NYC Tastes

In between the boisterous sports bars and dark Irish pubs of Murray Hill sits Vatan; a neighborhood staple known for its bejeweled elephant facade, thatched roof tables and the distinct vegetarian cuisine from the  Indian state of Gujarat. Vatan has only one menu, a $34 prix fixe that includes appetizer, entree and dessert, all served thali style.  Guests can reorder as much as they would like and the entire vegetation menu is also available vegan, gluten free and nut free. Simply choose your drink of choice, spice level (entree only) then sit back and let the parade of food begin. Appetizer thali:  Chana Masala~ garbanzo beans spiced with onions and coriander,  Khaman~ puffed cream of wheat flour cake, Batatavada~ fried potato balls in chickpea flour batter, Mirchi Bhajia~ fried hot pepper with garam masala, Sev Puri~ crispy bread filled with potatoes, garbanzo beans, yogurt & chutney; Ragda Patis~ potato cutlet in white bean sauce, Samosas~ savory p...

There's a new brunch spot in the 'hood offering delicious bar food in a casual space without any of those annoying brunch crowds; the  new Gem Saloon inside the former Rodeo Bar. The old country music space has been redone into a bigger, brighter restaurant with tall wooden four tops dotting the circular bar and larger tables in the back with those classic tin ceiling tiles still intact overhead. The brunch menu boasts a variety of plates for just about any appetite; hearty Steak 'n Eggs with hash browns, Grilled Pancakes with fresh berries, Smoked Salmon Benedict and a smattering of lunch options like the Chopped Saloon Salad or Classic Cheeseburger. The last visit I ordered a Grilled Chicken Sandwich served with sliced tomatoes, kale slaw and melted Swiss Cheese on a fluffy roll studded with onions and a side of crispy fries.  It wasn't exactly exciting but it was certainly delicious and at just $14.00 a relative bargain. Plus each entr...

It's extremely rare that Mr. T and I dine at the same place in one month but we feel so in love with Convina we went back the very next night for dinner again! Located inside the Park South Hotel the space serves as two different spots; a cozy cafe up front by day and a sleek, sexy restaurant by night with an open kitchen and gorgeous cocktail bar perfect for dining.  I'm a little obsessed with the Covina Hummus; served with bright market vegetables, warm chickpeas, toasted cumin and pita bread.  The veggies were so fresh they reminded me of my carrots from Blue Hill Stone Barns years ago and the huge platter was perfect for sharing over a drink or two. The menu includes a smattering of small plates along with handmade pastas, pizzas and mains.  Mr. T and I ordered the same exact thing both nights we dined; Wood Grilled Half Chicken for him with perilla and lemon jus... ...and the Covina Burger made from Wagyu and Ground Chuck for me. ...

The newest pizza place to hit Murray Hill is Rocky Slims, taking over the space that once held slice joint Mike Due.  While the cuisine is still the same, the atmosphere is totally different.  Gone are the white tiled walls and rickety tables; they've been replaced with a sleek new bar, exposed brick walls and a wood fire oven churning out whole pies with exotic topping like Smoked beets with ramps and Gorgonzola, and Mussels with burrata and borttarga. We dined in for our first visit and tried out the Classic Pie with tomato, mozzarella, pecorino and basil.  The ingredients were super fresh and I loved the puffy charred bubbles on the crust and light charring on the bottom. My only gripe would be the price...$17 for what they consider a personal pie is a bit more than I'm willing to part with for a pizza.  Our next visit we skipped the sit down restaurant and went directly to the slice counter on the side.  This is where I found one of my favor...