Unusual Restaurants in Downtown Staten Island

Cat Fish Walkin' the former Hoppin John's is located at 125 Beach Street-between St. Paul's Ave and Van Duzer St, (718-727-2244), was a great find one late Sunday afternoon. When they originally opened, they were mainly a breakfast joint. Now, after a great demand, they are also open for lunch as well as dinner. Since I'm not a morning person, I was so happy they chose to stay open later in the day, but the only thing to get my tired bones out of bed in the early morn, is an offer of a Hoppin' John's Build Your Own Sothern Omelet.

It is a cozy place, with a walk in area where you can place any orders to go. Off to the side is a seating area, where there is beautiful brick exposed, and often local artists display their work. My favorite breakfast is their, "Build Your Own Omelet" where you can pick up to three items to insert into your omelet, which includes but isn't limited to: spinach, peppers, cheese, and sausage, for a mere $6.50 The breakfast menu also consists of flap jacks, pancakes, French toast, corn bread, (that manages to have a bread like consistency and still be moist), grits, and muffins, bagels, grilled cheese and turkey sausage. Breakfast is not made all day, alas. But while it's available, it is too good.

Lunch consists of tasty dishes such as fried chicken, pork, fish, BBQ chicken and BBQ ribs, for roughly $7.50, which includes two side dishes. Sides include but aren't limited to black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, (that has a lovely crust and perfectly cooked insides), candied yams, strings beans, mash potatoes, collard greens and corn. The mac and cheese is so good, I usually get a double order, carbs be damned. Liquid refreshment includes various sodas, coffee, sweet tea, and hot tea.

Sundays are a busy day, since many people go to Hoppin' Johns after church, so there maybe a bit of a wait getting your food. (But it's totally worth it.) You'll see people in street clothes, and church clothes, but all are welcome. It's the type of place, if you have been there more than once the waitress will remember your face, which is becoming rarer in our ever busy world.

One afternoon my family and I had a filling meal for a mere $69.37. It was less than $70, (before tip), for seven people to have brunch together.

Parking is available along the street in front of the restaurant, or on smaller side streets lining the neighborhood. So, be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, if you are looking for a tasty, home cooked, and inexpensive bite to eat, Cat Fish Walkin' is the place to be. They are now offering home delivery and catering as well as eat in meals.

Bayou, located at 1072 Bay Street is a sweet, homey restaurant that has a New Orleans/Cajun flair. Most restaurants do their meat of their business from Thursday thru Sunday. In an effort to get people out during the beginning of the week, Bayou came up with the best deal around. Monday thru Wednesday you can get a four course meal for only $15.99; which includes: soup, salad, an entree and a dessert. All the portions are the same size you would normally get at Bayou, which is hearty.

The soup is usually gumbo or red rice and beans. Their salads are fresh with a nice array of dressings. But my favorite dressing is probably the best blue cheese, which I've ever had. It's so good; we usually get a side to smear on the toasty hot, fresh bread that is served while waiting for the entree.

For this special there is a limited, but delicious menu. You have 4-6 entrée choices, which change on a regular basis. Choices include but aren't limited to: BBQ ribs, an amazing pork entrée, a beans and rice entrée and various dishes.

On these days there is usually some form of interesting entertainment. Mondays are usually the day the palm reader is there. You get a free reader with the Four Course special. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually some lively jazz/blues bands, which play original music or old time favorites. Bands change on a day to day basis.

What I have noticed about the bands is though they are playing in a relatively small restaurant, they do not over power your conversation. You hear the music and can still have a conversation.

Lastly is dessert. There are usually two choices, per night, for dessert: fried ice cream, crème brulee, chocolate/banana bread pudding, or the scrumptious fried banana ice cream with chocolate or raspberry syrup is among the choices.

Drinks are not included in the special. I usually get an iced tea, but when the spirit moves me, I treat myself to a "Cuban Kiss." It's a mixed drink with raspberries and other yummy ingredients that actually compliment most meals. It's rimmed with a pink, sweet sugar, and has a thicker consistency than say a martini. They are tasty without filling you up like some drinks are known to do.

The Coral Café is a relatively new place. Located at 696 Bay Street, it's been open for about 6-7 months. It has an interesting array of healthy, yet delicious food with Caribbean influence. I have yet to go there for breakfast, which is served everyday until 11am, but their breakfast menu is tempting. It consists of eggs, waffles, pancakes with various fruit, ackee and codfish, and a well rounded vegetarian menu.

I've had the roasted chicken salad sandwich, which comes on a choice of bread, with lettuce, tomato and onions. It was actual chicken, not filler, with slices of fresh cut carrot and various greens. At the price of five dollars, it was affordable, healthy and tasty. I've also tried the Panini-apple/cheddar on ciabatta bread with salad. Another sandwich with an affordable price tag: $6. When I had ordered the apple/cheddar panini sandwich, I wasn't excepting a lot. After all, how much can you do with apple and cheese? Apparently, you can do quite a bit. I don't know what magic the cook worked but this sandwich really hit the spot. The salad had lots of healthy greens and a light dressing. I felt satisfied, but not full, and I didn't get the after lunch sluggish feeling.

Being a macaroni and cheese lover, I had to have a side order. At the price of three dollars, I was given a fat square of home made mac and cheese. It was so good; I had to bat away the forks of my friends. The jerk wings are lightly seasoned with Caribbean spices. They tasted hot and juicy, but not over powering.

A friend recommended I try the hibiscus iced tea. It was a great recommendation. Hibiscus tea is a great alternative to everyday tea. As a tea drinker, I like to mix it up. It was a lightly floral taste that left your palate feeling clean.

I finished with a natural smoothie to go, which consisted of fruit juice, (though you have a choice of soy milk), with banana and strawberries. It was so good, that I forgot it was good for me. Coral Café also has extras for their smoothies like ginseng, wheat germ, flax seed oil, Echinacea or aloe vera, to name a few extras.

For those who'd like a bit of something sweet to end their meals Coral offers bread pudding, carrot and chocolate cake, ice creams and sweet potato pound cake. They bake dairy and non dairy desserts.

Coral Café also shows and sells the art work of local artists. The area has a great spread to display work in natural sunlight, and it seems that the pieces sell well. Roberta, the owner, is very open to speaking with artists and viewing their work.