As you may know, I started a diet in January. It was my New
Year’s resolution to make 2012 the year I would lose weight. After getting off
to a slow start (I’ve only lost 5 pounds total so far!) I decided to gradually
add back in some foods with a bit more fat and calories. I think one of my
mistakes was to almost completely get rid of all the fat in my diet and stick
to a low (1,200) calorie diet. My body went into shock and storing up fat
because it didn’t know when the next good meal was coming.
Consequently, I’ve gone with my husband to the Native New
York in Show Low the past couple weekends. It’s in a convenient location for us
and has a nice, well-rounded menu (unless you’re dieting…). We went into the
bar and played the trivia game while we enjoyed a beer and a glass of wine and
then ate. The service was great (most likely because we were sitting right in
front of the bartender) and the ambience typical of a sports bar.
Review of Native New Yorker, Show Low February 4 and February 11, 2012
The first time we went, my husband ordered the fish sliders
and I opted for NNY Bruschetta. My husband enjoyed the sliders, which came out
hot and moist along with a large helping of French fries. These are nicely seasoned home fries, with a good mix of thick, chewy pieces (my husband's fave) and thinner, crunchier ones (my faves). My bruschetta was
quite good, topped with spinach and artichoke chunks and a sprinkle of Parmesan
cheese. The garnish was a mild salsa which was kind of an odd choice, but went
pretty well with the bread. My husband and I both finished our plates (and I even sneaked a fry or two off his plate).
The second time we visited Native New Yorker, my husband
ordered the boneless Native wings in both medium and hot versions (this is the
dish NNY is best known for), which were served with the ubiquitous celery
strips garnish and a side of ranch dressing. He liked the hotter wings best and
easily finished his plate. I tried the spinach and artichoke dip this time,
which is served with tri-color tortilla chips. I’ve had this appetizer at NNY
before and I remembered it to be better than it was this time. I don’t know if
this was just an “off” day or if the recipe has changed, but the dip was almost
tasteless. As for the spinach and artichokes? The spinach was nowhere to be seen
and the artichokes were pathetic, which to me means they were either chopped really, really small or perhaps it
was just a dehydrated seasoning packet that was added to the cheesy base.
Because I was hungry I finished it all, but I had to add salt and pepper to the dip to
make it palatable. Even the chips were barely salted and tasted like a lot of nothing.
The lesson here is that if you’re going to a restaurant like
Native New Yorker, be prepared to ditch your diet and go with one of the house
specialties, such as a sandwich or pizza or wings. Even the salads are full of
calories so there’s really no low-fat or low-cal choice on the menu. If you’re
looking for a family-friendly, comfortable place to watch the game and have a
beer, Native New Yorker fits the bill – but don’t expect fine dining or great
food.
The scores for Native New Yorker Show Low are as follows (on
a scale from * to *****):
Food: ***
Service: ****
Ambience: ****
