|
The Undercover Eggplant is a small sandwich and pizza shop in Oneonta, NY. According to its website, the restaurant is open 11am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and closed on Sundays. The Undercover Eggplant is not a normal sit down restaurant. It has more of a fast-paced city vibe to it, with a counter to order your meal and limited seating. The sandwichery (as it is most known for) is very unique, with green and purple painted walls resembling the vegetable it was named after. I visited it for the first time last weekend when my mom visited from NH. I was hesitant when ordering, as there appeared to be a lot of meat options (and being a vegetarian, I wanted to avoid that). I ordered a Mrs. Eggplant sandwich, which had eggplant, mozzarella cheese, and red roasted peppers. Overall, I was very surprised and content with my choice. All sandwiches come with pasta salad, and while I’m not a huge fan of pasta salad, the Undercover Eggplant did a pretty good job with preparing it. I would certainly order another Mrs. Eggplant from there (or try another sandwich). I especially like that you can order take-out food (a sandwich or pizza to-go), and bring it home to eat. Visit the Undercover Eggplant if you need a quick meal or lunch, or are a big fan of sandwiches. You can read more about the restaurant at their website, or check them out on Facebook.
0 Comments
I'm not usually in the West Hartford area of CT, but I found myself at Vietnam Restaurant (1131B New Britain Ave) recently and loved it. I'm always a sucker for different food, so we stopped for some pho. Vietnam Restaurant is a very no-frills atmosphere with a few tables and apparently a back dining room (I didn't see one.) Decor is a bit cliche and honestly I wasn't expecting too much, but the food was incredible. I got the Beef Rice Stick Noodle soup and Madison tried the Wonton with Yellow Noodle soup and we split some Fried Wontons. The Fried Wontons were perfect and the peanut sauce was great. Our soups were giant and delicious. I have no complaints at all. We saw another table try the Chicken Pancakes and they looked amazing too. Stop in and order anything, it all sounds great.  
       Nestled in Newington, CT, is Olympia Diner, a very traditional diner with all your greasy favorites. Apparently, it's a Newington favorite, and the diner was packed for brunch on a Sunday. I got Eggs Benedict and Madison got an Omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and American cheese. My eggs were cooked perfectly and Madison loved her omelette. The hash browns were decent, not as crunchy as I expected, but still yummy. We shared a side of corned beef hash which was delicious. They added red and green peppers which made it more interesting that usual. The service was good and we ate in the dining room, as the first section was filled. I'm probably highly biased, as I love diner food, but Olympia was great.       In the heart of New Haven, a few blocks from Toad's Place lies Thai Taste (1151 Chapel St.) It came highly recommended by Lauren, my roommate, so we stopped by for some quick Thai before seeing a show at Toad's. The atmosphere was nice, very laid back with a variety of customers. With quick, attentive service, we ordered and were served before we expected. I ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, Lauren got the Vegetable Tofu Pad Thai, and I can't remember the other two dishes (yeah, I'm terrible, I know.) Mine was amazing, but huge. Lauren's was great, but the tofu was a strange texture. Her Thai beer, Singha, was really nice too. Everyone loved what they got, and though the server wouldn't split the check, the service was still quite good. Overall, I'd highly recommend Thai Taste, whether you're eating alone or with a group, it's a great place for good service and outstanding food.
      When I’m back home in Concord, NH, my favorite restaurant to visit is The Barley House. Located on the bustling Main Street, The Barley House offers amazing foods for a very reasonable price. I found it last year when I came home from school on one of our breaks, and I’ve been visiting the restaurant frequently ever since. In addition to its food, The Barley House offers many local, state, and national beers and wines for of-age customers. When I visited with my parents at the end of October, I ordered the mac n’ cheese (one of my staple foods), and I loved it. I usually stick to the salads and the black bean burger (a favorite of mine), but being the pasta lover that I am, I felt i needed to try it. My parents both ordered the black bean burger, which they enjoyed. You can read their full menu here. While the lighting for the restaurant was not optimal for photographs, it is very welcoming in person. The dimmed-space gives the illusion that you’re at a bar in the middle of Europe, as opposed to downtown Concord. You can read more about The Barley House at their website. You can also check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and upcoming events. I definitely suggest checking them out if you’re in the area!  Pie in the Sky is one of the most beloved local Oneonta businesses. Located in an old barn south of the border of Otego, Pie in the Sky is located 10 minutes south of Oneonta. It offers homemade Polar Bear ice cream, locally grown and organic fruits, and a variety of locally hand-crafted honeys and syrups to customers. But what makes Pie in the Sky truly unique is that is caters to all customers, offering delicious dairy-free and vegan options for those with different dietary needs. It’s hard to beat Pie in the Sky, especially with no other ice cream place like it in the area. There is rumor that this will be Pie in the Sky’s last year serving Polar Bear ice cream in Oneonta, and will be relocating after it closes for the winter. This is especially heartbreaking, since Pie in the Sky/Polar Bear has become such an integral part of the community. I’ve only visited the actual location twice, but it’s such a pleasant experience. The workers are very friendly, and the ice cream is delicious. I've had their ice cream a few more times, through catered events. I personally enjoy the pumpkin flavor, which tastes exactly like pumpkin pie. However, they serve a variety of flavors, from traditional chocolate and vanilla to unique flavors involving mint and peanut butter. Regardless of Polar Bear leaving, check Pie in the Sky out on Facebook, as they may be relocating closer to you!  The Plaza Diner just opened in downtown Oneonta, NY. The diner offers both breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, all with Greek influences. I thoroughly enjoyed the bright blue walls on the interior of the restaurant, with pictures from Greece lining the walls. It creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere. The wait staff were all very pleasant and friendly, which certainly added to the happy vibe. As of now, the Diner serves breakfast all day. I recently went for breakfast and ordered a Belgian waffle with ice cream and strawberries, and it was amazing! I have yet to try their eggs (or any other food on the menu), but I know I’ll be back many more times. The sandwiches also look very promising. The full menu is available to view here. Their hot chocolate was also pretty good, especially with the whipped cream. What better way to usher in fall than with a hot drink? Check out and like the Plaza Diner on Facebook, and definitely stop by if you’re in the area. They also sell their own pastries on a little table toward the back, which I will definitely have to try when I return.         Affectionately dubbed WilliBrew, Willimantic Brewing Company came as one of the highest recommended spots when I first moved here. I was familiar with Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY and hoped WilliBrew would be similar, but it took me about a semester and a half to stop by. At 967 Main St., Willimantic Brewing Company looms above the rest of Main Street. It's a renovated post office, but with all the architectural glory you'd expect. I tagged along to an early dinner with my roommate, her mother, and her sister. We ate down in the bar area, as the dining room wasn't open yet. We sat at a high table across from the bar and were welcomed with quick, professional service. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and it was lovely, but it was gone before I could get a picture. The bread also came with a cinnamon spice whipped butter which was delicious. As you'll notice in the photos of the menu, each option was labeled with a city or town in CT and the corresponding zip code. I liked that they carried through the postal theme but didn't go overboard, I ordered the Post Office Penne as an entrée, and so did Madison's sister. She ordered the Prospect Primavera (06712) and her mother tried the Hampton Vegetarian Taco Salad (06247). All the portions were giant and we didn't come close to finishing our meals. Everything was delicious, as I had been promised, and I was excited to be taking a full to-go box back to my apartment too. I loved the floors, they looked like they were the original post office floors, and here's what the website has to say: Our original Main Street Café was founded in 1991, and began operations as a small deli in the old Capitol Theatre building on Main Street in Willimantic, CT. Occupying both the lobby and concession area of the theatre, seating was limited to 50 people. After 3 years we were bursting at the seams and made the move to 877 Main Street, another historic building. There we expanded to a full service restaurant and featured American craft-brewed beers and an extensive menu. Willimantic Brewing Company is a great spot for those looking for a nice dinner in a beautiful building who are willing to spend a little more on a great meal. Plus local beer!               Latte Lounge is a popular coffee shop (196 Main St.) in Oneonta, NY. It offers a variety of coffees, teas, lattes, and smoothies, as well as sandwiches, truffles, soups and salads, bagels, and more. You can view a full list of their drinks and food on their website. According to their website, Latte Lounge was founded in 2000. Throughout the past 15 years, the shop has offered some of its own delicious food and beverages, as well as treats from other local shops. There are almost always an abundance of chocolate truffles from by Moonstruck Chocolatiers. Moonstruck Chocolatiers offers a variety of truffle flavors, and some adorable seasonal ones (they have little pumpkins right now for fall). While I have yet to try them, as they're on the pricier side, but I also have yet to hear any complaints. Occasionally Latte Lounge offers products from the Holiday Farm Biscuit Company, a small baking goods company from Worchester, NY. Although I have not seen these products in a while, I’ve heard that they’re incredible. Latte Lounge is not a traditional sit down eatery. It does offer a decent array of chairs and tables, and it is very possible to stay and eat, especially with the welcoming atmosphere. The space is fairly small, and tables and chairs are a bit crammed in, but this only adds to the atmosphere. When Anna and I visited Latte Lounge for dinner, we were once again blown away with our meals. I ordered a hot chocolate and a garden burger, and I was very impressed. Anna ordered a hot cider and bagel with a honey nut spread, which is one of her favorites. Our friends have also had good luck with the breakfast wraps and sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and their wide array of coffee flavors. I suggest visiting Latte Lounge anytime you’re in the area. It’s conveniently located right on Main Street, and has some of the best food of any coffee shop in the area. To make it even better, it has an adjoining door to the Green Toad Bookstore and patrons are welcome to pop by the bookstore with their coffee and sit in an armchair with a book. Certainly stop by for a drink or food. Check out their website and Facebook for more information.                    |
What we're eating. Archives
January 2017
Categories |
RSS Feed
