Dining out in
New York City (https://www.nycgo.com) and
the Manhattan area is always such a treat. And on our most recent trip we made
some Jewish connections to certain restaurants.
IL MULINO: Noted Jewish businessman Jerry Katzoff is the chairman of the ever growing Il Mulino New York group of restaurants; his wife Lee serves as vice-president. Brian Galligan is the president.
Founded in Greenwich Village in 1981, Il Mulino New York originated as an intimate and esteemed eatery serving local foodies in the know. Today, it has grown to 17 locales which attract “A” list celebrities and dignitaries. Il Mulino New York focuses on the authentic cuisine of Abruzzo and serves expertly crafted dishes with unparalleled service. For more than 38 years, its flagship Greenwich Village restaurant remains top rated in New York’s dining scene. The premier hospitality group portfolio also has outposts via its different brands Downtown, Uptown, Tribeca, the Hamptons and Long Island in New York as well as Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Sunny Isles Beach, Atlantic City, Boca Raton, Nashville and Orlando.
For our family vacations in Sunny Isles, Florida in years past one of our favorite dining establishments was Il Mulino New York at the Aqualina Resort. On this trip we experienced Il Mulino Prime in Gramercy (https://www.ilmulino.com/prime/gramercy), located at 43 E 20th Street. This modern steakhouse and Italian restaurant features inspired cuisine and choice cuts by Executive Chef Michele Mazza. Located in the heart of Gramercy-Flatiron, Il Mulino Prime embraces the signature style and unparalleled service attributed to the success of Il Mulino New York. Savor prime dry-aged meats and inspired Italian cuisine at our modern Italian steakhouse. Sun-dappled by day and sophisticated by night, Il Mulino Prime is a versatile venue that is easily customized for any crowd or occasion. The dining room can accommodate 50 guests.
We were greeted by the manager on duty Roland. He
immediately introduced us to our very charismatic server named Stefano, who
knows a great deal about Canada.
A nice plate of crackers, cheese, focaccia and cold
cuts was brought to the table to get things started. Roland handed us the wine
list and we decided to share a bottle of pino grigio. As appetizers we two orders of delicious tuna tartare with avocado and
chips, some jumbo shrimps and an order of burrata and tomato and crab cakes
with zesty garlic sauce. For the main course the ladies remembered how much
they enjoyed the risotto langostino from the Florida location and for them this
was the only option. They were pleased with their choice. As for me it was the
veal chop Milanese, topped with a light arugula salad that got my attention.
Stefano said it was a house favorite. It was thin and crispy the way I like it
and cut like butter. I savored every morsel.
Next time we will consider some of the other much talked about dishes: grilled octopus, calamari, prime filet mignon and Bucatini Amatriciana. For dessert. Roland asked if he could surprise us and that he did with a sensational plate which included cheesecake, chocolate cake and tiramisu. For a final nightcap we each had a glass of limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur which had a very sweet taste to it.
Il Mulino Prime is described as an Italian steakhouse that has been so popular that they are now opening one in Chicago and looking to expand that brand, which features some Il Mulino New York classics but with a bigger slant on steaks.
There
is also an Il Mulino New York gourmet product line, which offers items such as
sauces, pastas, infused olive oils, and more (ilmulino.com/shopnow ).
In Canada they are available at the four Pusateri’s Fine Foods
(www.pusateris.com) stores in Toronto.
Reservations are recommended by calling 212 777 5314.
JUNIOR’S RESTAURANT: Hail a taxicab anywhere in New York City and tell the driver, “Take me to the best cheesecake in New York.” Odds are you will end up at one of the Junior’s Restaurant (www.juniorscheesecake.com) locations. There are two in New York City and one in Brooklyn, as well as another at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut and a bakery outlet in New Jersey.
In June 2017 Junior’s Restaurant opened its second Times Square location at 1626 Broadway and 49th Street just a few blocks away from its sister restaurant at 1515 Broadway. Known for its no-frills, diner-style comfort food, I got a much sought after table at the newest Junior’s. There was a one hour wait that evening.
Founded by Jewish restaurateur Harry Rosen in
1950, Junior’s landmark restaurant is known as the home of New York’s best
cheesecake. For decades, Brooklynites (and other New Yorkers) have come to eat,
laugh, and kibitz (chat) over cheesecake. In the 1950’s, an entire generation
came of age at Junior’s. Their cheesecake was as important as the Brooklyn
Dodgers…the Fox Theater…Coney Island…Brighton Beach. Today loyal
customers still come –from all over and all walks of life: famous mayors,
Presidents, Hall of Fame athletes, authors, singers, movie stars and more.
With a full menu ranging from steaks to seafood
and sandwiches to salads and cheesecake, there was a lot to choose from. I
asked my server Gregory to guide me and he started me off with their trademark
beverage: the chocolate egg cream, which
consists of milk, carbonated water and flavored syrup. You
can even follow the recipe on the glass they pour it into. Gregory then brought
me a piping hot bowl of matzoh ball soup. Given the fact this was my first time
there he wanted me to try and old favorite: the single potato pancake with
apple sauce. This is one big latke, crispy and delicious. I knew I was going to
have a sandwich and once again I turned to Gregory. There are four Reuben
sandwiches and he insisted that the combo (corned beef and pastrami and grilled
sauerkraut and swiss cheese on rye) was actually the best of its kind in all of
Manhattan. For the finale, I could not
leave without dessert and I opted for the devil’s food cheesecake. It was half
cheesecake and half of the most decadent chocolate I have ever tasted. This was
a piece meant for at least two people so I forced myself to stop at a certain
point. At the table next to me, a dad ordered a huge piece of cheesecake for
his seven year old daughter. He took out a $50 bill and said that it was hers
if she finished it. She tried and about half way through grabbed the money and
wisely did not consume the entire piece.
The
Junior’s story began
long before Opening Day in 1950. In 1929, Harry Rosen opened a restaurant on
the corner of Flatbush Ave Ext and DeKalb, a luncheonette called the Enduro.
Over the years, he expands the restaurant to several storefronts occupying the
entire corner. After weathering several changes in the economy, including
Prohibition and the Great Depression, Harry expanded the Enduro to a full
service restaurant with a night-club atmosphere including a raised bandstand
with live entertainment.
After World War II, the returning servicemen did not have time
or interest in visiting nightclubs and fancy restaurants. Brooklynites were
busy rebuilding–their lives, their families, the city and the country after the
war. The Enduro closed its doors in 1949.
Harry Rosen was determined to recreate a restaurant on that famous corner. It was to be a new family-style place. Saddled by debt with the failure of the Enduro, he scraped together every dime he had and built Junior’s Restaurant, named in honor of his two sons, Walter and Marvin.
When
Junior’s opened on Election Day in 1950, it was a modern restaurant in every
way–with new neon marquee sign similar to the one on the Paramount Theater
across the street, wood countertops and naugahyde booths. Junior’s had
become a landmark from the start with bright orange awnings adorning the
windows and the red, white and blue bunting that draped the restaurant on that
famous Tuesday in November, 1950.
Junior’s in the 1960’s was a place where all colors of people in
all styles of dress could gather without tensions. Good food and good service
became the great equalizer. Harry was a keen competitor and when it came to
cheesecake he was determined to have the Best in Brooklyn. Baker Peterson and
Harry perfected a cheesecake recipe by the 1960’s that had become a very
popular dessert. They conducted laboratory-like experiments until they hit upon
the magic formula. The same recipe and techniques are still in use today.
DEL
FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE: One of the
restaurants very high on our list for this trip was Del
Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (www.delfriscos.com). We had previously dined
at this energetic, luxurious three-story restaurant, located at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, three years
ago and we were anxious to return.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, with 16 locations across the
United States, is an ultra-premium steakhouse providing a distinguished dining
experience with personalized service in a breathtaking atmosphere, offering
bold, delicious fare complimented by an expansive, award-winning wine list.
Boasting a vast selection of USDA Prime wet and dry-aged steaks such as the 45
Day Dry-Aged Double Bone-In Prime Ribeye “Double Eagle Steak,” modern takes on
fresh seafood, signature side dishes and mouth-watering desserts, the
one-of-a-kind menu distinguishes Del Frisco’s as an American culinary
institution. Each restaurant features an impressive wine list curated in-house
by teams of the industry’s finest sommeliers and are perennial winners of the
Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence.”
The New York location can accommodate
more than 500 people at a time. The
18,000 square foot restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking
views of Sixth Avenue, truly bringing midtown Manhattan to life for every diner
as Radio City Music Hall’s lights shine brightly in the distance. Our table
faced the Fox News building. As a new junkie it was unique to see the latest
headlines flash across the screen on the facility’s façade. The restaurant is
often packed with the city’s broadcast, business and sports elite and is an
ideal locale for visitors looking for a top-notch dining experience before or
after a Broadway show.
Our
server Stephanie was excellent, providing us with superb guidance for both the
food and drink menus. Two members of our party started off with their signature VIP cocktail, Svedka Clementine
Vodka infused with fresh Hawaiian pineapple.
I treated myself to a glass of prosecco.
For
the appetizers we shared the shellfish plateau: Chilled
Alaskan King Crab Legs, Iced Jumbo Shrimp and Chilled Crab Claws. We added six
delicious oysters to the order. This was a meal on to itself. Next camea Caprese salad, a simple Italian
salad made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and green basil, seasoned with
salt and olive oil. It closely resembles the colours of the Italian flag: red,
white and green. This was easily split in three.
Since Del Frisco’s is known for its fantastic steaks, that is what we wanted to sample. Stephanie recommended the bone in filet and the bone in prime rib eye. As sides, she suggested we try the Cauliflower and Brie au gratin and the sautéed wild mushrooms and pearl onions. She was right on the mark. For our meal, the sommelier brought us a bottle of Chablis.
We
left just enough room to enjoy their fabulous lemon cake split in three for
dessert.
Del Frisco’s also recently unveiled new menu updates to appeal
to guests’ modernized palates and now offer a refreshed take on the
restaurant’s classic steakhouse fare. In addition to staples such as rare cuts
of wet-aged steaks and fresh seafood, the menu now includes a variety of
elevated classics including Wagyu Beef French Dip, Lobster Roll and Sautéed
Chicken Picatta, along with eclectic appetizers and sides like Seared Rare
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Crab Fried Rice and Thick Cut Bacon Au Poivre. It has a wine list of over
1,200 selections.
Del Frisco’s offers specials tailored to holidays like Valentine’s
Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as prix fixe menus to make things a
little simpler for everyone. If you’re planning a bigger gathering for holiday
celebrations, their private rooms can accommodate anything from a couple of
tables to 75 or 100 people, with amenities like a separate bar, dedicated
service, flat-screen TVs and other niceties. All it takes is a phone call to
one of their coordinators, and they’ll be happy to set you up with whatever
your holiday plans might entail.
Recently Del Frisco’s refreshed its bar offerings nationwide.
Inspired by creative, culinary twists on their classic menu offerings and guest
favorites, the new menu is now available at all U.S. locations and features
carefully-curated and hand-crafted menu offerings, five of which are available
at all restaurants and three of which are distinctly unique to each location.
The localized dishes were masterfully created by each restaurant’s executive
chef, bringing flavors of their communities to life with flair and
sophistication.
The new bar menu features the following dishes,
available at all locations: cheesesteak eggrollswith
sweet chili and honey mustard sauces; dry-aged burger with white BBQ
sauce, wild mushroom butter, arugula, Havarti, toasted brioche bun and hand-cut
fries; salmon
crudo comprised of ora king salmon with lime and miso; Alaskan king crab cocktail,
served with stone mustard sauce; and corndog battered lobster tails with
grilled corn remoulade and creole honey mustard
Examples of localized dishes include: shaved black truffle wagyu
hot bogserved
with foie gras, apple balsamic chutney and pickled daikon slaw (New York City); tempura shrimp sushi cones, made
with sticky rice, avocado, pea shoots and ponzu (Atlanta); portabella lump crab
stack with avocado, pickled shallots and sweet soy aioli
(Las Vegas); lamb
lollipops accompanied by fennel arugula slaw and cucumber
dill yogurt sauce (Orlando); and oyster po’ boy featuring Cajun
mayo, fresno peppers and hand-cut fries (Charlotte)
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse presents chef-driven cuisine that’s bold and delicious as well as an extensive award-winning wine list. Each restaurant, while consistently offering a personalized and memorable experience, features its own distinctive setting, décor and character.
You can call 212-575-5129 for reservations.
OCEAN PRIME: If you are looking for
one of the best seafood and steak restaurants in New York, Ocean Prime at 123
West 52nd Street should be at the top of the lost. Located
in the heart of Manhattan, Ocean Prime (https://www.ocean-prime.com)
sits amongst world-class museums, theatres and corporate headquarters.
Centrally located, it offers an impressive menu of seafood and prime cuts of
steak, signature cocktails, a Wine Spectator-honored wine list and truly
genuine hospitality.
Spanning 7,400 square feet
and a 2,500 square-foot mezzanine, Ocean Prime seats more than 275 guests and
features private dining rooms to accommodate more intimate gatherings and
celebrations. An expansive seasonal terrace seats 50 guests to enjoy al fresco
dining. The bar and lounge area is a
welcoming, relaxing space for guests to enjoy expertly created cocktails
handcrafted by talented bar chefs, while a separate sushi bar showcases the
freshest, most delicate and impeccably sourced fish, providing a total seafood
experience..
This
place only opened in 2015 and quickly gained a reputation for excellence.
A modern
American restaurant and lounge, Ocean Prime falls under the umbrella of
renowned restaurateur Cameron Mitchell. There are currently 16 locations
from coast to coast, with the original, Mitchell’s Ocean Club, in their home
base of Columbus, Ohio.
The restaurant specializes in
incredible seafood and prime steaks. Their menu features classic dishes crafted
with a modern sensibility and an appreciation for ingredients. With lighter
fare, like their shellfish cobb salad and sushi, as well as more indulgent
items like the smoking shellfish tower, juicy steaks and decadent desserts,
there’s something for every occasion.
This place’s passion is to offer
exceptional service and truly genuine hospitality to each and every guest.
Our server was Giscard and he
guided us beautifully through the superb menu selections. We each started off
with some glasses of wine and then indulged in a spectacular selection of Dutch
Harbor King crab legs and six delicious oysters. In addition, we shared some
sushi in the form of a lobster roll – poached lobster tail, kiwi, pickled serrano, masago and
spicy mango. It had been a while since I enjoyed a bowl of lobster bisque and
this piping hot option truly hit the spot. The two ladies chose wisely with the
sea scallops for their main course, accompanied by parmesan risotto, English
peas and citrus vinaigrette. I was in a steak kind of mood and when Giscard
described the bone in filet, dry aged for 28 days, it sounded perfect. This was
one fantastic cut of steak as others around the table concurred when sampling
some pieces. I added some lobster mashed potatoes on the side, something I do
not get to sample on each menu. One of
the managers, Evan Walcher, came by and tempted our palate with one of their
signature desserts – the warm butter cake with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream
and raspberry sauce. It was the perfect
way to end a fabulous dinner.
A special pre-show theatre menu is available Tuesday
through Saturdays from 4 pm to 6 pm and all night Sunday. There are also
gluten-free friendly menus for lunch and dinner.
For reservations call (212)
956-1404.
PATSY’S: A few years ago I made my first visit to Patsy`s Italian Restaurant (http://www.patsys.com) and
boy was I impressed. On the occasion of their recent 75th
anniversary I was invited back to the iconic 235 West 56th Street
location and I jumped at the opportunity.
Only
a few short blocks from Times Square, this legendary Midtown Manhattan spot had
been known for years as Frank Sinatra’s restaurant of choice and has become a
favorite with countless stars including Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Ben Stiller,
George and Amal Clooney, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez, to
name a few.
Founded
in 1944 by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo, Patsy’s has been in its current and
only theater district location (in the building next to the original site)
since 1954. Over the course of 75 years, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant has had
only three chefs; the late Patsy himself, his son Joe Scognamillo, who has been
at the establishment since the tender age of seven, and Joe’s son Sal Scognamillo,
who has been manning the kitchen for the past 32 years.
Sal makes it a point to meet with all of the customers, so many of whom are regulars. “The fact that the owner, the family is still here, it means a lot to a lot of people,” he said. “That’s how Patsy always wanted it, and that’s how it’s always been. We treat people as if they were in our home. Grandma and Grandpa said, ‘This is the food we cook at home, a bigger kitchen, a bigger dining room. Just take care of the people.’”
The
75th anniversary has attracted a slew of celebrity guests. The cast
of Jersey Shore were there just a few days before me.
Sal
came to my table twice during the evening. I remembered his warmth vividly from
my previous visit. He runs such a superb establishment. Sal is a proud owner.
While his 87 year old dad still comes in regularly, he is preparing for the
next generation. His eldest son Joseph is working at the restaurant and showed
me to my table. Sal and his wife, who gave up her law practice to join the team
at Patsy’s, live on Long Island. Sal comes in almost every day, working a 10 am
to 11 pm shift, and loves every minute of it. He spends the early hours in the
kitchen and during the evening works the two floors and mixes with the
customers. The restaurant can seat 180 people and with its lunch and
pre-theater specials, is busy all of the time.
Patsy’s
attracts a varied clientele, including an extremely loyal following of regular
patrons, Italian food aficionados, tourists, and celebrities. They enjoy the
restaurant’s remarkable signature dishes, including succulent veal chops
Siciliano, spicy lobster Fra Diavolo, tender chicken contadina, and savory
calamari stuffed with seafood. Spectacular seafood such as striped bass
marechiare, lobster oreganata, and shrimp scampi are always requested, as are
meat favorites like sirloin steak pizzaiola with peppers and mushrooms, stuffed
veal chop marsala, and chicken livers cacciatora.
I was
dining alone on this evening, as other members of the family enjoyed a show
nearby. My server Adriano gave me
time to review the appetizing menu. I started off with a glass of prosecco and
an order of fried calamari, with some delicious marinara sauce on the side. I
followed that off with a magnificent chopped salad. It was as good as I
remembered from the last time. For the main course there were so many options.
I looked at the signature dishes and elected to go with the veal rollatine
marsala, stuffed with parmigiana, ano-reggiano and prosciutto. It was sautéed
with onions, mushrooms, prosciutto and marsala. Adriano brought me some fried
zucchini sticks on the side, shaped just like French fries. I was pretty full
after this absolute treat of a meal so with time on my hands I took a 30 minute
break until Vinny passed by with the dessert cart. The chocolate mousse cake
was screaming my name out and I absolutely could not resist the
temptation. I finished every last
decadent morsel, with some decaf to drink. Sal came by again to make sure I
enjoyed my meal.
I was
glad that I had a nine block walk to meet up with my family, for I needed some
exercise after this very special dining experience.
For more information call (212) 247-3491 or log on to www.patsys.com where you can view the entire menu. Sal wanted me to share with readers the fact this is “the only” Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in the world that his family runs. The temptation to franchise might be there, but why mix with perfection?
By Mike Cohen
