Category: Restaurants

My Brother’s Pizza

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As a born and bred New Yorker I’m more than just a little picky when it comes to pizza. Since coming to school at Gettysburg, finding pizza has become that much harder… not many NYC style pizza joints in PA I guess huh? However, I recently discovered My Brother’s Pizza on Fairfield Rd about 2 miles away from the college campus.

“Brothers” (as it’s called by students) is situated in a strip mall right off Fairfield next to the Gettysburg Dance Center. While I can’t say that the pizza is as good as home, it is certainly close. The family that runs Brother’s is kind, thorough, and runs a very clean family friendly trattoria. There is plenty on  their menu for fast, fresh American Italian and plenty of room to spread out with your friends. I would highly recommend getting the pizza, the subs, or the buffalo wings.

As far as I know they don’t deliver to the college, however the drive is more than worth it and is much better than the other pizza joints in town.

-My Brother’s Pizza –

1685 Fairfield Rd # A
Gettysburg, PA 17325-6953
(717) 339-0599

Save Money on Valentine’s Day

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-How it All Began-

I think it’s safe to say that most people, single or not, end up spending money on Valentine’s Day. If you are in a relationship, costs can be infinite from spending on cards, gifts, dinner, drinks and so on. For single people, Valentine’s Day can be a money drainer also. A lot of people still find themselves celebrating this Hallmark holiday even if they don’t happen to like it. You may send a few cards, go out to dinner and/ or drinks with friends, or even drown your sorrows in a box of chocolate a McDonald’s take-out bag. Often in our culture, it seems like we are all trapped in this cycle of spending money. Why is it that we have all of these holidays that  pressure consumers to spend in order to feel satisfied? Better yet, what has convinced us that we must spend on others in order to feel included, appreciated and validated?

There are ways of getting around spending a lot on holidays like this one without feeling like you’re letting yourself down, or anyone else that you may feel pressured to oblige.

-Ways to Save Money-

Now prepare yourselves, these might seem devastatingly obvious…

First of all, rather than going out to dinner or drinks why not just make something together, it’s more fun anyway. Sangria, by the way, is a great drink to make with friends when you’re on a budget because the main ingredient is cheap red wine (get a bottle for no more than $6). By the way, the link attached happens to be my all time favorite Sangria recipe. 

Second of all, there are tons of sites online that you can make photo collages on. In fact, you can put these collages on calendars, computer covers, picture frames, and even mouse pads. One of my favorite things about this particular site is that there is a little bar on the top left corner where you can gauge how much money you want to spend. I most recently used gifts.com for my mom’s birthday when I made her a mouse pad for under $15. Not only did this gift save me a lot of money, but it was also thoughtful and personal (and she loved it!).

Lastly, rather than doing something like going out to the movies, why not rent a movie. Or better yet, if you’re on campus here at Gettysburg, why not rent a projector screen at the library and have a romantic movie night back at your dorm room? You can even pick up snacks at the commons and Bullet beforehand. Furthermore, if the weather is nice it might not be a bad idea to go for a walk into town or out to the Peace Light.

On the other hand, if you do happen to have some money to spend I would recommend the Pub, the Blue Parrot, Dobbin House Tavern or O’Rourke’s Pub. The Tavern is offering a Valentine’s Day Brunch menu for Sunday for $21.95 a person,  and the Parrot and Pub have seasonal special desserts and drinks.

No matter what you end up doing with your time and money this Monday evening, make sure you have fun.

-BerryGoodEats-

The Blue Parrot

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The Blue Parrot, located in the center of Gettysburg (right off the main circle in fact), offers the best of both worlds to students, professors, tourists and locals. During the day this quaint little bistro serves original takes on old but delicious classics. However, on the weekends the Parrot offers an accessible bar with the back dining room open as an open seating area for larger groups.

-The Main Event-

Dessert

The Blue Parrot, while not advertising openly on their website, offers a series of desserts that change seasonally. All of the desserts are made in-house, including their own chocolate and caramel sauce.

Upon inquiring about the lack of  a dessert menu, not only did I discover that they did indeed serve dessert, but that their incredibly sneaky way of presenting their options makes it utterly impossible to resist having one!

I urge you readers, do not miss out on this season’s desserts. For the winter months, the Parrot is featuring dishes that include chocolate brownie sundae, banana bread pudding (don’t let the name deceive you), chocolate mousse, raspberry cheesecake and carrot cake.

My personal favorite of their winter choices thus far is the banana bread pudding. This dish, far superior to the others, features both the home-made chocolate and the caramel sauce. Resembling a cake-shaped pancake, the bread-pudding is packed with banana, soft warm cake, chocolate chips, and oozes with delicious chocolate and caramel. Needless to say, I fell in love that fated Saturday night.

Folks, this is the best part. Each dessert, which will easily feed two (and I am NOT usually a sharer), is $6.50.  I recommend coming with a groups of friends and sharing a few dishes. Their coffee and cappuccinos, while not straight from a bar in Italy, are also lovely. Furthermore, on Saturdays the Parrot serves until 9:30 pm, so if you arrive before that time you can order some dessert and go straight to the bar… did I mention you already have a table?

Joanna Berry

-BerryGoodEats-

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Snazzy Night Out

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Dining Room

Living in a town like Nyack, where one is overwhelmed with incredible dining options, I often feel the urge to throw caution to the wind and eat extravagantly. What I have discovered this summer is that eating out with one’s parents, more financially stable people, or simply splitting a meal with some friends helps to make a large dinner bill a little easier to handle.

So, find a place nearby that tickles your food senses and tempts you to wine, dine and spend your daddy’s dime. But, instead of bankrupting your parents and feeling guilty, challenge yourself to tackle the menu with your own wallet. Better yet, decide on a restaurant where you can comfortably choose a meal on a higher-end menu and not order the most expensive dish (CAUTION- DO NOT choose any of the specials unless you are sharing them, because most of the time specials cost extra).

Tip- more financially level people will most likely order less cautiously, leaving room for you to order with a little more thought. After the meal, simply split the bill depending on what you personally ordered. Remember to save this sort of meal for a special occasion seeing as no matter what the price, it will most likely still remain over your usual threshold.

Likewise, one might decide to spend this indulgent night by splitting a few dishes or small dishes with friends, thus lightening the financial load at the end of the meal. When using this method, try to choose as many dishes from each course as there are people eating. For example, one might consider ordering one special, one appetizer, one main course and one dessert for three friends.

This little idea came to me when I went to dinner with my parents and boyfriend at a famous little restaurant in my home town of Nyack, New York. Hudson House has been a well known, well respected restaurant and bar in Nyack for some time. This converted jail house is home to the many scrumptious creations of wonderful pastry chef and co-owner, Matt Hudson. When enjoying a meal at this unique american restaurant, one should be sure to save room for dessert- I highly recommend trying Mr. Hudson’s signature dish; the black bottom banana cream pie (unbelievable!!!!!). The staff at Hudson House is attentive, well-trained and never fails to deliver. One of the best touches in the restaurant, in my opinion, happens to be the unique artwork. The owners of the restaurant decided to maintain the old look of the jailhouse, keeping the original pressed tin ceiling and adding personal artwork for a finishing touch. This homey, welcoming atmosphere creates a luxurious and relaxing dining experience for locals and visitors alike.

Be sure to check it out while the weather lasts!

**Photo and info compliments of the Hudson House website.

Jaleo

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Bethesda, Maryland is widely known as a treasure for restauranteurs. I myself had the great pleasure of enjoying the end of restaurant week in such a place- hence accounting for my absence in cyberspace. Although I try to focus on discussing rarer and more economical accommodations, I discovered a hybrid in tapas. Jaleo, a vibrant spanish tapas bar in the heart of Bethesda, offers both full menu options and small plates known as “tapas”. While the regular menu is a bit too expensive for my budget, I found that splitting between 3 and 6 tapas between myself and a friend was rather cheap (the average was $4 a plate)! On my trip I decided to mix up some Spanish classics with the chef’s creations. We ordered the Gazpacho (traditional chilled Spanish soup), Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes with spicy sauce) , Endivias con queso de cabra y naranjas (endive with clementines, almonds and goat cheese) and Calamares a la Romana (calamari). Of those delicious dishes, my favorites were the endives and the gazpacho. I found the endives to be light, interesting, different and surprisingly well-balanced. And the gazpacho was as satisfying and cool as I remember in Madrid.

I recommend going to checking out this hot spot during Jaleo Hour, and the new Jaleo Hour:

4:30 – 7 PM Sunday – Friday at all Jaleo locations

10 PM – 12 AM Saturday in Bethesda available at the bar only

And don’t forget to check out their Sangria (only $4 a glass)!!!

World Sushi

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If I am to be completely honest, I would have to admit that I will usually haul out the big bucks for really good sushi. Luckily, I have recently discovered World Sushi on Rt. 59 in Nanuet. This tiny little haven is home to the best sushi I have ever had (please try the dynamite roll!!!) and I come back as often as I can. The staff, a young couple, is warm and friendly. The space is small but very well designed and cozy; and the food is remarkably fresh and creative. The detail on their presentation goes so far as to make flower shapes with the wasabi on each customer’s plate. Furthermore, their customer service is so attentive that near the end of your meal, one of the owners will present you with a complimentary cup of homemade citrus tea (hot for winter, chilled for summer). I have enjoyed my dining experience more each time I have gone back- this feeling has been further reinforced by their attentiveness. Upon my arrival, which only occurs once every month or so, they will each take turns asking me questions and catching up- this never ceases to surprise me. I highly recommend World Sushi to all those who are seeking affordable, delicious sushi on a quick lunch or dinner break. This might not be the best choice for parties that consist of three or more people due to a lack of available seating, and may not be the best choice for those in search of a long relaxing meal, considering how fast their turnover rate is. However, I recommend picking up a take-out menu and keeping available for those fast-break meals.

World Sushi of Ny
266 E Route 59, Nanuet, NY 10954-2905
(845) 627-2272‎

Price Range- $6.00-14.00 (most sushi is between $8.00-$10.00)

Rating- ****

—based on five star rating

Yogurt Lovers Too!

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As a sufferer of food allergies, my search for cheap, delicious and “diet” friendly desserts is often a hard one. But, last week I discovered Yogurt Lovers Too! with my sister in Northvale New Jersey. I was surprised by their low prices and delicious options, including sugar-free yogurt. On my initial visit, I tried the sugar-free coconut yogurt with yogurt chips and was delighted with the creamy rich flavor (and it was less than 100 calories!!!). So often, I have to choose between my food sensitivities and my cravings for irresistibly scrumptious sweets. But, at this popular yogurt shop I found an easy out. Usually, I prefer ice-cream over yogurt, but this shop is a host for both options creating a stress-free decision-making process. I recommend Yogurt Lovers Too! for all frozen-foods fans, and more yet for those in search of guilt-free pleasures. Lastly, I would like to mention that although my own puppy would not indulge in their sweet-tooth delights, this fine little yogurt shop offers doggie friendly frozen treats for all you pet owners! What a decadent touch.

Yogurt Lovers Too
271 Livingston St
Northvale, NJ 07647
(201) 767-0429

http://yogurtlovers.com/

Price Range- $1.40-$7.68 (kids to pint sizes)

Rating-***

—based on a five star rating