Eat-a-Sode 2: Birthday Fiesta in the City!

We love birthdays! Maybe not the 'getting older' part so much, but the 'getting friends together for a night out' part! As our busy lives would have it, it's not so often we can plan group nights out anymore. So, it is quite the event when we can rally the troops and hit the town. When one's birthday falls during the last days of summer, it is also a great excuse to celebrate what's left of the hot summer nights, before everyone spirals back into the hectic autumn days. 

Kristen can never resist...

On this Saturday night, 2+2 (+5) celebrated Kristen's birthday in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan. We all put our party clothes on (and the girls, their best heels), and met in the city for an aperitif at the Hudson Hotel, a sultry and trendy, yet whimsical venue in Midtown West. It has been on the 2+2 agenda for quite some time. The Hudson Hotel has a notorious after-dinner scene. By midnight, the Hudson Hotel is usually a place to see and be seen. The floor is illuminated with a pinkish hue, the crowd is dancing, and the drinks are flowing. Since this wasn't exactly the scene we were looking for on this evening, we decided to begin our evening (instead end it) at the Hudson Hotel for some intimate pre-dinner drinks and conversation. We gathered around a Victorian-eqsue table, perched on the white couches, sipped our cocktails, and caught up with friends. How lovely! 

Aye! aye! What's that?! Oh... that's Cuban! Our next stop! Our celebratory bunch strutted down 9th Avenue to Agua Dulce, a one-year-old Cuban restaurant between 53rd and 54th. Angela and Kristen had a taste of the Agua Dulce brunch months before, and were dying for a dinner experience here. We were seated at a long table in the middle of the restaurant, blaring (confusingly) with 90s hip hop and R&B; though, we found it quite humorous (until the playlist began to repeat!). We thoroughly enjoyed our pleasantly potent cocktails; we couldn't stop talking about them! Of course we couldn't move on without sampling some Cuban dulces and coffee. When we had our fill...it was time for our last Hell's Kitchen stop.....

Reunion Surf Bar! Again we ventured out onto 9th Avenue to travel just ten blocks south from Agua Dulce, and flocked to a new Manhattan hot spot... notably for beach and surf lovers. As Lee and Manny are avid surfers, they were certainly excited about checking out this new addition to Midtown. We had read some great reviews, liked the looks of it in pictures, and decided to check it out. We figured, there would always be another after-dinner spot close by, if needed. When we arrived, we were awed by how cool this place actually was! It was like a dimly lit, refined tiki bar (with a much more stiletto-friendly floor)! We sat at a high table big enough for all of us (!), enjoyed a few cocktails, watched some surfers catching waves on the flatscreen, chatted with some Aussies, and as always, had a lot of great laughs. For that moment, it almost seemed as if we were on a tropical island in the South Pacific! 

Overall, we had a great night, and Kristen had a birthday fiesta blast! What's better than celebrating with your favorite people at some really unique venues in the heart of New York City? 

Pre Drinks 2+2+(3) 
Hudson Hotel
356 W 58th Street NYC
(212) 554-6000

www.hudsonhotel.com

Cocktails, Manhattan

As we stepped onto the highlighter yellow lit escalator and looked up to the check-in desk, it already seemed as if we had been drinking some of Alice's tea. We walked past the huge chandelier and to the right into one of many bars/rooms you can choose to get a drink. This room is straight out of Lewis Carroll's head with the fully lit floor, antique looking decor, logs with chair backs to sit on, white couches and tucked in booths. The drinks are good, but be ready to spend a pretty penny for it. This place is not the place to binge drink. The other rooms range from a library to an outside garden. Before dinner, the crowd is quiet and dull whispers are heard from different corners of the room.

Hudson Bar

After midnight, the music is blasting, all the bars start to become packed with people who have started their nights elsewhere, drinking for a little bit cheaper to get the buzz they were looking for and now they are ready to nurse their $15 drink, talk, dance, or just be seen. There is a place for anyone here, what ever mood they may be in, go in take a drink and follow the rabbit down the hole. 

What we drank...

• Champagne and St. Germain Cocktail (A+K)
• Grey Goose on the rocks (L)
• Grey Goose and Soda (M)

A: Alice in Wonderland has always been my favorite Disney movie... which is why I think I loved the ambiance of this place so much! Before locating K+M in the bar off the lobby, we wandered into the outdoor patio bar looking for them. So different and cute... dimly lit, couches, ivy covering the brick walls... loved it... I need to come back before all the warm weather has gone. I think that being a hotel is only a formality... everyone entering was coming for drinks!

Hudson Hotel 'Private Park'

K: The drinks really are expensive, but I am willing to pay for the experience. The Hudson Hotel bar is such a funky space. It may even resemble Lady Gaga's living room. I can't help myself; I just love it! More suitable for fall, due to its darker ambiance, is the Library Room. Perfect for a glass of wine and contemplating if Professor Plum killed someone in the study with a wrench. 

L: I would love to say that the drinks are cheap... but they are not. At least the service was good. With so many places (within the hotel) to have a cocktail, next time I would like to go area to area having a drink in each. 

M: Pre - drinks was fun, but I would love to come back to this place for after dinner drinks, looks like a great time. I couldn't stop looking at every detail that went in the layout of every room. Is a play land for adults. I would like to go back on Halloween.

Our Ratings...

• The Scene- Alice In Wonderland meets Clue meets New York City Chic
• Drinks- 3: Pleasantly Surprised!
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
• Coordinates- 4: Neighborhood- Centrally located!
• Restaurant Return Rate- Green Light- Definitely will be back for more drinks!
• Price per person- $12-$16 per drink

Dinner 2+2 +(5)

Agua Dulce 

802 Ninth Avenue (bet. 53rd and 54th) NYC

212-262-1299

www.aguadulceny.com

Cuban, Potent Caribbean-style Cocktails, Manhattan

The Birthday Girl

This place is straight outta Miami! The blue and green, ocean inspired, tiled walls, the eclectic mix of modern decor, the model-like waiters dressed in all white... they 'hit the nail on the head' in terms of ambiance. Most of the time they are playing a great mix of latin music to complete the package. Located just outside the theatre district, staff are friendly, animated and outgoing, as many of them wait tables when they aren't performing on Broadway. 

Agua Dulce serves brunch and dinner, all with a latin inspired flare- we've tried both! You can also rent the adorable back room for parties, which we've done as well. As a whole, the food is really great... hence why we've dined there 3 times... but brunch definitely out-shined dinner. Chef Ulrich Sterling uses his imagination to change the menu often and make the dishes more interesting. 

Passing Drinks and Guac

The Braised Short Ribs are definitely the highlight of the menu. At brunch have the Ropa Vieja Sandwich... shredded beef short rib on a sandwich with avocado crema and crispy yuca fries... it is SO GOOD! At dinner, the short ribs were smoked with tea, which was also tasty. 

Lee and Ang eat meat!

Other brunch highlights include the Grilled Skirt Steak and Eggs, as well as the Panqueque de Chorizo... pancakes with sausage inside, with bacon maple syrup on top! At dinner time definitely have the guacamole trio! So inventive... never have we seen so many great guac combos. Additional awesome items include the Caribbean squash soup with chorizo, as well as one of the ceviches. 

Behind the bar is where their imagination really went wild! Some of the tastiest drinks we've ever had. Tequila is in almost everything and if you like spice, you are gonna love then. Tequila infused with jalapenos... whoa! Although pricey, you are getting your money's worth. Definitely check out the bar scene!


What we ate...

Drinks

• Luna Caliente Cocktail (K) 
• Tequila and Elderflower liqueur Cocktail (A)
• Tequila and Jalapeno Cocktail (L) 

Appetizers

• Guac Trio- Tropical (mango, habanero), Ahumado (chipotle, bacon), Tipico (jalapeno) (2+2)
• Chili Garlic Charred Edamame (2+2)

Entrees

• Smoked Tea Braised Short Ribs (A+K)
• Churrasco (grilled skirt steak) (L+M)

Dessert

• Dulce de Leche Flan with carmel ice cream (M)
• Crepas Cajeta (crepes with mexican caramel) (A+L)
• Cappuccino (M)

A: I love the vibe of this place... it is so lively and fun... it feels sort of like you are on vacation somewhere warm! I will definitely be back to sit at the bar and order some tequila with guacamole, or to sample more items on the brunch menu. However, I was a little disappointed with the dinner... although tasty... not nearly as awesome as brunch. 

K: Habanero-infused tequila? What's that you say? Si! Si! Si! My cocktail was phenomenal. The Luna Caliente with all its habanero glory was the highlight of my dinner...along with the guacamole trio and (randomly Un-Cuban) sauteed Edamame special. I, sadly, didn't love the short ribs. I felt as though they lacked any meat at all. But, please, keep the Luna Calientes coming! 

Manny's Flan

L: I'm part Argentinian meaning I was born with a piece of steak in my mouth. So, to say that I am a Skirt Steak Expert is an understaitment. That being said, the skirt steak here didn't really live up to my standards. I didn't particularly like the marinade or the way it was cooked. My jalapeno cocktail and the dessert were awesome though (See Manny's dessert comments below). 

M: Dulce de Leche Flan with Carmel ice cream, I don't have to say more... But I will, it was amazing, have to say one of the best Flan I have had to date. If you are going have anything from the dessert menu don't even look at it- just get the Flan, it will not disappoint. Now as for the main course, I had food envy. Kristen had the short ribs, I had the skirt steak. I wanted her ribs and she wanted my steak but we didn't say anything to each other till the next day. Wish we did, then we might have had a different take on the main courses. Next time I'm telling her when I have food envy.

Our Ratings...

• The Scene- Miami and Cuban Inspired
• Food/Drinks- Dinner- 3: Pleasantly Surprised; Drinks- 4: Stellar! Wouldn't change a thing!
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
• Coordinates- 4: Neighborhood- Centrally located!
• Restaurant Return Rate- Yellow: Great for drinks and brunch, but dinner was lacking.
• Price per person- $70 for drinks, apps, entrees and dessert

Après-Dinner Drinks 2+2+(5)

Reunion Surf Bar

630 9th Ave @ 44th Street NYC

212-582-3200

www.reunionbar.com

Beach Shack Snacks, Tropical Cocktails & Beers, Manhattan

Tucked in the basement of a building on 44th street, just off 9th Ave, is Reunion Surf Bar. When looking at the steps into the basement entrance, one might think "There can't possibly be anything good for me down there". Well my friend, you (as we were) would be wrong.

When the crew walked up to the place, we were greated by a board short and t-shirt wearing bouncer. What made it even more odd was that he was in a good mood. Not typical for NYC. But how can you not be happy when you work at a surf bar? Walking down the steps you get the feeling like you are in the barrel of a wave. A quick left and you have made it. Surf Bar paradise. 

The place is separated into two rooms. A side room with a tropical fish tank (for small get togethers) and a main bar area. Complete with hanging lanterns, surf boards, what looked to be a balsa wood bar and surf videos playing on the TV, the bar looks and feels like you are in Hawaii. Everyone in the not-to-crowded bar seemed to be having a good time. The relaxed atmosphere leads itself to heavy drinking as if you were on a beach vacation. Though we didn't partake, there was a light menu available for when the munchies strike. Try a Kona Longboard Lager or the aptly named Surfer Girl Cocktail, and you will be hooked. Or should we say barreled (wow thats cheesy)?

What we drank...

• Grey Goose on the Rocks (A)
• The 'Surfer Girl' Cocktail (K)
• Long Board Brewery Beer - straight from Hawaii! (L+M)
• Land Shark Beer (M)

A: Sometimes you don't want to go to a dive bar, but you also don't want to be elbow to elbow, having to scream at your friend standing right next to you... it can be hard to find a place that's both relaxed and happening. This place is your answer... adorable! A great place to hang with friends and have a couple of drinks. 

K: I had a lot of fun at Reunion Surf Bar. It was so much more than I expected it to be! It was really well-groomed, and had a pleasant staff! I enjoyed the laid-back feel at the end of the evening. I think I probably enjoyed taking photographs with the surrounding props (and with friends!)...the surfboard and some coconuts...more than my cocktails. 

L: This place is awesome. It's what you would expect an unpretentious surf bar to be. Plus they have one of my favorite and hard to find beers. 

M: Land Shark beers, Surf videos, fish tank in the wall, and chill people. Don't really need to ask for anything more from a Surf bar.. I felt like I was in Australia or Hawaii, not in the city. I wish there were more places like this one.

Our Ratings...

• The Scene- The name says it all... a Hawaiian Surf Bar
• Drinks- 3: Pleasantly Surprised
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
• Coordinates- 4: Neighborhood- Centrally located!
• Restaurant Return Rate- Yellow: If I was in the area
• Price per person- $6 Beers, $10-$12 Mixed Drinks

COMING UP!!! Eat-A-Sode 3- Blazing Saddles Sundays: One of us almost passes out, the most insane doughnut ever and of course.... drinking!!!!