Tag Archives: dining out

8282 Brings Elevated Korean Fare to NYC’s Lower East Side

interior with signage photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

There is much to be said in favor of being ‘unassuming,’ and when speaking of a new favorite dining spot, all the better. Picture a restaurant whose non-descript exterior hints at a place where they serve a mean poke bowl or avocado toast. Once you’re inside and seated, however, you’re swept away by a menu rich with wildly inventive, farm-to-table creations that would be right at home in a Michelin-starred establishment. This was my inaugural experience at 8282, a recently-opened LES eatery serving distinctive modern Korean fare in a casual, comfortable setting. If a restaurant was ever a hidden gem, this is it.

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El Cartel Brings Colombian Home-Cooking to Hell’s Kitchen!

close up on sangria photo by gail worley
Frozen Red Sangria is What You Need (All Photos By Gail)

There’s no doubt about it: it’s a scorcher out there. On a hot summer night in NYC, you want three things: cold drinks, delicious food, and air-conditioning — and if you can add a little atmosphere, all the better. If you find yourself in Hell’s Kitchen, looking for a break from the heat, a refreshing cocktail and some hearty eats, I recommend a new restaurant that tics all the boxes: El Cartel. Open for just over a month, El Cartel specializes in Colombian cuisine, serving a variety of regional favorites including fresh Shrimp Ceviche, Cazuela de Mariscos, Red Snapper, Chuleta de Cerdo, homemade Empanadas and a sampler platter known as Bandeja El Cartel (more about that coming up). Continue reading El Cartel Brings Colombian Home-Cooking to Hell’s Kitchen!

Honest Vegetarian Indian Restaurant is Love at First Bite!

honest indian store front photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

In NYC right now, it’s exciting to see  favorite neighborhoods making a post-pandemic comeback. New stores and restaurants are opening everywhere, revitalizing the local economy, and getting us all pumped-up for a fun summer in the city. Being a downtown girl, I love seeing what’s new in places like Bleecker Street, in the heart of Greenwich Village, where there’s always something  interesting to discover — especially when it comes to good eats. If you love Indian food as much as I do, please allow me to put Honest, a recently-opened fast casual Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, on your radar.

Honest has a fascinating history: a journey that’s taken this family business from its genesis as a street cart in India to an international chain with over 31 locations in the US, all serving delicious, healthy Indian specialties. Now, Honest has arrived on Bleecker Street, and that’s definitely worth getting excited about.
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Vineapple Cafe: A Surprise Foodie Destination in Brooklyn!

vineapple signage photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

I don’t know about you, but lately I feel like it’s ‘safe’ to be a bit more adventurous when it comes to dining out. Specifically, I’m willing to leave my neighborhood for expanded culinary horizons. That includes making a trip to the lovely neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights for an indulgent, farm-to-table experience at Vineapple Cafe — a wildly impressive foodie find that just hit my radar.
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Get the Authentic Tonkotsu Ramen Experience at ICHIRAN

ichiran exterior signage photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

There is much to be said for the value of authenticity, especially when it comes to food. A few years back, Japanese Ramen joints were popping up in every corner of the city on the crest of a culinary trend. Unsurprisingly, few who sought to ride that wave remain. For ramen enthusiasts, however, there’s a new contender in town, ICHIRAN, whose commitment to serving authentic ramen goes far beyond a bowl of noodles in broth.

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