The 'Oh My God' Food Awards

[BigV]

As I sat eating an unusually disappointing cheesesteak at BB's last night, my wife and I were talking about what was missing. It was good, it just wasnt 'Oh my god this is unbelievable' good. Hopefully this was a one time event at BB's but who knows- places don't always stay the same over the years.

Along these lines- what food items in restaurants or delis in the Outer Boroughs have you eaten over and over that still make you say or think 'Oh my god this is good' every time you eat them? They don't have to be fancy, they just have to make you have that reaction.

[daffyduck]

I miss Elmhurst Queens dearly but come back every once in awhile to visit my mom. Here were some of my favorites that I didn't see listed.
chicken makhani-Delhi heights
sag paneer-Delhi heights
pernil (pork) patacon-Patacon Pisao
ice cream-Jahn's
lassagna slice-Rosa's
plain pie-Nick's
calypso shrimp-the islands (brooklyn)
galeos-Ovelia Psistaria (Astoria)
combo platter-sammy's food cart
arepas-arepa lady
tacos-don't remember the name of the carts on Roosevelt, us to go there when I was a little boy
soup dumplings-Joe Shanghai

[bruce3404]

Fried Chinese Watercress with shrimp, chicken and squid at Sriphraphai
Cheese pie at DiFara's
Just about everything on the menu at Southern Spice (ok, I know that 's cheating, but I couldn't come up with just one dish)

[dhs]

Potato and Egg and Cheese Sandwich at Defonte's in Red Hook - stand there and eat it while it is hot - OH MY GOD!

[jnab121]

Pizza at Difara
Roast beef w/fresh Mozz, onions and The black tar gravy at John's Deli on Stillwell
The Hot wontons at White Bear in Flushing
Square slice at L&B
Lamb burger at Shengu heavan

[Rmis32]

Shengu heavan? Where's that?

[Salsiccia Creature]

-The Veal cutlet hero w/mozzarella & hot peppers from Cono & Sons takeout window
-The Saturday morning roast beef from Tedone's
-The Semolina Gnocchi from Uva Rara
-The Lard Bread from Napoli Bakery
...There's more but I gotta stop thinking about this stuff now.

[JRogan]

Samosa Chat at Spicy Mina (ask for it 'Spicy'). Whatever complaints of inconsistencies/service problem/lack of aesthetic appeal go out the window with this appetizer--and I've probably ordered it fifty times at the three different restaurants where she's worked. Best anywhere in NYC, Mina's version is better than the one that Southern Spice--a much more heralded (on this board anyway) restaurant--makes.

[Rmis32]

Sunset Park trifecta
Rice noodle w/ crispy meat soup at Yun Nan Flavour Snack
Dumplings at Prosperity Dumplings
Banh Mi at Ba Xuyen
For $10 that'll feed 2 with heavenly food in lowly surroundings.

[Amy Mintzer]

Jesus, I can't believe I forgot the scallion pancake at Family Dumpling. I'm so embarrassed.

[Amy Mintzer]

Panelle special sandwich (that's w/ ricotta) at Ferdinando's. Sometimes I get a side order of broccoli rabe and put it on the sandwich. (I can't seem to get them to put it on the sandwich for me, but really, who cares?)

Sfogliatelle at Court St. Pastry.

Fresh mozzarella slice at Roma.

[jimmyjazz]

fresh mozz at Caputo's
vinegar spare ribs, udon with shredded beef at Lucky Eight
anything at Yun Nan Flavor Snack
lard bread, garlic bread at Mazzola's
fisherman's eggs at Farm on Adderley

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Lucky Eight
5204 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[letibarajas]

* Peter Luger- a medium porterhouse
* Lula kebab, hummus, and bread at Salut
* Pork/Crab dumplings at Joe's Shanghai
* Strawberry Black Tea w/tapioca at Sago
* Any bagel at Utopia Bagels
* Black Forest cake at Stork's Bakery
* BBQ Chicken Wings at Virgil's (sorry that's Manhattan but had to add)
* Carne asada burrito at Calexico
* Pizza at Di Fara (although I wonder if I am just so hungry from waiting!)
* Anything at the old Cono Pizzeria on Graham (RIP, 1976-2004)
* Fresh mozzarella at Tony's Beechhurst Deli
* Chicken at Pio Pio

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Utopia Bagels
19-09 Utopia Pkwy, Queens, NY 11357

Joe's Shanghai
136-21 37th Ave, Queens, NY 11354

Salute
63-42 108th St, Queens, NY 11375

Pio Pio
62-30 Woodhaven Blvd, Queens, NY 11374

Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Tony's Beechhurst Deli
11-18 154th St, Queens, NY 11357

Calexico
122 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[buttertart]

The torrone gelato at Queen. Their gelati and sorbetti are always good but this was mindblowing.

[cazique]

- Elk chops at Henry's End
- Lard bread at Mazzola Bakery
- Banh mi from Hanco's
- Fried rice at Joya
- Chengdu spicy wontons (RIP?) at Szechuan Garden
- Mint chip ice cream at Chocolate Room
- Pretty much any ice cream at Blue Marble
- Wings and chips with the chipotle sauce at Lobo

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Hanco's
85 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Mazzola Bakery
192 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Henry's End
44 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Szechuan Garden
176 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Chocolate Room
269 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[abu applesauce]

Fresh mozzarella at Leo's/Mama's

[cgchow]

What a great idea for a post. Here are a few that come to mind (limited to a very tiny geographical radius):

Lard bread @ Mazzola
Cavatelli w/ sausage and sage butter @ Frankie's
Pancakes @ Luluc
Plain pie w/ basil @ Lucali
Fried artichokes @ Grocery
Turkish salad @ Zaytoons
Mac and cheese with proscuitto @ Paninoteca 275 (RIP)

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Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Zaytoons
283 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[MRich]

"Lard bread @ Mazzola"
Yes!

[MRich]

Most of the food at Tanoreen (esp cauliflower, brussels sprouts, chicken fette)

Lasagne at Fragole

Ham & cheese croissant at Mazzola.

Quesadillas at the Red Hook ballfields.

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Tanoreen
7523 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Fragole
394 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[chowbie]

DiFara's, obviously.
Maybe not "oh my God" but at least "This is soooo good--that's why I keep ordering it" in my neighbourhood:
-sauteed calamari at Beast
-lambajin pitza at Olive Vine (with lotsa house hot sauce)
-Franny's pizza
-pork mofongo at El Castillo de Jagua
-fried dough brunch at Miriam

[chowbie]

Forgot the sticky toffee cake at Beast. That does make me say "OMG."

[allydee]

i'll have to second the calamar and sticky toffee at Beast. i get the former at least once a week and smile ear-to-ear upon first forkful each time.

others:
- skate at james. beautiful flavorful dish
- grilled lobster w miso butter at blue ribbon sushi, but this is ridiculously expensive for the size of the lob
- brunch eggs norwegian (i think that's what it's called): poached eggs, smoked salmon, toasted english muffin, hollandaise, greens, at jolie
- believe it or not, the half plain, half olive and onion pie i had delivered (extra well-done) from antonio's on flatbush last week. it was perfectly balanced crispy tangy greasy old-school bk pizza.
- shrimp sammy at el castillo on flatbush/park pl, with a side of guac salad and fries
- mussels the classic herb white wine butter way at le gamin.
- choc chip bread pudding at blue ribbon. a meal in itself; easily split three ways for dessert.

[BklnChicken]

Ages ago, but Pasta con Sarde at Ferdinando's.

[Nehna]

Bahn Mi at Hanco's (the original or the spicy chicken)
Braised pork dish and the Pastifret at Sue Perette
Ginger ice cream at Blue Marble
Sweetbread hash at Po
Skate at Saul
La Quercia Acorn edition headcheese at Stinky (comes in a little sealed jar, like $20 ea)
Wonton soup (but nothing else sadly) at Me and My Egg Roll

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Hanco's
85 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[Nehna]

I'd like to add the Ukranian Borscht I had on monday at Teresa's -- husband and I were both pretty blown away by how good it was.