ISLAND VILLAGE CAFE---I TRIED IT
I got home last night from work around 8:30pm and was very hungry. Grey's Anatomy was starting in 1/2 hour and I knew if I order from The Islands, I'd miss half of my show. SO, I went to the Island Village cafe' instead and ordered the Shrimp with Garlic sauce. That's what I always order at the Islands and figured it would make a solid barometer of comparison...WELL, it tasted ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE ISLANDS--and I only waited 10 minutes. I didn't stand around for 45 minutes waiting for my food. The rice was just as coconutty, but you didn't get as much. The chef gave me one measley slice of plaintain, and I demanded more---he gave me ONE more slice. I think you get three slices at The Islands. I also got about 3 spoonfuls of veggies--not much, but you don't get much at the Islands either.
Here's the verdict:
The shrimp was ALMOST as good, but lacked the "spice" of Islands. The average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but an Island regular would. It was garliky, but not AS garlicky as The Islands...BUT, having food in 10 minutes was great. The guys working there were nice and the place was totally empty. I'd definitley go back.
Here's the verdict:
The shrimp was ALMOST as good, but lacked the "spice" of Islands. The average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but an Island regular would. It was garliky, but not AS garlicky as The Islands...BUT, having food in 10 minutes was great. The guys working there were nice and the place was totally empty. I'd definitley go back.
Comments
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thanks for the review - I'll check the place out. there are definitely times when I crave the Islands and then I see a line out the door and think "no fuckin' way". so yay.
also, I always feel like I get too much rice at the Islands, so less rice might be good, as I end up throwing away rice. my one gripe with the Islands, aside from excessive time spent waiting, is that the rice to sauce ratio is off. it's the Cuban in me, I know, that makes me want more sauce and less rice. I always feel like I'm begging them to add a little extra.
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i need to try this place!!! alafairnadia you're cuban? i'm 1/2 via Miami find any good cuban sandwiches with real cuban bread??
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Subject: Cuban Sandwich
Hi Cheech...
There's a cuban place on the corner of Vanderbilt and St. Mark (or it could be Dean) Its catty-corner to Beast. I haven't eaten there, but it looks like a real no-frills Cuban diner... -
thanks!
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There is that place which is on Vanderbilt bet. Bergen and Dean but in my opinion, the best cuban sandwich that can be had around here is at El Gran Castillio (aka "Carnivento" on these boards) which is on Flatbush and Park right by the tain station. Let us know which one you like better
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hey! I grew up in Miami!
in any case, there's no such thing as real Cuban bread in NYC. also, neither place - the one on Vandy or Carneviento - are actually Cuban. they're Dominican. which, believe me, if you're Cuban, and from Miami, means a lot!
I find the ratios all wrong with a lot of food in these places, too. not enough garlic, not enough mojo, etc. I've pretty much had to resign myself to nothing tasting quite right. :? -
I'm a cuban miamian too!!!!
wow! in all my years here I've only ever met one other miami cuban. and then all of a sudden here you both are!
bizarre :P -
Subject: The place on Vanderbilt bills itself as a Cuban restaurant
If the restaurant on Vanderbilt is a Dominican spot, then how come the sign says its Cuban? Just curious. -
b/c cubans are cooler so dominicans use it as a selling point
8) -
we miamians need to get together!! i saw this place on ave D when i was driving by one day that said cuban food and looked like a place right off of calle ocho, granted ave D looks like calle ocho...ever seen that place, been there?
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oh and ps. best "real" cuban sandwich is on Broadway and 138th Street in Manhattan.
Those guys have been there since the cuban immigration to the ny/nj area before the revolution and still going strong.
incidentally they were also featured in the cuban film "el super". Great film link below:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079981/ -
cheech wrote: we miamians need to get together!! i saw this place on ave D when i was driving by one day that said cuban food and looked like a place right off of calle ocho, granted ave D looks like calle ocho...ever seen that place, been there?
could it be on avenue C and like 12th street or something?
if so, it's called cafecito and the food i just ok, but they have IRONBEER (best soda ever.....oh how i miss it!) and Materva too!!!! -
maybe on C...go up to fordham road...you'll find ironbear and materva there!
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wonderroom wrote: [quote=cheech]we miamians need to get together!! i saw this place on ave D when i was driving by one day that said cuban food and looked like a place right off of calle ocho, granted ave D looks like calle ocho...ever seen that place, been there?
could it be on avenue C and like 12th street or something?
if so, it's called cafecito and the food i just ok, but they have IRONBEER (best soda ever.....oh how i miss it!) and Materva too!!!!
yeah. it's not that great. you know they're not for real when they put hot sauce on your table. it's like "um. that's an NYC thing."
in any case, there are a lot of approximations, but once every 18 months or so I gotta fly my ass to Miami to visit my family, see Albita on Calle Ocho and eat at Las Islas Canarias. and, if I'm using my brain, bring back a dozen pastelitos. -
Subject: Re: The place on Vanderbilt bills itself as a Cuban restaura
RBG wrote: If the restaurant on Vanderbilt is a Dominican spot, then how come the sign says its Cuban? Just curious.
a lot of places advertise as Cuban for various reasons. the easiest way to figure out if a place is Cuban is to look at the menu. some classic tells:
1. Mofongo. If there's mofongo on the menu, the joint is not Cuban. Cubans call this dish Fufu.
2. Yellow rice. Yellow rice does not occur in Cuban cuisine unless you're making paella or a paella-like dish. If you order beans and rice at a Cuban restaurant, you get black beans and white rice.
3. Fried farmers cheese. This is a typical breakfast item at Dominican places. This is not Cuban. -
wonderroom and cheech - do youboth live in the jewish hospital?! hilarious.
yes, we should all get together at some point! I'm working stupid dumb hours and unable to make committments (I had to threaten my coworkers with bodily harm so I could be home in time for project runway on wednesday) but yeah. we should go to Indigo - the guys that own the place are Haitian and make a mean mojito. and mint lemonade. -
alafairnadia wrote: wonderroom and cheech - do youboth live in the jewish hospital?! hilarious.
naw i live across the street from the jewish hospital.....
yes, we should all get together at some point! I'm working stupid dumb hours and unable to make committments (I had to threaten my coworkers with bodily harm so I could be home in time for project runway on wednesday) but yeah. we should go to Indigo - the guys that own the place are Haitian and make a mean mojito. and mint lemonade.
and speaking of i actually was in miami over the weekend and ate my way through all of my fave cuban joints.
ah croqueta preparada! what is it that makes the cuban pickle chips taste so much beter than regular pickles? i actually had the waiter at la carreta bring me another bowl full! he looked at me like i was nuts! mmmm this conversation is making me want to go back to miami! -
alafairnadia wrote: hey! I grew up in Miami!
I'm from Miami too, but not Cuban. But I miss my cortados!!! -
i just bought a ticket to miami, but my boss is being an ass and i might have to change it after i just bought it!!! i don't know what to do! he gave the "it's up to you" altimatum!!
i live behind the hospital in that new brick building on st. marks.
my friend is in town from miami for the weekend and i made her bring me pastelitos! soooo good! -
cheech wrote: my friend is in town from miami for the weekend and i made her bring me pastelitos! soooo good!
I'm absurdly jealous. I might have to buy some guava paste, cream cheese & puff pastry to vaguely appease myself. -
Any love for Sophie's here? I'm there like twice a week. Though they are technically Cuban/Peruvian.
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BigGuy wrote: Any love for Sophie's here? I'm there like twice a week. Though they are technically Cuban/Peruvian.
that's all the way downtown, no? I work in midtown (rock ctr area) so I don't get to have Sophie's.
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Yes, there's one on Chambers, which used to be on like Water st. But now there is also one at Mad & 34, and another and 41 & Lex. Not that I'm real familiar with the place or anything. The Peruvian green sauce they keep in squirt bottles on the tables is key.
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Subject: Re: ISLAND VILLAGE CAFE---I TRIED IT
RBG wrote: I got home last night from work around 8:30pm and was very hungry. Grey's Anatomy was starting in 1/2 hour and I knew if I order from The Islands, I'd miss half of my show. SO, I went to the Island Village cafe' instead and ordered the Shrimp with Garlic sauce. That's what I always order at the Islands and figured it would make a solid barometer of comparison...WELL, it tasted ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE ISLANDS--and I only waited 10 minutes. I didn't stand around for 45 minutes waiting for my food. The rice was just as coconutty, but you didn't get as much. The chef gave me one measley slice of plaintain, and I demanded more---he gave me ONE more slice. I think you get three slices at The Islands. I also got about 3 spoonfuls of veggies--not much, but you don't get much at the Islands either.
RBG, I'm just wondering if your user name was inspired by Dead Prez (Revolutionary but Gangsta)?
Here's the verdict:
The shrimp was ALMOST as good, but lacked the "spice" of Islands. The average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but an Island regular would. It was garliky, but not AS garlicky as The Islands...BUT, having food in 10 minutes was great. The guys working there were nice and the place was totally empty. I'd definitley go back. -
BTW, I don't think anyone mentioned this fact - the owner of Island Village used to be the chef at Islands. Or, to stick to the facts, a guy was handing out flyers a few weekends ago and told us that he was the owner of Island Village and that we should come by since he used to be the chef at Islands.
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Subject: Re: ISLAND VILLAGE CAFE---I TRIED IT
Precious Williams wrote: [quote=RBG]I got home last night from work around 8:30pm and was very hungry. Grey's Anatomy was starting in 1/2 hour and I knew if I order from The Islands, I'd miss half of my show. SO, I went to the Island Village cafe' instead and ordered the Shrimp with Garlic sauce. That's what I always order at the Islands and figured it would make a solid barometer of comparison...WELL, it tasted ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE ISLANDS--and I only waited 10 minutes. I didn't stand around for 45 minutes waiting for my food. The rice was just as coconutty, but you didn't get as much. The chef gave me one measley slice of plaintain, and I demanded more---he gave me ONE more slice. I think you get three slices at The Islands. I also got about 3 spoonfuls of veggies--not much, but you don't get much at the Islands either.
RBG, I'm just wondering if your user name was inspired by Dead Prez (Revolutionary but Gangsta)?
Here's the verdict:
The shrimp was ALMOST as good, but lacked the "spice" of Islands. The average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but an Island regular would. It was garliky, but not AS garlicky as The Islands...BUT, having food in 10 minutes was great. The guys working there were nice and the place was totally empty. I'd definitley go back.
Before she registered a user name, she used to post as Rich Black Girl. -
I went to Island Village tonight and picked up the jerk chicken and the Island Village shrimp, both with peas and rice. YUM! I'm no expert on Caribbean food, so I don't know how it compares with other places or what's traditionally expected of these recipes, but it was goooooood. The jerk chicken was falling off the bone and had a mellow but not insignificant kick, and the sauce for the shrimp was really good too. And with two small dishes, I still have enough left over for one or maybe even two more meals.
Two thumbs up!
The man who was working there -- I assume the owner -- was really nice. He said it's been open for three months now but they haven't had a grand opening yet. I picked up a menu and it says they're open every day till 11pm. They're going to have a website eventually (but it's not up yet) at www.islandvillagecafe.com.
Man, I'm stuffed. -
Yeah its very tasty. And I like the prices. If you haven't already, you should also try the Jerk Lamb and the Brown Stew Chicken.
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