Beyond Sushi

I had a FANTASTIC lunch at Beyond Sushi last week. 

 

Note that Beyond Sushi is not a traditional sushi restaurant, it is actually a 100% vegan eatery.  Now, let me state that I am a carnivore, I typically have meat or fish with every meal - unless I am having eggs.  In no way does this seem like a spot that I would like however, I cannot deny that Beyond Sushi has done a fantastic job with their menu.  Their creations are both completely delicious and satisfying.  I am beyond excited I found Beyond Sushi!

 

 

I chose to go with their #3 combo: a roll and a wrap.  

I got the Sweet Angel wrap filled with buckwheat noodles, asparagus, sweet potato, sprouts, and wrapped with romaine lettuce and topped with their spicy sauce. 

 

 

 

 

I split a roll with my dining partner so I was able to sample to different rolls.  

The Sweet Tree Roll with six grain rice, avocado, sweet potato, sprouts with rice and toasted cayenne sauce was awesome.

 

 

 

 

Green Machine with six grain rice, cucumber, asparagus, basil, marinated veggies, and jalapeno wasabi sauce (wasn't very spicy) was also amazing, I couldn't pick which I liked better, they were both SO GOOD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am telling you, I don't care if you are a meat head, the food is delicious and you feel good walking out of that place, like you just did something good for your body.  Go!

Beyond Sushi
229 East 14th St. New York, NY 10003
http://beyondsushinyc.com/

Estela

I could not wait to go to Estela, it was one of those restaurants that had a menu that looked perfect for me.  This past Friday night I scored a table.  The meal started off great but unfortunately it didn't sustain this way.

 

We selected a nice bottle of red for the meal.  It was actually alittle cold - really it should have been room temperature - but, what are you going to do?

 

 

 

 

 

We started with a delicious plate of mixed olives and pickled vegetables - on this night, it was carrots.  They lay on top of a buttery white dip which was a wonderful surprise.  Alittle dry fennel seed lay next to it and I loved dipping the carrot in the sauce and then the fennel seed, it was a lovely combination.

 

 

The mussel escabeche was FANTASTIC!  Beautiful mussels hidden under cilantro leaves, on top of lightly toasted fresh bread, with a nice herbaceous sauce.  Bright, fragrant and delicate, this dish was top notch.

 

 

 

Beef tartare came out and tasted like....air.  Really, I don't know if they forgot the salt or forgot something else but there was no taste to it.  Blah.

 

 

 

 

Razor clams....terrible.  They looked fabulous however I took my first bite and it was so fishy, and not just fishy but like it had gone bad - I thought I was going to have food poisoning later that evening (thankfully I did not).  Because I am a glutton for punishment - or rather I just really wanted to love this restaurant - I figured I should try another bite.  It was delicious!  I went for another bite, FISHY again.  I figured I should quit while I was ahead.

 

 

 

 

I of course had to order the calamari.  This came with squid ink and crushed and toasted almonds.  All of the flavors played beautifully together but the calamari was chewy, rubbery, difficult to eat.

 

 

 

The ricotta dumplings came out with mushroom and pecorino.  Nice concept but again, no flavor. Double blah.

 

 

 

 

I was so disappointed by Estela, maybe it was just an off night, but I hope they figure their shit for the next set of diners.

 

 

 

Estela
47 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10012
(212) 219-7693http://estelanyc.com

Mission Cantina

I love when chefs make brilliant dishes. 

Danny Bowien has done just that at Mission Cantina.   His choices to fill a taco - and the combinations he puts together - are not typical but they create unbelievably amazing bites.

 

Starting you off, a small little cup of chips with red chili vinaigrette and peanuts.  The vinaigrette is pretty darn spicy but its the best kind of spicy, it should be bottled. 

 

 

On to the tacos.....

 

 

The Fish Taco - fried skate, crema, guacamole, and that chili vinaigrette.  This was so delicious.  A combination of hot and cold, crispy and soft, spicy and cool, it wakes up your tastebuds - what a ride!

 

 

 

 

Braised octopus, chicken wing and onion relish.  Delightful, cooked perfectly, the components worked beautifully together.

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin with pepitas, mole sauce, and queso cotija.  Good....add the pickled red onion that come on the side, and it becomes OUTSTANDING.

 

 

 

 

A fantastic meal, I absolutely loved it and recommend you all go out and get some tacos!

 

Mission Cantina
172 Orchard St (at Stanton), New York City
http://missioncantinanyc.com/