Hey blog readers,
A few Fridays I have brought you "Flashback Friday," a series about restaurants I visited awhile back, and want to bring you a few more flashbacks in the coming weeks. I started blogging 6 weeks ago, but I have been steadily eating in Manhattan as a resident for over 2 years, and I grew up nearby. I need to make sure that I do not forget to share with you some past greats, even if that means no fun photos to look at.
About 2 months ago, I headed over to Avenue C for an evening of cuban delight at Cafecito. WAIT don't stop reading because I said Avenue C. For some, this is just too far to travel. I get it. However, Avenue C, and really Alphabet City as a whole, has TONS of restaurants and bars. So it is not like you would hike over there to eat, and then having nothing to do. Zum Schneider's is over there, Superdive, Sunburnt Cow, Fu Sushi, Esperanto, Hi-Fi Bar, I can keep going. Just take the L to 14th and 1st and walk three more avenues. And you must have a friend in Stuyvesant Town you want to visit.
Cafecito has that great small, East Village feel. These places are so cozy. At these restaurants, I feel so relaxed, and more inclined to order more food and drinks. You do not feel the pressure of "this restaurant is trendy so finish your food and get out please so we can serve even more people." I feel like here, the hostess is saying "Good evening. Take a seat. Make yourself at home." This is perfect for catching up with friends because you don't have to eat and run, and then find somewhere else to finish your conversation.
The menu is quite extensive. And because the restaurant was only 30% full at 6:00 p.m., we took our sweet time deciding what to order. There were so many good appetizers and side dishes, in addition to the entrees, that I decided to really just look at everything with an open mind and not limit myself to ordering in the traditional appetizer-entree-dessert manner. Although I love catching up with a friend at a restaurant, or going out to eat with my boyfriend, I have to say that places like this are also good for a nice group of 4. It may not be big enough for a party of 10, but with so many appetizers, a group allows you to enjoy MORE menu items. Every now and then, my boyfriend and I will save a restaurant for a night we can go with more people so that we can order more appetizers and split some of the dishes.
We order some beers. Always a good start. It came as no surprise to me that Alex wanted the $15.00 Churrasco, a skirt steak with onions. Considering his choice of a larger entree, and my desire to have an appetizer as an entree, we left shared appetizers out of the picture for the evening. Although the chicken dishes, beef dishes and the bocadillos all sound great, I can't help but want, desire, crave, drool over, one of my favorite appetizers - empanadas. I love empanadas. I ordered three chicken empanadas for under $10 total, and a side of yuca frites for $4.50. Alex said: Is that going to be enough food for you?
The steak came out and it was really delicious. Alex seemed to enjoy it. My yuca frites really hit the spot - and you all know about my love affair with fries. The three empanadas were pretty big, and I felt reasonably full when we were done eating. But if there had been more people out with us, maybe I would have ordered more appetizers, even after eating an entree. Or split a sandwich, because the sandwiches sound great. All in all, I was really relaxed, enjoying great cuban food and a Dos Equis beer, with really nice service in a not so noisy place.
I highly recommend it. And I highly recommend the trek to Alphabet City. You won't be disappointed.
Have a delicious day!
NYCMenuGirl
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