Gordognyc's Profile
Grand Sichuan Saint Mark's - still good?
The place is way off. We used to order from there all the time and it was always consistent. Good, not greasy, complex spices, quality ingredients. Now it is terrible. Too oily, they have substituted sichuan perpercorns with something else. The meat is lower quality. They use filler in the dishes to serve less of it. We have sworn it off.
BIG BIRTHDAY! NEED HELP
My wife is having a big birthday tuesday night. We just got back from a long vacation and suffice it to say I am now scrambling to book dinner. She is very difficult to pin down but bascially said she wants to eat somewhere "like Blue Hill" with great cocktails, a market driven menu, and a relaxed vibe. Other than the namesake, what are your recommendations?
Please help my son cool off
If he times the trip to the Flatiron building for lunch it is RIGHT NEXT to Shake Shack. In fact, they can stand on the way too long line and kill time by admiring the Flatiron building, the Metlife building & the buildings that are now Credit Suisse headquarters but used to be something much more grand.
Birthday Dinner For Pregnant Wife
My wife is seven months pregnant and I am trying to figure out where to take her for a nice dinner that isn't wine-centric. Sushi is also out. The added wrinkle is it is this Friday night so any place too "popular" will be a non-starter in all likelihood.
Her favorite places are Mary's Fish Camp, Da Umberto, Babbo, Kanoyama (when not pregnant!), Grand Sichuan on 24th and 9th. She doesn't like formal French food but bistro fair is good. Please help!
Quality Meats
Interesting post. I have eaten there several times and couldn't quite put my finger on why I don't like it. The design ascetic of the place is very impressive and they did pay a ton of attention to little details (like the mirrors hung--slightly tilted--above the banquetes so diners facing the wall can glance up and see the room). The food is good, but not great. It just has a very calculated corporate feel, not authentic (is is run by a restaurant conglomerate I believe). I know that lots of other steakhouses are parts of chains, but this one just doesn't somehow ring true.
HELP PLEASE: Restaurant for the In-laws to meet
Two quiet mid-priced italians in the west village: Mauritzio Trattoria (13th between 5th and 6th) or Freddy's place (8th avenue and Jane). For ambience I prefer Freddy's. It is a good "red sauce" joint that is pretty small and intimate and usually pretty quiet. Mauritzio is northern italian, with a little less ambience and a bit bigger and potentially noisy but not boisterous by any means. Both are a good bet.
Grand Sichuan. A chain? Locations? Confused!
What!?!?!?
Are you talking about the one on 24th street and 9th or the one further up town?
Eek! Last Minute! Cheap? Maybe in the Village?
Otto's pastas are all in or below that price range.
You will likely have to wait.
Looking for Incredible Italian Food
Felidia is an excellent choice if you are going to be in that neighborhood.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE avoid Il Mulino AT ALL COSTS. I cannot emphasize how overrated and ultimately unpleasant that place is for a real foodie. This is a visceral issue on chowhounds, so I expect others to disagree, but trust me. If you want to eat downtown you can get Northern Italian that is just as good or better at Da Umberto on 17th and 6th without the crowds, wait, obnoxious attitude or overblown check.
Manhattan Neighborhood Italian Gems
Maurizio Trattoria--13th between 5th and 6th
Freddy's Place--8th and Jane
Cheap, family-friendly spots downtown?
As a father with a now three year old who lives in the neighborhood I can tell you the following:
S'Nice is an extremely family friendly vegetarian place with great coffee and sandwiches and a small play are for the kids. I am a carnivore and enjoy stopping in there once and a while.
My favorite greek diner is on 12th and 6th, call Joe Juniors. Great for breakfast and they love kids. Also a very good cheesburger deluxe for half the price of the new "swanky" burger joints popping up across town.
Otto (of Batali fame) is terrific for kids if you go for LUNCH or BRUNCH. Don't even try to muscle your way in during dinner. They give the kids crayons and stuff and the food is kid friendly (basic pasta, basic pizza) while you can eat well cheaply and sneak a glass of wine.
On 13th between 5th and 6th is Maurizio Tratoria, a good mid-priced local Italian. Maurizio has a daughter a little older than ours and they are very friendly with the kids.
The Coffee Shop on University between 12th and 13th is good for a break and a cup of coffee and they have good snack food, cookies, affordable sandwiches, etc.
If you go to the Bleeker Street playground with your child (walk west on 11th until you get to Bleeker) you can play with the kid. There are several food spots right around the park including the (in)famous magnolia bakery but if you double back to Greenwich avenue there is a great bfst/lunch spot called "Good". Also, Tea and Sympathy is a fantastic little English food shop on the same block but you will have to leave the stroller outside as it is really small. Cafe de Bruxelles (mentioned previously) is up the block from these two. We have eaten there and it is decent but not notable.
Hope this helps
Alto--Any Recent Reviews?
It is a formal dining room. Very modern look. Glass walls with wines stored behind them. Pretty cool. Not a casual experience but extremely attentive and professional service without being obtrusive. Expensive, but worth it.
Alto--Any Recent Reviews?
I had the lobster appetizer, veal agnolotti and the lamb. Very tasty soup to nuts. Also a phenomenal wine list.
Not cheap, but a good special occasion spot or if you are on an expense account
We want a great restaurant, can get into Babbo, any suggestions?
Blue Hill is a great option as well. We went for my birthday in December and it was terriffic.
Alto--Any Recent Reviews?
I searched the board and commentary is sparse in 2007. I am going with a client tommorrow night. What has recent experience been? What should we order/avoid?
Meat Packing District or Surrounding Areas?
If you want a really good "modern" steakhouse, Strip House is a 5 minute cab ride east on 12th between 5th and University. Make a reservation.
One of my favorite northern italian places is on 17th and 6th, a 10 minute walk. It is called Da Umberto. Awesome food, great ambience, and weathered the "trendy" comers and goers for decades.
For upscale italian Del Posto is right up the block. It is Batali's "white tablecloth" place.
There are a few steakhouses in the meatpacking district that are not that notable. I am sure someone will mention them. They get mixed reviews.
The best sushi ?
K:
Thanks for the response. I wasn't really trying to debate the merits of Yasuda vs. Kanoyama vs. Ushi W etc. Its just that over the past several months I feel like I am in the movie "Groundhog Day" when I read posts on this site. People mention the same restaurants over and over and over again. I can get that in Zagats. SERIOUSLY, I just want to hear someone mention a new place just every once in awhile!
The best sushi ?
Nobody has mentioned Kanoyama on 11th street and 2nd avenue. Nobu the sushi chef (not to be confused with the ubiquitous chain) does an abolutely astounding omakase if you sit at the sushi bar. Like some other places mentioned here, he has special cuts flown in regularly from Japan. Also, as another susi lover mentioned they appreciated, his use of herbs, salts, and spices accompanying each course amplifies the experience tremendously.
I have said this before on other strings and I will say it again now. There tends to be a really astounding level of "group think" on this board. Everyone likes the same 5 restaurants in each food genre. It is a bit frustrating as I thought this is supposed to be a forum for people trying and recommending new things.
Want to try something new in W Village
I have been recommending Freddy's place on the board for a while. Very good mid priced Italian on 8th and Jane. It used to be called La Cantina but the owner (Freddy of course) changed the name cause everyone calls it "Freddy's place" anyway. Small, quiet, great atmosphere. I haven't gotten much traction as it seems everyone on chowhounds likes the same 5 Italian restaurants downtown. I thought the whole point of the sight was for people to recommend and try new things.
Try it. You will be happy.
Help with Dinner In The Village?
Haven't been to Cuba or La Lanterna Caffe. Let us know if you go to Cuba and like it. I have yet to find a truly good Cuban restaurant in the Village. Regarding Piccolo Angolo, I think the food is below average and it is a bit frenetic. I would try Freddy's place on 8th between horatio and jane. similar menu, MUCH better food and terrific ambience.
Dinner for 6 downtown
I second Buddakan. For a big box restaurand VERY well executed and fun.
Great Restaurants in the Village?
If you want to have a great meal with plenty of meat, pasta, and fish options my favorite northern italian in the neighborhood is Da Umberto. Not as trendy as the Batali places but has been around for 30 years+ and is very very good. I prefer it to Lupa actually (although Babbo is in a class on its own). Warning, it isn't cheap.
Bachelorette Outing! Need your advice pls
I went out with a friend of mine to a place called "Le Souk" in the east village on Thursday night. It is a mediteranean restaurant/night club. It is more night club than restaurant but may have the menu and definitely has the atmosphere you are looking for.
Suggestions near 14th and 1st
Have heard too many conficting things about UPN and my wife didn't feel like hitting MSB so we went to Resto Leon. It was early so we were only one of two or three diners. I had Lamb CousCous and my wife had a skillet steak. Both were good and we liked the atmosphere. I good local choice. Thanks.
Suggestions near 14th and 1st
Going to a charity event tommorrow night at 14th and 1st. Looking to grab a quick but tasty meal early, around 6pm. Suggestions?
best romantic italian restaurant
There is a little italian red sauce joint on 8th avenue between Horatio and Jane called "Freddy's" (used to be La Cantina but the owner's name is Freddy and everybody just started calling it Freddy's place!). It is small, intimate, romantic, the food is good and you can probably have a wonderful meal for about $100. The food is on par with what you would get at Piccolo Angelo
Graduation Dinner
Buddakan is right next store to Del Posto and is actually a very good big box restaurant with a great NY vibe. The asian food is well executed and the bill will be considerably less than Del Posto.
Hip Tribeca Restaurant
The restaurant and bar at the Tribeca Grand hotel is a good meat market.
