Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street's exterior looks as if the restaurant was plucked right out of the French Quarter and dropped right into midtown Manhattan. I really appreciated the rustic look of the building, complete with the gas lamps on the exterior. Last week I tweeted that we were hitting the road for Bourbon Street, located at 346 West 46^th Street in the heart of NYC. I reviewed the menu before my visit and had a plan as to what I was going to eat. For those that do not know, I am a big fan of the Big Easy so I was equal parts intrigued and skeptic. I was ready to grab a burger and a po' boy, needing both because I simply could not decide which I wanted so I figured why not have the best of both worlds?

Bourbon Street's Double Gator Burger

Shortly after my tweet, they tweeted back and suggested that I order the special "Double Gator Burger" and I was quickly convinced that this was the way to go! I cannot express how happy I was that they suggested I go this way. The gator was so juicy and had great flavor and spice. I'm not sure how often this is a special but I can tell you that if you are there and you see it on the special menu, get it and you will not be let down! Loyal readers will also know that I am not much into french fries but these fries are really, really good. They're thick, crunchy, and generously seasoned and provide a perfect compliment to this awesome burger. To steal a tag line from a popular 80's cartoon, this burger is "truly outrageous!"

Creole Red Beans And Rice

But Bourbon Street is not just about the burger. There's a wide variety of po' boys, appetizers, and drinks. I was fortunate enough to sample both the Creole Red Beans and Rice and the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo and both of these really hit the spot! Generous portions that exploded with flavor and I was impressed with the generous amounts of andouille and chunks of chicken in the gumbo.

Rating - 4.5/5 - this place is on point. Why not a 5? Well, I think the dessert menu was missing a couple of NoLA staples - No beignets? No bananas foster? Beyond that, this place is on point!

Their site - http://www.bourbonny.com/index.aspx - as referenced earlier, they are also very active on the different social networking sites so be sure to hit them up today to find out about what's coming out the kitchen! They're also very active on Twitter so be sure to follow them @BourbonNY

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And for more on that tagline, click here for the full intro video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSLhrIuAZak 


UPDATE! We received a tweet over the weekend stating that Beignets are back in town at Bourbon Street. Thanks to @BourbonNY for keeping us in the loop. We'll be there soon to try 'em!

G&A Restaurant

G&A Menu

On The Road....Baltimore, MD

With the holiday season wrapping up, no pun intended (or was it?), it's important to include the food exploits that have been a part of my 10 pound increase and adoption of a second chin (it's a seasonal accessory, I swear). Rolling down I-95 and hitting up Baltimore, MD for a hot dog joint that is about to celebrate it's 75th anniversary on Eastern Ave. Any small business that can last for 75 years gets a big thumbs up in my book. Any restaurant that can still serve up great food to large crowds on a daily basis is even more impressive. So here we are with the Charm City Edition of 5BFG.

I have family members that grew up within ten minutes of G&A and they all swear that nothing has changed for as long as they can remember and that is not just the food but also the interior. Walking into G&A is equivalent to walking into the old fashioned luncheonettes that I barely got to know as they mostly faded away from the Brooklyn landscape during my youth.

Let's get back to business, shall we? It's said that the dogs are just as good as they always were, the chili just as delicious. For me, I can only judge recent visits and I can tell you that this place is simply amazing. Now I know many of my NY readers will make the occasional run down to Baltimore and I implore you to find your way to G&A for some chili dogs and chili burgers.

Burger and two dogs with LOTS of chili!

The dogs are a good size. They're not huge but they're definitely worth the price, especially with the chili and onions. I know, I know. I keep harping on this chili but it is just so good you have to try it to understand. It's also important to add that the chili really serves to enhance the flavor of the dogs rather than overpowering them.

Rating - 4.5/5 - It's not just a slice of Americana and a healthy dose of nostalgia served up at G&A. It's great food at very reasonable prices. The chili is worth the price of admission and I'd suggest putting some in your pocket for your ride home! The owner is a really nice guy and I think he just might oblige.

Their site - http://www.gandarestaurant.com/
*With the above menu photo, you have the address, phone number, and hours of operation. Let it never be said that I don't take care of you.

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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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Candlelight Inn

I'll preface this by saying this is not going to be a review, not a formal review anyway. For quite some time I've heard great things about the Candlelight Inn in Scarsdale, specifically their wings. I was in the area last week taking my mom to the doctor and I suggested that we try the Candlight for a late lunch/early dinner. It's not every day I'm in Scarsdale so this just had to happen.

Upon arrival, I checked in on Foursquare and my friend Nick hits me up and simply asks, "Chernobyl?" I answer in the affirmative and he replies "You could have just come over to my place and I would have stabbed you in the tongue." I laughed for a while and debated leaving to go get stabbed in the tongue, after all you need a baseline to determine which of these things feels worse.

Chernobyl

I knew what I wanted but for some reason, the waitress didn't believe. Or maybe it was she didn't want to serve me? Or most likely, she just didn't want to see this grown man cry. I asked for an order of 10 wings, Chernobyl. She said, "Are you sure?" Yes I'm sure. She asked again, "Why don't you just get hot wings? I can bring you some Chernobyl sauce on the side." I replied, "No thanks, I want Chernobyl." She said, "You really sure? They're so hot. 98% of the people who order them can't eat them." Yes, I'm sure.

All this talk made my mouth water. I LOVE hot food and was ready to take on these wings that share their name with a Russian nuclear disaster. Deep down, I never did question whether or not I can finish the ten wings. My own stupidity would not allow me to stop short of finishing the heat these wings could deliver. I must say these wings are HOT! They are possibly the 2nd hottest wings* I've ever eaten and my physiological reaction spoke volumes - uncontrollable tearing, sweating, red swollen lips. However, as strange as it may seem, my mouth did not feel hot. It sounds crazy and it's hard to explain but these things are so hot but it was not unbearable.  More important than the heat is the size. For under $7 I got 10 wings and look at the size of them. Big, meaty, juicy and NOT fried.

If you enjoy hot wings I'd suggest the Candlelight Inn to you. If you want to push how high you can go on the Scoville Scale, go for Chernobyl and let me know what you think.

*Note - The hottest wings I've ever eaten were at a spot just outside of Boston. I challenged that place to make them as hot as possible and when I bit into the first wing it felt like I was kicked in the teeth and my mouth went numb.

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Zinburger

THE Zinburger

A short drive from Giants MetLife Stadium on Route 3 West, is Zinburger, which came highly recommended from a friend. On my first visit to the Zin (that's what the cool kids call it, ok, just this cool kid) I was informed that the big Z is the first in NJ with the others being in Arizona; so keep that in mind if you are reading this from AZ and need your Zinburger fix on your next trip to the NYC area or if you're plotting a trip to AZ and want to sleep easily knowing you can get your Zin fix.

The menu is pretty simple for this burger and wine bar, it mainly consists of burgers and well, wine. Go figure. However, it's worth noting that you should not sleep on a few of the sides and more importantly, the shakes.

Before we stray to sides and shakes and anything that's not a burger, let's talk about beef. It's either Certified Angus or Kobe (not Bryant) served here so you know the meat is quality. It's also fresh, not frozen so that is a big + in my book. The size of the burgers is also worth noting, these guys are rather large and on my first visit I was pleasantly surprised by the size of this thing and the bun pairing was almost perfect*
*I say almost because I first ordered a rare burger and the bun did not hold up to the juicy mess that I held in my hands. Next go 'round I went medium rare and it was on point.

As for the burgers, if you start with the Zinburger (Manchego Cheese, Zinfandel Braised Onions, Mayo) you really can't go wrong. The braised onions really stand out and add a delicious sweetness to this massive burger. Another great option here is the Samburger (Applewood Smoked Bacon, American Cheese, Thousand Island Dressing), the sweetness of the thousand island and the smoky bacon just bring this burger to the next level.

You can't have a burger without sides and I have to say that the Zucchini Fries are out of this world! I also really enjoy the Cole Slaw, Asian inspired with ginger and toasted sesame seeds.

Behold, the Crème Brûlée

If wine is not your thing, there's beer. If wine and beer don't quite do it for you, there are shakes. The Crème Brûlée Shake is one of the best frozen treats I've ever had (it rivals my personal favorite Toasted Marshmallow Shake from Stand!) The Crème Brûlée Shake is truly one of a kind and it is so good and SO BIG! I've also had the Bananas Foster Shake and must admit that I was very disappointed with this one. It looks pretty but the flavor did not invoke the taste of Bananas Foster - however it did inspire me to work on creating this masterpiece in my kitchen!

Rating - 4.75/5 - There are some solid options on the menu though it is not very deep. It's also a bit pricy when the sides creep into the picture. Is it worth the trip out to Clifton? That's for you to decide but I cannot stress how much I enjoyed both burgers and the Crème Brûlée Shake.

Their site - http://www.zinburgernj.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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Gates Bar-B-Q

Gates Exterior - He looks charming

On the Road...the Kansas City BBQ Disappointment, Volume 2
On the subject of burnt ends, I got to sample some of this KCMO staple at Gates BBQ. Gates is BBQ meets chain meets the Varsity (of Atlanta fame). My Gates experience was a trip into a time warp with a dining room that looked fresh out of 1968 (not that it's a bad thing, just saying) combined with a dash of the Varsity.

For those of you who have been to the ATL and visited the Varsity, you've been greeted by the staff that continually beckons, "whattya have, whattya have?" No time to waste, no time to wait. You gotta order or get out the way for someone else to order, especially during the lunch or dinner rush. At Gates, the experience is somewhat similar, however less endearing. The staff member started with a, "hi, may I help you?" To which we replied, "one minute please." To which they replied, "hi, may I help you?" Then another one chimed in, "hi, may I help you?" I looked around and realized there was nobody else there and then they said it again, "hi, may I help you?" I started laughing and had a hard time keeping a straight face. When I was ready to order, I approached the counter and the girl in front of me asked, "hi, may I help you?" I think I got at least one more before my order was complete and I just was mystified. I'm convinced they're from Skynet.

Gates Pork Sandwich

On to the food, well, I have only photo proof of the pork sandwich which is rather small and packs a hefty $6 price tag. Sure it's fresh, or whatever, but it aint so cheap and it really aint so good either. I mean, I have a mental food calculator that tells me if I am getting both good food and a good value and this didn't meet either criteria. I must say that their hot bbq sauce is also really good (notice that I said the same about the lackluster A. Bryant experience. Why? Because I needed to find something nice to say).

Now for those Burnt Ends. Burnt, to me, implies a degree of crunch or at least some hardness that you should experience when biting into said end. That's just me, I guess. The burnt ends here were a heaping pile of mush that had a char to it but it was such a mush ball that you had little crunch as you munched.

I spent nearly 2 full days in KC and haven't been able to hit you up with much in terms of solid reviews, fear not KCMO fans, I've got one comin'.

Rating - 1.5/5 - there's some charm here. They offer something called the "Struttin Bucket" and that guy has a top hat on. I enjoy that. I also enjoy the signs at the entrance (see my tumblr). The food left a lot to be desired and got a decent bump by the top hat.

Their site - http://www.gatesbbq.com/Default.aspx

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Arthur Bryant's

Hello, I'm Arthur Bryant. Yes, THE Arthur Bryant

On The Road...The Kansas City BBQ Disappointment, Volume 1
I have this theory about BBQ food and it's fairly straight forward, BBQ is meant to be good and affordable, focus on the affordable. Affordable is just my fancy marketing term for cheap. By cheap, I mean regionally since cheap by NY standards is different from cheap by, say Missouri standards.

Why? Well, I've spent enough time in Texas, Oklahoma, and Georgia to know that the best BBQ that's ever been devoured by yours truly has been equal parts delicious and cheap. It's comfort food, comforting to the soul as much as the wallet.

All that said, my first KCMO experience with their take on BBQ was quite the letdown. The "must have" Arthur Bryant's, noted as one of the best in KC for decades, was truly a let down. I compare to when you were in high school and there was this guy/girl that you just HAD to go out with and when the opportunity finally came to really get to know this person, they were really just a waste of your present time and all the nights you spent dreaming about this day. Mr Bryant, I'm not blaming you but I'm kinda standing here pointing a finger at the employees that are soiling your good name and mooching off your reputation. Unless of course, if this is what you meant BBQ to be.

What went wrong? Well, for starters, the service here is a shade worse than awful - and this is coming from a New Yorker. Maybe the employees at this establishment on Brooklyn Ave were trying to embody the attitude of my hometown. If so, it worked but you still suck. Fear not though, you don't suck nearly as much as your "pulled pork." I use the term loosely because this pork could have easily been sipped up via a straw. It was a large pile of mush with little texture. On a happy note, I enjoyed the house hot sauce. The other meat you see on the tray at right is meant to be sausage. I compare it to room temperature bologna. Mmmmm, mmmm not good. A stack of white bread for the heck of it and you have $12 down the drain.

Which brings us full circle to my theory on BBQ. That is NOT $12 worth of food. Well, maybe in NY. Maybe they think they're in NY because they're on Brooklyn Ave, albeit in KCMO but this was the exact reason many of the locals said to avoid Jack's Stack BBQ, "it's too pricey" and go to Arthur Bryant's, "it's cheap and the best."

Rating - 1.5/5 - This was not my first taste of KC BBQ but it was the must have BBQ spot according to many. Good thing I don't hold grudges.

Their site - http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/index.htm

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