MDP's Profile
Where to take 10-12 people for a fun dinner in downtown Manhattan
Hi everyone. I was hoping to tap the board's expertise to help me with a work-related social event I am setting up. Here are the guidelines:
- Open to cuisines and eating style (i.e., sharing or not, small plates style or not, etc.)
- $100/person inclusive of tax and drink (we are not big drinkers)
- Young group, favor some place that's a little more casual and fun rather than refined. Willing to sacrifice a little on food quality for the overall scene
- Invitees are relatively new to New York - so less jaded then the average chowhound and more easily wowed perhaps :)
- Downtown preferred....e.g., E/W Village, Nolita, Soho, Tribeca, Chelsea, etc.
Any estimate as to the difficulty in getting reservations would be helpful as well.
Thanks in advance!
Little Owl - weekend walk-in?
You may want to try dropping in early and waiting for a table. I went two weekends ago without reservations (at around 9) and the hostess took our name and cell phone. We then went and had a drink at Little Branch a few blocks away and then were called ~45 min later.
The New French (on Hudson): a short review
Jorel - my girlfriend and I went a week ago and had nearly the same order and reaction. Better than good, nearly great, but not outstanding. We split the pizza bianca to start and I had the roast chicken and she had the steak salad. Pretty nice vibe....will be back again.
Korean BBQ
I think for barbeque Don Bogam is very good. I think the BBQ platter is a must get...but the best is clearly the marinated beef at the end.
I'd say the issue with Don Bogam is not its authenticity, but just that a few of the dishes are not very good. For instance, I think the non-BBQ is a mixed bag (I didn't like the Pajun or the bibimbap). I thought a few of the soups were pretty good though - Dduk Mandoo Gook was pretty good, my American friends liked the Jap chae. If I remember right, the nakji bokkum was pretty good too.
In general, I liked the place. I think some of my fellow Korean's on the board are pretty tough on the places in Manhattan - and while I agree with them that there are no stars - I think Don Bogam was good food, but more more importantly, I thought it was a really fun place to take my friends (non-Korean and Korean) and we all had a good time.
Otto Recs?
I really enjoy the Cauliflower "Alla Siciliana"...the rest of the antipasti are very good, but i think this one is the best at Otto. For pasta, I like the Pasta Alla Norma and the linguine with the speck.
Which steakhouse & WHY?
Just to add my two cents, I would narrow it to Keens and Striphouse, and choose Keens
Keens is my personal favorite - excellent steak (and their mutton chop is ridiculously good) - and the ambiance, history, character make it unbeatable in my opinion. It feels like a New York steak house. Great scotch menu. I really think you'll like it. I've celebrated a few of my own birthdays there already...
Striphouse - may have every so slightly better steak than Keens, but this probably depends on the night. Overall, I don't like it as much (service, decor), but the NY strip and chocolate cake are amazing.
I think Capital Grille is underrated and more than your average chain - but its too "corporate expense account-y" for me. BLT Steak is not great.
Stanton Social
I've been there a few times, once for brunch and maybe two or three times for dinner, including last Friday night. I was with 5 other people and we had a great time. I think the food is good to very good - nothing that will blow you away, but tasty. The real attraction for me is that its great with groups because you can share your food with so many people.
I've liked the Red Snapper Tacos, Crab Cake corndogs, and Chicken and Waffles. The Kobe burger sliders and the french onion dumplings I think were OK. We very much liked the drinks - but I don't remember what they were.
I'd agree with oolah about the investment bankers, etc., but I don't think its any different than other trendy-ish Manhattan places on a weekend night. On other occasions like for Brunch I've thought the scene to be just fine.
