Are you looking for Italian cuisine, cheap, and homey ambiance? Lili and I were simply looking for some salad around Greenpoint, Brooklyn but we stumbled upon this friendly Italian restaurant. Even if you quickly scan their menu, you will instantly know that any dish will be so exquisite. We were outside by the menu and had already decided to venture in but then the owner, Papa Gino, was very friendly and further encouraged us to dine. This is the beginning of a long relationship.
Hmmmm..everything dish seemed soo light. We started off with fried artichoke with olives, garlic bread with fresh garlic!...They provide guests with complimentary minestrone soup. Typically, this soup comes with strips of potato but here, they integrate cubed potatoes! Way to be unique or maybe I've never had minestrone soup like that. Overall, you will leave full but not with a heavy stomach at all. Lili and I say this and we ate quiet a good amount here.
I had Papa Gino's signature dish: stuffed pork chop. Umm, when you normally imagine a pork chop, this is not what you will get. You will be served with something special. You need to order this if you are a carnivore.
My dish (Lili) was the most AMAZING dish I have had in a long long long time. Presenting to you ladies and gentleman, Gnocchi alla bava. It's gnocchi with a creamy mushroom sauce. This dish is so simple but yet so satisfying (for those of you who don't know, gnocchi is small italian dumplings). I could definitely tell that the gnocchi was homemade. It was so light and fluffy. After I was finished, I wanted more! Even at this very moment, I'm craving the ever so light gnocchi... mmmm*
Overall, you will leave full but not with a heavy stomach at all. Lili and I say this and we ate quite a good amount here. I also recommend their cafe latte. Ask for Gino and tell him Lili and John sent you! We normally do not want to return to restaurants more than once. However, La Taverna is truly an exception. FYI, they accept credit.
Oh and by the way: Let's reiterate what we had here: Fried artichoke, garlic bread, 2 bowls of minestrone soup, cafe latte, stuffed porkchop with potatoes and veggies, and gnocchi alla bava...total $34.16. SUCK IT SHORTY'S 32! (please refer to our entry for Shorty's 32 and you will understand)
You cannot beat the prices here and the hospitality!
Egg is a brunch joint in Williamsburg. It so happens that this place is a tiny spot for brunch. Therefore, there was a long wait. We waited for at least an hour around 12:30 pm on a Sunday. Yeah probably not a good idea because of wait and seating arrangements. If you are ok with sitting immediately next to a stranger as if in a subway train, then this is your place. Overall, it was pretty tasty! but there are a bunch of brunch spots in NY so no need to be waiting for a sparse number of tables. Neat fact: Egg grows its own produce since 1997 out on a farm to include: eggs, milk, meat, greens, tomatoes, beans, peas, and fruit.
The grits plate. The grits wereeeee okay. There was nothing special about the grits here but don't worry there is better. The country ham and biscuit is pretty tasty. The sweetness of the fig jam and the savory taste of the ham made a unique combination.
You don't even need the syrup! Well, yes you do but you certainly don't need the butta on it. This french toast just about knocked me unconscious as if I got hit by Ray Lewis. So, it's a bit over the top if you are looking for something moderately healthy? but overall, I'm glad I ordered it!
I couldn't say I was too excited about the grits after I ate them but I was preparing to demolish them; however, I took my time and suffered thru it. Yes, I finished it but what can I say. The sausage was flavorful with tiny specs of chili pepper ingrained it it. eggs were eggs. I was hoping that since the place is called "Egg," then I was expecting some kind of exquisite egg display/taste. Naw, I'll stick to the french toast once more..
Eggs Rothko: I decided to pick this dish because I really had no idea what it was. It was a spontanaty and hunger that narrowed my decision lol Eggs Rothko is an easy-cooked egg in a slice of Amy's brioche and topped with Grafton cheddar. Served with broiled tomatoes and side of sausage. Its a very "heavy" dish. So if you're hungry, this dish maybe your choice. I felt that this dish was a little bit on the greasy side. Maybe because of the cheese on the bread. But overall, it was decent.
Dumonts is located in Williamburg - the heart of sick Brooklyn wealth or that is what I heard. It has a mini bar in the main dining area. Once you walk towards the back, there is a back patio. It has warmers in use during the cold winters. Now on to the delicious food. Yes. Yes. Yes. This is definitely the #1 spot to eat at when you are in New York. Yes, it is in Brooklyn. I don't know why Manhattan folk are hesitant to swing by this area but I live here now so I'll be coming here once a month. This is JT's second time here while Lili has been here, I don't know, maybe 43 times. She speaks of the mac n cheese like it's her only love. The first time I rolled in here, they were not serving mac n cheese. And now I have returned to understand the love of mac n cheese. It is true. Dumont's mac n cheese is off the chain. It is different from other Mac n cheese specialty restaurants where it contains different ingredients and flavors, but here it doesn't need to change its recipe. It's a bit expensive 9/14 but it is worth the cost of feeding your cat.
Dumonts is also known for its burger. The burgers here are pretty good but what makes this burger delicious are the "pho" onions. Whatever they did to these onions, for some reason they taste like onions that are in a bowl of "pho". Now, I bet you're left thinking..."what the pho" HA. just kidding! BUT you just have to try it for yourself and you will know what I mean.
Payment. Credit accepted.
$$
On the way to Egg, I stumbled upon Cupcakeland! This is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It initially caught my eye because it the store name had "cupcake" and the exterior is all pink! We got the mint chocolate chip cupcake and the lemon raspberry cupcake. The frosting on the "mc" was fair, not overwhelming like Crumbs. However, this particular one did not have consistent cake composition. Lili's lemon raspberry was tangy but in a good way! The sweet and sour taste to the frosting was a great balance with the moist vanilla cake.
I couldn't say that I would have the urge to come back here again unless I'm nearby Williamsburg and happened to be heading towards N. 5th street.
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