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From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

the soup isn't served at breakfast. just lunch and dinner starting at 11:30, I believe. No brunch, gargupie. Breakfast goes from 7 to 11. Then the all day menu starts. Dinner sounds great, momstheword. That's the time to go during the week.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

I have had pizza from the wooster street pepe's twice in the last six weeks. Both times the pizza was good, but not great. The crust was kind of stiff and the pies just lacked that bit of pizza soul that separates good pizza from transcendent pizza.

From Talk

Motorino in Manhattan

I had truly extraordinary pizza at the Manhattan Motorino two days ago for lunch. I ordered three pies, the brussels sprouts and pancetta, spicy soppressata, and a margherita. The crust was slightly chewy and crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.The crusts were not soggy at all. I brought them back to SE World HQ and everyone seemed to agree that this was world-class pizza.

From Serious Eats: New York

Shake Shack, Bill's, and RUB: It's Rainin' Smashed Burgers In This Burg

I saw Alan Richman's review. I don't think he understands the potential appeal of a thin, crisp, smashed burger. Clearly the burgers he ate at Bill's were not juicy at all. One problem at Bill's that perhaps I should have written about is that nobody at the restaurant wants to tell you that when you order a burger you can ask for it extra juicy. When I asked the chef, Paul Sale, about that he explained that the difference between extra juicy and regular at Bill's is about 10 seconds on its super-hot griddle. Extra juicy just means there will be some visibly pink meat in the burger. Maybe I will see if Alan will go with me to Bill's and have an extra juicy burger.

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

the soup isn't served at breakfast. just lunch and dinner starting at 11:30, I believe. No brunch, gargupie. Breakfast goes from 7 to 11. Then the all day menu starts. Dinner sounds great, momstheword. That's the time to go during the week.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

I have had pizza from the wooster street pepe's twice in the last six weeks. Both times the pizza was good, but not great. The crust was kind of stiff and the pies just lacked that bit of pizza soul that separates good pizza from transcendent pizza.

From Talk

Motorino in Manhattan

I had truly extraordinary pizza at the Manhattan Motorino two days ago for lunch. I ordered three pies, the brussels sprouts and pancetta, spicy soppressata, and a margherita. The crust was slightly chewy and crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.The crusts were not soggy at all. I brought them back to SE World HQ and everyone seemed to agree that this was world-class pizza.

From Serious Eats: New York

Shake Shack, Bill's, and RUB: It's Rainin' Smashed Burgers In This Burg

I saw Alan Richman's review. I don't think he understands the potential appeal of a thin, crisp, smashed burger. Clearly the burgers he ate at Bill's were not juicy at all. One problem at Bill's that perhaps I should have written about is that nobody at the restaurant wants to tell you that when you order a burger you can ask for it extra juicy. When I asked the chef, Paul Sale, about that he explained that the difference between extra juicy and regular at Bill's is about 10 seconds on its super-hot griddle. Extra juicy just means there will be some visibly pink meat in the burger. Maybe I will see if Alan will go with me to Bill's and have an extra juicy burger.

From Serious Eats: New York

David Sax's Top Five Deli Dishes In New York

What about the corned beef hash or the drenched in schmaltz, mondo-sized potato knishes at the Carnegie Deli? Or the brisket Reuben at Artie's? Or even the hot dog with pastrami bits topping at Lansky's?

From Recipes

The Nasty Bits: Crisp Fried Pig's Ears

I don't care much for pig's ears myself, but I really enjoy Chichi's Nasty Bits posts. They are entertaining, informative, and downright fun. And they don't make me feel like any less of a foodie. And offal in particular and trends in general are by no means the only things we champion here at Serious Eats.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lady M Cake Boutique Cheesecake: The Last Cut Is The Deepest

I did keep a straight face, rebeccadiamond. But I still can't believe I didn't say anything to the woman who did the extraneous slicing, whereintheworldisben. It's not like me. I usually would squawk. I should have said, "Have you no shame, gentlewoman?" That would have been appropriate for the neighborhood.

From Talk

Need Off The Radar Dining Suggestions

Here's a good one: $50 White Truffle Dinner every Tuesday night through December 1st at Sapori d’Ischia in Woodside. There's no deal like it in the city.

From Serious Eats: New York

Top 10 Sandwiches in Brooklyn

two excellent roast beef, mozzarella and brown gravy hero spots:

Monte's
156 Avenue O,
718-259-1500;

Clemente's
138 Avenue T,
1-800-427-0556.

From Talk

Impressive Lunch in NYC this Friday

Jean-Georges is a great choice, as is Alto. The Inoteca side of Del Posto is also really good value at lunch or dinner.

From Serious Eats: New York

The Dessert Files: SWEET at the New York Wine and Food Festival

Those chocolate and olive oil bastoncino sound incredible. I want one now.

From A Hamburger Today

Lamb Burgers from Eleven Madison Park

They're available at the bar and in the lounge area at both lunch and dinner. We had them at lunch.

From A Hamburger Today

Lamb Burgers from Eleven Madison Park

Good question, gustoct. You certainly could argue that these are meatballs, except they don't have any breadcrumbs in them. Doesn't a meatball have to have some breadcrumbs in it to be considered a meatball?

From Serious Eats

Hot Doug's in Chicago: Good Hot Dogs and Good Neighbors in Line

Thanks, Teachertalk. You're absolutely right. I've made the correction.

From Serious Eats

How Do You Slip the Waiter Extra Tip Money?

This is indeed is a tough one, Adam. Most of my friends look to me to tell them how much to leave as a tip. I don't know what I would do in the situation you laid out.

From Talk

"Date night" lunch on Friday

Mookie has a great idea. I reviewed eleven madison park's lunch deal a couple of weeks ago. jean-georges also has the same lunch deal as well. In Brooklyn I really like Char No. 4's Friday-only lunch menu. My review of it is going up tonight.

From Serious Eats

Critic-Turned-Cook Finds Her Dream Job at a Frat House Kitchen

A frat house with good food. That's a man-bites-dog story, for sure. Great post, Leslie.

From Serious Eats

Serious Beer: Tasting Oktoberfest Brews

Great post, Maggie. We're thrilled to have you as our beer bureau chief. A toast, then, to Maggie Hoffman, Serious Eats' first beer bureau chief.

From Recipes

Recreating the Adult Brownies from Andronico's

Tam brought these brownies into Serious Eats World HQ. They are amazing, the best brownies I have ever eaten, sweet, salty, and amazingly intense. I made her write this post. All serious eaters will be happy I did.

From Serious Eats

Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 86: Is 200 Pounds Out of My Reach?

I play squash three times a week and ride my bike to work another 2 or 3 times a week.

From Talk

Bar Americain Fried Chicken

No, I didn't even know about Bar Americaine's fried chicken Mondays. We will check it out for sure. Thanks for the heads up. Ed

From Serious Eats: New York

Shacktober Fest: A Frank Appraisal

My bad on the invention front. I will say, and I know this may be painful to hear for present or past St. Louis residents, when we did a straight comparative blind taste test between Shake Shack and Ted Drewes frozen custard, Shake Shack won handily. Of course it must be said that the Ted Drewes custard was shipped and the Shake Shack custard was fresh.

From Serious Eats: New York

The Great New York Fancy-Pants Fried Chicken Roundup

The value thing is tricky, but I do think we were reasonably consistent. You get a whole chicken, vegetables, and pancakes at monofuku for $50, which is a very good deal. It feeds four people with leftovers At Brooklyn Bowl, the half-chicken and two not special sides for $18 probably feeds 1 1/2 people,is not nearly as good, deliciousness-wise. And you're in a bowling alley (albeit, a really cool bowling alley).

From Serious Eats

Does Anyone Really Love Pumpkin Pie?

Though I do like pumpkin pie, there are many pies that I would prefer any day, such as strawberry rhubarb or lemon meringue. I did find an AWESOME recipe, though, for pumpkin pie, and it was the second pie to disappear at a Thanksgiving dinner for 30 friends this year, out of about 7 other pie chioces. (The first to disappear was also mine- Dorie Greenspan's "Favorite Pecan Pie" with chocolate and espresso.) I'll be making it again for my family...it's Sherry Yard's Triple Silken Pumpkin Pie from "Desserts by the Yard." Baked in a springform pan, the bottom layer is pumpkin custard, then a layer of maple whipped cream, then a layer of caramel pumpkin mousse....truly an awesome pie and worth the work!

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

Adam out of respect for the Wooster St legacy I kept Pepe's at #3 because of the respect issue and because there are other pies Like the Clam which are out of this world. But I observed other people cutting into their pies and everyone was having the same issue and looked upset that it was taking so much work to eat their pies.....

the slice when you would pick it up would stay straight that's how tough the actual crust has been coming out of the oven lately at both locations.

I've eaten Pizza in quite a few cities and I've followed the GQ Pizza Article on a few of the Detroit pizzeria's since I have family on my wife's side who live out that way.

I really enjoyed buddy's pizza and actually found photos on my cell phone that I sent in. Way different pizza squares and such....

But back to New Haven, for the health conscious Pizza eater up the road about 4 miles up on Whitney ave in Hamden there is Olde World Pizza they do lo carb and even wheat pizza. It's not coal oven but it's pretty good stuff as well.

I haven't eaten yet at the new Yonkers location or the Mohegan Sun for Pepe's but once they went to 7 days a week and opening up at 11:30am something has changed, you need more staff, different people making the pizza and it's just different at Pepe's right now...

I should send them an email because I'm asked all the time 6'3 300lbs which of the big 5 is the best and I tell anyone depends on what you like on it. Sausage hands down is Zupps...... Modern is bigger in seating capacity, very thin Apizza...But they have won best pizza in the Advocate for the past 7 years....Ballot stuffing who knows..... But everyone I know loves Modern. The one thing I do love in regards to the peperoni used at Sallys and Pepe's is that it's cut off the stick.....It doesn't get any better than that......

Then you have to go down the block on Wooster for Italian Ice at Libby's.
Libby's has a new location in North Haven right down the street from me.
Homemade just awesomeness is all I can say. You want any Italian Cookie or Angel Wings, expresso , etc.....It doesn't get any better than Libby's after throwing down.....

Anyone ever wants to do a Pizza throwdown with a Former/Transplanted New Yorker.....

Just drop me a line.....

Enjoy the weekend and holidays everyone...


From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

Here's a voice from the Peanut Gallery (Los Angeles). On the West Side, Pho 99 at 11819 Wilshire Blvd, has excellent Banh Mi for about $4.95, delicious Pho, and many other Vietnamese dishes well prepared at low prices. Pleasant atmosphere with attractive art on the walls. Accommodating waiters, who take substitutions helpfully (noodles instead of rice in some standard dishes).
Don't be put off by seeming distance; it's their newly growing command of English that makes THEM uncomfortable. With a few seconds of effort they warm up and become quite friendly. And any back-and-forth when asking for substitutions is not reluctance, but an attempt to get your request clear in their mind despite any possible language barrier.

I've eaten there several times a month. Recently I was under the weather and their chicken soup Pho was a life-saver. it's not just from Jewish mothers.

From Talk

Motorino in Manhattan

Motorino's pizza is very close to the napolitano pizza I grew up with in Italy. It's not American-style pizza. I understand it's different. I love it! If the chef is there, he inspects the pies. I've seen him throw away pies that were too charred.

From Talk

Motorino in Manhattan

I agree with you. was there two night ago and had the margherita. Very good crust. poor toppings, by which I mean not enough of all and too much oil.

From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

@Pupster: I'm pretty sure 99% of Ed's reviews have prices in them. The difference this time was that none of the prices were online and we couldn't get in touch with someone who could tell them to us...but lesson learned for the future: take note of them while eating!

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

Wow. Thanks for the great intel, offthemeter. Interesting that Pepe's still comes in at No. 3 even from what you say above. Before I got to your ranking, I expected it to be somewhere after Bar or Zuppardi's. It's now clear we'll have to go back and do Bar and Zuppardi's (and re-try Pepe's).

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

I want to chime in since I grew up in New York City and now live 10 minutes from the Big 5 Modern, Sally's Pepe's, Zuppardi's and Bar.

Pepe's the last 3 times in the past 2 months and 1 time at the Spot which is the original Pepe's. Their crust I couldn't even cut it with my knife and it was beyond noticeable. 4 times same Original Location and the same experience it's not a coincidence until I read the other posts on here today.

Sallys sauce when you ask for extra sauce is the sweetest of the bunch. The rudeness factor makes me laugh but my wife refuses to eat there and she's a native and lifer of the area. The issue is they can only squeeze in 10 pies into their oven at a time and they take phone orders if you can get through.

Modern is our favorite out of the Big 5 the Italian Bomb is a hearty pie sausage, pep, bacon, onion, red pepper. I'm a Pepperoni guy that's all I need and sometimes just good old Sauce and Grated does me fine as well.

Bar Pizza is made by someone who used to work at Sally's so that's why it gets high marks as a sleeper pizza. I've only had pepperoni and cheese and it was pretty good.

Zuppardi's in West Haven...Their sausage Pie is really good not Coal Oven though and the decor is very old school.... Gives it Character.

1.Modern
2.Sally's
3.Pepe's
4. Zups
5. Bar

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

"My experience is also that Pepe's is much more variable than it was when the previous generation was running it and before its expansion, but I have had some remarkably good pizza there recently...."

IMO, I strongly feel that product AND consistency is what makes a great pizzeria. Most pizzerias, either because of lack of ingredient quality, lack of skill sets by the pizzamakers and/or lack of passion are not even capable of making a great pizza to begin with.

A "great" pizzeria is capable of making a great pizza and is driven to get as close to that greatness as often as possible.....which is most of the time.

It sounds like Pepe's is in the process of falling, or has already fallen from greatness, even if it can still crank out a great pizza from time to time. That's really sad to this pizza lover and a situation that hopefully will right itself sooner than later.

Adam, the pic of the Sally's pizzas look delicious BTW. I need to get to New Haven ASAP! --K

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

@gustoct: Point noted. I'll have to try Pepe's next time I'm in New Haven to see how the crust fares again. Now that I know how easy/quick it is to get to with a Zipcar, that should be soon.

Just called to verify with Zuppardi's Apizza: They use a gas-fired oven. No coal.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

As a New Haven whose exposure goes back 47 years and who simply won't put up with the treatment at Sally's, I have mainly frequented Pepe's with occasional detours at Modern (as well as other places not as good and some really great ones, alas no longer with us). My experience is also that Pepe's is much more variable than it was when the previous generation was running it and before its expansion, but I have had some remarkably good pizza there recently and disagree with Ed's verdict (of course, I didn't have the pies he had). You get superb pizza more often than not and I haven't had a BAD one. My experience with the Fairfield location has actually been quite good, but I haven't tried the others.

I'll have to try Zuppardi's in West Havenm. Do they have a coal oven?

From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

Prices are almost never mentioned on this site.. I wish they would list the prices of the things they ate.

Thanks pupster.

From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

Oh, and the house banh mi wasn't very good. Some slack because they are just opening up, but really, that sandwich was nothing to write home about. There are better versions in Brooklyn for $4.

From Serious Eats: New York

Ma Peche, 'Momofuku Midtown': Tien Ho Is a Peach of a Chef

You neglect to price any of these items, but I'll do it for you because as Ma Peche is inside the Chambers Hotel, you are working with hotel food prices.

First, the Midtown Lunch specials are only on weekdays and for a limited time. We found this out when we went on Saturday.

Bahn Mi $10 (just a six inch sandwich, no side, no garnish)
Pork rice noodles $18
Burger w/ fries $16

The 4 cookies and milk $10 (!)

In other words, this stuff (like the downtown Momos) are overpriced for what you get. Unless you get multiple items, expect to be hungry with these portions.

From Serious Eats

Serious Eats City Guide Premiere: New York (How to Leave Here Pleasantly Full)

@Ed: I think most New Yorkers might be over the Shake Shack burger - am I alone here? There is an amazing burger down in FiDi at a hotel bar - I would definitely add it to the list - at The Libertine..

From Talk

Motorino in Manhattan

My wife and I were there a month ago. Service was great. The flavors were great. I like a nice charred crust, but they were a little burnt in my opinion. I have only been there once, I would go back anytime.

From Serious Eats: New York

Shake Shack, Bill's, and RUB: It's Rainin' Smashed Burgers In This Burg

it's restaurant conglomerate versus restaurant conglomerate here; i can't imagine a burger from the same people as blue water grill would be any good but . . . . i want some of those veggie fries!

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

@jwardell: Went to the Pepe's on Wooster. The big one, not The Spot. We ordered a clam pie and a sausage/mozzarella pie. My main complaint was with the ABSOLUTE TOUGHNESS of the crust. OMG. Jawache after trying a slice of each. Even if it had the most flavorful plain sauce/grated cheese, I'd still have an issue with the crust. Tell me how ordering a plain pie is going to change the crust situation and I may reconsider my assessment on further review.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

How can you diss Pepes when you didn't order a plainchees pie to compare it to the others?
I also wonder if you wen to one of its satellite locations which of course are nowhere near the original.

Also head into Reginas in boston (again, the original north end location), get a plain cheese well done.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

We're pretty much with you, Adam. I like Sally's best overall, Lil digs Modern's tomato pie, but Sally's mozz. We agree that Pepe's is third. Still, we'd be happy with any of the three on any given day.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

A few weeks ago, I stopped at Sally's while driving back from Boston to NYC, around 8pm on a Wednesday night. It was about half-full. The service was friendly, and not unpleasant. But the pizza... was superb. For two of us, we got a medium pie with mozzarella, and a medium eggplant parmesan pie (it was a special). Both were exceptionally delicious--if they have the eggplant pie, definitely get it--it's the best eggplant pizza you'll ever eat.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

I'm astounded by the undeserved dis of Pepe's clam pie. It was only a few weeks ago that my food writer friend and I drove up to NH with the specific intention of eating that very pizza. We even called ahead to make sure Pepe's had a clam pie that day since we were disappointed last time around when no clams were to be had. We arrived about 3pm. Not much of a wait at that time of day. We were seated almost as soon as we walked through the door. We ordered our prey. It came to the table large, hot, redolent of garlic and chopped fresh salty succulent clams. A little sprinkling of cheese (not a no-no in this instance) The crust was perfect. Chewy, crisp and light. Not a bit doughy or tough. The pie was, in a word, perfection and I will defend it to the death. To paraphrase a well-respected, former contender for the vice presidency of the United States-- I have had Pepe's clam pie and Lombardy's you are no Pepe's.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

Man, I really dont like sliced tomatoes on my pizza...but the "plain" and sausage look gooood! Used to go to Ricky's Clam House often back in the daze of yore..so funny its a Frank Pepe's now. Hope its good.

From Slice

Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'

With 20/20 hindsight, we should have hit Bar instead of Pepe's. Even then, we would have been cutting it close. We were told by a New Havenite who joined us at Modern that Bar would likely have a long wait but that we could probably do a Pepe's take-out pie in between Modern and Sally's. And so that's what we did.

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About Ed Levine

Website: http://www.edlevineeats.com

Location: NYC

About: I am the Serious Eats overlord. Launching the site has been the greatest experience of my life, and it continues to be that to this day.

Favorite foods: fried chicken, pizza, barbecue, pie, ice cream

Last bite on earth: Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken, some awesome fries, a few hush puppies, and some piping hot biscuits