Cafe Cello
There are very few things I enjoy eating more then pork. Any kind of pork really, but my favorite is definetely the roasted kind where the skin gets super crispy. It usually comes from the shoulder, and you can get it at Cuban restaurants, or Christmas parties in Miami (my hometown). But I have had delicious roast pork in other places too (if you’re ever in Bali I can recommend a great place for roast suckling pig).
On Friday, with Margon closed (great Cuban food on 46th between 6th & 7th) I headed to Cafe Cello- a similar type of place recommended to me by numerous people… The sign out front was not exactly reassuring. It had clearly been dumbed down to attract a less then adventurous New York food crowd, who would be more likely to go into a place if it sees the words “cafe”, “deli” and “American”.
But, once inside, my fears disappeared. The food looked really fresh and delicious (in contrast to Margon, which for all it’s positives, can sometimes not look so great depending on the day.) All the food is in trays under glass, so ordering is as easy as looking, deciding and pointing. The day I was there, it wasn’t too crowded- but I’ve heard you want to get there early, because once they run out of something, they don’t make more. And by something, I mean the maduros (fried ripe plantains) which apparently are the first things to go!
Anyway, once I laid eyes on the roast pork (with the crispiest most perfect skin), ordering was pretty easy. Along with a nice size portion of pork (pulled with tongs off what appeared to be a shoulder), they give you your choice of white rice w/ black bean soup, or yellow rice with pinto beans already mixed in, and maduros (there was still some left at 1pm)- all for $7. PLUS, they threw in a piece of the skin on top. Delicious!!! And the skin was perfect. If you love roast pork, then Cafe Cello is your new favorite place.
The rest of the menu, and a +/- you’ll definetely want to read, after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach at 10:00 am, July 10th, 2006 under 46th btw. 5+6th, Cafe Cello, Latin.
Fresh off my disappointment of no Hallo Berlin Cart on Wednesday, I was forced to find lunch in an area I haven’t eaten in before. Walking back to work, I went down 52nd Street between 5th and 6th where I found a bunch of lunch options. But because of my “condition”, one stood out as the clear choice. Yips.
When you walk in, there are three or four different places you can get in line to pick your food. On first glimpse, they look mostly the same, but some of them have different things. Usually I like to ignore the menu, and just order with my eyes… but here that’s a little tough because there are a few different places to order. My suggestion would be to look up at the bulletin boards hanging behind each station, and choose which line to get in based on that. There are a ton of choices, and the board (while it doesn’t seem complete) will help you to at least narrow it down.
The Northwest corner of 54th st. & 5th avenue was surprisingly empty today. Normally it is home to the infamous Hallo Berlin Cart, THE place for German sausage in town. I figured what better time to review it… one day after the German soccer (football if you want to be a snob about it) team was knocked out of the World Cup. I was hoping the Cart could bring solace to any fans of German soccer looking to drown their sorrows in one of the best German delicacies the city has to offer.
Oh Indian Burrito! Where have you been all my life??? I don’t really know if the owners of Kati Roll would refer to what they sell as an “Indian Burrito”, but as far as I’m concerned, if the shoe fits…
You can order one roll for $3 to $6 (depending on the filling), or two for slightly less (they give you a discount when you order two of the same roll). I’ve had the Chicken Tikka which is fantastic. The chicken is really good, and covered in red onions with a slight lemon flavor. Really, really good. I’ve also had the spicy potato- which is really spicy… but also delicious, if you like potatoes. Very similar flavor to a samosa, just without the fried stuff around the outside. The paratha is grilled fresh on a gigantic skillet in the back, so it is really really good (albeit pretty greasy).
Riding down the elevator yesterday on my way to lunch, I heard a very funny and ironic (considering where I was headed) conversation. One guy asked another guy where he was going to lunch… and when he responded “Downstairs for a salad”, the question asker was like “Nice, another one of those $11.00 salads”.
Which is why the salad bar at Variety Cafe is so great. For $6.45 ($6.99 with tax) you get a bowl of lettuce, and get to add any 6 items you want from their gigantic selection of toppings. Sounds like other places you’ve been to, maybe? Well here’s the best part… they have good, fat guy toppings… what I like to call “big money items”. The things you always want to get more of, but are afraid it will lead to a 17 pound salad that costs $436. 10 different kinds of chicken (including my personal favorites Thai Grilled Chicken, Cajun Chicken and Fried Chicken Cutlet), salmon, cubes of ham, avocado, mini fresh mozarella balls, blue cheese… everything. And of course all the fruits, vegetables and beans you find at every other salad bar in the city. And to top it off, your choice of 20 different kinds of salad dressings.
Day 5 of Falafel Week
Because Aaron's Restaurant is on 46th between 5th & 6th avenue, I walk by it all the time (on my way to Hing Won, Variety Cafe or House of Pita). Their sign hangs right over the sidewalk, but the place itself is on the second floor, so you can't see in. Only a staircase leading up to god knows where. And when I say "god knows where", I mean that literally, because Aaron's is a Glatt Kosher restaurant, which I think is loosely translated to mean "extra" kosher.
After climbing the stairs you find yourself in the front of a bare bones restaurant, with a buffet style counter where you can order things to go, or a seating area where you can order off the menu from a waiter or waitress. The food behind the glass counter looked pretty good… but once again- it's falafel week, so I ordered a falafel with everything to go.
DAY 4 of Falafel Week
This is a lebanese place, so a beet juice pickled vegetable made it’s first appearance of the week (I’m pretty sure it was turnip, but not positive). It was one of the first layers to go down on top of the fresh baked flat bread- that I believe they make on site (another first for the week). It also had lettuce and slices of tomatos, and then the falafel and tahini, all rolled up burrito style in the flat bread.
DAY 3 of FALAFEL WEEK 
Day Two of Falafel Week!
I basically had two bites of falafel covered in tahini, four bites of just lettuce and tomato, and then the bottom was all falafel. The pita was better then yesterday, but it started falling apart after bite two, because of the tahini. Pretty disappointing. Usually taste rules, but when considering a place to eat a quick lunch on your break from work- messiness has to be taken into consideration. 