Nostalgic for the East
In my former life as a preschool teacher, I worked on the Upper East Side. While I occasionally miss the kids, probably the thing I miss most is the area. I used to walk to Carl Schurz Park on my lunch hour and watch the water. And on nice days, I’d walk down through Central Park all the way to where it begins. And some days I would eat at one of the yummiest spots in the city: Lili’s Noodle Shop and Grill.
The place is a chain and there’s one in Tribeca, but somehow it doesn’t seem as nice to me. Lili’s has a full front window and a modern, Asian atmosphere. The service is speedy and the menu is delicious. It has this lovely bean curd in black bean sauce, which I attempted to make once for myself and utterly failed. And they have Jasmine bubble milk tea, which I am slightly obsessed with. The prices are decent, with a nice lunch special, including soup, rice and entree for under $7. A good place to eat with friends or alone after a stressful day of chasing after 3-year-olds.
Yes, I do miss the kids. But even more, I miss the Upper East Side’s peaceful charm and yummy noodle shop.