DBGB Kitchen & Bar

Food Network's show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" recently featured DBGB as one of the best places in NYC for meat.  It was obvious that it was a place that we had to check out, so B rallied up Justinien & Schwartz, two meat lovers.

Daniel Boulud the mastermind behind DBGB was once a chef at Le Cirque and then moved to open his own place called Daniel in the UES, then opened Cafe Boulud and DB Bistro Moderne (it's obvious that Mr. Boulud loves his name).  The whole idea behind DBGB is that they make their own sausages in house; there are 13 different types listed on their menu.  I personally loved the decor inside: concrete floors & walls, see through kitchen, steel & more steel, it's very LES chic.

Here's what we ordered:

Starters:                                                                        

Chop-chop Salad w/romaine, avocado, carrots, watermelon, & ginger sesame dressing

Jim's Matzoh Ball Soup

Special for the night - Heirloom Tomato Salad

Entree:

Roasted Chicken Breast w/spring vegetable

DBGB Hot Dog w/sautéed onion, mustard, ketchup, 299 relish, & fries

Pan Roasted Atlantic Salmon w/baby leeks, house made gnocchi & arugela

Dessert:

Chocolate-Chocolate w/truffle, chocolate chip cookies, cocoa nib crunchies, caramel sauce & whipped cream

The review:

Personally I thought the heirloom tomato salad was the best thing I ordered.  The matzoh ball soup lacked salt and it just didn't taste like my grandmothers, however I did enjoy the parsley infused in the matzoh balls.  The DBGB hot dog was the only type of "sausage" I could order off the menu because everything else had pork, honestly I'll stick to Hebrew National.  It tasted like rubber and if it wasn't for the relish I don't think I would have finished it.  The chocolate dessert was beyond amazing and every bite had surprise to it.  One bite would be all ice cream then the next would be a cookie, & then crunchies...yum.  Schwartz roasted chicken fell off the bone & a must try if you venture there.  Justinien enjoyed his salmon but really enjoyed the homemade gnocchi.

DBGB Kitchen & Bar - great booths for groups, lot's of energy, LES feel

299 Bowery

New York, NY  10003

tel: 212.933.5300

NY Times Review - 2 stars

NY Mag - 1 star

-S&B

Bia Garden

 Happy Birthday Will!! 


Last night we celebrated his birthday at Bia Garden and we definitely had a blast.  This tiny hole in the wall has this great room in the back to host parties.  


When you walk down Orchard you are bound to miss it.  You step down and find yourself at this little counter wondering if you messed up and are at the wrong place...but you aren't!  There is a huge refrigerator door that opens you up into a hall then, up 2 steps and wahla..Bia Garden!!!  They have a very simple concept which makes sense and works, order beer by the 6, 12 or 24 pack! AMAZING for beer lovers.  
  
They also have a great menu.  Being a party of 30 we ordered all the apps plus a few extra things:


Green Papaya Salad
Lemongrass Sausage
Vegetable Summer Rolls
Crab Spring Rolls
Chicken Lollipops
BBQ Lemongrass Beef Short Ribs
Shaking Beef
Ginger Clay Pot Chicken
Veggie Vermicelli Noodles
Grilled Lemon Spicy Chicken


Everything was delicious and we couldn't keep our hands off the rolls & chicken lollipops, yum yum!  To end the night we sang happy birthday with 3 dozen BakedByMelissa cupcakes!!

Veggie Vermicelli Noodles

Bia Garden
154 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
tel: 212.780.0100


Happy Birthday Will!! Here's to your 30's...cheers!


-S&B