Kumo Sushi

Someone once said, "variety is the spice of life" and to be totally honest, I don't know who said it. I also do not really know what that really means, since taken out of context it can mean just about anything. Ok, I'll stop playing dumb and make this a bit educational. The actual quote is, "Variety's the spice of life, that gives it all its flavour." This quote comes to us from English poet William Cowper and it's a perfect fit for Kumo Sushi.

I know a lot of people cringe when they hear of buffets or the term "all you can eat" but I offer the following thoughts: 1 - not all buffets are created equally (read: while some buffets may in fact be sketchy, there are others that are bigger and better and certainly worth your attention. 2 - you do not need to go to Vegas to enjoy a good buffet. 3 - Just because the buffet is in Vegas, doesn't make it all that special. Trust me, I've had my fair share and they can be brutal.

Kumo Roll (L), Spicy Salmon Roll (R)

Anyway, that's enough digressing. Let's focus on the subject at hand, Kumo Sushi (72nd St between Columbus and Amsterdam). More importantly, let's focus on the fact that they offer an all you can eat sushi option for about $27 which naturally intrigued me from afar. After drawing me in and perusing their extensive menu, I was impressed by the value they were offering since there are a number of specialty rolls that can be had as part of this special (some specialty rolls have a menu price of $8-15 and it's important to point out that these rolls are delivered fast, fresh, and at full size - since some places will scale back the size of dishes in these prix fixe type situations.)

Diamond Roll with a side of eel

The photo at left is of the Kumo Roll, having carte blanche to eat just about any roll on the menu, I figured I had to try their namesake and it was an excellent choice. The shrimp tempura was light and delicious and the eel/avocado pairing at top was full of flavor. I also kicked things off with the spicy salmon roll and wish I had another sitting beside me as I type up this review. I also wish I had one of these diamond rolls, partly because it just looks nice and reminds me of the winter and partly because it just tasted so good and I'm quite hungry right now.

I'm not sure how things were way back when and I'm not a big fan of delivery (especially pizza and sushi is a close 2nd!) but I can tell you that if you venture to the UWS for some really good sushi, Kumo will hit the spot. If you are foodventurous and want to try a bunch of different rolls, go for the AYCE option. If your appetite is not that hearty, there are a couple of lunch special options that may fit the bill and fill your belly.

Rating - 4.5/5 - I do enjoy a good buffet and this, while not typically a buffet, is a good AYCE. I found it to be fresh food and a really good value for my food dollar. I also would like to point out that I almost took a full day vacation from eating after visiting Kumo!

Their site - I can't seem to find one so I'll give you this information instead. 165 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023 (212) 580-5900. That's a short walk from the 1, 2, 3 line which stops right at the corner of 72nd. Now you have no excuses not to go and enjoy yourselves!

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Beard Papa

Beard Papa Himself

Frequent readers have been inundated with a run on burgers and pizza, two of my favorites. However those that know me can attest that I have quite the sweet tooth (and not one cavity to speak of - and I'm knocking on my wooden tooth to not jinx things).

Lets rewind a bit, we'll call this (non acid induced) flashback: Giant White Man in Tokyo. In this episode, the giant white man is played by me and Tokyo is played by itself, after all whom can play a city? To say I had much of a clue as to where I was while in Tokyo is an understatement, however thanks to a good friend we were able to navigate our way around the city and take in the sights. One pleasant surprise was the bearded man himself! Fear not my friends, while I know my recent reviews have taken me on the road I'm only adding the presence of Beard Papa in Tokyo as an anecdote. HOWEVER! If you are a true die hard and find yourself in Tokyo, give Papa a taste of the best cream puffs your Yen can buy.

Where we were? Ah yes, puffs. On the east coast we have only two locations to choose from and since one is over in Fort Lee, NJ we'll leave that out of the mix and set our sights on 2167 Broadway, the home of Mr. Papa. When I say that this is the best cream puff ever, I mean it. It's the best cream puff ever. Don't believe me? What's it say on their site? Ahem, "World's Best Cream Puff." That's good enough for me. Oh sure lil' Miss Skeptic, don't believe me or them. Go there and give it a try for yourself and fear not, I'll save room on the bandwagon.

Three good reasons to try Beard Papa's today!

1. You think those frozen, pre-made cream puffs are good and you're upset that your freezer is now void of said puffs. Consider this your lucky day because Papa's Puffs are much, much better.
2. They say they are the best. I know the p.c. police do not like such bombastic statements but I do. I especially like these claims when the claimant can back it up the way the bearded one can.
3. How can you say no to that gnome?

But what makes them so good? I say the secret is nestled in Papa's magical beard. Or maybe it's the pipe? In truth, the pastry is fresh, light, flaky and delicious. The cream, not too sweet and just right. The end result, the best puff ever! And they are always filled to order and never just sitting around filled with cream to get all soggy for you.

Rating - 5/5 - I was going to go with a 10 here since it's like totally the world's best but I figured a perfect score was just as good. However, they are really better than perfect so maybe I should stick with a 10!

Their site - http://www.muginohointl.com/

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5 Napkin Burger

5 Napkin Burger - UWS Exterior

5 Borough Food Guys, meet 5 Napkin Burger. 5 Napkin Burger, ummmmm, meet me. A long while ago, I teased a visit to 5 Napkin on my other blog, GothamBurgers (or Got Hamburgers if you're so inclined) and I finally made my way to the 5NB on the Upper West Side. Side note, is it me or is the UWS starting to look a lot like the UES? The conversations were eerily similar and the conversations were similarly nauseating but I'm not judging, just being judgmental. Maybe I just need a friend? Or a hug? Or a friend to give me a hug?

I digress and forge ahead. We're here for burgers, not people watching.

The place has a nice interior, I'm into the whole, meat hooks hanging from the ceiling look and it worked for me. The music did not and the tv that was nestled in the corner showing afternoon football served as a good distraction since I had one small glass of water to satiate my thirst during my entire stay.

Original 5 Napkin Burger - Cooked Rare

The burger selection was rather slim compared to some of my favorite burger haunts (Island Burger jumps to mind) The menu featured a handful of options but the Original 5 Napkin Burger was where I started, though I'm not sure why because I'm not too fond of Gruyere, though I do love me some caramelized onions. Related note, I was a little upset to hear that I could have subbed out the Gruyere after I finished my burger and overheard someone at the next table ordering. Sure I could have asked that question but the waiter just offered that info to the other patron.

The important stuff - the burger was asked to be cooked rare and it was PERFECT! The bun, however, didn't really hold up too well. The burger is a little too large and there bun is a little too thin for a burger of this size. The juices just ripped through the bread like juice tends to do.

I've heard lots o' hype about the "fantastic!!!" 5 Napkin but I must say, I felt a little short changed here, like maybe 3 napkins. It was good and my grade is really just based on the food...ok, and partially on the meat hooks. I'd love for someone to explain the presence of sushi on the menu? And perhaps the random entrees? Funny because I was thinking of burgers at a burger joint but the proprietors thought otherwise.

The prices are also a bit high, the Original comes in at a modest $14.95. Yes, yes. It's Manhattan. Yo comprendo. But for serious, if someplace else can charge like 8 bucks for a similarly sized burger...well, you know what I'm saying. I was tempted to order the "Burger for 2" but I didn't wanna be that pig that eats the "Burger for 2" by himself. Especially since I don't drink Diet Coke so I can't properly wash down my gluttonous sins with some diet cola.

Rating 3.75/5 - I was satisfied with what I had but I wanted more. More what? I'm still not sure. I know I wanted more water but I only saw the waiter to order my food and deliver the check. Why'd he get a 25% tip? Oh yeah, I'm a shmuck.

Their site - http://5napkinburger.com/

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Broadway Pizza

Broadway Pizza - 99th and B'way

Broadway Pizza - Good Size

My most recent eatercising adventure included a 3 mile jaunt with 5 stops along the way. One of the five was Broadway Pizza, conveniently located on Broadway and 99th. The medium sized pizzeria features entrees and sandwiches as well but we all know why I was there. The competition is plentiful, but not so fierce when venturing up and down Broadway from Lincoln Center to say 110th but you need to know where to spend your pizza eating dollars.

The slice offered at Broadway Pizza is good size and is comparably priced to the rest of the joints on B'way (Sal & Carmine's, Cafe Viva, Cheesy Pizza, Two Boots, etc.) The difference here is that Broadway Pizza may in face have the best slice of them all. The plan, cheese slice had really good sauce and the perfect sauce:cheese ratio, thin crust, nice crunch.

Of all the pizza I've had in this area, Broadway Pizza has the best tasting slice, not the biggest since Sal & Carmine's takes that honor, but the slice at Broadway resembled pizza, all the way through as opposed to that slop I got at S&C. More importantly, it tasted good. The sauce really jumped out at me here and I enjoyed the slice as I strolled down B'way to my next destination...

Rating - 3.5/5 - Nothing overwhelming here. A good slice at a decent price. $2.50 seems to be the going rate around most of Manhattan but I'll soon show you how we buck that trend to get an absolutely DELICIOUS slice (along with one that is not so delicious so buyer beware and stay tuned)!

Their site - www.broadwaypizza2go.com

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Mel's Burger Bar

Mel's Burger Bar - Al Fresco

Oh the Upper West Side. Where do you really begin and end? I mean, by real standards and not real estate standards. I don't gauge the boundaries of this neighborhood by the insane costs of rent to live on top of people but more so on the rotten summer stank on the 1 train as you cruise up Broadway. I have a certain disdain for the waft of hot, dank air that blows into the air conditioned train cart at each passing stop and when you hit 96th, you know you're either ready to a) get off the train and just hoof it b) spray some type of deodorant to neutralize the funk in the air or c) put on a gas mask and enjoy the rest of the ride.

I had the recent pleasure of riding the 1 up to 110th to hit up Mel's, who offers a wide variety of burgers and shakes (Cookie Monster - ahem, Big Daddy's clone, PBJ, Smores, etc.), along with a handful of interesting starters (fried pickles, buffalo wings, brisket chili). The burger of choice for me was "The Original" because I kinda liked the nod on the menu that read "Thank You Louis." A nod to Louis Lunch over in New Haven that I thought warranted giving the burger a shot. For the record, I did not think it was going to replicate what LL has been doing for 115 years in any way other than slapping the burger sandwich on toast. A true LL fan like myself can also tell you that the obvious omission of the cheese spread left the sandwich lacking a little flavor (not just because they forgot my onion). Overall the burger was good. The girl was seemingly intent on giving me a medium burger, and I quote "is medium ok." To which I replied, nope. Gimme mine mooing and I'll take care of the rest.

Mel's Burger Bar - The Original

Overall the burger was good. The meat was really just meat. Black Angus? Who knows for sure. Could have been Angus MacGyver for all I know. It's a nice label but irrelevant in the scheme of things, especially if the meat lacks an overall flavor palate to make it stand out. My biggest complaint, if you can call it that, was the fact that the bread was a little too big for the burger. Not brutally big, but a little oversized. Did I enjoy this burger? Yes, I did. Was it a bit off? Yes it was.

Mel's Burger Bar Slogan - OK?

So what do we do? On the one hand, there's an extensive burger menu with some interesting and unique offering and on the other there's a lack of meat flavoring that makes the burger stand out assuming you were to eat it on a plate (but who really does that?) If you like well done fries, Mel's has exactly what you are looking for - twice fried, done nice and hard.

Rating - 3.5/5 - If ranking just my burger experience it would have been a little lower but I am giving a half point bump for the shakes (though I didn't try one they did intrigue me so I'll venture back, ideally in the Fall) and sides.

Their site - http://www.melsburgerbar.com/

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Big Daddy's

Big Daddy's Menu

Big Daddy's, located on Columbus and 91st, is a retro themed diner that in my opinion is on the map for the Sweet Potater Tots. The retro theme is complimented with Trivial Pursuit cards on each table and a funky wallpaper that spans no specific generation, featuring logos/icons from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Sure they offer a handful of extra large burgers and a number of homemade shakes as well but since Napoleon Dynamite made tots all the rage, they're a menu must. Making sweet potatoes into tots is just taking things up a few notches and that's something that needs to be recognized.

Big Mac Daddy

In eateries that serve sweet potato fries, I'm one to ask for maple syrup to dip them in. Sometimes that will result in some odd looks for the wait staff but I'm very used to odd looks. Big Daddy's, however, serves their Sweet Potater Tots with a homemade, over the top, spicy and not sweet at all BBQ sauce for dipping and it is NOT a good pairing for me. The sauce is strong and not complimentary to the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and that's just a mistake. For a look at their menu, click here.

Half Eaten Big Mac Daddy

The big burgers, are cooked to order from fresh meat and served with tots. Be warned!! Do not ask to sub in the Sweet Potater Tots for regular tots because Big Daddy will draw the line and you'll be put in your place. I've been told "We can't do that." In the food service business, focus on the word service, there's no such thing as can't. Want the sweet tots? Spend an extra $6. I was seething at this one because it's just absurd. The last thing I need is tots and more tots to go with my burger. I sorta worry about my waistline sometimes and I think I should pay some attention to my cholesterol so getting more fried treats, no matter if they're trans-fat free or not, seems like a not so hot idea. Add that to the fact that it's nice 'n' greasy for my complexion and we've got a winning combo.

Infamous Sweet Potater Tots

But you are saying, this is a burger site, where's the burger review? Here it is. I recently visited and ordered the Big Mac Daddy burger - their take on the Big Mac minus one patty and one slice of bread while adding caramelized onions. The burger holds up really well and has nice flavor, with or without all the added toppings. The bun is a good size to hold the large slab of beef piled on top of it while soaking up the burger's juices nicely.

Rating - 3.75/5 - No subbing sweet potater tots with a $15 burger and forcing the customer to spend an extra $8 on this signature item? Foolish. The burger is good and a bit on the high side. At $15 (not including a drink, sides, etc.) you are creeping in on Olde Homestead or Minetta Tavern territory and this is not on the level with those. It's a good burger, not the best burger but the no subbing really does rub me the wrong way.

Their site - http://www.bigdaddysnyc.com/

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Rack & Soul

Burgers meet Nawlins, Nawlins Meet Burgers...
Where to begin because I have my share of issues with this one. I guess the best approach is to stay burger focused. I went to Rack & Soul last week and was skeptical to say the least. It's BBQ meets soul food meets New Orleans and I was somewhat lost. It's like going to a diner and ordering eggplant parmesan, just because they offer it doesn't mean you should do it. Unless, of course, they have the best eggplant parm in the world. And even then, I'm skeptical.

Entering this soul food meets BBQ meets who knows what, I had one question - why the heck can I not get Kool Aid at a soul food restaurant? If you think that's wrong, you are wrong. Getting over my desire to be quenched by some red drink, I settled in and read what the menu had to offer. I was not in the mood for any traditional BBQ and my eyes found the selection of Po' Boys. I saw they offered a hamburger po' boy and figured I must be in the right place.

They brought a handful of scratch biscuits to the table that had a honey glaze on top. These were really good so I ate 5 and went back to waiting for my rare burger po' boy. Or so I thought. What I was really waiting for was a miniature hockey puck on a baguette that was lathered, heavily, with ground mustard. The burger was cooked to oblivion and was dry as eating a spoonful of cinnamon - even WITH the mustard and extra BBQ sauce (homemade, thankfully). Somewhere underneath my salad sandwich you'll see some brown, that itty bitty piece of brown is my burger. Tragic, I know.

Conceptually, the burger had a lot of promise. It reminded me of a favorite of mine that I get in AC at the White House - the foot long cheeseburger. At R&S, I was asked how I wanted it cooked and even a rare-medium rare burger was lost on this baguette. For the price, it's a horrible deal as you get virtually no meat and the meat you get tastes like nothing. Overcooked nothing in my situation.

Fortunately, they had some AMAZING collard greens. How amazing? This much!

Rating - 1/5 - Strictly points for the concept but it needs a LOT of work to get out of the burger basement.

Their site - http://www.rackandsoul.com/

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Casabianca

Sometimes, even in the city that never sleeps it's hard to find a good slice of pizza. Not because they're not out there but because they, the pizza hiders like to hide themselves in some random places. In this case, they are the folks at Casabianca. I don't know much about the rent situation in NYC but I am certain it's so ridiculous that you need to be creative with where you place your eateries. It's probably why I don't have an eatery to call my own where I can serve you some of the finest treats my hands and mind can create.

Did you know Casabianca means white house? That's an Italian thing. Did you know "Paint the White House Black" was a song by George Clinton f. Ice Cube? Well it is and I own it on a cassette single. Did you also know that Casablanca was a movie from the 1940s and that means White House in Spanish. Lesson over.

If you have the pleasure of finding Casabianca you will simultaneously have the pleasure of finding a truly delicious slice of pizza. Fresh mozzarella, sauce, fresh basil. WOW! Loads of flavor here and the sauce was able to stand out . The crust was just about right and I think this slice is really worth the walk if you are in the area - especially if you consider that Luigi's place I spoke of last week. Are there other options? Sure but this is a really good bet if you're out eatercising on the UWS or in Hell's Kitchen. Just remember if you are walking down 10th you have to make a turn towards the Hudson to find this place.

Rating - 4/5 - Good flavor, good texture. Didn't blow me away but I would recommend their pizza. 

Their site - Cannot find one as of 8/26/11

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Luigi's - UWS

Hello? Is anyone out...Oh hi! Hello there! Thanks for coming by. Before we get started I have something I really need to tell you. I, yes I, am a video game nerd. I'll even go a bit further and tell you that when I see Mario's face on a game, I'm all over it. It's been that way since forever and I'm not gonna change. He's always off on some crazy adventure to save the Princess with his brother and some mushroom men in tow. Luigi? Sidekick, straight up. But he was thrust into the spotlight once to save the Princess. JK, he had to save Mario. I'd be first in line to save my brother if he went missing but a little help is appreciated. After all, Mario always gets the girl and is constantly trying to save her and all Luigi gets to do is go to a ghost infested mansion and save Mario. Speaking of Mario, I've always found it a bit odd that his last name is Mario. Mario Mario just sounds a bit over the top but may be appropriate considering his star status, pun not intended. Luigi Mario seems like a somewhat normal name, maybe his papers got screwed up at Ellis Island, things happen.

You may recall that I recently reviewed a new Pizzeria/Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen called Uncle Mario's. That place is really going to be a contender for that neighborhood's pizza attention and rightfully so. Slightly further uptown and a bit more west is Mario's brother, not really but work with me here, Luigi's. Located on 61st and West End, Luigi's is one of the rare NYC Pizzeria's that has no competition for a long stretch of streets (assuming you stay on West End so don't get cute and walk to 10th or 9th and tell me there's something close because I won't listen.)

Luigi's is really large which leads me to believe they must serve a lot of people or else the space is just wasted. The interior is rather dark and I was thinking that a cock-fight or a numbers ring would be perfectly served in here. Maybe it is and I just don't know it? Maybe I just have a vivid imagination? Maybe, just maybe. Life's like a bowl of maybes covered in a box of chocolates. Chocolate covered maybes.

Speaking of wasted, that's what happened with my time and money. I got a slice, it was really BIG and the $2.50 paid was reasonable considering the size and that is the going rate at most NYC places. I was just hoping to eat something that didn't just look like pizza but maybe tasted like it too. Or at least tasted like pizza that wasn't IDENTICAL to what I ate in public school cafeterias growing up in Brooklyn. The taste was so eerily similar I was immediately transported back without the help of warp zones and large green pipes. Everything about this slice screamed don't eat more than one bite. So I barely did. I got half way through it, decided it was basically as gross as the sausage slice from Sal and Carmine's and had to part ways with it. The sauce was definitely out of a jar. DEFINITELY! I know jar sauce. I loathe jar sauce. I felt betrayed. Mario always saves the Princess, Luigi got to save Mario once, but nothing can save you if you stumble in here looking for a piece of real pizza.

Rating - 0.5/5 - If you are STARVING and have $2.50 and will die without any sustenance, this large slice will feed you and hold you over for a while. It's not inedible, it just tastes like it was not too fresh. The guy behind the counter seemed nice though.

Editor's note - If solely grading the sausage slice at Sal & Carmine's, that would have received the same rating. Also, this placed is now DEAD as of July 2011, a mere 2 months after the initial posting of this review on gothamPIZZA


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