Lobster Rolls and Grasshoppers

It was one of the hottest days of the year so far, and we decided staying indoors would just be ridiculous.  So we gave Brandon (our Conde buddy/UES neighbor) a call and met up for a fun day of meandering on this side of town.

We started out at the promenade by Gracie Mansion and did some people-watching.  Apparently this weather brings a lot of bikini-clad gals with big puppies (literal and figurative) out to the waterfront.  The heat of the peak sun started to negate the breeze, so we headed over to Luke's Lobster for a quick bite and some refreshing air conditioning.

Brandon went with the classic lobster roll while DJ tried the crab roll.  A little pricey, but both delicious.  They don't skimp on the filling like some places do, and they have a great selection of natural sodas.  We may not go here constantly, but will definitely keep it in mind for the occasional "taste of Maine."

Feeling rejuvenated, we headed over to Central Park for a bit more people-watching by the little lake where they rent out remote-control boats.  So relaxing!  On a bench under a tree, the breezes were plentiful and the flowery smells of summer wafted by.

On our way home, it was nearly dinner time so we decided to stop at the Toloache on the UES.  We had tried the one on the West Side long ago and weren't huge fans, but Brandon said we wouldn't be disappointed so we trusted him.  And lo and behold, he was right.  We hung out at the bar, and our bartender Alex was quite welcoming and chatty.  Before we knew it, we were ordering snacks we'd never heard of and drinks you don't often find in these parts.

fresh fruit margaritas

grasshopper tacos 

(Verdict:  When they are deep-fried and seasoned with lemon juice and salt, they're kind of like potato chips!  Except for the potential of finding a leg in your teeth later.  Don't knock it till you try it!)

 

(yes, really; don't believe us?  look at the menu)

 Toloache also has a HUGE selection of mezcal, a very strong liquor made with agave.  Alex the Bartender was kind enough to give us a brief explanation of how it's made - a very slow process of smoking wild agave and then sometimes aging it in oak.  He told us that often the best ones are made by hand deep in Mexico.  This particular bottle caught Mel's eye (for obvious reasons):

Indeed that is a real scorpion at the bottom!  Alex the Bartender said he ate one once, and that it pretty much tasted like the mezcal.  Though someone else at the bar dared Mel to eat one, we opted for trying a cocktail made with it instead:  Mexcalita de Pina.

The smokiness of the mezcal coupled with the smokiness of the grilled pineapple make for a delicious combination!  Paired with fried avocado, we had quite a unique evening treat!

We are so glad we gave the Toloache on the UES a chance!  Granted, we didn't actually have dinner so it's not a direct comparison with our experience at the one on the UWS.  But when we're in the mood for a casual hang out with some very distinctive menu choices, we shall definitely return!