Okonomi - Brooklyn, NY

We both had the day off yesterday and went to lunch in Williamsburg at Okonomi, Yuji's place. We'd sat at Yuji Ramen's Whole Foods stall for lunch many times at the 2nd Ave. location, and were sad to see it close. Yuji had turned his attention to this 12-seat brick & mortar shop.

The traditional Ichiju Sansai meal is only offered for weekday breakfast and brunch. They offered three different kinds of fish, and throughout the day throw the fish bones and trimmings into a stock pot for use later as the broth for the ramen they serve at dinner. How awesome.

The main event. Spanish mackerel, blanched greens, tamago, pickled veggies.
Upper left: miso soup.
Right: brown rice with bonito and a poached egg and urchin in sauce to dump on the rice. YUM

We tried the Belgium brewed Japanese beers in the middle there.
The white was a wheat ale with citrus notes and the red was a lager with spice and herbal notes.

Sea trout appetizer with a cured yuzu relish

Glasserie

It only took me two decades to realize that Greenpoint and Long Island City were just a stone's throw away from each other. In that magical kiss between Brooklyn and Queens sits Glasserie. Bold location choice and a beautiful interior, the food was a modern dream: hearty and healthy. 

 

Mission Cantina

Dinner at Mission Cantina was one of my gifts to Kev this December. I'm giving him an unconventional advent Christmas, and two weeks in, I've truly wracked my brain all month. It's challenging. This was one we could both enjoy. 

The lighting is Miami Vice style trippy and neon to the max, which I loved. The guys got Negro Modelos on tap while I tried two delicious soju cocktails. We stuffed our the awesomeness below and more: whole rotisserie chicken, sardine fried chicken, poblano pepper salad. 

Takashi

Lunch at Sweetgreen

This concept isn't new, but Sweetgreen does salad very very well. Natural and not-too-sweet drinks such as watermelon lemonade and cucumber limeade in place of fountain sodas sealed the deal for me. We went to the NoMad location, and I got the seasonal salad, shown below, that included arugula, watermelon, feta, spicy sunflower seeds, and kale dressed with a champagne vinaigrette. Delicious and filling and healthy, with bread from Sullivan St. Bakery.

We both got the app, with rewards and an easy pay function. 

See you again, Sweetgreen.

Lunch today: Mulberry & Vine

Kev bought a 30 day unlimited Metrocard contingent upon my agreement to meet for lunch often. We meet usually in Nolita or Soho, which is easy for both of us to get too. Today he came all the way to my work neighborhood, TriBeCa, for lunch at Mulberry & Vine. 

I'd been here once before for a coworker's birthday, and loved the selection of fresh made options, so was happy to come here again. The place has wifi too, so if one day I get a work laptop I'd love to do some work in its high ceilinged, well lit dining area or on the more secluded lofted second floor. 

We each got a plate of 2 cold/1 hot, $13.  ($1 gets you a bed of greens.) We shared the veggie curry, herb roasted chicken, kale and chia seed salad, tomato and watermelon salad, and beets with pomegranate seeds. We sat at the window counter and people watched while we ate. What's great about a lunch spot like this is that you don't get a food coma when you got back to your desk. 

We ate and still had time to take a stroll with coffee in hand from Kaffe 1668 nearby. Summer is ending but not just yet. 

Diner brunch