Two great places to get a sandwitch

This week was all about sandwiches. I found two amazing sandwich places: Tal Bagels and

University Deli.

Tal Bagels (5) Located on 58th and 1st, this deli has a delicious assortment of bagels, sandwiches, salads and desserts. I ordered turkey and cheese on a roll. They use boars head, which is always a plus for me. The meat and cheese is always sliced fresh from the machine. I hate when lunch meat is pre-slicked, it really doesn't have the same type of flavor. I cannot really pinpoint what exactly makes a sandwich from Tals so delicious, everything is perfect: the meat, lettuce and tomatoes are fresh and the rolls are incredible. I recommend this place for a good sandwich, but be prepared to pay at least 6 dollars. Tals gets a 5.

University Deli (5)

Located on 16th and 5th, University has excellent sandwitches and wraps. I ordered the Russian Wrap which is a green vegetable wrap consistent of avocados, muenster cheese, tomatoes and Russian dressing. It doesn't sound like much, but the wrap was amazing. I have never had a combination of avocados with muenster cheese and Russian dressing, but they all complement each other very well. I highly recommend this wrap, but like Tals, expect to pay at least 6 dollars. I give University a 5.

Desserts

This week, I wanted to find a good dessert. I went to Magnolia Bakery and Mrs. Fields.

Magnolia (5) Located on Bleeker and 11th, Magnolia Bakery is the place to go to if you want a good cupcake. The cupcakes are absolutely incredible and they are decently sized (eating one will fill you up). However, if you go on a weekend at night, like I did, be prepared to wait in line! I waited 45 minutes, but it was so worth it. Theres nothing else like it, if you have not already tried a Magnolia cupcake, I recommend that you do. This place gets a well deserved 5.

Mrs. Fields (1) I was extremely disappointed with Mrs. Fields. I went to the one located on 34th and 6th. I have always been happy with the cookies at Mrs. Fields, so I thought I would try something different. I tried a peanut butter bar, and it was terrible. The bar had a cookie bottom which had no flavor. The peanut butter was stale, and had a chalky consistency. The chocolate on top was the only eatable thing about the bar. Honestly, I've had better desserts at Burger King. When going to Mrs. Fields, I recommend to stick with getting a cookie. I give a 1.

Smoothies

This week, I wanted to find a good smoothie. I went to Jamba Juice and GNC.







Jamba Juice (5)
I went to the location on 64th and 3rd. I have been to Jamba Juice numerous times before, and have never walked out disappointed. This week I decided to order the Acai Super-Antioxidant. It consists of acai juice, strawberries, blueberries, soy milk, raspberry sherbet, and an antioxidant power boost. It is extremely refreshing. I dont like sweet smoothies, so this one was perfect. The flavors that come through the most are the raspberries and blueberries. After drinking it, I felt refreshed and energized. I like how the ingredients and calories of the smoothies are listed in the menu very clearly. Plus, the service is always fast and friendly. I give Jamba Juice a 5.







GNC (3)
The GNC on 32nd and 6th has a smoothie bar, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the peaches and scream. I like that when you order a smoothie, you are given a card and every time you order 5 smoothies, you get a free one. Like Jamba Juice, the ingredients and calories were clearly listed on the menu. The peaches and scream consists of peaches, pineapples and yogurt. It was very sweet, so I could only drink a quarter of it. It was really good, and I recommend it if you like sweet smoothies. It was just a little too sweet for me. I give GNC a 3.

Two great Italian restaurants on 2nd Ave

I went to Angelo's Pizza and Zucchero e Pomodori, both amazing and both located on 2nd Ave, relatively close to school.







Angelo's Pizza (5) Located on the corner of 54th, and 2nd, the place is called Angelo's Pizza, but offers a wide variety of dishes, not limited to just pizza. They offer appetizers, soups, salads, and pasta dishes as well as pizza. I ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer and the penne alla vodka for an entree. The waiter was very nice and immediately gave us bread, which was still warm from being in the oven. The calamari appetizer was excellent, (9.95). Not greasy or over done. It is the perfect appetizer to share with a group of people. My entree was amazing. (13.95). The sauce was perfect and the pasta was aldente. The portion size was huge, so I ended up taking half of it home, which was great! This place gets a 5. Undeniably one of the best penne alla vodka dishes I have ever had.







Zucchero e Pomodori (5) Located on 74th and 2nd,
This place offers in door as well as outdoor seating. I went on a Saturday night at 8pm, and did not even have to wait for a table. The indoor tables are a little cramped and there is not much privacy to a table, but the food compensated for the seating arrangements. The complementary bread was very good, it was one small loaf of white bread, and about 4 pieces of foccaia bread. I ordered the Linguine Alla Vongole (15.00). You can choose between red or white clam sauce, I chose white, which was amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the clams were fresh and had a lot of flavor. I ordered a conoli for desert which was incredible. You are also given complimentary biscotti after your meal. It was cinnamon flavored and very good. I recommend this place, most definitely. I give it 5.

The Chicken Cesar Wrap

This week was all about the chicken cesar wrap. I went to America's Burgers & Wraps, and Wrap N Run.


Wrap N Run (2) Located on 62nd and Lexington, the place was not very crowded when I went in on a Monday at 4pm. The service was decent, it only took about 5 minutes to wait for my wrap. However, while I was waiting I noticed there were a lot of flies behind the counter which threw my perception of the place off entirely. I didn't want to leave since I already ordered my food, so I decided to stay. I ordered a Cesar wrap and only paid 4.75, which is pretty good for a wrap in the city. The seating area was pretty spacious, there were about 12-15 tables available. But when I sat down to eat, the chicken tasted like it had been reheated after sitting out a while, and it was difficult to eat since it had a kind of rubbery texture. The dressing, lettuce and tortilla were all excellent though, which is why the place gets a 2. The flies and leftover chicken did not sit very well with me. Honestly, I do not recommend this place at all.




America's Burgers & Wraps (4) Located on 68th and 3rd, this place is conviently close to school and great to eat at if you have an hour or so to kill between classes. It was pretty crowded when I went on a Thursday at 1:00. The line moves quickly though, and the cooks are very fast. There is not much room to eat inside, but there is an outdoor seating area that is huge, and very nice. The outdoor area is also connected to Brick Oven Pizza. My chicken cesar wrap was decent. Including a water I paid 8 dollars. The chicken was good, but it lacked a little in flavor. The dressing was great and the totilla was great as well. There were also crutons on the wrap that added to the wrap's flavor. Overall, I give the place a 4.

Vegetarian Places

Since last was all about burgers, I decided to change it up a little and do vegetarian places. I went to Maoz and Zen Palate, both located in Union Square.



Zen Palate (4): The decor if this restaurant is cool. It has a spiritual essence about it with neutral earth tones and plants. In order to get to the bathroom, you have to walk across a bridge that overlooks the restaurant, which was interesting. The food was a little expensive for my taste. Any entree is at at least 15 dollars. There are interesting drinks to choose from like carrot juice and wheat grass shots, but no alcohol. I ordered the "Wheel of Dharma" which was very good. It was fried shitaki mushrooms with mashed sweet potatoes under a sweet and sour onion sauce. I know it doesn't sound too appealing, but it was actually very good. The mushrooms had a lot of flavor, and were complemented well by the sweet potatoes. The sauce was good, it has chopped pieces of onions and herbs and went well with the mushrooms because without it, the mushrooms were very dry. I wouldn't say it was worth 15 dollars, and dont recommend this place if you are trying to save money. Overall, I give it a 4.




Maoz (4)
Maoz is a tiny place known mainly for its falafels. The service is very fast, and the falafels are very good. They are reasonably priced as well. Including a water, I only paid 7 dollars. I ordered a Maoz with hummus, which is basically a falafel with hummus. There is a self service bar in which you can choose from different vegetables to put on the falafel. I chose a number of different vegetables like cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, and all of them were fresh and very good. The falafel comes in a small box that you can conveniently carry and eat out of without making a mess. The one thing I hate about falafels is how messy they tend to be, but these weren't so bad. There is no space to eat, only a small table in the back with seating for 3 people. But you can always eat in union square park which is right across the street. This place was delicious, fast and not expensive, so I give it a 5.

2 great places to go for a burger

This week I went to PJ Clarke's and Corner Bistro












PJ Clarkes (5) Located on 55th and 3rd, the atmosphere was cozy and old-fashioned. The service was fast and freindly. We only waited about 10 minutes for a table. I ordered a cheeseburger, cooked medium rare, and it was cooked great, not too rare, not too over cooked. The portion size was pretty big and the fries were very good. I paid 8.50 for the burger which included the fries. It was crowded, but overall, it is a great restaraunt, the food is amazing. I give it a 5.


Corner Bistro (5) Located on west 4th and 8th, the atmosphere was decent, not as good as PJ Clarkes, but tolerable. I waited in line for a table for about 20 minuties, but the line was right next to the bar, so it was easy to order drinks while waiting. The eating room is very small, only about 8 tables, but the tables were secluded by walls, which was pretty cool. The service was very fast once we sat down. I ordered a cheesebuger which was only 6 dollars. This cheeseburger was by far the best cheesebuger I have ever had in my entire life, I still cant beleive I only paid 6 dollars for it. I would even go so far as to say that it was better than PJ Clarkes. It was juicy and cooked perfectly. The fries were not as good PJ Clarkes, they tasted a little worse than McDonalds. I also orederd a long island ice tea that was only 6 dollars, and a beer that was only 2.50! I recommend you go to this place if you are looking for a good burger and some cheap drinks, just be prepared to wait if you go on the weekend. This place gets a well deserved 5.

Thai Food

This week's theme was Thai food. I went to Pooket and Spice, both were excellent.




















Pooket (5): Located at 50th and 2nd, the atmosphere was very cute. There was classical music playing, and alot of decorations and paintings on the walls. Its a nice place to go with family. The service was quick, and my server was very nice. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken. The portion size was huge and it came with a side of white rice, also huge. The sweet and sour chicken consists of chicken (obviously), green and red peppers, mushrooms, chopped pineappples, chopped tomatoes, onions, and another vegetable that I couldnt quite make out, I think it was string beans. The sweet and sour sauce was very good. It was perfect: not too sweet and not too overpowering. There was alot of sauce though, so you needed the white rice to balance it out. The chicken was cooked perfectly. The vegetables were great: very fresh. Everything had a lot of flavor. The food was incredible, and it only cost 12 dollars! I give this place a 5, and I highly recommend going!



Spice (5) I went to the location on 76th and 2nd. The atmosphere was cool, it was trendy (for lack of a better word). The lights were dim and there was techno music playing. It was a little crowded. The tables were very close together. The service was fast, and freindly. I ordered the siamese fried rice and an appetizer of golden fritters. (FYI: if you go there before 3pm, the appetizers are free) The golden fritters are basically chicken and shrimp wrapped in a fried dumpling with a sweet and sour sauce. They are absolutely incredible. I highly recommend getting this appetizer. The siamese fried rice consisted of rice, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and your choice of chicken or shrimp. I have had both, and they are equally amazing. I ordered the shrimp this time and it was very good. Perfectly cooked as always, and the whole dish had a lot of flavor. Its a great place to go with friends and its very close to school. I orderd the golden fritters, siamese fried rice and an iced tea and only paid 20 dollars, including tip. Spice gets a well deserved 5.

Burritos

This week I wanted to find a good Burrito so I went to Burritoville and Chipotle








Burritoville (5) I went to the location on 76th and 3rd. The service was very fast, and the burrito I got was amazing. I ordered the Border Burrito which is a vegetarian burrito that comes with beans (you can get black or pinto, I chose pinto) sour cream, chedder cheese, and pico de gayo. (I ordered it without pico de gayo). The tortilla was fresh, the beans had alot of flavor and were complemented very well by the sour cream and cheese. You get free chips and salsa with your order too! The chips were fresh and the salsa was amazing! I highly recomend the Border Burrito. I paid 9 dollars (including a drink) and I thought it was worth it. This place gets a well deserved 5.



Chipotle (1). I went to the one located on 27th and 7th. I hate to speak so negatively of Chipotle since I have heard so many good things about it, but I really hated the Burrito I got. I was hoping it would be good because I have heard the food there was amazing, but I really did not like it at all. I ordered a burrito with pinto beans, sour cream, chedder cheese, guacamole and rice. First of all, the food was so salty that it made me feel sick to my stomach. The pinto beans had bacon in them which was gross, and was not complemented well by the lime flavored rice. Bacon and lime just don't go well together for me. The cheese was really salty. The only thing that was good was the guacamole and sour cream, but you cant really make a meal out of that, so I threw most of it away. I had to pay 1.50 for chips that were also way too salty. All together I paid 8.50 and left very dissapointed. But I have heard from alot of people that this place was really good, so maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, or went to a bad location. I give this place a 1 becasue the service was fast.

Pizza

This week's theme was Pizza. I went to Piola, Brick Oven, and Giorgios.
















Piola (4): Located at 12th and Broadway, at 4:00, the place was not crowded at all. The atmosphere was very cool. There were lots of colorful and intresting looking lamps and huge abstract art paintings on the walls. There was a big screen tv that played the travel channel and the music was very subtle, not too loud. There was about 20 different types of pizza to choose from. You could choose pizzas with various combinations ofvegetables and cheeses, not just standard mozzerella but cheeses like brie and gouda. The pizza came in a decent sized persnol pie size with four slices. The peices were huge and I was full after eating two. The pizza was amazing. It had a different kind of flavor than most NY pizza places. It was thin crust that was slightly crispy with the perfect amount of sauce and alot of cheese. Even with all the cheese it wasnt greasy. (I hate when pizza is greasy). I orded a mushroom pie and the mushrooms were delicious as well. I tried a peice of a friend's pie that had four different cheeses: brie, mozzerella, gorgonzolla and parmesian. It was very good, I recomend getting that one. I also tried a peice of a friend's pie that had black olives. The olives were not cut up, they were the size of grapes which was a little over powering. I prefer olives on pizza to be chopped. I ordered a lemonade which tasted sour, I do not recomend it. The service was pretty bad. The waiter confused the order and gave us the wrong pizzas at first and tried to argue with us when we explained that we did not order what he gave us. We did recieve a 20 percent discount in the end, so overall I give the place a 4 for amazing food, great atmosphere but bad lemonade.

Giorgios (3): Located on 70th and 2nd, it was conviently close to school. The place was small, but not very crowded. The atmosphere was decent for a small pizza place. The service was a little slow. I ordered a pepperoni slice that came out so greasy that I had to dab it off with a napkin. The pizza was thin crust which was good, but there was nothing really special about it. The sauce was a little too sweet. There was oddly no parmesian cheese out, so I had to ask for it which was a little strange. I give it a 3 becasue the pizza was too greasy and flavor was okay, not great.

Brick Oven (2): Located on 68th and 3rd, this place is always crowded. The service was pretty quick for how crowded it was. I orded a vegetable slice. The flavor was dull, it tasted like the pie was sitting out for a while and even though it was re-heated, it didnt taste right. It was very bland, and the sauce had little flavor. I recomend this place if you want a quick slice of pizza, but dont expect it to be very satisfying. I give the place a 2 for lack of flavor, but decent service.

This week I went to 3 different ice cream places. I wanted places that were considerably different from each other so I chose Coldstone, Tasty D.Lite and Pink Berry.


Coldstone (5)
Being located at 42nd street in Times Square, this place was pretty crowded even at 12:30 at night. The great thing about this place is that it stays open untill 1am. The place had a lot of people in it but the service was surprizingly quick. I had the Peanutbutter Cup Pefection which is chocolate ice cream with peanutbutter, fudge and peices of peanutbutter cups. It was, I would say, the best thing I have had at coldstone. This place was great, open late, quick service, and the ice cream was amazing. I give this place a 5.

Tasty D.Lite (3)
This one was located at 36th and 3rd and a few people were there. The service was slow, and considering the amount of people that were there, I thought it would have been quicker. It took about 20 minutes to get a frozen yogurt when there were only 3 people ahead of me in line. I ordered a chocolate frozen yogurt with sprinkles. The yogurt was good but the sprinkles tasted a little weird, like they disintegrated the moment you ate them, almost grainy and sort of stale. The frozen yogurt was really good though. Their frozen yogurt is better than most places I think. So I give this place a 3 for poor service and stale sprinkles.

Pink Berry(1)
This was a bad experience from the moment I walked in the door. Located on 86 and 2nd, at 5:00 the place was understandably crowded. The place was small so the line was out the door, and the door was real narrow which made it difficult for people to walk in and out of the place. Everytime someone exited, the people in the doorway had to move, distrupting the line. It was hot inside and uncomfortable becasue it was so small. The menu was confusing, I had never been there before so I just chose the "Original". I expected it to be expensive and hoped it would be worth the 6 dollars I paid, but it wasn't. The toppings were cool, you could chose fruits like bannanas and berries and mangos and cereals like captian crunch and coco puffs. But the frozen yogurt didn't tatse good to me. It was a mix between frozen yogurt and sorbet, and the flavour was almost too sweet. They were stingy with the toppings, and without them, the frozen yogurt was not eatable. I threw half of it away and ended up dissappointed. The toppings were the only good thing about it, I give it a 1.