restaurant review: five leaves

i've been meaning to try five leaves ever since i initially passed by its humble exterior advertising oysters (i love oysters). but even more intriguing was a review i once read touting the ominous "five leaves burger" which includes pickled beets and a fried egg (reminiscent to the simpson's "good morning burger"). lured by its siren call, i had to try the burger, there was no choice (despite a menu full of appealing choices). when the burger arrived at my table, i could hear the people at neighboring tables gasping in horror/awe at the abomination that had been set before me. i could hear them whispering under their breath about its shear size (comparable to an ipad). not to be outdone, i quickly dispensed of the burger. sometimes i even surprise myself.

my companion ordered the pork chop which was juicy and equally huge. i think it had some sort of molasses glaze, but, honestly, i was focused on the burger and little else.

as an appetizer we tried the "devils on horseback" an interesting combination of dates wrapped in bacon, served with a spicy mustard. they were tasty, but a bit cumbersome (served on toothpicks that didn't quite allow for easy eating... as they were both too large and too hot to eat in one bite). that being said, the combination of sweet from the date and salty from the bacon made a delicious snack, and once again shows that bacon goes with everything and makes everything better.

dine in brooklyn picks - luz, fort greene

my next dine in brooklyn pick was luz in fort greene.

luz:

appetizers: scallops with some fancy sauces; filet mignon skewers entrees: fish with couscous; rib-eye steak dessert: chocolate bread pudding: flan

the scallops were light and perfectly grilled, accompanied by a couple of sauces, they were the perfect dish to awaken my palate. the filet skewers were hearty and nicely grilled. granted, grilling a thin slice of filet is overkill for such a delicate cut of meat, but... i ate every last bit.
the fish was chilean sea bass, a darling of the restaurant industry, to the detriment of the fish itself (currently on the list of fish that consumers should avoid because of over-fishing, but that's beside the point). the fish itself lived up to its reputation with a mild flavor and firm flesh, though a little oily for my tastes. accompanied by israeli couscous (which itself resembles roe), the dish was very satisfying. the rib eye steak was nicely prepared, though a little thin for my tastes, and very flavorful. accompanied by a celery root mash, the dish was substantial and hearty.

the bread pudding was decadent and rich, and seemed more like a warm chocolate cake than a bread pudding. being a fan of creme brulee, the flan did not fail to please (though my date was underwhelmed). many flans i've had in the past are too egg-y, but this one was creamy without being heavy, and not a hint of egginess. all in all, i would definitely return to luz and recommend it to any of my friends. their standard menu is right up my alley and full of shareable, thoughtfully-prepared standards, with a modern twist.