|
|
Happenings, restaurants and real estate in Brooklyn and Manhattan
-
|
New listings- A two family 4 over two totally remodeled w/pvt drive for as low as $ 999,000; a single family upgraded with amazing detail w/ pvt drive for $ 929,00 CALL FOR MORE DETAILS
|
-
La Carafe 653 9th Avenue
(between 45th St & 46th St)
Manhattan, NY 10036
(212) 333-5300 Do you need a place to eat before a Broadway show? La Carafe maybe your perfect solution. This is a small narrow bistro, one block from several theaters is technically a wine bar, but there is a good selection of food, mostly Mediterranean is character. There are many small plates including some interesting hot and cold appetitizers. I find this especially tempting, especially if you are going to sit in a darken theater, which sometimes puts me asleep. Try as many of the small plates as possible, the pasta is well done, but I found the veal tough. The wait staff is friendly, but amateur and has a tendency to rush you. Dinner for four including appetizers main course and two glasses of wine is about $160
|
-
Integrity and honesty is the hallmark of any good real estate broker. Recently, some less scrupulous agents are claiming they are “buyer’s agents” even though they are paid by and really represent the seller. Please beware; unless the broker has fully disclosed and signed an agreement with the buyer and are paid by the buyer, they are not a “buyer’s broker”. In New York, a licensed broker is usually paid by the seller and owes his loyalty to the seller. As a sellers broker, you are often placed in a position of responsibility for the safety of the seller and of their property. It has happened to me that a friend or relative of a buyer, who is a agent, has called me and asked for a commission on the sale claiming that he is a buyer’s agent. Usually, they have had no connection with the purchase. They often use their connection to the buyer as a type of extortion. This is a direct violation of the NY Laws of Agency; you can not be paid by the seller or the seller’s agent and still represent the buyer! But more important, while they tell the buyer that they will help with the purchase of the property, they are doing the opposite by adding costs to the seller. Sometimes this interloper will claim he is a “dual agent”. Again he must fully disclose this fact to both sides and must have a written agreement to this effect. It behooves you to find out, who is paying for his services. Remember money talks and it may not be talking for you! Ask yourself, can they honestly negotiate on your behalf if they are paid by the seller? And who are they representing, besides themselves?!?
|
-
Almost every agent will tell you that a “for sale” sign brings in buyers, especially those just passing by. I wonder about this logic. I know the sign advertises and helps the agency, but does it help you? In has been my experience and I am sure for most other agents that most people buy houses spend some time thinking about where they want to live and do not buy a house just because they walked by the sign. Have you ever walked or driven by a block where there are several for sale signs posted? Certainly this does not help your bargaining position. Indeed in the buyers mind a question might be asked. “Why are all these people selling?” “Is there a problem, I do not know about?” Because of the economy, many houses are for sale a while and buyer’s often try to take advantage of this to offer less than you want. What happens to a sign that is up for a while? Well simply, it gets dirty or damaged. Can you think of a clearer way to say to the potential buyer? “These people are having trouble selling their house, let’s low ball them”. A sign can even be a serious danger. Occasionally criminals use a sign to find an empty house to break into. Also there have been several instances where a criminal rings the bell, inquires about the house then robs or injures the seller. In New York, a licensed broker is usually paid by the seller and owes his loyalty to the seller. As a sellers broker, you are often placed in a position of responsibility for the safety of the seller and of their property. Most agents take this responsibility very seriously. A good agent will want to know as much as he can about whom, especially if they are qualified, he is bringing into a property. I think signs are good for the agency, but not for the home owner.
|
-
Bahar 984 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn NY11230 (718) 434-8088 Bahar has been renovated, and spruced up. It now sports an “A “ rating, but the food is still worth a visit. The service staff is also much improved. The appetizers are the thing at Bahar. You can get kabobs almost anywhere, but Fesenjon, sweet and sour pieces of boneless chicken cooked with walnut and pomegranate juice,… I think not. Other unusual appetizers: Mantu, a handmade steamed meat ravioli covered with yogurt and meat sauce. Or Bolani Kadu, my favorite, pumpkin filled samosas For vegetarians there are several good spinach and eggplant dishes. Our main course was Narieng Palow, an exotic rice dish cooked with orange peels, saffron, almonds and pistachios, served with charcoal grilled chunks of lamb kebab, yum! Alcohol is not allowed, but I recommend the Mango Lassi drink. Dinner for two less than fifty dollars
|
-
Santorini Grill 167 Grand St # A
NY 11211-4294
(718) 388-3668 I have never been to Santorini, but I understand it is a wonderful island. The Santorini Grill lives up to its name. The dishes are simple, mostly grilled with some Mousaka and spinach pies thrown in, but done with a carefulness and passion that separates it from the crowd. The owners circulate and oversee the dinners and that is always a good sign. There was a singer with guitar, and very good, who just happened to be the father of our waitress and you had the feeling that the whole family had put their heart and soul into your dinner and that makes any dinner very special. The baby lamb chops were slightly pink just the way I like them, the Santorini shrimp was served on a bed of pilaf with just enough spice to make in interesting. A bottle of Macedonian wine, hearty but not astringent and there was a smile on every ones face. Dinner for four with wine, appetizer, dessert and tip was $ 150 For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
La Trattoria Italiana 2811 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY 11229 718 648 0334 La Trattoria is a good relatively inexpensive Italian restaurant, with a large open room it is the right place for that office party or large family occasion. While the food is good and the portions hardy, the restaurant has over the decades lost that special something. Still neat and clean the décor and tableware is showing signs of age. Consider La Trattoria as your old, loveable, dependable Italian aunt, you love to go there and eat, but you wouldn’t want to date her. The luncheon menu is a little less expensive, but it is missing all the appetizers etc. that make a meal complete. Dinner for two is about $ 80. For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
Madras Mahal 104 Lexington Avenue New York, NY (212) 684-4010 Madras Mahal is a kosher vegetarian restaurant, that not forgotten that the main purpose of restaurant is to serve good interesting food. Most of the items offered at Madras are standard fare for New York Indian restaurants; although all are kosher and non meat (some are dairy), but there are much larger selection of vegetarian dishes. While the food is good, there is one item that stands out the Dosai. These are very large (over 24”) fried thin double layered pastries, rolled and filled with a large variety of ingredients and served with various dips. Tearing apart and eating a Dosai with more than one person is definitely a way to break the ice. The wait staff is friendly, but clueless, so you have to remind them of what you ordered. The food is inexpensive a full dinner for two is $ 40. For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
Istanbul Fish & Kabob 1725 Emmons Avenue Brooklyn, NY 718 368-3587 There seems to be a spate of Turkish restaurants that have turned up lately, unfortunately not all are up to the task. Istanbul is an older and better standard. While the restaurant atmosphere is not as plush or a large as some, the food is better. Warning because the of the simple small area sometimes the noise level does get loud, but still low enough to talk across the table. While you have to trip your waiter, once you have his/her attention they are very good. Turkish food has some lovely and unexpectantly good appetizers and I recommend the Cacik, fried liver cubes without that oppressive liver smell, or Tarama, an emulsification of salmon roe in olive oil, very nice spread on pieces of Turkish bread. Turkish food excels on lamb and so does Istanbul. Lamb Kabobs are actually cooked to order and just right. But try there fish and if you are really adventurous the octopus casserole with onions, peppers & cheese. The casserole has none of the octopus smell and actually comes out very smooth almost like lasagna. Dinner for four with dessert but no wine is $ 170 For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
Alpha Fusion 169 Eigth Avenue New York, NY 212 687 8888 Alpha Fuson is trying way to hard and not doing the basics. A very narrow space all in black with at least four large tv’s going and very loud techno pop music---sorry not my style. Oh yes, the food, with all this noise going on. I could hardly concentrate on the food and I think the sushi chef’s had the same problem. While the fish seemed fresh, the rice had no vinegar and the Sashimi rice fell apart when you tried to pick it up. Sorry, put the extra effort into your product and not into the surroundings A sushi & sashimi plate for two is $ 40. For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
El Tequilero 1114 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY 347 275 5557 Restaurants are often family owned businesses that represent most of the family’s assets and hopes. It is important to keep this in mind when reviewing a restaurant negatively. There is one obvious exception, that is if the restaurant is not only bad, but a serious health problem and dishonest as well. This is the case of El Tequilero. Needing a place to eat on Avenue U, Brooklyn I first found El Tequilero on restaurant.com. I could not find any reviews, but I did find a menu, which was both inexpensive and interesting. I bought a discounted gift certificate and invited my friends. We got to the restaurant and discovered we were the only patrons there. The restaurant was cold and we noticed a bad smell. We noticed that the menu we were given was more expensive and had none of the interesting items on the website. When we showed the gift certificate to the manager, he refused to honor it, and offered us a 10% discount instead. We all agreed it was time to leave and we went to a very nice dim sum restaurant a block away. I suggest you do the same For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
Padre Figlio 310 east 44 street NY, NY Going back to any restaurant including Padre Figlio, is really challenging. The restaurant is not only competing with other restaurants it is also competing with itself. Padre Figlio is still that very professional and very good food place. The Maitre D’ has everything under control when you step in she/he knows whose a regular and who is a returnee. This was to be a simple meal, just appetizer and main course, but even simple meals should be done well. First the waiter knew his stuff and never missed a beat, reciting today’s specials and making sure you were taken care of. Our appetizers: Fried Calamari and an Artichoke and Asparagus plate. It is very easy to over do Calamari and make it extremely tough and rubbery. Under cook it and you could make someone very sick. The same care was taken with the asparagus plate. Main courses: A vodka al Penne and A steak and chicken Gambetta. Steak cooks best at a different temperature and time, than does a thick chicken ***. They can not be cooked together easily. Most cooks concentrate on the steak and the Chicken is very dry. However my steak was medium rare and the Chicken fully cooked, but still juicy. Yum This simple meal for two with a glass of Chianti was $ 100.
|
-
Nino’s 1354 First Avenue New York, NY I have been to other of Nino’s restaurants and it is a pleasure to say that the First Avenue branch lives up to their high standards. The piano player was excellent and everyone must try Nino’s osso boco or their branzino grille. If this is finished with a double expresso and a slice of chocolate mousse cake, then you have indeed had a very fine meal Unfortunately, we managed to get a waiter who was not up to snuff. We should have realized something was amiss, when he confused or forgot the specials of the night. While other waiters mixed the cesaer salad in front of patrons, he brought out ready made plates. Our waiter was AWOL during our very nice meal, (luckily there were attentive bus boys), but he did managed to fill in a very nice fat tip for himself, when he presented our bill. Dinner for four with an inexpensive bottle of wine is about $ 300 and well worth it, but get a different waiter. For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
Nino’s Positano 890 2nd Avenue New York NY10017 (212) 355-5540 Nino’s seems to have many loyal customers, I noticed the waiters call some of their patrons by name. There is a reason for this loyalty. It is good food with extra large portions and no cut corners. The Jumbo Crab Cakes were almost all crab, no Surimi here. The Caesar Salad was large and loaded with shaved cheese. Sorry, raw egg is illegal in New York State. The double cut Veal chop was enormous with a very good mushroom sauce. A chunk filleted Striped Bass looked like it had come from an Orca. It was crisp on the outside and perfectly done inside. The Grilled Prawns were nice, but a little salty. We did not bother about dessert as we rolled out of Nino’s Positano. One caveat there is a restaurant around the corner with a very similar name. Dinner was not cheap at $ 200 for three without drinks or dessert. For more www.ditmasestates.com
|
-
In Vino 215 E. 4th Street New York, NY 10002
212.539.1011 I am not a big fan of eating in cellars or mud huts, so I find it strange that Invino has decorated its walls with a rough sand texture that reminds me of both. But I guess if you have to distinguish yourself from the dozens of other bistros that have sprung up in Alphabet city, it could be worse. I had the Tre Insalate, three salads, a mint lentil, a bell pepper peporanta and an eggplant salad. The lentil salad barely tasted of mint. The bell pepper peporanta, roasted peppers had not had their skins removed, but the salad was very good. We had a pasta dinner with Bocatini di Liguria, Bocatini in a nice pesto sauce, but strangely without pine nuts. Pappardelle con Gamberi Arrabbiati, spicy shrimp with papparadella. The shrimp needed more spice and a lot less salt. You have the feeling that the chef is self taught, talented, but not experienced. Some dishes like Tre Insalate, antipasti, are enormous, while the Carciofi alla Giudea, literally artichokes in the Jewish style, is very small. I am being a little unfair, most people go to a wine bar for the wine and In Vino had a tremendous and well chosen wine selection. We had the Primativo, a rustic red, that stands up to highly flavored food without being abrasive. The food was good, dinner for three was $ 100, but go there for the wine. For more see www.ditmasestates.com
|
|
|
|