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re: ajs42548
A spot I tried recently that was very impressive was La Casa De los Tacos on the NW corner of 117th and 1st Ave- down the block from Patsy's. Had a taco de bistec and a torta de pechuga empanizada con queso- breaded chicken cutlet with cheese. Very affordable- cheap- and very good. Worth a visit if in the area.
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re: HowfreshEats
TongoRad
May 6, 2009 09:32 AM
When we venture off of Ward's Island for lunch this is a really nice place to go for tortas. I've had better alambres than they serve, but the tortas really hit the spot, and are a bargain at $5.50. The chorizo and cheese is my fave at this time. Obviously, we discovered it when making a Patsy's run.
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Another vote for La Fonda Boricua. Actually it's on 106th between Lexington and Third. Great cheap eats--some of the best arroz con gandules I've ever had!
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For some great Indian food: Polash, 3rd Ave. bet. 118th&119th.
On the same block, a few doors down, Creole.
I also like Mesa Mexicana: 117th St. bet. 2nd-3rd Avenues.
And for something a bit different (Italian/Spanish/American): Orbit on 116th & 1st.
Happy eating and do report back!
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re: gloriousfood
MMRuth
Oct 8, 2009 05:34 AM
I went to Mesa Mexicana last night and, unfortunately, it was pretty much a travesty. I suspect that the cook must have changed since 2007.
When we arrived at 7, there was one other couple there and the place seemed to be doing a brisk delivery business. We started with guacamole - I thought it was ok, though too cold (obviously made ahead of time), but my husband thought it was pretty bad. We also ordered some pico de gallo, which was also cold. I'd never had a huarache, so I ordered one with carnitas, and then two tacos - chicken, and Mexican chorizo. My husband wanted the chuleta, but they were out, so he went with Bistec Azteca - Nopales, Cebolla Y Jalapeno (steak aztec style with grilled onions, jalapenos and grilled cactus). (When we discussed the meal on the way home, he told me that he makes it a rule never to order Bistec in any kind of Spanish/Latin American restaurant. When I asked him why he ordered it, I was told that I'd pressured him into it. No idea how that happened!)
We waited for what seemed like absolutely ages for our food to come out. I thought my huarache looked pretty good, and it was huge, so I was worried that with the two tacos, I had over ordered. Fortunately, that turned out not to be the case, as I ended up sharing my meal with my husband. He said the bistec was the absolute worst thing he has ever eaten, and that the meat did, in fact, taste like what he thought a leather sole would taste like. I didn't taste the meat, but the black beans had a film on top that looked like the film that pudding gets on top when it has been sitting out too long. The onions and jalapenos were unbelievably greasy.
I thought the huarache tasted pretty good, though the carnitas were a bit dry. It had tomatoes, lettuce, crema, and some beans, in addition to the carnitas. The tacos were a bit disappointing - each one had just the meat, lettuce and tomato, and both were pretty dry. The meats tasted as if they had been cooked far too long ago, and, really, most of the ingredients looked rather sad. No limes or radishes. We ordered more cream to help them out.
With two diet cokes, the tab was about $33 plus tax, plus the $18 in taxis to get there. We'd hoped to find something we like better than El Paso Taqueria, but this isn't it.
When we left, I espied a little coffee/cafe place around the corner on 3rd Avenue - Spaha Cafe (yes, that is Spanish Harlem abbreviated - a bit on the cute side) - and had an excellent espresso there. It's sort of an upscale-ish, 'gentrifying' place, which I realize may have its detractors, but the food - sandwiches, baked goods, etc. - looked quite good. Apparently some of it is made there, and some of it is purchased elsewhere. The woman behind the counter recommended Moustache and Kiosk for future visits. On our way home, going down Lexington, I noticed a third El Paso Taqueria on the left - might have to give it a try as well.
Edit: I forgot to mention a rather amusing yet annoying aspect of the dining experience, the music. One song would come on and play to the end, and then there would be silence for the time it would take for maybe three songs, then another song, then silence. Rather peculiar!
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re: MMRuth
Wow, thanks for this info...guess I'll stick to El Paso. I had passed Spaha Cafe and wondered about it, now I'll give it a try.
Moustache is very good, fresh, reasonable Turkish/Middle Eastern and just the sort of thing we could use more of. If you want to try homestyle Puerto Rican I suggest La Fonda Boriqua (older posts here too) -- sort of a PR coffee shop and if you don't mind something even more modest, but clean and very good food and friendly service, there's Lechonera El Barrio Restaurant on 103rd btw. Third & Lex.
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re: mascny
MMRuth
Oct 19, 2007 05:30 AM
It's a little pricier than some of the other places, but reasonable for the great quality of the food. Actually - it's called Itzocan Bistro - I always get it wrong:
1575 Lexington Ave- At 101st St
New York, NY 10029212 423-0255
The menu is on menupages.com - the duck quesadilla is excellent, as are the mussels, the lamb shank and the prawns. They have a limited wine list, but are very amenable to your bringing your own - I can't remember if they charge a corkage fee, but if they do, it is very low.
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Cheese Boy
Oct 18, 2007 06:18 PM
Try some of Patsy's pizza and see how you like that. 1st Ave and 117th .
