Restaurants everyone loves--except you

Ditto on Babbo. The food was bland and the attitudes were atrocious. I would have been happier and more satisfied eating pasta out of the box.

-----
Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

madwells13 in Manhattan

I loved Public!

Wow. Oh my. Geesh. Need I say more? Yes, I think I will as people really need to understand that this is a MUST try.

First, I was very skeptical about going to Public for a recent special celebration--only for the reason that I had never been there before and have been so disappointed in the past with restaurants that offer eclectic cuisines that were 'supposed' to be good.

Add that to my somewhat boring routine of always going to french restaurants for special occasions, or restaurants I have been to before because at least then I know what I am going to get, and even MORE disconcerting, I was trying to entertain a vegan for his special occasion and Public's menu is largely a carnivorous and seafood oasis.

From the second I made reservations, I was clearly assuaged. Making reservations is always hard enough, but try explaining that you want a special tasting menu with wine pairing, and oh, and by the way, a special tasting menu 'for someone who is a vegan' is perhaps the most painful experience in the world.

I was more than pleasantly surprised that after the host had a brief Q&A with the chef, the answer was 'No problem'. I was even MORE ecstatic when I found out that they would be happy to do two separate tasting menus for the table---one for my vegan friend, and one for me---the self proclaimed meat eater that I am. Many restaurants (if not all), stand by the hard and fast rule that the entire table needs to eat meat OR vegetarian, or in this case vegan. Although I would have happily complied with whatever they gave me, I didn't have to, and that alone made me all happy inside.

Now, for the food, service and ambiance.

If one word could describe the food, it would be WOW. From our first course to our fifth, the food kept us both guessing. The eclectic combinations of flavors, textures, and lovely plate presentations of the food made each bite more and more exciting. Pair that with the lovely wines that were so carefully chosen to go with the courses, I felt like I had gotten a one way ticket to a place I have never been before. I'm actually still thinking about a couple of the courses, trying to recreate them in my mind. Especially the chilled pear and almond gazpacho and the fried hama hama oysters. And most adoringly, the venison loin. Wow. Need I really say more?

As far as service, our waiter was perhaps one of the best waiters I have had in a decade in NYC. Not pretentious, very astute, and very explanatory in his explanations of the tastings and the wines paired with them. He was obviously busy in the high energy packed and tightly filled restaurant, but he took special note to making sure that we fully understood what we were eating and drinking. Remarkable.

As for ambiance, the space was large and open, trendy but very inviting. Our first impression was that it was perhaps a little too loud for us as we wanted to talk. The decibels quickly waved however, and the noise around us was dissipated by the sheer brilliance of the food. We honestly would have rather lived in harmony with our dishes than talk to each other by the third course...that's how good the food was, or the wine with the food, I can't be sure.

All in all, I couldn't say enough positive things about this place or our experience, and will undoubtedly go back as many times as I can. My vegan guest even told me that out of all of his experiences around the world, and throughout all of his veganistic lifestyle, he had never eaten such good food...and that for once at a restaurant he didn't feel like a second class citizen for NOT eating meat or dairy products.

I strongly recommend, and suggest that if someone is on the fence about trying it, just do it. You won't regret it!!!

madwells13 in Manhattan

Full Moon Asian Thai - White Plains

Not to sound mean, but is anyone else think this fusion stuff has gone a little overboard in the WP area? Why can't we just have a good strictly Thai restaurant (one that serves Pad Thai under the $15 price range..or in this restaurants case, just serve it)? Better yet, if anyone wants to 'fuse' something, why not Thai and Vietnamese...that would at least fill some needs.

I swear, one more Japanese/Chinese/Indian/Thai fusion 'wanna be' good food at outrageous prices will be the death of us all. It's actually cheaper to jump on the Metro north and have Thai in the city than to order second rate, small portion, bad atmosphere food in White Plains. Just my two (three) cents.

madwells13 in New York State (exc. New York City)