Long Island Restaurant Week (April 3-10)

We all know how I feel about Restaurant Week. This time around it's closest to home. April 3-10 is Long Island Restaurant Week!

I wonder what delicious treats await!

Dine In Brooklyn: DUMBO

So I finally made it to DUMBO, and I love it there! As seen in the photo, the area allows amazing and unique views of the Brooklyn Bridge. DUMBO, which is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that I think is a hidden treasure.

Thanks to Dine In Brooklyn 2011, a few friends and I had the opportunity to enjoy a 3 course dinner at Water Street Restaurant for only $25. It feels like an old tavern, but the menu offers mouth watering southern cuisine, which I didn't expect but I must say was a pleasant surprise.

Going with the theme of embracing the Brooklyn experience, I stepped out of my comfort zone and went for Six Points Sweet Action, a local beer. I won't say that I loved it. Beer is certainly an acquired taste that I'm working on getting my palette accustomed to.

I love that Water Street Restaurant offered their normal menu, unlike other restaurants that offer special menus of items that are not available beyond the restaurant week, which I always thought was weird. If I fall in love with a dish I can't go back and get it again because it's not on the regular menu. But I digress. I started with the Crawfish Poppers, which I absolutely loved. For the entree, I couldn't resist the Catfish in a Quilt (of bacon!) lying comfortably over a bed of black-eyed peas, cabbage and corn. Although I don't usually like sweet/savory combinations, I really loved the spicy pineapple glaze it was topped with. For dessert, I went with the dark chocolate and peanut butter brownie, which honestly wasn't my favorite. The texture of the brownie reminded me of a flourless cake or a vegan dessert. I liked the peanut butter but could live without trying it again.

Even though I'm not a big fan of pie, I would like to try the key lime pie because it seemed to be a popular item among the guests around us. Also on my To Try List are the crab cakes and DUMBO gumbo. I'd also like to try Big B's Deep Fried Deviled Eggs, which Big B himself (also known as General Manager Brian) proudly recommended as his personal contribution to the menu. Brian and the rest of the staff were very attentive, and the entire restaurant had a very comfortable and familiar vibe.

I would highly recommend Water Street Restaurant , and would even go as far as to offer to accompany anyone interested in checking it out (not just to satisfy my own yearnings). There is still time to take advantage of Dine In Brooklyn, whether it's at Water Street Restaurant or one of the other participating Brooklyn restaurants (until March 31).

I'd definitely love to become more familiar with the DUMBO area. The famous Ignazio's Pizza, River Cafe, and Dewey's Candy shop are my first stops.

NYC Restaurant Week: Angelo & Maxie's

Determined to not let the snow ruin my plans again, I finally made it out for NYC Restaurant Week. With my gift card to Angelo & Maxie's it was perfect way to share the experience with my Her Journey team member and blogging buddy Desiree!

The mood was set with a Peach Fizz Up (Absolut, Champagne, peach schnapps and orange juice), a fruity and tasty concoction that put me in a relaxed, island state of mind. We got warmed up with the soup of the day: a black bean puree. The main event, the Filet Mignon au Poivre, packed way more punch than I expected. Even though our waitress sizzled it as a spicy dish, crusted in black pepper, my mouth watered in anticipation, but I honestly underestimated it. It was a hefty cut of meat that was full of flavor and spice. Accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and the biggest stalks of asparagus that I've ever seen, the meal was more than I could handle. I had to throw in the towel prematurely. However, not before topping it all off with black and white cheesecake, which I usually don't eat, but drizzled with raspberry sauce, it was a tasty treat.

After such a satisfying meal, I would highly recommend Angelo & Maxie's, and I will definitely be back. I must go back for the Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich, which they say is for two people but I don't know yet if I plan to share.

The best part is that some of the participating restaurants have chosen to extend the Restaurant Week menu to February 28!

Hamptons Restaurant Week

March 21-28, 2010
*Click on the image for more info.

Journey of a waitress: pt. 1

Disclaimer: Before I start this post, I assure you that I am such a pleasant server. I may come off as hostile in this setting where I'm allowed to vent freely. :)

Now there are some things that are common dining etiquette, whether they're things your mom taught you (like to not talk with your mouth full) or things you just learned them from experience (like which conversations are probably not appropriate for dinner talk). However, there are some other things that are clearly not as commonly known. So I have taken it as my responsibility to enlighten as many people as I can about
"The Things That'll Probably Piss Your Server Off":

1. Bad tips- I think this goes without saying, seeing as how this is what our income is made up of. Tipping etiquette is 15-20% of the total bill. Please note: I am in no way encouraging you to dish out all of your hard earned dollars to a server who delivered poor service. I am, however, making a plea on behalf of all the servers out there working through school and life. Please do reward extraordinary service. A few extra dollars will mean way more to your server than you may think. (I am especially peaved when they compliment me and get my hopes up and then leave $2, but I digress. I could do an entire post on tipping, and I probably will. So I'll save that for later.)

2. When they call you while at another table (or when passing by with a tray of food); or when they shout your name across the restaurant like they're your mother (Note: snapping your fingers is something only done on tv and is very rude in real life)- Although you may need to get your server's attention, timing is important. I just wish one day I could say, "Sure sir. Would you like me to pull the ketchup out of my behind with the extra arm that is not holding this tray of plates or the tray stand?"

3. When you approach a table and they ignore you. "You see me standing here!"; Or if they barely answer you. These are grown adults. "Open your mouth and say what you want!" Because if I don't get you what you want then you'll have an attitude, but it will be YOUR fault because you didn't properly communicate it.

4. This may only bother me, but one of my pet peaves is when people order for other people. Usually you see this with the couples with a weird dynamic. One is afraid to look at you and the other is slightly rude to you and a bit controlling over the significant other. Same commentary from above applies (Open your own mouth!)

5. Asking for something new every single time I pass by; or when I come back with something for someone else is probably one of the most irritating things you can do. "Why didn't you think ahead two seconds and ask for that when I was over here two seconds ago!"

6. Ordering something and then altering it to an unrecognizable state is not only annoying to the server and the kitchen but it seems silly. Now I understand certain alterations for allergies and even some personal preferences, but some of the requests are a bit ridiculous.
True stories:
A lady ordered a bacon cheeseburger and asked for no bacon and no cheese (How come she didn't just order a burger?)
A man asked me to take the pilaf out of the rice...:-/ :-X
-Also, if you have certain allergies or food restrictions, it is your job to specify that or at least ask relevant questions in the beginning. "Sorry sir, I left my mind reading cap at home today. If I had known that you are allergic to mushrooms I would not have recommended the chicken marsala." If your food restrictions are too strict, you should probably stay home and cook whatever it is you can actually eat (or find a restaurant that caters to it). Don't be mad at me because we cannot accoodate your vegan needs.

7. It is not necessary to send things back with disdain and dramatics.
True story: "This is cold!" (Mind you they let it sit there for 5-10 minutes before complaining.) My response should have been "Yes ma'am, food happens to lose heat over time."
P.S. It is highly unlikely that you will receive a refund for a meal that you did not enjoy, IF YOU HAVE CLEANED YOUR PLATE. So don't even try it. (I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.)

8. No it is not your job, but could you please move your drink out the way so that I can put your plate down in front of you? Is it beneath you to help me move the plate from in front of you? (Or would you rather watch me almost fall over trying to reach it from the other end of the table?)

9. Splitting the bill more than 4 ways. 2 or 3 separate checks can be annoying but tolerable. After that is just ridiculous. Come on! We all know how it goes. If you know you're going to dinner, please try to hit up the ATM beforehand.

10. This might take the cake for the present moment. I absolutely hate when parents allow their kids to throw food and make excessive mess. What baffles me even more and I think is even worse is when adults make excessive mess! How did half of your meal, including whole particles of food (i.e. chicken wings) get on the floor?



One day they're gonna push me to the edge and this is what they'll get:


I apologize to all the servers I may have pissed off during my teenage years when I didn't know better.

Next time...let's look on the bright side. It does exist! :-)

I want to hear from you all. What things do you hate to see when you go out to eat?