Crown Heights master thread

[jj1000]

Wanted to do this for a while. Here is a list of the places I've eaten and my favorite thing at each place. I'll edit more later, add bad foods etc... For now I want to hear other peoples opinions, so I can know what else to try. *disclaimer- besides for basil all the restaurants listed below have mediocre-horrible decor/comfortable seating.

Basil- Wine:  Maturo Borgo Real (Red), Baron Herzog Late Harvest White Riesling (White); Food: wild mushroom pizza, basil fries, and sour cream cheese cake with basil ice cream for dessert. The basil ice cream is a must have!
http://www.basilny.com/index.html

Sushi spot- One of the best rolls I have ever had is the Crunchy Situation, many other rolls are good another one I like very much is the specialty portabela roll. http://www.sushispot2.com/

Empire Grill- The Lemon(off the menu), sesame, and sweet and sour Chinese chicken are all very decent and large portions, The 770 burger and spicy fries is my go to meal for a cheap and good fleishig food. Remember they deliver for free till very late usually 1am or later. http://www.empiregrillny.com/

Mendy's- The 3 meat combo is excelent, I usualy get corned beef, pastrami, and roast beef, with fried onions. They really pack in a lot of meat. Also their baby chicien lafa is good. One of my favorite chicken soups is their chickin gambo soup. http://www.mendysdeli.com/

Pamadori- Newish Pizza shop. I really enjoyed their Pamadori slice and garlic pizza, both top notch!

Cafe Rimon- Fettuccine Alfredo is amazing!

Buncho Bagels- Probably the best bagels in crown heights. They have a good yougurt in the fridge by the register. For the most part just a typical bagel shop from what I've had.

Areles bagel- I love their personal pies that are just $6 I always ask for the russian sauce for dipping. This is my go to for cheap milchig meal. Also $5 breakfast special, bagel with eggs, potatos, israeli salad, and coffee

Kingston Pizza- I would never eat their pizza, if I didn't know they got a new recipe. The new pizza is actually not horrible if someone serves it at a party I suppose I would eat it, and enjoy it, otherwise...

Prime Sandwich- When they first opened I got a very good portion of schintzel in a spicy schnitzel sandwich and enjoyed it. Since the opening I have went there twice been very unimpressed and let down. Don't plan on ever going there again...

Albany Bakery on Albany- They make mezonos sandwiches to go. They have great guacamole which I personally love one a sandwich with white fish.

Albany bake shop on Kingston- They make sushi and accept food stamps. That is about all I know about them...

Mermelsteins- My go to place for plane food. They have a pre-wrapped deli sandwich with I think Corned beef, Pastrami, and turkey. Easy to travel with and will stay good for long trips.

Kretchma- Still open? Decent pizza used to be better than kingston pizza, probably about the same now. They may be open just motzei shabbos really not sure.

Gambos- I am not such a pastry guy. Good hot chocolate during the winter though.






 

[Cbs]

Wanted to do this for a while. Here is a list of the places I've eaten and my favorite thing at each place. I'll edit more later, add bad foods etc... For now I want to hear other peoples opinions, so I can know what else to try. *disclaimer- besides for basil all the restaurants listed below have mediocre-horrible decor/comfortable seating.

Nice job

Sushi spot- One of the best rolls I have ever had is the Crunchy Situation, many other rolls are good another one I like very much is the specialty portabela roll. http://www.sushispot2.com/

i dont remember which sushi i ate there, but i would say they have pretty good sushi! its nice that they finally opened up a shushi place in CH.

Empire Grill- The Lemon(off the menu), sesame, and sweet and sour Chinese chicken are all very decent and large portions, The 770 burger and spicy fries is my go to meal for a cheap and good fleishig food. Remember they deliver for free till very late usually 1am or later. http://www.empiregrillny.com/

i also dont remember what i had there but i remember they had good cruchy deep fried chicken - and shnitzel sandwhiches werent that bad, i cant say amazing on those

Mendy's- The 3 meat combo is excelent, I usualy get corned beef, pastrami, and roast beef, with fried onions. They really pack in a lot of meat. Also their baby chicien lafa is good. One of my favorite chicken soups is their chickin gambo soup. http://www.mendysdeli.com/

i havent eaten there in a real long time, but i would say if ur in a rush and need something quick and you're around 770 then go for a chicken avocado wrap or a pastrami sandwhich

Pamadori- Newish Pizza shop. I really enjoyed their Pamadori slice and garlic pizza, both top notch!

Really good pizza and some other cheese stuff (fgt what its called). they make really good fruit shake (base milk)

Cafe Rimon- Fettuccine Alfredo is amazing!

never ate there. but i ate at the same place when it was called something else- many years ago. (sorry to long ago to remember)

Buncho Bagels- Probably the best bagels in crown heights. They have a good yougurt in the fridge by the register. For the most part just a typical bagel shop from what I've had.

if you're looking for a good bagel sandwhich this is the place to go. a little more pricey then arele's bagels but its worth it

Areles bagel- I love their personal pies that are just $6 I always ask for the russian sauce for dipping. This is my go to for cheap milchig meal. Also $5 breakfast special, bagel with eggs, potatos, israeli salad, and coffee

i usually get a stomach ache after i eat there. i only eat there cuz i have no patience to walk to bunch-o bagel and its more center location. the personal pies and the spicy potato bagel (which still gave an ache) are the only thing that taste good there.
just beware that the cashier takes the money with his glove still on and then will touch food as well.

Kingston Pizza- I would never eat their pizza, if I didn't know they got a new recipe. The new pizza is actually not horrible if someone serves it at a party I suppose I would eat it, and enjoy it, otherwise...

havent eaten there in many years but i remember that the pizza aint that good

Prime Sandwich- When they first opened I got a very good portion of schintzel in a spicy schnitzel sandwich and enjoyed it. Since the opening I have went there twice been very unimpressed and let down. Don't plan on ever going there again...

same here. when it opened i orderd a meat combo and it was really good, recently i ordered a shnitzel and it was horrible. - it pays to drive to shnitzies on coney island for a good shnitzel sandwhich

Albany bake shop on Kingston- They make sushi and accept food stamps. That is about all I know about them...

i didnt really like their breakfast specials

Mermelsteins- My go to place for plane food. They have a pre-wrapped deli sandwich with I think Corned beef, Pastrami, and turkey. Easy to travel with and will stay good for long trips.

many years ago i ordered some chicken breasts from there and it was good.

Kretchma- Still open? Decent pizza used to be better than kingston pizza, probably about the same now. They may be open just motzei shabbos really not sure.

idk if open but better pizza then kingston

Gambos- I am not such a pastry guy. Good hot chocolate during the winter though.

not either a big pastry guy but they say its not too bad there. Probably better then buying a donut at Kahan''s

i wouldve recommended Esthers Deli/Grill A"H!
and never buy a sandwhich from a guy selling on the steps of 770, they're usually soggy!

[whYME]

Well done.

I have a few disagreements & comments:

Kingston Pizza- I would never eat their pizza, if I didn't know they got a new recipe. The new pizza is actually not horrible if someone serves it at a party I suppose I would eat it, and enjoy it, otherwise...

havent eaten there in many years but i remember that the pizza aint that good

Their pizza used to be absolutely horrible, but now with the new ownership (Itzik & the guy from Dagan's) It's actually really good IMO.

Kretchma- Still open? Decent pizza used to be better than kingston pizza, probably about the same now. They may be open just motzei shabbos really not sure.

I haven't been there in ages. their pizza was (is?) decent but the place was always so filthy, it always grossed me out. -and not having a hechsher didn't help either...

Albany bake shop on Kingston- They make sushi and accept food stamps. That is about all I know about them...

Closed.
-or are you talking about "Kingston bake shop"? I'm pretty sure Albany on Kingston never sold sushi...


to be cont.

[SGF]

Wanted to do this for a while. Here is a list of the places I've eaten and my favorite thing at each place. I'll edit more later, add bad foods etc... For now I want to hear other peoples opinions, so I can know what else to try. *disclaimer- besides for basil all the restaurants listed below have mediocre-horrible decor/comfortable seating........

+1

areles bagel - personal pies and the spicy potato bagel (which still gave an ache) are the only thing that taste good there.
just beware that the cashier takes the money with his glove still on and then will touch food as well.

pizza is only good while its still warm otherwise its not good

Kingston bake shop- i didnt really like their breakfast specials

breakfast is not at all good but if you have food stamps its worth it, sushi there is prob the best in CH besides for 'sushi spot'

Gombos - not either a big pastry guy but they say its not too bad there. Probably better then buying a donut at Kahan''s

not the best but its very fresh stuff as oppose to the other bakery's

[jj1000]

Their pizza used to be absolutely horrible, but now with the new ownership (Itzik & the guy from Dagan's) It's actually really good IMO.

-or are you talking about "Kingston bake shop"? I'm pretty sure Albany on Kingston never sold sushi...

Could be I still associate it with the old pizza taste just because of the name...

Yes Kingston bake shop. Thanks for the correction.

Also my favorite Ice cream in crown heights is the soft serve pistachio flavor with cookie crunch on the inside and outside from Nosh world.
Side  not I heard sweet expressions lost their hechsher again. I was never to impressed with their ice cream anyway.

[AsherO]

Nice job

+1, this thread is well overdue

Side  not I heard sweet expressions lost their hechsher again. I was never to impressed with their ice cream anyway.

Again?

[jj1000]

Again?

They used to be under badatz ch then the OK now they lost the OK also... They don't have a mashkiach timidey and a goy prepares the hot chocolate so it is a problem of bishul akum. Don't quote me on this just what I've heard.
 
   Another side note I made this thread so I can find out about other good dishes in Crown Heights please everyone chime in with your suggestions.

[txtmax4]

Bakery on Kingston & Crown: Best breakfast in town, try Israeli-mayo salad.
Kingston Pizza: Their pizza is awesome since they changed owners.
Pomodori: Try the vodka pizza, excellent.
Buncho's: havarti tuna melt on a flat. Bunchochino with the works.
Don't forget Sushi-K-Bar in E.K. I tried their tuna pizza "roll" last week, impressed as usual. Rainbow roll my regular.
Basil: Wild mushroom pizza, Basil fries with LOTS of truffle mayo. BEST EVER croissant, worth every penny.

(What a baal-taiveh  )

ps. All I remember about Kretchme is that once I went there and saw baked ziti on the display and asked the guy behind the counter if it's good and he goes with a grin from ear to ear: "It's excellent! You know how I know? Because I made it myself!". So I'm like: "OK, let's go for it"...
What can I say? A clump of american cheese on one side and a squirt of ketchup on the other, not even on the same spot anywhere. It reminded me of yeshiva food (actually it didn't because it was way worse and incomparable to yeshiva food).
OTOH, I must say that Kretchme still holds the title for the best pizza in town for the longest period of time.

[jj1000]

Areles bagel- I love their personal pies that are just $6 I always ask for the russian sauce for dipping. This is my go to for cheap milchig meal. Also $5 breakfast special, bagel with eggs, potatos, israeli salad, and coffee

I usually get a stomach ache after i eat there. i only eat there cuz i have no patience to walk to bunch-o bagel and its more center location. the personal pies and the spicy potato bagel (which still gave an ache) are the only thing that taste good there.
just beware that the cashier takes the money with his glove still on and then will touch food as well.

I guess I owe you a +1. I hear they got shut down today by the health department.

[SGF]

I guess I owe you a +1. I hear they got shut down today by the health department.

IIRC its the 3rd time in the past 2 yrs that they closed for this reason, i guess last time didnt help much.

[lbvtch]

sorry about the last post, was a mistake

Sushi spot- One of the best rolls I have ever had is the Crunchy Situation, many other rolls are good another one I like very much is the specialty portabela roll. http://www.sushispot2.com/

i went in there once and they told me my sushi would be ready in 45 min!

Empire Grill- The Lemon(off the menu), sesame, and sweet and sour Chinese chicken are all very decent and large portions, The 770 burger and spicy fries is my go to meal for a cheap and good fleishig food. Remember they deliver for free till very late usually 1am or later. http://www.empiregrillny.com/

shnitzel sandwich is good shwarma in a lafa is also. pretty cheep. sushi is terrible

Albany bake shop on Kingston- They make sushi and accept food stamps. That is about all I know about them...

before sushi spot opened they were said to have the best sushi in CH

[txtmax4]

Albany bake shop on Kingston- They make sushi and accept food stamps. That is about all I know about them...

You're probably referring to Kingston bake shop AKA Isaacs, Albany bake shop never carried shushi AFAIK.

before sushi spot opened they were said to have the best sushi in CH

Not at all! Best sushi hands down was at Empire Kosher, still competes big time with the new sushi place.

[jj1000]

Still waiting for some more food suggestions. Does no one eat out in ch?

[lbvtch]

Still waiting for some more food suggestions. Does no one eat out in ch?

iv heard people say, if you want to eat in a normal restaurant you have to leave CH

[Cbs]

iv heard people say, if you want to eat in a normal restaurant you have to leave CH

+1

[jj1000]

iv heard people say, if you want to eat in a normal restaurant you have to leave CH

Meh, so who delivers?

[AsherO]

Still waiting for some more food suggestions. Does no one eat out in ch?

I had the seared tuna at Basil tonight, it was really good. Not sure it was worth the $36 (when you add sides, drinks, dessert, tax and tip it's like double that), but then again I'm not a foodie.

Had it med-rare, which probably isn't the best idea on a Sunday night, but at least I didn't get the tuna tartare. I loved the look on the waitress' face when I asked if they get fresh fish on Sunday, eventually she said she doesn't know but she could go check if I'd like, which I declined.

[David B]

Which is the CH restaurant that I read about in the Jewish Week a year or so ago --  milchig restaurant that is supposed to be VERY nice, and sort of out of place (and not even in the 'heart of Jewish CH).  I heard it is very good....

[Cbs]

The one and only.... Basil!

[David B]

The one and only.... Basil!

Thanks...I suppose its worth a special trip to CH?