mbyanuck's Profile
Quiet lunch place near Columbus Circle, Central Pk W area
Thank you! I just looked them up and it does sound lovely.
Quiet lunch place near Columbus Circle, Central Pk W area
Any suggestions for nice ladies-do-lunch and need to hear each other speak place in above area? Don't need to impress, just enjoy food and conversation.
After theater...must be able to hear!
Any suggestions for after theater place for dessert/coffee around 45th/Broadway for out of town guests on a Saturday night? Would like to converse and not scream to be heard.
dim sum in westchester this weekend in January 2010
We keep going back to Aberdeen for its variety and authenticity. If you haven't been in awhile it gets quite crowded on weekends so make a reservation.
Romantic restaurant in SoHo or Village
My husband and I are celebrating my 50th birthday with a visit to the Rock N roll Hall of Fame annex and nice romantic dinner. Need to have a good steak on the menu for my husband but I eat everything! Would love some suggestions!
"42" in White Plains -- review
Here's a recent update on "42": My husband and I went for dinner on Saturday evening, Sept 12/09 to celebrate an anniversary. I took a chance and called at the last minute for a reservation. I was told they had "an incredibly busy night" but they could seat us if we dined on the late side, and we accepted a 9:30 reservation. The host on the phone was very nice, chatty, asked if it was a special occasion, etc.
We live in White Plains, but had not been to the new Ritz Carlton. We, too, had the same "where are we?" reaction once in the lobby. The decor is minimalist and they've omitted as much signage as possible, so it took a stop at the front desk to get directions to the restaurant. We were welcomed graciously by the elevator attendant and taken up to the top.
Once up there we found out why the place was so "incredibly busy". The main restaurant was closed for a private function; a wedding reception. However, our host took us on a little tour and allowed us to peek into the wedding party and take a look at the view from that side of the building. Then we were escorted up a flight of stairs to the second level of the restaurant and we were seated side by side facing the view. No, it isn't Manhattan, but there is a charm all the same and we had fun pointing out familiar places and landmarks.
I have only one complaint about our table. There was a loud party of four next to us and we could hear the music from the lounge, which took away from the quiet romantic evening we'd had in mind. I discovered later, that if we'd asked to move to a table farther into that section, a small room divider would have muffled the sound and we would have been much more comfortable. Live and learn. Having never been there before, what did we know??!!
Now, the food....We opted for appetizers and entrees rather than the tasting menus. We just didn't care for the tasting menu entrees that evening. Did note, however, that they have a third option called a Market Menu that was very reasonable... and I believe that $10 of the cost goes to Blythedale Children's Hospital.
We ordered the salmon tartar and the heirloom tomato appetizers. They brought the salmon and a spinach salad by error. The salad was spirited away with apologies and shortly brought back again and we were told to enjoy it while they prepared the heirloom tomato dish. And we did...and they were all, all three, quite yummy.
The amuse bouche was fantastic - a mussel ceviche. I could have stopped there and wished for a platter of them!
Our entrees were duck and bison. Contrary to the above comments, we found the portions more than adequate compared to other similar establishments. Perhaps because these entrees were not from a tasting menu. Perhaps they've read some of the previous reviews from 2008 and adjusted things. However, I took a bite of the bison, which was gorgeous and inviting, and found it so spicy I couldn't eat it. I pushed aside the vegetables and tried again and realized i would not be able to continue with a burning mouth. Immediately we had a senior someone at our table side. I had not seen this man before...though one doesn't see too much of the staff when one is facing the window with one's back to the restaurant!
Anyway, he asked if the person who took our order had informed me the bison was a spicy dish. They had not. I also read menus very carefully and did not remember seeing that in the description of the dish. Like the minimalist decor, so too is the menu. They brought me a menu and under the bison was simply "7 spices, potato puree and mushrooms". Nowhere did it indicate the 7 spices referred to were a Cajun rub! There was no way to "fix it" and I was encouraged to order the veal, which I did. This was a full and beautiful and delicious plate and I couldn't finish it. The leftovers were wrapped up and delivered to our table in an oversized bright red "42" shopping bag.
We shared a chocolate dessert which was pretty and nice, but I think there is a tendency to be trendy and a need to over-decorate plates with drips of too many sauces, gelees and other faddy additions. In the meantime, the loud table of four near us apparently knew one of the chefs who came tableside and pulled out a container of liquid nitrogen and created a dessert just for them. Maybe I've been watching too much "Top Chef"!
The table settings and accessories used throughout the meal were lovely. They prompted me to order Harney Earl Grey tea which was presented in a tea pot and served in a light-as-air Rosenthal tea cup. Yes, I admit it, I turned over the saucer to see what china was used. Hey, no one could see...I was facing a window !! A sweet little plate of cookies accompanied our tea and coffee.
To be fair, yes, we'd go again but I'd like to see the view at different times of day. They serve a high tea which would be a perfect girls' day out!
I don't know how much our meal cost because I didn't see the bill. This was a special anniversary (yes, the matre d'hotel did wish us a happy anniversary) and we knew we would be spending a lot, so it was totally expected. They did not charge us for the mistakenly delivered salad nor the rejected bison NOR our dessert.
When the table of four next to us left, we savored the atmosphere a bit more before leaving ourselves. We also asked our waiter about the sound issue, particularly the music which seemed to be coming from different sources. He told us it was from the lounge, which pumps up the sound around 10 PM. We also learned that 42 and the lounge close at midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. We thought that was really odd since the lounge, particularly, is a terrific spot for a late night drink and there are so many bars in White Plains that stay open quite late. Never did get the answer to that question.
Leaving at midnight, the hotel lobby was almost deserted. Again, silly inexperienced us, it took another stop at the front desk to find out how to find the valet. Apparently the valet booth was right next to the main entrance, but we didn't see it on the way in. Oh well, we made it home.
If you have the money to spend on such a meal, you have to make your own judgment on 42. Bon Appetite!
Kid friendly places near Museum of Natural History
Taking two kids (one teen, one tween) to the Planetarium Friday. Any suggestions for lunch that won't break the bank?
