plate expectations

the fundamentals of dining in new york city

fatty crab

first of all, i’d like to apologize to my readers…all 2 of you. it’s been over a year since my last entry and i have absolutely no excuse. good news is that i am now the proud owner of the canon eos rebel xs camera that i expect will inspire additional blog entries…let’s hope.

ahh fatty crab…i’ve been to the upper west side location several times and felt it was time for inclusion in the blog. while the atmosphere doesn’t quite achieve the downtown coolness as that of the west village location, it is warm and welcoming and has become a standby for post work dinners and drinks.

let’s start with fatty crab’s drink selection, which is quite extensive. one of my favorite beers, which i believe is no longer available at momofuku, is pork slap. the can alone merits ordering it, no? they also have pbr for $3, thank you, and a delicious japanese beer called hitachino, which was introduced to me by my favorite foodie comrade, jessica. in most cases i enjoy wine with dinner but this is a place where i always order beer. maybe it’s the spiciness of the food…

and speaking of the food, we began the night with fatty duck. the menu describes it as “steamed, fried” which i’m guessing is the method responsible for the duck’s tenderness (think peking duck sans-skin), no knife needed. beneath the duck was a type of rice called tamaki, which is fairly similar to sticky rice or sushi rice and was the perfect bed for the duck to rest on as it soaked up its spicy sauce.

sliders. these are unlike any sliders i’ve had, which i believe is due to the blend of meat (pork and beef), creating a flavor that i can only describe as malaysian. the burgers are topped with pickled cucumber, spicy mayonnaise and bibb lettuce all on a toasted roll-like bun. this dish exemplifies fatty crab’s je ne sais quois…unparalleled, flavorful dishes that constantly entertain the palette.

on to the grand finale. this is the dish that must be ordered. readers, please meet watermelon pickle and crispy pork. sounds weird, i know, but the combination of the greasy, gamey pork coupled with the refreshing, bright watermelon is a hit. it almost makes you think you’re eating healthy…almost.

atmosphere: 7 / 10

service: 8 / 10

value: 8 / 10

food: 18 /20

overall: 41 / 50

fatty crab (uws)

2170 broadway @ 77th street (upper west side)

212.496.2722

$$$ / $$$$$

malaysian

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introduction

thanks for visiting! my name is mary beth. i’m 25, live in new york city and love knowing where to go and what to eat. it’s quite a challenge to keep up with new york… it truly is a restaurant mecca. there are incessant openings, closings and hot spots of the week. for me, it’s all about good food, great atmosphere… a time to enjoy the tastes of life. so this is my effort to sift through the restaurants and bring to you my thoughts, suggestions and experiences in a language we can all understand. welcome to plate expectations.