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Is Schnitzel & Things really worth all the fuss?
Posted: 2:25 pm, October 26th, 2009 in Midtown Eating
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31 Comments
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That's odd. You should be sure to talk to them.
I've been a loyal fan since they started working on 52'nd. I haven't had the Eggplant since, well, I don't see the value in paying so much a super inexpensive vegetable.
But I've had:
- Veal Schnitzel: it was a great cut of meat, prepared perfectly.
- Cod Schnitzel: A bit small if you compare it to Aunt Kim's, but much more fresh and better quality than the fish there (though this is an apples/oranges, or rather a cod/whiting+flounder comparison).
- Burger Schnitzel: This thing separates them from every other player out there. Best burger I've had, hands down.What time did you go there? Was it at the end of the day? Maybe some of the stuff was laying around too long?
Each time I've been there it was when they first opened.
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It was today and I was about 10th in line. It was just strinkingly similar to the eggplant experience, with the paper-thin, dry "innards".
I was really disappointed - again, I'm afraid.
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its not as good as schnitzel you can make yourself at home.
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I've only had good experiences at the Schnitzel truck. I've never gotten a sandwich, so I'm not sure what the sauce ratio is like, but the amount they give you when they order the platter is usually more than enough, especially seeing as I also really like it just with the lemon.
I tend to go around 1:30, and there's rarely a line, so maybe it helps that they have a little bit more time to spend on each order?
If you try it again, I would recommend trying a meat schnitzel, and having it as a platter. You might like that better. -
Steve, it's much better than schnitzel you make at home the night before, lug to work the next day, then reheat in the microwave :p
Unless you have a fryolator at your desk, then I'll concede :p
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How do you quantify and place a value on fuss? I guess I don't agree with the premise, but until we get to that we can't say what this level of fuss should equal, in terms of shnitzel quality.
My impression was that it's supposed to be pounded very thin. I'll leave it to a real foodie to contribute on that.
Here's what I do know:
1. It's unique
2. It's tasty
3. It's somewhat scarce
4. The truck has been promoted and has thrown itself into come controversies.I think all of that will automatically generate some attention. Along with which, as sure as night follows day, will come someone pointing out that they just don't think it's all that great, especially given the amount of heat they are generating in the food truck world. It's the eternal cycle of hype, worthy or not.
I had the chicken schnitz (at 2:30 PM, end of day) and the cod much earlier. No problems with the end of day quality. My chicken Schnitzel was dry and thin. Thing is, that's EXACTLY how I like it. So we each got the same food, but I liked mine quite a bit and you didn't. So it's hard to judge.
I agree with adam about the cod piece (heh heh) A little small, but high quality. (That's what she said...sorry I couldn't resist)
As an aside: Emperor's new clothes? No personal affront meant here, but can we retire that moronic phrase from food blogs? Let's not forget the emperor in the fable was wearing nothing, not a suit that one person loved and to which another said "meh" It's the 'cupcake' of food blogging comments - overused, silly and doesn't really mean anything. After all, there IS a Schnitzel in the bowl when you order it. We just disagree on the quality.
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Do some of the offerings have meat that's more that 1/8" thick (at most) and moist? Maybe I just got bad ones both times.
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I do wish they would keep the cold wet things (cucumber salad) away from the hot dry things (fries) in the bowl.
I like both, but the cucumber salad 'juice' ruins half my fries every time. Maybe small cups inside the bowl for the cuke salad? They could even fill them in the prep work and shave a few seconds off the final packaging time, ala Daisy Mae slaw.
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Actually Adam. I do have a fryolater at my desk, right next to my inbox and stapler.
deep frying some butter right now.
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Cod. Some may find the pieces small. But it was tasty and a bit more moist than the chicken. You may like that. I liked it a lot and may try it on a sandwich next time.
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Forgot to look at my list of acceptable blogging terms. Sorry!
Cliche or not, it was exactly how I meant to ask it since "mass hysteria" would certainly have been too harsh.
I do get, and respect, the "to each his own" factor, though. (oops. another cliche)
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Actually, mass hysteria seems more accurate to me. I hate the emperor one because it's an easy dismissal and because, well, there's IS something there on the plate; it's just a matter of taste.
To each his own cliche, I guess! Que sera sera. Live and learn. Have a nice day.
:-)
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Maybe it's not as good when eaten in sandwich form? Topped with a squeeze of lemon, and eaten with two sides, I enjoyed all the meat schnitzels (haven't tried the fish or eggplant yet)
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I had the chicken schnitzel today (I was 7th or 8th in line) and found it quite tasty, though it suffered a bit on the 2 block walk back to my office. Preferred it over the pork. I agree that the platter with sides is the way to go.
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Reading over this I think it is explained like this:
A) Food truck = not high end juicy meat/schnitzle like you might get at a restaurant. You might have more discerning tastes then maybe a starving worker that just wants a different meal then usual.
B) the sides on the platter tend to accommodate the dryness
C) Some people love extra crispy or dryer, fried foods -just a matter of taste
D) I have yet to get good fried eggplant from a cheap place, truck or not. Make it at home or get it at a 'nice' restaurant. Otherwise I always find it pounded/sliced too thin and tasting like the breading or oil not the veggie. Maybe someone can direct me to a crispy, juicy eggplant for cheap?
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OK, my opinion - I tried the schnitzel truck before all the hysteria so feel that my opinion was minimally affected by the hype. Forget the eggplant, I've tried it and as adam said, the cost/benefit ratio is too high. I like the pork schnitzel platter. I've tried the chicken too, and the veal, but think the pork is the best. I've never had the sandwich.
I squeeze lemon on the schnitz, then use the container of pesto mayo which I think is the best condiment (I've tried the red pepper and it was good too.) I always get it with austrian potato salad, which has deteriorated just a bit lately, and either beets/feta or sauerkraut. i eat it almost right away to savor the flavor!
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Please ignore my last post--wrong thread!
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Goats--looked like the right thread to me!
Can anyone compare the Schnitzel Truck chicken/pork cutlet to, say, the pork cutlet at Go Goo Curry? I've only had the schnitzelburger, was wondering about the other cutlets.
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I've had my fair share of katsu (considering it's one of the few things I'd eat at a japanese restaurant). One thing we haven't commented on about the schnitzel truck is the grease factor of their schnitzel.
(ignoring the schnitzelburger) - The S&T's schnitzel is very light, crisp, and non-greasy. Most katsu I've had (though I've never had GGC) has usually been somewhat greasy. So from that perspective (without comparing to GGC), S&T has a leg-up.
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Had the bratwurst sandwich on Friday and it was pretty good. They've got some great mustard.
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I had the cod platter today and it was very good. Not dry at all. 3 medium sized pieces of fish, fries and cucumber salad was a very good lunch.
My wife made weinerschnitzel last night, so I didn't want to get the chicken or pork. These guys are good, but my wife's is even better. -
So, here are my two cents on fried meats. I'm not going to go to a food truck for fried pork, chicken or eggplant. Just not. BUT, the cod I had from the schnitzel dudes was pretty damn awesome. And that burger looks tempting. I personally don't think chicken or pork can be THAT flavorful from a truck, thus if I want a fried fix, I'd rather try something like fish (or veal, the rare times they have that).
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You "don't think", but you haven't tried and are commenting :)
I've had the veal from the truck (which is only slightly less mild in flavor than pork or chicken), and it was great. I'm sure the chicken and pork are as well (I'll find out tomorrow!)
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I'm saying that if I'm going to the schnitzel truck, my personal preference will be cod, a burger or veal; not eggplant, chicken or pork.
I actually did try those three at the Vendys (chicken, eggplant, pork) and was not impressed. But, they weren't fresh, hot from the fryer either.
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Adam: these 3 things--don't think; haven't tried; and commenting--are practically prerequisites for food blogs, or most blogs in general. The standards for twattering are even lower.
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Hmm. I think it's a matter of personal taste. The schnitz is very thin and crispy (I suppose one could say dry) but I absolutely love it that way. I also like extra dark kettle chips and thin, crispy (ok, burnt) fries over the thick potatoey ones.
My guess is that they're not coincidentally having a bad day every time Proby stops by, he just doesn't like it very much. That's allowed. Obviously something about this stuff appeals to enough people to keep those lines going like crazy.
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Not the best schnitzel. Could get better at almost any german restaurant. But, hey, it's still schnitzel.
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Interesting - Just saw Schnitzel and Things in a T-Mobile commercial. So random.
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I saw the commercial as well. First commercial during the craig ferguson show.
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Yeah, caught the commercial during Top Chef last night. ((Yes, i'm guilty of skipping part of the Yankee game in favor of Top Chef))
My mother always taught me that if I had nothing nice to say, to say nothing, but I really need to ask. The Schnitzel folks are certainly enjoying a wave of popularity and publicity, but I don't get it.
When they first arrived in Midtown I rushed down and tried their eggplant schnitzel. The taste was pleasant enough but the eggplant was pounded so thin that it was very dry and barely recognizable as eggplant. At a friend's urging I went back today to give them another try and I ordered the pork schnitzel sandwich. The experience was almost identical. The pork was nearly anhydrous, and so chewy my jaw ached. There wasn't nearly enough sauce and I almost exhausted my Diet Dr. Pepper before the sandwich was gone.
What am I missing? Is it me, or a huge emperor's new clothes phenomenon?