Local Guides World
EE Grimshaw
17 reviews on 1 places
This place is a LOOK. If you told me with a straight face that the interior has been upgraded at any point since the Nixon administration, I flat out wouldn't believe you. And I'm willing to admit a huge chunk of my rating is based on the sheer kitsch value - I've never seen this many aquariums in one establishment that wasn't a pet store. Truly wild. Also? You will not have any type of cell phone service while dining here, which seems fitting given that you chose to eat in a literal time warp. I wouldn't expect technology to work in that situation either.
I stopped here for a sit-down lunch yesterday afternoon, having gotten take-out a few times in the last 10 months or so. There are a TON of Chinese options in this area but this is definitely the best in terms of overall quality. Admittedly, most if not all of their competition is generic take-out establishments, but the price point is right on par with them and you're getting better flavors with food that looks and tastes like it's actually being made to order, more or less. I don't know what the target audience is for Ocean Empire, but based on the baffled gapes of the barflies at the bar by the entrance (yes, this place has a bar that you'll be stunned to learn has an aquarium next to it) and the senior citizens dotting the restaurant interior, it's not me. That said, I was shown to a table promptly and had solid service throughout.
I ordered my tried and true, the Sweet and Sour Chicken entree ($13), though I had the option of the lunch special which was a few dollars less. I figured since I made the trek and was hanging out with a giant fish less than a foot from my head (see attached picture), I might as well go all the way with the experience. And I loved that the waiter DID redirect me to the lunch menu, just to make sure I wanted the more expensive option. A lot of places would quietly note the order and not offer a cheaper alternative. Good for them. The chicken was very good. I don't know that it's particularly hard to master this dish behind the scenes, but bare minimum I think you want to ensure that it's not overly deep fried where you're eating literal bites of fried skin. This was perfectly done and a generous portion (when is Chinese food not a generous portion?). The only quibble I had was with the sauce. It's more orange than red, which is interesting and I'm not sure what the significance is if any, but I thought it was on the watery side and difficult to apply to my accompanying rice, which was a LITTLE too al dente for me. But just a little.
The menu (hilariously they just gave me the paper takeout menu to look at; totally fine and somehow seemed on brand) looks pretty legit beyond the standard takeout options so this is a very rare instance where I would actually come back and order something else. And like most Chinese food, it didn't take long for the food to arrive, so this is a very reasonable lunch hour-type destination if that's your jam. And a fun perk if you're in the market? There's a random party room in the back you can apparently reserve. Because of course there is.
I stopped here for a sit-down lunch yesterday afternoon, having gotten take-out a few times in the last 10 months or so. There are a TON of Chinese options in this area but this is definitely the best in terms of overall quality. Admittedly, most if not all of their competition is generic take-out establishments, but the price point is right on par with them and you're getting better flavors with food that looks and tastes like it's actually being made to order, more or less. I don't know what the target audience is for Ocean Empire, but based on the baffled gapes of the barflies at the bar by the entrance (yes, this place has a bar that you'll be stunned to learn has an aquarium next to it) and the senior citizens dotting the restaurant interior, it's not me. That said, I was shown to a table promptly and had solid service throughout.
I ordered my tried and true, the Sweet and Sour Chicken entree ($13), though I had the option of the lunch special which was a few dollars less. I figured since I made the trek and was hanging out with a giant fish less than a foot from my head (see attached picture), I might as well go all the way with the experience. And I loved that the waiter DID redirect me to the lunch menu, just to make sure I wanted the more expensive option. A lot of places would quietly note the order and not offer a cheaper alternative. Good for them. The chicken was very good. I don't know that it's particularly hard to master this dish behind the scenes, but bare minimum I think you want to ensure that it's not overly deep fried where you're eating literal bites of fried skin. This was perfectly done and a generous portion (when is Chinese food not a generous portion?). The only quibble I had was with the sauce. It's more orange than red, which is interesting and I'm not sure what the significance is if any, but I thought it was on the watery side and difficult to apply to my accompanying rice, which was a LITTLE too al dente for me. But just a little.
The menu (hilariously they just gave me the paper takeout menu to look at; totally fine and somehow seemed on brand) looks pretty legit beyond the standard takeout options so this is a very rare instance where I would actually come back and order something else. And like most Chinese food, it didn't take long for the food to arrive, so this is a very reasonable lunch hour-type destination if that's your jam. And a fun perk if you're in the market? There's a random party room in the back you can apparently reserve. Because of course there is.
If you've ever seriously questioned how gentrified the island of Manhattan is, the fact that an edgy hipster cocktail bar like this is located above 125th Street should answer that for you. What a delight. My chum and I came in here to cleanse our palates after a pretty rough margarita experience a few doors down on the same block. We walked 20 feet, I saw this place, said, "I wish we'd gone in here instead," and my chum said, "We can." I realized she was right, and that was that. This is definitely my vibe. Sign me up for exposed brick, obligatory monochrome pictures and lots of wood. I just wish we'd had an appetite to sample more of the menu.
We came in here right before a mini rainstorm around 2ish this past Saturday afternoon. Now that I'm thinking about it, literally every place we stopped in at on our trek up Broadway was empty, regardless of the time of day. Was everyone out of town? No idea. Anyway. I don't recall any other customers inside while we were there.
Despite an atrocious Old Fashioned the prior weekend that made me dramatically declare I was done with bourbon, all of the hipster leather wore me down and I went with the Craftsman Campfire, conveniently served in a campfire mug. My chum side-eyed it a bit, concerned it was going to be served hot, but it was thankfully a cold beverage that provided a refreshing boost on a muggy summer day. My initial reaction was a little negative - the first few sips tasted like bland iced tea, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it wasn't blended entirely? I didn't really taste the referenced fall flavors (cinnamon, apple, etc.), but once I dropped the lemon garnish in and mixed it around, everything was solid.
The service and price point were fine - we actually experienced the opposite of sticker shock when we discovered the cocktails here were around $15 (par for the course, even this far north in Manhattan) versus the $20 next door at the mediocre Mexican place. THIS is the establishment that probably could get away with charging more for the artisanal cocktail goodness. I thought it took a LITTLE long to get the drinks, given that no one else was on the premises, but we weren't in a rush. It also wasn't the kind of situation where we needed waitstaff to check in on us on a regular basis - very DIY here.
I don't know how long it's going to take me to convince someone to hike up Manhattan again, but we're absolutely putting The Craftsman on the itinerary.
We came in here right before a mini rainstorm around 2ish this past Saturday afternoon. Now that I'm thinking about it, literally every place we stopped in at on our trek up Broadway was empty, regardless of the time of day. Was everyone out of town? No idea. Anyway. I don't recall any other customers inside while we were there.
Despite an atrocious Old Fashioned the prior weekend that made me dramatically declare I was done with bourbon, all of the hipster leather wore me down and I went with the Craftsman Campfire, conveniently served in a campfire mug. My chum side-eyed it a bit, concerned it was going to be served hot, but it was thankfully a cold beverage that provided a refreshing boost on a muggy summer day. My initial reaction was a little negative - the first few sips tasted like bland iced tea, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it wasn't blended entirely? I didn't really taste the referenced fall flavors (cinnamon, apple, etc.), but once I dropped the lemon garnish in and mixed it around, everything was solid.
The service and price point were fine - we actually experienced the opposite of sticker shock when we discovered the cocktails here were around $15 (par for the course, even this far north in Manhattan) versus the $20 next door at the mediocre Mexican place. THIS is the establishment that probably could get away with charging more for the artisanal cocktail goodness. I thought it took a LITTLE long to get the drinks, given that no one else was on the premises, but we weren't in a rush. It also wasn't the kind of situation where we needed waitstaff to check in on us on a regular basis - very DIY here.
I don't know how long it's going to take me to convince someone to hike up Manhattan again, but we're absolutely putting The Craftsman on the itinerary.
***4 1/2 stars***
A few days ago when we were planning our up-and-down Manhattan hike, I asked my only UWS contact for a lunch/cocktail recommendation that was "edgy" and "open-minded about sweaty people." This was her immediate response, and yes, I will continue seeking her opinions on such matters. As soon as I laid eyes on the hipster snow globe lamp things by the bar, I knew we were in good hands. My chum and I stopped in for a brunch before noon this past Saturday. She'd also been here before and supported the spot, so the fact that this ended up being a positive experience wasn't remotely surprising given that I managed to get two separate endorsements on it beforehand. It might have been the slightly ominous weather slash humidity, but there was maybe one other table occupied and it was very quiet/chill in here.
Magnificent, magnificent progress had been made from Bowling Green to here (I think we did it in three hours, and that was with a prior diner stop, so yeah - gold standard urban hiking right there), so multiple cocktails were in order. I gave the bourbon one a long look but decided with the July heat to pivot to something more refreshing and went with the Pink Robots ($15), featuring carbonated lemon vodka and strawberry-champagne shrub. It was tasty but not mind-blowing - I think in hindsight I would have opted for something that wasn't quite as citrus, though the strawberry-champagne certainly helped the situation considerably.
We also split two apps, one sweeter, one more savory - the French toast sticks ($16) and the bacon dates ($15). Both were very solid. The best I've had? No, but still really good and worth recommending. This place knows what it's doing when it comes to supporting cast members with its dishes. Blueberry maple? Of course it should be included with French toast. Whipped ricotta and MORE maple? Yes, 100% should be hanging out with the bacon dates. Very strong optics and decisions made in the kitchen.
The service was excellent. The bartender was also the de facto waitress behind the counter, and was very friendly/hospitable/accessible. I also appreciate that even though it was a slower time there, she was ALWAYS finding ways to occupy her time - whenever I went up for a food or drink order, she was busily chopping up garnishes for future cocktails and/or tidying up. We also might have been suffering from price point PTSD after finding out 80 blocks south that disposable cameras are now about $45 (don't get me started), but given that this is an edgy brunch spot on the northern part of the UWS, I thought the prices were pretty competitive here. I'd absolutely come back, hike or no hike.
A few days ago when we were planning our up-and-down Manhattan hike, I asked my only UWS contact for a lunch/cocktail recommendation that was "edgy" and "open-minded about sweaty people." This was her immediate response, and yes, I will continue seeking her opinions on such matters. As soon as I laid eyes on the hipster snow globe lamp things by the bar, I knew we were in good hands. My chum and I stopped in for a brunch before noon this past Saturday. She'd also been here before and supported the spot, so the fact that this ended up being a positive experience wasn't remotely surprising given that I managed to get two separate endorsements on it beforehand. It might have been the slightly ominous weather slash humidity, but there was maybe one other table occupied and it was very quiet/chill in here.
Magnificent, magnificent progress had been made from Bowling Green to here (I think we did it in three hours, and that was with a prior diner stop, so yeah - gold standard urban hiking right there), so multiple cocktails were in order. I gave the bourbon one a long look but decided with the July heat to pivot to something more refreshing and went with the Pink Robots ($15), featuring carbonated lemon vodka and strawberry-champagne shrub. It was tasty but not mind-blowing - I think in hindsight I would have opted for something that wasn't quite as citrus, though the strawberry-champagne certainly helped the situation considerably.
We also split two apps, one sweeter, one more savory - the French toast sticks ($16) and the bacon dates ($15). Both were very solid. The best I've had? No, but still really good and worth recommending. This place knows what it's doing when it comes to supporting cast members with its dishes. Blueberry maple? Of course it should be included with French toast. Whipped ricotta and MORE maple? Yes, 100% should be hanging out with the bacon dates. Very strong optics and decisions made in the kitchen.
The service was excellent. The bartender was also the de facto waitress behind the counter, and was very friendly/hospitable/accessible. I also appreciate that even though it was a slower time there, she was ALWAYS finding ways to occupy her time - whenever I went up for a food or drink order, she was busily chopping up garnishes for future cocktails and/or tidying up. We also might have been suffering from price point PTSD after finding out 80 blocks south that disposable cameras are now about $45 (don't get me started), but given that this is an edgy brunch spot on the northern part of the UWS, I thought the prices were pretty competitive here. I'd absolutely come back, hike or no hike.
Cafe 82 was the first food stop my chum and I made on Saturday morning during our hike up Manhattan (which means we were pretty hungry when we showed up). We didn't have a giant, elaborate meal here, but like any respectable diner it had the food we needed it to have, and kept us chugging up the island.
We showed up around 10:30am on an incredibly humid day. The plan was to get a little sustenance in lieu of a "real" lunch we intended to have further uptown. The place was bustling, with both the outdoor and indoor seating pretty packed, though we were seated right by the entrance inside quickly. Unlike the prior 100 blocks or so, this was clearly a locals spot, with a lot of older patrons who clearly have lived in the area for years. Good vibe. Both of us ordered two eggs and toast, and my chum also got a side of potatoes for good measure. Everything came out fairly quickly (a diner like this is a well-oiled machine) and drama-free.
It's pretty hard to mess up eggs and toast. Coupled with a huge appetite, this was always going to be a tasty snack. Was it the best eggs and toast ever? Eh, probably not. (I like my scrambled eggs a little fluffier, and both of us were mildly saddened that the toast wasn't pre-cut into triangles, which I promise you I did not actually take points off for - I'm high maintenance but not THAT high maintenance). But everything was devoured, as it should have been.
The service was solid. This is the kind of place that has an army of people roaming around so even in the chaos it's easy to hail someone down for assistance. It didn't take long to grab the check and continue our trek. And the added bonus of a legit diner safely tucked away from the tourist traps? We got a meal that was less than $15 per person - I'll take that every time.
We showed up around 10:30am on an incredibly humid day. The plan was to get a little sustenance in lieu of a "real" lunch we intended to have further uptown. The place was bustling, with both the outdoor and indoor seating pretty packed, though we were seated right by the entrance inside quickly. Unlike the prior 100 blocks or so, this was clearly a locals spot, with a lot of older patrons who clearly have lived in the area for years. Good vibe. Both of us ordered two eggs and toast, and my chum also got a side of potatoes for good measure. Everything came out fairly quickly (a diner like this is a well-oiled machine) and drama-free.
It's pretty hard to mess up eggs and toast. Coupled with a huge appetite, this was always going to be a tasty snack. Was it the best eggs and toast ever? Eh, probably not. (I like my scrambled eggs a little fluffier, and both of us were mildly saddened that the toast wasn't pre-cut into triangles, which I promise you I did not actually take points off for - I'm high maintenance but not THAT high maintenance). But everything was devoured, as it should have been.
The service was solid. This is the kind of place that has an army of people roaming around so even in the chaos it's easy to hail someone down for assistance. It didn't take long to grab the check and continue our trek. And the added bonus of a legit diner safely tucked away from the tourist traps? We got a meal that was less than $15 per person - I'll take that every time.
My chum and I come here every two years or so to either hike up Mt. Tammany or to do a hike in the nearby vicinity. Depending on the weather/time of year, it's gorgeous - you're treated to a pretty expansive view of the Delaware River Water Gap on both the NJ and PA sides - and the area by Sunfish Pond is pretty nice too. This isn't in my absolute top tier bucket list hikes of the area, but it's a solid option.
We stopped by here last Saturday morning just as the Canadian wildfire drama was starting to dissipate. You could definitely still see its effects at the top of the mountain, with a haze that limited the optics a bit, though the air (hopefully) seemed okay and wasn't noticeably smoky or anything. If you're hoping for a legit parking spot by the trailhead, I'd recommend getting here before 9am and honestly closer to 8am. There are a lot of parking spots on the other side of 80 and it's not THAT long of a walk, but you can't beat the convenience of those first two parking areas right by the highway. There's also a consistent port-a-potty presence, which is a huge selling point. And usually on the weekends there's a few volunteers set up with a card table providing maps and FAQ-type stuff.
On this particular day, we just did the 3.6-mile loop going up the red trail to the summit of Mt. Tammany overlooking the Gap, then taking the blue trail shortly thereafter back down, a little further into the woods/Recreation Area. I recently completely a very hardcore Arizona hike so grain of salt; I was in tip-top shape for this and had no issues getting up the mountain. There were definitely some other hikers taking a breather from time to time so depending on your fitness level/skillset, this could be challenging. For someone who regularly does a lot of rugged terrain, up-and-down hiking, I don't personally think this is too nuts - it also helps that it's not that long of a hike to get to the top, at which point it's pretty easy to mosey on back down. Even in its toughest/steepest sections, you're never at the point of rock scrambling or anything dramatic.
One downside for me is that this is an insanely popular destination for not just legit hikers (you're bumping up against the AT, so it's not unusual to see backpackers around here) but literally anyone with a functioning pair of legs so the viewpoints are often teeming with hoards of families and large groups out for a quick adventure. I usually like to get a pic by the edge, but I can't recall a time I didn't have to wait at least a few minutes for other people to get their selfie sticks out, etc. A little annoying, but I'm also spoiled by a lot of desolate hikes where I can pretty much do what I want.
The other side of the coin though is that you usually have a strong canine chum situation. This one wasn't as good as I would hoping for - maybe some pooches were scared off by the recent smoke - but we did get a nice meet and greet with a young pupper named Finn who literally whined every time his owners stopped because he wanted to keep going. A real trooper. We also saw a wild turkey that wasn't remotely perturbed to be around tons of people, and just casually walked across the trail at one point. Luckily we're not too close to November so I think the danger was minimal for him.
The trip back down is pretty pleasant though it's often rocky and you have to be careful of footing issues, even on the driest of days. I'm a big fan of the last stretch of the hike when you get back down from the mountainous section and walk by some very pleasant water sources. There's also a few spots where you can easily wade into the creek and cool off, along with some little wooden bridges and benches. And I'm always impressed that despite the fact that you're right up against Route 80, you don't really hear the highway too often except at the very beginning and end of the adventure.
It's popular for a reason. Even with the crowds and chaos that can accompany that, this is a hike worth doing. If you have the option, I'd recommend the fall for the foliage goodness.
We stopped by here last Saturday morning just as the Canadian wildfire drama was starting to dissipate. You could definitely still see its effects at the top of the mountain, with a haze that limited the optics a bit, though the air (hopefully) seemed okay and wasn't noticeably smoky or anything. If you're hoping for a legit parking spot by the trailhead, I'd recommend getting here before 9am and honestly closer to 8am. There are a lot of parking spots on the other side of 80 and it's not THAT long of a walk, but you can't beat the convenience of those first two parking areas right by the highway. There's also a consistent port-a-potty presence, which is a huge selling point. And usually on the weekends there's a few volunteers set up with a card table providing maps and FAQ-type stuff.
On this particular day, we just did the 3.6-mile loop going up the red trail to the summit of Mt. Tammany overlooking the Gap, then taking the blue trail shortly thereafter back down, a little further into the woods/Recreation Area. I recently completely a very hardcore Arizona hike so grain of salt; I was in tip-top shape for this and had no issues getting up the mountain. There were definitely some other hikers taking a breather from time to time so depending on your fitness level/skillset, this could be challenging. For someone who regularly does a lot of rugged terrain, up-and-down hiking, I don't personally think this is too nuts - it also helps that it's not that long of a hike to get to the top, at which point it's pretty easy to mosey on back down. Even in its toughest/steepest sections, you're never at the point of rock scrambling or anything dramatic.
One downside for me is that this is an insanely popular destination for not just legit hikers (you're bumping up against the AT, so it's not unusual to see backpackers around here) but literally anyone with a functioning pair of legs so the viewpoints are often teeming with hoards of families and large groups out for a quick adventure. I usually like to get a pic by the edge, but I can't recall a time I didn't have to wait at least a few minutes for other people to get their selfie sticks out, etc. A little annoying, but I'm also spoiled by a lot of desolate hikes where I can pretty much do what I want.
The other side of the coin though is that you usually have a strong canine chum situation. This one wasn't as good as I would hoping for - maybe some pooches were scared off by the recent smoke - but we did get a nice meet and greet with a young pupper named Finn who literally whined every time his owners stopped because he wanted to keep going. A real trooper. We also saw a wild turkey that wasn't remotely perturbed to be around tons of people, and just casually walked across the trail at one point. Luckily we're not too close to November so I think the danger was minimal for him.
The trip back down is pretty pleasant though it's often rocky and you have to be careful of footing issues, even on the driest of days. I'm a big fan of the last stretch of the hike when you get back down from the mountainous section and walk by some very pleasant water sources. There's also a few spots where you can easily wade into the creek and cool off, along with some little wooden bridges and benches. And I'm always impressed that despite the fact that you're right up against Route 80, you don't really hear the highway too often except at the very beginning and end of the adventure.
It's popular for a reason. Even with the crowds and chaos that can accompany that, this is a hike worth doing. If you have the option, I'd recommend the fall for the foliage goodness.