May 24, 2006
Bruni Eats It Fast and Greasy
In a feature that can only be described as "why Gothamist is so hungry so early, Fast Food nation be damned," the NY Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni went on a 9 day, 3,650 mile tour of fast food restaurants across the country, enjoying some selections more than others and learning to ask for the "most popular" items, instead of "recommendations." And he also muses about some chains that need some more exposure in the city:
I expected Chick-fil-A to be good. It didn't disappoint. Its standard chicken sandwich, a lightly coated breast fillet with little adornment, was meaty and tender, and the bun cradling it couldn't have been fluffier. We need more Chick-fil-A in New York City. (There's just one branch, at New York University.) We need it fast.Hmm, we bet some poorly reviewed restaurateurs are wondering how they can get a Blizzard machine stat. And this is a cry for more attention from his doctor or for this "do it upside down" Blizzard t-shirt from Dairy Queen. But we must agree - we would love some DQ Blizzards nearby, as well as Sonic Burger and In-n-Out Burger, though many would balk about another fast food joint moving into their neighborhoods.We need Dairy Queen even faster. Among all the incarnations of candy-studded soft ice cream I tried, including the McFlurry, the Frosty and the Sonic Blast, the Blizzard reigned supreme. It had the most candy most thoroughly integrated into the most sumptuous frozen cradle.
This was true of the Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard. Of the Brownie Batter Blizzard. Check back with me in a year or two about the other Blizzards — I hope to work my way through all of them. If my obituary reads, "perished in a Blizzard," you will know that I died a happy man.
Bruni listed his 10 favorite foods - we're curious about: Taco Cabana's Burrito Ultimo and Culver's frozen custard. Are there any fast food joints he should have visited?
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i think he's wrong about the chick fil-a in nyc--i'm pretty sure there's one at the concession at long island college cospital (LICH)
Culver's is the best, frozen custard, fried cheese curds, and butter burgers, sure there's a risk of heart attack after each meal, but it's worth every bite.
Culver's frozen custard beats Shake Shack's.
Ooh, I'm going to Missouri next weekend, and just found that there should be two Culver's on the way. And the fried cheese curds sound amazing - I'm bringing my Tums!
He didn't go to Checkers- do they only have those in Florida? Their food is so greasy and delicious.
And I didn't know the NYU Chick-Fil-A was the only in Manhattan. Man, now I want a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich REAL BAD.
If you go to St. Louis, you must try Lion's Choice--roast beef sandwiches. Get the au jus. It's been 12 years and I am still dying for one.
Let's hope Dairy Queen doesn't get so big that the anti-globalization crowd starts up.
MMMmmmmm, Tommy's. Almost worth going to L.A., almost.
Spotted an Arbys is coming to the mall fooodcourt on 34th.
MMM reconstituted beef and horsey sauce.
If the DQ has the steak fingers basket im there I so miss that from ole texas days. Not to mention double meat with cheese and jalapenos from Whataburger.
Holy crap, there's a Chick-Fil-A at NYU? WHY WASN'T I TOLD?!?
Is it in some dining hall only students can access, or can I get my chicken-sandwich-with-waffle-fries-and-lemonade fix on the way home today?
I concur with Bruni's Taco Cabana assessment--it's always my first stop when I get off the plane in Texas. But he should have also tried Grandy's. It's a fast-food chain specializing in chicken fried steak--a true Southern delight.
i had a near heart attack just reading that.
but the sonic tater tots are indeed tasty.
Oh man. Whataburger!!!! We used to drive for an hour to the lone Whataburger in Albuquerque just to get that old Texas taste.
But kudos to Bruni for picking the Blizzard! Man, I miss those too, especially when we would stop at either a Whataburger or DQ during the long weekend drives.
the fact that Bruni went to Gold Star Chili instead of Skyline Chili, the Cincinnati-based operation, is abominable.
::sigh:: carl's jr is the one thing i miss about cali.
i too cannot believe that there's a chik-fil-a in NYC and no one told me 'til now!
i haven't had one of their sandwiches since college
this is making me kinda bummed that i'm leaving town for the weekend!
if he had gone further west in new york state, he should have had a heids hot dog, hands down my favorite followed closely by nathans
The Chik-fil-a is in the dining hall. There was a blog post from some girls recently who sneaked in to eat, and they got in without IDs by having confidence and just walking in.
I don't think you have to show your ID to enter the dining hall, from what I recall as an NYU student. And you don't need one to pay, so I think anyone can go in and eat there.
I spent three years in high school working at Dairy Queen. Those were probably the best years of my teen life ;)
Nothing can beat a blizzard. Nothing. I had such a craving for one the other day, but had to settle for a plain ol' cone from the ice cream man instead.
I'm going to start counting the days until I fly home to Chicago for a visit.
The NYU Chick-Fil-A is apparently closed on Sundays. It also, I believe, is the only Chick-Fil-A in America that closes early on Fridays for Shabbos.
1) Where is the NYU dining hall, and is it open for breakfast so I can get a Chik-Fil-A ckicken biscuit?
2) Taco Cabana indeed rules. But I always went for the potato and egg burrito. Of course, I was usually there at 3 am, hammered.
All Chick-Fil-As are closed on Sundays.
Taco Cabana!!! Never thought I'd live to read about you in the Times. Badass fast food to be sure. Must say though, I'm somewhat dissapointed that he didn't stop at a Rally Burger. Or are Rally's and Checker's technically one and the same? Any idea?
stay free,
$kins
He neglected to go to Bojangles--there is one in Brooklyn, but it is pretty pathetic (though they do have the sweet tea, there are no fixins). By far the best chicken, ever.
The chik-fil-a is in one of the nyu dining halls, around washington square park
What, no Backyard Burger? Easily the tastiest drive-thru burger in the south!
Go 'Noles!
out,
Hove A. Doro
Before everyone rushes to NYU--I just got word that it is closed for the summer. crap.
(could be wrong, though--let's hope!!!)
OK, so it's a little far south, but Miami has a great Cuban chain called Pollo Tropical ("It's chi-ken on the grill!"), with pretty delicious grilled chicken, plaintains, rice, beans... you get the idea. Lots of things in bowls.
It's so good, it was the first place I went after hitting a man with my car. True story. (I wasn't at fault.)
what nyc really needs is a jimmy johns - free smells!
Ooo, that's right- that dining facilities is closed for the summer. Sorry, Chick-Fil-A lovers.
I agree about Sonic Burger, but NYC has got to get "EL POLLO LOCO" had it and loved it in So CA. Great chicken and rice and beans and other good stuff.
what about a del taco? crispy fish tacos, anyone?
I grew up in Maryland and loved stopping by Chick-Fil-A at the local mall. I hear there's one in Paramus, NJ, and now I need to drive over there and order a sandwich and waffle fries!
My bro took me to Taco Cabana when I visited him in Austin. It doesn't dissapoint! But I would LOVE to have an In-N-Out in the area...double-double animal-style!
He also mentioned KFC, which is pretty darn good. I've looked for fried chicken that beats it, but the extra crispy is hard to top on flavor, juiciness and crunch.
If I do a Chick-Fil-A & Dairy Queen run/delivery for Gothamist readers, who's in? =P
I'd like to see Sonic come to NYC. I'm tired of watching the commercials for it on TBS without being able to eat there.
An In and Out would be even better, but I don't think they've expanded past Arizona/Nevada, have they?
Dairy Queens can be found in Westchester cty.
Nothing like a frozen custard after a movie.
did he check out Golden Coral?
they have veteran's discount days.
there are numerous DQs right across the GWB. possibly even the lincoln tunnel.
and i really do think there's a chik-fil-a at LICH
The Cookout, which I was lucky enough to try in North Carolina, definitely needs to expand. If we didn't already have so many diners, Waffle House would be a good choice. And why all the Sonic commercials if there aren't any nearby?
I think the closest all-access chik-fil-a is in paramus nj.
A NYC Chick-Fil-A summary for all those of you who need your fix. The NYU Chick-Fil-A is located in the NYU Food Court, located at 5 University Place, off of 8th Street. This building is mostly a dorm, but it has two dining halls in it.
There is a security guard there at all times, but his/her job is really to monitor access into the residence hall upstairs, not to restrict access to the Food Court, which is open to the NYU community. Trust me, as long as you look like you know what you're doing you'll be fine. Even if you're a lot older than the college kids.
As one astute poster did point out, the Chick-Fil-A, along with the rest of the building, is closed for the summer. By the time it reopens, probably early September, you will hopefully have satisfied your craving.
http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/eCampus1/NYU/Locations/WeinsteinFoodCourt.htm1. In-N-Out
2. Fatburger
3. Red Hot N Blue (dc area)
4. Five Guys
5. Crystal Burgers (TN)
YUM....
i found this thread by keywording chik-fil-a, nyc. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS NO YEAR-ROUND CHIK-FIL-A IN NEW YORK CITY??? i am so bummed right now, and i'm really disillusioned with the city. it has everything my ass.
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Wow! I just assumed Dairy Queen was everywhere by now. I'm 36 and I've never known a time in my life that there wasn't a DQ in the neighborhood somewhere. Come to think of it, we have all of those places in MO cept Whataburger. And they say the rest of the country are the ones who need to catch up. Amazing to think that franchises as old as some of these, especially DQ, have yet to find the stomachs of hungry New Yorkers. What a shame.
P.S. Backyard Burger is another awesome chain style burger. Taste like they came off a barbeque grill.