Immaculate Infatuation

In the music biz, we believe that good music will eventually prevail. If you keep putting out great records, your time in the spotlight will come. Take long time Infatuation favorite Phoenix for example. They spent the better part of the last decade flying under the mainstream radar, releasing perfect indie-pop albums that anyone who actually paid attention to, fell in love with. They finally got what’s been coming to them this past year in the form of a breakout single, “1901” and the Grammy for “Best Alternative Album.” The same philosophy can be applied in the kitchen. When you’re consistently cookin’ up the chronic, you can’t hide for long. Hell, even if you’re illegally preparing the perfect lobster roll and selling them through your mail slot in Brooklyn, someone in this town will get wind of it.

We’ve long considered Yerba Buena home to one of the more criminally underrated menus around. It was one of the first rave reviews we ever posted on this site, and for good reason. The food is tremendous. Famous for their cocktails, YB doesn’t receive the kind of culinary critical love it damn well deserves. Possibly because the original East Village location is slightly out of place – a more upscale, expensive restaurant in an area that caters to the exact opposite. While Yerba Buena EV will remain their less well known flagship, it’s their new West Village spot, Yerba Buena Perry, that’s set to catch fire like Bluth’s Frozen Banana Stand and blow their cover. … read more

Do you want to know my favorite thing about Caracas Arepas Bar besides the food? I’ll assume the answer is yes since you’re reading this review. It’s not the tall, funky looking waiter who’s got crazy hair and wears sunglasses inside … though, that guy is indeed the man. It’s the fact that once you get inside this tiny eatery, the table you’ve been awarded is yours until you want to leave. Unlike most small restaurants where people vie for seats, Caracas doesn’t rush you. They actually encourage you to order little by little and keep eating until you’re happily bloated and full. Caracas is literally a zoo – people crowd outside the glass and watch as the hungry animals inside inhale food to their heart’s content. There is a 30 to 45 minute wait all day, everyday. Even when you try going at off hours, it’s packed. Luckily Caracas “To Go” is next door, so you can get your fix for the road if you don’t have the patience to wait. Caracas takes pride in being one of the most authentic Venezuelan restaurants in the city. Who am I to disagree? This is by far and away the best Venezuelan food I’ve eaten here. So what if it’s also the only Venezuelan place I’ve ever been to.

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