this one's difficult for me to write... but i wasn't thrilled with how this event went down…read more especially since it was one of the few in the central jerz area. if this had been my first yelp event, i'm not sure if i would've wanted to come back... mrs. green's is a great new all-natural market in west windsor, nj... like, really new. so new that they opened their doors a few weeks ago and still haven't gotten the CO cleared for their cooking classroom. i get it, things didn't go as planned. it would've been nice, however, if the staff had at least some idea that we were coming. upon entering the store, i approached a cashier who had no clue what i was talking about. she passed me off to another girl at a neighboring register, who also had no knowledge of yelp nor a yelp event. after pulling up and showing the confirmation email on my phone, one of the cashiers got a manager, who had me follow him for a bit, then left to ask someone else, and only then did he come back knowing what direction to point me in. it was a bit hectic, and a bit concerning that they were not prepared. finally, i was led to a far aisle, where a table was set up in front of a few rows of chairs. in the refrigerator section of the store, right next to the cheese. talk about freezing! i was happy i still had my winter mittens in my purse! the cooking class that was expected ended up being a lecture (i wouldn't even call it a demo) about granola and healthy organic/natural/gluten-free substitutes. all of the ingredients and some sample cups of granola were on the table, but everything was already made and even portioned out. the talk was informative enough, but a bit boring. the chef giving the talk was very nice, and i'm excited to visit once the cooking classroom opens to give them a fair shot. we did get yummy samples of granola, and some extra to take home, which was a nice treat. i'm sure mrs. green's will work out their kinks in the coming months and we can come back :) it was great to see some familiar faces (heyyy jeff and jess and linda) and to meet some new ones (heyyy lauren, finally!).

Overall the event was enjoyable. I did expect a cooking class/demonstration vs. being told how to…read moremake granola. I am no novice in the kitchen, so some of the tips were common sense. The granola was made ahead of time and sitting in small portions in front of us during the entire lecture (1 hour). As the lecture continued my stomach began speaking to me and my eyes would not tear away from the granola. The granola was really good... and I don't think it's just because I was really hungry! There was leftover that we were able to take in to go containers. I will definitely make this granola on my own. Simple, satisfying and full of nutrients and antioxidants! Steve spoke for about an hour. He was very knowledgeable and educated us on living a healthy lifestyle. He also emphasized to beware of trendy diets. I pretty much agreed with 100% of what he had to say. I feel that I am a healthy eater so most of the information and products were familiar to me. I did, however, take away a few fun facts! Steve has his own food blog called Run, Cook, Eat. I will check this out when I have some spare time. Mrs. Greens Natural Market just opened a few weeks ago. Their cooking/demonstration room is not finished so the Yelp event was held in the middle of the deli and cheese section. Yes.. after sitting in a refrigerator for about an hour my body was ice. I couldn't help but laugh when Amalia put her gloves on. I only wished I had my gloves with me. Mrs. Greens plans on finishing their cooking/demonstration room soon and hold more events. I would attend another even like this. I like food (duh..I am a Yelper!) but it's even better when I know that I am fueling my body with the right things.

Second Time's the Charm -- And I'm Officially a Tacowala Addict!…read more Okay, let me just start off by saying: this is my second time dining at Tacowala, and I'm convinced this place is a magical little flavor bomb tucked away in a downtown strip that you'd almost miss if you blinked too hard. The first time I came was with my parents -- a cozy, nostalgic kind of visit -- but this time, it felt like I was on a flavor-fueled field trip with new foodie friends, and it was an experience I won't stop gushing about anytime soon! Let's talk logistics first -- because oof, parking. If you're planning to visit, bring your patience (and maybe a parking fairy). There's only street meter parking available, and unless you're blessed by the parallel parking gods, you may end up circling the block like a shark in traffic purgatory. I've yet to discover a magical hidden lot nearby, so yeah -- parking = struggle bus. But trust me, once you step through that door, the stress just melts away. The vibe inside? Whimsical meets communal dinner party. There was a long table set up for everyone to sit together -- like one big, happy, taco-loving family. It was giving "culinary summer camp for adults," and I was all in. The cherry on top? Katarina's amazing assistant had placed icebreaker cards all over the table, mostly food-themed, so we had a fun excuse to start chatting with strangers. Think: "If you were a spice, what would you be?" Honestly, genius. Social anxiety? Never met her. Now onto the star of the show -- the pre-fix menu! (Or is it pre-fixe? Either way, it was pre-fabulous.) Katarina and the owner curated a five-dish tasting menu featuring two appetizers and three entrées -- each with delightfully detailed descriptions that read like little love letters to flavor. The portions were small, yes, but just enough to tease your taste buds and make you want to lick the plate (don't worry, I didn't... in public). Drink options were simple but satisfying: water, flavored seltzers, or wine. I flirted with the wine for a hot minute, but decided to stick with water because the food was doing the most -- a bold, creative, punchy fusion of Indian spice and authentic Mexican soul. And when I say "authentic Mexican," I mean like grandma's-kitchen-in-Oaxaca level. This wasn't Taco Bell fusion -- this was transport-you-through-time-and-space kind of food. Now let me scream about my favorites: The twisted garlic street corn? LIFE-CHANGING. I would like to be buried with it. And don't even get me started on the Black Magic Quesadillas -- they were soft, gooey, flavorful beyond reason, and coated in some kind of addictive sorcery. I swear they put something in that cheese because once I took a bite, I was hooked. Just one more, I kept telling myself... just ONE more... But alas, not everything was fireworks and unicorns. I had high hopes for the paneer al pastor and the mushroom carnitas taco, but those fell a bit flat for me. Maybe it was an off night, or maybe I was too smitten by the corn and quesadillas to focus, but either way -- it knocked off one star in my otherwise glowing review. Oh! And the heartbreak of the night: they were SOLD OUT of the Black Magic sauce jars. I almost wept. I would have bought five. I would have gifted them. I would have hoarded them like a raccoon with shiny treasures. Please, Tacowala -- restock that magic potion ASAP! Despite those tiny blips, I already know I'll be back. Again. And again. For the community vibe, the quirky charm, and most importantly -- for the corn and black magicness that has utterly bewitched my palate. Thank you, Tacowala, for another spellbinding, flavor-packed evening. I'll be dreaming of that quesadilla until we meet again.

Last Monday I had the privilege of attending this special Yelp elite event, where I was nourished…read morenot just by delicious food, but also by upbeat vibes and good conversation. I have been thinking about the outstanding food at Tacowala all week! I can't wait to go back and eat there again. I've already told a bunch of friends in the area that they must go if they haven't been already. The restaurant owner and innovator of this fantastic cuisine, Amish, was a generous and gracious host. I enjoyed hearing about his career journey and how he grew this business out of his hard work and made his ideas and dreams a reality. It's always great to be in the company of our CM Katarina--she gives every event her full energy and enthusiasm--and I was excited to meet other Yelp elites, especially people I recognized from their reviews and from our messages on Yelp: Rhonda, Danny, Amanda, and Jason. Tacowala has the kind of decor that makes me happy as soon as I step in, with murals of people smiling and singing, and a colorful counterface that reminded me of the game Twister. My eyes were constantly drawn to those big flat circles and I liked how it mirrored the shape of the tortillas. Clever. The food here was perfect in every way. The textures were so meaty that I actually forgot it was all vegetarian. The food is spicy and I love spice, so I even added extra hot sauce. As dish after dish that pleased both my eyes and my palate was placed before me, I found it increasingly hard to pick a favorite. I decided that of all the outstanding offerings, the Twisted Garlic Street Corn and the Black Magic Quesadilla are the two I have been thinking of most all week and am craving to eat again. It's so sweet that Yelp gave me a tote bag at the end, too, so I have a tangible nice reminder of this great evening, in addition to my memories and the photos and videos I took. Katarina and Amish, I am so grateful that you chose me for this uplifting experience. Thank you!

Options included Oreo overload or frooty loop. I chose Oreo overload. The barista was disappointed…read moreanother customer didn't order the frooty loop. She said it was good. But I'm not always a fan of fruity coffee drinks. The drink was served ice with a cold foam and crushed oreo bits on top. I usually expect these drinks to be overly sweet to my surprise it wasn't too sweet. Still sweet but it seemed to use a mocha sauce which isn't as sweet as the syrups other coffee shops use. It was quite nice. I didn't try any of the pastries they had but there were two display windows of pastries and sweet treats. The ambience of the coffee shop was really cute. Homey and earthy decor and there was Christmas decor which added to the coziness. There was a backroom with more seating and a shelf full of games. Near the register there's a shelf full of books. It has a very traditional coffee shop vibe.

This is my second time at a Bliss event, so I was excited to have an opportunity to try some of…read moretheir menu items. Located on Main Street, there are many options in the area. I love that this is a walking town, so if you're walking by, and want a cozy spot for lite bites and coffee, this is a nice option. I easily found metered parking right in front of the cafe on a Tuesday, early afternoon. Autumn was my barista, and she was pleasant enough as time went on. I didn't feel the love at first! She immediately let me know that the kitchen was closed when I walked in, but I let her know that I was there for the Yelp event. They only had two options for the latte (I guess get there as early as possible for more options than I had!)... I chose the iced Oreo latte, which was delicious! I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful flavor of chocolate, it was very well balanced, not too sweet, not too much ice, and the cookie pieces were a wonderful treat! Thank you Bliss and Yelp for the opportunity!

HAMILTON:  beauty, wonder, and humor are all words that crossed my mind while walking through…read moreGrounds for Sculpture, an outdoor oasis of meticulously kept gardens featuring beautifully designed walkways through trees, plants, flowers, and the famous cast bronze and quite realistic sculptures dotting the park.  It is quite surreal to see a gentleman reading a newspaper on a bench and realizing it is a sculpture.  The capture of human emotions is so true to life! There is also a collection of artists throughout the park made of various materials and are a bit more abstract. In addition to the outdoor space, check out the indoor spaces with more exhibitions and we were thrilled to be able to visit for the Yelp Elite Experience: Slow Motion @ Grounds for Sculpture.  Although a small exhibit, it is meant to be more of a thoughtful experience to "slow down" and think about what you want to see and relate to in regards to monuments.  There were some interactive exhibits, including a coloring book and touch station, which are great for kids.  We were thrilled to see the Noodle Mountain piece, which is created by a NJ-based artist, Colette Fu.  The Slow Motion exhibit takes place through September 1, 2025. In the same building is the Peacock Cafe, which had a nice selection of lunch and dinner options and served one of the best soft pretzels I ever had.  Good quality and taste for museum food!  There are 4 eateries on the property including Rat's Restaurant, a fine dining destination with farm-fresh French flair. You can tell the staff at GFS love what they do because they are all so friendly, especially at the front gate.  It is refreshing for your first impression of a place through employees to be happy, exciting, and educational.   I usually post about dog friendly places, so wanted to at least share the rules, as of August 2024: "All pets must be left at home. For the health of your pets do not leave them in vehicles.  Service animals are always welcome. Emotional support animals and therapy dogs are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)."

Thank you Katarina for this fun Yelp experience! The gardens by the outdoor exhibits were…read morebeautifully manicured and it was a truly relaxing experience to stroll down these quiet paths and admire the art. The food at the peacock cafe was delicious and staff at the information counter were very helpful. Overall a great place to spend the day!

I'm soo happy I finally got to experience Tiny's Cantina over the weekend for brunch. The weather…read moremight have been brisk outside but the staff brought the warm and coziness to the restaurant vibe inside. I came here around noon and the place haven't been filled up yet but that was truly toward my benefit as my waiter, Jeff was extra attentive (yay me!). He offered me both brunch and regular menu and was very friendly and eager to assist me if I needed it. After making all my choices, he complimented and said I made good choices and whether if that was true or not, it made me felt happy. Lol. All of the food portion were huge. I ordered their wings as my appetizer, shrimp/bacon taco for entrée and tres leche for dessert. With that they also offered me some fresh fried taco with homemade salsa that was really delicious and made me wanting more even though I had to pace myself. Presentation wise, it was all instagramable. They restaurant is very conscious about presentation so that was a huge plus. As for taste, it was all good. I especially enjoy my shrimp/bacon taco as it was huge and those trio-side sauce (hot sauce, green sauce and pumpkin sauce) was just outright slamming. As for portion it was larger then life, especially for one person. Honestly I think it could feed two people as I ended up taking half of it home. Overall, I enjoyed myself, felt really relaxed, enjoyed their playlist and especially my waiter, Jeff that help tied my experience with Tiny Cantina in nicely. Thank you again to our CM, Morlene, Jeff, my waiter and Tiny Cantina for this special treat!!

This place was super cute. I had the burrito bowl. It was good. Probably something on the healthier…read moreside considering the grilled chicken and fresh ingredients. The only gripe I had was seasoning. It lacked flavor which is huge in Latin food. Mexican food is probably one of my favorite types of cuisines because of the fresh ingredients, because of all the time, energy and culture attached to the food so it was slightly underwhelming. A bit bland. But the service was great. Our server was so nice. We got the highly instagramable pizza. It was lovely and very filling but couldn't done with a feels radishes. If you love radishes, get the pizza. The drinks were refreshing and tasty. Definitely recommend checking it out. My Yelp fren had the diablo shrimp which was spicy. It looked really good and seemed super flavorful.

Thank you so much Modrn & Yelp for this relaxing treat!…read more It was a beautiful day in the city, the kind of day that you wish would last forever. I headed downtown to visit Modrn Sanctuary for a complimentary lymphatic massage. It's tucked in on the 12th floor of an office building right by the Bellevue on Walnut. When I arrived I was greeted and spent a few moments hearing about the lymph system and how important it is. I was then led to a room where I was zipped into a pair of large pants with inflatable chambers. For the next 40 minutes I received a relaxing "hug". It's a series of progressive inflation & deflation measures designed yo stimulate and promote good lymphatic drainage. I felt so good afterwards! Thank you again for the chance to try this very cool massage system for myself. Highly recommend!

My Friday night at Modrn Sanctuary was so serene and relaxing…read more Booking my appointment through Modrn's website was simple. I liked that they send simultaneous text messages and emails reminding you of your appointment. I thought this was a standalone establishment, but was surprised to see it was actually inside of an office building. The touch screen directory on the wall made it easy to navigate. You just take the elevator up to the 12th floor. Upon entering, I was greeted by Carley, who was lovely from start to finish. When the customer before me left, she gave me a tour and encouraged me to take photos. She explained what each space was used for. I chose the BallancerPro pants option. When I got into the room to begin my lymphatic drainage massage, I was offered scrub-like bottoms as the jeans I was wearing could've possibly interfered with the tubes in the suit. Carley mentioned a button at my bedside that I could press should I require assistance at any time during the service. The massage felt like a long, tight hug around my legs. That's the only way I can describe it. I enjoyed the feeling and I got used to the pressure after some time. When the massage concluded, I had a slight headache, but I believe that's one of the side effects of lymphatic drainage. It went away on my ride home. I didn't notice an immediate difference when I got home, but the next day I felt like my legs were more limber. Could've just been my imagination, though. At the end of the service, Carley offered to fill my water bottle with water from their water cooler. It was sweet of her to do that. I had a great experience at Modrn Sanctuary and would love to return to try the BallancerPro jacket next time!

Saturday Brunch-In in Throggs Neck!…read more Lena Trattoria has been in the "Neck" for two years and they have made their mark. As they continue to respond to customers' feedback they are introducing a new Luxe Brunch menu and we were granted the opportunity to check it out. On a warm Saturday afternoon we arrived and were greeted by Shah. With our plus 1's we were checked-in and then grabbed seats. As we perused the new brunch menu we also had the opportunity to take in the design of the place. Very fresh and aesthetically pleasing with a modern design. Lena, gives an open yet intimate vibe. They have the perfect back drop for a group or date night. The staff was extremely pleasant and helpful as we all made our selection for the 3 courses. While there is ample to choose from, a couple of observations, there wasn't many protein options especially for people like me whom do not eat red meat or pork. As well as there were no side items listed even for an a-la-carte charge. However, I'm sure you can order additional items. The service was great even when they fell a little behind. The entertainment was amazingly perfect, a saxophonist who did his damn thing! The food was good a the drinks were flowing. Personally, I would have liked more continuity between all three courses. If you don't pick wisely you will end up with a carb-heavy meal. Without realizing it serval dishes have bread. Which is not bad, I love me some bread, but by the end it was too much. Again it's because I should have paid closer attention to my selections. I selected the lobster roll to start, fresh and nice flavor, however filling to bread ratio was not balanced. This could have just been an oversight because of the size of our event. I went with the french toast for my main course and it was perfect. While it was available, no syrup was needed. Again with no side options for a protein, they were nice enough to allow me to order grilled chicken breast. Sounds like a weird combo, but with limited options available for me, it went well. The chicken was flavorful, nicely seasoned and surprisingly very tender and juicy. Lastly for dessert I opted for the bread pudding (again my fault... too much bread). It was tasty but capacity had been reached, so I only had a nibble. Brunch @ Lena's was a lovely treat and an amazing sit down event. Thank you to the oh so fab Shah! To the manger, staff, and owners of Lena Trattoria for both their hospitality and generosity. Just A Note: Lena Trattoria gives you the vibe of a restaurant in city without the congestion pricing. Go check them out!

4.5 We had the chance to try Lena Trattoria's new brunch…read moremenu, and it was such a treat! The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, and the staff were amazingly friendly, attentive, and genuinely excited about the new offerings. There was a variety on the menu, with something for almost everyone to enjoy. The space itself is beautiful and inviting, being perfect for a relaxed weekend brunch. It has that cozy-yet-upscale feel that makes you want to linger a little longer over your coffee. The only downside was that there weren't many substitutions available for those who don't eat pork, which was a bit of a letdown. We mentioned it to the manager, and they were kind enough to make other provisions for us, but it would've been nice if those options were already available. A few items didn't include any protein, and there wasn't an option to add sides, which would've been a great touch. The drinks were fantastic because they were fresh, flavorful, and regularly refilled. And Absolutely awesome live music! It created such a fun, lively atmosphere that had everyone smiling and even dancing a little. I've enjoyed dinner here several times, but now I'm so happy to have them as a go-to brunch spot too!

Cute little corner spot that catches your eye right away - it's esthetically pleasing and somewhat…read moregives that privacy vibe - you won't miss it cause it has a portrait painted on the bldg of Old Dirty bastard - inside its cozy and very romantic. Dimly lit with candles on all the tables. This place used to be a bodega and the owner Elliot totally transformed it into this beautiful wine bar that also serves cocktails and also has a plant based menu. For our elite event - we had the opportunity to drink 3 delicious wines - first was a Grillo aka The Franklin - nice white wine - almost like a funky Pinot Grigio. Second - a rose - cute - and lastly - Gruner - which was my favorite they staff paired all our wines with hummus and some veggies - some cheese jam and bread with a side of grapes and a wonderful fresh caesar salad. Everything was great! Things to note - they have happy hour from 5-7 Wednesday - Sunday. Fridays and Saturdays they will be bringing in a DJ - would definitely return to see what kind of vibes that will be giving. They do offer private events and private wine tasting events. Stop on in if you're ever in the neighborhood Elliot the owner is pleasant and very informative. Had a great time. Thank you to the staff and Morlene and Erin for putting this together.

No regrets signing up for this wonderful Yelp Elite Event. This was my second time attending an…read moreevent here (the first time was two summers ago). The Franklin is a black owned restaurant located in Bedstuy which is not far from Crown Heights. Although I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, I enjoyed the pita bread, fresh olives, cheese, hummus, and vegetables. The Rose wine was my absolutely favorite out of the three wines that we got to try. The restaurant is cozy and clean. The owner really sold me on how great the Happy Hour is here so I'll definitely return. There's conveniently a liquor store located next door to The Franklin. This event was wonderful from beginning to end. Thanks so much for putting together yet another great experience.

Our 2nd elite experience at New Territories in the last year and it was just as good as our 1st…read morevisit! Being that this was our 2nd time here, we were much more familiar with their offerings, which mostly revolve around Asian-themed flavored ice cream. Although the elite experience did not come with complimentary ice cream, we still came primarily for that because it was so good last year. For this elite experience though, we were offered a complimentary double lemon float (lemonade with lemon sorbet) + a BOGO Açaí bowl. Since we were really hear to satisfy our ice cream craving, we ended up skipping the BOGO Acai bowl, but instead got the complimentary double lemon float and ordered a caramel crunch + strawberry cheesecake ice cream cup. The lemon float was very refreshing and a great pick me up on a summer day. As for the ice cream, it's ice cream, need i say more? OK, I will. I loved the strawberry cheesecake ice cream. I admit that I have a certain, special place in my heart for strawberry, but when mixed with cheesecake it was bliss. KUDOS TO YOU SARA B. FOR SETTING THIS ELITE EXPERIENCE UP!!!! IT WAS FANTASTIC!!

What a great experience! It was my first visit at New Territories, a Hong Kong inspired ice cream…read moreand dessert shop. I was able to find street parking right in front of the store. When I walked in, I was greeted by two employees. They were super informative about the menu and so much fun to talk to! The Yelp Experience allowed me to get a BOGO Acai bowl and double lemon floats. For the BOGO deal, you have to choose the same kind of acai bowl for both. I chose the Nutella Acai (~$12) which came with blueberry, granola, strawberry, banana, coconut flakes, and nutella drizzle. While I waited for them to prepare everything, I browsed through the store. The interior is super colorful and bright. They have a small section selling merchandise and Asian snacks as well as a freezer filled with pints of their homemade ice cream. I ended up getting my bowls and floats to go and they packaged everything perfectly and safely. I LOVED the double lemon float! Very sweet, tarty, and refreshing on a hot summer day. I gave the acai bowls to my parents and they both really enjoyed it. I had a few bites and the fruits were fresh. The granola really made the flavors and textures better. I would come back here to try their specialty: bubbles waffles! They also have a lot of unique ice cream flavors, including Asian-inspired ones, that I really want to try.