lomox
04-08-2009, 04:44 PM
My birthday is coming up and that is my annual cheat day. So a friend of mine sent me this link: http://newyork.metromix.com//restaurants/photogallery/all-you-can-eat/1052426/content
Here are my highlights, but make sure you check out the link!
Hill Country
The deal: Every Monday night at Flatiron's Texas-style meat factory, $29.95 buys unlimited portions of meltingly soft brisket, gnaw-worthy pork ribs, fall-apart chicken and sides such as sweet-potato bourbon mash and green bean casserole crowned with fried onions. Better yet, shots of booze are but $2 apiece.
Worth it? Break out the bib, big eater, and devour your weight in perfectly cooked cow and pig. With Hill Country's average meat prices around $20 a pound, a little bit of effort-and lots of chewing-make this carnivorous meal a real deal.
For serious eaters: "From the very first Monday night, we were swamped. It was like we'd unleashed a monster," says Hill Country owner Marc Glosserman, who has seen two-hour waits for his AYCE special. This can make customers hungry. "Somebody came in and ate a pound of brisket, 10 ribs, a whole chicken and sides," Glosserman says.
Hill Country (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/barbecue/hill-country-new-york/95196/content) (30 W. 26th St., 212-255-4544)
Funayama
The deal: OnMonday and Thursday at this hole-in-wall West Village Japanese restaurant, $23.10 scores infinite sushi or sashimi. Instead of offering a few skimpy options, Funayama's deal includes white tuna, scallops, fluke and inventive rolls such as spicy crunchy salmon.
Worth it? If you're jonesin' for extra omega-3 fatty acids, Funayama is perfect for budget-priced gluttony. Sure, the service can verge on the lackluster, but the portions are fresh, huge and endless as the ocean.
For serious eaters: There's little likelihood that you'll pull a Jeremy Piven and get mercury poisoning, but you might be forced to fork over more cash: If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you'll pay extra for leftovers.
Funayama (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/sushi/funayama-greenwich-village/52115/content) (24 Greenwich Ave., 212-989-2500)
Mercadito Cantina, Mercadito Grove, Mercadito
The deal: Swing by this trio of upscale Mexican eateries for dinner (Sunday or Monday) or late night (after 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday), and $23 ($21 at Cantina) buys limitless tacos. Options range from shrimp to beer-battered mahimahi to braised lamb.
Worth it? Head down to Sunset Park, Queens' Roosevelt Avenue or any number of taco tucks parked across NYC, and you can nab three or four belly-stuffing tacos for less than $10. Still, these tacos are far tastier than most cilantro-topped belly bombs.
For serious eaters: "Recently, a guy came in and wolfed down 29 tacos and guacamole," says Mercadito managing partner Alfredo Sandoval. "He washed it all down with a few beers."
Mercadito Cantina (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/mexican/mercadito-cantina-east-village/167350/content) (172 Avenue B, 212-388-1750), Mercadito Grove (http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/) (100 Seventh Ave. South, 212-647-0830), Mercadito (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/mexican/mercadito-east-village/58982/content) (179 Avenue B., 212-529-6490)
Porcão Rio's Churrascaria
The deal: Soaring ceilings and modern style define this Flatiron District destination for Brazilian flesh.For $50.90 ($35.90 Sunday through Tuesday), servers carve an endless array of meats tableside, rodizio-style. To decrease the heart-attack factor, dinner is accompanied by free trips to the salad bar.
Worth it? Definitely. Consider this a once-a-year visit to a meat circus. Serves slide across the room, slicing off chunks of more than two-dozen proteins, including bacon-wrapped filet mignon, pecorino-coated pork loin and luscious prime rib.
For serious eaters: "Every culture eats differently," says general manager John Muñoz. "Asians eat lots of vegetables with the meat, while Latinos have rice and beans. Still, on average, people can eat one to two pounds of meat. Two pounds is a lot of meat."
Porcão Rio's Churrascaria (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/steaks/rios-churrascaria-midtown-east/58827/content) (360 Park Ave. South, 212-252-7080)
Here are my highlights, but make sure you check out the link!
Hill Country
The deal: Every Monday night at Flatiron's Texas-style meat factory, $29.95 buys unlimited portions of meltingly soft brisket, gnaw-worthy pork ribs, fall-apart chicken and sides such as sweet-potato bourbon mash and green bean casserole crowned with fried onions. Better yet, shots of booze are but $2 apiece.
Worth it? Break out the bib, big eater, and devour your weight in perfectly cooked cow and pig. With Hill Country's average meat prices around $20 a pound, a little bit of effort-and lots of chewing-make this carnivorous meal a real deal.
For serious eaters: "From the very first Monday night, we were swamped. It was like we'd unleashed a monster," says Hill Country owner Marc Glosserman, who has seen two-hour waits for his AYCE special. This can make customers hungry. "Somebody came in and ate a pound of brisket, 10 ribs, a whole chicken and sides," Glosserman says.
Hill Country (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/barbecue/hill-country-new-york/95196/content) (30 W. 26th St., 212-255-4544)
Funayama
The deal: OnMonday and Thursday at this hole-in-wall West Village Japanese restaurant, $23.10 scores infinite sushi or sashimi. Instead of offering a few skimpy options, Funayama's deal includes white tuna, scallops, fluke and inventive rolls such as spicy crunchy salmon.
Worth it? If you're jonesin' for extra omega-3 fatty acids, Funayama is perfect for budget-priced gluttony. Sure, the service can verge on the lackluster, but the portions are fresh, huge and endless as the ocean.
For serious eaters: There's little likelihood that you'll pull a Jeremy Piven and get mercury poisoning, but you might be forced to fork over more cash: If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you'll pay extra for leftovers.
Funayama (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/sushi/funayama-greenwich-village/52115/content) (24 Greenwich Ave., 212-989-2500)
Mercadito Cantina, Mercadito Grove, Mercadito
The deal: Swing by this trio of upscale Mexican eateries for dinner (Sunday or Monday) or late night (after 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday), and $23 ($21 at Cantina) buys limitless tacos. Options range from shrimp to beer-battered mahimahi to braised lamb.
Worth it? Head down to Sunset Park, Queens' Roosevelt Avenue or any number of taco tucks parked across NYC, and you can nab three or four belly-stuffing tacos for less than $10. Still, these tacos are far tastier than most cilantro-topped belly bombs.
For serious eaters: "Recently, a guy came in and wolfed down 29 tacos and guacamole," says Mercadito managing partner Alfredo Sandoval. "He washed it all down with a few beers."
Mercadito Cantina (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/mexican/mercadito-cantina-east-village/167350/content) (172 Avenue B, 212-388-1750), Mercadito Grove (http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/) (100 Seventh Ave. South, 212-647-0830), Mercadito (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/mexican/mercadito-east-village/58982/content) (179 Avenue B., 212-529-6490)
Porcão Rio's Churrascaria
The deal: Soaring ceilings and modern style define this Flatiron District destination for Brazilian flesh.For $50.90 ($35.90 Sunday through Tuesday), servers carve an endless array of meats tableside, rodizio-style. To decrease the heart-attack factor, dinner is accompanied by free trips to the salad bar.
Worth it? Definitely. Consider this a once-a-year visit to a meat circus. Serves slide across the room, slicing off chunks of more than two-dozen proteins, including bacon-wrapped filet mignon, pecorino-coated pork loin and luscious prime rib.
For serious eaters: "Every culture eats differently," says general manager John Muñoz. "Asians eat lots of vegetables with the meat, while Latinos have rice and beans. Still, on average, people can eat one to two pounds of meat. Two pounds is a lot of meat."
Porcão Rio's Churrascaria (http://newyork.metromix.com/restaurants/steaks/rios-churrascaria-midtown-east/58827/content) (360 Park Ave. South, 212-252-7080)