Alvin & Friends - Contemporary Cuisine Southern Caribbean Flavors

 Alvin & Friends

14 Memorial Highway

New Rochelle, NY  10801

914-654-6549

www. alvinandfirendsrestaurant.com

Link:  Alvin and Friends Restaurant

Hours:

Monday & Tuesday - closed

Wednesday           5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday               5:00  pm- 9:00 pm

Friday                    5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Saturday                5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sunday Bruch     11:30 am - 2:30 pm

                              5:00 pm - 9:30  pm

APP Sampler - special order - meatballs, 

jerk chicken, pork tacos, 

rum jerk chicken & salad - $25.00

BBQ Pork Ribs - 1/2 rack - $24.00

Deep fried cornmeal catfish - $28.00

Seafood gumbo - compliments of Chef Jose Uloa

Chef Jose Uloa and I

Owner Alvin Clayton & I

Paintings by owner - Alvin Clayton

Paintings by Alvin

It's been a long time since my sister friends Roz, Kelly and I got together for a good old girl sit down and lets talk celebration.  So Kelly selected Alvin & Friends which she has visited several times, so off we went.

As you entered the restaurant you are warmly greeted and seated (use that for a rap).  Nyka our waitress approached us very nicely several times to take our orders, but I believe on her 4th or 5th trip we were ready.  Kelly of course already knew what she was going to order.  

The jerk chicken wings from the sampler was tender and spicy, not too much.  The meatballs were tender, tasty with a little bit of sauce.

Kelly's dish was the deep fried cornmeal catfish might I add, wild caught thank you served with stone ground grits and black eyed peas, topped with a creole remoulade.  This is one of her favorite dishes.

Per Kelly's suggestions Roz and I ordered the smoke BBQ ribs, sweet potato fries (yum) and coleslaw.   The ribs were tender, the cole slaw spiced it up a bit for me.  I really like the sweet potato fries that had a touch of cinnamon.  

After meeting Chef Jose Uloa and introducing ourselves who was very approachable and friendly, we had a wonderful conversation, he sent out a bowl of seafood gumbo for us to sample.  This would be on his upcoming Chef's Specials menu next week.  he seafood gumbo had shrimp, calamari, shrimp, rice, sausage seasoned with file also known as gumbo file.    

Chef Jose has worked as an executive chef at the Apollo, Plaza Hotel and etc. 

Roz and I met Alvin Clayton, the owner as Kelley already knew him.  Alvin is very personable.  His artwork appears on the walls of his restaurant.  

I understand that Alvin's is also a celebrity hangout.  It has a nice outdoor dining area and the waitstaff are very professional and friendly.  Overall it was a nice experience meeting up with my sister-friends and meeting new people.

#alvin&friends   #southerncaribbean   #newrochelle   #newyork   #westchester   #food  #lunch  #brunch  #dinner #outdoordining  #music  #livemusic  #jazz  #vegetarian  #good  #like  #art    

• 
  

Santiago Beer Garden - Dominican Food + a beer garden

 Santiago Beer Garden

2337 1st Avenue (120th street)

New York, NY 10035

212-920-6155

www.santiagosbeergarden.com

Hours:

Monday - Wednesday    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday - Sunday - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Happy Hour:  4-7 pm  Beer $6.00   Wines $7.00  Cocktail  $9

Stewed chicken with beans and rice - $15.00

Grill chicken with beans and rice - $20.00

Sliced avocado - $6.00

Outdoor seating

My daughter Stacey invited me to dine with her at Santiago Beer Garden on Monday, May 24, 2021 and made reservations for 6:00 pm.  Upon arriving and being seated we met Amber our waitress.  Very friendly with such an wonderful smile.  After waiting for about 10 minutes we ask for a menu only to be told that it was a contactless menu on the table.  

Stacey's ordered the fried double pork chops but after about 15 minutes another waitress approached our table and told us that they were out of pork chops.  She then order the stewed chicken.  While waiting for our food I noticed that the restaurant reminded me of pictures that I've seen in magazines of how a restaurant might look in Cuba (hope to visit) or in the Dominican Republic (another visit).  Music, a bit loud for me.  Brick walls, see through roof, plant vines climbing the walls and fake birds twinned in the branches.  Amber approached our table and introduced our next waiter Christian who was very personable and friendly.

Per Stacey, her stew chicken was very good and enough leftover to have for lunch the next day.  My grill chicken breast and all of the chopped and diced green and red peppers and onions on top made for a very tender and tasty meal.  The avocado was fresh and went well with both dishes.

#dominican   #dominicanfood   #santiagobeergarden   #beergarden   #eastharlem   #harlem

#food   #like   #dinner   #music   #happyhour  #lunch   #tasty   #goodeats   #foodblog   #good

#outdoorseating  #eat   #like   #whatsfordinner   #restaurant   #brunch  #entree #spanishfood

Bageriet Bakery - Hackensack, NJ

 Bageriet Bakery

335 Essex Street

Hackensack, NJ  07601

201-487-8787

www.thebagariet.com

Hours:  

Monday - Friday        6:30 am - 7:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday    8:00 am - 7:00 pm

BAGERIET - /baa-gar-ree-et/ in Swedish: “The Bakery”

Danishes with blueberries and raspberry + apple turnover

Friday, May 7 somewhere around 4:30 pm.  I noticed this bakery and decided to stop in and buy  just1 thing.  Mistake.  I should have known going in.  I ordered 3 danishes without even thinking.

Lets start with the apple turnover which I ate first with the intention of eating the danishes over the next two days.  After the first bite, I knew I was in trouble.  Just enough apple filling and the crust was like a pie crust, not puff pastry, wonderful.   

So I got myself in trouble by waiting almost 10 minutes and went after that cute golden brown blueberry danish.  Don't judge me.  Eating that light and flaky multilayer sweet pasty with fresh blueberries sitting on top of the cream cheese, tender, and delicately sweet, all I can tell you is that I then grabbed the raspberry danish and I had a lovely time.    

Was it worth the extra calories, yes, I just walked a little longer the next day.  

Just little FYI:  This is a Swedish bakery cafe with a touch of France.  

#bageriet   #bagerietbakery  #bakery  #hackensack   #newjersey   #bakeries   #good  #like #bakersinnewjersey   #breakfast   #lunch   #tasty   #friendly   #giftbaskets   #catering   #eat  #food   #yum   #bagels   #cakes   #pasteries   #glutenfree   #vegan   #greatcustomerservice

           

                  

  

Richardo  Steakhouse

2145 2nd Avenue (110-111th street)

New York, NY 10029

212-289-5895

ricardosteakhouse.com

Hours:  

Monday - Sunday        11 am - 10 pm

Entrance before Covid

Entrance during Covid

Garlic bread 

Da Chops (pork chops) - $26.00

Uptown Rib Eye - $40.00

Lamb Chops Off Lex - $32.00

Oh Snap Snapper - $32.00

Friday, April 16 - 6:00 pm reservation

My daughter Stacey, friends Ramona, Ena and I met for dinner at Richardo's.  This was my second visit.  As usual, it was very busy with people already eating or waiting outside or sitting inside waiting for their table.  Hint, make reservations.  

Our first waiter was Abdul then it switched to Casper who was very friendly, polite and didn't make you feel as if you were bothering him in asking for extra napkins, lemon for our water, etc., even though he was really busy. Always with a smile.  Abdul who was the waitstaff for opposite side of us also was engaged in helping.  They exhibited really great team work.

Stacey - Da Chops - center cut pork chops, with chimichurri sauce tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and mash potatoes. Tender, and you can taste the basil, not overpowering.

Ramona -  Lamb Chops Off Lex - seasoned with rosemary, cooked to perfection. The mango salsa added a nice little punch.  The garlic spinach was tender.  Who would have thought to add balsamic glazed roasted red peppers with this dish.  It went well with this dish.   

Edna - Oh Snap Snapper - let's see, mussels and red snapper, tender and juicy.  Shrimp, succulent and well seasoned.  The white wine basil tomato sauce topped it.  

Me - Uptown Rib Eye - okay, sliced garlic, a little bit of sauce (not enough) well done as I like it.  The steak was good.  The garlic mash potato - hardly tasted the garlic.  Kind of dry.  The garlic spinach was alright.  

Garlic bread - bread is grilled and oh so good.  It comes with a spicy tomato with basil oregano and bits of garlic.  Can I say it again.  Oh so good.  You need 2 or more servings of this.

Richardo's is a social scene where friends and family get together.  They took serious precautions during this Covid season by having partitions for the outside dining area and separation of dining tables inside. Overall except for the music being loud, it was an enjoyable evening.

#richardo   #richardosteakhouse   #steak   #newyork   #nyc   #eastharlem   #harlem   #good  #lunch  #brunch  #dinner  #bar  #seafood   #steakhouse   #food   #foodblogger   #restaurant  #foodblog   #customerservice   #eastside   #like   #familydinner   #dinnerfortwo   #eat

 

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Yes back again!

 Ruth's Chris Steak House

1000 Harbor Blvd.

Weehawken, NJ 07086

201-863-5100

www.ruthchris.com

Hours:

Sunday                    4 - 9 PM

Monday              4:30 - 9 PM

Tuesday             4:30 - 9 PM

Wednesday       4:30 - 9 PM

Thursday           4:30 - 9 PM

Friday                     4 - 9 PM

Saturday                 4 - 9 PM

Happy hours           4 - 6 PM

Saturday, March 27, 2021 4:30 pm .

Ruth's Chris House Salad - $10.50

Caesar Salad - $11.50 

T-Bone Steak - $64.00

Ribeye 16.oz. - $61.00

Petite Filet & Shrimp - $54.00

Stuffed Chicken Breast - $35.00

Cream Spinach - $11.50

Garlic Mashed Potatoes - $12.00

Yes I returned!  Stop shaking your head.  I had a very good reason.  

After speaking to a couple of people about my visit on Sunday, March 21st, they decided that they wanted to go and one by the name of Faye made reservations for 3, which included me.  My nephew James and his wife were looking to go someplace to celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary and decided to go but at a different time before I knew that I would be going.  Long story short Faye, William, James, Danielle and I ended up at Ruth Chris at the same time but at different tables right behind one another.  Picture that.  James and Danielle drove up from Essex County and Faye and William  drove in from Long Island.  I from Manhattan.

Let's start with Faye & William's dish, the T-bone steak.  Faye's was medium well and William and mines were well done.  After taking the first bite I heard Faye sighing and mumbling then I hear "oh this is so good".  Before taking is first bite, William orders steak sauce.  Then he takes a bite before the sauce arrives and says that "he doesn't need it" while shaking his head almost repeating what Faye just said.  I already knew, but the experience happened again after my first bite.  So so good and all of our steaks was cooked to perfection.  William wanted to know if we could get the recipe!  My steak was amazing.

Danielle's petite fillet & shrimp, well let's just say conversation cease for a pause.  This 4 oz. medallion fillet came with 6 large shrimps.  The shrimps were succulent and full of flavor as was the fillet.  James took his time savoring the flavors of his roasted double stuffed chicken breast with cheese, garlic, and lemon butter.   

Faye's house salad was made with iceberg lettuce, baby arugula and grape tomatoes was delicious as was Danielle's caesar salad with shaved parmesan, romano cheese, romaine hearts and creamy caesar dressing.  Fresh. Crispy.  Filling. 

The cream spinach was so good, that I didn't want to take it all so being the person that I am, I left some for William.  Gosh darn.  The garlic mashed potatoes was missing the zing that I experienced previously but still good.

Our waiter Lonny was so funny and was very good at making us laugh throughout the meal.  I spoke to Michael the Manager again just to let him know that I was back and brought others with me.  Which speaks volumes of how I enjoyed myself previously.  Owen was our server and he was quite efficient.  Spyder who is the Assistant General Manager came over and introduce himself and I must say the professionalism, courtesy and general overall demeanor at Ruth's Chris is huge.  From the entrance until you exit.  

Presentation means a lot.  Good service are reflections of tradition, culture and respect for the customers.  They know their menu inside and out.  

I'll leave you with these words.  Go and enjoy the food.  Go and enjoy the waitstaff.  Go and enjoy the ambience.  Just go.  

                     

#ruthschris   #weehawken   #newjersey   #nj   #steak   #steakhouse   #wow   #reallygood  #flavorful   #mouthwatering   #yummy   #food   #foodblog   #foodie   #greatcustomer service  #friendly   #professional   #bar   #barandlounge   #happyhour   #signaturecocktails #view #hudsonriver   #enhancedsafetyandprecautions  #winedinner  #tastemaker #cakebreadcellarstastemakerwinedinner  #lincolnharbor   #dinein   #takeout   #delivery