Wednesday, July 30, 2008

La Palapa: A Palette Pleaser

How's that for alliteration? But seriously, this is the place for birthday gatherings: they can easily accommodate groups of 12 and the service was simply superb when dealing with our indecisiveness.

The menu: enormous, especially for a Mexican joint. From fish tacos (the best, some bloggers even go as far to say they were better than in LA) to enchiladas, everyone could not have raved more about their order. Editor's note: Do NOT fill up on the delectable corn chips and trio of dipping sauces/guacamole (mild, medium and spicy!) as you will burst at the seams before your entree arrives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEF!




Tuesday, July 29, 2008

For those of us who are really lazy, I mean, tech-savvy

Seamless Web could be the best invention since sliced bread (or Acme bread in SF, either one) . You just create an account, search for a restaurant you'd like to order from (virtually every single one in NYC!), look at the menu online and, bam!, your food is mere minutes away from making your belly happy.

And, they're beta-testing the new pick-up system in my 'hood so at least I can burn a few cals before consuming my Lemongrass Pad Thai. Suhweeeet.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The BBQ Debate of '08...

So every New Yorker has their ideal BBQ place: some like Hill Country for it's authentic meat-on-table experiences; Blue Smoke is your high-brow BBQ destination and for me, well, I prefer RUB.

After my friend spotted Mario Batali sitting near the window at 10 am on a weekend, I decided I had to try it.

My party, which merged Lee's posse (Mondel, Danny, Milgram and Lindsay) with mine (Halpal - she loves a good BBQ spread), started with the wings - deliciously meaty and smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce. We were all licking each and every finger clean. Definitely a repeat order.

Next up was the brisket sandwich that Halpal and I shared. While she loved it, I thought the bread got in the way of the brisket and it was a little dry for my taste (and thus, I totally smothered it with the BBQ sauce on the table).

Another obvious choice were the BBQ chili cheese fries - super messy but super worth it. Topped with chili and cheddar cheese with just a hint of brown sugar sweetness, these fries rocked my world to put it lightly. The fact that I chose to gorge on these instead of Lee's turkey plate (with cornbread, mind you!) and my half rack of BBQ ribs really speaks volumes. I know, they look pretty overwhelming here, but I SWEAR:

So, if you're in the market for a 10,000-calorie meal, definitely stop into RUB. The service is good, the beer is better and the fries and wings are the best. You won't be disappointed.