ml77's Profile
The Modern Dining Room
Despite many visits to the Modern Bar Room, my wife and I have never been to the Dining Room. We'll be rectifying this tonight. Any suggestions for how to attack the menu? Favorites? Dishes to avoid? Thanks!
Philly Weekend in Late March -- How's My List Look?
So, you're saying that when you have brunch at Lacroix, you don't eat again the rest of the day?! Our reservation is at 11:30. If we don't eat again the rest of the day, I would think we'll be hungry at least by 9 PM or so.
I get that it's a ton of food, but am I missing something? Even after a monster meal I need to eat again 8 hours later.
Philly Weekend in Late March -- How's My List Look?
Thanks for the info. I'll probably stick with the lamb, as a good ribeye is easier to get here in NYC than a great lamb.
Philly Weekend in Late March -- How's My List Look?
Am intrigued by the praise for Zahav. Can I get the lamb shoulder without ordering the tasting menu?
Dovetail?
My wife's birthday is coming up, and she is interested in going to Dovetail. I thought I would check on here to get opinions on whether this is a good choice. She is open to other possibilities if there are better ones. As this is a special meal, we're not that worried about price, but we're not going to Per Se either.
Similar places we've been to include:
Tocqueville (very good)
SHO (very good)
EMP (excellent)
Jean Georges (meh)
Cafe Boulud (very good)
We generally care more about food than ambiance, but an atmosphere worthy of a special occasion wouldn't hurt.
Thanks!
-----
Dovetail
103 West 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Philly Weekend in Late March -- How's My List Look?
Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for the tips -- keep em comin!
I should have mentioned but I already have resies for the meals listed. I've got an 11 AM for brunch at Lacroix, so I'll think we'll be hungry come dinner time, even if it's a bit later than usual.
I definitely love beer and wine as well as cocktails, so if you have any great spots for that I'd appreciate it. Especially local brews or something unique that I can't find here in NYC.
Thanks again.
Please Help Tweak My Itinerary
What you're saying makes sense, Bill. But not all of us can afford dinner at August. The lunch deal is such a steal that it makes too much sense not to eat there then instead of at dinner.
Philly Weekend in Late March -- How's My List Look?
Hey Chowhounds,
My wife and I are coming from NYC to Philly to enjoy a long weekend, check out the Springsteen exhibit at NCC, and enjoy as much great food and drink along the way as we can. Would love to get advice. Here's my plan:
Arrive (Friday)
Dinner: Amada (Have seen that some think you need to order the right things here -- any advice on what the right things are? Or should we go for the chef's tasting?)
Saturday
Dinner: Vetri
Sunday
Brunch: Lacroix
Dinner: Talulah's Garden
Thinking about hitting DiNic's at some point for the pulled pork sandwich as well. Bars I'm thinking about include Franklin Mortgage, Ranstead Room, Farmers Cabinet, and Bar 201. Also looking for dessert advice: any great places for sweets, especially post-dinner?
Thanks in advance!
Birthday Italian choice (more difficult than expected)
If you're open to fine dining then I think Del Posto would be an excellent choice. I don't know if portions would be big enough for you, but I wouldnt call them precious.
Another excellent choice would be Maialino. If you enjoy pork, then you should get their signature dish, roast suckling pig.
Finally, Ciano is another great option. The veal meatballs are amazing, and the pastas are very good.
-----
Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010
Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Cocktails in Flatiron district
+1 times infinity for Raines. EMP is closer if that's an issue but as kathryn said one of the curtained booth would be the ideal place to enjoy a cocktail before dinner.
I feel compelled to add that I think we get spoiled sometimes living in NYC. Most cities in the country, nay the world (cue Jame Lipton voice), would die to have bars as good as Raines, FL, and EMP within a five or six block radius.
Looking for Good Cocktail Bars in Boston
Thanks, everyone! I think I'll start them out at the Hawthorne and go from there.
Looking for Good Cocktail Bars in Boston
I live in NYC, and when my brother-in-law and his wife visited us a few months ago, we took them to a bar here called Raines Law Room and they loved it. It's one of the "speakeasy" type bars, with a strict door policy that often leads to a long wait but also a lack of crowds once one does get inside. Raines has a sophisticated, even lavish decor, with large comfortable couches. And of course the drinks are great, though expensive.
When we left, they said that they wished there was a place like this in Boston. I'm hoping my fellow Hounds here can help me out. Where are the best places to get a good cocktail? Thanks in advance.
Commanders on Monday plus Bday rec
Well when I ate at Coquette I sat upstairs, which may explain the difference, but I definitely felt like it was a bit more upscale than Herbsaint and definitely more than Patois. This isn't a knock on any of them. I loved all three meals, and in fact probably enjoyed the food at Patois the most (though service was spotty). But Coquette seemed a bit more like what many people look for in a special occasion meal.
Put on yer reading glasses! It's Kukubura's trip report! (Mr. B's, Commander's, Gal's, Dante's, Dizzy's, Green Goddess, more...)
You should definitely make a res at Commander's. Galatoire's depends on whether you want to guarantee yourself a reservation time (in which you have to sit upstairs) or whether you want to enjoy the "scene" of the downtown dining room (search the board for the many many discussions of this if you aren't already familiar with it) in which case you have to just show up and hope for the best as they don't take resies for downstairs. Mr. B's could go either way, depends if you're going during a prime time. The others should be OK. Cafe du Monde is basically a glorified coffee stand and does not take reservations (I usually get an order of beignets to go and then go sit by the river to enjoy them).
When in doubt, why not get a reservation if you know when you might want to go. That way you have it in your back pocket in case you need it.
Brunch at the Dutch
If you're looking for a brunch partner, I've been meaning to get to the Dutch and could join you.
Commanders on Monday plus Bday rec
For the birthday meal, Coquette would be a great choice. I love Patois and Herbsaint also, but they are a bit more casual so I wouldn't think of them as much as "birthday" meals (though if you're up for casual then they would be great).
Of course, Commander's would also be a great option for a special meal. Though the Garden Room is lovely during the day and at lunch you can enjoy $0.25 martinis.
August is nice but I was a bit underwhelmed at my lunch, and dinner is much more pricey. Plus, the ambiance at August is closer to what we have in NYC than the others.
Whatever you decide, enjoy! And report back.
Parm
They're just really well done, almost platonic ideals of what these sandwiches should be. You might end feeling like it's "just" a chicken parm, but compared to the gloopy messes that most places call a chicken parm these days, it's a revelation.
Looking for upscale-rustic Italian + critique my lineup
Ciano is definitely worth it! Fits your request to a T. And it's really not that far from your preferred area.
-----
Ciano
45 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010
really truly good pizza
Neither Motorino nor Artichoke are in your desired neighborhoods, though they're not too far away if you're willing to travel further east (I do like them both).
Zero Otto Nove makes solid pies in my experience, as does Co. on 24th and 9th. But these are pie only, not slice joints. If you're looking for a slice, then Artichoke is a good option (I prefer the cheese slice, not the artichoke). If you're willing to go to the Village, then Joe's on 6th Ave and Bleecker is another good slice option. If you're willing to travel down there and get a personal sized pie, then my top rec would be Keste on Bleecker between 6th and 7th.
-----
Joe's Pizza
7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
Co.
230 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Keste Pizza & Vino
271 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Artichoke
114 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Zero Otto Nove
15 W 21st St, New York, NY 10010
Patois??
I had dinner at both Patois and Coquette when I visited NOLA last year, and loved them both. Patois is more of a casual bistro, Coquette a bit more intimate and formal but not stuffy.
Cant go wrong at either. Enjoy!
New Orleans Outside-the-Quarter for NYE
Love the gumbo at Herbsaint and Commander's. Was actually a bit disappointed in the gumbo ya-ya at Mr. B's. It gets such universal raves here, but while I did enjoy it I preferred the two listed above.
Lillette or Herbsaint?
I agree, it's Herbsaint. Lillette is nice, but Herbsaint is a cut above. Also agree that the gumbo is one of the best around.
Kindly recommend somewhere in the vicinity of E. 14th and 2nd Ave for a post-procedure early dinner?
Just tried Smac a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Its small and was crazy crowded on the Saturday late afternoon when I went, but we got the sampler which was small portions of 8 different types of mac and cheese and it was really good.
-----
S'Mac
345 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Restaurant recommendations near 26th and 2nd
The Terrace menu and the Bar menu are the same thing. And you can order from the Bar menu anywhere, even from a table in the dining room as I have done numerous times.
Restaurant recommendations near 26th and 2nd
No, I usually stick to small plates and pasta and don't spend more than I do elsewhere. Even the entrees though, at $25-$35, are pretty standard for Manhattan.
quintessential NY
Yeah, your post screams Gramercy Tavern or USC. Jean Georges doesnt fit your budget unless you go for lunch.
Patois or Coquette?
Both are great. I prefer Patois by a nose as food was better there, though service was better at coquette. Coquette is a little more upscale in decor and atmosphere, though not stuffy at all. Patois is more of a bustling bistro.
Very Belated NOLA Trip Review
Fair enough, but the food is Patois is SO good, and the way they handled my complaint was so sympathetic that I'm going to give them a second chance.
River Road plantations lunch?
Hockey19,
I have not been but that location is panned by almost everyone on this board. The original location in Metarie, where I had my lunch, is great.
Very Belated NOLA Trip Review
My wife and I enjoyed a week's vacation in NOLA back in May, and we had a great time thanks to the great posters on this board! Ever since, I've been meaning to post about it, and never got around to it. Though memories fade, there's still a lot that I remember about our meals, so here goes.
Brigtsen's -- This was our first night's dinner. Best dish was a fantastic fried soft shell crab appetizer. Very generous portion and it was delicious. Duck entree was a bit disappointing, though.
Cochon -- Had a lunch here. Enjoyed the hush puppies and boudin balls. Had a pork dish that was just OK.
Patois -- Foodwise, this was probably our best overall meal of the trip. The gnocchi appetizer were probably the best gnocchi I've ever had. The pork belly/scallop app balanced sweet and fatty beautifully. The Gulf fish was just perfectly cooked. The "snickers" dessert was creative but accessible and tasty. Unfortunately, service was a disaster. I overheard someone say they were down a server that night, but still no excuse. On the plus side, I emailed the restaurant after returning home and received a gracious reply from one of the owners offering to make up for it the next time we were in NOLA.
Drago's -- Lunch. Chargrilled oysters lived up to the hype. Entrees were OK.
Lillette -- Had an early dinner here, so we ordered a bunch of small plates in lieu of entrees. Gnocchi here was also excellent, as was the signature truffled toast. Enjoyed the setting outside on the porch.
Galatoire's -- Friday afternoon lunch. Really enjoyed the "show". Very old school. oysters en brochette was solid, as was the trout meuniere. By the time we finished, it was late afternoon, and things were pretty slow. Went to the bathroom before heading out, and just inside the doorway outside the dining room I passed a waiter fast asleep on a chair. Some might have been offended, but I loved it. Part of the charm of Galatoire's is seeing the restaurant go through its routine, same as it ever was.
Coquette -- Very modern, sophisticated food, but in a comfortable relaxing environment. Beef short rib was particularly good. Wine was excellent.
Green Goddess -- Lunched here late one afternoon. This is the kind of place that makes New Orleans what it is. It's in the French Quarter, but not OF the FQ. Bourbon St. feels like it's miles away.
Mr. B's -- Gumbo ya ya was good but not the best we had (more later). BBQ Shrimp was a fun mess, definitely worth it. How often do you get to eat a nice place with a bib on?
Commander's Palace -- Jazz Brunch. Loved the bright sun of the Garden Room. Atmosphere with the jazz trio was great. It felt like genuine old school new orleans, not a Disneyfied version. Loved the 1-1-1 soup deal. The gumbo and the turtle soup were excellent. Seafood bisque was the du jour that day, but didn't quite hit the mark. Cochon au lait was fine. Bread pudding was good, but my wife's strawberry shortcake was great. I don't usually like strawberries, but these tasted like they'd just been picked at their peak ripeness, which they probably were. They were bursting with flavor.
Emeril's -- Sat at the chef's counter, and was glad I did. Fun to see the bustling kitchen in action, and the chef at the station nearest the counter was friendly. Angel hair pasta app was great. I appreciate those who recced it; it's not something I would have ordered, and it doesn't look like much, but it has a ton of flavor. Andouille crusted drum was also superb. Didn't have room for the pork chop, but it looked spectacular, and the gentleman sitting next to us said that it was. Somewhere between rustic and refined, Emeril's is just straight ahead New Orleans style food done really well.
August -- I enjoyed August, but I'm also very glad that we had lunch here and not dinner. I can't say I experienced dinner, but based on my experience I don't think I would want to spend what one has to for dinner here. It was good, but not necessarily worth that top tier price, esp. when so much great food is available in NOLA for cheap. The hyped gnocchi was very good, but not quite as good as the other two gnocchis we had on our trip. In general, it felt very much like a lot of fine dining places here in New York, and that approach felt out of place in New Orleans, even if it was in the CBD. For those interested, my wife spotted Chef Besh in a meeting room somewhere in the back of the house, though he did not appear in the dining room while we were there.
Herbsaint -- Dinner our last night. Gumbo was great, maybe the best we had. Pork Belly was HUGE, and very tasty.
Thanks again NOLA Hounds! Can't wait to go back.
