Pukk

71 1st Ave (b/w 4th St & 5th St)

Note: When looking for a cheap reasonable place to dine, avoid Nolita.

A friend and I wandered aimlessly for 2 hours around the area looking for something good yet reasonably priced. Along the way, we stopped for cupcakes and cheesecake but soon found ourselves craving something more substantial.

She was visiting from out of town, so I knew it was up to me to find something. I suggested heading east and bingo—staring at us from neon green lighting was Pukk, a vegetarian Thai eatery off 1st Avenue.

The place was slightly more than half full on a late Friday evening, so we had no trouble getting a table.

We started with an appetizer called Spinach Toast, crispy fritters with spinach and lime sweet chili. The fritters were delish and the lime sweet chili was a nice compliment to the spinach.

The plethora of mock meats on the menu had my dining companion fooled. She didn’t realize Pukk was completely vegetarian until placing her order, Pad Thai w/ chicken. At this point, I informed her everything was soy based. Thankfully, she is an experimental eater, so I knew she would appreciate the change (at least that’s what I told myself before stepping through the door).

Meanwhile, I ordered the Massaman Curry w/ vegetarian duck (curry w/ sweet potato, onion, and peanut).

I really loved my dish; the curry could have been a tad spicier but nothing a little hot sauce didn’t fix. My companion enjoyed hers as well, but pad thai is pad thai. It’s hard to go wrong with such a staple dish unless you really try.

As pleased as I was with the meal, I was even more pleased with the bill. Under $20 (before tip) for what we ordered seemed like a crime. I have not had a full meal for 2 people this cheaply since The Ed Sullivan Show was the thing to do on Sunday night.

Pukk is the perfect place for those looking to eat a decent meal without having to take out a small loan to do so. The cocktail menu is quite impressive, and there are several desserts I look forward to on a return visit, probably with a vegetarian friend or another unsuspecting omnivore…


DAMAGE ~$23
VERDICT: Go

Ost Cafe

441 E 12th St (corner of Avenue A)

Ost Cafe, located in the East Village on the edge of Alphabet City, easily falls into my top five coffee shops in the city.

NYLawStudent and I stopped in for a late afternoon/early evening coffee on a Friday. I had a large mocha and a cookie sandwich cemented together with Nutella. NYLawStudent opted for an iced coffee.

Everything was perfect and delish. I expected the cookies to be hard and stale given the time of day. In fact they were the opposite; soft without being crumbly and ideal for coffee dipping. The coffee was smooth and allowed me to forgive myself for passing on Abraço’s coffee (don’t give me that look…they don’t have chairs and I didn’t feel like standing).

Perhaps the true selling point of Ost Cafe is the atmosphere. With large windows and ample natural light, it has that open airy feel of quaint European cafes. Its location away from the larger avenues of 1st and 2nd is perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a latte with a good read. They offer free WiFi during the week.


DAMAGE ~$7.50
VERDICT: Go

ChikaLicious

203 E 10th St (b/w 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)

3 words: CHEESECAKE-ON-ICE.

Just one of the desserts to expect at ChikaLicious. Although it might not look like much from the outside, the desserts emerging from this tiny eatery barely seating 20 are sure to blow any dessert fanatic’s mind.

Over the past several weeks, my sweet tooth has gotten out of control. By this, I mean finding myself in line for cupcakes in Chelsea despite being late to meetings or my face glued to the windows of chocolate shops in SoHo hours before they open. A week ago, I stepped out of a bar in Alphabet City and smelled chocolate. It was midnight; there was no chocolate to be had.

Imagine my delight when InterSportsWriter suggested we meet over dessert; not dinner, not drinks—just dessert. Wednesday evening, we set out to calm my cravings at where else but a dessert bar run by Chef Chika Tillman called ChikaLicious.

Each dessert is priced at a pre-fixe of $12, which includes Amuse Bouche (a small serving of sorbet intended to prepare tastebuds before the main dish), a Dessert Choice , and a finishing of Petit Fours (an assortment of tiny goodies such as coconut marshmallows and chocolate truffles).

Unable to choose just 1 or 2 selections, my dessert companion and I ordered the following 4:

Fromage Blanc Island "Cheese Cake."

Almond Cake with Toasted Almond Chantilly and Espresso Granita (shaved expresso ice).

Warm Chocolate Tart w/ Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream and Red Wine Sauce.

Sorbet w/ bite sized pieces of apple pie in Caramel Soup (exact name unknown).

We paired our desserts with glasses of Moscato d’Asti, a sparkling dessert wine that was sweet in taste and perfectly complimented our selections.

To describe each item would be completely unfair to my readers and the restaurant. You must try it for yourself. I will say my least favorite was the Almond Cake; I did not have a most favorite but felt partial to the tart for obvious reasons (see addiction to chocolate).

The menu changes weekly, with the exception of the tart and cheesecake, the two most popular items. If you're a cheesecake aficionado, put ChikaLicious on your list. Did I mention cheesecake on ice?

Part of the appeal of this East Village eatery is the experience. How many people can say they have been to a gourmet dessert bar and ordered a pre-fixe dessert? If the place feels pricey (like it did to me), I recommend ordering a pre-fixe dessert paired with a glass of wine for $19, then heading across the street to the sister restaurant Dessert Club ChikaLicious, which only serves cupcakes, cookies, and pudding.

A better idea is to go with a friend, order your individual desserts, eat yours quickly, then distract your companion long enough to inhale his/her dessert before running across the street and buying $2.50 S’more cupcakes for each of you. Trust me on this. Your friend will thank you, once the anger subsides.


DAMAGE ~75
VERDICT: Go

The Bean

49 1/2 1st Ave (@ 3rd St)

When I asked NYLawStudent to recommend a good place for tea in the East Village, I was hesitant when he suggested The Bean. Under the impression The Bean was more coffee than it was tea, I envisioned overpriced Lipton tea bags and bright lights but agreed to meet there anyway.

Upon seeing the vast tea menu, I was intrigued and enthused. I ordered a medium Ruby Slipper (blood orange and pear) and two overpriced pastries; NYLawStudent stuck with a latte.

As a tea aficionado, nothing particular stood out about my tea except for the color, a pinkish red resulting from the blood orange. However, my pastries were a different story.

The first pastry was a triple chocolate mousse cheesecake. It was soft and sweet without going overboard on the chocolate (despite the name).

The second pastry consisted of a chocolate teacup filled with vanilla custard and topped with mixed berries. By the time I worked my way down to the teacup part, I was stuffed and only managed a few bites of chocolate. Overall, I was pleased with my selections, but my wallet was not.

My initial reaction to The Bean was correct; it is more coffee than tea. That said, the vast tea menu is nothing to scoff at, and the pastries were very good. The medium-size internet cafe was filled with students writing papers, discussing midterms, and checking email. If I were a law student or undergrad, I could see myself enjoying the studious atmosphere. I am neither, so the place was not exactly my cup of tea (no pun intended).

I doubt I will visit The Bean again, partially due to the fact it is a chain (there are a couple locations in the city) and partially due to the expensive pastries starting at $7.


DAMAGE ~ $16
VERDICT: PASS

Death & Co.

433 E 6th St

When I suggested an East Village bar called Death & Company to TheStageManager, he envisioned a dark bar scene filled with Gothic New Yorkers. Little did he know…

Death & Co. is a small lounge open from 6-12 every evening and does not accept reservations. The unassuming exterior (no sign or windows) leads unawares to view it more as an abandoned warehouse than a swanky bar. Once inside, the place feels like a spacious lounge, with everything having a golden hue including the furniture.

The first night I attempted entrance with TheStageManager, we were denied. The second time I walked right up to the doorman, asked if he had a table for 3, and was directed to a small booth to the left of the door.

Death & Company does not have bartenders; it has mixologists. Mixologists consider the task of making cotails a form of art; each drink is made with precision and perfection. Several of the menu options allow you to choose your own liquor, which is what the three of us ordered. TheStageManager had the Electric Koolaid Acid Test with Tequila, featuring blackberries over crushed ice; TexasThespian ordered the Little Kingdom with Cognac, a small but strong concoction; and I ordered the Black Market Sling with Gin, another unusual but good mixture.

As much as I would love to divulge my thoughts about the drinks, I would never do them justice. You must go and experience it for yourself. I will say, physically, the drinks were beautiful. The Electric Koolaid Acid Test and the Black Market Swing did very well in the taste bud department; the Little Kingdom was way too strong for me, hence the very fitting name.

There is a secret to getting in, but I am not exactly sure what it is. I have a feeling it has something to do with being a New Yorker (i.e. tourists unwelcome), especially after hearing stories of people denied entrance only to learn later that the place was empty.

Death & Company is one of my top five favorite bars in Manhattan. I loved the feeling of being inside the beautiful windowless bar hidden from the world and the uncrowded aura of the space due to the fact it did not let people in unless there was a seat available. The drink menu was exceptional, and I loved the plug-in-your-liquor feature on the menu.

Negatives include the doorman, closing at midnight, and the booth we were made to sit in (it was right by the door so we felt a draft every time it opened).

DAMAGE ~ $45
VERDICT: GO NOW!

KGB Bar

85 E 4th St. KGB Bar & Literary Journal is a place true to my own heart. The small space features a bar on the second floor and a theater on the third. There are a handful of tables available for sitting and the walls are covered with portraits of dead, important novelists and poets.

I hit up the East Village dive bar on a frigid Friday evening around 11pm, meeting up with a couple of my writer friends. I bought one drink for under $10, cheap by Manhattan standards. We stayed for a couple hours, enjoying lively conversation and watching several bar patrons suck the face off their significant others.

Had I done my undergrad at NYU, I could see KGB being a favorite spot following a midterm or for a cheap theatre show (tickets for whatever was showing upstairs on Friday night were $8). Since I did not do my undergrad at NYU, KGB Bar will remain an option in the future for a literary reading, as they host authors nightly before 9pm.

DAMAGE ~ $8
VERDICT: Go

Pommes Frites

123 2nd Ave.

Several weeks went by before I managed to make my way to a tiny fry place dubbing itself with “authentic Belgian fries.” Pommes Frites in East Village was recommended to me by a friend who lives nearby. The tiny restaurant nestled between 7th Street & St. Mark’s Place on 2nd Avenue that literally sits around 8 is known for having some of the best fries in the city and allows customers to sample their many sauces for free. The wait the first time I tried to go (over a month ago as the temperature was dropping significantly) piqued my curiosity. It was 1am and the line was out the door, despite the freezing weather. I put Pommes Frites on my list and promised myself I would come back at a more appropriate time.

That time came this past Saturday in the morning. I hit the place up right when it was due to open at 11:30 on the weekend. The sign read “Closed.” I hiked the block and returned 10 minutes later. The sign now read “Open” and there was a line. I barely squeezed myself in the front door.

I waited in line watching new batches of cut potatoes frying while the people in front of me sampled and ordered one of the 30 sauces Pommes Frites features with their fries. The fries are served in a cone and come in three sizes: regular, large, and double. Sauces are $1.00 extra, or you can order a combo of any three sauces for $2.50. When my turn arrived, I asked for a sample of the Sundried Tomato Mayo and the Peanut Satay. The guy behind the fry bar handed me a napkin with four small fries on it and a small dollop of both sauces. The Peanut Satay was too oily for me. I ordered a regular order of fries with a combo of the following three sauces: Rosemary Garlic Mayo, Sweet Mango Chutney Mayo, and the Sundried Tomato Mayo. I asked for it to go, and they also give a side of raw onions and regular ketchup with every order.

The regular portion was huge; it took me two settings to finish it. The fries were a bit on the soggy side, but the sauces were very good. The Rosemary Garlic had the perfect combination of garlic and mayo; the Mango was very sweet and tasted almost like Thousand Island Salad Dressing, and the Sundried Tomato was also sweet with a slight kick at the end. I did not favor one sauce over the other as all were equally delicious. The complimentary raw onions were a nice touch as well.

For out-of-towners, if you are looking for an authentic New York experience, Pommes Frites has it. Belgium is known for its frites, so anyplace claiming to have “authentic Belgian fries” is a must go. Although I have had better fries, at another Belgium restaurant no less, the damage to my pocket book was much more appreciative of Pommes Frites. If you have some time to spare, go wait in line, and get your frite on.

DAMAGE ~ $7
VERDICT: Go