Natalie St. Denis
Editor
My favorite restaurant would have to be La Fiesta in Clifton Park, New York. This authentic Mexican restaurant is definitely a local favorite. I myself live a few towns over from it, yet I find myself dining there fairly often. The atmosphere is hectic, but very fun. There’s usually a DJ set up, and it’s always bustling with patrons. But the staff runs a tight ship. They all wear earpieces with mics, so when they take your order they automatically call it into the kitchen. I’ve had my food come out as quickly as about 15 minutes before. The first time I visited La Fiesta, I was shocked by the number of vegetarian and vegan options. I usually order the enchiladas Mexicanas. This dish consists of three different types of enchiladas: one cheese, one refried beans and one spinach cream. All three are topped with shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream and ranchero sauce and a side of rice. The rich, authentic flavors all work so well together. I try to get a piece of each enchilada in every bite. Even if I have a light lunch before heading to La Fiesta for dinner, I usually still leave with leftovers. But I’m not complaining.
Jessica Landman
Editor
One of my favorite places to eat would have to be a restaurant in Utica, New York, my hometown. It’s an authentic Italian restaurant called Carmella’s Cafe. They serve homemade braided bre ońad with garlic butter that melts into the warm bread. My absolute favorite food item to eat there is the chicken riggies. Riggies are a dish local to Utica. They are made using rigatoni noodles, olives, mushrooms, peppers and onions and of course chicken. All of this is tossed in a rich, creamy sauce that has a bit of spice. The best bite for me when eating riggies can be achieved by getting some chicken, a homemade noodle and a pe sapper in the same forkful. This is my favorite dish to eat when I go home and I believe that Carmella’s makes the best riggies in the area. And, of course, you can’t forget about dessert. Their bakery makes the most decadent cakes, brownies, cannolis and cookies. Carmella’s Cafe is easily one of my favorite places to eat, not only when I go home, but I crave chicken riggies while I’m away at college too.
Jesse Taylor
Editor
It may be a bit basic but my favorite restaurant is Outback Steakhouse. Ever since I was a kid I have been taken to Outback Steakhouse for birthday dinner. I always got the same thing, a buttery, well seasoned, medium rare rib eye steak, loaded mash potatoes and a delicious Caesar salad. My absolute favorite part of the Outback Steakhouse experience however is the Bloomin Onion. In my opinion if you go to Outback Steakhouse without ordering a Bloomin Onion as an appetizer then you may as well not go at all. The crispy fried onions and the unique horseradish dip combine to create a truly mouth-watering experience. I feel for the poor souls who have not yet experienced Outback Steakhouse firsthand.
Michael Mellon
Staff Writer
There are an endless number of restaurants throughout the entire world, all with different cuisines and styles, but for me there is only one place I can call my favorite, Pho Me Kong. This little hole in the wall is a cozy family run Vietnamese restaurant located in Utica, New York. The establishment itself is very small and seems a little run down from the outside, as the building it self is old and the siding is a little rough around the edges. Waiting inside is some of the best food you will ever taste. From the classic dish of pho which is a Viatnamse soup with noodles,broth and beef. Besides the pho there spring rolls that would make anyone second guess skipping ordering an appetizer, this place has it all at a very affordable price. To me it’s the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover, while just looking from the outside it may seem like a run down place but waiting inside is some of the best food money can buy. Whenever i’m in the area you can bet that I will be stopping by.
Kiyanna Noel
Staff Writer
My favorite restaurant is a tie between Jauja Mexican Kitchen and Trinidad Golden Palace. Jauja Mexican Kitchen is a family owned Mexican restaurant that serves a variety of dishes and drinks located in Brooklyn, New York. This restaurant is a small hidden gem located on a busy street. My favorite dish to get is birria tacos with consommé and esquites, which is a shredded beef taco with broth and corn in a cup. The food is very flavorful and the staff always treats everyone like family. Trinidad Golden Palace, also located in Brooklyn, is a small family owned restaurant. Growing up in Trinidad for more than half of my life, coming to the U.S. was a hard transition for me. But when I set foot in this restaurant, the aroma and the display of food flood my senses. The food is amazing and the staff are very welcoming which adds to the ambiance and overall experience of the restaurant. Although these restaurants are very small, they make up for it in customer service and great food.
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