Category Archives: Cuisine
Pampano Taqueria: restaurant quality tacos
Dear Food Diary,
I found a hidden gem tucked underneath the Crystal Pavillion’s food court on 50th and 3rd Av. Delicious tacos for lunch! Pampano Taqueria was born of the modern mexican restaurant Pampano (part of a chain of mexican restaurants) which is located upstairs from the Taqueria next to Smith and Wollensky.
Pampano offers an extensive, high-end and sophisticated menu. The food is extraordinary, but so is it’s prices. Which makes Pampano Taqueria a great alternative for us paisanos who are short on cash. Specially during lunch. The food is made to order and it comes directly from the kitchen of the restaurant. So it might take a little longer to get your order, but it’s so worth it. It’s always fresh and you can taste the quality of the ingredients.
MEGU: ME GUsta this occasional splurge
Dear Food Diary,
I had a truly wonderful dining experience tonight at Megu midtown.
The door opens and your immediately greeted by the very attentive staff. High ceilings, impressive decor and spacious seating. Upon settling down, the knowledgable servers help you go through their menus with ease.
Megu midtown is a splurge, but get ready to take your palette on a ride of intricate and lavish dishes that are plated beautifuly, constructed with depth using fresh, high quality ingredients, and simply taste divine.
F&B: the gudt comfort food (CLOSED)
Dear Food Diary,
For those days I’m feeling a bit down, there’s just something about Sweet Potatoe Fries that comforts me and puts a smile back. And today was one of those days. F&B has a pretty sweet version of it. Lightly battered and seasoned, crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, i’m drooling just thinking about them. Match it up with the Garlic Aioli dipping sauce, and can you scream heaven? well even if you don’t your senses will, not to mention that at this point all your worries are left at the door, mine usually are anyways… at least for a good 15 minutes.
I’m not a fan of fast food and I guess there’s no denying that we tend to categorize Hot Dogs as “junk food”, but not these babies! And please don’t call it fast food, i just like to think of it at good food. They are gourmet and range from vegetarian, beef, pork and chicken. I’m a pretty traditional gal so i opt for the beef ones. I like the byte to them and that snap, the snap is what really makes it, they’re very flavorful and juicy. It’s definitely worth the extra dough, just remember your skipping the dirty water NYC street corner ones! Not to mention all the toppings they offer, from homemade sauerkraut to guacamole and everything in between.
Wash it down with their homemade raspberry lemonade and also try the Haricot Frites, which are deep fried green beans with garlic and salt, i wouldn’t call them healthy choice, but at least your having some sort of veggie, and that’s enough for me. A gudt lunch i tell ya, a gudt lunch!
P.S. Chubby’s RATING: 
269 W 23rd St (between 7th and 8th ave)
Katsu-hama… pork cutlets o’rama!
Dear Food Diary,
Katsu-hama has the juiciest pork cutlets I’ve tasted in midtown. Actually, dare I say in the city? The place is long and narrow, pass through the takeout sushi stand on your left, lift up the high hanging japanese curtains… and say hello to Katsu (Japanese Style cutlets) Heaven. You know it’s good when there’s always a line and 80% of them are japanese/asian.
Cafe Habana: Smile it’s GRILLED CORN!!!
Everytime I think of Cafe Habana, i get a big smile on my face. Why?… well, four words “Mexican Style GRILLED CORN” !!!
Fire roasted smokyness on every grain, generously sprinkled with chili powder and cotija cheese. Flex your muscle and squeeze all the juice out of the slices of lime over your corn, trust me, you’ll thank me later.