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A Tasty Triumvirate

Tempura NYC, Spiced NYC, and Snooker NYC

By Nati Burnside

There are certain things that just come along with keeping kosher. In fact, most of the time, these things don’t even phase us anymore. In many situations, we’ve become accustomed to the “inconveniences” that come with our customs.

And while this has been the case for pretty much forever (just ask your parents or grandparents about how few things used to be kosher), it seems like we are just starting to reach a point where the kosher consumer is able to get a taste of what it’s like to not be limited by the restrictions of our dietary directives.

I was invited to the three-headed monster that is Tempura NYC, Spiced NYC, and Snooker NYC to get a taste of what the average person has access to in New York City. But I’m not talking about food in this case – I’m talking about experience. Let me explain…

Tempura is a sushi restaurant with an amazing bar, some dairy menu options, and a dazzling set-up on a rooftop with a retractable roof. Using a few simple steps, the restaurant can convert from being inside to outside in about 15 minutes. They have heaters for the fall and spring months, and the clear roof and walls allow for an outdoor vibe while fending off harsher weather in the winter and summer.

Spiced is a meat restaurant with very reasonable prices for waiter service in Manhattan and an interesting ambiance of string lights, a massive wine wall, and hanging fabrics that are sometimes used as curtains.

Snooker is a fairly modest pool hall that includes a few pool tables, air hockey, and a couple of arcade games.

The thing that makes this unique is that all three places are owned and operated by Ralph Mohadeb, and they work together in concert. While playing pool at Snooker, you can order food and drinks from a restaurant upstairs. From Sunday to Thursday, the Spiced menu (including drinks and sushi from Tempura) is used, while Saturday nights feature the Tempura menu. Snooker can also be rented out for private events in which either the dairy or meat menu could be used.

So what’s good at Tempura? I’d recommend starting off with The Krispy. This appetizer consists of perfectly textured rice patties topped with a balanced combination of spicy tuna and avocado. Another interesting item is the Spicy Tuna Cigars. On the outside, you would mistake them for Moroccan cigars, but the inside is a slightly creamy spicy tuna filling. Both of these are great items for a group of friends as the individual pieces make it easy to share amongst a group.

In terms of sushi, there is a great selection of specialty rolls in both regular and tempura styles. For those who want a truly raw fish experience, the Rolls Royce Roll is filled with spicy kani and avocado and topped with a colorful selection of yellowtail, salmon, tuna, and additional avocado. If you’re looking for that added step, the Magnum Roll was one of the best bites of sushi I’ve had in a long time. It’s an oversized maki roll with spicy tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumbers, and jalapeño. The spicy mayo and sweet sauce drizzled on top gives it an impressive look that matches the sweet and spicy flavor profile it’s aiming for.

While you could head down to Snooker to have some fun after you go to Tempura, the other option is to go straight to Snooker from the start and order off of the Spiced menu while you play pool.

Spiced is most famous for their Chef Platter, which allows you to choose any six of their nine appetizers and have them served on a wooden lazy susan. This could be dinner for two people or a great way for a group to start a night. They also have a few types of flatbreads and tacos that really fit with the vibe of the pool hall.

If you’re looking for more of a restaurant experience, Spiced has that as well. Some of the menu items, like the burgers, steaks, entrees, and salads, would prove a little hard to eat while trying to sink the eight ball in the side pocket.

One unique offering is the Wellington Burger. That’s right, it’s a burger (with caramelized onions and mushrooms) that’s wrapped in puff pastry. The flavor is what you’d expect, while the texture is really quite an accomplishment. The burger remains very juicy as it’s contained inside the dough, yet somehow the casing doesn’t get soggy and provides a sturdy outer shell for you to hold.

These days, the kosher-keeping public is fortunate to have more options than ever. That said, we shouldn’t take it for granted. A pool hall where you can order a platter of fleishig appetizers to share with your friends as you play? Make sure you check it out. It’s the only place where it’s possible that you’d rather be waiting for your turn at the table than currently playing the game.