Food Tastes Better With An Amazing View At Kimoto Rooftop In Brooklyn

The eclectic menu at Kimoto Rooftop in Downtown Brooklyn highlights American favorites with an Asian influence that are sophisticated in presentation and playful in concept.

1. Tuna Tartare

Over a bed of creamy, chunky guacamole is a generous portion of fresh raw tuna with pickled jalapeno and sesame seeds. Be sure to scoop up all the goodness on the plate, including the spicy aioli and the sweet soy sauce, with the crunchy, tri-colored tortilla chips on the side.

2. Tempura Basket

The tempura basket features crispy, hot-off-the-fryer tempura that ranges from shrimp to baby calamari in a skewer to potato croquette. The wasabi mayo and the sweet teriyaki sauces that come on the side pair perfectly well with the tempura.

3. Beef Bulgogi Tacos

This fusion dish highlights the cuisines of Mexico and Korea. Stuffed inside crunchy wonton shell are tender beef bulgogi with spicy kimchi slaw. The tacos are topped with thin slices of Asian pair, toasted sesame, and scallion.

4. Spicy Togarashi and Truffle & Parmesan Fries

The flavors of these delicious flavors are further enhanced with spicy togarashi (top) and truffle & parmesan. Perfect accompaniment to your main entrees, the fries have crispy exterior and moist interior.

5. Gochujang BBQ Wings

Forget all the chicken wings you have had in the past - the Gochujang BBQ Wings will completely change your mind! These wings have the crispiest skins with the juiciest meat. The spicy and sweet gochujang BBQ sauce make these wings even more addicting.

6. Kobe Beef Burger

These soft buns are lathered with generous amount of kimchi slaw at the bottom and gochujang bbq sauce on top. The juicy beef pattie is topped with white truffle oil and sprouts.

7. Crispy Pork Cutlet

The pieces of deep-fried pork cutlet are topped with kewpie mayonnaise sauce and red cabbage slaw.

Mouthwatering Burgers, Salads, And Fries You Must Try From Island Burgers And Shakes In NYC

Satisfy your burgers, fries, and shakes cravings at Island Burgers and Shakes in New York City.

Island Burgers & Shakes opened its first location in 1996, and have been serving mouthwatering flame-grilled burgers, sandwiches, salads, and milk shakes for the past 20 years. Here are some of my favorite items!

1. Tuscan Salad with Grilled Chicken

This huge, entree-sized salad incorporates fresh vegetables with a protein of choice for a healthy and hearty meal. The Tuscan salad includes generous portions of raw mushrooms, onions, roasted peppers, black olives, artichoke hearts, tomato slices, and fresh mozzarella with grilled chicken rubbed with spices, all over a bed of mixed greens.

2. Build-Your-Own Turkey Burger

Custom make your own burger creation. You start with a choice of protein - hamburger, grilled chicken breast, turkey burger, or portobello mushroom - and add additional items like cheese like cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, sauces, and toppings like onions, guacamole, mushrooms, and salsa. There are so many combinations to create your perfect burger.

3. Sweet Potato Fries

A side of sweet potato fries is a must. The fries are perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and packs tons of flavors. You can also add sauces like Bayou mayo or curried sour cream to enhance the flavors.

Top 6 Brunch Items You Must Try At STK Rooftop In New York City

Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline while indulging on delicious items from a menu that highlights casual American grill cuisine at the newly renovated STK Rooftop this weekend.

1. STK Signature Lil Burgers

Don’t underestimate these mini burgers based on their sizes - these decadent, juicy sliders are everything you have ever dreamed of. Jam-packed with flavors, the STK Signature Lil Burgers highlight juicy beef patties topped with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, and special STK sauce in between toasted black sesame buns.

2. Tuna Tartare

Hiding underneath the crispy taro chips are fresh, well-seasoned tuna tartare over creamy avocado puree. You will want to likc the plate to get every drop of the soy honey emulsion, which adds an interesting balance of sweet and savory to the dish.

3. King Crab Club Sandwich

Don’t expect fillers from this open-faced sandwich. Atop a soft, brioche pretzel roll is a generous mound of king crab meat mixed in with creamy citrus ginger aioli. The crunchy lettuce prevents the pretzel roll from becoming soggy. Enjoy the sandwich with a side of salad.

4. Chicken Sausage Benedict

Everyone’s favorite brunch item has undergone a slight makeover at STK, and it’s absolutely delicious. Instead of the traditional Canadian ham or smoked salmon, STK tops the toasted English muffin with savory chicken sausage. On top are pieces of grilled asparagus and perfectly poached eggs with d’espelette hollandaise sauce.

5. Baked Eggs

They tell you, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but when it comes to brunch, you can certainly judge an entree by its looks. And this beautiful (and huge!) baked eggs topped with a spread of cheese, micro greens, and cherry tomatoes are as delicious as they look. You will find a generous amount of spinach and wild mushrooms.

6. Truffle Fries

Flavorful STK fries look more like edible Jenga. You get the perfectly crispy exterior with moist, soft interior that pack all the taste of the potatoes.

Top 5 American Comfort Food With A Modern, Elevated Twist at Del Frisco's Grille in NYC

1. Cheesesteak Eggrolls

A fusion of America (Philly cheesesteak) and China’s (eggrolls) signature dishes, the Cheesesteak Eggrolls at Del Frisco’s Grille is an absolute must. Perfect for sharing, the crispy eggrolls are stuffed with savory cheesesteak and drizzled with sweet and spicy chili sauce and honey mustard.

2. Jumbo Lump Crabcake

A fist-sized crabcake, made with lump crab meat and topped with micro greens, sits on top of spicy cajun lobster sauce that is both rich and creamy. Unlike other crabcake, this one is as pure as it gets - real, sweet and juicy crab meat without the unnecessary, extra fillers.

3. Filet Mignon

Del Frisco’s Grille lives up to its reputation as America’s greatest steakhouse by serving one of the best filet mignon ever. Cooked perfectly rare (you can, of course, request it to be cooked any way you want), the filet mignon has beautifully pink center with grilled edges. The absolutely juicy steak that just melts in your mouth is topped with peppercorn for additional flavor.

4. A Trio of Vegetable Sides

The sides at this steakhouse is as delicious as the main course itself. The crispy sweet potato fries, pan-braised wild mushrooms, and shaved brussels sprouts with bacon all complement the steak well.

5. Coconut Cream Pie

Inspired by Boston cream pie, the Coconut Cream Pie is presented just as the name suggests. On top of a mound of fresh cream are toasted & fresh coconut flakes and white chocolate shavings. The pie is surrounded by crunchy crust made with Nila crackers, which is much sweeter and has more vanilla flavor than other typical crusts.

Embark On A Meticulous Journey Through The Study Of Beef At A Japanese-Inspired Steakhouse In SF

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have probably heard of Alexander’s Steakhouse. The Lamborghini, Chanel, and Rolex of steakhouses, Alexander’s is more than just a place where diners drop hundreds of dollars on premium cuts of beef. For me, it was also an immersive journey and a guided study of beef in which I had the opportunity to explore different cooking techniques, textures, and flavors.

Hamachi Shot ($30)

My dining experience at Alexander’s began with the Hamachi Shot ($30) from the Bites menu. Each shot glass contained fresh hamachi sashimi with a slice of avocado, serrano pepper, cilantro, julienne radish, and crispy garlic mixed with yuzu-soy sauce. The dish was not only pleasing to the eyes, but also to the mouth. I loved the complex dynamic among different textures, from the tender hamachi to the creamy avocado.

Dry-Aged Kagoshima Wagyu ($30)

The Dry-Aged Kagoshima Wagyu ($30), also from the Bites menu, was such a tease to the mouth. A thinly sliced, beautifully marbled Kagoshima wagyu was wrapped over marinated eryngi mushroom. I could taste the fire from the piece of beef that was seared in binchotan (Japanese white charcoal).This juicy, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu roll was rubbed with yuzu to add an interesting citrus flavor.

Uni Toast ($9)

The final item from the Bites menu, the Uni Toast ($9) truly highlighted Alexander’s unique incorporation of Japanese cuisine at a steakhouse. Atop a buttery, marrow toasted brioche slabbed with thousand island dressing laid creamy uni and braised oxtail with thinly sliced seaweed. The buttery, creamy flavor from the brioche, uni, and the thousand island dressing was a bit excessive for my personal preference, but the extremely tender oxtail balanced out the flavor with its savoriness.

Marin Roots Local Greens ($14)

Don’t expect plain lettuce and croutons when you order a salad at Alexander’s. TheMarin Roots Local Greens ($14), served in a delicate ceramic bowl, contained fresh greens, onsen egg, and crispy squash chips tossed in green goddess dressing and seasoned with yuzu-kosho. The egg yolk dripped all over the salad to provide creamy texture that balanced well with the crispy squash chips and crunchy greens.

Tajima F1 from Australia ($48 for 3oz)

The main act at Alexander’s, of course, was the steak. Ranging from filet mignon to porterhouse to wagyu, Alexander’s steak menu boasted an impressive collection of cuts and varieties. Our knowledgeable waiter recommended the Tajima F1 from Australia ($48 for 3oz) based on our predilection for leaner cuts. Because this medium rare steak was so lean, I would recommend getting a more marbled cut if you want the much desired, melt-in-your mouth texture. We were given a tray of 12 different salts from around the world to pair with the steak. I wished the beef had been seasoned even more lightly so that adding additional sodium wouldn’t seem overindulgent.

Sides of Butternut Squash ($12), Wild Mushrooms ($16), Shichimi Fries ($14)

Alexander’s offered a wide variety of sides, all of which highlighted a unique blend of flavors. While a bit too sweet, I enjoyed the Butternut Squash ($12) with garlic, harissa, and toasted pepitas in maple vinegar, as well as the Wild Mushrooms ($16) featuring at least four different types of mushrooms sauteed in shiro shoyu with yuzu and topped with chives. The thin-cut, extra crispy Shichimi Fries ($14) was served with a side of tonkatsu aioli with sun-dried tomato.

Carrot Cake Souffle ($16)

For a sweet ending to the savory meal, my guest and I shared the Carrot Cake Souffle ($16). Because the souffle is made to order, it took about 15 minutes for the dessert to arrive. The waiter dropped a generous pour of orange whiskey sauce and a scoop of cream cheese ice cream into the soft, fluffy souffle. The intensity of the orange whiskey sauce unfortunately overpowered other flavors in the souffle, but I still enjoyed the fluffy texture that reminded me of cotton candy. The dessert also included a pair of pecan shortbread topped with a dollop of cream cheese and real carrots.

Alexander’s Steakhouse is by no means an everyday, neighborhood steakhouse given its price tag, but add it to your list of places to dine for special occasion.

Lobster Risotto, Pumpkin Burrata, And Much More At Grand Bar, A NYC Restaurant Worth Multiple Visits

With so many restaurants in New York City, rarely do I make a second trip to the same restaurant. . However, I may have found a place that is worth second, third, or even fourth visit - Grand Bar at Soho Grand Hotel. 

Located on the second floor of this elegant boutique hotel in SoHo neighborhood, Grand Bar offers exceptional cocktails and delicious food in a classy yet comfortable atmosphere with marble top oak bar, rich wooden floors, and woven leather seating.

The food menu at Grand Bar highlights local, seasonal ingredients. For appetizer, the Burrata is an absolute must. Creamy, fist-sized burrata - topped with pickled red onion, sorel, and carrots with a sprinkle of chia - sits atop two pieces of kabocha pumpkin. There are cubes of root vegetables, such as butternut squash and roasted parsnips, as well as a swipe of deliciously smooth butternut squash puree, to add additional flavors and complexity to this beautiful appetizer.

Try the Lobster Risotto, an off-the-menu item, before it's gone. This surf and turf risotto features succulent lobster tail and moist sweetbreads, flavored in rich bone marrow broth. The arborio rice is cooked to perfection with right amount of texture and consistency. 

The Harvest Vegetable Fazzoletti also highlights everyone's favorite assortment of winter squash. Made with wide, "handkerchief" shape pasta that is extremely doughy and chewy, the dish consists of everything from cubes of butternut to thinly sliced delicata with crunchy pepita in rich, creamy sage brown butter sauce. 

Order a side of Sweet Potato Fries to share. While a little bit of seasoning would have elevated the flavor of the fries (perhaps a dash of salt would have done the magic!), the sweet potato fries were nonetheless a perfect complement to our entrees. The fries sliced just the right size to be crispy on the outside and still maintain the starchy texture on the inside.