THE LION

New York City, New York

Belonging to renowned New York chef and restaurateur John De Lucie, the Lion sits comfortably as a partner to the New York heavyweights:The Waverly Inn, Minetta Tavern and the legendary Monkey Bar. With a discreet entrance just north of Washington Square Park, the Lion is a charming enclave in the West Village reminiscent of an English tavern with heavy emphasis on dark wood features, round wood chandeliers and a mixture of photos on the walls. Unlike a tavern though, the Lion boasts a beautifully adorned central dining room in a double height space, and different to your typical English tavern, the seats are very comfortable with tables well spaced making the ambience cosy yet spacious. On the matter of brunch, which is when I visited the Lion after a very long night of partying, the experience was par excellence and the food provided the much-needed nourishment for recuperation. To start I ordered the Bloody Mary (the non spicy version), which is sufficiently spicy in its own right, so I can’t imagine what the spicy one contains! It was the perfect pick me up, delicious and fulfilling. Starters were ordered to share and we got the shrimp cocktail, which was very fresh with an excellent cocktail sauce (not as good at Ed’s Lobster Bar though). On a lighter note, we also ordered the heirloom salad that came served with fresh avocado, as well as the avocado on toast that proved to be an exceptional choice. What impressed however were the muffins that were served as a precursor to the meal, a substitute to your ordinary bread and butter basket. The muffins, served with maple honey butter, were freshly baked, warm and divine, and worth placing as a menu item. For mains I ordered the Eggs Royale, while a friend went for the Eggs Benedict with crispy bacon, and my other friend ordered the omelette with salmon and fine herbs. All choices were excellently cooked and beautifully presented, where special mention must be attributed to the hollandaise sauce, which was spot on perfection in flavour and texture. With three starters down, a main and a Bloody Mary, we were unfortunately too full to proceed onto desserts and concluded this great meal with a shot of espresso. The Lion lives up to its hype and it comes as no surprise as being one the hottest brunch spots in the city needing a reservation of up to three weeks in advance. Totally worth it.

www.thelionnyc.com

ED'S LOBSTER BAR

New York, USA

Like clockwork, merely two to three hours after landing in New York, I make my way to Soho to have a bite at Ed’s Lobster Bar, a tradition I have upheld for the past five years and intend to do for many years to come; that is until I officially cross the Atlantic and become a New Yorker myself. This marks our second review of Ed’s on the Food Grid, and just as last time it was delicious and fulfilling. Not much has changed in that I ordered my go to drink, the Arnold Palmer, and started with the Shrimp Cocktail that was just as fresh as I have come to expect and with what is the best cocktail sauce there is. Of course no meal at Ed’s would be complete without the Lobster Roll and French Fries, which still commands my opinion as being the best lobster roll in the city; the brioche bun is just sensational. To kick things into a higher gear I also ordered the Lobster Pot Pie for the first time, as every time I go to Ed’s I would arrive around lunchtime and the pie is only served after 17:30 as part of their dinner time menu. The pie, which I had been dreaming of, was a heavenly broth, with the lobster and vegetables perfectly stewed in bisque gravy decadence, topped with a flawlessly crispy piecrust; it is phenomenal. Need I say more? I am just in love with this place.

www.lobsterbarnyc.com

IPPUDO

New York, USA

Ippudo is a ramen restaurant with two locations in New York, one in Sydney, lots  around Asia and one opening in London. I went to their East Village branch for dinner, hoping that the waiting time for a table wouldn't be too long. My friend and I entered just behind a large group of well dressed Japanese girls, and were told the queue would be an hour. Fortunately they let us leave our phone number, so we could walk around until it was our turn. We managed to move a bit too far away, so when they called after only 45 minutes we had to make a run for it and jump in a taxi. Although we were a bit late, the helpful staff had kept the table for us, and we sat down after ordering delicious cocktails at the bar. Since we were going to a second dinner later on at Buddakan we skipped the starters and only had a bowl of ramen each. We had the Shiromaru Hakata Classic and the Karaka Men, both with pork and kikurage mushrooms. We couldn't miss out on adding a poached egg as an additional topping, which provided an amazing texture and lots of flavour. The pork belly was perfect and the mushrooms were super tasty. All of these flavours boiled together in the broth created a hearty, but not too heavy taste. I couldn't ask for anything more from a ramen broth. We finished our bowls to the point of lifting them and drinking out the very last drops. To end this delicious meal, I had a glass of sake, generously poured to the brim and served in a small wooden box. Dinner at Ippudo was a pleasant and yummy experience, eaten within a cool and stylish atmosphere without any pretentiousness. We are very excited for their opening in London!

Update: Read the review of the London branch here (we were slightly disappointed)

   www.ippudony.com

BEST RESTAURANTS OF 2013

Food Grid's Top 10

One month from now the Food Grid will mark its first year being online, a year that we continually celebrated by doing what we do best: eat. Suffice to say, 2013 was a good year for us at the Food Grid as we witnessed the inception of our site, which was once nothing more than an idea casually shared between two friends. It was a year we witnessed the fruition of our idea into a steadily expanding reader base, and most importantly a year where we managed to eat and review restaurants, cafes, food trucks and markets from our base in London to destinations all over the world such as Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul.

Amongst the many reviews, some stand out as being highlights of our 2013-year at the Food Grid, starting with the legendary Granger and Co located on Westbourne Grove in London. When it comes to brunch, few places manage to rival this haven, which continues to attract lines and lines of people every weekend. Ffiona’s on the other hand is much smaller and is ever more charismatic, where no restaurant can match the warm and personal welcome you receive from Ffiona herself when walking through her door, and her pancakes are the best to be had in London. Great service is also not lost on the friendliest New York staff found in the incredible Ed’s Lobster Bar. Aside from the greeting smiles, Ed’s is a treasure that has forever spoiled any other lobster roll for me and as such is a must whenever in New York. Not far from Ed’s to the lower east side of Manhattan lies Veselka, undoubtedly the most unique, serving up one of the best burgers we’ve tried, in the kitchen of a Ukranian restaurant (that meat!). Good meat however is also the specialty of Two Plus in Seoul, a Mecca for meat lovers for its high quality beef rivalling the quality of wagyu beef and being more affordable. Meat lovers should also not forget the charming Spanish countryside restaurant Bedua, which serves large ounces of steak deliciousness served from the restaurants local cattle; fresh food at its finest. Another Spanish gem is Taberna Gran Sol. Although places like this are commonly found in Spain, this one is nevertheless rare, especially with food to such an exceptionally high quality. The endless tapas enjoyed on the street side of this bar are not only delicious but are truly unique and one of a kind. Distinctive tastes are somewhat of a specialty at the Shoreditch hotspot, the Clove Club, where the food not only tastes amazing but also looks brilliant. Beautiful presentation is also credited to the kitchen staff at the Michelin starred Peruvian institution Lima. Never a dull moment at Lima, where the great food is matched with a lively crowd and energetic ambience. Towards the end of year the energy of Londoners has been focusing on trying to get a table at the highly popular Berners Tavern. The much-anticipated arrival of the restaurant was served with a lot of hype, which it certainly lived up to with an impressive cocktail list, a delicious roast and one of London’s most beautiful and majestic dining rooms.

At this point allows us to officially introduce ourselves, we are Nora Nilsen and Hussam Dakkak and we wish you a yummy 2014.

CAFE HABANA

New York, NY

On my very first trip to New York, I went to Café Habana in the beautiful Nolita area. It had recently been featured in a travel guide, and there has been a perpetual queue outside ever since. The meal was so memorable that I have made a point of going back every time I am in town. This casual Cuban/Mexican restaurant serves tacos, salads and even burgers, along with their famous corn on the cob. This renowned snack means that a lot of tourists go to Café Habana, so it is not necessarily the most local and authentic New York eatery in that sense. There is usually a half hour wait, which can be spent in a nearby bar as you are allowed to leave your name and come back. On my most recent visit I was too hungry to do that, so instead I went to the next-door casual drop in where you order at the counter. This was quick and comfortable, as we got a table right away. The corn on the cob is great; served with cotija cheese, chili, mayo and lime. It’s such a simple dish, and so tasty. The quality of their skin-on fries is unstable, but when they are crispy they are amazing. Their food goes perfectly with a cold Mexican coke drunk from a glass bottle. Café Habana is a casual and colourful place, perfect on a sunny day out in Manhattan. 

17 Prince St,  New York, NY 10012

BUDDAKAN

New York, USA

Buddakan is a staple Asian fusion restaurant in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The last time I went I was very last minute with my bookings and only got a late night table. I don’t mind though, as the restaurant almost has a nightclub vibe, and the place probably works best in the evenings. The huge restaurant covers two floors, with high ceilings and a grand communal table in the centre downstairs. Candelabras and gilded books decorate the spaces, with patterned screens in the upstairs dining areas. Buddakan draws a fashionable crowd, and was the site for Carrie and Mr. Big's rehearsal dinner in the Sex and the City film. I showed up in dirty converse and soaked clothes from the rain, so I was very casual compared to the girls in dresses and heels. I arrived straight from a dinner at Ippudo, so I was not very hungry. We only had dim sum, which I might have preferred either way. The main courses at Buddakan are very good, but not too dissimilar from dishes in your average China Town restaurant. Their brilliant small dishes are what really stand out. The steamed truffled edamame dumplings are an absolute must. They have such a creamy and filling texture. One day I want to go there and just order five portions of those. We also tried a range of shellfish and pork dim sum dishes. Another impressive dish was the hirata buns with glazed pork belly. I am quite picky with pork, as sometimes it has a flavour that I really don’t like. Buddakan executed it perfectly though, and I would urge people to try it if you visit. We asked the waiter to recommend one thing, and he suggested the Tuna Tartare Spring Roll. This was actually my least favourite dish, and we didn’t finish it. Buddakan is quite upscale and might seem a bit pretentious, but the prices are not bad considering the standard of the food. I would definitely go back, though I'd try to be more appropriately dressed for the occasion than I was this time.   

75 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

VESELKA

New York, USA

Veselka is a Ukrainian treasure in New York's East Village, naturally offering Borscht, Pierogi and Kielbasa. However on my first visit to Veselka, I was strictly instructed by a fellow food aficionado to go and try the burger. I was skeptical at first as to why I would go to all the way to a Ukrainian restaurant and have the burger, but my friend had been living in New York for twenty years so I knew I had to take his word for it. It’s quite simple really; the burger here is by far the best burger I have had. I am usually quite careful to use the phrase 'best burger', but considering that I was overcome with glee and joy while eating it, it has to be noted that I have not tasted a burger so delicious and yet so simple. The burger is very straightforward and comes served in a sesame bun with American cheese; it looks like what a classic cartoon burger would look like. The ingredients are uncomplicated and as such are a testament to how delicious the beef was from its delectable taste to its perfect texture. I was speechless.

144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

SHAKE SHACK

When it comes to searching for a good burger joint in New York, chances are that Shake Shack would always come as a recommendation. I was introduced to Shake Shack over five years ago, and ever since I have fallen madly in love with it, and whenever in New York I always make a point of eating there at least once; if not twice.  Since its establishment as a humble milkshake and hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, Shake Shack has become an iconic emblem of New York and has now become a global sensation. When at Shake Shack I always opt for the same choices which seem to cover a good portion of the menu. My typical order consists of the Shack Burger, which is a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and the secret shack sauce (incredibly yummy) and the Shack-cago Dog,  which is a beef hotdog served with relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard. Both of these delicious choices, and an order of French fries and a vanilla milkshake, make this the perfect meal for lunch or dinner. The shack burger is delicious, the patty is juicy and delectable and the shack sauce is to die for! The Shack-cago dog however is explosive; it is one of the best hotdogs I have had. The spicy zest of the pepper and the sweetness of the relish along the other condiments concoct the ideal taste in a sandwich. Their signature crinkly French fries are golden and crispy and taste even better when dipped in the incredibly rich and creamy vanilla milkshake. Shake Shack is a must when in New York and at the Food Grid we are just thrilled that it comes to London this summer. We cannot wait.

691 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10036