by Keenan Milum on Ahh, Circle. Long did I wait to make the pilgrimage to this mecca of Korean nightlife in New York, to see if all the legends, tall tales and horror stories were true. Well I finally did this past Friday. After much cajoling from friends I walked up to its nondescript, blacked out facade on 41st right about 2am. Gaggle of gents outside huddled in the cold, gelled coifs quivering in the wind, nary a lady in sight as they've long since been ushered indoors. Oh yes, that type of club. I walked up to the immaculately dressed young Korean doorman and mentioned the name of a friend who had a table there that night, and I was summarily wristbanded and escorted past the velvet rope and my poor freezing brethren, sans cover. Oh yes, also that type of club. A quick $4 coat check later and I'm immersed in a pulsing sea of MAC eyeshadow, mishmashed cologne, silk minidresses and smoke machines. Drinks spilling everywhere. I'm impressed - 2am and the place is packed balls to the wall with Korean homeboys and shorties of every persuasion. At our table we have fruit - this is new to me - I pass in favor of the liquid stuff. When we run out we hit the upstairs bar for a few shots of Jaeger with no hassle. To the dancefloor! Sophisticated stuff this isn't, more like sardine can bump-n-grind, but the top 40 hip-hop soundtrack is plenty palatable and there is no shortage of dance partners. At 3am some dude with a saxophone comes out. I'm like wtf mate, but I'm also like, too tipsy to care. Girls getting booked, waiters trying to book, guys pulling the sneak-and-hump (come on fellas), girls bitch shielding, it's all one big smokin' hot mess. We stay until they shut it down. Bottles are expensive, but guys just buy one and split it with your boys, saves wait time and believe it or not money. 6 shots ran me $50, not bad for the type of place. Very Asian, for that matter very Korean, if that ain't your thing, don't go. PACKED, same advice if that ain't your thing. Music is mostly on point, like Hot 97 with ADHD. Girls, seems like there are plenty of guys here, not sure about quality, but the quantity's there. Guys, there are plenty of young ladies to make googly eyes at, though I'd humbly suggest trying a simple hello to start, instead of convincing yourself that a surprise game of hide the egg roll will earn mad points with that fly shorty.
by Shannon O. on Carman's is a fun & funky brunch experience. Walking up to the building I noticed a bright red pickup parked at the curb. It took a few seconds before I registered the group of people brunching at a table set up in the truckbed. I knew already this was going to a meal to remember. Once you finish admiring the curbside "chef's table", you may notice the cute little dog chained up outside the diner beneath a sign warning" Beware of Dog." Other reviewers have discussed the crazy dog and they're right: I saw her snarl and bark like crazy at several people who got too close. Gennifer told us she'll bite you if you try to touch her. Another sign that this isn't your typical restaurant: the headless mannequin standing on the front stoop. That day she was wearing a cute black & white print dress. The interior is tight, with a small counter and a few little tables. Gennifer took our names and told us it'd be about 20 minutes. My friend and I grabbed some of the Sunday paper from a pile near the door and sat out on the front stoop to wait. In a few minutes, Thomas came outside and asked if we'd like some coffee. Yes, please! He asked how we took it and was back in a flash with two hot, steaming, mismatched ceramic mugs. This is some seriously good coffee. I think I drank six or seven cups (and I'm not really a coffee drinker). I couldn't sleep a wink that night but it was worth it--that coffee is great. Thomas came out with the dry erase board featuring the day's menu and explained the choices to us. I was tempted by the pancakes and french toast but decided to go for the omelet (If I eat something sweet in the morning I'll eat nothing but sugar all day long). Shortly after, he returned to let us know they were ready for us inside. We sat at the counter where Gennifer took our orders and gave us more wonderful coffee along with water in jam jar glasses. The food: I had the omelet stuffed with turtle, broccoli, white beans, Gouda and probably one or two other things I can't remember. I got a side of bacon, potatoes, and white toast. My friend had the meat loaf and eggs, potatoes, and wheat toast. Both of us thought the food was decent. This isn't four start cuisine, but if that's why you're coming to a diner you're on the wrong track anyway. Carman's food is home cooking: filling, irregular, tasty. My omelet's filling was a bit muddy and watery but the eggs were fluffy. I found a large bone in it, I assume from the turtle. But, like I said, this is home cooking--it's not perfect--so I just put it on the side of my plate and dove back in. Toast was meh but the delicious fig jam made up for it. My bacon was a disappointment. I like nice crispy bacon, but this serving was a coil of limp, wet fat. I just left it--Lord knows I had more than enough other food to eat. I tried a bite of the meatloaf--I found it well-seasoned and pleasantly moist. The portions are ENORMOUS. If you've got some hard labor like ditch digging scheduled for the afternoon, this is the place to go for breakfast. I'm a big eater but I stopped about halfway through my plate. I didn't even want to think about food again until late that evening. Carman's is worth coming to as a unique dining experience. The service is stellar and the atmosphere is priceless. Eating at Carman's is like hanging out at your cool, funky friend's house while she cooks up a meal for you. Price: Our bill came to $32. A bit pricey but you'll having so much fun while you're there that you'll happily fork over the cash (and it is cash only, please). Would I visit again? Heck, yes! But I'd probably steer clear of the omelet and go for some pancakes or that challah french toast.
by Floyd Foskey on I'm not one for dancing , so my experiences at Phoenix Landing are mainly of the dinner-time (7pm +) during the week variety. Usually at that time there's at least one attentive waitress and a few people at the bar and tables. I like that we can usually walk in on a Friday night at 7:10pm and get a table with no hassle or wait. I usually get a Magners and the fish and chips or something like that. My fiance usually gets a few black and tans which he always enjoys. While the food isn't the cheapest (around $13), it's pretty good and I haven't had bad service yet from any of the waitstaff. The TVs are all tuned to different sports channels and the general vibe is pretty chill, but that's all before the mayhem of the dance nights starts which others have documented here. All in all, I say this is a good place for a low-key meal and a drink if you go on the off-times.
