Nick's Travel & Food Blog

Mama’s on the Half Shell – Baltimore, Maryland

You know what day it is today. #DoubleTakeTuesday. I guess it’s fitting for this place since it’s in Baltimore right? Baltimore has been getting some bad press lately but the city itself is beautiful and the food is amazing. For the most part, every big city has it’s parts that aren’t the best. That doesn’t take away from the culture and the people however. However, this next place is Mama’s and I must say it’s a must try if you’re in the area. I’ve been here a few times and it does live up to the hype so the Yelp reviews aren’t telling stories. It’s known for its oysters because the menu mainly contains seafood items. However, there is a chicken sandwich, filet mignon, salad, and veggies. It’s Baltimore, so it’s known for it’s seafood, so you have to try it, it’s a must, unless you’re allergic. In the picture, you have the Crab Dip and Fried Calamari. The crap dip is nice because it’s filled with actually full lump crab meat instead of other things which aren’t. You know what I’m talking about. Did I mention that it’s blended with their own cheese and poured into a bread bowl. This thing taste really good and it’s hot. The calamari, is nicely fried with a nice crunch but it’s just right. The interesting thing about this is that they include sweet and sour sauce instead of marinara or some other tomato sauce. I like the calamari with the sweet and sour because it’s a nice complement to it. I do wish it was a little thicker but that’s a personal preference though. The other item on the menu that is a must have is the seafood skins. Yes, I said it right, seafood skins. It’s potato skins with shrimp, scallops, and lump crab meat. That thing is outrageous. Of course it’s added with cheddar cheese and sour cream on the side. If you go, this is a must to get. Do make a reservation before you go because this place is not as big as other restaurants so it will get filled. Once you walk in, you will see a short and narrow hallway before being greeted by the host. They don’t have a waiting area but you can wait at the bar which is to the right while waiting for your table upstairs or downstairs. This place is the quint essential small business that is cooking up some good food. Oh, before I go, it’s a seafood place so do prepare for cost.

Playa Bowls – Various Locations

So the weekend is over and now I guess I have to, sort of, kind of, post something healthy. I don’t know how healthy these are but anyone who knows me, knows I eat this at least twice a month, sometimes four. This right here is açaí bowl. Look, I know it doesn’t look as good, but it’s like really good. I doubted it at first and then when I tried it, I was like oh ok, that’s good. It’s got a nice crunch to it with sweetness coming from the açaí and the fruit on top. I have tried other bases like the pitaya, coconut, chia, or green because I just stick with what I know and that’s the Pura Vida. The Pura Vida is an Açaí base, granola, blueberries, strawberries and some honey on top. I can literally eat two of these in a day if I could but I don’t because I don’t want to do to much and be overloaded with sugar. Look if you come here for the first time, trust me, the safest option is the açaí because it taste like berries but it’s not like seeded berries so you don’t get the seeded taste like in pulp orange juice. They say it does have some antioxidants in it which is helpful too. Try it, it might make you a believer, you can also ask for a sample and put one bowl into two smaller bowls to share with someone. That is something that most people don’t know they can do.

Quality Italian – NY, NY

It’s Friday so I guess I have to cap the week off with a legit food spot. You ready? You look ready and I know you ready. This item in the picture is the chicken parm pizza. This thing is huge but oh so good. Don’t even think about not sharing this because it really is quite filling. Yes it’s chicken made into a pizza with sauce, cheese, and basil. This place is a real nice date night for couples so this isn’t a family affair. This place is also right next to Central Park so it can be a nice walk in the park after dinner or even lunch. I’m not giving dating advise but I’m just saying. However, once you bite into the chicken, it’s cooked just right with the right amount of everything. Feel free to add red peppers or some honey that it comes with which is a nice flavor to add. The pizza also comes with arugula salad on the side so this can be shared easily between two people. This place can get quite pricey so I would just stick with the chicken parm for the first time and maybe an appetizer. Do make reservations because this place can become quite packed depending on the day.

Green Eggs Cafe – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I know what you’re thinking. Those Red Velvet Pancakes look really, really good. You would be right because they look just as good as they taste. So first, I will say, that this place does have other options because pancakes as you can tell from their name. They cook different types of cakes from Eggs White, Omelets, Benedicts, and even Chicken and Waffles Benedict. However, on this occasion, I didn’t try to the eggs, I wanted the Red Velvet Pancakes. I will add that Leah tried the Kitchen Sink. I know, not the literal kitchen sink but their menu item called the Kitchen Sink that had three eggs scrambled with sausage crumbles, gruyere cheese, potatoes, peppers, onions, topped with sausage gravy and a jumbo biscuit. The next time, I come, I’ll have to try the Cookie Dough Stuffed French Toast. However, lets get back to the pancakes. The pancakes are with chocolate chips, which you can see if you look closely to the picture. Now who puts chocolate chips into red velvet pancakes instead of buttermilk pancakes, they do. In addition to the chocolate chips, they layer it with mascarpone, top it with maple syrup, Chantilly cream, and fresh strawberries. Don’t ask me what is Chantilly cream because I don’t even know. All I know is that this thing right here is on pointtttt. Once you cut the pancakes and then add the maple syrup on top of it, it almost makes you want to slap someone lol. Not figuratively, please don’t do that. The different flavors blend together very nicely and it’s not too sweet but just right. The pancakes by itself will be enough for one person but do share. This place only accepts cash so if you forget to bring cash, they do have an atm machine inside which I would suggest using because of course there is a surcharge fee for taking money out and from your bank as well. This place also does get crowded so do prepare before arriving.

Leopold’s Ice Cream – Savannah, Georgia

This has to be my favorite ice cream of all time honesty. It’s the best one hands down that I’ve tired so far and there’s no comparison. This is the type of ice cream that you would push people out of the way to get to. I know what you’re thinking, it’s Savannah, how could they have good ice cream? At first, I would’ve said the same thing but then when I tried it, I was like now I know. They’ve been making ice cream for a century (100 years) now so they know just how to make it. It’s rich but yet also creamy. It has just enough of sugar but not overly saturated. The ice cream like literally melts in your mouth and when you taste it, it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Don’t even think about getting a single scoop here, you have to go for the double. From the picture, I had the Peanut Butter Chippy which is all natural peanut butter ice cream with milk chocolate chips. For the cookie sandwich I put a chocolate chip which was quite good. They have over 20 different flavors that you can try in addition to seasonal flavors that they rotate each month. If you’re in Savannah, this is a must to go to. When you go, let me know if it was worth it and bring me back some, okay, thanks.

Black Tap – NY, NY

I know I’m probably going to get some heat on this one but I guess I’m up for up. Feel free to comment because I’m curious to see how your experience was and how you liked it. For Tuesdays specifically I’ll be highlighting a few places that need to have a #DoubleTake. #DoubleTake meaning let’s take a second look at it to see if really lives up to the hype. In this case with Black Tap, I don’t think it lives up to the hype. If you remember, this place blew up when it first opened in 2015 because of their viral Crazyshakes, as pictured. They have a lot of shakes now compared to when they first opened up. Leah was with me at the time and she was the one that first introduced me to a picture of a milkshake and so we decided to go together. Let me tell you that was an experience for real. First it was in the cold and I remember walking to the place and noticing a line wrapped around the corner. At first I was like, there’s no way that’s the line and so I decided to walk in the front entrance. After putting my name on the list the host mentioned the line was truly the line out in the front. I was like WOW. He then added that it’s about an hour and a half. I was like WOW. It was a date night so I wasn’t trying to say no even in the freezing cold. It was one of those you’re hoping it’s not really an hour and a half but it really was. Lol. I think it was even longer. However after getting inside I figured why that was the case because they only have about 16, maybe 20 seats to sit at the bar. After having the above milkshake with a Texan burger and fries, I thought it was just okay. It may have been from me standing outside for so long ruined my appetite so I may have to revisit this place. Overall I still don’t think it was worth the cost for what you get. You do get a nice photo out of the deal but other than that it’s nice a place to go out of your way for. They do have other locations which sit more people so if you definitely want to try I would suggest visiting one of their other locations. Do bring some money to this place as the burger and fries can be quite expensive when you tack on the milkshake. Let me know how it goes.

Emily Loves Pizza – West Village, NY, NY

Let me tell you this pizza place is excellent. I’ve been here quite a few times. The pizza, as pictured, is the Hot Chicken served with Bama white sauce and chopped pickles. I know what you’re thinking, that’s nasty. Trust me when I say it’s really not. All the different flavors come together and with the crust it turned out really well. However, this particular pizza is only available at their sister location; Emmy Squared in the East Village. However, this particular blog is about my favorite location in the West Village names Emily Loves Pizza. This is their main location which kicked everything off. Do make a reservation in advance before going because this place can become quite full. I repeat don’t go without a reservation because I’ll be saying I told you. When you first walk in you are immediately met by the host which can help you get settled. The two main items that you want to get is the burger named the Emmy Burger Double Stack. It comes with Pat LaFrieda dry aged beef. I should stop there because if you’ve tried their particular cuts, you know it’s good, however I’ll continue. It then is topped with Emmy sauce, caramelized onions, American cheese, and pickles on a pretzel bun. That’s a lot right? You bet it is. Thankfully I had Leah to share it with me because it also came with curly fries. When you taste into this burger, just know it’s going to be amazing. Do try to make your reservation early at like 6 because they will sell out of this burger since they only make limited quantities each night. Yeah, it’s one of those special burgers that they don’t make too much of to keep it’s allure, I guess. However, it’s really good. When you bite into it, it’s juicy and the bun just goes so well with it. The next item on the menu you have to try is one of their pizzas. The one I had was the Colony. The Colony has pepperoni, pickled chili with honey. I know it’s also a weird combination but it taste really, really good. The service there is also really good which tops it off and they are very accommodating. You won’t be disappointed. As always I would be remised if I didn’t say please bring some money as this place can be pricey but it’s worth the cost.

Enjoy the Holiday Week!

Hope you enjoy this time with family and friends. Take the time to set aside your phone at the dinner table and enjoy the company of others that are present. It’s good to be in the moment because this moment will be missed when it’s over. Enjoy and I’ll see you back here Monday for even more food.

Just BeClaws – Jersey City, NJ

Yes, don’t be surprised that Jersey City has seafood. This place is my number one seafood place in New Jersey. Don’t get caught up in Joes Crab Shack because this place is no comparison and it’s way better. First, this place is kind of small. Once you open the door you will immediately see a narrow hallway that im quite sure will be filled with people. I haven’t been to this place and there wasn’t a line that I had to wait at least 45 minutes. They will text you however when your table is ready so you don’t have to wait around in the crowded hallway but you can walk around jersey city. Krispy Kreme’s is a nice walk from there. I’m just saying. Anyway, you have to get the JB Fries, as pictured. The JB fries are fries with crab meat and lemon aioli. It’s something you have to get on the menu and it’s worth it and the wait. Next they have different crab options, I selected the snow crabs. You can also add shrimp, corn, sausage, potatoes or other things to the bag. As any crab place, they have, you guessed it, lobster as well. Going back to the snow crabs, they were really good. It’s the first place I’ve ever been to where you can also taste the seasoning on the crab meat which is a difficult thing to do but somehow they do it and it’s nothing like that taste. You are able to select which flavor you like and I selected the O’Bay with Garlic Butter with medium heat. They also have other options instead of lobster, crab, and shrimp but it’s a seafood place so you might as well try seafood. Do bring your wallet on this one because like any other seafood place it can get quite expensive depending on what crab you like and/or get. You’ll like to place a lot, I know good seafood when I taste it.

Angels Trumpet Ale House – Phoenix, AZ

I don’t drink alcohol but I can see this place actually being a nice place to try different beers since they have a nice mixture. However, the food here is really good. Was in Phoenix for a little and decided to stop by real quick. This place is well known for their homemade pop tarts and hand sandwiches. The sandwich as pictured was the outlaw fried chicken sandwich. It contained peppered bacon, crispy onions, cheddar and smoky bbq sauce. You also have the option of exchanging the fried chicken for grilled chicken, veggie or beef. However, this sandwich was delicious. It was one of the best I’ve had as it was crispy and juicy inside. The combination of the bbq sauce and cheddar cheese made it really good. For dessert, I had the homemade pop tarts. The flavor that they had was peanut butter and jelly. Don’t knock it until you try it as it was really good and I don’t even like pop tarts let alone peanut butter and jelly in a pop tart. The atmosphere of the place is also nice as they have plenty of seating and the inside is very nice. I do suggest if you’re in the area to stop by for sure.