CHEESESTEAK FROM 99 MILES TO PHILLY

I've never had a cheesesteak in Philadelphia so I imagine that 99 Miles to Philly wouldn't stack up to Pat's or Jim's, or any of the other supposed greats; but in NYC you be hard-pressed to find a better steak sandwich.  Carl's is pretty solid as well but 99 Miles has the edge since their cheesesteaks are less greasy.  Recently, a new to-go 99 Miles opened on 45th St. off 2nd Ave in addition to the one in the East Village.  A friend and I took the taste test by getting three cheesesteaks all with different cheeses - provolone, American and wit wiz.  The Provolone was the best, creamy enough but not getting in the way of the star of the sandwich.  American came second and the wiz was good for a few bites but not much more.  I'm told 99 Miles uses the traditional Amoroso rolls, which holds the meat and grease well so the sandwich doesn't become a sloppy mess.  I'm a fan of peppers and grilled onions to add some extra flavor, but the best part about a cheesesteak is you can design it with whatever topping you prefer.  So head on over to 99 Miles for one of the best cheesesteaks in the city and don't forget to bring your hungry.

99 MILES TO PHILLY
94 3rd Ave
(between 12th St & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003Neighborhood: East Village
99milestophillyeastvillage.com

LOBSTER ROLL FROM NEPTUNE OYSTER IN BOSTON

Neptune Oyster in the North End District in Boston has a lobster roll that is literally exploding with lobster meat.  They have two options for rolls at $25.00, a hot one with butter and a cold one with mayo.  The toasted roll is sweet and compliments the explosion of lobstery goodness very well.  The mayo is slathered on but not overdone, and the pieces of meat aren't just lobster shavings but big and chunky globs from the tail and claw.  An appetizer of oysters is a must since it's half the restaurant's namesake.  The Wellfleets and the Island Creeks are the best since they have the shortest trip from the ocean to your plate.  While the Sox got clobbered by the Yankees in their last game of the season, at least Bostonians have this roll to help them lick their wounds.    


NEPTUNE OYSTER

neptuneoyster.com 

HAM & CHEESE FROM MILK TRUCK

Nothing beats an amazing grilled cheese sandwich, and the folks at Milk Truck know how to do it right since it's the only sandwich they make.  With their Ham & Cheese sandwich, smoked ham and Vermont aged cheddar is topped with a spicy mustard on rosemary bread.  Only a few slices of ham is used so the cheese becomes the star.  The bread is grilled perfectly and the cheddar is a gooey wonderful mess.  The mustard is spicy but not overpowering.  All in all the sandwich makes for a great light lunch or an afternoon snack.  Check their twitter to see where in Manhattan they are each day.

Milk Truck Grilled Cheese
milktrucknyc.com
Locations Vary

PRIME BEEF SANDWICH FROM LOBEL'S AT YANKEE STADIUM

Forget any other food you've had at Yankee Stadium before and do yourself a favor by getting the prime beef sandwich from Lobel's along the left field line on the field level concourse (section 133).  Lobel's Meats has been around since 1840 and supplies some of the best steakhouses in New York.  The beef is hand-carved prime rib goodness, not too fatty but with some marbling for flavor.  It's piled high on a brioche bun with an excess of rich au jus.  If the $15 dollar price tag alarms you, you'll pay $12 for a beer and around $10 for an average steak sandwich at Carl's, so treat yourself to some of the best baseball fare you'll ever have at Lobel's.  Pare it with great Garlic Fries from one of the many locations throughout the stadium and cheer on the Yanks that are having a great season so far!

Lobel's at Yankee Stadium
Left Field Line on the Field Level Concourse (Section 133)
Yankee Stadium
lobels.com

HAM AND MUENSTER WITH PICKLED BLUEBERRIES

So I've reviewed No. 7 Sub before, but since they change their menu all the time and their ham and muenster with pickled blueberries is pretty magical, I thought I'd review them again.  Usually I find ham sandwiches a little boring.  Serrano ham, prosciutto - now you're talking; but straight up ham I'll usually skip.  This sandwich takes ham to a level you've never experienced before.  Pared with muenster cheese, potato chips, jalapeño mayo and pickled blueberries - yes, motherfuckin' blueberries on my sandwich! - makes this sandwich stand out above all others.  The sourness of the blueberries goes well with the creamy muenster and salty ham, and the crunch of the potato chips gives the sandwich an elevated bite.  Jalapeño mayo slathered over the whole thing is just gravy.  If you haven't tried No. 7 Sub yet, you are truly missing out.  Check out their new location downstairs in the Plaza Hotel as well.


No. 7 Sub - no7sub.com
1188 Broadway (between 28/29 St) at the Ace HotelNew York, NY 10001
Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-4pm, Closed Sundays
telephone: 212.532.1680

CURRY CHUTNEY CHICKEN DOSA

If you're tired of the same old sandwich you always get for lunch, head on down to The Hampton Chutney Co. in SoHo for the Curry Chutney Chicken Dosa or any of their other great dosas.  Dosas are a light and crispy sour-dough crepe made from a rice batter.  While it's not the kind of meal you can eat on-the-go, if you have the time to dig in it'll be well worth it.  The curry chicken is spicy without being overpowering and goes well with the cooked spinach and raw red onions.  But the highlight is definitely their mango chutney.  Go ahead and slop it all over the dosa.  Much like their curry chicken, it's spicy but with a sharp sweetness.  And for a drink, their orange ginger iced tea will wash the meal down well.

Hampton Chutney Co.
SOHO NYC
68 Prince Street
(212)226-9996
hamptonchutney.com

GRILLED SHRIMP ON FRENCH BREAD FROM SAGAPONACK

The owners of Sagaponack in the Flatiron district have given their restaurant a Hamptonesque vibe and filled their menu with primarily seafood and fish options.  The grilled shrimp sandwich ($10) with roasted peppers, bacon and a lemon-thyme mayo is one of those sandwiches that would be hard to mess up.  The shrimp is grilled perfectly and bacon always makes any sandwich better.  My only caveat was that there's too much bread and the shrimp gets a little lost in the mix.  It would have probably worked best on slices of sourdough bread.  However, the pesto fries as a side are fantastic - just enough pesto added to spice up a boring french fry.

4 West 22nd Street (Off of 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10010 
212.229.2226
http://www.sagaponacknyc.com/