NEW YORK: Rue B

ruebnyc.com
188 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
212 358 1700

Price: Cheap/Reasonable
Rating: Eh
Directions: L to 1st Ave
Reservations: Unnecessary

This place has a great brunch deal ($12 for an entree, drink, and coffee/tea, including tax), but is nothing special. The atmosphere is great and laid back, but the food was bland. I got their eggs with truffle oil, but couldn’t even taste a hint of the oil. It was just a piece of toast over an egg. I was disappointed.

It made me appreciate Paprika more actually since it’s practically the same great deal (Paprika is $12 for the amount of food, minus the tax), but the food there is just so much more flavorful.

NEW YORK: Zaragoza

215 Ave A, New York, NY 10009
212 780 9204

Price: Cheap
Rating: Good
Directions: L to 1st Ave
Reservations: You don’t need them
Must Get: chicken tacos

This deli looked promising, but sadly fell a bit short. We ordered their spicy pork tacos, chicken tacos, and chicken enchiladas. Their chicken tacos were the best of the three, then the chicken enchiladas, and in a far, far, far third came their spicy pork tacos. In their container, the spicy pork looked amazing– moist, tender, etc. but when you a took a bite, the taste was anything but desirable! It left an after taste of medicine, like robitussin! It’s kind of a toss up if I’ll ever go back to this place again… They do occasionally have lengua on the menu which may be worth trying.

NEW YORK: Tuck Shop

115 St Marks Place, New York, NY 10009
212 979 5200

PRICE: Reasonable
RATING: Good
DIRECTIONS: L to 1st Ave, 6 to Astor, RW to 8th St
RESERVATIONS: You don’t need them.
MUST GET: Mince beef pie or guiness steak pie

Australians do not eat kangaroo meat or have shrimp on the barbie every day like stereotypes might have you think. Meat pies and sausage rolls are instead the common delicacies, but don’t worry, you don’t need to take the 15 hour flight just to get your hands on these carb and protein heavy treats. (Haha!) Instead, you can make your way to one of the Tuck Shops in Manhattan. (A tuck shop is what Australians call a school cafeteria by the way. Cute, isn’t it?) My personal favorites are their guiness steak and regular mince meat pies. Pictured above is their Indian chook (chicken) pie– great concept, but poor execution. The big chunks of chicken inside were just too dry. Joe, my favorite Aussie, also loves their sausage rolls, so that’s saying a lot right there. The next time I go back I will definitely try their mac and cheese pie.

Now I highly suggest if you decide to stop by this place, the St Marks location would be a good place to go with friends as it’s more spacious and has more seats. Grab yoursef a pie and a beer now that they have their liquor license– I like James Boags, Joe prefers Coopers. Let me know which one you prefer.