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The Ten Most Recent Comments By powermd

From Slice

Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Brian Chase Digs Di Fara Pizza

Hype, hype, hype. Go ahead and make excuses for why the pie is uneven, burned in places, etc. It's a good pizza, but hardly worthy of it's legend. And certainly not worth dragging out to the middle of Brooklyn to wait an hour+ for. Last time (the first time) I visited, Dom burned an entire pie and filled the place with smoke! Oops. Guess he was too busy focusing on his perfect "number one in NY" craft. Sheesh. If you worship Dom's pizza, I believe I have a Luger's reservation to sell you.

From Serious Eats

Costco is Selling Mexican Coke!

Even better than Mexican Coke? BERMUDIAN COKE. I'm fortunate enough to be a dual-national and grew up tasting the difference between US and Bermuda coke. Now that I've had a chance to try Mexican coke (I'm in Mexico now), I can tell you Bermudian coke is even crisper, and less harsh than Mexican. In Bermuda, you can also find Sprite made with real sugar. I've even gone so far as to bring back Coke syrup with me and carbonate it with a tabletop carbonator! The people in customs tell me it's not that uncommon to bring a Coke syrup-pack across.

From Serious Eats: New York

Best Burrito in New York: Los Dados Lamb Barbacoa

A foodie friend and I tried the lamb barbacoa burrito this weekend on your advice. It was okay. About what I expected for the neighborhood. What I liked best was the tenderness of the lamb. It did have just the right amount of rice and beans, but I felt it could have used more punch- maybe some extra onions, garlic, lime, chili peppers, etc. My friend didn't think it was much better than the beef burrito at Chipotle, and much smaller. I wasn't impressed by their salsa, that could have been a lot better. In retrospect I wish one of us had ordered the pork torta, I'm pretty curious about that now. I couldn't help but fantasize about the amazing bahn mi sandwich around the corner at Five Nine.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

The first (and last) time I went to Di Fara I ordered two slices, and after waiting a full hour, still had not received them. Thankfully one of the (many) people who cut the line to order additional full pies was sypathetic to my starvation and gave but a slice from a fresh round cheese pie. It was a greasy, steaming mess. Good, but not remotely worth waiting an hour for. Who knows how long I would have actually waited to be served? At one hour there still seemed to be little hope that they would get to my order. I even asked if ordering a full pie would speed things up (no answer from the counter girl). The problem didn't seem to be that the place was too busy, but that their ordering system is totally disorganized, and it seems acceptable to them for people to frequently cut the line. Maybe I was just a little too polite. I only nagged them every fifteen minutes about my order. Bah... I don't need this much trouble to obtain a friggin' slice of pizza. I left, got back on the train, hit Una Pizza Napoletana, which wasn't busy. I was treated well, and received my overpriced, but wonderful pizza within a few minutes. I'll never go back to Di Fara again!

From Serious Eats: New York

Lucali's: The Warm Glow of a Wonderful Pizzeria

I loved this place, I can't wait to go back- with a bottle of wine.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

Lombardi's is great, but I've never found it any better that Patsy's, which is usually more convenient. I finally got around to trying Una Pizza Napoletana- wow! That was one fine pizza. The restaurant wasn't busy when I visited, and I was treated very well by the staff.

Speaking of pies- Ed... thanks to you, I've been on a pie kick since November. I make regular trips from the UWS out to Park Slope for those magnificent little Trois Pomme beauties... how DO they create such a perfect pie crust?? Clinton St Baking Co has a truly sublime apple pie too.

I'd hate to spoil your diet, but the next time you head out to Trois Pomme, you MUST try their 'oreo' cookies. They are perfection! They remind me a little bit of those old Peppridge Farm Capri cookies, as they have a similar creme filling. $1.50 for three tiny cookies is a bargain!

From Serious Eats: New York

When Is Food Too Expensive? What's Your Bottom Line?

Food is worth whatever the market will bear. To make sense of it's value, you really need to consider what the product actually is, and the nature of the consumers bidding up it's value.

From Serious Eats: New York

Another Manhattan Sichuan Restaurant Worth the Sweat

I must agree on the Gui Zhou Chicken at GS- definitely a favorite of mine. I also love the soup dumplings there.

After reading Ed's review, I decided to give Szechuan Gourmet a try. I picked the Szechuan pork dumplings, the double-cooked pork (that Ed ordered), and the stir-fried baby bok choy. Overall I was NOT impressed. If "Even More New York Eats" ever comes out, this better not be included! The dumplings were, as described by hotkate, undercooked doughy bricks, in an unremarkable bland sauce. Not as bad as those from the Cottage, but not far off either. The pork dish was meaty and porky, as Ed described, but was dry, and of low quality. The baby bok choy was drowned in a soup of garlic sauce, and seemed overcooked.

I'll stick to Grand Sichuan for my Szechuan cravings in Manhattan.

This is off-topic, but on a happier note, I've been going pie-crazy this past week- thanks to Ed's obsession. I was never really into pie before, but now... I deliberately skimp on breakfast, and eat a small salad for lunch to make room for the 'fruits' of my pie quest. So far it's going well. I love those little apple pies from Trois Pomme, and the sour cream, apple, walnut pie from Little Pie Co. The apple pie from Bubby's was okay, but I didn't like their sour cherry. On Thanksgiving I served Two Little Red Hen's cranberry-pear, and winter medley pies. The former had a good filling- I didn't like the ginger in the latter, and overall the crust was not to my taste, although others liked it.

From Serious Eats: New York

Day After Thanksgiving Food Exploring

I hit Corner Bistro on Saturday with friends not having been there in a few years. It was certainly no better than JG Mellon, which is probably slightly better. We ordered Bistro Burgers, of course. Although one friend ordered the chicken sandwich (solid). The bacon was nice and crisp, the pickles were perfect hamburger chips, and the lettuce was... pretty ordinary. The tomato was mealy and white, clearly an afterthought. The fries were nice thin matchsticks, but had that 'previously frozen' aftertaste. I found myself longing for the fresh taste of the fries just down the street at Taim. The bun was simple, slightly sweet, and tender.. perfect.

I have been to Stand, where I had the burger with the fried egg on top. That was good, although the real draw for me to return would be the incredible toasted marshmallow milkshake. The burger at Blue Smoke has such a wonderful char on the outside, I'm tempted to call that my favorite NY burger. I haven't been to Brgr, Better Burger, Burger Joint, BLT, or Shake Shack. I also haven't had a Smith & Wollensky or DB burger, although perhaps one day I will.

Responses to Comments by powermd

From Slice

Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Brian Chase Digs Di Fara Pizza

quick, somebody call the waaaaaahmbulance.

anyway. nice write up, woo yeah yeah yeahs!

From Serious Eats: New York

When Is Food Too Expensive? What's Your Bottom Line?

When I first moved to NYC I seriously thought I'd have to choose between paying rent and eating. At all. A few months of exploring later, and I've found some real gems that have been fine for my palate AND my wallet. I'd love to hear some of your picks for cheaps eats, and you're welcome to check out mine.

www.fruglebuglenyc.blogspot.com

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

The first (and last) time I went to Di Fara I ordered two slices, and after waiting a full hour, still had not received them. Thankfully one of the (many) people who cut the line to order additional full pies was sypathetic to my starvation and gave but a slice from a fresh round cheese pie. It was a greasy, steaming mess. Good, but not remotely worth waiting an hour for. Who knows how long I would have actually waited to be served? At one hour there still seemed to be little hope that they would get to my order. I even asked if ordering a full pie would speed things up (no answer from the counter girl). The problem didn't seem to be that the place was too busy, but that their ordering system is totally disorganized, and it seems acceptable to them for people to frequently cut the line. Maybe I was just a little too polite. I only nagged them every fifteen minutes about my order. Bah... I don't need this much trouble to obtain a friggin' slice of pizza. I left, got back on the train, hit Una Pizza Napoletana, which wasn't busy. I was treated well, and received my overpriced, but wonderful pizza within a few minutes. I'll never go back to Di Fara again!

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

Darren, try Una Pizza Napoletana first, then Totonno's in Coney Island, and of course a slice at DiFara. Lombardi's was when it first reopened a phenomenal pizzeria. Patsy's the mini-chain makes a fine pie, but not an inspired one. Grimaldi's served underbaked pizzas the last time I was there.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

I had the same experience last time I visisted Lombardi's. The crust was charred, but yet was soggy. It was just a simple plain cheese pizza, so it wasn't like the toppings would create more moisture in the crust. Maybe I will give it another shot, but Patsy's and Grimaldi's are much better in my opinion.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

I agree about Lombardi's. The crust was soggy. The best part of the trip was the rice pudding from across the street after the pizza.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

I never understood the fuss about Lombardi's...
Despite the fact that I pass by the place nearly every time I'm in the city, I've only ever eaten there once, on a whim, and was thoroughly underwhelmed.

Maybe it was just a bad day :/

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

Go to DiFara. Bring a snack in case there is a large wait, but it's worth it.

It's a great experience, no rush, super relaxed, and not in a busy part of the area.

From Serious Eats: New York

Lombardi's Update

I'm from the New Haven area, which means my pizza ideal is Wooster Street (Pepe's is my absolute favorite). I really want to try some great NY pizza, but am somewhat overwhelmed by the options. Lombardi's, Grimaldi's, Totonno's, Una Pizza Napoletana, Di Fara's...I want my first impression to be amazing. Where should I go?

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