Haru Sushi

Before seeing a movie near Union Square, my French friend and her friend she met through her internship on the Upper West Side in an office building, we all decided to grab dinner at a sushi restaurant nearby. Located near Gramercy Park and just a few blocks away from Regal Union Square Cinemas, it was really convienent. 

We met right outside the restaurant on the corner and introduced each other and then walked in. Immediately we were asked if we wanted to take part in happy hour and be seated at the sushi bar or just regular seats. Happy Hour was offered from 3-7pm on Mondays thru Fridays. We had chosen to sit at the sushi bar and order off the happy hour menu. We took about 10 minutes to decide what we wanted. First we ordered drinks, and I had ordered a mojito. 

We then all ordered amongst the three of us a list of rolls and appetizers including: vegetable spring rolls, California rolls, and crunchy spicy salmon rolls. The restaurant also offered spicy tuna rolls for a discounted price during happy hour. Although we only ordered off the happy hour menu, they offer many various other rolls and dishes that you could order off from as well. 

You can look at the various different menus: here. 

After getting all the food we finally dig in and we al agreed that the meal was delicious. When you bite into the crunchy spicy salmon rolls you really hear the crunch echoing in your head as you are chewing. The vegetable spring rolls were not fried which made it delicious. Sometimes having too much fried and oily foods is very unhealthy. The California rolls tasted like any other California roll from any Japanese sushi restaurant or even the sushi that Whole Foods sells. As for the mojito I ordered, it was not as bitter as some places would make so it was good. Overall the entire meal was great and I definitely would come back and introduce the place to other friends. 

220 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 

Cafe Gitane 

Located in SoHo downtown on Mott Street and Prince Street is a little French cafe called Cafe Gitane. When it is nice out, enjoy a nice meal outside while getting some fresh air. However for my friend and I, it happen to rain and snow when we decided to go to the cafe. After opening the door to walk in, there is a step and then curtains and the place is darkly lit. We get out menus and sit down. After glancing at the menu, we reached a decision. My friend and I both ordered cappuccinos. I then ordered avocado toast and the baked pasta, while she ordered a waffle with fruit. Find the menu here.

The cappuccino needed lots of syrup. The restaurant provided a bottle of syrup that could be used in both my friend's waffle and also in the drinks. After getting the food, the pasta was really hot, even the plate. I decided to start on the avocado toast until the pasta cooled off a bit. The avocado toast had a very strong taste of lemon compared to other avo toasts I've had in other places around New York City. The pasta was really good and the way it was made definitely lived up to that name of the dish because it was listed as "baked pasta." It was nice and cheesy as well as filled with many spices that would linger on the tip of your tongue. My friend really enjoyed her dish she ordered and she can find herself coming back with other friends or family.

242 Mott Street

New York, NY 10012

HOURS OF OPERATION

Sun - Thur 8.30am - midnight

Fri & Sat 8.30am - 12:30am  

**CASH ONLY**

Chobani SoHo

On a cold and freezing afternoon during a snowstorm, I met up with my French friend who is studying and interning in New York City for this semester. We had met through another friend of mine who I met a few years ago. Once she said she wanted to try the best food places and try new food, I knew we would get along right away. 

Going for something like a light snack, we decided on Chobani in the SoHo area of the city where you are able to create your own yogurt creation with many toppings or to pick a blend of toppings and yogurt they have picked for the menu. 

After arriving at the location, the place itself is surrounded by all glass windows which lets people who pass by to look in. Not only do they offer yogurt creations, they also offer sandwiches, soup and coffee and tee which you would not think a yogurt branded store would have. 

Click on the menu image for a bigger version. A copy of the menu can also be found here. 

After carefully looking at the menu my friend decided on the half-size "Peanut Butter & Jelly" yogurt creation. The ingredients in it are the original Chobani yogurt, creamy peanut butter, fresh red grapes, concord grape jelly and roasted peanuts. I ordered the full size "Toasted Coconut & Pineapple." It also has the original Chobani yogurt, fresh pineapples, toasted coconut flakes, crushed hazelnuts, light agave nectar. They offer two sizes: half and full size. The half size is approximately the size and amount found in a yogurt cup you purchase at the store where as the full size would be closely equivalent to a store created yogurt parfait with fruit and granola. After finally getting our orders and we started to try it out I asked what my friend thought about hers right away.

My friend said she really enjoyed hers and that she would try to learn how to make the same creation at home with the same ingredients. 

When ordering my yogurt creation, I was intrigued by the ingredients but mostly pineapple because I have never had yogurt with pineapple in it. The "toasted coconut and pineapple" yogurt creation is good for anyone who loves pineapple. The pineapple used in it were nice and sweet, it reminded me of the pineapple from my work. At my work the pineapple we cut and process are super sweet with no hint of sourness at all. I loved having it as a small snack and I can definitely see myself combining pineapple into vanilla or greek yogurt in the future as a home creation made at my house. 

The total came out to be around $12 for both yogurt creations.



152 PRINCE ST. NY 10012
MON-FRI 8AM-7PM
SAT 8AM-8PM
SUN 9AM-7PM

Official Website| Twitter | Instagram

The Smile

"The Smile, which opened in March 2009, is a cozy, subterranean café on picturesque Bond Street in Downtown Manhattan. Located in a landmark 1830s Federal-style townhouse, the café is firmly rooted in the local community and serves as a clubhouse of sorts serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner." - from the About Us page on the official website.

Always being the one to recommend restaurants and nice little cafes to friends to try, this was the first time one of my good friends recommended a place we should try together. My friend, Alexis, and I decided to check out The Smile on Bond Street in New York City. 

The restaurant looks like one of those underground clubs or pubs located in a not so popular street in New York. You have to go down a set of stairs and after opening the door you go through curtains. After entering the American restaurant, a waitress greeted and seated us near the bar and placed the menus in front of us and asked if we would like sparkling or tap water. The place looks so small on the outside but once going inside you really get the look of the full room. It looked twice the size we both thought it would be. 

After glimpsing at the menu, both my friend and I ended up ordering the same food and additional drink. 

You can find a copy of the menu here.

It was a really cold afternoon and to stay warm we both ordered cappuccinos. We each ordered the "Harissa Honey Roasted Chicken Breast" sandwich. The description of the sandwich was listed on the menu as: roasted red peppers, manchego and preserved lemon mayo on baguette. Every sandwich is served with Northfork potato chips and house-made pickles.

 

First trying a few pieces of chips, it reminded me of the chips that you get at Panera Bread when you ask for chips with your order there. The sandwich was really filling. I would recommend going to order a sandwich here if you are starving because you walk out of there being full and completely satisfied. 

The sandwich was extremely crunchy. You hear the crunch and cracking echoing as you take each bite. The mixture of cheese and the red peppers gave it a damp and chewy feel.

The pickles had the mixture of both sweet and sour but because of the sourness my friend and I both were unable to finish the side of homemade pickles. 

After finishing and asking for the bill, it came out to be approximately $20 for both my friend and I each (including gratuity).

Official Website 

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26 Bond Street

New York, NY 10012

Monday to Friday 8am - 11pm

Saturday 10am - 11pm

Sunday 10am - 10pm