Waverly Restaurant (NYC)

The Waverly is really a diner, a real New York City diner, not a theme park styled imitation. I first visited this place in 1986 and it’s been cranking out the breakfast hits for me ever since. Lately, my visits are fewer and farther between, but enjoyable when they occur. If you’re looking for a breakfast served quick and hot, this is the place. Here’s a view of the outside.

The above photo shows how the place looks at about 6:30 in the morning. Can’t miss the retro neon. The most recent interior renovations have rendered the counter a bit shorter, but there are more booths and it is a little easier to move through the joint when it gets crowded, which it does. Scrambled eggs and bacon, French toast, all the breakfast favorites can be had here in less than five minutes. Stop in and find out for yourself.

Published in: on January 29, 2012 at 2:59 pm  Comments (1)  
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Hostaria da’ Vittorio, Aruba

Hostaria da’ Vittorio serves solid Italian favorites with contemporary flair. I’ve had the pleasure of dining here several times over the past couple of years and each experience has been a good one. This time I started with the minestrone, which was homemade and came with a stick of fried polenta. Check it out:

The portion size of the soup was perfect, leaving me plenty of room for other things. I always order too much at this restaurant, simply because I want to enjoy all the flavors. There was a brushetta and caprese salad as you see in the next photo:

And the table bread, which is at the top of the photo above came as a sort of pizza-crust like option. Tasty with olive oil and fresh pepper and something a little different than the usual rolls. Moving on to the entrees. One was an osso buco, seen below and requiring no knife.

Finally, there was a pasta dish, this time a fusilli with crumbled sausage/red sauce. Again, the right size portion and very flavorful which almost rises out of the next image:

Of course, no room for dessert, which was probably a mistake. You have to stop somewhere, and after all this, I hit the wall. Full to the top. Service, as always, was attentive and professional, keeping my water glass topped up the way I like it. I drink gallons of water in Aruba, which thanks to the desalinization plant has one of the best tasting tap waters in the world. But I digress. You’ll enjoy your meal at Hostaria da’ Vittorio, where you can dine inside or out, go for a big meal or something more manageable. Take a group, get some wine, and make a night of it.

Published in: on November 22, 2011 at 1:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Matthew’s in Aruba

Matthew’s Restaurant, that is. This is a favorite of many visitors looking for a reasonably priced meal with a view of the sea. Matthew’s is located at the Casa del Mar timeshare with a beautiful vista of the Caribbean. It’s fun to eat here and watch the cruise ships pass by. Here’s a short video showing the restaurant and a lunch.

Rib night is another regular feature at Matthew’s. When you’re on the island, call and see exactly what’s on offer and stop by for a taste. Bon dia.

Published in: on November 13, 2011 at 1:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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John’s Roast Pork, video review

It’s been too long since I last posted about John’s Roast Pork. And it’s been a much longer time since I first stopped in here with my friend, the captain. He was the one who took me from our side of South Philadelphia to the other side for a roast pork sandwich that became my gold standard. That was 20 years ago this month. I’ve been plugging my arteries ever since. Here’s a video review of the place.

I hope to interview John himself one of these days and also his mother, Vonda, who with her husband John, started this institution back in the 1930’s. Seriously, if you want a cheesesteak or a roast pork sandwich, go nowhere else. Go to John’s.

Published in: on October 26, 2011 at 10:51 am  Leave a Comment  
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