JohnnyBooy's Profile
What was the sauce on the Escolar?
Has anyone actually tried to make this sauce? I followed the recipe, but the sauce was not nearly as red. Also, half a cup of red wine vinegar seems far too much.
Any thoughts?
Toronto's Best Restaurants - Not listed in Toronto Life
I think Amaya is undervalued because Indian cuisine in general is undervalued. I also like George very much.
Perigee has not been the same since 1. Pat Rily left, 2. They installed the guard around the kitchen, 3. they instituted a la carte.
Meanwhile, One is not even as good as North 44, and some people don't even think the latter belongs on the list. Similarly, Lee and Globe, at least in my opinion, do not deserve to take the place of any restaurant on the list. Lee particularly is uninspiring. Maybe a good place to have a fun night, but strictly in terms of culinary achievement I have never been impressed.
Toronto Life's Best Restaurants 2009 list - Thoughts?
I don't understand why the fact that some restaurants have been successful for a while (Splendido, e.g.) has to be counted against them.
New York has had the same "top" restaurants for a while too: Per Se, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin... in fact, in every city the list of "best" restaurants tend not to vary a lot from year to year - isn't consistent why we think the restaurants are good to begin with?
Shouldn't the fact that the "best" restaurants in Toronto is all the "usual suspects" validate these restaurants' consistency? I have been to most of the new restaurants in the city for the past year, and while a lot of them were quite good none was good enough to really make me think that it is one of the "best" in Toronto (rather than just best "new" restaurant).
The fact that there are no surprises in the "best restaurants" list just shows how hard it is to create a great restaurant from scratch.
Toronto Life's Best Restaurants 2009 list - Thoughts?
I found Eigensinn Farm AND Chez Panisse both unimpressive.
In fact, add Blue Hill (and Blue Hill at Stone Barns) to the list!
I love the fresh / organic ingredients idea, but never been impressed with the difference in taste.
Toronto Life's Best Restaurants 2009 list - Thoughts?
Toronto Life just published its "Best Restaurants" list, the first time in three years - the last time was in 2006:
http://www.torontolife.com/features/best-restaurants-2006/
(Not to be confused with the Best NEW Restaurants list, which it publishes every year)
The honorable mentions are here:
http://www.torontolife.com/features/best-restaurants-2009-honourable-mentions/
11. Colborne Lane
12. Bite Me! (previously Thuet)
13. Cava
14. Hashimoto
15. Chiado
Thoughts on the top 15?
Challenge: Best tasting menu under $150 (tax&tips) in Manhattan
Thank you for the replies so far.
To make things simpler, let's suppose my budget is $120 before tax and tips (all the suggestions so far are still valid, of course).
Challenge: Best tasting menu under $150 (tax&tips) in Manhattan
What is the best tasting menu I can get in Manhattan with $150 (tax and tips included)? Let's say $150 is a fixed ceiling, I only have that much money, not a cent more.
Anywhere within Manhattan. I have no preference in terms of location or cuisine.
I don't drink wine at all, so only food.
Thought?
Thanks!
New Momofuku Noodle Bar wait time?
Hi everyone!
What is the approximate wait time for the Momofuku noodle bar tonight (Thursday) night for two?
And what is the best time to go for the least waiting time? 6pm? 7pm? 8pm?
Thanks!
"Haute" Ethnic Cusine - does it exist? What is the closest we get?
I'm thinking "haute" Afghani, Moroccan, Egyptian, Senegalese, Lebanese... or even Caribbean restaurants in Manhattan. Do they exist? If not, what's the closest we get?
Thanks!
Your thoughts on EMP and others, please
I agree - to each his own.
I enjoyed my meals at Daniel, Picholine, Aquavit and Charlie Trotters far more than the one at EMP. But if french cuisine is the proper comparison I would at least recommend Daniel, Picholine, and echoing rrems, Cru.
Eleven Madison Park revisit - still mediocre
I also agree, although I've only been to EMP once. I intend to return to give it another chance. But my last visit was disappointing.
Are there authentic kaiseki restaurants in New York?
I have heard of a few suggestions from past threads, but do they actually go by the traditional courses? (e.g. Sakizuke, Hassun, Mukozuke, Futamono, Yakimono, Su-zakana. Shiizakana, Tome-wan, Ko no mono and Tome-wan, etc...)
I know some dishes are seasonal, but do the restaurants in New York (Sugiyama, for example) at least follow the requirements of the dishes? Or is their kaiseki usually just omakase in disguise?
Le Bernardin - (almost) heavenly
I had a similar experience about a month ago. I am a big fan of Le Bernardin as well.
Did you have any wine at all?
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Probably Jean Georges or Daniel? I want to go back to Blue Hill as well.
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
I thought the ambience at EMP was fantastic. It's a shame that the food did not resonate with me at all
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Yasuda is not inferior to even the best sushi in Vancouver. I will leave it at that.
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
I have never tried dinner at CSBC, but the menu alone sounded medicore enough. =)
The breakfast was enjoyable, though.
Chowhound Blasphemy: EMP - No Good!
I found the dessert solid, but overall disappointing given the reputation.
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
You're right, they did change it. It used to be Escolar I believe.
http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/07/le_bernardins_toopopular_surf_1.html
Lincoln Center Area Lunch? - $ no object!
Too bad Picholine is out. Telepan? They have lunch Wed - Fri I think.
Maybe Levana?
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Absolutely. When I called the six seats in front of him were booked for 23 days ahead.
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Yeah, I also received wonderful service at Le Bernardin. Not terribly personal or warm, but exceedingly professional and courteous.
5 days Manhattan-report
Fantastic trip and review. I actually just had a similar trip last week, and reading your review brings back so many memories. The only restaurant that we didn't go to was Per Se, since we had already been once and didn't have the time this trip.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/462810
I can tell that you put much care and thought into planning your trip around food, and I respect that tremendously as a foodie.
Cheers!
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Hi livetotravel!
I do agree that restaurants can have off days, but I don't quite agree with the implication that I always have to go to a restaurant multiple times to judge it. Inconsistency itself is a vice, no?
That said, I always make an effort to go back to restaurants that suprisingly disappoint me (even before I go back to restaurants that I like), so I plan to go back to EMP very soon. This time, my expectations are going to be even higher!
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Yup! Went there for breakfast. Why?
Sushi Kaji (Pictures)
It was very nice of you to buy the staff a round of drinks.
I have been a huge fan of Kaji in Toronto (I'm a New York native), but if your review is true I will not defend them on this one.
Should go to New York for Yasuda!
Restaurants Report: Le Bernardin, Blue Hill, Bouley, Gramercy Tavern, Yasuda, Balthazar, Clinton Baking, Daniel, Aquavit, Eleven Madison Park...
Hi!
In terms of service, I did not take any points off for Balthazar or Clinton Street, just because they seem to be always busy. Stanton Social got a little extra points for the great service. All other restaurants, I did not give any excuses. The reason is that I think these restaurants charge enough to be put to a certain standard. The proper way to handle a busy night is to add more staff / train them better, not tolerate worse service.
In terms of atmosphere, I don't believe going to a restaurant on a weekend evening hurt any restaurant that I rated. In fact, I went to Le Bernardin on a Friday night and EMP on a Saturday night, and the atmosphere was just fine.
I went to Blue Hill on a Tuesday night, so the disappointing atmosphere and service was definitely not due to the weekend
