Follow Me Caffe is most definitely a diamond in the rough, and the rough is really, really rough. Sitting right in the middle of Upper East Side restaurant wasteland, Follow Me Caffe is the only establishment in the neighborhood not serving up mediocre food at astronomical prices, and therefore does not attract rich old crazy ladies. It is a very small place – only a handful of tables and one server taking care of the whole operation on most days, and there are a few great tables outside on a beautiful block. The menu is small and sports some superstar sandwiches and salads, along with a simple and very good breakfast and brunch menu. It’s a great takeout and delivery option if you live in the neighborhood, and if you’re hanging in central park and need an option for lunch that won’t set you back fifty dollars, this is your place. The only downside to Follow Me Caffe is that it seems to be inexplicably closed every once in a while, even on a recent Sunday morning. Call ahead before you trek it uptown.
Lure Fish Bar needs to change it’s name. Maybe Lure Raw Bar. Or Lure Party Boat. Either would be more appropriate, and here are a few reasons why. The cooked fish entrées at Lure are almost all disappointing. Generally, they suffer from a lack flavor despite potent accompaniments like ponzu sauces, dashi glazes, and red curry broths. The raw bar, on the other hand, is a large selection of high quality seafood and is worthy of the namesake. I’m throwing Lure Party Boat out there because this place kicks out the jams like it’s 1992. Hit after hit from MTV’s Party To Go albums, slick yacht décor, and sushi on the menu make it feel like you’re at sea with Arsenio Hall or one of the Wayans brothers. Don’t get us wrong…all in all we like Lure Fish Bar Party Boat. The service is great and earns them some points but a few tweaks on those entrées would bump up our rating into the more than respectable range. We’ll come back a few more times, if only to hear some Salt-N-Pepa and Heavy D on the playlist.
In a city where Chipotle dominates the cheap Mexican game, finding a quality and quick taco isn’t easy. I’m pretty sure there are pockets of greatness in the outer-boroughs, but as far as Manhattan is concerned, the pickings are pretty slim. Enter Pinche Taqueria, an Infatuation mainstay in Nolita (and now in NoHo as well) that comes in handy when you want to stuff your face on the cheap. At $2.50 per taco ($3.50 for fish), you can mix and match plus grab a corona for under $10. Order at the counter and eat in their small storefront or the sidewalk benches in front. Better yet, order them to the comfort of your own home and experience one of the fastest delivery operations around. Just don’t order delivery online as encouraged on their website. You may never see your food.
I once witnessed Rachel Ray making it rain $100 bills in Peasant like she was Pacman Jones at a strip club. In her standard not-so-subtle way, she worked the room for everyone to see, slipping hundreds to the chef, waiter and even bus boy. I remember asking our server if I was seeing correctly. “Yeah man, she just slipped me an extra bill on top of the tip she left on the check. She does it all the time.” Hey, if you got it, spend it, right? Hopefully the Infatuation will be rolling into our favorite spots with duffle bags full of cash in the relatively near future. Until then, we’ll leave the balling to Rachel and Pacman.
Peasant is a classic spot, a spacious room that feels more like a rich person’s Tribeca loft than a Nolita restaurant down the block from Cafe Habana. Baskets of apples, potatoes, firewood and produce line the kitchen in the back, where everything is cooked over an open fire. The food is consistent in the sense that some dishes are always excellent and others always mediocre, but if you order right, you can have a solid meal. Whatever you do, eat the spaghetti vongole which will be gushed about in the food rundown below. While Peasant isn’t an Infatuation go-to, it’s definitely a spot we enjoy. The quality service, welcoming space and addicting bread help make up for Peasant’s hit-or-miss menu and inflated prices.
Fanelli Cafe is one of those New York City gems still standing from a time when horse and buggies were bringing people there to drink. The space has been there since the mid nineteenth century, and they proudly hang their salon licenses in the back, mementos from an era long before Soho filled with European models and Midwestern tourists. The menu at Fanelli’s is essentially bar food, but it’s quality stuff. You won’t find frozen death disc hamburgers in this kitchen. The standouts are the chicken club sandwich, the steak sandwich, and the burger. Don’t expect the staff to be friendly, or for that matter, to give a damn that you have been waiting for your check for twenty minutes. Embrace the atmosphere, drink a Stella from the tap, and imagine that you’re about to head off for a sweet vacation aboard the Titanic.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
