Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE HUNT: Hash browns in NYC Restaurant 4


Restaurant 4: Quantum Leap Restaurant
226 Thompson Street
New York City.
Rating: 1
Description: "Hashbrowns"
Actual Description: Mealy and tasteless (except for that BURNT flavor), with a playdough-like consistency.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time."
-Mason Verger in Hannibal

Yes, that's what Verger said, while recounting the day Hannibal Lector convinced him to peel his face off. That's what you'll be thinking as you shovel in (and then immediately out) Quantum Leap Restaurant's "Hashbrowns."

Close in appearance to what hash browns should look like, these little potatoes are... misleading. Expecting a mouthful of savory, moist potato gratings, you'll be disappointed to be chewing (or attempting to chew) a dry, yet soggy at the same time, hunk of potatoes. As the potato mixes with your saliva (the liquid your glands have been producing in anticipation for delicious hash browns), a paste is made. A potato paste. A paste that tastes like a potato that has cleaned the burnt residue off the kitchen range, been shredded and placed in your mouth.

It's not good.
Not even close to good.
It is BAD.

The shredded potatoes are a little too white in the center and a little too dark-brown around the edges... not enough golden-brown. The outside pieces are flaky-looking, while the inside looks a little like hardened mashed potatoes. While examining the three orders my boyfriend and I purchased in high hopes of a delicious treat, we came to the conclusion that the potatoes must have been boiled, then shredded. Then they must have been thrown onto the range sans salt, oil or pepper or any kind of flavoring.

In lack of a better word: GROSS.


1 comment:

  1. great review!
    you need to put this on their yelp page.
    i think i just peed in my pants a little

    ReplyDelete