"When I was outside China First, I thought, 'I can do this.' Not that I hate China First, but as soon as I walked in and sat down I immediately regretted my decision to go there." - Mike McEvoy
China First is located on The Ave between 42nd and 43rd. What can be said about China First? Let's just say that the highlight was not the food or the atmosphere, but the fortune in Mike's fortune cookie. It said that 'someone is speaking well of you.'
Mike got a meal that consisted of BBQ pork and an egg roll, chow mein, almond chicken, 2 butterfly shrimp, and soup. That all cost $6. It sounds good and all, but let's analyze this. The BBQ pork was a bit different and looked liked 2 pringles that were made of pork. Pork Pringles. And the almond chicken sucked. It was covered in some random gravy substance. While Mike is a fan of gravy, this gravy was not "shui"-ing with him (you know, like feng shui). Bottom line, everything just tasted bad. Also, the restaurant is too Chinese-ee. It's like Christopher Walken in Balls of Fury. It made no sense.
If China First received a fortune cookie from Mike, the fortune would most likely say 'someone is speaking NOT well of you.'
Value: 4.5
Taste: 3
Intangibles: 5
Total Score: 12.5 out of 30
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Inay's Manila Grill [22]
"I wouldn't suggest eating there everyday, but you should at least try it once." - Mike McEvoy
Inay's is located on the east side of The Ave between 50th and 52nd. The intangibles were off the chart for this restaurant. It really was a cool looking place with pictures, maps, aerial photos of islands, etc...
There were all sorts of entrees with an exceptionally nice lady whose name sounded like Jules or Julie. We'll go with Julia. The entrees consisted of lots of beef and pork dishes with a healthy portion of rice. The water cups themselves are big. Again, this Julia lady was really nice and helped out Mike decipher the Philippine dishes to find the right one for him.
The actual taste wasn't exquisite by any means, but Mike left with leftovers which is always a good sign. Mike thinks the Julia lady was a sweetheart.
Now to the pig ear:
There was a dish that consisted of pig ear mixed with onions and sauce. The instant Mike took a bit of said pig ear, he decided then and there that he was going to trick one of his co-workers (Jenn Lindsay) into eating it. After a brief planning meeting with Jordan (another co-worker) they put their plan into action. Mike and Jordan should earn an Emmy for the performance that followed. Within 40 seconds Mike had fully convinced Jenn that she needed to try this amazing piece of pork (which isn't a lie, per se, but the location of the origin of the pork was withheld). Jenn agreed and ate the pigs ear. It was hilarious!
Value: 7
Taste: 6
Julia moved to America 8 years ago from the Philippines. Mike was intrigued.
Intangibles: 9
Total Score: 22 out of 30
(The 22 is based on originality when it comes to Ave food...and Julia)
Inay's is located on the east side of The Ave between 50th and 52nd. The intangibles were off the chart for this restaurant. It really was a cool looking place with pictures, maps, aerial photos of islands, etc...
There were all sorts of entrees with an exceptionally nice lady whose name sounded like Jules or Julie. We'll go with Julia. The entrees consisted of lots of beef and pork dishes with a healthy portion of rice. The water cups themselves are big. Again, this Julia lady was really nice and helped out Mike decipher the Philippine dishes to find the right one for him.
The actual taste wasn't exquisite by any means, but Mike left with leftovers which is always a good sign. Mike thinks the Julia lady was a sweetheart.
Now to the pig ear:
There was a dish that consisted of pig ear mixed with onions and sauce. The instant Mike took a bit of said pig ear, he decided then and there that he was going to trick one of his co-workers (Jenn Lindsay) into eating it. After a brief planning meeting with Jordan (another co-worker) they put their plan into action. Mike and Jordan should earn an Emmy for the performance that followed. Within 40 seconds Mike had fully convinced Jenn that she needed to try this amazing piece of pork (which isn't a lie, per se, but the location of the origin of the pork was withheld). Jenn agreed and ate the pigs ear. It was hilarious!
Value: 7
Taste: 6
Julia moved to America 8 years ago from the Philippines. Mike was intrigued.
Intangibles: 9
Total Score: 22 out of 30
(The 22 is based on originality when it comes to Ave food...and Julia)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Burger Hut [20.5]
*Disclaimer* For this review Mike's eating partner Jordan Collier will do the review and at the end Mike will either agree or disagree with what he said.
Jordan - "They had the ketchup in a bottle, which I like"
Enraged Mike - "I hate ketchup packets! They're the devil!"
Located below 42nd on The Ave is Burger hut. When you walk in, you notice the lack of tables. There is just a U-shaped counter with stools. They also had a few bamboo looking things and thatched roof supplies. It was neat. The only thing you really need to know about the menu is The Burger Hut Special. It comes with an egg on it. Who doesn't like eggs? (Though it is a rhetorical question, the correct answer is bears.)
The way they make their burger is they make it on a griddle in front of you. Jordan personally hates that for some reason. (This being said, don't ever go to Subway with Jordan.) it's a good size. Somewhere between quarter pounder and whopper sized.
A nice perk to eating on the inside was that they had heat lamps on the inside. Him and Mike definitely didn't eat with a coat on. Water glasses were okay sized, but very medium. Burger Hut is a great place to go for a study break at any time of the day.
Mike agrees.
(Mike's Scores)
Value: 5
Taste: 8
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 20.5 out of 30
Jordan - "They had the ketchup in a bottle, which I like"
Enraged Mike - "I hate ketchup packets! They're the devil!"
Located below 42nd on The Ave is Burger hut. When you walk in, you notice the lack of tables. There is just a U-shaped counter with stools. They also had a few bamboo looking things and thatched roof supplies. It was neat. The only thing you really need to know about the menu is The Burger Hut Special. It comes with an egg on it. Who doesn't like eggs? (Though it is a rhetorical question, the correct answer is bears.)
The way they make their burger is they make it on a griddle in front of you. Jordan personally hates that for some reason. (This being said, don't ever go to Subway with Jordan.) it's a good size. Somewhere between quarter pounder and whopper sized.
A nice perk to eating on the inside was that they had heat lamps on the inside. Him and Mike definitely didn't eat with a coat on. Water glasses were okay sized, but very medium. Burger Hut is a great place to go for a study break at any time of the day.
Mike agrees.
(Mike's Scores)
Value: 5
Taste: 8
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 20.5 out of 30
Ginger Teriyaki [16]
"Some meals you eat, and then afterwards you need a cookie. Other meals you eat, and then afterwards you love life. After this meal, you definitely needed a cookie." - Mike McEvoy
Ginger Teriyaki is located on 45th just west of The Ave. To be real, everything about Ginger Teriyaki was average. Nothing was under the umbrella of super exciting.
For his meal, Mike got the spicy chicken Yaki Udon. (for all you teriyaki freaks out there, it was like the Yaki Soba but with thicker noodles.) Mike said it felt like eating octopus legs. He's never eaten octopus legs, but I trust his judgement. Like if Mike said he could throw a baseball 100 yards, I'd probably believe him.
The inside felt like new york city, which is not necessarily in the essence of teriyaki. It was crowded like NYC because there are only 4 tables inside the actual restaurant. There was also fighting and yelling like NYC. This came in the form of an old guy just sitting in there and for a while, and him trying to be shooed away by the owner. It makes you feel like you're actually in Times Square.
Again, based on what Mike ate, it was pretty average.
Value: 5
Taste: 5
Intangibles: 6
Total Score 16 out of 30
ps It should be noted that Mike is willing to re-review this meal based on the fact that Nolan claims their fried rice is amazing. We'll keep you posted.
Ginger Teriyaki is located on 45th just west of The Ave. To be real, everything about Ginger Teriyaki was average. Nothing was under the umbrella of super exciting.
For his meal, Mike got the spicy chicken Yaki Udon. (for all you teriyaki freaks out there, it was like the Yaki Soba but with thicker noodles.) Mike said it felt like eating octopus legs. He's never eaten octopus legs, but I trust his judgement. Like if Mike said he could throw a baseball 100 yards, I'd probably believe him.
The inside felt like new york city, which is not necessarily in the essence of teriyaki. It was crowded like NYC because there are only 4 tables inside the actual restaurant. There was also fighting and yelling like NYC. This came in the form of an old guy just sitting in there and for a while, and him trying to be shooed away by the owner. It makes you feel like you're actually in Times Square.
Again, based on what Mike ate, it was pretty average.
Value: 5
Taste: 5
Intangibles: 6
Total Score 16 out of 30
ps It should be noted that Mike is willing to re-review this meal based on the fact that Nolan claims their fried rice is amazing. We'll keep you posted.
Jewel Of India [19.5]
"Uhhhhh. I feel weird." - Mike McEvoy
On The Ave between 47th and 50th, The Jewel of India is an all you can eat Indian food restaurant. Again, anytime you go to a restaurant of ethnic origins, AND there are people of that ethnicity eating in that restaurant is always a plus. There was even a nice language barrier that had to be crossed in order to order. The place on the inside was very "India" feeling. There were lot's of elephants and folks with 8 arms on the wall. (Sidenote: why are there so many Indian places on The Ave? Everytime Mike goes into them there aren't many people inside. Somehow they survive.)
The Naan was delicious. Mike ate an entire loaf...or...pita of naan. Who knows. Anyways, pair that with the fact that it is a buffet and you have the fixins for a good time. Mike had 4 random entree things surrouinding a pile of rice. Mike approached this meal like a thanksgiving meal. The first round is for trying a little of everything, then the second round is for eating what you liked from the first round. Mike personally hated 75% of the food there, but luckily he found the red sauce with meat. Mike loved the red sauce with meat.
It was 10 bucks each after tax and tip which is a little steep. It was good tasting, but you have to have a lot of gross things before you get the good things.
Value: 5.5
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 8
Total Score: 19.5 out of 30
On The Ave between 47th and 50th, The Jewel of India is an all you can eat Indian food restaurant. Again, anytime you go to a restaurant of ethnic origins, AND there are people of that ethnicity eating in that restaurant is always a plus. There was even a nice language barrier that had to be crossed in order to order. The place on the inside was very "India" feeling. There were lot's of elephants and folks with 8 arms on the wall. (Sidenote: why are there so many Indian places on The Ave? Everytime Mike goes into them there aren't many people inside. Somehow they survive.)
The Naan was delicious. Mike ate an entire loaf...or...pita of naan. Who knows. Anyways, pair that with the fact that it is a buffet and you have the fixins for a good time. Mike had 4 random entree things surrouinding a pile of rice. Mike approached this meal like a thanksgiving meal. The first round is for trying a little of everything, then the second round is for eating what you liked from the first round. Mike personally hated 75% of the food there, but luckily he found the red sauce with meat. Mike loved the red sauce with meat.
It was 10 bucks each after tax and tip which is a little steep. It was good tasting, but you have to have a lot of gross things before you get the good things.
Value: 5.5
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 8
Total Score: 19.5 out of 30
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