245788 Mon Apr 04 17:29:13 -0700 2005 18 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1305726 So last night we tried to take some out of town friends to the great pizza mecca on flatbush. It's already Al Di La -esque. We were there at 5:35 and the wait (pause) 30 minutes. So keeping nearby and realizing they had a flight to catch we decided on Sugarcane. We didn't expect much, but the food was exceptionally good. Sincerely, each of the four dishes were delectable. I had been once about two years ago and just had a light dinner at the bar that was average to slightly below. Chicken Roti - (12) This huge, elastic roti was jam filled with spicy chicken/potato. Red Snapper - (19) This was the best of the lot. The fillet was perfectly deep friend creating a great crust yet the flesh was moist and flaky. Braised Oxtails - (17) Not gristly but rather lovingly stewed with a lively garlic, reduced onion flavor. Stew chicken - (15) Slightly bland but the chicken was moist and well seasoned. The stew could have been more exciting. The sides of red beans and rice, plantains and collards were fantastic! Our only issue was the music. It was 5:45 and the music was deafening. It was so loud we felt disoriented; did we enter a hip hop club at 2am? The service was amicable and the restaurant ges high marks for cleanliness. We didn't drink, but for the same reason we don't drink out too much. When did it become okay to charge 11 dollars for a fruity, well-alcohol martini? Bon Appetit- anu Mon Apr 04 17:29:13 -0700 2005 0 anu 1 1305729 I'm amazed that anyone would pay $12 for a roti. These can be had for $5 everyday of the week at dozens of places in Flatbush/East Flatbush. Mon Apr 04 17:34:42 -0700 2005 1305726 0 DeeDee 2 1305731 Well if someone charges 17 bucks for an individual pizza, why not 12 bucks for a roti? Mon Apr 04 17:45:15 -0700 2005 1305729 0 josh L 2 1305740 i'm amazed that someone would compare the prices of takeout food with food in a nice restaurant. Mon Apr 04 19:16:50 -0700 2005 1305729 0 rootytootyfreshnfrooty 3 1305746 I'm not. In many cases, take-out is better than food served in a nice restaurant. Mon Apr 04 21:26:02 -0700 2005 1305740 0 Champ 4 1305759 i said you can't compare the price- not the taste. Tue Apr 05 09:16:05 -0700 2005 1305746 0 rootytootyfreshnfrooty 5 1305760 Fair enough. But my (and, I believe, DeeDee's) point was that some people have price limits for certain dishes, regardless of the atmosphere. While roti is tasty food, I personally would never pay more than $6 for one. To me, paying $12 for roti in a nice atmosphere is like paying $9 for a hot dog or $22 for a cheesburger in a nice atmosphere. Tue Apr 05 09:33:42 -0700 2005 1305759 0 Champ 6 1305765 Interesting debate. Wasn't really the point of the post. It's really an unfair discussion. take-out has SO much less overhead (nevermind rent on east flatbush and rent at Sugarcane). nonetheless, i WOULD pay 12 dollars again because: a) the $6 rotis i've had were gristly and often made with lower quality meat b) some of those shops just don't look very clean (perhaps a personal choice) c) without a car, the opportunity cost of going to east flatbush and bringing food home is 'probably' more than six dollars. unless someone knows of a roti so prodigious (like DiFara's is for pizza), please let me know. but regarding take out or not, i'm kind of the same way about drinks now. $11 for a cocktail just seems egregious and thus i don't drink unless it's dale degroff making the drinks. anyhow, please try sugarcan now and let me know about the food. Tue Apr 05 10:45:56 -0700 2005 1305760 0 anu 7 1305776 You're correct, we've digressed. I usually go meatless, so the quality of the chicken, goat, etc. does not apply to me. I agree, some of the shops are bare-bones, but I have never had a problem with cleanliness, sickeness. etc. Regarding expense, I have to buy an unlimited metro card to get to work, so expense when travelling to the shops is not a factor. And if you reside near a roti shop, it's obviously free to walk. OK, end of digression and to my main (and food-related)point: try Singh's, in Richmond Hill, Queens. Take the A train to Lefferts. Huge roti for only $5. Also, what shops have you tried that served a greasy roti? Just curious. Thanks! Tue Apr 05 13:07:58 -0700 2005 1305765 0 Champ 8 1305810 Island Cuisine Roti Shop on the corner of Lfferts and Liberty- Awesome! I dig Singh's pretty well also. Wed Apr 06 01:11:17 -0700 2005 1305776 0 rottytootyfreshnfrooty 9 1305827 When Washington Roti Shop was open, I would recommend that over the one served at Sugarcane anyday. It was truly the best version I've had as of yet. However, Sugarcane has the best bake and shark I've had, hands down, in New York City. Most T&T joints use sub quality shark and fry it up only in the early AM - so by the time you get it it's rather soggy. Sugarcane's is freshly fried with a nice assortment of sauces and the such, and the bake was quite tasty as well. Add a sorrel mimosa and it makes for a great breakfast/brunch. Wed Apr 06 11:32:08 -0700 2005 1305810 0 Lambretta76 8 1305880 Ali's & Excel were not so good. But I am no expert on roti. But I've put Singh's on the list and if/when I have the time to head over to Singh's, I'll do so. Thanks! Thu Apr 07 10:15:38 -0700 2005 1305776 0 anu 2 1305745 Agreed. Just as I would never pay $17 for an individual pizza, I would never spend $12 on a roti. Mon Apr 04 21:24:36 -0700 2005 1305729 0 Champ 1 1305761 I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the food at Sugarcane. When I went last year, the food was disappointing. Maybe they have a new, better chef? It's pricey but, then again, you're paying for the more upscale atmosphere. I'm sure chowhounds will flame me for this, but I do think it's acceptable (on occasion) to choose a sit-down restaurant with nice decor, over a cheap, authentic dive with better food. Not all out-of-town guests want to be dragged to an obscure dive. Discuss. Tue Apr 05 10:10:34 -0700 2005 1305726 0 parkslopemama 2 1305767 I agree, with caveats attached. Generally I feel my decision to get the less expensive versions of things is more dictated by finance - perhaps I extol the virtues of Lennie's roti b/c I can't afford the $12 Sugarcane option? But if I had friends in town who liked West Indian food and wanted a nice night out with cocktails and atmosphere, and I/we could afford it, why not? The difference between a take-out counter and a sit-down place is in more than price. It's a totally different dining experience. But generally I dislike the idea of paying through the nose for something you can get cheaper elsewhere, especially when comparing sit-down dining to sit-down dining. The best examples for me are Asisan food - there are so many wonderful and affordable Asian restaurants in NYC, where you can sit down and have decent atmosphere and a drink (even if it's often BYO), why pay through the nose for a trendy or fancy place? However, once again I have to say if I had the money I would give places like Spice Market, Tamarind, and 66 a try. But I'd like to think that even if I was rolling in it I'd still appreciate good value and humble pleasures. And the friends in town thing really changes the rules - not everyone is a tirless Chowhound and sometimes it's nice to pay a little more to get your decent food and fancy cocktail in one place, and to have a table to catch up at while you eat. Of course, most guests at my house have a night of Lennie's roti with a bottle of cheap wine and seem to enjoy that just fine at a cost of well under $10/head. Tue Apr 05 11:05:33 -0700 2005 1305761 0 Louise 2 1305769 If the food's good, sure. I do wish this Board wasnt focussed so strongly at this point on the upscale Park Slope "market" and that people would move out of their comfort zones and explore the borough a little more, but any delicious food is game for discussion here. Actually, if someone is cooking good trinidadian/ caribbean food at Sugarcane, that is something to celebrate. I am more concerned about the music level/ambiance. If its gonna drive me out of the place and make it less than a pleasant experience, Id rather get takeout anyway. Can you comment on this? Tue Apr 05 11:10:48 -0700 2005 1305761 0 jen kalb 2 1305771 I don't think anyone who cares about food would prefer a cheap authentic joint with subpar food over a nicer sit down place with excellent food. Tue Apr 05 11:38:21 -0700 2005 1305761 0 josh L 2 1306017 If you don't like the price don't eat there. Sugercane is an upscale place for upscale people to hang out with other upscale people. They have a full bar and a visually exciting atmosphere. The employees seem to be in the US legally. The bathroom is clean. I personally thought that the sugarcane version of the stuff I got cheap on flatbush was better in terms of taste and presentation, but not volume. I have gotten food poisoning at places on flatbush I bought cheap food at. I did think the jerk chicken was too subtle, I like it with more kick but I understand why they went for subtle. Fri Apr 08 22:36:01 -0700 2005 1305761 0 Georgef 1 1305949 not a takeout but a nice little spot for West Indian in Cambria Heights 223 St 3Js great oxtail, stew chicken, jerk chicken ( jerk only Fri and Sat) Fri Apr 08 10:33:20 -0700 2005 1305726 0 sami