We’re always down to try some great spots here in New York, so today we’re going to shift away from recipes and instead feature two restaurants that we got to try recently.  Both places are in midtown Manhattan and serve up food from two different cultures on two different continents.  We enjoyed each one not just for the eats, but also for how convenient it is to get to both these spots, since they’re in prime locations right in the middle of the bustle of Manhattan.  So if you happen to be wandering around Midtown and you’re wondering what’s good to eat, here’s two of our recommendations.

First up, on 54th Street, is a small space housing Jaz Indian Cuisine.  Their menu is full of classic Indian dishes, ones you might have seen on take-out menus, but here they’re served in a nice sit-down atmosphere.  We started our meal here by splitting an order of onion kulcha:  an herbed flatbread stuffed with spiced onions.

Then, because Indian cuisine is known for its plentiful vegetarian options, Miriam had a lot to choose from for an entree and ended up going with the aloo gobi matar, made with potatoes, cauliflower, and peas in a slightly spicy ginger and tomato sauce.

Meanwhile, Cyril had the Jaz mixed grill, which has chicken, lamb, salmon, and shrimp rubbed in a spice mix and then cooked in a tandoor.

If you’re not up for Indian food, you can also swing down to 18th Street and check out the Union Square location of Javelina (they also have a restaurant on the Upper East Side).  Javelina specializes in Tex-Mex, and one of the things they’re especially known for is having an extensive section of their menu devoted to quesos.  We decided to try the fried jalapeño queso, which is swirled with salsa verde and topped with a few slices of crispy jalapeños.

Then Miriam had the avocado tacos, which come filled with beer-battered fried avocados, cotija cheese, and pico de gallo, with a side of poblano sauce.

Cyril tried the brisket enchiladas, which are topped with cheese, poblano sauce, and a jalapeño relish.

And for dessert we had an order of churros, served with chocolate sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Both these restaurants served up some pretty good food, and it’s pretty amazing to see that you can get such a wide variety of different foods all in the same neighborhood.  And both of these places are also pretty quick, so if you want a restaurant experience that’s not really drawn out, you can eat in these spots in an hour or less and be on your way to checking out all the other things Midtown Manhattan has to offer.  We know there are tons of options for where to eat in Manhattan, but consider these two spots if you happen to be in the mood for some great Indian food or Tex-Mex.