nikklos's Profile
Dining near the Renaissance Downtown DC and a random question
JFW - I went to Corduroy last night and you are spot-on about how it is different from Michael's. I had the Spring Pea Soup, the Lobster Carpaccio (amazing), and the Antelope in a veal (?) reduction. All were refined and excellent.
I will have to choose from the recos that everyone has provided for my next few nights.
And I couldn't resist opening one of my packs of Teaism cookies just now!
Dining near the Renaissance Downtown DC and a random question
Thanks I just picked up a couple dozen Teaism cookies!
Do any of the restaurants mentioned have bar seating? I walked by Curdoroy and couldn't tell.
Dining near the Renaissance Downtown DC and a random question
Half-smokes sound interesting. Do they taste like hot dogs?
Wow, Corduroy looks amazing! It has a similar-type menu as Michael's Genuine down here in Miami.
Dining near the Renaissance Downtown DC and a random question
Hi all! I am attending a conference in DC next week and had a couple of questions.
1) Are there any great restaurants preferably within walking distance of the Renaissance downtown. I believe it is by a large convention center. I am really interested in "farm to table" type dining but would welcome any suggestions if the food is amazing. Price is not an object.
2) Could anyone suggest a local, regional type food that is unique to DC that I could ship back to the folks at my office? It is sort of a tradition when I attend these conferences but am at a loss when it comes to DC.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Chris
nyc'er coming to miami for one night
I'm from Manhasset and I can vouch that the Americana is very high end! More like a strip mall Rodeo Drive. Have to say the terrace at Michaels may bear a passing resemblance to the outside of that Italian rest there.
Bar eating by Waldorf Astoria
Thanks Kathryn. Didn't think about Yasuda - always wanted to try it. Le Bernardin and Robuchon may be a little too fussy for me - or, at least that is my perception. Never been to Robuchon but have been to :LB. Had a sitdown meal with a friend and just didn't feel comfortable.
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Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019
Bar eating by Waldorf Astoria
Thanks Kathryn. Really I am up for anything money-wise. I've been to the Modern several times and have enjoyed it.
Bar eating by Waldorf Astoria
Hi all! Could anyone recommend a good place to eat at the bar nearby the Waldorf Astoria (50th and Park)? Does Felidia have a bar? Thanks all.
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Felidia
243 E 58th St, New York, NY 10022
Eating at Bar in the MP District
Thanks for the tip, Kayhryn! I can't believe I'm saying this but the Pollo Diavolo may have been the best chicken dish I've had in my life! Certainly in the Top 10. And the octopus app was great too.
Eating at Bar in the MP District
Can anyone recommend a good place to eat at the bar in the Meatpacking District? Besides Scarpetta. Thanks!
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Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014
Duffy's Sports Grill opens first Miami location
Duffy's "Death Dog" is definitely "Chow-worthy"!
The Local Craft
Wow that place sounds really awesome. If I were them I would emphasize "The Local" part of the name or Tom Collichio might come after them for trademark infringement. I would if I were him.
Near Westin on Market St.
Wow. Checked out all the menus. They all look great. I cannot wait to go. Thank you so much!
Near Westin on Market St.
Hi all! I will be staying at the Westin on Market St, for 4 days around mid-May. What are the best restaurants within walking distance? Sorry for the amorphous request but really any type of cuisine will do. However, I am particularly partial to restaurants like Craft in NY and Michael's in Miami.
Thank you in advance for your help!
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
I just had lunch at Joe's on Saturday and they had the King Crab Claw. Delicious.
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
I have never been to Graziano's (Bird Rd.) for lunch but, wow, if the menupages site is accurate, the lunch menu is limited indeed. In my estimation, there are three essentials to order at Graziano's and the menupages lunch menu only has one:
"Chorizitos De Caza: Jabali Picante, Faisan Con Nueces Y Cordero Merguez game sausages, spicy wild boar, pheasant and chicken with hazelnuts, cognac, and lamb merguez flamed in cognac"
The two others are only listed on the dinner menu:
"Provoleta Parrillera Con Tomate, Oregano Y Oliva Extra Virgen grilled argentine provolone cheese topped with fresh beefsteak tomatoes, oregano & extra virgin olive oil"
"Parrillada De Carne Y Achuras Tiernas mix grill with sausage, blood sausage, sweetbreads, small intestine, beef flap meat and beef short ribs"
Everything else on either menu is pretty great as well, so I don't know if it is limited so dramatically as to not recommend doing lunch.
As far as what makes it such a unique experience, I think TPigeon is on target. I still remember the first time I walked into this rather non-descript space years ago. I was immediately hit by this heat coming from the glass-enclosed pit. There was a giant pig splayed and roasting - it kind of startled me actually! The aroma was just so intense and wonderful. The room was bustling. Never expected to find such a scene when I walked through the door. There is nothing quite like it - at least in Miami or NYC.
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Graziano's Restaurant
9227 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
Don't get me wrong - we need "rip-offs" of great NYC concepts here in Miami. I am all for it. But for someone to come down here and go to Gigi - which is indeed a complete and blatant rip - an inferior hybrid of Ssam and Noodle Bar - would be a waste.
OK Sakaya for a quick, order at the counter lunch, fine. Although its whole raison d'être is, essentially, the pork bun.
What really saddens me is that so many people - tourists and locals alike - have not been to the original Grazianos (ON BIRD RD) because they dismiss it as just another Argentine steakhouse. It is so much more and truly one of the most unique Miami culinary experiences.
To weigh in on the Michael's lunch/dinner debate. I have never been to Sunday brunch but it sounds lovely. I have been to dinner many times and it is the best thing going in Miami - it is sort of like Red Cat in NY but much better. I go to lunch during the workweek often and it is just not the same. Can't put my finger on it.
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Graziano's Restaurant
9227 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
Zuma is so much more than that though (granted I have purposely avoided the cod and the sushi). The Lobster Miso Soup and the Lamb Chops are worth the trip alone.
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
But I will say, Gigi, in particular, is much more of a rip-off of Momofuku than Sakaya Kitchen.
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
Even if the Momofukus are a little better, why come to Miami and waste a meal on a NYC knock-off?
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
Really? God, I think the food at Zuma is great. I'll even eat the corn on the cob there and love it and I generally hate corn on the cob!
NYC Hound in Miami for a few days
I second Zuma. While there may be robata grill in NYC, I cannot think of an equivalent experience.
Come to think of it, I also second Graziano's (on Bird Road) for the same reason.
Places like Gigi and Sakaya Kitchen, I would avoid. You get much better at any of the Momofukus.
You are on target with Michael's and Joe's is most definitely a singular Miami experience.
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Graziano's Restaurant
9227 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33165
Restaurant near JW Marriott Marquis
Agreed that everything is good. The Pappardelle Milano and the Bucatini are my favorites along with the simple Tagliatelle with meat ragu (served at lunch but can be had for dinner for an extra $2.00 charge).
Among appetizers, really enjoy the Mussels in white wine and olive oil with tomatoes and capers. And their Buratta is great.
While I am not a dessert person, the cannoli is something else - it is served with cream on the side and is just incredible.
Blind Mind - sorry but I have to agree with Fineas on the MetroMover. Even I get stuck on the wrong loop from time to time.
Restaurant near JW Marriott Marquis
No knock on River Oyster, but Fratelli Milano's a no-brainer. "Not overly expensive Italian". And excellent. Plus it is practically a block away from the Marriott.
I am at the point where I would rather eat there than Gabbiano any night of the week. Unless we were talking "very special occasion"-type thing.
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The River Oyster Bar
650 S. Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33130
Restaurant near JW Marriott Marquis
FRATELLI MILANO. Without a doubt based on what you are looking for. Honestly, there are few better places to eat dinner in Miami.
Meals near the Epic Hotel
Believe me, I have given Area 31 a lot of chances...lunches, brunches and dinners. It is so convenient to me and I really wish it was better. But it is bad to mediocre. And ridiculously expensive to boot.
It is too bad - it is such an attractive place and you can get a very decent cocktail there. They must have some kind of marketing machine to be touted in national publications all the time.
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Area 31
270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131
Meals near the Epic Hotel
Please, for the love of God, make sure your reservation is at Zuma and not Area 31.
Duck Egg at Sugarcane
Had dinner at Sugarcane in Midtown Miami last night. Felt compelled to post about a tapas dish simply called "Duck Egg" that I enjoyed. I wanted to call attention to it because the name is such a misnomer for what the dish actually is.
The dish consists of sliced beef tongue "stew" on a nice rustic bread topped by a perfectly cooked sunny side up duck egg. It was really quite phenomenal. When I first glanced at the menu, I thought it would be just some sort of hard-boiled egg but the bartender clued me into it. Have been to Sugarcane several times and never thought to order it.
The brocollini was also pretty fantastic.
Michael's Genuine is slipping. Agree?
Sad to say, but I think Michael's has slipped. It is still a very good restaurant - I guess it would be hard to maintain such a high level night after night, considering the accolades and crowds of diners clamoring for a table. Who knows, maybe it is my own familiarity with the dishes that has bred my contempt.
Went Friday night, and man, they just cannot get that Double Yolk egg consistently right. It is about 60-40 that you will be served a hard-boiled yolk. It makes the toast they serve on top virtually pointless. When they get it right, man, it is heavenly but you take a gamble ordering it - especially when you are trying to impress someone with how great it is.
The Rack of Lamb was cold and not tasty. The Pork Chop, while decent, seemed overly sauced. And it is a real chore to eat those greens they serve it with.
Still enjoy the Rice Cake immensely though.
Apiary or I Trulli
Thanks everyone. Went to Apiary. It was really good. Had an interesting asparagus app in a cheese sauce. Grilled octopus app was cooked perfectly. The Rabbit pappardelle and roasted chicken mains were delicious. And the orzo with cheese side was addictive.
