely hit the spot, really happy i made the trip (first time in the Essex market and to Shopsins for my dining partner too... she cant wait to go back). didn't ask Kenneth (how he introduced himself when we talked later) to pick what i ate before dining as he was back in the kitchen and i didn't want to yell back to him. as i said, we spoke after the meal and he couldn't have been nicer. we had a few laughs and left. it was the perfect example (for lack of a better description) of how my trip went. not once did i run into someone that gave me a bad attitude... and i talked to random people just about everywhere we went. i would love to come back this summer and see a few more sites but i am afraid my wallet may not be able to handle that. congrats new yorkers on having a kick ass city (i know, statement of the century, haha)!!! until next time... happy eating!
hookrilla at 2:42PM on 04/17/09