Court street grocers are amazing. Maybe its because i don't get there too often but every time I do go I'm so excited. Their sandwiches are all so well calibrated and executed it's pretty hard to have a bad experience there. And what I really like about their style is that a lot of their sandwiches are regional odes so while there's something super NYC about the whole place (rugelach for sale at front counter, I mean, c'mon!) it embodies the spirit of the quintessential sandwich shop for many different cities. Has anyone tried their Friday night dinners?

@max This really is an incredible sandwich. Love the New Mexico green hatch chile (and I discovered that at Shopsin's). I don't know if people realize they're probably the only restaurant in the five boroughs who has real New Mexico green hatch chile year round.

Another key to success for this sandwich is how crispy they get the bread because the cheese, hatch chile, brisket combo is so tender and juicy, you need that airy ciabatta to soak up the juice and provide sturdy textural contrast.

@mh330 I'm happy to hear you say that. No one who loves Shopsin's would want you taking a seat away from someone who really appreciates and understands how great the restaurant really is.

This is just terribly disappointing. I was talking with a friend the other day about why Burger Joint would even bother to expand down to West Village without ensuring the burgers were JUST AS GOOD if not better than the original. The only saving grace for a place like the downtown Burger Joint will be to stay open late and steal business from Corner Bistro. Can't find a website so not sure if they'll be taking advantage. I still need to get down to the new one myself and make sure that things are as grave as it is indicated here. Standby...

These bagels were one of the best things I ate at Smorgasburg two weeks ago and Melissa is so sweet. Check out a photo of the onion bagel with cream cheese on my Instagram @nycfooguy and follow me if you want a constant stream of food porn.

http://instagram.com/p/YKuhvvKWQE/

i love pambazo. I'm fairly certain I was the first one to write anything about it in the NYC blog world with my post back in 2009: http://nycfoodguy.com/2009/04/06/sunset_park_brooklyn_mexican_food_tour/

This place is pretty solid, good for the neighborhood slice scene, but not going to reinvent the wheel for you. Had a reheated margherita slice one night and was happy to taste what seemed like decent cheese and olive oil, crust had a nice faint charred flavor. Would definitely have it again if in the 'hood and in need of a slice.

@howdini
I've only had those three slices and they've always satisfied. But I've also only had them when they're relatively fresh. I've definitely walked right in and right out of Iggy's a few times after seeing some pies that looked like they'd been hanging out for a while.

@Max,

Good work man. Love me some pambazo.

@Carey!!!!

I ate this sandwich over two years ago at Xochimilco and it was the most memorable part of my Sunset Park Taco tour. There were some other highs but I have not enjoyed a Mexican sandwich as much as this one since I first had it. To quote myself, it's the "everlasting gobstopper of Mexican Sandwiches."

If you want to see the rest of the Sunset Park taco tour, check it:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2009/04/06/sunset_park_brooklyn_mexican_food_tour/

Hey Max,

Fun post.

If someone reads this post and decides to try Joanne's based on it, they should know that Joanne's slices are pretty underwhelming if you don't get them fresh. They key is ordering a Buff Chicken mini pie or a whole fresh pie and digging in immediately.

I grew up in Great Neck and discovered Joanne's Buffalo slice while working as a counselor at nearby Shibley Day Camp over 10 years ago. It was love at first sight.

Two years later, we upped the ante as counselors at Pierce Day Camp, ordering personal Buffalo mini pies from Joanne's. Later I discovered the BBQ chicken slice and would order fresh pies, half buff, half BBQ. I've never looked back since.

As for NYC Buffalo slices, the best I've found in the East Village thus far is at Iggy's on 1st Ave b/t 10th and 11th. When it's there and fresh, it's great. Their grandma slice is also pretty solid as are their pinwheels when heated sufficiently. Where have you found good ones in NYC?

The burger at Rowdy Hall are all about the seeded bun and the fried onions. The onions are like old school Donovan's of Bayside style (before they were bought and renovated). Sweet and crisp, burnt around the edges, but still melt-in-your-mouth.

Astro Pizza in Amagansett is also good for a quick, simple pizza pie or slice fix. And if you play your cards carefully you may run into Alec Baldwin there. Seen him there several times.

What are some of the best "plain" New York slices (at ordinary slice joints) in the 5 boroughs? Let's get a definitive list going to prove to ourselves that the old school New York "plain" slice is still alive and well.

Here's some food for thought (in no particular order):
Joe's Pizza, West Village
Sal and Carmines, Upper West Side
Gino's, Upper East Side
Mariella's, Multiple locations in Manhattan
Prince Street Pizza, SoHo
Luigi's, Park Slope, Brooklyn
DiFara's, Midwood, Brooklyn
Nunzio's, Staten Island
New Park Pizza, Queens
Louie and Ernie's, Bronx

Keep adding names to the list...

Question to all.

I really enjoy Szechuan food. But I have never tasted Szechuan more pronounced on the peppercorn front than at Mission Chinese in NYC. Is this what "real" Szechuan is supposed to taste like or does Bowien just have a heavy hand with the Szechuan peppercorns? Is there something to be said for balance? I enjoyed the mapo tofu at Legend in Chelsea better than the one at Mission, you could taste other things besides the peppercorns.

Thoughts?