beXnlog

Going to Go!

The Loud One is in town. After work be, P, Anjali, the LO and i went to Go! on St. Mark's for a late dinner. I hadn't been there in many months. It's the first restaurant i became a regular at in New York: the Workshop used to be across the street and we ate dinner there so many times i've lost count.

I really like the atmosphere there - very casual and friendly. In the summertime it's fun to sit outside next to the sidewalk and watch everyone go by (these days, it's less gutter punks and more tourists). The sushi is good; not the best and not the worst. What makes Go! different from other Japanese restaurants is the okonomiyaki stand, which grills meat and noodles topped with a thin egg pancake and sauces. They also serve many small dishes and snacky-type foods, announced on magic marker signs taped to the wall. I once worked with someone who also waited tables there, and she informed me of the secret "real" (better) menu that you can request to order off of, comprised of very authentic Japanese dishes. (I've never done this.)

My favorite thing to order at Go! is the "Yasai Zen," a giant tray of vegetarian dishes for $10.25. First you get miso soup and salad with ginger-carrot dressing. The soup really fills you up, so by the time the tray of food arrives, i'm questioning whether i can finish a respectable amount: 1 inside-out avocado roll, tempura (tomato, onion, bamboo shoot and a leaf), a picked assortment (cucumber and 2 kinds of seaweed), stewed vegetables (broccoli, squash and bean sprouts), 2 grilled tofu skewers with hot peanut sauce and a bowl of rice. Only once have i ever finished every last crumb. Usually i manage to finish everything but the bowl of rice.

Now, for a place to totally avoid, it can be found right next door to Go! = Dojo. Yeah it's super cheap but the food isn't good! It's like diner fare with some super-Americanized Japanese stuff. I have no idea why people keep saying it's "healthy" cause it sure seems like diner grease to me. I admit, we used to eat there because dinner can be had for $5 but after the potato fiasco, i haven't set another foot there in 6 years. Dude once ordered the $1 bowl of potatoes. Already halfway through his bowl, he lifted up another chunk to eat and not only saw some grains of rice sticking to it, but a BITE taken out.

posted by beXn @ 1:07 AM