A Brooklyn Institution, Berger Style: Roll-N-Roaster, Brooklyn, NY

A Berger birthday is cause for a celebration and for Little D's 4th birthday the first stop was a Brooklyn Institution: Roll-N-Roaster. Any place with hyphens in its name piques my interest. A place with hyphens and free parking, is a must stop.

At noon on a cold and sunny Saturday, though, we were not the only ones with Roll-N-Roaster on the brain.  Alas, we had to feed the meter for a parking spot right out front, but it was worth the $1.00 to not have to wait for that free parking spot.

When I saw the parking lot line, I feared the ordering line and was pleasantly surprised to see it was relatively short.  We quickly ordered in the back of the restaurant, found a seat and listened for our number to be called.

The boys and I sat in front of the big window and played with our newly acquired balloons (not just for birthday boys, for all kids) while we waited.  This is Brooklyn at its best: we saw everything from multi-generational families out for their Saturday lunch to an eccentric man literally dressed like a fish.  What I'd really like to do is visit here at 2AM, purely for the people watching.

The menu ranges from burgers to roast beef to fried shrimp to pizza.  Lemonade and champagne.  You want it, they probably have it.

Of course we wanted the whole menu, but sampled only the following:
- Roast Beef Sandwich: JB was slightly disappointed here.  The roast beef, which was supposed to be juicy, seemed dry.  In our ordering panic, JB had forgotten to order the Cheez (yes, Cheez) which I think was needed.  They pride themselves on their fresh Kaiser rolls which seemed on the ordinary side.
- Chicken Fingers: Again, ordinary, but satisfying.  A little honey mustard went a long way.
- Burgers: Per our younger critic, Big Z, the burger was "great, awesome, meaty".  He's 5 and never met a burger he didn't like.
- Fries: The fries here were circles not sticks.  I was worried the boys wouldn't touch a new shape, but a fry is a fry is a fry.
- Corn Fritters: BEST thing on the menu.  Fried cream corn=bite-size perfection.
- Lemonade: Amazing and fresh. Sadly, no refills. (Yes, we asked)

We had some winners, we had some losers.  Will we be back? YES.  I definitely want some champagne with my corn fritters next time.

Until our next Berger,
KLB


Roll-N-Roaster
2901 Emmons Ave  Brooklyn, NY 
718.769.6000
rollnroaster.com

Side Dish: If you go on your birthday, you get the chance to "spin the wheel" for a prize. Prizes range from $5 to $25 off your meal. But you need ID.  Little D at age 4 doesn't carry ID, so they wouldn't let him spin.  So note, if you bring a child on their birthday, you need a birth certificate.  Dumb policy, IMHO.

Quicksie NYC Lunch: Le Pain Quotodien, New York, NY

On the go fast lunches are easy - sandwich at the deli, made to order salad, dare I say drive-thru. But sit down fast lunches with waiter services are hard to find, except in New York City.

At Le Pain Quotodien, a chainlet of sorts, we sat, ordered and were delivered our delicious bowls of spring pea soup accompanied with a mini baguette, in a matter of minutes.

More time for chatting and eating vs. chatting and waiting.

We did wait for a long time for our check though, which made us long for their amazing pastries. But self-control and meetings prevailed, so next time.

In a rush? Try it.

Until our next Burger,
KLB

Locations across the US, but the NYC 3rd Ave & 44th location happens to be extremely speedy and convenient for a work lunch.

www.lepainquotidien.us

An Experience: Hampton Coffee Experience Store, Southampton, NY

I am not a coffee girl. JB is coffee-obsessed, especially lately. So when in between soccer practice and apple picking I suggested we hit the Hampton Coffee Experience & Café in Southampton,  JB agreed. The boys were harder to convince and lobbied for the diner, luckily, this time (FINALLY) the parents won.

Nestled between a strip of car dealerships, the cafe is large and airy, if not a little stark and sparse.  A few leather chairs, two large communal tables and a row of counter-side stools comprise the seating options.  The coffee choices are plentiful and the bean varieties are on display doubling as décor. But I was here for the food. 

A few miles further down on Montauk Highway in Water Mill, another branch of Hampton Coffee offers a full restaurant and it appears that they prep the food there and send it over to be warmed up.  We ordered two sandwiches – a sausage, egg and cheese on ciabatta and a turkey, bacon and swiss on a whole wheat pita.  And some bagels for the boys. 

The bagels came out first, obviously.  They were large and fluffy, and they, combined with cars zooming past outside and the spinning stools, kept them entertained. 

Our sandwiches arrived cold.  The tops were warm but ice cold on the inside.  We sent them back for another round in the Panini press.  Upon return, they were up to par.  My turkey sandwich was light and tasty, despite the bacon and swiss.  JB enjoyed his sausage sandwich and immediately wanted more.

Hampton Coffee also is known for their desserts, so instead of another round of sandwiches, we opted for dessert.  A homemade chocolate chip cookie for Big Z, a large Lemon Square for me and a Chocolate Croissant for JB - Yes, Yes, and Yes. 

By the way, JB did have some coffee.  Two cups of the French Roast and recommends it heartily.
Given the season, they also now have pumpkin coffee.

Great fuel for our pit stop. 

Hampton Coffee Experience Store & Café

749 County Road 39A
(next to BMW of Southampton)
Southampton, NY

631-353-3088

www.hamptoncoffeecompany.com

Burgers, Ramen & Ices: Here & There, New York, NY

Where better to spend the last day of summer than foodie hopping in NYC.  Back when JB and I were full-time city residents, this was a favorite pastime.  It still is, but now our group is a little bigger and involves a stroller.  We had less stops so we had to make them count.

 

Stop #1: Naruto Ramen

This was a JB-stop only.  Not that I don’t like ramen (I don’t love it though), but Big Z and Little D are not fans, so JB went solo.  Lucky him.  He had 30 peaceful minutes eating/sluriping Miso Ramen. Naruto Ramen is a small noodle shop with a few tables and even fewer seats at the counter-JB opted for takeout on the bench outside.  (Note to self: Do not try this in the winter. )

The restaurant separates the takeout soup into two containers, one for the broth and the other for the junk.  The junk here includes the homemade ramen noodles, roast pork, fish cake, bamboo shoots, corn and bean sprouts.  And butter. Yes, butter.  Combine and eat. 

1596 3rd Ave

New York, NY

212.289.7803

www.narutoterakawa.com

 

Stop #2: People’s Pops

Our adventures took us playground visiting in the East Village.  We were hot and needed ice cream.  Knowing that we were having burgers for dinner, I tried to steer us towards something lighter.  People’s Pops did the trick.  

This outside stand on the corner of 1^st Avenue may not be the best location given the abundance of homeless people and tourists, including a drag queen-led tour, but it works.   One man sits at his perch with a massive block of ice.  He shaves the ice and he douses it with your favorite flavor.  We opted for Lemon Mint.  Yum.  And light. And perfect. 

Our younger set chose the more tame strawberry popsicle that was a combination of mik, strawberries and sugar.  The drippy chins were proof of love. 

Check out their website because you too can enjoy this goodness.  They sell their wares at local gourmet markets in the NY area.  

118 1st Ave
New York, NY
347.850.2388

http://www.peoplespops.com/

 

 

Stop #3: 5 Napkin Burger 

And finally it was burger time.  I’d read so much about 5 Napkin Burger that I was drooling when we walked in.  I wanted my burger now. 

Big Z selected a big round table and our drooling continued as we looked over the menu.  So many burgers, so little time.  I could have had anything on the menu.  But I was here for one thing.  The Original.

Now I’m the kind of person that usually needs to alter my meal in some way.  Put something on the side, add something on top – but tonight I was having the Original and I was having it as is. 

Gruyere, sautéed onions and rosemary aioli atop the 10 ounces of beef on a soft white roll.   The Original is the one that is supposed to require 5 napkins.  It doesn’t.  Yes, the combination was good but something was missing.  Salt? Pepper? Maybe.  I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

JB felt the same about his classic cheese.  Good, but not a Wow. 

I think, though, that we’ll be back.  The boys loved their burgers and fries.  The cheddar tots were interesting, although I could have used a few more.  And the place is just cool – adorned with subway tiles and bare light bulbs. 

The menu is big enough for another shot.

150 E. 14th Street

New York , NY

212.228.5500

http://www.5napkinburger.com

 

Until our Next Berger,

KLB

Post-Golf Lunch: Fairway Restaurant, Sagaponack, NY

When you think golf in the Hamptons, you see dollar signs. Most of the time, that’s true. But not at the Poxabogue Golf Center in Sagaponack. This 9-hole course can usually be played for as little as $20, so when JB saw an online special for $5, golf was the new plan for the day. And the minute Big Z came off the course, he had to eat. Luckily, they had a restaurant at the course.

The Fairway Restaurant is really a diner that specializes in breakfast and lunch. It is predominantly a crowd of regulars going for eggs or one of their post-golf specials (there are 9 of those, get it?). But these are rich regulars.

Big Z and Little D each had a hamburger and fries, I had a cup of chili and JB had an iced tea (shocking I know, but he had eaten a bacon, egg and cheese about 90 minutes earlier). $40 later I felt that I had been taken.

The burgers were fine, good even. Fries were soggy and greasy. The “famous chili” was like drinking taco meat. I couldn’t tell you about the iced tea.

Oh well, at least golf was cheap.

Until we eat again,
KLB

Fairway Restaurant
@ Poxabogue Golf Center
3556 Montauk Highway
Sagaponack, NY
631.521.7100

No website for the restaurant, but here’s the link for the course.

Berger Review!: Bay Burger, Sag Harbor, NY

Every time I go to Bay Burger, I am upset.  Why can’t this establishment be closer to me!  If you think about all of the burgers on the East End, their burger is up towards the top of the list.  In fact, the whole restaurant, though not fancy by any means, should be one of the top 10 restaurants in the Hamptons. Here’s why. 

Located on Sag Harbor Turnpike, just a few miles south of the village of Sag Harbor and a few miles north of the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) in Bridgehampton, Bay Burger is a Mecca for both kids and adults.

JB and I started going to Bay Burger when it opened in 2007.  And we keep going, visit after visit. We even had Little D’s first birthday party in their back dining room. 

Standing on line to order, you can tell this is not just your typical burger joint.  Yes, they have burgers and fries, but their burger is made with beef that is ground fresh onsite every day.  Their brioche bun, also homemade daily, comes with a tiny sprinkle of sea salt on the top.  And their toppings are local, fresh and delicious.  While their burgers are hard to resist, you also can’t go wrong with a BLT, falafel or grilled cheese.

On a recent visit, I ordered a swiss burger with the bun on the side and an order of tots (yes, tater tots!).  My burger came draped in cheese yet it seemed unbelievably light.  Unlike most restaurants that cook burgers on a flattop, Bay Burger uses an actual grill, so the fat drips off resulting in a lighter-tasting burger.  After one bite of the brioche bun that was on the side, I realized that I had to eat the whole thing, and quickly wanted another.  Tots were obviously amazing.  Tough to go wrong with tots.

JB opted for the crisp chicken sandwich that came coated in a spicy buffalo sauce with a blue cheese dressing.  While JB would also ordinarily get the burger, he’s been trying to see if he can find a better chicken sandwich than the one he had at Rebecca’s on Block Island.  So far he can’t. 

The boys went for burgers and fries, per usual, and JB and I were hoping they wouldn’t finish so we could have their leftovers.  No such luck.

And because we couldn’t resist, we got one serving of their Joe & Liza’s vanilla ice cream.  This homemade treat is the perfect ending to a burger feast. 

Until our next Berger, KLB

Bay Burger

1742 Sag Harbor Turnpike

Sag Harbor, NY

631.899.3915

 bayburger.com

 

Side Dish: Good news! Bay Burger is now open year-round!

Hola Mexico: La Brisa de Tacombi, Montauk, NY

Within minutes of docking in Montauk after our two day stint in Block Island, I was ready for dinner.  We hadn’t been to Montauk all summer and I’d been collecting a list of new establishments to try.  La Brisa was at the top of the list. 

If Tacombi is the flagship  New York City version, then La Brisa is the Montauk cousin.  Being that’s it is in Montauk, the atmosphere is laid back and surf-like and with a fish-heavy menu.

We dove in. We had to try their guacamole with homemade chips.  Now JB makes a killer homemade guac, so our bar is very high, and this guac passed the bar – excellent.  Lots of lime, not too much garlic and just overall a winner. 

We each had two tacos.  Each taco comes with two made-that-day tortillas.  The restaurant recommends ordering 3 tacos per person, but since we had the guac (and a side of excellent rice), we scaled back. 

I chose steak and shrimp, both had a spicy kick to them with fresh ingredients.  JB chose chicken mole and steak. We both agreed that we could have had more.  I guess the restaurant was right. 

The restaurant is planning to stay open year-round, I hope they do, otherwise I’ll be running to New York City for my next taco fix. 

La Brisa de Tacombi

752 Montauk Highway

Montauk, NY

631.668.3883

tacombi.com/labrisa/

Block Island Highlights: Here and There, Block Island, RI

As we neared the end of our 2-week Staycation, it was time for a change of scenery.  Block Island seemed an ideal choice.  For those of you who have never been or don’t know, Block Island is a small island (obv.) off the coast of Rhode Island.  Accessible only by boat or plane, we chose to travel there via high-speed ferry from Montauk.   A quick 1-hour trip helped get us into vacation-mode and we hit the dock running.  We packed in as much as we could in our 2 days.  Here are the highlights (and lowlights):

Eating

I wouldn’t say that eating was the main purpose of the trip, but we were lucky to have some terrific meals during our stay.

-          Rebecca’s Takeout:  Our first stop. Picnics tables are de rigeur here.  JB had the tasty, but small lobster roll.  My grilled tuna sandwich was super-fresh, although not as rare as I would have preferred.  JB decided to go for another round and had the popular and delicious – buffalo chicken finger sandwich.  That’s right, he went from a lobster roll to a chicken finger sandwich.  And, believer it or not, it was an awesome move.  The servers claim that it is popular both late night and for breakfast.  I understand why; it is a winning combination. 

435 Water Street, Old Harbor

401.466.5411

-          Blocks of Fudge:  For me any beach vacation needs to involve fudge.  JB and I came to this small candy shop on our last visit to Block Island in 2000 and we both still remembered it.  The proprietor is a character and put up with our antics as we picked out 5 different fudge flavors for our sampler 1 ¼ lb. box.  Snickers was far and away the best flavor followed by a tie with plain chocolate and cookie dough.  JB loved the maple walnut and neither of us cared much for the Oreo. 

459 Chapel St, Old Harbor

401.466.5196

-          Hotel Manisses: We decided to splurge on a nice dinner, it was vacation after all. But we had no idea that we would have such a fine dining experience.  The Hotel Manisses is an older hotel, slightly up the hill from the center of town.  I was expecting to have some kind of continental meal, perhaps with an emphasis on seafood.  I was blown away by the innovative dishes that ranged from Vietnamese Pho to vegan.  We could not decide what to order, so we chose 4 courses, all to share.  And a bottle of Malbec to accompany it.

1.       Heirloom Tomato Asian Pear Gazpacho: For some reason, I have not had enough gazpacho this summer. That was a mistake.  JB took the first crack at this which was topped with blue crab (that I don’t care for).  Light on the oil, heavy on the produce, perfection in a cup.

2.       Sashimi Tuna-Mango Poke & Halibut-Yuzu Ceviche: This two-part dish well-complemented the gazpacho and the yuzu flavor was strong, yet not overpowering.  The sashimi was nicely sliced and as fresh as can be.

3.       Lobster Raviolos: When in Block Island, eat lobster.  I wasn’t sure if I would like this dish and it wound up being my favorite of them all.  Two large raviolo were stuffed with lobster and ricotta, and topped with a lobster caprese salad.  This dish is worth traveling to Block Island for.

4.       Moroccan Scallops: JB was especially interested in these scallops as they were procured from George’s Bank, a very deep part of the Atlantic.  They were incredible, large but not chewy and well-spiced.  To offset the spice, quinoa and wilted spinach accompanied the dish.  This was JB’s favorite. While I adored the scallops, I was disappointed in the blandness of the sides.

And, yes, the Berger boys did sit through this meal.  While the Manisses serves excellent, fine dining meals, they do cater to children, too.  A big bowl of pasta, a few refills of the bread and butter (and maybe an iPad or two) and JB and I were able to enjoy this special meal. 

5 Spring Street, Old Harbor
401. 466.2421

blockislandresorts.com/dining-2/hotel-manisses-dining/

-          Froozies:   A few doors down from our hotel was Froozies Juice Bar &  Café, located at the back of the National Hotel.  An ad in one of those local tourist magazines featured breakfast burritos and I was intrigued.  What I didn’t realize that this is a vegetarian place, so while I could have said burrito, it would have no bacon or any meat for that matter.  That being said, JB was somewhat disappointed in his egg and cheese sandwich – mainly because it was lacking bacon.  I, however, loved my burrito of egg whites, tomatoes, pesto and mozzarella. This was the fuel I needed to bike the island.

26 Dodge Street, Old Harbor

401.466.2230

frooziesblockisland.com

 

-          The Oar:  As our final on-island meal, we took our bikes to the Oar.  Keep in mind it was a Thursday, after Labor Day and there was a wait for lunch.  This is one popular spot. Right on the water in the Old Harbor, we sat at the picnic tables playing cornhole waiting for our table. 

The restaurant is literally covered in oars.  Patrons donate their oars each summer and they are nailed up on the walls.  JB wants to put one up next time.  This place looks like it will be a dive bar with average food, but it's not.  They actually have the best sushi on the island to go with some pretty tasty seafood. 

JB went the dive bar route with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder and a BLT (he really had missed that bacon from breakfast I guess), and washed it down with a can of PBR.  I went for the sushi side of the menu getting truffle lobster avocado tacos and a spicy tuna roll.  The tacos were small (as the waitress had explained), yet full of flavor.  And the spicy tuna roll was well made and enhanced with cucumbers.  It certainly wasn’t Nobu, but it was the ideal meal after a long bike ride with still a few miles to go.  And a place that should be on everyone’s Block Island go-to list. 

221 Jobs hill Rd, New Harbor

401.466.8820

http://blockislandresorts.com/dining-2/the-oar/

 Lodging

I will not be returning to our hotel, the Water Street Inn.  Big Z, walked into our room, and asked, “Um, why is this room so small?” Small, wasn’t really the issue, although it was pretty small. Instead, it was the fact that the room had not been thoroughly cleaned (we found candy bar wrappers underneath the bed that we definitely did not consume), the A/C unit was so loud it kept us up and the lock on the door was barely functional.  But for 1 night, a location right in town and a low price of $130 (less than the cost of the round trip ferry!), we were fine. 

 Activities

There is enough to do on Block Island to keep a family busy for a whole week, or even a whole month.  Other than eating, we focused on two things: Beaching and Biking. 

The beach is always a destination for us Bergers.  We chose to go to Ballard’s Beach because it was just a 5 minute walk from our hotel AND it has bar-service on the beach.  I’m sure it’s not the nicest beach on the island, and it is a “daytripper” destination. Did I mention that there was bar-service on the beach?

JB did not want to go biking.  He wanted to rent a moped.  They sometimes call Block Island the “Bermuda of the North”.  We compromised that he would rent a bike, if I pulled both boys on a trailer behind my rented bike.  Some compromise. 

Block Island is not even 10 square miles, but it felt like I biked 100.  Pulling 80 pounds of Berger boys uphill is no easy feat.  It was worth the pain, though, to explore more of the island including the South East Lighthouse which has magnificent views.  And the boys especially loved the Abrams Animal Farm which has exotic animals (read: cross-breeds) including my personal favorite, the Zedonk – half-zebra, half-donkey. Plus, we were able to burn off some of the calories consumed on the trip.

Resources

If  you are planning a trip, a simple Google search will get you most of what you need to know about Block Island (other than Bergers & More, of course).  But the New York Times never fails me, especially this great article about late summer in Block Island. 

Until our next Berger Adventure,

KLB

 

Another BBQ Lunch and Dessert: Bobbique and Queen City Cupcakes, Patchogue, NY

Another vacation day, another lunch out. As the clock is ticking on summer, we found ourselves in the town of Patchogue today about 20 miles west of the Hamptons.

Patchogue has in recent years undergone a renaissance of sorts. The main street now houses good restaurants, interesting shops and refurbished theatre. Fresh off our BBQ lunch at Townline last week, JB was eager for some comparison eating at Bobbique. Note: I was sort of still full from last week

The restaurant was relatively empty but that didn't deter us. Big Z insisted on one of the 2 booths in the window which to our delight was right in front of their vast beer list. I was thirsty and jumped at the opportunity to enjoy a Bronx Pale Ale with my lunch. JB, ever the golfer, chose an Arnie Palmer and had at least 3 free refills much to the server's dismay.

I couldn't do another heavy meal, so I chose the BBQ shrimp platter. Each platter comes with 2 sides, and in hopes of sharing with my boys, I selected Mac & cheese and corn on the cob.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I was happy to receive 3 skewers of shrimp brushed lightly with BBQ sauce. The shrimp were well cooked and flavorful. The Mac & Cheese came in a small cup and was homemade. Little D devoured the corn.

JB's order, per usual, was meat-heavy. A half-rack of St. Louis ribs was meaty but too saucy for me. His sides of potato salad and coleslaw looked mayonaisse-y from my seat, but spot according to JB.

The boys, surprise, had a burger and fries. This kids burger came in 2 patties and was well-seasoned.

And because we were exploring we went down the street for dessert at Queen City Cupcakes. This quaint shop is part bakery, part housewares store. It was a little too dainty for my family, JB muttered "bull in a china shop" so we hightailed it out of there before anything was broke with a bag full of treats. A large black and white cookie, a rainbow cookie and a brown butter salt cookie. Everything sounded and looked good but the only true winner was the black & white. Maybe a cupcake would have been a better choice.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

Bobbique
70 W. Main Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
631.447.7744
bobbique.com

Queen City Cupcakes
62 W. Main Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
queencitypatchogue.com/

Labor Day Fun: John Scott's, Westhampton Beach, NY

John Scott's is a summer tradition. A glorified shack across the street from the ocean, John Scott's is only open in the summer and there's no better place to temporarily forget your troubles. Unfortunately, it's not a secret and cars can line Dune Road waiting to get in on any given day. Some people are there just to drink, others just to eat, but usually, it's both.

Over the years, I've had most of the items on the menu. And some visits have been better than others, so my expectations were low. This Labor Day weekend may have been one of the beat meals I've had here, ever.

It was an even number of kids vs. adults, 3 vs. 3, so while each of the boys had a burger and fries, the adults split an order of mussels. Mussels are something I rarely order and then when I do I remember that I should order them more often. The mussels at John Scott's are in a rich tomato sauce. The dish comes with bread to help mop up the sauce but JB started using the boys' discarded hamburger buns, too. (That's a sign that he liked it!)

For my main course I had the shrimp Caesar salad. I though maybe if I was lucky I'd get 4 shrimp, and I got double that on a skewer over a well-made salad with just the right amount of dressing. I felt so lucky as I washed down my salad with my Corona light listening to the acoustic guitar player overlooking Moriches Bay. For about 2 minutes. Then Big Z was up and running, but for 2 minutes it was one of those perfect summer moments.

Just a side note, JB also had a burger and declared it straight-from-the-freezer terrible and fishy tasting.

Next time he'll follow my lead.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

John Scott's Surf Shack
540 Dune Road
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
631.288.5810
No website, but check out their Facebook page.

A Southampton Date Dinner: Tutto Il Giorno, Southampton, NY

Our 2-week long vacation, well mostly staycation, only afforded us one kid-free night, so I chose a place that had long been on my list - Tutto Il Giorno in Southampton. On a Thursday evening in late August it was hopping. Their reservation policy is only same-day reservations accepted, so I dialed right at 11AM and secured an 8PM table. When we arrived they were at least a dozen people waiting as we breezed in.

The restaurant is candlelit yet loud with tables close together and relatively hectic service. It does have a Rome meets the beach kind of vibe.

We went straight for drinks. And feeling Italian, I had a prosecco and JB had his perennial favorite, the Aperol spritz.

The menu is comprised of antipasti, pasta (primi) and meat (secondi). Many of the antipasti looked good but ordinary. Yes, the burrata and their tuna tartar were tempting, but I felt pressed to go for pasta. We opted for 2 primis and 1 secondi, all to share.

JB is a traditional pasta eater. He always wants to try the most simple dish. He's a fan of less is more. Their spaghetti with tomatoes nailed it. A few ingredients - homemade spaghetti, in season tomatoes, basil, delicious olive oil - made this a standout dish. Our second primi was a heavier dish, a wider noodle called Paccheri with a beef ragu. This dish was HOT, not spicy hot, but temperature hot. When it cooled down, the pasta remained al dente, howver the meat was overlooked and lacked seasoning. 

We shared a grilled branzino as our main course. The dish came split into two plates, which always makes life easier for sharing. JB declared the fish perfectly cooked (although I did find a few fish bones). Ratatouille accompanied the fish, which after watching the movie so many times, was a pleasure to actually eat. I will say though that once our dishes were placed at our table we did not hear from our server for a very long time. This was definitely the dinner rush part of the evening. My glass of rose which I had ordered after we finished our pasta came just before dessert. JB's vodka martini came during the fish course, but still not soon enough.

Things calmed down for dessert with a well-executed molten chocolate cake and an espresso for JB. As previously mentioned, I had my rose.

Looking back, I enjoyed the meal - the scene, the food, the drinks and certainly the company. But the service was really quite bad, and for a meal that exceeded $200, it should have been better.

I should mention that one of the owners of the restaurant is Gabby Karan DeFelice, daughter of Donna Karan, and I've heard that this can be a celebrity hotspot even though we didn't see any. This is the restaurant's second location. The first is a few miles away in Sag Harbor. Come fall, a third location is set to open in Tribeca. I'm sure the food will be just as good but I hope the service improves.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

Tutto Il Giorno
56 Nugent Street
Southampton, NY 11968
631.377.3611

No website ....but some good info on Zagat.com

Square & Round: L & B Spumoni Gardens, Brooklyn, NY

Maybe it was the much-hyped VMAs, but I was feeling Brooklyn this week. And what better place to get your Brooklyn on than at L & B Spumoni Gardens. 

About 5 years ago, JB and I were obsessed with a show called Man vs. Food. The show's host was from, you guessed it, Brooklyn, and he criss-crossed the country taking on small food challenges, like consuming 20 inferno-hot spicy chicken wings in 5 minutes or eating a 5-lb cheeseburger. The show didn't last that many seasons, mostly because of health concerns for the host. But what did last was my memory of one particular spot he visited -- L & B Spumoni Gardens in his hometown. And this week, we finally went. 

L & B Spumoni Gardens is an institution of sorts. Founded it 1939, it is an Italian restaurant, pizza place and ice cream shop all-in-one on a corner of a not so trendy area of Brooklyn. Let's just say it's close to Coney Island. This is a place worth traveling to and the throngs of people who frequent this establishment agree.  As we sat outside at one of many picnic tables we saw everything from soccer moms to EMTs to, well, us.

The draw here is Spumoni and pizza or pizza and Spumoni. Depending on your priorities.

First, the pizza. There are two kinds: square and round. Round is your traditional cheese pie- it is good, but average. The square, however, is the star. I mean star. A traditional Sicilian slice it is not. The secret to their success is that when they make the pizza, they put the cheese (mozzarella) IN BETWEEN the crust and the sauce and then more cheese (pecorino romano) on top. This produces a sort of yummy gooeyness inside with a nice crispy, thick crust. Note to any other pizza makers: Try this. 

JB made two trips to the pizza window for us, the second batch of slices were even better than the first. Next to the pizza window is the ice cream window.  In addition to the Spumoni in their name they also have ices and regular ice cream. We tried it all. 

 
JB opted for a vanilla spumoni which also had pistachio ice cream and chunks of the nut in it. I shared a lemon ice with Little D and Big Z opted for a plain-old vanilla soft serve. While the spumoni was good and somewhat obligatory, we all believed the ices were the best. So we got a coconut ice to share which was even better than the lemon ice. 

We left L & B with full bellies, vowing to come back. Next time, I want to try the Italian food with a slice of square and an ice on the side.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

L & B Spumoni Gardens
2725 86th Street Brooklyn, NY 11223
718.449.1230
www.spumonigardens.com

Vacation Lunch:Townline BBQ and Levain Bakery, Sagaponack & Wainscott,NY

To me vacation is all about lunch. Most of my non-vacation lunches are had sitting at a desk shoving some kind of salad down my throat while on a conference call - on mute, of course. So when JB suggested a lunch at Townline BBQ, I was in.

Townline BBQ is a roadhouse of sorts, albeit a Hamptons roadhouse, with counter service and awesome BBQ. Technically, it is in the village of Sagaponack - between East Hampton and Bridgehampton - and at 12:30 on a hot summer Wednesday, it was packed. So packed, in fact, that we had to wait 10 minutes for a parking spot. Like I said, it is a Hamptons roadhouse.

The inside is super casual with a long communal picnic table down the middle and more individual tables down the sides. The "No kids allowed" bar has flat screen TVs, a dart board and a pool table, but we'd have to save that for another day. (Actually, we've had pretty amazing winter bar specials here in the past like $1 sliders and .25 cent wings. I hope they have them again this winter.) JB ordered while I secured a table for the 4 of us. He came back with an abundance of meat:
- 1 order of burnt ends
- 1 order of short ribs
- 1 order of brisket
- 1 order of fries

The burnt ends are typically my favorite. I'm a sucker for anything burnt. Strange, I know. While these were burnt, they were a bit too saucy on this visit. I like burnt and dry, perhaps in homage to my mom's cooking. (Sorry, Mom!) The brisket was dry and good, but ordinary when compared to the short ribs. I later learned that JB had recieved a reccomendation from the Pitmaster. They were perfect and huge. The closer to the rub, the better it tasted. I hope that JB can recreate this at home. Fries looked good, little D liked them the best. I did not partake.

Because we hadn't eaten enough, we had to stop at Levain Bakery down the road in Wainscott for their famous chocolate chip walnut cookie. They call it a cookie, but at $4 this "cookie" is like a blondie and cookie combined into one. It is massive and when you bite into it, it is still soft on the inside with the walnuts giving it the perfect amount of crunch. It must be 1,000 calories, so I'm proud to say that we didn't finish it in one sitting, but I wanted to. FYI, Levain in Wainscott is only open in high season, but you can indulge each and every day at one of their two locations in NYC, either on the Upper West Side or in Harlem.

And with that I made a promise to myself to be back to salads for lunch - after vacation.

Until our next Berger,
KLB

Townline BBQ

3593 Montauk Highway
Sagaponack, NY 11962
631.537.2271
www.townlinebbq.com

Post-season be sure to check their hours/days of operation and those winter bar specials.

Levain Bakery
354 Montauk Highway
Wainscott, NY 11975
631.537.8570
www.levainbakery.com

See their website for other locations.

Quicksie Roadside Greek: Greek Bites, Moriches, NY

Greek Bites is one of those places that you really don't want to share, it's that good.

Who would guess that a non-assuming roadside stand on Montauk Highway in the small town of Moriches would have consistently amazing falafel, souvlaki, gyro and moussaka. They have incredible hummus and a tangy and delectable eggplant dip. JB's favorite, taramosalata (caviar spread for the unitiated), is spectacular.

The challenge here is space. In the summer, you can sit outside watching the trucks go by as top 40 blares from their speakers. I usually dance while waiting for the food. It is pleasant for about 10 minutes, and luckily, that's just about how long this food lasts in our family.

In the colder months, though, there is no indoor seating, so this is strictly a takeout establishment. But, unlike most other places in the greater Westhampton area, they deliver. So visit or dial today.

Greek Bites Grill & Cafe
183 Montauk Highway
Moriches, NY
631.874.0700
greekbitesgrillandcafe.com

More Food Truck Fun: Riverhead, NY

Another day, another food truck adventure.

Yesterday, we attended a charity concert for All For the East End (AFTEE) that was complete with a 70s Disco Dance Party with Nile Rodgers and Chic, a leather-clad and platform-shod Adam Lambert and some serious DJ action from Avicii.

But before the show, tastes from the many visiting food trucks comprised our dinner. Our culinary journey took us to several corners of the world while we sat in a vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island.

Here's what we tried:

- Montaco: For $6, we had a fishy tasting, if not tasteless, shrimp taco. Six minuscule shrimp, one slice of radish and a squeeze of lime were the only ingredients on a sad yellow corn tortilla. This especially bummed me out because according to their website, their shrimp should include tomato, avocado and spicy mayo on a blue corn tortilla.

montacotruck.com

- Palenque Food: After spending $6 on the bad taco, the $5 we spent on a cheese arepa was the best money ever spent. For those of you not familiar with an arepa, get familiar. Fast. It is a corn-based flatbread with a variety of toppings and/or fillings. Our cheese version came with tons of oaxacan cheese topped with arugula, chipotle mayo and cilantro (plus a little butter thrown in). This is lighter and better than any pizza you could ever have. We took an extra cilantro sauce and JB tried to drink it. I wish this food truck would park on my street forever.

palenquehomemadecolombianfood.com

- Hibachi Heaven: Every year JB asks if we can go to Hibachi for his birthday, and I always get out of it, so I was excited that he could just have Hibachi from a truck. Two birds, one stone. Unfortunately, this operation is flawed starting with the pre-cooked, cold rice. Even with a hot topping, we choose tofu and vegetables (chicken and steak are also on offer) the dish never really gets hot. JB declared it pedestrian and akin to mall food. Guess I'll have to take JB to Benihana after all.

hibachiheaven.com

- Carl's Steaks: JB loves a traditional Philly Cheese Steak. I am not a fan. The bread is too soggy and neither shaved beef nor Cheese Wiz is my thing. The Philly Cheese Steak at Carl's Steaks is traditional and has all of the ingredients that dissuade me from taking more than one bite. JB, as expected, loved it.

carlssteaks.com

In addition to those main components of our eclectic meal we also tasted the coffee from the ever delicious Hampton Coffee Company and tried a close to amazing blondie from the appropriately-named Blondie's Bake Shop.

And then it was time to dance off the calories.

Until our next Berger, KLB

North Fork Pizza: Grana, Jamesport, NY

We all know that the North Fork of Long Island has become a destination for the wine lovers and drinkers in New York and beyond, but what you may not know is that it is also a destination for pizza. And since its inception in 2010, Grana in Jamesport is the North Fork pizza destination. On our recent Saturday night visit, it was packed with everyone from babies in their infant carriers to patrons tipsy from an afternoon at the wineries. We were somewhere in between that spectrum. Maybe leaning a little towards the post-winery side.

And everyone is there for the pizza. Our party of 8 had two pies. The classic margherita and their most popular pie, the NoFo. The margherita looked amazing: a thin, charred crust with huge pieces of fresh mozzarella. But this is a knife and fork kind of pizza. I learned the hard way when I picked up a slice to give to little D and it collapsed. The cheese actually slid right off the slice and onto the table. On the second try, it tasted as good as it looked.

The NoFo has the same tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella as the margherita, plus add roasted onions and sausage. This is one heavy slice. I didn't make the same mistake twice and held it with both hands as I gently transferred it to my plate. This was certainly a crowd pleaser, although the sausage had a bit too much fennel for my liking.

JB surprised me with an order of their take on an eggplant parmesan. Two large olive-oil doused, roasted eggplant discs came covered in mozzarella (noticing a trend here?) with a side of heavily-sauced linguine. A definitely party in the mouth.

Grana is also famous for their meatballs. We had two orders of these fresh-ground pleasers. This would be a perfect simple meal if Grana didn't have all of the pizzas to choose from.

This is the kind of place where you could go every week, get your favorite pizza and one other special. I hear they change often and are always the perfect complement to any pizza.

Until our next Berger, KLB

Grana
1556 Main Road
Jamesport, NY 11947
granajamesport.com

Bistro Bar Bites: Little Red, Southampton, NY

Eating at the bar is not a new thing for us, but lately we are obsessed. Seeing the interplay between the bartenders, sitting side by side, not having a server worrying about "pacing" your meal - all make the overall experience more fun and more enjoyable. Yes, eating at the bar has its time and place, and I recommend you make time to make Little Red that place.

A traditional French Bistro, Little Red is the casual sister to the more formal French restaurant Red Bar, also in Southampton.

While casual, it is not necessarily less expensive, but the food is more proletariat, more attainable. They have your requisite steak frites and roast chicken, but they also offer burgers, pizza and grilled cheese, French style, of course.

JB was craving a burger. And I was happy to oblige, especially when we were presented with the cheese choices: American, cheddar, blue or brie. A brie burger? Easiest choice I've made in months.

The cheese kept on coming when we also ordered a flatbread pizza with gruyere, fontina and arugula. And truffles, let's not forget the truffles.

The bartenders gave me a generous pour of the house Pinot Noir (another plus of sitting at the bar) as we nibbled on delicious baguette and butter. And then the cheese parade marched in.

We dove into the burger. The burger itself was thick and juicy, but the brie was the star. Why more restaurants do not serve a brie burger is beyond me. Each bite was better than the last.

The flatbread pizza was paper thin with beautiful grill marks. The gruyere fought with the truffles for the leading role of this dish, but I'm happy to give the award to both. And the truffles were plentiful so that each bite had truffles AND cheese.

We flirted with the idea of cheesecake for dessert to round out the night, but alas it was time to turn in the cheesecloth.

Until our next Berger, KLB

Little Red
76-C Jobs Lane
Southampton, NY
631.283.3309
www.littleredsouthampton.com

Mid-Summer Update: Starr Boggs, Westhampton Beach, NY

At the start of this season, we reviewed dinner at Starr Boggs. We were surprised to find the dinner not up to par, but we knew it may have just been opening night jitters. After dinner last week, we were right. Starr Boggs is back and better than ever.

On a recent Thursday night, JB and I were pleasantly surprised to find a completely packed restaurant. Without a reservation, we had assumed we'd be dining at a bar table. And even those were taken. Luckily, we found a spot at the outdoor bar.

In our small town, the bar is always a fun spot since you never know who you might run into. And you benefit from the same quality food, but in a more casual atmosphere.

We had just been to a movie where we couldn't resist the popcorn, so we opted for some appetizers only. We started with a tuna dish that offered two different types: a seared ahi tuna and a tuna tartar. We should have doubled this. JB and I tried to share fairly. It was hard. Both tuna options were excellent, better than any recent sushi we'd had.

To compliment the cool evening, we chose a heartier dish: tagliatelle with truffles. The homemade pasta was excellent, the sauce had a light touch of cream and a heavy touch of truffles. Another win.

In lieu of a third appetizer, JB wanted dessert. The list is long but we settled on the chocolate pecan pie. This is no traditional pecan pie, instead it is more of a chocolate pie adorned with pecans and caramel, plus some vanilla ice cream. A glass of port made the dessert even better.

This was the perfect date night: movies, truffles and dessert.

Until our next Berger, KLB

Starr Boggs
6 Parlato Drive
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
631.288.3500
starrboggsrestaurant.com

Hamptons Waterfront Dining Part 2: Saltwater Grill, Westhampton Beach, NY

As we continue on our quest for the ultimate Hamptons waterfront restaurant, we look closer to home at Saltwater Grill in Westhampton Beach. Housed in the Dune Deck Beach Resort, this is the place if you want oceanfront dining.

Large picnic-style tables line the vast deck along the dunes where you can enjoy an al fresco lunch or dinner. A large bar with tables for appetizers and an area for the band, complete the outdoor setting. During the week they offer the usual specials to draw a crowd (think lobster night, pasta night, etc.), but on the weekends no specials are needed to pack the place.

Ask yourself the question: Who wouldn't want to have dinner oceanside listening to live music? And you'll understand why there is almost always a wait at Salwater Grill.

Whether the wait is worth it is up to you. Over the course of recent visits, we thoroughly enjoyed the fried calamari appetizer which is laced with a buffalo sauce and is super spicy. Yet the ample hummus platter lacks flavor. The chicken milanese (one of my favorites) is pounded thin just how I like it and adorned with a pile of greens. Fish tacos are popular and deserve that recognition. I am on the fence about the lobster roll because while it tastes good, it has a green tinge that makes we wonder.

There are definitely more positives than negatives and you can't beat the location. Stick with the basics and you'll have an enjoyable evening, especially if the band is good.

Until our next Berger, KLB

Saltwater Grill
Dune Deck Hotel
379 Dune Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
631.288.1485
dunedeck.com/dining.html

Hamptons Waterfront Dining: Canal Cafe, Hampton Bays, NY

Living in the Hamptons, we often run into the ultimate oxymoron - great waterfront dining. It is not easy to find. The view is almost always the best part of any Hamptons waterfront establishment. We keep trying to find one that is the whole picture -- great food, great view and reasonable prices.

The Canal Cafe in Hampton Bays comes pretty close. The restaurant overlooks the Shinnecock Canal (hence the name) where one can watch some pretty impressive boats cutting across the South Fork of Long Island.

As you can imagine, a place like this gets fairly packed on weekends and does not take reservations. I had called about 15 minutes ahead to see if there would be a wait at 5:45PM on a Saturday. I was told "no wait now", so I implored JB to haul it. Our car screeched into the marina parking lot where I jumped out of the car to put our name down. We grabbed the second to last outdoor table. Phew.

The setting really is spectacular. If the chairs were a little more comfortable (mine was metal, JB's was wood and little D had a stool), you could sit there all day. Alas they do need to turn their tables and therefore they try to keep the meal pace moving.

Seafood is the name of the game here. The blackboard of specials is longer than the printed menu. Order them fast because once they are erased from the board, they are gone for the night.

JB was in the mood for an appetizer so we opted for the fried calamari. I'd give it a B+, it had the right amount of breading (not too much), the fish itself tasted deliciously fresh, but dare I say it was a little bland. Luckily, they provide a spicy tomato sauce for dipping. They do have another killer looking appetizer on the menu - lobster corn fritters - I'll get those next time.

Our mains were from the Specials Board. I chose the Grilled Tuna Sandwich for just $14. I asked for the tuna as rare as possible. The sandwich was simple - tuna, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta bread. The fish was cooked perfectly and I thought the ciabatta was a good compliment. The dish also came with fries that I generously donated to my boys.

JB opted for the lobster roll which was a fair-priced $22. It was actually listed recently in Hamptons Magazine as one of the best lobster rolls in the Hamptons. He disagrees. Yes, the lobster itself was good, but it was on the same ciabatta bread as my tuna sandwich and it overpowered the lobster. The lobster should be the star which is why the hot dog bun usually reigns.

Our landlubber boys, of course, had a well done burger with some fries, and it may have been the al fresco atmosphere (or the Corona Lights) but I thought it was excellent.

Speaking of Corona Lights, I'd also recommend a kid-free stop at Canal Cafe for a drink, to listen to the live music and watch the boats go by. It is a mini-vacation of sorts.

Lunch, dinner or drinks, go. And go early. The line was out the door when we left.



Canal Cafe
44 Newtown Road
Hampton Bay, NY
631.723.2155
thecanalcafe.com