Really?

Perhaps you had a bad experience. Every time I've gone I've enjoyed it a great deal. Their lamb vindaloo is excellent, I think.

Unfortunately, the Columbia area's restaurant scene is a bit lacking. In any case, I'd recommend the following:

Indian: Indus Valley (100th & Broadway)

Italian: Max Soha (123rd & Amsterdam) (note: cash only)

American-continental: Kitchenette (123rd & Amsterdam)

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Max Soha
1274 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

Kitchenette Uptown
1272 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

Indus Valley
2636 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Having been to Aquavit three times, it's unfortunate that I'm still yet to understand the hype surrounding it.

On none of my occasions was I particularly blown away by the food or service. However, I should note that I've only been there for lunch; perhaps it's a different atmosphere during dinner...

I was tempted to get the garlic bread, but then I had guilt pangs over calories.

Regardless, the woman in front of me ordered garlic bread for her grinder. From the looks of it, it's the same bread, but with a garlic/butter spread on the inside of the loaves. The bread itself doesn't look to be baked or prepared any differently, and it certainly isn't basted/coated in it.

Just got back from lunch there.

The place is, obviously, quite packed, with a line curling throughout the restaurant.

By the time I got to the counter, they had run out of the "classic" (i.e. beef meatballs), so I ordered lamb instead. I was more hungry than "adventurous," so I opted to forgo the crab option. I should note that by the time I left, a truck had pulled up with a new supply of beef.

In any case, my order was fairly standard: lamb on a grinder, with marina and provolone. For a side I got their "spuddies" (i.e. tater tots). Other sauce options included Al Fredo, Mushroom, and Tandoori, though apparently they didn't have the latter for the day.

To begin, I thought the lamb was very good; not too much breading, and the seasoning was not overdone. Overall, very tender. The bread was also surprisingly good, though there was perhaps too much of it considering the grinder gets 4 balls, and they aren't terribly large. The marina was fairly typical, perhaps a bit on the sweeter side. In terms of sides, the tater tots were also typical, perhaps even too soggy.

All in all, when the place calms down a bit, I'll likely return. Not bad at all, if it is a little bit pricey for lunch.

Blah, it's right by my office, so I was looking forward to going there for lunch.

However, they still weren't open.

The link provided actually has an update: the Health Inspector never showed up.

Agreed.

I've eaten at both for business, and I preferred Marea hands down. The Modern carries with it a degree of pretentiousness that's almost totally unwarranted, given what you're actually served. The food is hardly as "unique" or "original" as some posters have described, not to mention the portion sizes are fairly laughable.

In the case of Marea, the Burrata is outstanding, and the Octopus and Bone Marrow Fusilli is one of my favorite dishes in that area.

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019