Floridita Restaurant - Cuban & Dominican cuisine

 Floridita Restaurant

4162 Broadway (bet. 175-176th st.)

New York, NY  10033

212-928-0653 / 8728

www.floriditanyc.com

Hours:  24 hours

Pollo Floridita Chicken, Arroz Blanco, Rojos Bean -  $17.00

Steak with onions - (bistec encebollado) - $17.75

This is what it looks like when it all comes together!

After debating what to eat on this saturday evening, my daughter Brandy and I decided on  Floridita's in Washington Heights.  There use to be one in Harlem on 12th avenue but it hasn't reopened so off we went, uptown.  Because we have had these dishes before at the Harlem location, we called it in then went to pick it up.

The Floridita chicken is a flat breast that is grilled and wonderfully seasoned.  With it I had the white rice (they ran out of yellow rice), black beans, yum and plantains.  I ask for the white onions because the dish comes with sauted red onions.  The chicken was juicy, tender and topped off with onions, which spells g.o.o.d.  The black beans and rice was so good I could eat it hot, warm or cold.  And then the side order of plantains ($2.00), sweet and cooked perfectly.  I love onions so I order a side for $1.00.  

The steak was a little tough and not as seasoned which surprised me.  I have had this steak before and it was tender and very well seasoned.  

Overall I enjoyed the majority of my meal and will be back.  The customer service has always been efficient, organized (has to be with the takeout, very very busy) and friendly.

#floridita   #cubanfood   #dominicanfood  #washingtonheights  #breakfast  #lunch  #dinner #good   #greatcustomerservice   #fasttakeout   #latinfood   #spanishfood   #carribbeanfood  #24hours  #blogger   #floriditarestaurant  #latincusine  #nyc  #inexpensive  #instagram

1 plate = good

2 plates = very good

3 plates = excellent

4 plates = extraordinary

no plates = poor

 

Flavas International Grill - Jamaican & soul food in the house

 Flavas International Grill

854 Gerard Avenue (between 160-161st St)

Bronx, NY 10451

718-292-2900

Hours:

Sunday - Saturday - 11 am - 9 pm

Jerk Chicken Combo Plate - $11.95

Oxtail Combo Plate  $16.95

Sweet candied yam - 8 oz. - $3.25

Where should I start during this pandemic time.  Just be ready to wait on line either inside or outside, it's worth the wait.  

I had the jerk chicken with peas and rice, cabbage and sweet candied yam.  I forgot to ask for the plaintains, darn.

I ordered all white meat and while watching the waitstaff fill my order she started putting mostly dark meat which this is not the first time this has happened.  I thought that I corrected it and I actually saw her change to white meat, but when I got home I found underneath, dark meat.  Alright so it comes with the wet Jamaican sauce that coats the chicken and not the dry rub which I like either way.  You will taste the seasonings, allspice, nutmeg, scotch bonnet pepper, garlic, thyme and who knows what else was added.  The chicken was okay.  The peas (red kidney beans) and rice was cooked just right, coconut milk, thyme, yes scotch bonnet pepper, garlic and scallions.  I ask for half rice and half cabbage because you usually get a lot more rice and a few spoonful of cabbage.  Naw.  I like their cabbage, steamed with carrots, the sweetness of a little sugar, not much, onion, and yes that good old scotch bonnet pepper.  Crunchy like I like it, if I can just figure out what other seasonings are in there so I can try it at home.  You already know about the yams.  Good and sweet.  I should have gotten a larger size of the yams.    

My daughter Brandy had the oxtail with the same sides.  Some places give you just a little bit of oxtail, or the ones that have hardly any meat, not Flavas, they give you your moneys worth.   I tried a piece of oxtail and it was just like she said, it was just okay, a bit tough definitely not chewy or falling off the bone.  It did have some flavor while simmering in dark brown gravy but she didn't eat too much.   

It's two blocks from Yankee Stadium and I may stop by again and see if this order was a one time flute.  

#flavasinternationalgrill   #jamaicanfood   #soulfood   #jerk   #food   #bronx   #yankeestadium

#soulfood  #lunch   #dinner   #foodforthought   #enjoy   #foodblog   #instagood  #daily

1 plate = good

2 plates = very good

3 plates = excellent

4 plates = extraordinary

n0 plates = poor

 

  

 

El Porton Mexican Restaurant & Bar - Take out!

El Porton Mexican Restaurant & Bar

3151 Broadway 

New York, NY  10027

212-663-7338 / 212-666-3223

www.elportonbar.com

Hours:

Monday - Thursday      11:00 am - 2:00 am

Friday                           11:00 am - 2:30 am

Saturday                      11:00 am - 3:00 am

Sunday                         11:00 am - 2:00 am 

Chicken Fajitas -$16.95

Chicken Quesadillas - $10.95

The chicken fajitas were lightly seasoned chicken breast that's sauteed with onions, red and green peppers, mexican rice and beans.  It comes with sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole (yum) and 3 flour tortillas.  If you add the green spicy sauce, just a little, well it just enhances the flavor.  Once you add everything in the tortillas, try biting it without something falling out.  I dare you.  Now.  Try eating all 3.  I did well with just eating 2 but I was like the little engine that could, yes I can.   so

The chicken quesadillas is a soft tortilla that comes with a little bit of mix greens, guacamole and sour cream.  Do I want to try it with or without the guacamole.   did both, and either way I enjoyed them.

So stop on by for a friendly service from Bella who is very good at making you feel at home.

#elporton  #newyork  #mexican #mexicanfood  #goodfood  #foodblog  #goodservice  #foodie  

  

Chu Ros - Thai Cuisine

 Chu Rose

1590 Lexington Avenue (bet. 101st & 102nd street)

New York, NY  10029

917-265-8432

www.churosthainyc.com

Hours:

Monday - Friday      11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Pineapple Fried Rice with chicken & spring roll -$9.95

My daughter Brandy called to see what I wanted for takeout lunch today and I decided on pineapple fried rice with chicken and a spring roll is included.  You can taste the nice fresh sweet chunks of pineapple, tomato, egg, onions, scallions with Thai seasoning.  So good.  The vegetable spring roll with the dipping sauce adds a nice extra touch.  I forgot to ask for a second spring roll.  It's crispy, with freshly julienned carrots, a hint of ginger, cilantro and other ingredients I have been trying to identify.  

The restaurant is small with and the service is wonderful.  You are met with a smile and a happy greeting.  

                                                 

                                             

                                     

#churos   #food     #nyc     #thaifood    #goodthaifood    #inexpensive  #desserts   #springroll  #authenticthai    #threeflavorsalmo   #thaifriedrice   #padthai   #goodcustomerservice

 

14 Parish Kitchen - Hackensack, NJ

14 Parish Kitchen - The Jerk Spot

98 Anderson Street

Hackensack NJ 07601

201-880-1814

www.14parishkitchen.com

Hours:

Monday           8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Tuesday           8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Wednesday     8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Thursday         8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Friday              8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Saturday         8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday            Closed

Breakfast specials - Monday - Saturday    8 am - 11 pm

Lunch specials - Monday - Saturday 11 am - 4 pm

Jerk Chicken wings with  cabbage, rice & peas (medium) - $9.50

October 20, 2020.  Take out.  Dinner.  Home.  Wash hands.  Food is still hot.  Divide food.  Too much.  Save some for later.  Sit down.  Pick up fork.  Eat.  Stop.  Takes me back to when I vacationed in Jamaica both times.  Stop.  Jerk chicken wings.  Well seasoned.  Not too hot.  Tasty.  Ordered half rice and peas instead of a lot of rice and peas.  Other half, cabbage.  Rice and peas, firm.  Pigeon peas that is.  Thyme.  Allspice.  Coconut milk.  Cabbage, not soggy.  Carrots.  Onions.  Garlic.  Allspice.  Pepper.  Bit of a crunch.  Jerk Chicken.  Marinated in a jerk spices.  Scotch bonnet peppers.  Etc.  All good.   Return trip in the near future.

#14parishkitchen #hackensack   #newjersey   #caribbeanfood    #greatchickenmeatpatties  #food   #newjersey  #greatservice   #popular    #greatprice    #seafood   #vegetarianplatter    #goodtoeat #chickenmeatpatty  #oxtails    #jerkchicken   #callaloo   #fryfish   #lunch   #dinner

Pappardella

Pappardella

316 Columbus Avenue (75th street)

New York, NY 10023

212-595-7996

www.pappardella.com

Hours:

Lunch - Monday - Sunday - 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Brunch - Saturday & Sunday - 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Dinner - Monday - Thursday - 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm

                   Friday & Saturday  - 3:00 pm - 11:30 pm

                   Sunday - 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Pappardella's Giant Meat Ball - $14.00

Pappardella Buttera - $24.00

My daughter Brandy & I went to this restaurant because she kept seeing it on Open Table.  So on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 5:26 pm we decided to go and arrived and was seated in the front outside due to COVID 19. 

Aline, our waitress was the absolute best as well as she had a vast suitcase full of humor.  Chris the manager was Mr. Personality and efficient.  

The giant meat ball was stuffed with fontina cheese, while coated with a marina sauce and crostini.  Smooth.  The meat ball oh my was soooo good, full, absolutely full of flavor.  The fontina cheese was fresh and the marinara sauce, peppered with garlic, onions, different herbs like maybe basil, oregano, possibly a dash of wine, simmered and poured over our meatball that we shared from the small plate menu was enough for 2 and we didn't have a fork fight over who would have the last piece.     

The Pappardella Buttera had sweet and spicy sausage, sage & vodka sauce and sweet green peas. The sausage was ground up and mixed into the vodka sauce which made for a tangy and tasteful dish.

                                                                          

                             

  Yes we returned the very next day on Sunday, September 6, 2020 - 6:00 pm.

Pappardella Giant Meatball - $14.00 + Linquine - $9.00

The service was mediocre, not the same as the day before no way.  We had to ask for bread after being seated for over 10 minutes.  When we asked the waiter for bread and silverware he acted as if we were bothering him.  Another waiter Saul overheard us and came to our rescue and brought us bread and silverware.  Saul was very professional and attentive in trying to help our first waiter.  The first waiter never stopped by our table and ask how was the food and by the way, the meat ball was not the same.  I took a couple of bites and left it.  The texture was tough and flavor was missing.  The sauce was a bit runny and needed additional seasoning.  I asked for a side of linguine, coated with olive oil and it was a bit dry.  After a few bites, I left that alone as well.

We returned the next day because the meat ball made such an impression on us, we were going to each get our own, no sharing!  To say that we were let down and disappointed after we had such a good time with great service and good food the day before, I am not going to make anymore comments.  I need a break.     

#pappardella   #nyc   #food   #italianfood   #dinner   #family    #spaghetti    #caesarsalad  #pappardellabuttera    #pizza    #glutenfree   #cheeseboard   #chessygiantmeatball #cobbsalad

Old Spaghetti Factory - Vancouver, Canada

Old Spaghetti Factory - New Westminster
#50 - 8th Street
New Westminster V3M 3NB
604-524-9788

http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/locations/new-westminster

Hours:

Monday - Thursday   11:30 AM - 9 PM
Friday - Saturday       11:30 AM - 10 PM
Sunday                         11:30 AM - 10 PM

Crisp Green Salad - comes with your order

Penne with chicken - $16.75

Sunday.  August 18, 2019.  Evening.  Walking with my two grandchildren Demetric and Cherokee.  Noticed a sign.  Old Spaghetti Factory.  Been to several in the U.S. San Diego California.  Rancho Cucamonga, California.  

Already knew what I was going to order, penne with chicken.  The chicken was sauteed and cut into pieces, gathered together with peppers, mushrooms and penned noodles that is tossed in a white wine basil cream sauce.  Light.  Tasty.  Good atmosphere.  Great customer service.  Fun.  Not hurried.  Crowded.  Lively.  Noodles al dente. Firm to the bite.  Chicken breast, sauteed, flavorable.  Mushrooms, tender.  Time to leave. Moon brightly shinning.  Walk slowly back to hotel.  Walk by the water.  Relax.  Conversate.  Enter hotel.  Get ready for another adventurous day.  

      

#oldspaghettifactory  #vancouver   #canada   #italianfood   #gastwon   #britishcolumbia  #dinner  #brunch  #traveler   #goodservice  #sicilianmeatballs  #spumoni   #italiancremesoda

Los Tacos #1 - Tribeca

Los Tacos #1 - Tribeca
136 Church Street
New York, NY 10007

https://www.lostacos1.com/locations/

Hours:

Sunday - 11am - 9 pm
Monday - Saturday - 11am - 10pm

Tacos - Pollo asado (chicken) - $3.95

This was my second visit to a Los Tacos.  First one was with Altagarcia in the Times Square Area (229 W. 43rd Street - bet. 7th and 8th Avenue).  So when then opened one downtown and I had a taste for a tacos, where do you think I went?  Los Tacos #1 in Tribeca.  

It was busy but the way you order is that you give your order, they hand you a ticket and you wait in line.  Then the cook asks for your ticket, you then get to watch them prepare your order.  There you go.  

If you want other toppings, they have them on the side.  The chicken was moist, liked the toppings and the tortilla.  

You want a quick bite, good food fresh and cheap this is where you go.

#lostacos1   #nyc  #timessquare  #hellskitchen    #mexicanfood    #food  #tasty   #goodfood  #inexpensive  #bitesize   #tacosandtostadoas  # #quesadillas #chipsandsalsa  #carneasada