For the past two days I've been trying to eat at a puertorrican restaurant by First Avenue and 13th Street. It is a small place, just two tables, mostly a take out order place, but big enough to satisfy the need of rice and beans. It is short and nice walk for me by lunch time. Around 8 to 10 blocks.
I've been there just one time. I had a soup on a Friday afternoon, just before Roberto Carlos concert at MSG. So I wanted to go back and try the pernil and the rest of the menu. My first try was in Tuesday. Sunny day and hungry enough. I was ready for some carne mechada and felt like for lentils or gandules guisados. Yummy. I was not sure about the right location but I sighted it. Then, First Avenue show me something else. Just before the Spanish food place, there is an Halal food buffet place. I came in. It is a spacious place with many tables. I believe is run by Pakistanis. They have a good spicy menu and a lunch is around $7. It includes a meat and two more things. I had zuccinni, lamb on lentils and rice. They give you a water jar just for yourself. They keep many of them by the fridges.
So I said, "I will have my Spanish food tomorrow." So on Wednesday I walked in that direction, but this time I approach the place from the north side. Then First Avenue said to me "Would you like to try Phillipino?" I said "Yes."
They have similar food to the Latino one 'cause they were a Spanish colony too. It is also a buffet place. I went for the breaded chops with fried plantains and rice. They did not have beans though :( but I was satisfied :).
I will try to have my rice and beans today, but I am aware that First Avenue wants to show me something. The same way 8th Street is the place where I bump into people I normally don't see, First Avenue is the place where I bump into food I normally don't eat.
