nocaliban's Profile
Frankfurt
Wow, surprised at how few people responded to your original post. I head to Frankfurt in November for a few days. Staying in Villa Kennedy (on biz). Holbein could work but may be a bit fussy. The Steinernes Haus looks like it's changed hands recently and gone downhill. A buddy did recommend a Szechuan place in the Westin. But he knows I'm a sucker for spicy Chinese anywhere in the world. Any other suggestions since then? Even Zagat has very few recommendations. Cheers, NC
Looking for restaurant in Milan
Happen to be in Milano tonight. Perhaps you are thinking of Orti di Leonardo? It's at Palazzo delle Stelline Via Aristide de Togni 6-8 Milan, Italy 20123. Certainly cave-like but don't recall any signed menus.
Richardson's, Tarbells or Rancho Pinot tonight?
Had light late dinner at bar at Tarbells tonight. 1st visit. Cioppino and arugula flatbread. Each pretty good if not inspiring. Had Argentinian pinot noir and malbec by the glass. Both had been up on the counter and were a bit warm. But very comfortable and would try again for a 'real meal'.
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Tarbell's
3213 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Thank you PHX & SCF--longish
Thanks JK. Note we ate on the outdoor patio at Gainey Ranch, and asked for the regular indoor bar menu from which we chose appetizers. Seemed to work.
Also, had a chance to swing by Dick's Hideaway for late lunch. Excellent green chile stew, quesadilla and house caesar. Wine specials at $5 a pop a great value. Klinker Brick zin was served a bit cold (came out of same fridge as La Crema chard) but warmed up ok. Raised a glass to the cook behind the counter and enjoyed our mid-day meal.
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Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Thank you PHX & SCF--longish
We're most of the way through a week visit splitting time between Hyatt Regency Gainey and Biltmore. First, you all should be proud of the board quality here. We don't post much, but we read a lot, and thanks for all your suggestions. Hunt and JK... you've have been particularly helpful (and really fun to read).
We often eat at bars, and our bar service has been uniformly outstanding. You grow good barkeeps out here. No exceptions so far.
And still up are meals at Richardson's and Noca. So wish us luck.
Sat night Cowboy Ciao. Third visit there. Fun flight of pink bubbles for aperitif and then a very solid Sangiovese set. Their chopped salad remains the standard-setter for us. Mushroom and polenta was still very good, but not ethereal. Could be us just getting used to how good it is.
Sunday Gainey Ranch Hyatt Regency Patio. Maybe best single dish yet on trip. Scallop and shrimp chipotle. Perfectly cooked, with outside sear and moist inside. Spicing subtle and fresh. Flat out excellent. The old caveat about not eating in the hotel out the window here. And the view fantastic.
Mon night: ZInc Bistro. 2nd visit. We didn't do any deep thinking here. Clay scored points with recommendation of simple Cotes du Rhone to go with the steak frites, which was perfectly cooked. It's a bistro, we ate bistro food, and we liked it a lot.
Tues night: Los Somberos. Another good bartender. 1st visit. Huitlacoche Crepas very good. Lamb what it should be, though I cheated and crushed some chips into the broth to thicken. But tortillas a non-starter. Gooey, steamy, industrial. Would have asked for another batch, but why bother if they would have come out again from same process. With rest of food so decent, I would pay up for real-deal tortillas. (or BYOT?)
Wed night: Bloom. 2nd visit. I think same bartender we had a couple of years ago. Which is nice. Spoke knowledgeably of the wines off the cuff and without pretense about flights. I had 'cult reds' and SO had upscale chards. Beet salad excellent, as were artichoke/parmesan/truffle oil. Pad Thai shrimp were more poached than stir-fried, but ok. Will come back
Thurs night? Maybe Richardson's or their place around the side.
Friday night: Noca. By the way, making reservations at Noca was one of the funner calls to a restaurant I've made in a while. Called early this week, and if it wasn't owner who answered it was someone who paid attention. Looking forward to this one.
Cheers and thanks again!
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Cowboy Ciao
7133 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Los Sombreros Cafe & Cantina
2534 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Zinc Bistro
15034 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Richardson's Cuisine of New Mexico
1582 E. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Noca
3118 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Gainey Ranch Hyatt Regency
7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ
Bloom
8877 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Best brunch in NY?
Great job on suggestions and thanks to Kathryn for her effort. My take from recent experience at Cafe at Country (last week). Was so strangely off that may be easier to list odd service elements. Arrived at 10:30 am with party of 5 (we 2 locals and 3 visitors). Room quarter full. Hostess sat us, gave menus, ordered coffee and wine list for 'make our own' mimosas. 10:45, no coffee as they're making new. Order bottle of cava and fresh OJ. Start to place order and waitress mentions that she'll bring us brunch menu as it starts at 11. Comes back w/ brunch menus. 10:55 I track her down as no coffee yet, no cava. 'coffee on its way, and sorry, but you can't order alcohol before noon on Sunday, so no mimosas'. Fine. Order 4 eggs benny and pancakes. Order 2 decaf. Decaf arrives cold in pot. Benny and pancakes arrive. Potato patties cool to touch and cold in center. Ask for tabasco. Hot decaf arrives. Finish breakfast. Tabasco arrives (though not sure tabasco, as comes in little creamer pitcher). Noon arrives. So we get cava, get OJ (which was excellent) combine and life getting better. Some tips for their staff: Server should avoid reaching over two people with coffee pot to pour. Busser should not collect and stack dirty plates and cutlery over an empty chair with white sweater draped on it. So net: food mediocre and badly presented. Service polite but ill-trained.
Fresco's in Hamilton, Bermuda
Good afternoon, Athena,
I've only recently started up on Chowhound, but have to tell you how much I've enjoyed your posts. (and followed many of your recommendations, as have spent a couple of weeks a month in Bermuda for the past several years).
Your reviews have been spot on with my experience, and have added several worthy places to my rota.
Cheers!
Restaurant recs Old Saybrook CT area (by I-95)
Three of us went to Liv’s last night, a Thursday. We had early reservations, at 6:45, and main dining room and bar was full except for two 4 tops. Smaller front room and sidewalk dining had some room, but seems reservations necessary. Main room was a little noisy, but not overwhelming. But all that simply prelude for what may have been the best seafood lineup, apps and mains, I can recall. For apps we shared 2 raw oyster samplers and an order of fried oysters. Half-shells outstanding, well presented and the goofy flag labels they use to identify one type from another actually work well. (I particularly like PEI Blackberry Point oysters). Fried oysters were spectacular, with 6 served on seasoned slaw. A hit. Mains were: halibut on fava and gnocchi; seared tuna on a fennel slaw, and; Stonington scallops on lobster risotto. Recipes outstanding, exquisitely prepared, excellent raw materials, well presented, great tasting, good value. Yup, checks all of our boxes. Bread nice and service very pleasant. We were full so passed on desserts and coffee. Next time. Bar was nice too. But go for the food. Well worth our drive from Fairfield County.
New Stamford Restaurant?
Attended a small business dinner at Saltwater Grill last night. It was chilly for summer, so less busy than I’d expected it to be. Multi-levels, and I missed the alcove where my party was seated during my first tour of the place, but hostess was helpful. Apps for table were good to very good, scallops grilled correctly and well garnished, calamari better than most. Others at table got pasta dishes that looked kind of goopy in the bowl, in a mac and cheese kind of way. Short ribs were ok. Desserts very good. Waiter was a highlight. Professionally comfortable but not too familiar. Saltwater has great location. I hope they can benefit from the virtuous circle of great location drawing crowds that support exceptional food. They’ve certainly got the location and the setup for bar scene, groups and private dinners. So I’ll go for business lunches and dinners, and hope food catches up to the rest of the reasons to return.
The Dressing Room, Westport
First time visiting the Dressing Room last night. I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but was proven wrong enough to go again for another data point.
After drinks (happily surprised to see Chris, a true veteran, behind the bar) went to be seated at 7 pm and host, bless him, was nice enough to reseat our four top in the front dining room when our first table, in the completely empty back dining room, seemed a little lonely.
Ipswich clams were exceptional: all that fried clams should be. My chopped salad tartly over-dressed and no hint of dill. The heirloom tomato and cheese special looked very good. Lavender chicken at our table smelled great and got good reviews. My burger (silly me, but it’s what I wanted) was nicely cooked. Desserts very good to excellent.
One suggestion: please, please, please train your bussers not to scrape and stack plates at the table. Please.
Verdict: I'll try it again in a bit.
Schoolhouse at Cannondale - Wilton, CT
Had a very enjoyable dinner at Schoolhouse last week. My wife and I like to sit next to each other when we can, and host was nice enough to let us sit on adjacent sides of a deuce. Appreciated and set a nice tone. Which is what the Schoolhouse seemed to do in general. Food was simple and abundant (we split the gnocchi and a beef dish). Gnocchi were unusual—more cylinder than dumpling shaped. Perfectly cooked and served with nice peas and morels. Dessert was lemon three ways. A cleansing end to the meal (nit: the lemon water could use something, not sure what, to sharpen it just a touch). The room is clean and welcoming. People were chatting between tables—which can sometimes be distracting but here felt perfectly natural, and no different than the school kids comparing notes a hundred years ago. The food, the room, and the staff (including Chef LaBant, when he came out to the dining room) showed thought and poise. A keeper on the dining list.
