Ilili

Ilili first caught my eye at Madison Square Eats, a food festival adjacent to Madison Square Park.  I look forward to Madison Square Eats every spring because it brings together food from restaurants all over NYC and Brooklyn.  Ilili has become a staple at Madison Square Eats, offerings delicious shwarma, which sells out early every day.  After devouring my initial taste of Ilili, I added the restaurant to my list.  Ilili patiently waited its turn on my list until my Mediterranean food craving came back.

We sampled several dishes, most of which were sensational.  The wine menu featured an impressive international selection at a wide range of price points while the cocktail menu offered interesting twists on tried and true standards.  If you like spicy, go for the Strawberry Margarita, which features a pepper tequila.  If you don't like spicy, the drink is still excellent with good old Patron Silver.

The service was attentive and while we didn't agree with our server's statement that the grape leaves were excellent, I appreciated his honesty when we asked which was better, the duck shawarma or the lamb chops.  The lamb chops cost twice as much and many servers would say the lamb chops to rack up the bill.  But our server held steadfast to the duck shawarma and he was dead on. 

Something to keep in mind when ordering your apps is that the server brings out a complimentary yogurt dip with pita chips.

What to Eat:

The hummus at Ilili comes with a few potential mix ins like lamb, pine nuts and shrimp.  Go with the lamb mix in if you can handle a heavy lamb taste.  The small, soft pita pillows are addictive, readers, you've been warned.

The Duck Shawarma is a must.  Two doughy pita cones are filled with strips of marinated duck, fig puree, garlic whip (which is a type of light, garlicky, mayonnaise), and pomegranate seeds.  There are so many incredible and different flavors and they all compliment each other.  I could come back here weekly for a cocktail and their duck shawarma.






I "mistakenly" ordered the Loup de Mar without realizing it was insanely (over) priced.  While the fish was large enough to qualify for almost two entrees, $80 for a whole white fish is outrageous.  Was it flaky, light and delicious? Yes.  Worth $80? No.  If I wasn't so distracted by my cocktail, I probably would have noticed the price tag and picked a different fish option (there were several).

Looking for great small plates and drinks in the Flat Iron? Ilili is a the perfect place for a group get together,

Your foodie friend

Insider tip: The Madison Square Eats food festival is going on now for the next few weeks so check it out!

The National

Ravenous (yet again) and in search of sustenance near Grand Central, I decided to give The National a try. I had been eyeing the restaurant for about six months when a Blackboard Eats coupon arrived in my inbox for The National.  The National receives very mixed reviews despite it's famous chef Geoffrey Zakarian.

The National feels like someone stole a Parisian neighborhood bistro and transplanted it into bustling midtown NYC.  After a long day, it was rewarding to slide into the soft,  wide leather seats.  Equally rewarding is the wine menu, with reasonably priced wine and bubbly from all over. The wide range of dishes on the Nuevo American inspired menu ensures there is something for everyone.

The server kindly granted our requests to refill the fresh bread basket, noting our favorites and bringing back only the bread varieties we preferred.  Even though I have heard grumbling about the service at The National, I thought our service was attentive and friendly.  I asked for the chorizo and bacon in our dishes on the side and the server obliged with a smile. 

Zakarian successfully uses familiar ingredients, like scallops, and morphs them into a beautifully presented, unique tasting dish.  Also, the split dining room affords a choice between dining in a trendy, loud room or a more laid back, quieter room. 

What to Eat:

Diver Scallops.  The succulent diver scallops are marinated in a light onion broth and topped with fennel and bacon (the bacon is on the side in this pic).  The scallops were incredible fresh and tender.  This dish is perfect with a glass of wine if you are looking for something quick and light.





Grilled Octopus

Another fantastic quick and light option is the octopus.  The octopus is surrounded by a few interesting ingredients, like pickled celery and piperade.  The piperade, a Basque sauce combining pureed peppers, onions and tomatoes, along with the beans and chorizo (also on the side here), created a Mexican fiesta in my mouth.



 
Get there early because by the time we arrived at 9pm, the restaurant was out of their well known "Ugly Burger".  None of the entrees we ordered stood out as exceptional so I can't recommend one but if I go back, I would probably pick a special or the Halibut. 

Looking for a spot to meet someone for drinks and appetizers before catching a train back to suburbia?  The National is worth a detour,

 Your foodie friend

La Mar

La Mar is located in the old Tabla space.  Tabla was a fun impromptu date night for my husband and I years ago so it is somewhat nostalgic going back to the location, even though the decor downstairs has drastically changed.  The bar area on the main floor snapped me out of my revery with the bright blue colors, Latin music and lively atmosphere.

The upstairs dining room is elegant, with a large hole in the middle that is decorated with hanging strands while the downstairs bar is more lively and evokes an aquatic theme. 

I didn't have any interest in trying La Mar.  I had heard from others that it was overpriced, average Peruvian food.  There have been grumblings in the blogosphere that famous chef Gaston Acurio over extended himself by introducing the restaurant to a handful of cities.  But when I'm wrong, I'm wrong.  I admit I was wrong.  The food was terrific, albeit pricey. 

La Mar is known for its ceviche but I was in the mood for something heavier so we passed on the ceviche.  The menu is huge and places an emphasis on small plates so La Mar would be a great place to go with a small group and share dishes.


Initially, I was frustrated with the service.  I had to ask 3 times and wait over 10 minutes for a glass of water.  Our server, however, was very patient with all of our menu questions and substitutions so despite the early hiccup, I can't give the service an F.

For beverages, skip the wine menu (which is largely South American and lackluster at best) and go with the Latin inspired cocktails. 



After placing your order, you are presented with an overflowing tin of fried plantains and a buttery aoli dipping sauce.  The plantains weren't greasy and fried just enough to give them a nice crisp.  You will be hard pressed to stop yourself from finishing the tin.

What to Eat:

This picture does not do the Choclo justice (the round cake in the middle).  Even if you order ceviche, someone at the table must order this dish.  Choclo is a corn cake type dish that is sweet and hearty.  La Mar's Choclo was the best choclo I have had since visiting Colombia a few years ago.  The plate was decorate with farm fresh cherry tomatoes and thick Peruvian choclo kernels.

For your entree, order the Lomo Saltado, a juicy hanger steak with fried fingerling potatoes.  The hanger steak was a little tough but the flavor made up for the effort.  I liked the fried quail egg on top and the side of slightly sweet, sticky rice.

Visiting NYC on an expense account and looking for a Latin treat? Check out La Mar,

Your foodie friend

Insider tip: La Mar extended their restaurant week menu (price fix $35) through the end of September!