LESider

Ahh Baghdad by the Bay...where the fog comes in like a big wooly blanket around 6pm every night. Swan's Yes. Ernies Long Gone. You can get a decent boiled dungeness crab in front of Alioto's. then grab a In/Out burger down the street. Then high tail it out of there...and head up Columbus to North Beach for some good coffee. something difficult to find in the TriState Area. While in North Beach stop by Liguria's Bakery on the corner above St Peter and Paul's chruch. some of the best Foccacia on the West Coast. celebrate baby! cause your in a town where good bread isn't a soft roll. Don't call it Frisco Baby- Herb Cain, RIP

I was in Havana earlier this year and the food isn't great, due to a few reasons, politics being one of them. That said we had a great time and its a fascinating place. Here are some notes I sent to a friend who is going soon: La Guardia- (Centro Habana) – it’s best to make a reservation here as its pretty popular(it was featured in the film, Fresca and Chocolate). They have a real kitchen and turn out some tasty fare. I had Lamb with mint and a side of Potatoes with Mushrooms and onions. My girlfriend had the swordfish really tasty, really meaty. Had a Nice bottle of French Chard to go with the meal. The place on the third floor of a large dilapidated mansion. Entrees ran about 12 dollars each and the wine was 30 dollars. L’Amore (Vedado)- This is a nice romantic spot. Wedgewood china, proper silverware, I had the roast pork with Moro’s and Christianio’s. Food was good, but the atmosphere makes the place. Entrees ran about 10 bucks a piece Copellia- (Vedado)This is an Ice Cream "Parlor" on La Rampa where you get four scoops of great ice cream for a dollar. It's a pretty popular spot with everybody. There's a good reason why. El Bodeguita del Media-(Havana Vieja) . Lots of tourists,and they serve food which looks passable.be sure to write your name on the wall. everybody else has. nice mojito’s , great music Hotel Mundial (Old Habana)–This is where Hemingway wrote "A Farewell to Arms". Definitely get up to the roof deck for a drink. You could easily kill an afternoon up here knocking back some delicious mojito’s. Mario’s House-(near the Belle Arts Museum-. Well all I know is I asked a guy at a store where we could get a bite to eat and we ended up sitting in this guy Mario’s living room (with his grandma) debating over what we wanted to have. I asked what was fresh and he said everything. We ended up ordering Marisco’s (Shrimp) and he sat us in his Dining Room. Only to return a good while later with some Creole style shrimp. Homemade Red Beans and Rice. The food was pretty good. Nothing extraordinary, just some genuine home cooking. He did a whole lot of talking about the current situation there and overcharged us at 40 bucks for the whole meal. But the way I see it he needed the money worse than we did so we were glad to pay for the experience. Oh! Had a couple of beers with the meal. Cuba’s Cristal, which I will go on record as saying it’s the worst beer I’ve ever had. Over-carbonated , not good trait in a beer. the Belle Arts Museum- this is a solid collection of some cuban art! worth walking through

I think Tommy's right when he says a friendly hello or goodbye is important. When you get past the initial hype of restaraunt opening. how do you get them to come back? that's the million dollar question In NYC, Service is often overlooked. People don't want to be fawned over necessarily, but they do want to feel welcome and appreciated. Its tough and sometimes thankless work. While good food is important people will return to a place because they had a memorable experience. So while you may be turning out some amazing food , if the waiter serves it with a scowl that can undo the meal for someone. Also most people aren't as discriminating when it comes to food as we may give them credit for. Tons of people in NYC go to a restaraunt to say they've been there and eat what the critic said was the "must have" item. (I don't believe this contigency of people includes e-gulleters.)

No Chopped Liver?

I read the article in Saveur some time back and found myself near Florence Meat Market one Saturday morning. A great old time butcher shop. I stopped in picked up some homemade Italian Sausages and a Newport Steak. It cost 3.50 and I pan seared the sides and the front and back. then added some butter , salt and pepper. It was the best steak I've made in long while...Can't wait to go back and stock up on some more...

Whoever said Soup , I'm in agreement. I can cook lots of things but with soup I'm inconsistent.

well I was gonna say Genny Cream Ale. noticed someone called it screamers. thats right but I had Crystal beer in Havana Cuba this year and hand's down the worts beer I've ever tasted. It was sweet and way too carbonated. nast , nasty stuff.

Why are the Irish lucky ?

He's going to have his hands full in the in the Pizza capitol of the world. I'm including New Haven in this grouping as its close enough by Metro North. (I've heard people call NYC, the Food Capitol of the world , but I'll only concede Pizza capital) That said. I think he'll succeed by PR alone. but you can get can get crispy "Italian" style pies in the city already. I haven;t been in a few months but Pizza Gruppo (ave B) turns out the closest thing to an italian pie in the city

It was a pleasure meeting you Ed as well. I arrived and the band was on stage so I did my duty and made the rounds, tried some amazing rums. I didn't take notes , can't remember all the names. did try the Matusalem. Cuban born but now bred in the Dominican. good stuff. Had a delcious mojito made with some top notch stuff so by the time the night was over I was feeling no pain. Noche is a nice space with three levels. The "appies" was so-so. I'm sure that their real meals fair better. Overall a lot of fun. Penthouse does something like this every three months or so and there is a different liquor everytime. and different venue. They're good fun. Well worth the fifty bucks when you consider how much an evening of drinking in Manhattan costs these days. also a good cause.... Cheers

Sounds like a great gathering of people over some mediocre food. My mom was recently in town and that was her pick. Disappointing. It was better a year and a half ago. the chopped liver which I looked forward to had too much sh*t in it. The rib eye is the only edible meat there. The tenderloin , well they should be embarrased to be serving dreck at that price. I was bummed because I went on how fun it was and it was kind of lacking when we went. I live pretty close to Sammy's but it might as well be miles away. Cause I'm not going back. its a rip off. The'll probably go out of business and people will lament the loss. I already am...

My buddy is working there and says the food is good. its early though for a verdict. The Daily Candy piece gives the lowdown.

you don't like Luger's? Good. Don't go. one less person to compete with for the best steak in NYC.

Ed, If you you see a harmonica player with the band (we haved played many of the Penthouse gigs) come up and say hey. that'll be me.

Had a Hot Dog from the cart last week. It's located on the South Side.(in the middle) it's 2.50. Chicago style,with all the extra weird shit on it. It's not bad, if you like the condiments.