I don’t know if you have, but I certainly have missed the old Taco Bell at 125th. In fact, there’s always been a noticeable dearth in the fast food options near Columbia University. But, for those that have had a hankering beyond KFC and McDonald’s, there’s a new Burger King at 3451 Broadway (around 139th St.). Yea, it’s far, but that’s the price we pay for going to Columbia. The good news is that this BK has quite a robust value menu so making the trip shouldn’t put too much of a pinch on your wallet.

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It seems that the popular New York dessert restaurant, Serendipity 3, has been closed. No more frozen hot chocolate and over priced novelties. How sad. Seems the restaurant failed two health inspections in one month. Inspectors found rodent and fly infestation as well as conditions conducive to  pest infestation. Oh, did I mention that there were also 100 live cockroaches spotted? Hmm… maybe we’re just not giving Serendipity a chance. Haven’t we learned anything from Ratatouille? I bet those cockroaches were in the kitchen whipping up the best desserts in Manhattan. Don’t be such a food snob.

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Fall break is fast approaching and, with a long weekend in store, those of you guys staying in Manhattan should think about getting out of Morningside Heights! When time permits, I love going on “eating tours” of various neighborhoods in the city. Here’s one for the West Village that leads you to some iconic Manhattan eats. Big points if you can hit all these stops in one go. Our tip would be to do this in groups of two or three and make sure to share some of the plates rather than try to hork down full meals on your own.

A West Village Eating Tour
Take the 1 down to 14th St. And, let your taste buds lead the way.

Dirty Bird to Go
204 W. 14th St.

A little joint with almost no seating, but some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever have. Don’t worry about anything else on the menu. Even if this weren’t an eating tour, the other options kind of leave a bit to be desired.

A Salt and Battery
112 Greenwich Ave.

Oft-cited as the most authentic fish and chips this side of the “Pond.” Make sure to be liberal with your malt vinegar. To be honest, the chips aren’t anything to write home about. Order up two large haddocks and you’re golden. We’ll direct you to some of the best fresh cut fries in the city next!

On a side note, A Salt & Battery has teamed up with Tea & Sympathy just next door (actually they even went as far as to close their original East village location). Take a little break on your tour to go into the Tea & Sympathy shop and look for some fun British goodies. Also, make sure to get a bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk (it’s still an eating tour right?). British chocolate is different… the better kind of different.

Taim
222 Waverly Place

Hands down the best falafels in the city. It’s an unassuming store with seating for 6 so you could find yourself standing. If you haven’t given in and boughten a drink yet, its time to splurge here. The Lemon and Mint or the Strawberry and Date juices are to die for. Also, here’s the place you want to pick up some fries. Fresh cut shoe string fries with saffron aioli that will make you wonder why you ever ate fries with ketchup. The falafels are big and filling. If you’re too stuffed by this point, try sharing a falafel sampler platter.

Cones
272 Bleeker St.

Cones serves up some of the best ice cream/sorbet/gelato in the city. Part of the Manhattan Holy Trinity of gelaterias - Cones, Il Lab, and Grom. You know you can’t say no. There’s always room for dessert.

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There you have it! An eating tour that is sure to stuff you to the rafters. You think you can get through it? After finishing this tour, you’ll be in prime bar country. So, get out there and enjoy a night of festivities! If you do end up staying out and find yourself hungry again, head over to Joe’s Pizza on 7 Carmine St. It puts John’s Pizzeria to shame and also lets you order by the slice. The impossibly thin crust and sweet and tangy sauce always hits the spot for those late-night, drunk munchies.

Let us know if you make it through the tour. If you’d like to join the Hungry Lion for future tours. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled in the forums. Some ideas we have include a Chinatown eating tour as well as a Harlem eating tour. Got any neighborhoods you’d like to share?

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Well, the brunch mavens from Clinton St. Baking Co. have finally opened up shop and, while they aren’t serving dinner yet, they are serving up one hell of a brunch. And, as with any good brunch, the liquor license is being put to use. Community Food and Juice features organic and locally grown ingredients in everything including organic vodkas and gins. So, make sure to wash down your cage free eggs with some delicious fresh squeezed greyhounds or screwdrivers. Even your liver might thank you.

When we ambled in Sunday morning, the wait was just a bit over 45 minutes, but that pales in comparison to the 2+ hour lines that can build up downtown at Clinton St. Baking Co. Community Food and Juice serves up a little more of a “health conscious” menu than their downtown counterpart, but the fluffy as a cloud pancakes and maple butter have made their way uptown and Columbia students should be rejoicing. What’s more, if you’re lucky, you might snag free samples while waiting.

The interior of the restaurant features few, if any, holdovers from its incarnation as the oft-derided Nacho’s and is now bright, open and airy. Positively delightful for Sunday brunch. Eating at the bar is surprisingly comfortable so don’t rule it out.

Community Food and Juice is truly a gem and Kitchenette may finally have some competition in the Morningside Heights brunch arena. Pricewise, the two are comparable, which means that for most college students this isn’t a every weekend kind of place especially if you’re going to be downing $10 screwdrivers while you’re at it. But, try this place once, and we’re sure you’ll find yourself going over and over again.

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Location: 3431 Broadway (btw. 139th and 140th)
Hours: 11am - 2am, Everyday

Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of the food. I got my tacos dorados and horked them down so fast I didn’t even realize I was up in Harlem on assignment for the Lion’s Den. What was the assignment? Find the best tacos within a reasonable distance of Columbia.

Well, I found them and they’re just two subway stops away. Yea, it will cost you $4 to get there and back (unless you want to walk, it’s only 20 blocks). But, this place still won’t leave your wallet feeling empty. Tacos are but $2 and ,while some entrees can go in the $8-$12 range,  they all come in serious portions. The burritos gigantes are…. quite gigante. And, the tortas are nearly big enough for two meals (at least a meal and a snack).

The rice and beans here are tasty, if a little bit bland. And, of the entrees that I have tried, they are all made quite well. The tacos, however, are the true standout. The al pastor has little chunks of pineapple.  Carnitas are rich and delicious. And, heck, even the chicken isn’t bad - just the right amount of chew while still being tender. They heap it on here and you’ll be glad each taco comes with the traditional two rounds of tortilla.

I should note that the proprietors of this little taco hole don’t speak much English. Ordering is probably done best by pointing, but the place has great pictures all over the place so you’ll never be at a loss for something to order.

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After canvasing the neighborhood in search of Sammy this week, I’ve come across what seems to be an explosion of Chicken and Rice in the Columbia area. Unfortunately, Sammy was not included. As we wait for Sammy to return, The Hungry Lion would like to present to you a list of potential alternatives in the Columbia area.

110th and Broadway
New to the area this year, this cart serves up 53rd and 6th style Chicken and Rice. For $5, you get a styrofoam box not quite filled with a savory yellow “basmati” (says the sign) with grilled chicken and some salad. The chicken is actually quite good. Not overly chopped and maintaining good tenderness. The rice seasoning is strong, but lacking as far as comparison to 53rd and 6th. Salads was crisp and fresh albeit a bit questionable as far as how well rinsed they were. This cart also makes it a point to include a few chunks of tomato for you health nuts out there. The white sauce is decent at best and the hot sauce is of a weak dribbling variety. The cart also serves up lamb and gyros if you’re into other options. Taste-wise this may be the best Chicken and Rice cart in the area until Sammy’s returns. It’s also one of the more expensive and serves up the smallest portions though the chicken-to-rice ratio is quite good..

120th and Broadway
The 120th and Broadway cart was the former champ in the Columbia area. Haven’t been this year, but last year platters were just $4.00 coming with a heaping portion of rice, generous amounts of chicken. The side salad is a token smattering of lettuce and the cart is unfortunately more fragrant than its food. The white sauce and hot sauce are both weak and the rice is hit or miss usually falling on the blander side.

114th and Amsterdam
You’ve probably walked by this cart during lunch time and inhaled what might lead you to believe is the most delicious chicken you’ve ever seen. They cook it up in heaping mounds and its a wonder just to watch as they prepare platters for the lunchtime rush. The boxes go for $5 and come with your standard salad and rice. Again, unfortunately, it all smells better than it tastes. Everything in this box is bland and the sauces weak and runny. It’s an acceptable meal for those who are hungry and on the go, but doesn’t hit the spot for true Chicken and Rice enthusiasts.

JJs Food Cart
This cart migrates between 113th and 114th between lunch and dinner hours respectively. It’s open 24/7 though the availability of menu items will vary. The chicken and rice here come in serious portions and all for just $4.50. Unfortunately, the chicken is typically both dry and bland as is the rice. White sauce here is actually quite palatable though the hot sauce is disappointing. If you ask nicely, there’s the potential of getting a tangy sort of off-barbecue sauce that works decently.

116th and Amsterdam
This do-it-all cart across the street from Columbia’s Amsterdam gates serves up gyros, cheese steaks, hot dogs, and just about everything else in between. Chicken and rice falls rather far down the ladder as far as priorities go. Service is slow and the Chicken and Rice just bearable. Go with another option if your here.

As far as I can tell these are the options, in general order, for Chicken and Rice in the Columbia area as of now. Hungry Lion representatives will  be traveling to Queens tonight to ask Sammy why his cart has disappeared. Leave a message in the forum if you’d like to join in. Otherwise, enjoy what you can or go out on a food adventure. Critically acclaimed Chicken and Rice exists throughout the city - 53rd and 6th, The Original Sammy’s Halal (73rd and Broadway, Queens), Khan’s (across from Sammy’s in Queens), Tony The Dragon’s (62nd and Madison, lunch only), and Carnegie John’s (56th and 7th, lunch only, also serves the best burger from a street vendor anywhere in the city). You might also want to try Kwik Meal (45th and 6th) which only serves lamb over rice.

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Picnic Garden
Location: 147-42 Northern Boulevard Flushing, NY
Hours: 11am - Midnight, 7 days a week
Prices: All-You-Can-Eat, $19.95 on weekdays/$22.95 on weekends

Looking for an adventure? Wanna stuff yourself silly? Next time you have time for a dinner excursion (like this weekend), why not head out to Flushing? There’s tons of Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese food to be had all for hobo cheap prices. One particular standout is Picnic Garden. It’s not super cheap, but you can eat yourself silly and all on Korean BBQ which would typically cost you nearly the same amount ($22.95) just to have a few bites.

The restaurant isn’t overly large and doesn’t handle groups larger than 6 particularly well. Makes sense given that everyone has to huddle around a grill to be able to eat. If you are going to bring a group, make sure to call ahead because they get packed out around dinner time.  For those that haven’t eat communally around a grill, it’s a must try. Head over to their buffet where you’ll find mounds of raw meat - some marinated, some not - as well as a smattering of seafood like squid and shrimp. For those less adventurous, you can just gorge yourself on kalbi. Also, there are options of prepared foods like the requisite kimchee, pajon, and chapchae.

It’s a fun experience. The grills could be insulated better as they emanate a bit too much heat towards your under-the-table regions. And, those who prefer the utmost cleanliness may want to steer clear. There might have been an insect sighting while at we were at dinner. There might have also been some questions about cross contamination between raw meats and cooked dishes. But, for the selection and the price, this is one mighty fine experience as long as your bring your appetite and a little adventurousness.

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