Read Part 2 HERE !
The Ippodo ordeal had worn us out a bit, so by the time we had made our way back to the busy intersection 34th and 6th, I was more than ready to relieve myself of my growing backpack and bags of purchases.
The immediate area revealed a terrible shortage of cafés (and benches for that matter), so we reverted back to Koreatown in hopes of finding a spot equipped with washroom facilities, air conditioning, outlets, and perhaps reasonably priced sustenance.
A lovely potato had warned against Caffe Bene, while Tous Les Jours simply did not appeal to me. Paris Baguette it was.
The immediate area revealed a terrible shortage of cafés (and benches for that matter), so we reverted back to Koreatown in hopes of finding a spot equipped with washroom facilities, air conditioning, outlets, and perhaps reasonably priced sustenance.
A lovely potato had warned against Caffe Bene, while Tous Les Jours simply did not appeal to me. Paris Baguette it was.
Lining the shelves was a distinct variety of breads, rolls, and cakes; between these shelves, a checkout line began to form slowly. The bakery/café possessed two of the factors I had hoped for: A/C and a customer bathroom. Other than that, seating was minimal and cramped, and there were no smartphone-friendly elements in sight. Breads and cakes were undeniably on the pricey side as well.
|
|
The concept of waiter service did not apply here, for the tables were sticky and dirty. Shop attendants emptied garbage bins from time to time, however no efforts were made to ensure a bright, orderly dining area for customers. A sheer lack of a janitorial team was observed via the status of the unisex bathroom stall. Put simply, it was appalling. From the sticky floor to the disgusting toilet seat to the dangling soap dispenser, it was a germaphobe's worst nightmare. The cherry on top was a dysfunctional simplehuman garbage bin that could only be opened manually - GROSS.
I wasn't all too sure about Paris Baguette's ordering process, but the cashier did not prove to be any use in that regard. A pre-packaged Japanese cheesecake had rested on my tray for the entire ten-minute checkout period, and I merely wanted a Green Tea Chiffon Cake from the display case to munch on in-store. The girls in front of me simply grabbed a slice of cake without any issues, yet my attempt was met with a jarring warning and utterly distasteful expression. Mild reprimands fell upon these girls later, but this was no excuse to treat a paying customer poorly.
The Green Tea Chiffon was alright, though the whipping cream was a tad stifling after a while. No drinks were purchased during our stay, though two small items were consumed by my dining parter towards the end of our chatty stay.
The Green Tea Chiffon was alright, though the whipping cream was a tad stifling after a while. No drinks were purchased during our stay, though two small items were consumed by my dining parter towards the end of our chatty stay.
We wandered back onto 32nd St as the sky transitioned to a cool blue. A quick round of browsing in a mask-centred beauty shop and we were off to find dinner.
Xi'An Foods was a recommendation from an Instagram user who had previously resided in New York for some time. Rarely is it that I go out of my way for Chinese food, so I retained the optimism that it would be unlike the others. Prior research had shown the name to be relatively successful, with several locations inaugurated throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The restaurant offered fast, casual northern Chinese cuisine that didn't stray far from dumplings in spicy sauce and flat noodles in broth. A menu was fixated at the entrance, just beside the cashier. Refrigerated drinks, condiment stands, and seating were located towards the back. Additional seating was found on the second floor.
As first-timers, recommendations definitely assisted us in the decision-making process. The two employees behind the cashier took their time in explaining some of their most renowned picks, eventually steering us in the direction of a Stewed Oxtail Noodles in Soup and Spicy & Sour Spinach Dumpling.
As first-timers, recommendations definitely assisted us in the decision-making process. The two employees behind the cashier took their time in explaining some of their most renowned picks, eventually steering us in the direction of a Stewed Oxtail Noodles in Soup and Spicy & Sour Spinach Dumpling.
|
|
< Pictured above and below: NS10 Stewed Oxtail Noodles in Soup, F6 Spicy & Sour Spinach Dumpling, Sour Hawberry Tea >
Our order number appeared on an LED screen hung next to the kitchen/preparation area. It operated similarly to McDonald's, except Xi'An Foods took efficiency a step further by introducing a restaurant-wide PA system to call out numbers amidst the loud environment.
Within ten minutes, our items were received and taken upstairs for munching. Again, there was no waiter service, so the Stainless steel tables weren't the cleanest surfaces I'd seen. Nevertheless, it remained shinier than Paris Baguette; frequent signage and attentive customers can make a huge difference.
Within ten minutes, our items were received and taken upstairs for munching. Again, there was no waiter service, so the Stainless steel tables weren't the cleanest surfaces I'd seen. Nevertheless, it remained shinier than Paris Baguette; frequent signage and attentive customers can make a huge difference.
The Stewed Oxtail Noodles in Soup comprised of a heaping portion of wide, flat noodles (reminiscent of dumpling wrappers), a clear broth soup, and four to five pieces of scrawny bone to chew on. Needless to say, I was not impressed with the quality of protein. In addition, the noodles were far too starchy for my liking. There were few other ingredients to keep hunger at bay, so I resorted to filling up on the broth. Thankfully, it had been seasoned well without the drying aftereffects of MSG.
For the sake of my tongue and overall digestive system, I did not bother attempting the plate of spicy dumplings. Deep red in hue was the dipping sauce, and deep trouble would I find myself later if I had commited to experiment.
The Sour Hawberry Tea, which was split amongst both of us, was refreshing and a little sweeter than anticipated. Most fitting in profile would be Sour Plum Tea, but with a clearer consistency.
The Sour Hawberry Tea, which was split amongst both of us, was refreshing and a little sweeter than anticipated. Most fitting in profile would be Sour Plum Tea, but with a clearer consistency.
|
|
Halfway into our meal, the 97 line decided on an impromptu V Live, which we half-watched, half-ignored while reviewing the events of the past few days.
Xi'An Foods left a satisfactory impression on my stomach, and I wouldn't be reluctant to visit again. That said, NS10 will not be a recurring choice.
It was up to us to sort the remnants of our dinners into "recyclable material" or "compost". Following this, I had wished to make a bathroom visit. Heading downstairs, I was met with a menacing lineup for the single stall. We hunted for Starbucks instead.
It was up to us to sort the remnants of our dinners into "recyclable material" or "compost". Following this, I had wished to make a bathroom visit. Heading downstairs, I was met with a menacing lineup for the single stall. We hunted for Starbucks instead.
Superdry was the final stop of the day.
|
|
The damage has been done.
|
|
Like I said, innisfree was a tenacious opponent...
RSS Feed