toum's Profile
Vindaloo -- Where can I get it?
Very interesting. I have tried Tadka's chicken vindaloo (take out) was very disappointed. It was basically tons of oil and lots of chili powder, without any complexity or balance.
I tried the lamb vindaloo, on the other hand, and it was a lot better. The sauce was a lot less oily, and there was a lot more to the sauce.
Vong -- HORRIBLE experience!
Both of those restaurants are excellent, I totally agree.
Vong -- HORRIBLE experience!
The service is great. No problems on that front at all. It was just the food that disappointed me.
Here are more details re the food:
The raw tuna appetizer roll did not work -- it too was plain, and there was something off about the texture of the stuff it was wrapped in (way too weak). It came with dipping sauce, which held out the promise of remedying the inherent blandness, and the sauce was tasty enough in its own right, but didnt really go with the tuna. There was a taste in it -- I think vineger, am not sure -- that clashed with the tuna.
The other dish I tried was the mushroom and artichoke carpaccio. This was an interesting dish conceptually, but it just didnt taste good to me, and I love mushroom and artichokes. It was under-seasoned to my taste.
A more specific statement of my problem with the salmon is that the dish came bombarded with the taste of pumpkin. That was the really the only taste that came through the entire dish. The menu, incidentlaly, does not really lead one to expect that pumpkin will dominate the dish, as the menu, as I recall, merely says that the dish is prepared with "fall vegetables" -- never even mentioning pumpkin by name, and suggesting that there would be more than one vegetable!
Those were the only non-sweet dishes I tried. (The sweets were awesome, truly.)
Vong -- HORRIBLE experience!
Went to Vong last night for a special dinner, and pulled no stops on cost. Got several courses and all sorts of different dishes and they all were bad, without an exception. The worst was the Salmon dish. Wow, that was some of the blandest and uninspired food I've ever tasted.
The desserts were great, though. But still, overall, it was a deeply disappointing dinner. I was shocked that this place is associated with Jean-Georges and also that it has a Michelin Star. I felt cheated and regretted that I had chosen it to celebrate a special occasion.
Am I missing something?!
What is a Phaal? Is this a real Indian Curry?
I agree about authenticity -- pleasing my palate is more important to me than pleasing tradition.
That said: is phaal any good?
Gordon Ramsey at the London
Update: Very mixed. Here is what I ate and thought.
The bad:The canapes and the amuse were boring, and much less tasty than stuff I have had at even non-Michelin-approved restaurants, such as EMP. The fois gras was bad. The texture was not right at all. The scallops were very bland.
The good: The halibut with american caviar was excellent. Ad the traditional turkey dinner with stuffing, etc. was also great. The desserts were good, and the bon bon trolley was nice -- though the petit fours at Del Posto are much, much better.
I wonder if I try different dishes on the menu, whether I might have a better experience. I liked the setting, space and service. And I assume that Gordo would be capable of more. Plus, there were so many raving posts on this board. So, I am wiling to go again.
Gordon Ramsey at the London
Tell me what to expect -- am going tomorrow.
I am particularly interested to hear from people who have eaten there both before the new chef arrived and also when Neil Ferguson was still there. Has the restaurant gotten better since the new chef has taken over? Or was it always good, notwithstanding Bruni and Platt's tepid reviews?
Received gift certificate for One If By Land
Don't worry -- you will have a nice evening. The dishes I have tried have all been good (if not always great). And since this is a gift from someone, the main problem with this place will not affect you -- namely, that it is overpirced.
One if By Land is priced in the range of restaurants that are in a higher league (especially from the point of view of food alone -- the value one places on the setting and space may be enough to tip the scales for some diners), and I think this is what accounts for the abundance of negative posts on this board. But don't let that mislead you. This place is not Tavern on the Green. The consensus on this board is much too severe.
One dish I can vouch for is the pork dish, which is still on the menu. It was very good. The other dish I had, which is not on the menu anymore, is a lobster gazpacho -- which was very tasty.
What is a Phaal? Is this a real Indian Curry?
interesting -- does it taste of anything but chili powder?
Devi?
RGR: Are you sure about the tasting menu? My understanding was that the 5-course tasting menu that used to be offered is not being offered right now. All that is available is a 3-course prix fixe for 45 (not 40).
AIso, I hadn't heard about the 20% discount. Did you find about this upon visiting the restaurant?
Vindaloo -- Where can I get it?
Right? You would think that the owner would have more pride -- I can't believe that he thinks that what he is serving is edible. I
I am glad Swagat has finally dropped in the Zagat -- it used to have a very high rating for food, which I know mislead a lot of people. It has dropped to 19, which is still high given how nasty some of the dishes are.
What is a Phaal? Is this a real Indian Curry?
Or is it just a gimmick?
I like hot food -- but only when it is also tasty! My worry is that there is no attempt to make the curry be anything but hot.
Anyone had the Phaal at Chola or Brick Lane Curry House? Those are the two places I know of that serve it.
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Chola
232 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
Brick Lane Curry House
306-308 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10003
Thai in Manhattan? Anywhere decent?
Any recommendations for Thai in Manhattan?
Pam's to my mouth seems OK but not excellent. Are there any better places? Anything in Manhattan that approaches -- I know it is impossible to match -- Sripraphai?
Vindaloo -- Where can I get it?
One of the worst dishes I have ever eaten was the vindaloo at Swagat on Amsterdam ~80st. The sauce consisted of TONS of sugar, canned tomato paste, tamato sauce, and chili powder. What bothered wasn't so much that it wasn't the real Goan dish, but that it was disgusting.
Ada also has a nasty vindaloo -- also made with tons of sugar.
Wu Liang Ye -- What should I order?
Can you recommend a dish with a lot of sichuan peppercorns in it?
Bombay Talkie -- Any thoughts>
Anyone eaten here recently? Is the food good? The premise seems interesting. But I am not sure . . . worried that it will be too dull.
Chola -- What to order?
interesting . . . if you remember, do share. that sounds like what i would go with
Chola -- What to order?
Thanks. I agree with you. The problem, though, is that given my schedule, I cant really do lunch there.
What are some of your favorite items on the buffet?
Chola -- What to order?
Tell me what you all like at Chola. They have a big menu, and am not sure what I should order.
Vindaloo -- Where can I get it?
Exactly!
That's what I have been looking for -- the real Goan variety. I am glad to know that I am not just being super picky. It has seemed to me, having spent four years in the UK, and having visisted south India, that while there is good Indian food to be had in NYC, there are certain dishes that are consistently bad. The Vindaloo is one of them.
I heard that the Brick Lane Curry House has a good one. I might give it a try.
What do you think of Chola, Peter? Their Vindaloo tasted good, though it was way too oily.
Vindaloo -- Where can I get it?
I want a good vindaloo. I havent found one yet.
What are your favorite places?
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
What is weird is that I went here during restaurant week in August -- and my fiancee and actually thought the food was very good. The pork dish (I cant remember the name) was excellent. And the soup we had was awesome.
I wouldnt say it would have been worth paying full price for. But it was certainly worth paying restaurant week price for.
The service was unobjectionable, and the space was beautiful.
Bread Bar at Tabla VS Tamarind?
Trying to decide which to take my parents to tomorrow. Please help.
