Dining out during my painful days in NYC - November 2011

November 5 - El Quijote - Chelsea -http://www.elquijoterestaurant.com/ it was somewhat appropriate to come here when my pain was getting less, since this was the last place I was able to go after I hurt myself. I was excited to get back and they have booths for dining so easy on the back. As for what I think of El Quijote see my previous post ....http://debsnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-favorite-nyc-restaurant-for-last-29.html Two must orders at El Quijote would be the Lobster daily double broiled (the best I ever had) and the Santiago Margarita straight up!


November 6th - HK Hell's Kitchen - www.hkhellskitchen.com This place is starting to become my favorite close to home place. I just love that they have "Happy Hour" 7 days a week and they have the yummiest cocktail menu!! Definitely try the Chocolate Martini. And this is a must place for brunch with an "ALL you can drink" option (Mimosa, bloody mary's, Bellini's and Champagne) and though its hard to get a table and a wait on weekend for brunch you can pay for your "All you can drink" option at the bar while you wait.

November 12th - East of Eighth - Chelsea - http://eastofeighthny.com/Went here over 10 years ago and not sure why I wanted this long to go back. Decided during this painful period in my life, 23rd street is an easy place to park on a Saturday night so we headed over early for the 7pm parking time. The restaurant area is upstairs though but my pain has not been as intense so walking the steps was not to bad. I highly recommend what I ordered "The Lobster pot pie"

November 26th - Dos Caminos Park - Flatiron district
http://www.doscaminos.com/
A couple of years ago I had Brunch at the Dos Caminos in Soho which was not a good experience. When I arrived at the their other location on Park Avenue my first impression was the decor which I really loved. Tin lanterns in all different sizes hanging from the ceiling.

It had a Mexico romantic flair. We started off with the Guacamole sampler which I definitely recommend getting. Each of the three were delicious. We really enjoyed our entrees which were made to perfection and served gourmet style on the dish. And I definitely approve of the Cadillac margarita! I will go back if I am in the neighborhood! Or in another neighborhood where they happen to have another one of their restaurants. (picture of my scallop entree)

Dining out during my painful days in NYC October 2011

Slow and steady won the race. I am now, since October 22nd attempting to get out in the city that never sleeps again "New York City" after being on bed rest for 2 months with a herniated disc, sciatica & bursitis in the hip.

October 22nd - Tenth Rail - Hell's Kitchen

- http://www.tenthrail.com/ was my first real attempt dining out in my neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen. I was able to walk the few blocks. I picked this place because they have VERY comfortable chairs and booth seats. I figured if I could attempt to sit the first time anywhere this would be a good place to try! Here is my Yelp review http://www.yelp.com/biz/tenth-rail-new-york#hrid:ddBxa6bBstykZl9KH6ofEQ

October 23- Lucy Cantina - Penn Station area - http://lucyscantinaroyale.com/ I was not as lucky showing up here in a bit of pain already to find booths with hard surface seating. There was an upstairs with booths with pillows but none available and getting up stairs in pain not so easy. I can stand at a bar though for a quick "Happy Hour" frozen margarita for 5.00. That's all their margarita's are worth though. Sort of weak and not as good as my favorite places like "Cowgirl" Since I couldn't sit and eat we just had the Margarita and picked up Mexican at Chipotle on the way home which is down the block. So I did at least get my Mexican food fix! I was probably better off not eating there since Yelp reviews here are not so great with 2 1/2 stars.

October 30 - Brunch at El Rio Grande - Murray Hill http://www.arkrestaurants.com/elrio_grande.html I have been here numerous times for dinner which I always loved this was my first experience for Brunch. I had a Breakfast Burrito

Though it was good, I still prefer dinner time with some yummy margarita's! I would like to go back in nicer weather for brunch since they have great outdoor dining at this establishment. I have a feeling when we move eventually to the east side of NYC this will be my favorite "go to" place.

Trying to enjoy NYC in pain and without being able to walking or sit

So back on August 25th I heard a snap when bending over and lifting (yes your heard that right) kitty litter and after that I was in horrible pain for a few months. Finally around October 30th the pain was there but somewhat bearable and I was able to sit again, so after almost 2 months of not doing my favorite NYC activity "Dining out" I am back with limitations. I can't really walk to destinations yet, though last weekend I walked from my apartment to Bryant Park and back which was the first time in 3 months I could do such a thing.

I would have considered getting a wheelchair but there was one little problem. I couldn't sit!! I had a bad case of sciatica and even bursitis in the hip for a bit which caused excruciating pain when I would bend or sit. I couldn't even get in a cab to get around! I guess I could have tried to find a "Standing Wheelchair" or a "Skegway" maybe but I think I would have been more afraid of hurting myself even more getting to an accident with one of those!

So for months I was home, my only entertainment TV and my only close to dining out was (Thank you) Seamless web! See previous blog post (How Seamless Web saved my life) http://debsnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2011/10/seamless-web-saved-my-life.html

October 30th was my first time out to brunch. I was able to manage to get into my husbands car so we had figured out where we could find easy parking in NYC on weekends. We have had a lot of success finding parking in NYC every time. If you know how to plan your time correctly you CAN find parking in NYC. We of course stay away from Times Square area and go to neighborhoods like Murray Hill & Chelsea. On Saturday night you can start parking at 6p & 7pm in areas so if you arrive to those destination 15 minutes early you got it made and you just wait. Or maybe get a car like below and you can find parking almost anywhere!

So after this post my next few blog post will be about where I have gone since October 30th, though sometimes still in pain so still limited.

My favorite NYC restaurant for the last 29 years

Not everyone would give El Quijote 5 stars but this is absolutely my favorite restaurant in New York City mostly due to the lobster being the best I have found in the New York area. (Or maybe anywhere I have been other than Maine) I will be celebrating my 30 year anniversary of going to this restaurant next year. My two recommendations would be the "Santiago Margarita" and of course ordering lobster for dinner. I recommend the daily double two 1 1/4 pound lobsters for 32.95 (as to date) 29 years ago it was the price of 17.95. I recommend getting The lobsters broiled since they put stuffing in them that is an extra special touch. The lobster comes with either a choice of soup or salad and a side dish. Service is always very attentive with 2-3 people tending the table. Out of the almost 30 years I have been going here I have not really ordered much else though my friends have ordered some of the traditional Spanish dishes and really enjoyed them. In my opinion the prices at this restaurant are very reasonable for a Chelsea neighborhood restaurant. I hope this place is there for another 30 years or at least through the rest of my life time!

Seamless Web Saved my life

It can be real torture for a person who loves to dine out and then that is totally taken away from them as it was in my case. August 25, 2011 I hurt myself bending and lifting and still to date I am not in great shape. I had a hernaited disc with sciatica the first few weeks which then turned into Burchitis & Tendinitis and every other itis you can imagine!

We missed most of the month of September going to the city apartment, but when we returned it was fustrating knowing I couldn't do my favorite activity "Dining out" !! So I decided the food will come to me and we would order in from different places from "Seamless"

Thank you Seamless for keeping me sane from September thru October. I ordered in from Diners, Thai, Italian foods, Deli's and more! Even ordered from my Seamless app as we drive in Friday night to the city so our food is there waiting for us.

I wish there was something like Seamless in Long Island too!! Thank you Seamless, we love you!!

Seamless - www.seamless.com

4 Weeks of Hell and I don't mean Hell's Kitchen

After 4 weeks of hell of hurting my lower back and not being able to move or do much of anything, today I feel a bit better after 2 days on prednisone. Why did I not do this sooner. I tried the natural way first. I do not like to take prescribtion drugs. So I gave everything a try, chiropractic care (which did keep me aligned), Accupunture helped for 3 days out of the four weeks, stretching and yoga did help elevate the pain for an hour or two. I guess the inflammation was just too bad for me to heal so when I found out my mom is now battleing breast cancer I gave into taking the prednisone so I can be there for her.

We just resigned our lease for a year and the day after I heard this pop in my lower left side of my back. And I knew, this pop was farmiliar to me, since it happen before. When it happen in the past a few extra appointments at the chiropractor helped and with in 2-3 weeks I was fine. I guess this time was the last straw for that spot. So next week I am going for an MRI to see why this keeps happening.

So it has been about 4 weeks since I have been to our NYC apartment and this weekend I will attempted one night at least to see the views I miss so much!

Good News, Bad News

The good news is we officially resigned the lease for our NYC apartment and will have it now until September 30, 2012.

The bad news is a day later I pulled something and my sciatica has come back the worst it has ever been. I have been on bed rest now for two weeks and missed two weekends in the city. I especially am disappointed to miss a 3 day weekend (Labor Day weekend) which is also my Birthday weekend in the city!

Life goes on and I hope to return next weekend and start bringing more blog posts of things I will be doing!