Upper East Side - Any New Foodie Places?

[menevets]

I'm always jealous of people who live downtown or other neighborhoods with more inspired food choices that aren't too overpriced, but some not so staid places opened up around my neighborhood recently:

Cascabel (Nuevo Spanish)
Luke's Lobster Rolls
Hummus Kitchen
Farinelli Pizza (not yet, but soon)
Shake Shack
Whole Foods???

Any others that I missed?

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Hummus Kitchen
768 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Luke's Lobster
93 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

[RCC]

What is the Nuevo Spanish menu at Cascabel like?

[menevets]

I don't know how to describe it - here it is in pictures:

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/1...

[RCC]

Thanks for the photos. Looks like Cascabel is Mexican. I was really more interested in real Spanish (from Spain) dishes.

[menevets]

There's a Spanish restaurant right next to Wa Jeal. I think it's New Spanish. I've been meaning to try the paella.

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Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[carcrash]

Is that Manolito? I had a paella there that was really great (although probably unconventional).

[Wilfrid]

Cascabel is a tacqueria, not a Spanish restaurant. I prefer taco prices in Queens and Brooklyn, but at least the $8.50 for two tacos here are well-filled. It's one of the better new taco places I've tried - I prefer it to La Lucha and Dos Toros.

[glutton08]

Szechuan Chalet and Wa Jeal are both very good and relatively new Szechuan restaurants

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Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

Szechuan Chalet
1395 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021

[Bob Martinez]

I strongly 2nd Szechuan Chalet.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6786...

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Szechuan Chalet
1395 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021

[menevets]

I eat at both often and agree they are good. Wa Jeal - I think they hired some chefs who worked at the 86th street Wu Le Yiang.

Still waiting for a Trader Joe's to come to the neighborhood. Will that ever happen?

When is the UES Shake Shack least busy?

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Trader Joe's
142 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003

Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[MMRuth]

I was at Shake Shack today around 2:20 - the line was just to the door, and I'd say that I finished my meal about half an hour later.

Wa Jeal - yes, they do have some chefs from Wu Liang Ye, as well as a woman at the front of the house. And, if you ask nicely, they will make you dishes from WLY that aren't on the menu.

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Wu Liang Ye
36 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036

Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[menevets]

Thanks for the tips. WLY makes mean pork dumpings. Any dish suggestions?

[MMRuth]

Yes, the pork dumplings I had at Wa Jeal were wonderful. When I was there, we asked for the jelly fish prepared as it was at WLY - and damn if I can't remember what it's called - a friend ordered it. Don't laugh, but it's sort of jelly fish in a pesto-type sauce, though not basil. One dish that none of us liked was a rabbit dish - just far far too hot (and none of are wimps), and the way the rabbit was cut up into small pieces just left us with every bite having bones in it. The tendons and tripe dish was excellent, as was a very spicy prawn dish. Wish I could remember the actual names of the dishes!

A dish I liked at WLY was the duck with pine nuts - we were told at Wa Jeal that if we called ahead, they could make it for us.

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Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[UES Mayor]

-Casabels is moving two doors south to former Willy's space soon.
-Alloro-great Italian 307 E 77 St
-Pil Pil-Spanish Tapas and wine bar-77th street betewwn 2nd and 3rd north side.
-Ruby Rocks-Former Noodles 28 on 2nd between 85/86th-same owner-newly renovated and much scaled down menu
-Pan Asian-not yet open-for Wu Le Yiang space next tp PC richards on E 86 bet 2nd and 3rd.

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Noodles 28
1643 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

[pbjluver]

I walked by the new Cassabels yesterday afternoon...building received a paint job, and workmen were busy inside. Great news for the neighborhood!

Went to the new E. 86th St. Shack Shake yesterday.
Was not crowded at 2:30 pm...total time of only 20 min. before I was chowing down on their outstanding 'Shroom burger. Lovely outdoor eating area.