Once in a while, we like attending open houses. In NYC, it's a great way to see how other people live as well as gain a decor tip or two. But food-wise, open houses tend to disappoint.
So when we heard that a handful of restaurants (including Shake Shack!) from the upcoming New Taste of the Upper West Side would be catering Curbed's open house event, we were eager to check out the luxury rentals at Columbus Square.
So when we heard that a handful of restaurants (including Shake Shack!) from the upcoming New Taste of the Upper West Side would be catering Curbed's open house event, we were eager to check out the luxury rentals at Columbus Square.
The space was beautiful. We loved the indoor salt-water pool with open floor-to-ceiling windows. The rentals themselves were sleek, but pricey. (We saw a small two-bedroom renting for almost $5800/month).
But we were here for the food! Calle Ocho featured these clam shells filled with ceviche and topped with popcorn. They were beautifully presented.
When we think of Smoke, we always think about its live jazz performances. It's one of the best jazz clubs in the city. So it was refreshing to try the food from Smoke - and surprising to find such a healthy option (White and Green Asparagus salad with Green Goddess dressing).
We've heard favorable reviews about Soutine Bakery so we were eager to try their min BLTs. My bite was tough and chewy, though my husband had one that was fresher and softer. We'll still check out the bakery to see what else they offer. Cafe 76 (located in the JCC) is a kosher cafe and featured a variety of small bites.
Discovering a new restaurant or two is the reason why we love frequenting food fairs. We loved the offerings by Cafe du Soleil. The escargot was garlicky and buttery (my hubby had multiple plates of this dish!) while the chilled organic corn soup with crab was subtly sweet.
The other nice surprise was the food offering by soon-to-be opening restaurant Graffit. Scheduled to open this summer at W69th/Broadway, Graffit will feature inventive Spanish fare by Chef Jesus Nunez. I loved the fresh octopus tapas with marinated vegetables and olive oil powder. What was my favorite part? The bright pink topping of explosive Pop Rocks! The strawberry gazpacho was fruity but not syrupy sweet. It was a refreshing summery soup. With this inventive fare, we cannot wait until this restaurant opens!
Finally for dessert we tried the pretty kosher cheesecake lollipops from Cafe 76 and a few brunettes (Nutella Hazelnut and S'mores) from online shop Hot Blondies Bakery.
Overall, it looks like the upcoming New Taste of the Upper West Side will be full of great food.
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