Lunch. It’s the eternal dilemma. In the city of New York, we are faced with unlimited cuisine options. Feel like some fusion Indian/Brazilian/Kosher? It’s probably within walking distance. But there comes a point when some dietary guidelines must be set. A double-bacon-cheeseburger may be delicious, but I just won’t feel like going out post-meal and wrestling an alligator. People need to eat healthy, but who wants to sacrifice taste when deliciousness is flaunted all around us?
Energy Kitchen presents itself as the solution. Their goal is to combine delectability with calorie conservation. Well, this is quite a claim—especially when everything on the menu is under 500 calories. So, this week, TheLuxurySpot photographer extraordinaire, Rie, and I set out to investigate. We went to Energy Kitchen on 23rd Street, one of 8 Manhattan locations, joined by Energy Kitchen founder, Anthony Leone.
Leone explained that he noticed a need for New Yorkers to have a dining option that leaves them feeling satisfied yet guilt-free about what they’re eating. Satisfaction and calories aside, my biggest fear around lunchtime is the dreaded food coma. I’ve been known to eat heavy: sandwich, chips, dessert, whatever feels right at the moment. We’re all familiar with what happens next—the crash. No work gets done. You’re at your desk looking at LOL Cats for the next 45 minutes. If Energy Kitchen could prevent this crash, without me having to ask for seconds, then, dear reader, we are in business.
At a glance, Energy Kitchen’s menu is impressive: exotic enough to capture your interest and break you out of the standard rut, yet filled with recognizable dishes. For instance, all of the burgers are ostrich, bison, or chicken. This saves you calories and presents some different flavors. But no beef? As a steak enthusiast, I was concerned. Now, you must understand, I am in the process of planning a Cheesesteak Crawl around the city, and consider myself one of the top experts in the field. So, Leone brought me a bison cheesesteak. As skeptical as I was, the combination of bison, mushrooms, mozzarella, and onions had me thoroughly impressed. Had someone not told me it was bison, I would have never questioned it. I could have eaten two.
But the department where Energy Kitchen really shines is the sides. I’ve never been one to get the plain entrée. I want variety whenever possible and Energy Kitchen offered some impressive accompaniments: mashed sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, asparagus salad—it was intriguing, to say the least.
The creamed spinach, while certainly not the obscene, delicious excess Robert and I had at Brasserie Ruhlman, packed serious flavor at probably 1/10th the calories, thanks to tofu unsuspectingly substituted for cheese. Along with being healthy, it was also well seasoned, with a hint of garlic and a little spice.
Rie and I both agreed the winner of the Side War had to be the asparagus salad. It did not taste like a $2.99 side salad…Had this showed up on a plate at a fancy gourmet establishment, you would not argue. The produce was fresh, and the dressing was excellent. Honorable mention goes to the cinnamon-flavored, mashed sweet potatoes and the black bean and mango salad. Really, you can’t lose with the sides. I could see just getting 2 of these as a whole meal.
At the end of our meal, Energy Kitchen allowed us to be effortlessly healthy while keeping our taste buds satiated. And I felt good. I can successfully report that I wrestled an alligator afterward and emerged victorious…well, if that alligator’s name is Food Coma, then that statement is 100% true. I ate more than what a typical serving for one person would be, and there was no energy crash. It felt good to get some healthy variety in for prices that are far from obscene (sandwiches, $6.99-$7.99.; sides, $2.99). We could all use some variety in our day to day cuisine explorations, I say, bring on the bison.
