Ever wondered how you can blow your money as fast as possible? Hmm, try Mr. Chow’s restaurant! We can only speak for the heinousness that took place at the NYC location but what happened here was hella-wrong! First of all, let me preface this by saying that I knew what I was in for when we reserved a table at Mr. Chow’s. I knew it was a pretentious, celebrity mecca where the food and drinks would undoubtedly be over-priced. What I didn’t know was that in no way, taste or form would they be worth it. In fact, I would have to say, skip the Mr. Chow experience and order from your local Chinese takeout, dive.

We were ushered in and quickly escorted to our table, which was swimming in a sea of white vomitotious, decor, which was desperately trying to overcompensate for the lack of any sort of ambiance. We were asked if we wanted champagne and tried to turn it down. After heavy persuasion about the celebratory mood we absolutely needed to experience we finally caved and ordered a round for the four of us. We begrudgingly accepted a second round now that our inhibitions had clearly been defeated. Our waiters finally graced us with his presence and informed us that he’d be picking our meals out for us.

Ahem, what? I don’t know if you’ve ever dined with four Jews before but letting a stranger pick our cuisine was just not in the cards, especially with a vegetarian on our hands. After fierce arguments ensued between our party and the staff we finally won (take that!) and ordered from the a la carte menu.

You may think being able to order what we wanted was a coup but you’d be wrong. The food was absolutely terrible. The Chinese Bolognese that once made my mouth water actually made me want to vom. Everything else we ordered (especially the non-vegetarian stuff) also fell short of my expectations. The food could not have been less original or more bland. I mean Lindsay Lohan eats here doesn’t it have to be good? Oh wait, she just drinks champagne and eats carrot sticks… small oversight. The portions were tiny and so we finished the meal just as we had come in…starving. Perhaps a little tipsy…but starving!

La La La I thought to myself as I visualized myself picking up a plain slice of pizza on my way home and then the bill came. Dun Dun Dun…..$448 for 4 people for barely any food. How much was the champagne? $35 a glass, a fact they cleverly chose not to share with anyone. Clearly, I can’t blame them. We should have asked, but it won’t stop me from irrationally despising them. However, as we looked more closely at the bill we realized that they had overcharged us for several items never ordered and I’m guessing thought we wouldn’t notice the padding due to our champagne bliss….wrong! We obviously immediately complained and had the bill reduced. Still…NOT WORTH IT.

Under no circumstances would I try this restaurant! Ever. Ever. Ever. I don’t care if it’s your 50th wedding anniversary or your dog’s 14th birthday. Whatever the occasion–you’d be better off at Domino’s! Seriously.

Most bars in Miami either are:

(1) ghetto as all heck;

(2)  over-the-top expensive and pretentious;

(3) euro-trashtastic;

(4) college bars.

Fear not, I have found the cure for the common Miami bar! 

Finnegan’s on the River!

It’s got multiple vibes, outside you can sit by a fireplace and get cozy, watch the DJ spin some tunes, sit at the raw bar and do oyster shooters, or dance on the dance floor.  Inside, there’s a bar and several tables where you can either drink or order food.  And the food is ACTUALLY not only delish, but super affordable.

I went on Friday and had a GIANT blackened Mahi-Mahi sandwich, Diet Coke, and a massive side of french fries.  My bill??  An amazingly un-Miami $15!!!!!!!!

It’s my new favorite Friday night place.

Last night I experienced heaven on the Upper East Side (who knew right??). Typically when I decide to go out for a night on the town and some fine dining I end up at your typical steakhouse or something trendy around the Meatpacking district. But being a little older now (and wiser) sometimes settling for STK or Striphouse leaves me longing for originality and personality. With my boyfriend living on the Upper West Side we decided to take a quick cab across the park to Bruno Jamais. Lately with the current economy, when I’m spending my money I want to feel like it’s worth it–something extraordinary for once that surpasses a regular dining experience. And that’s exactly what I got at Bruno Jamais.

Owner, 46 year old, Parisian born Jamais is no novice in the world of Manhattan dining, prior to opening BJ. his resume included Maitre D at Daniel and Alain Ducasse.

Nestled in a beautiful townhouse on 81st between Madison and Fifth I entered the restaurant and walked through their exquisite wine cellar towards the dining room. When you reach the entrance to greet the Maitre D you may be confused. The sliding, glass door, a la James Bond, has a discreet button, which if you don’t know, leaves you standing on the outside for a moment looking in (*until your boyfriend realizes you’re not going to figure out how to open it and does it for you–but that’s neither here nor there). I was greeted by Maitre D, Jaques, with a charming French accent and a warm demeanor, who showed us to our table. The space is dimly lit and romantic. The walls are covered in unique artwork by artist, Cyrille Margarit.

We kicked off our evening with Champagne (a must for every night out!). Next I decided to test out a signature cocktail to get the full restaurant experience. My favorite drink was called “Sexy Back,” while I can’t remember exactly what was in it (a true testament to the strength of the thing!) I do remember it was a cotton candy pink color and tasted very peachy but not in an overwhelming way.

For dinner we had a hard time picking as there were so many wonderful options. Before our appetizers even arrived they brought us each a sampling of lobster salad, tuna tartar and foie gras (I even tasted the teeniest bit-I’m a very picky eater so that was scary for me–but it asked so nicely, I mean it literally had a cherry on top!) For the first course I went with the Tuna Tartar (24$) which was a huge portion and came paired with mango salsa covered in avocado creme. It was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend went for the Mushroom Risotto ($17 ) which was creamy and perfectly portioned–not too much to fill you up but just enough to leave you happy. (*Note-Recessionistas you could easily split an App to save some cash!) Did I mention that the service was friendly and full of helpful suggestions (not snooty at all like many other French restaurants in NYC).

For our entrees, I ordered Filet Mignon au poivre ($41) and BF got a Hanger Steak($38). But here’s the best part–unlike most steak restaurants where the meat alone costs $40 or more, this price here includes a side dish which was honestly larger than some of the portions I’ve been given when I pay for it a la carte (at many steakhouses). The Filet came with creamed spinach and the Hanger came with pommes frites. Both were scrumptious! Then, since we couldn’t resist, we ordered the Truffle Mac-n-Cheese as well (totally unnecessary since we would have had plenty of food). It was covered in breadcrumbs and bursting with truffle essence. It was divine. The portions were so hearty, neither of us could even finish our meals (and for those of you who don’t know us we’re strong supporters in the NO STEAK LEFT BEHIND school of thought–hence these huge meals were worth your money unlike chi-chi restaurants which gauge your wallet and leave you wanting more and stopping for a slice on your way home). I was thoroughly satisfied by our delectable dinner and can’t wait to go back!

But just as we were finishing up dinner was when the party really kicked into high gear. Who knew you didn’t have to leave the comfort of your neighborhood (Above the 60s) to hit a happening bar? (I’m an honorary upper-Mannhatanite since I basically cohabitate with BF who attends Columbia on UWS). So this is where all the adults go who wanna party! The music got louder and the champagne was flowing by 10pm . The people watching was fantastic–couples snuggled up in booths, dinner parties and birthday celebrations. I wish I could buy a cd of the music they played–remixes of old classics (done tastefully) like Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” The Stones’ “Miss You,” Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong’s “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” and more. A great time was had by everyone. I can’t believe I had never been to this place before! The patrons seemed like regulars and it’s easy to see why–once you’ve gone Jamais you can’t go any other place! (So cheeeeeeeezy but we couldn’t resist).

I can’t say enough great things about this wonderful restaurant. I don’t know how more people hadn’t recommended it to me before because I will be singing its praises for years to come. I will definitely be having my birthday party here next year. I mean they brought the cake out, turned down the lights and blasted Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” to celebrate. What’s better than that?

Just as I was leaving I even met the owner himself. He personally wanted to make sure we enjoyed our experience. How could we not? The food was yummy, the staff was charming, the ambiance was fun, French and enchanting!

So, in sum, Rececessionistas, if you’re going to be spending a night out on the town I highly recommend you do it at Bruno Jamais. It’s well worth it! And you may even see someone you recognize…Bruno is a favorite discreet destination for luminaries such as Keanu Reeves, Former President Bill Clinton, Kim Cattral, Billy Baldwin, Chris Noth, and Spike Lee to name but a few.

Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club
24 East 81st Street (near Madison Avenue)
Tel: (212) 396-3444

Je t’aime Bruno Jamais, Je t’aime!

Found a fabulous place for a cheap lunch in downtown Miami!!!

It’s called Franktitude!!!

It’s a hot dog place…but don’t get scared.

You can get beef, turkey, salmon, or veggie hotdogs with your choice of FOUR toppings out of like a million choices. 

They also have other things like salads, paninis, etc.

You can get a huge, delicious lunch for like $5!!!

I get the veggie hotdog with avocado, tomato, salsa and onion.  It’s to die for.

Let me be frank, FRANKTITUDE is my new fave lunch spot in downtown Miami!!!

It’s at 21 NW Miami Ct.  It’s right next to the courthouse on Flagler.  You can’t miss it.

Or beat it!!!

Article by: Elizabeth Berwitt and Katie too a little

A couple weeks ago, my parents came to NYC to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. Since we wanted this celebration to be extra special, I (Elizabeth) made it my mission to find the perfect restaurant for dinner, and let me tell you, Mission Accomplished!

Now, I don’t know about your parents but ours don’t equate a delicious NYC meal with foie gras, Cornish hens, or escargot (and neither do we)! Much like myself and my sisters, my parents like Italian restaurants that serve hearty portions of homemade pastas, rich sauces and staple Italian dishes like Chicken Parm and Penne alla Vodka. Rossini’s opened its doors back in 1978 and have been perfecting traditional Italian cuisine ever since!

From the minute we walked in we were immediately comforted from the Arctic blast outside by the warm, cozy atmosphere at Rossini’s. We sat in the main dining room where I felt like we were transported to a traditional Italian home. Although the food does not come cheap at Rossini’s, it’s worth the price (which relative to upscale Italian restaurants is average). If you’re lucky to snag a reservation on a Saturday night, there are 2 live opera singers and a piano player (Trio Romantica!) which starts at 8PM and lasts throughout the entire evening! (Sunday-Friday there is still a piano player) The Italian opera singing was incredible and the singers even took requests, including songs from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and our favorite Broadway shows such as Les Mis. It’s a recession-proof way to see live music. The price is built right into your entrees! Our reservation was at 7:30PM, but we had such a great time that we wound up staying a full 4 hours! The culmination of the evening was when the entire restaurant was on their feet dancing to Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York. By the time dessert came, we truly felt like our waiter was part of the family. The Maitre de even had his arm around my Dad!

Oh and the food, Fuggetaboutit! The table was covered in crisp Caesar salads made tableside, (even sans anchovy paste if you wish which we loved!) traditional fried zucchini, penne arrabiata, pesto linguine, chicken Parm, chicken Francese, you name it! The wine was even reasonably priced—which of course called for us ordering an extra bottle of champagne! Delish!!

So, if you’re looking for an evening filled with delicious food and fantastic entertainment, look no further. Rossini’s is a one of a kind dining experience that you will never forget! It’s everything you would picture a perfect New York Italian restaurant to be. Our expectations were exceeded beyond our wildest beliefs! Don’t believe us? Check out the wall lined with celeb photos and letters praising the cuisine here! If you live in New York and haven’t been here you’ve never been to an Italian restaurant!

Rossini’s Restaurant
108 E 38th St, New York, NY
(212) 683-0135
info@rossinisrestaurant.com

If you’re in the mood for a fantastic dining experience you must give this restaurant a try!

The decor is beautiful. The restaurant is huge. There are tons of tables, two floors, high ceilings with windows that drop from top to bottom. It was the perfect place to relax inside while watching the hustle and bustle of tourist-central.

The salad was pretty average, nothing to write home about. I’d probably get an appetizer instead. The caesar I got was okay but definitely not spectacular.

However, when my steak arrived the waiter waited around to make sure it was cooked perfectly. A very nice touch especially since restaurants rarely seem to cook steaks to the temperature of your liking the first time. It was perfect! I would tell them next time to go easy on the butter on the plate because the steak was sitting in a pool of it. However, this was easily remedied by getting a new plate. The ironic part? Probably that I dunk each bite in bernaise sauce which is essentially butter and tarragon.

The side dishes were spectacular. The macaroni and cheese was stuffed with real oozing cheese. The creamed spinach was the perfect balance of cream and spinach (though if you’re a vegetarian note that there is bacon in it). The onion rings were GINORMOUS and the homemade potato chips (which also made their way to the bernaise sauce) were to die for.

We got the chocolate souffle which was pretty standard and yummy but truthfully I could barely breathe after finishing off my entire steak complete with butter and bernaise. Good thing we decided to walk home!

How did I spend my Christmas evening??

Having amazing (and affordable) sushi at Yoko’s on Alton Road in South Beach!

Yoko’s is a small, but insanely good and cheap sushi place that only locals know about…no website, not a lot of flash… so you don’t know about it unless you’re among those in the know.

Consider yourself in the know now!

I always get the sunset (champagne mixed with peach and plum nectar), edamame, miso soup and 2 or 3 rolls…there are all the usual suspects as far as sushi goes…but, it’s super fresh and there are a bunch of unique, funky raw and cooked rolls…I like the Miami Heat roll…but, choose your own favorite…at these prices, you can afford to sample a few!

It’s located at 919 Alton Road.  And there’s freeeeee parking.  Which, is…like…basically UNHEARD of in South Beach.

Go, Go, Go!!!  Enjoy!!!!

Consider it my Hanukkah present to you.