Author Archives: therealtamara

For an opinionated woman such as I, blogging is an excellent outlet. This is one of many fori that I use to bloviate. Enjoy! Comment on my commentary.

Opening? Soon?

Grubbs is a tease

I have complained elsewhere about the years long signage teasing an opening. Grubbs will bring burgers and shakes to an otherwise food- centric stretch of York Avenue.

We have pizza (x2) and deli bars and smoothies. The French have occupied with three outposts. There’s kosher (which maybe adds a plus 1 to the pizza). My go-to for Chinese food (Hunan Delught) and two upscale dining establishments, Yefsi and Cacio e Pepe. Recently, a combo bagel den and dumpling place took over the 75th end of the strip.

Grubbs is a diner style place. We don’t have that for eggs in the morning or fries at night.

Kossar’s

To the airport again?

There’s that sporty pup-pilot

You might gather I favor the French cafe. I intend no favoritism.

Tozzo is Italian, of course, and I recently showed my preference for the Spanish aka Latino coffees from 787 and Cositas. L’Avion has a nod to that lovely deep coffee by offering a Spanish cold brew.

My steps just naturally lead me to the little  off-the-path shops like this one.

L’Avion takes its theme seriously with a portrait of Amelia Earhart in the cockpit er toilet and that departure board listing temperatures at destination. In Celsius and F. Cute.

Good week for the coffee trail

L’Avion carries its airport motif to a board announcing flights and onto the ‘aery’ menu.

I wonder why their logo features a doggie pilot, sort of un chien sportif with a rakish scarf about his neck.

There are no dogs in the clean, small but somehow spacious store  I am relieved to say.

The “tres petite” cappuccino was as delicious as the oversized pistachio yogurt muffin. Nice addition to my coffee route.

Walking the coffee trail

Cositas, so near but worth a bigger walk

Walking around looking for good coffee could be a job, but it’s more like a pleasure trip, especially when the results are so fine.

Two nearby shops offer authenticity both being from coffee countries.

787 is a farm to table sort of place with Puerto Rican origins. (Since there are local outposts of 787 within 10 blocks of each other, I guess it’s more like 3 shops on the UES.).

For a change of pace, I tried the lovely Coquito Latte  on my latest descent to the 80th Street location. This is a robust, sweetened brew with a silky finish.

The other place with excellent coffee is Cositas. I enjoyed the drip on 2 visits. Each occasion this was simple and delicious.

My Starbucks diversion has come to an end for now.

Like with 787, there are (more) than a few stores all right in the immediate neighborhood. The staff are pleasant, and it’s a great venue for hanging out. The coffee leaves a lot to be desired, but I do like their Impossible breakfast sandwich.