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Student Eats in East Village

Thursday, June 30th, 2011
PorkBuns

Pork buns of Momofuku fame.

The sole ambition of a college student with free time is to find something to do without accomplishing anything. Because after all, it takes a lot of effort to juggle going to classes, doing homework, participating in clubs/athletics and other extracurriculars, writing papers, reading assignments; the list goes on. With so much being accomplished on a weekly basis by students, when free time does roll around, sometimes you just want to turn off your brain and find something to do that requires no effort. When all of your free time escapades succeed or fail, hunger may beckon.

Whether you dorm or commute, there are reasons to covet a decent meal. Resident students know that no matter how good on-campus eateries may be, there’s always going to be a craving for a home-cooked meal or a dish from your favorite restaurant back home. Commuter students can relate because setting aside time to eat can be tough when you have to spend time traveling to and from school.

For students of New York City, I’ve outlined a few recommendations for when that free time rolls around:

  • Pommes Frites – If you are ever in the mood for a simple snack, Pommes Frites is the place to go. They specialize in making delicious Belgian fries, cooked to a perfect crisp. They offer a generous variety of sauces (20+) and they are a must have with your order, especially if you’re looking for a change of pace from ketchup, mayo and mustard. Service is quick and they even offer samples of the sauces before you pick so take advantage. Located at 123 2nd Ave between E. 7th Street and St. Marks Place
  • Punjabi Deli – I have had my fair share of Indian food and can safely say that Punjabi Grocery and Deli is an excellent spot if you’re craving Indian food or looking to try it for the first time. Be forewarned: much of the food is pretty spicy. But it is one of the most inexpensive Indian food joints and they offer various vegetable Indian specialties over rice or roti, samosas and even chai tea. It’s a small establishment, but definitely worth trying once. Located at 114 E. 1st Street between 1st Ave and Ave A
  • Momofuku Noodle Bar – Momofuku is definitely a unique Asian fusion establishment. It is a popular spot for dinner so you should definitely expect a wait or arrive at opening. Their ramen noodles are delicious, though a bit pricy. You can enjoy a large dinner of two whole fried chickens (one southern fried, one Korean fried), however the chicken is by reservation only. If all else fails for you here, you may find solace in ordering the pork buns. They are so good you are going to want to place an order of pork buns to go after you’ve tried them. Located at 171 1st Ave between 10th and 11th Streets
  • Oaxaca – Oaxaca Taqueria comes to Manhattan after seeing success with its 3 Brooklyn storefronts. The restaurant is sleek and clean upon entering and they have plenty of interesting taco options from chicken, pork or fish to vegetarian selections like potatoes or beans. They also have great savings during taco happy hour featured on the coupon posted below. Definitely check them out if you’re looking for tasty, cheap tacos. Located at 16 Extra Place off of E. 1st Street

–Christopher Cusack, Hofstra University

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Posted in Cheap Eats, onCollege, onFood, onFun, Restaurant Reviews, Uniqueness in NYC | 2 Comments »

When the price of pizza can become a problem

Monday, June 27th, 2011

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved pizza.  Like most everyone that I know, I love pizza with all my heart, soul, and taste buds, and it’s been a staple of my diet for pretty much my whole life.  My taste for a good slice has grown up with me, and long gone are the days of my childhood when I ate solely cheese pizza, and wouldn’t deign to eat the crust, no matter how hungry I was.  But with a more sophisticated pizza palate comes certain demands on the wallet that can become, well, demanding.

That's what I'm talkin' about

When I moved to New York to start going to college, I became acquainted with some of the city’s finest slices, and despite the onerous price of a simple slice from a top-notch NYC pizza place, my constitutional love and need for pizza obliges me to grab a couple at least every few days.  As New Yorkers know well, when it comes to pizza (and everything else) the city simply has the best. I like to try new places, but above all others, my favorite slice comes from Joe’s on Sixth Ave, across from Minetta Lane.  A slice from Joe’s is huge and thin, with melted mozzarella sitting on top of a delicious sweet tomato sauce, always fresh from the oven due to the spot’s brisk business, and it’s basically my ideal slice.  I love Joe’s pizza with or without a little extra parmesan or red pepper, at lunchtime or late night (open until 4 a.m.!).  The only problem with my devotion to Joe’s pizza is the price.  At $2.75 per slice of plain cheese, Joe’s is not exactly cost-effective.

Which brings me to the other best thing about eating in New York.  In addition to offering the best of the best, the city has more pizza places than anyone could ever try, among them a number of places that sell dollar slices.  With a steady diet of slices that cost only a dollar, even the most cash-strapped pizza lover can indulge his every craving.  Of these cheap pizza paradises, the best and certainly best known is 2 Bros’, which just opened a second storefront a couple doors down from the original on St. Mark’s, between Third and Second Aves.  At 2 Bros’, you can find a line that ranges from a few people to a small mob, depending on the time of day.  But no matter how many people are on line, you will get to the front in less than five minutes, since 2 Bros’ has perfected the science of express pizza.  The fleetest fast food joint can only hang its head in shame at the speed of 2 Bros’, where there are generally more pizzas than you can count in various stages of preparation behind the counter, and one can see three or four customers served at the sole register in under a single minute.  And most importantly, 2 Bros’ meal deal of two slices and a soda costs the same $2.75 as a single slice at Joe’s.

For a pizza lover/borderline addict like myself, satisfying my pizza needs without spending too much cash comes down to compromise.  My inner connoisseur wants to get a fancy slice every time, without worrying about the price.  But in the end it’s not worth devoting too much budget space to pizza, especially when it can be an every-other-day habit.  So when I’m nearby, have some time, and it makes sense, I head to Joe’s.  When I’m in a rush, have been spending too much lately, or went to Joe’s the day before, I go to 2 Bros’.  And when I want something new, I try one of the city’s other eight million pizza places.

—Aaron Brown

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Good, Cheap Coffee: Not a Mirage

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

For many New Yorkers, there’s not much that is more essential to a productive workday than a nice hot cup of coffee (or three or four). In the so-called city that never sleeps, hard working natives need their caffeine fix, and the city offers almost limitless options to coffee drinkers. Sometimes it can seem as if there’s a Starbucks on every corner, with two food trucks waiting outside and a fancy fair-trade place a few doors down. It’s hard to imagine any better proof of New York’s collective coffee addiction than the fact that you can often get a coffee at three or four different places on any random block.

Contents are both caffeinated and cheap

But like all addictions, an honest jones for caffeine can become costly. Even for the less serious coffee drinkers, who keep it down to a cup a day, if that cup is a $3.25 caramel macchiato, then your lunch money might end up in a Starbuck’s cash register. Although Starbuck’s may be everywhere, and it provides the quintessential overpriced coffee, New Yorkers have plenty of other opportunities to fork over a few dollars for a cup of steaming joe. For the privilege of standing in a long line and then carrying a recognizable paper cup, one can head to one of the city’s many gourmet to-go coffee joints, like Oren’s Daily Roast. Or if you really want to make that three dollar coffee worth it, you can pop into a café style coffee shop such as Think Coffee, where you can sit, text, pretend to read, and try to figure out what your neighbors are doing on their laptops. If you get really lucky, there might even be a ragtag hipster band performing in the corner (paid in free coffee).

If you’re reading this, you probably don’t want to spend your budget’s precious discretionary dollars on coffee, and outside of an expensive treat, the various and complex -ato and -ino drinks are probably not for you. Luckily, for anyone on a budget, there are better, cheaper ways to get that caffeine wake-up than spending two slices of pizza on your morning drink. The best way to save money on coffee is to brew your own. It’s easy enough, and with any cheap coffee maker you can fill your apartment with that delicious coffee smell in a few short minutes. And for the real New York coffee snobs, you can simply get your favorite neighborhood coffee shop’s beans and brew high quality coffee on your own time, on the cheap. My favorite is Mud coffee (of the Mud truck), which can be found at the truck, at the storefront on 9th street, and in many neighborhood markets in the East Village (I also love Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans). Even if a particular shop’s beans may cost more than you could pay for them at the grocery store, the overall cost of brewing your own coffee is still far, far less than that of buying it by the cup. This method is most likely a budgetary necessity for any serious coffee drinkers, whose daily intake may exceed four or five cups, especially later in the semester.

But what to do without a coffee maker? I recently moved into a furnished sublet for the summer, and although I love having my own room and living in Brooklyn, I was appalled to find that “furnished New York apartment” does not necessarily include a coffee maker. I enjoy having a cup in the morning and when I’m working either on schoolwork or on the job, and although I love a nice frappuccino, I really can’t afford to spend a lot of money on coffee. After a couple weeks of testing my various options around the neighborhood (Bushwick) and around Manhattan, I came to a conclusion that may be startling to the true coffee lovers, who sneer at Starbuck’s chain coffee as viciously as at McDonald’s fast food roast. I found that my best, cheapest option for daily coffee was not just very cheap and incredibly convenient, but located on nearly every corner. This morning, I enjoyed a tasty cup from the breakfast cart next to the subway, for the price of $0.75. It took about twenty five seconds to order, pay, and receive my cup, and for the perpetually tardy, such service is greatly valued. I appreciate a good, fancy cup of coffee, but I am by no means a snob about the drink, and I’m perfectly happy to sacrifice that fresh-from-Nicaragua taste in order to be able to afford lunch. I don’t love Starbucks, but I do love Dunkin’ Donuts, and McDonald’s coffee is really not bad at all (and it’s about as cheap as food truck coffee). I prefer to brew my own, since doing so is cheaper than paying by the cup, and I can buy whatever beans I want, but when it comes to convenience, price, and taste, I am convinced that there is no better place to grab your morning cup than at the corner breakfast truck.

-Aaron Brown

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Reserve: Unforgettable Thai Experience

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Walking into Reserve, on 3rd Ave between 28th and 29th, I felt all the chaos and exhaustion of my day melt into the warm, red walls. A low light hovered over each table, with wine bottles stacked in every which direction. Even the bottoms of bottles protruded from the walls around the bar in the back, somehow without cluttering the small restaurant, but tinting the ambiance with the theme: a Thai inspired wine bar. While Thai restaurants are known for spicy foods in cozy nooks, Reserve adds an unexpected twist to the Thai experience: wine. I’m sure you’ve been to a number of Thai restaurants and been remiss about the quality of beverages, well, partner Luck Watanasuparp felt the same way. Luck’s family owns a number of Thai restaurants throughout New York, including All Luck and Thai Select, but this is her own venture in the restaurant business, at which she is doing amazingly well and loving it. Luck wanted to pair the four flavors of Thai food: Spicy, sweet, sour and salty with fine wines that would enhance each other when combined. The restaurant serves over fifty different wines, all within affordable ranges with a few higher priced bottles tossed in.

Reserve has been open for less than a year now in the Gramercy neck of the proverbial woods. Tucked among hot clubs and loud joints with drunks bouncing and stumbling out the doors or shouting from in between the cracks in the walls, Reserve is an oasis. It’s small, quiet, and personal. This is the perfect place to bring a date, or close friends when you want to sit down with a little background music and a lot of great food.

If you’re looking for something exciting and loud, why not head to Reserve for dinner as a calm before the storm?

The service is four star, with the shock of street cart prices. Before glancing at the menu, I assumed that it would be a stressor on my limited funds, but was pleasantly delighted to find that it’s cheap. I don’t mean New York City cheap, which is irrelevant to the rest of the world, but Kansas cheap, Mississippi cheap. I once ate a large, amazing meal at the Ajax Diner in Oxford, Mississippi for eight dollars, and this brought me back to the economy of the south, inducing a school girl giggle at the prices. I’ve spent more money on dirt, have I made my point?        

I brought two close friends of mine with me for dinner, and we lived like kings. We started with a Losen Bockstanz Resiling, a sweet wine, and paired it with spicy beef, duck wraps, and crab cake tapas. Everything was tender and cooked to perfection. The duck wraps, rich, fatty duck wrapped with fresh veggies in a flour tortilla roll, sushi style, was paired with a thick, sweet sauce. The large crab cake, enough for the three of us, was surrounded by three elegant sauces. The spicy beef was mixed with equally spicy and salty sautéed veggies. We indulged in a mango salad, larb pizza (with chicken and melted Mozzarella) and a curry green pizza. We ate slowly, discussing the flavor combinations and our awe at the portions. For very little money, the three of us left full, but not overstuffed, and feeling like we ate a healthy meal that tickled our tastes. Our cheeks blushed from the sweet wine as we walked out in a euphoric daze.

If you’re feeling bogged down by the sometimes treacherous city, tired of the rain and cold, and never having enough money to go out, Reserve is the place to go. It will pick up your spirits without draining your bank account. Long Island or Jersey commuters can even walk from Penn Station on their way home from work or class. Keep Reserve on your list, because you simply can’t miss out on all it has to offer for the economically challenged taste buds that require more refinement.

Written by Ashley Teal, Campus Clipper Blogger

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Appearances Deceive: Stromboli Pizzeria

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

The view from the street

Looking historical and shabby, “Stromboli Pizzeria” located at 112 University Place does not attract new customers… until they actually try the pizza. How many times have you been told: appearances deceive? They have authentic pizza with variety of toppings and now new student discounts – two things that would definitely draw you to the place had you known about them.

What’s the student savings deal? How about $2.00/slice or $16/pie for a plain and $2.50/slice and $19/pie for one topping with your student ID? How about a fountain soda for 95c? Note that this includes tax as well. Knowing that the students are a category always willing to save money, the pizzeria’s management caters not only to their stomachs, but to their wallets as well.

How good is the pizza? The place was open since 1966, and the recipes haven’t changed, even though there is a new owner. The dough is soft and fresh, whether you choose white or whole wheat, the fresh mozzarella is yummy and ricotta is so tender that its texture seems to be close to that of whipped cream. Most pizzas are made with homemade marinara or tomato sauce, or, for pizza topped with ricotta, no sauce at all. Whole wheat pizzas come plain with cheese or topped with vegetables keeping the healthy trend. You can order mushrooms, spinach and broccoli and extra sauce if you’d like to make it juicier. Contrary to the popular opinion that whole wheat pizza is not as tasty as regular one, Stromboli’s whole wheat dough is just as delicious as white one, so if you, like me, switched from white to wheat bread long ago, this is the way to go.

Whole wheat pizza with mushrooms, spinach and broccoli

Interested in trying new flavors? Try Pizza Pesto, a slice with ricotta, fresh basil and homemade pesto sauce, juicy, cheesy and flavorful one, or Caprese with fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and tomato sauce (most ingredients are fresh, so don’t be surprised). For good quick snack, try the house’s invention, “the wheel,” a small palm-size roll filled with mozzarella and ricotta. It comes vegetarian with spinach or, for carnivores, with ham and pepperoni, and it’s perfect to snack on if you are short of time or are not really hungry. You can eat it as it is or request some marinara sauce for dipping.

If you not a pizza lover, you can go for a hero or calzone, or get delicious garlic knots made of soft pizza dough with fresh garlic on top. Don’t forget to satisfy your thirst with a Snapple, a special-priced fountain soda, a cane sugar Coca-Cola or Ginger Ale from Boylan. If you are craving unusual flavors, try a Key Lime, Cherries’n’Cream or Cream Soda from Stewart’s.

So don’t be afraid of appearances, as Stromboli is going through a renovation, and soon the pizzeria’s exterior with match the quality of the food, appealing to both your physical and visual taste.

"The wheel"

Ekaterina Lalo

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A SWEET TREAT

Monday, February 7th, 2011

During my jaunts around the block these past two days, I noticed something different in the air. That sort of sweet, light, coolness that you associate with the coming of spring. It’s still a couple of months away, yes, but the hint of happier, more pleasant times is in the air! One thing I love and cherish during the warmer months is ice cream. Down in the south, Blue Bell Ice Cream is a family favorite. I haven’t been able to find the brand on the mean streets of New York, but I’ve found something’s that just as good: Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I love the variety of flavors they have! And not only can you enjoy ice cream, you can also enjoy their sorbet and frozen yogurt.

And if you’re a student, you can also enjoy this great coupon! Get a free scoop of ice cream with the purchase of any regular or large ice cream. Now you’ve got just the right creamy flavor to usher in the spring months! Let’s say you love ice cream, but you don’t love the calories. Never fear, you can make the “right” choice for your diet at The Lite Choice. Their flavors are low on fat and calories, but not low on taste.

Written by Megan Soyars, Campus Clipper Blogger

 

 

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Put some Spice in Your Life

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Written by Megan Soyars

I was raised in San Antonio, Texas, the tex-mex capital of the world. Down South, we like our food bursting with flavor. Salsas, jalapenos, and chile peppers garnish plates in many restaurants. I thought I knew spicy while I was spooning Pace salsa on to my chips con queso, but I had no idea how far the heat barometer could go until I tried Indian curry.

My first taste of Indian food was in college. A whole group of us headed out to Taj Palace for my roomie’s birthday one night. I first tried the naan (a type of flatbread), which was soft and delicious. Then I moved eagerly on to the curry chicken. Spooning some up with reckless abandon, I shoved a steaming spoonful in my mouth. I nearly spit it back up. It was good, don’t get me wrong. But it was hot. At least, for my unprepared taste buds. My friends, spotting my agonized expression, asked me what was wrong. They probably thought I needed the Heimlich maneuver or something. Thankfully, I wasn’t choking; I was only a wimp.

“It’s too spicy,” I mumbled as I blinked back tears. My friend reached over and grabbed a spoonful for himself.

“It’s not too hot,” he assured me after swallowing, a feat which I likened to walking over a bed of hot coals. “This is really good. So…are you gonna finish it?”

I ended up stocking up on naan that night, while my friend enjoyed the rest of my plate.

But whether you’re a mild taster like me, a spice daredevil like my friend, or somewhere in between, you can enjoy the flavorful plates at Curry Kitchen. Located at 40 W. 8th St., Curry Kitchen offers a variety of Indian foods, ranging from their fiery chicken curry, to their savory tandoori fish, to their warm, home-made naan. And at around $10 an entrée, this is an affordable way to get a taste of India. Curry Kitchen also frequently offers student discounts. So print out this 10% coupon and head down to Curry Kitchen to “spice” up your meal time.

Also, don’t forget to check out our website to get Curry Kitchen’s Student Loyalty Program Card, up this week! And if you’re an Indian food guru (no pun intended) check out our discounts for Indian Cafe and Indian Taj, also featured on our website.

-Megan, Trinity University

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Get a slice of this

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

New York is known for its pizza. Ginormous slices, oozing with cheese and tomato sauce and all the right toppings, with a super thin, crunchy crust.  Growing up in a small town in Texas, good pizzas joints were few and far between. So when I finally landed in NYC, I immediately started sniffing around for some of their world-famous pies.

I sampled slices everywhere; from ritzy restaurants like Una Pizza Napoletana and Patsy’s Pizzeria, to greasy Mom-and-Pop places, to those $1-a-slice joints like Two Brothers. While noshing on gourmet pizza at Una Pizza Napoletana was a delectable experience, it was also detrimental one. Detrimental to my wallet, that is. One 12” pie could set me back twenty dollars. So Two Brothers became my staple. They were located just down the street from my internship, so during my lunch break I hopped in the always-lengthy line. I could shove the “brothers” a crumpled George Washington extracted from the depths of my purse and get a full belly out of it. But I was also doing without enmities—their pizza was usually cold, and there was no place to sit or stand in the tiny shop. So I usually found a place on the street where I could wolf down the slice without getting jostled by too many walkers. I longed for a happy medium—a nice restaurant atmosphere and an affordable price.

Fortunately, I’ve since discovered Metro G Cafe. I could always head downtown to their location on 21 Waverly Place when I got a hankering for pizza. The Cafe serves what I would call “gourmet fast food”. This may seem like an oxymoron, but Metro G Cafe pulls it off skillfully and sumptuously. You can get a quick, delicious meal at a great price. Try their wraps, salads, and of course, their pizzas.

And don’t forget to use your student discount when you bring this coupon!  Get a FREE SLICE of pizza any purchase.  Now here’s a great way to get your cheese fix.

-Megan, Trinity University

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Thanksgiving on the Town

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

During my freshman year in college I experienced my first Thanksgiving away from home. My solo Turkey Day was something of a mixed blessing. On the downside, there was no way to enjoy Grandpa’s turkey or my mom’s homemade pumpkin pie. I made an attempt to follow Mom’s original recipe, but botched it up somehow. The pie wasn’t sweet enough, and the crust crumbled everywhere. Obviously, it needed my mother’s touch. But on the upside, I could avoid my crotchety Uncle Gerard and my bratty nieces this year. And I could hang out with my friends; we all headed out to eat Bar-B-Que, then to the local bar to wash down that turkey. So even with the absence of my mother’s pie, I enjoyed my holiday.       

Like me, you’re probably experiencing this Thanksgiving away from home and hearth. But fear not, you’re studying in one of the hottest holiday spots, NYC! From the mammoth Macy’s Day Parade, to ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, there’s always something to do this Thanksgiving.

Don’t have time to cook this year? (Or want to avoid a mishap like my pumpkin “pie”?) There are plenty of eateries you can hit up in NYC. And you don’t even have to go that traditional (and sometimes blasé) turkey-and-stuffing route. Try Japanese Bar-B-Que at Gyu-Kaku Restaurant. Enjoy anything, from Bistro Harami Hanger steak to Japanese sausages.  Gyu-Kaku also has a Thanksgiving Day lunch special—all you can eat for $27! Then stay for their Happy Hour, from 3pm to 10:30pm. Check out more of their specials at www.gyu-kaku.com.   

Maybe singing is your forte. If so, you should check out the ultra hip bar and lounge Karaoke Boho this Thanksgiving. Great food, drinks, and a wide variety of songs. Belt out some Alicia Keys or perform a British ballad from Oasis.  Karaoke Boho is at three different locations: 196 Orchard St., 186 West 4th St., and 54 East 13th St. And don’t forget to take advantage of their student discount. Get 50% off your reservation Sunday through Thursday, and 25% off Friday through Saturday.  

Our new book, NYC Student Guide, will let you know of hot spots like Gyu-Kaku and Karaoke Boho. The Guide features articles on food, entertainment, health, and many more.  Email us at clip@campusclipper.com  to preorder you copy today! At only $9.99, the Guide is much more affordable than a textbook, but just as essential to your student experience.  

-Megan, Trinity University

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Bare Burger – Restaurant Review

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

By Laura Brown, NYU

Location: 535 Laguardia Place

Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00AM – 11:00PM

Cuisine: Organic Classic

Price: $$

Alcohol: Yes

Outdoor Dining: Yes

Take Out: Yes

Best For: Brunch, Lunch or late night Munch

Accepts NYU Cards

The term “organic” can come with many preconceived ideas. As a kid, I always grimaced when my health-conscious mother brought home organic “treats” such as wheat-grass shakes or tofu banana puddings. If I had any residual disdain for organic dishes, Bare Burger has eradicated my juvenile notion that taste had to be sacrificed for healthy, organic ingredients.

Bare Burger, first conceived in Astoria by six Greek brothers, has sprouted another branch in Greenwich Village. Upon arrival my boyfriend and I were graciously welcomed by manager Mischa Levine, who was to be our guide during the Tour de Force sampling of the lunch and dinner menu. We felt like gods to be fattened.

While the first batch of food was freshly being prepared, Mischa introduced us to the Bare Burger beer and wine selection. Almost all the beers and wines are organic or only lacking in the pricey authoritative seal. When it came to the wines, Mischa knew most all the vendors and which local communities the grapes were grown and harvested before distribution. For teetotalers there are also options of organic ice tea, organic lemon-lime lemonade and wide array of organic sodas.

My mouth moistened and stomach rumbled with Epicurean anticipation as trays of russet potato fries, chicken tenders, and flaky onion rings were first brought out with a haloed ring of dipping sauces. As wonderful as these fried appetizers were, they seemed to be more of a vehicle for trying all of the sauces. Some of my top favorites were the malsala ketchup, a smoky-sweet barbeque sauce that goes really well with the ostrich burger, the pesto mayonnaises, and agave nectar mustard.

Then came a promenade of sliders: trays of beef, turkey and ostrich burgers were compacted next to a chicken club sandwich and hot dog filling our booth with carnivorous wafting. The pairings of complimentary flavors in the burgers and sandwiches were indicative of a burger-artisan. The classic beef burger is the platonic representation of the ideal burger: tender meat, fluffy brioche role and a special sauce with the usual tomato and lettuce accoutrements. The chicken club sandwich gives a strong kick, Cajun style that is simultaneously balanced and cooled by creamy avocado wedges. My particular favorite, the turkey burger, has the smokiness of organic bacon coupled with the sweetness of a grilled pineapple ring.

What was most satisfying however during the meal was how animated Mischa was in detailing the background for most every ingredient. Why he chose particular vendors for the organic ice cream or where he was supplied the organic ketchup and agave sweetener flirting their chemical-free purity on the tabletops. He relished in the fact that all the meats were organic, prepared to order, and of the highest quality. The term organic became a dulcet, alluring golden ticket for consuming everything presented, sans guilt.

After courses requiring vigorous mastication, I was grateful that our last was purely liquid. A silver tray displayed old-fashion shakers, holding frothy-organic milkshakes. We sampled flavors of chocolate, pistachio, chocolate-raspberry, and “Steve’s Special” which was part chocolate, part vanilla, banana and peanut-butter all delicately combined by the Jedi-Master of Milkshakes: Bare Burger’s Steve.

This ethos of community applies not just to the food, but the overall atmosphere.

Even the adornments of the restaurant contain their own narrative: the storefront is a cheerfully refurbished yellow garage door, the wooden tables were garnered from excess driftwood and our booth was canopied with a glistening recycled milk bottle chandelier.

Admittedly, I went back two days later. And after a couple moments of sheepish gluttony, I eased back into the same booth with the feeling of comfortable chumminess. And that’s just the type of customer base Bare Burger will attract. Bare Burger’s menu is the type you want to woo repeatedly for dinner, lunch and even breakfast- not the late night quickie when anything in the realm of edible will suffice. The health devoted and foodies alike will find dishes to delight over and a restaurant to commit to.

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