restaurant reviews: eats in nyc

Given all of NYC's dining options for ringing in a new year of Iris, we quickly and easily chose Red Bamboo.  It's not a hard choice really, the place offers: a cozy environment, reasonable prices, a truly unique vegetarian menu and has two convenient locations (for easy last-minute plan changes).  To substantiate the "unique menu" claim:  the most delectable offerings of vegetarian and vegan soul food.  A-mazing. Standard vegetarian cuisine can get a little, predictable to say the least, tofu stir fry, veggie burger, hummus, repeat..  This joint blows me away with its soulful and daringly delicious vegetarian food.  There is a little bit of Asian-fuison going on on the menu, but we stuck mostly to the classic soul food--much of which we've never had vegan or otherwise.

must-haves on the menu: buffalo wings
honorable mention: collard greens with ham spring rolls

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The next morning we were looking for a nice little cafe to eat, read, write, talk and generally hold up in for a few hours.  We were staying in Chelsea (no relation) and looking for somewhere with WiFi.  Zach did some googling and discovered Paradise Cafe.  With festively painted walls, a cozy window, mosaic art on the walls and a friendly, accommodating staff it was a paradise for us on that gloomy Sunday morning.  We had the veggie burritos substituting egg for avocado and a veggie burger substituting the burger for portabello and we all sat happy and content to eat, drink, read write and generally make ourselves at home away from home for several hours.  Delightful.

must-haves on the menu: friendly staff

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A day later (and a dollar or two shorter) we were down in Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) in Brooklyn with the Amatos looking for a place to grab some food.  For some reason on this trip we seem to be finding ourselves looking for food at the witching hours of 3-5.  After scouting out several resturants that were closed and others that were quadruple "neesh" from Chels we wandered into Jacques Torres, the chocolate factory that came highly recommended by Grace, the 11-year-old we were staying with.  And after we all drank in the sights and smells a little bit, Chels asked for a vegan and veg friendly restaurant recommendation and the nice chocolatier suggested Rice.  Everything about Rice was just what we wanted: simple, mouth-watering menu; clever, creatively put together food and atmosphere; and tell-your-friends-about-it bathrooms.  The menu included a number of veg*n options, we all went with the Tofu-steak, and each selected a dressing and a rice from the informative and appetizing selection of rices and specialty rices.  When we ordered tea it came with a beautifully displayed and intriguing selection of honeys!

must have on the menu: the rice!



* Note:  In the future I will try to take food photos before we devour it.*