Category Archives: East Village

East Village, Fusion, Japanese, Korean, Other, Restaurant Reviews, Thai, Vietnamese

Ama Raw Bar

December 11, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my awesome Ride & Review video for this joint HERE:

Ama Raw Bar has two locations. I met my wife here for happy hour at the alphabet city location to try some of their cocktails and discounted bites. Everything was good. We started with oysters ($1.25ea).

Then we moved on to this nice batter-fried shrimp.

This rice paper chicken quesadilla was unique, but I think it would be excellent if they fried the rice paper wrapper.

The cod cake was nice, a different sort of take on a crab cake using salt cod.

The Szechuan dry rub wings needed a hit of salt and some of that mala numbing spice to really make them perfect. Otherwise, good cook and crunch on them.

“Luscious Mussels” come with a broiled lobster tail and nori fries. These were probably our favorite dish of the night.

Definitely would go back to try the lobster ramen, and also perhaps to try their other west village location.

AMA RAW BAR
190 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

East Village, Japanese, Restaurant Reviews

Thirteen Water

October 31, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

This 13-course omakase joint is a pretty great deal for just $75. It starts off with a few really awesome pieces like the medium fatty tuna, the shima aji and the tuna with truffle.

Then in the middle you have some really unique stuff like the salmon with tomato, and a real banger with the ebi (shrimp).

And toward the end, you get the otoro fatty tuna with caviar, hand rolls, and the delicious Hokkaido uni on toast. Those were definitely some really great pieces.

I would go back here again, for sure. I just wish they allowed you to bring your own bottle of wine. A corkage fee is totally fine – we just have a lot of wine to get through here! That said, they have a great selection of sake and Japanese imported beer.

THIRTEEN WATER
208 E 7th St.
New York, NY 10009

East Village, Latin/Mexican & Caribbean, Restaurant Reviews

Superbueno

September 18, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

Check out my ass-kicking Ride & Review video HERE first:

This taco bar opened up in the space that was formerly Boilermaker, and it serves up some amazing cocktails, like the mushroom margarita!

My wife and I tried two types of tacos: crispy pork belly (my fave) and al pastor (her fave).

Truly both were excellent, so you can’t go wrong with either. We also had the nachos, which are vegeterian as far as I can tell. Made with mushrooms, poblanos and mole sauce.

I will definitely go back to try more stuff!

SUPERBUENO
13 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003

East Village, Italian, Lower East Side/Chinatown

Fiaschetteria Pistoia

September 17, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my ass-kicking RIDE & REVIEW video for this restaurant HERE:

This place, whose name translates to Pistoia Wine Shop (Pistoia is a town in Tuscany), has some really amazing food.

We started with the guancia (pork cheek) and Tonno del Chianti (pork that tastes like tuna). Both were hands-down incredible.

Even their bread is a delicious mix of focaccia and country style.

Next we dove into some pasta. On was a special tagliatelle with sausage. Very good, although just a hint salty.

The other was a duck pappardelle which was lights out!

We finished the meal with the most perfect panna cotta I’ve ever had. Seriously.

FIASCETTERIA PISTOIA
647 E 11th Street
New York, NY 10009

Burgers, East Village, Pub Food, Restaurant Reviews

The Wayland

August 25, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

The Wayland is a nice bar at the corner of 9th Street and Avenue C that serves up some great deals at Happy Hour. Namely, $1.50 oysters, and a $12 “beer and burger” deal.

Both are top notch quality, and they really do a nice job with cocktails too, like this shallot infused gin gibson.

I can’t wait to go back and try more stuff. That “Lost Lady” burger was a killer double patty with American and a great special sauce. Nice and simple. Get here!

THE WAYLAND
700 E 9th St
New York, NY 10009

East Village, Latin/Mexican & Caribbean, Restaurant Reviews

San Loco Tacos

August 24, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

This self proclaimed “gringo taco joint” is really great, in my humble opinion. This is basic stuff – sort of like a high end, better version of Taco Bell.

We tried two tacos and a handheld burrito during their lunch special pricing (two tacos $9, comes with drink; burrito plus guac and chips for $12, comes with drink).

Both were great, with the pork carnitas taco being the best of all. Better than the beef and better than the chipotle chicken. We opted to eat at the bar and upgrade our drinks to frozen margaritas (we tried tamarind and cactus pear).

Great spot. Can’t wait to go back!

SAN LOCO TACOS
111 Ave C
New York, NY 10009

East Village, Pizza

Saint Pizza

July 26, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

This new slice and pie joint on Avenue B near 14th Street serves up some really nice stuff. I went with the fresh mozz slice, and my wife went with this nice arugula and burrata Sicilian style slice.

Both great, but I think the crust on the square slice was better.

I’ll definitely be back to try some other slices as well as their lasagna!

SAINT PIZZA
223 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

East Village, Lower East Side/Chinatown, Pub Food, Restaurant Reviews

The Hairy Lemon

July 25, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

My wife and I went on a little food and bar crawl this past weekend, and The Hairy Lemon was our first stop for a bite. We tried two flavors of wings: spicy orange and ginger sauce, and mango habanero. We liked the mango habanero better, but neither were particularly as spicy as we had hoped.

We also tried their tots. These were nice, but just needed a hint of salt. A nice dipping sauce came with them.

I’d definitely go back to try the burger, and to hang for some UFC fights. It’s a big sports bar with tons of TVs, a pool table, a giant Connect Four game, etc.

THE HAIRY LEMON
28 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

Burgers, East Village

Burgers on B

July 24, 2023 Johnny Prime Leave a comment

First, check out my Ride & Review video HERE:

This newly opened smash burger joint offers up a nice variety of smash style burgers (regular, Oklahoma, etc) at really great prices ($6 for a single).

My wife and I tried a regular double smash and some fries.

The fries were a little soggy, but the burger was somewhere between good and great. I would definitely go back and try some more stuff, especially their shakes.