Actually, I just saw Maestro's is open for lunch. I've never been there, but it looks like the most promising place...Can someone please confirm or deny?

I'm going to be in Saratoga for lunch tomorrow. I used to eat at the Grey Gelding, but it's closed.

I want a place in town, walking distance, where I can have a relaxing lunch, great ambiance, decent food, good wine list, and good service.

Cost is no object. Really, I want nice ambiance and a bottle of wine.

Please help! Any ideas for places similar to Grey Gelding?

Lumber Yard has a sign up saying it is opening in October. It's from the people that run the Sconset Cafe in Nantucket. Looks like a great space, and will feature wines. I have high hopes for it!

Chez Albert's new space looks great too, supposed to move in in August, I believe. They are adding a bar and outdoor seating. Should be great for them.

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Chez Albert
27 S Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01002

Thanks for the info, I may check it out. Although honestly, if you're serving food, you shouldn't have a run-down building. It's just not done that way.

Also, the website just has their hours, all the other pages on it are a default template.

Northampton has countless restaurants, can you give us some pointers about what you like and don't like in terms of food, service, ambiance, etc?

In general, Green St. is my favorite restaurant in Northampton.

Yes, but I'm particularly interested in hearing about Chanticleer, and I didn't find much about it on this board. (In fact, there isn't a ton about Nantucket in general, which is surprising given the number of nice restaurants.)

So I'm hoping to hear from someone who has been to Chanticleer recently, and can compare it to Oran Mor for me. I like Oran Mor, just curious to try somewhere new.

As for Centre St., when I've visited in October in past years, it has been closed for dinner, and maybe even some days for lunch. I think they reduce their hours off-season.

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Oran Mor
2 S Beach St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Sadly, I don't think there are any butchers, or at least good butchers in Western MA. At least I don't know of any. I get my meat from local markets, but the quality is variable, even when you pay higher prices. I wouldn't recommend any of them as a great place to get meat.

There are some farms in the area that raise beef, but they need to be shipped East for slaughter, and thus end up back here frozen. River Valley Market in Northampton probably has the best selection of truly local beef, mostly frozen, rarely fresh.

(Regarding Arnold's, I've never been, but my impression of it is it's a place where people go to get large amounts of cheap meat, like the WalMart of meat. So it's a butcher, true, but I wouldn't go expecting special high-end quality meat. Just my two cents.)

Yes, I like Oran Mor a lot. I've been there a few times, so I'm comfortable with it, and I know it's good.

In terms of trying something new, I'm thinking of going to The Chanticleer in Sconset, or Straight Wharf.

Can anyone compare those places to Oran Mor?

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Oran Mor
2 S Beach St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Straight Wharf Restaurant
6 Harbor Sq, Nantucket, MA 02554

I go to Nantucket every Fall, for 3 nights.

My three favorite places to eat, in order, are:

1) Company of the Cauldron
2) 21 Federal
3) The Boarding House.

21 Federal is closed, sadly, so I have to pick another place this year. I need advice on where to go.

I tend to require beautiful ambiance, and good service. Those are my prejudices.

These are the options, and my own subjective comments on them:

Oran Mor - Ate there a few times, I liked it a lot. By default, this is my 4th favorite restaurant on Nantucket, and I'll probably replace 21 Federal with this, unless talked out of it by a better choice.

American Seasons - Ate there once, hated it with a passion. Worst restaurant on the island. No way. Dark, miserable, weird menu, horrible service. My idea of the worst possible restaurant.

Centre Street Bistro - Loved the food. Cute place. But they usually aren't open for dinner in October. So I don't think it's an option. Also, this is a little smaller and more casual than I would ideally prefer.

The Pearl - It was cool inside, but I like the cozy Boarding House way better, so The Pearl is out.

Lola 41 - Never been, but I've walked past it at night, and it looks like a crazy hookup scene. I'm totally not into this vibe, so Lola 41 is definitely out.

Ventuno - No, I wouldn't go to the replacement of 21 Federal.

Chanticeleer - I've never been. It looks good on the website, although some people say it's past its prime. I'd love to hear advice on this place, with the understanding that I love places like Company of the Cauldron, and I loved 21 Federal. It seems I would like this place.

Sconset Cafe - Looks good, although borderline too casual. I hate BYOB, it feels like I'm having a picnic, not eating in a nice restaurant.

Brick Bistro - Hotel restaurant, absolutely no.

Demarco - No.

Straight Wharf Restaurant - I need advice on this place. It looks great on the website, but the comments I read make it sound like a singles hookup bar. Can I have a nice dinner here, with good service? Or is it all drunken 30 year olds trying to hookup?

Slip 14 - I walked by, and it looks "ok". I'm not sure what to think about it. The menu looks good, but it looks very casual, and has the vibe of an alleyway.

So, to recap, I'm leaning towards Chanticeleer, with Oran Mor next. I'd like Straight Wharf, but I'm wary of "the scene" there. I'd probably enjoy Sconset Cafe, but it's really a little too casual for my taste.

Slip 14 is an extreme long shot.

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21 Federal Restaurant
21 Federal St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Demarco
9 India St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Company of the Cauldron
7 India St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Oran Mor
2 S Beach St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Straight Wharf Restaurant
6 Harbor Sq, Nantucket, MA 02554

Lola 41
15 S Beach St, Nantucket, MA 02554

Slip 14
14 Old South Wharf, Nantucket, MA 02554

American Seasons
80 Center St, Nantucket, MA 02554

I agree 100%, but I acknowledge that people have "very strong" opinions one way or the other. Some parents believe that their infants should be able to go anywhere at any time.

I think CH doesn't want huge arguments about it, which I can understand, but I think it's wrong to delete only the opinions like yours and mine, and allow opinions that it's a great idea to bring an infant to "dine" at Lincoln. That is insane to me.

I'd prefer they just banned all topics about "kid friendliness", since they obviously don't want discussion about it.

I think "nowhere" is an approriate and honest reply.

Sometimes people make requests that are unreasonable or borderline offensive. A 10 month old in an upscale restaurant in Manhattan is one of them. Maybe this person doesn't know any better. I don't think it's wrong to have people chime in that this is not a good idea. And I don't think that is off-topic, since we are a community of people offering advice and opinions on dining.

But just my opinion.

Right, sorry, I saw the date after I posted!

I'm curious where he went...

Someone asked on the Manhattan board where would be an appropriate "upscale Italian restaurant" to take a 10 month old baby for a special occasion.

I replied that I don't think it's appropriate to take a 10 month old to an "upscale Italian restaurant", and my comment was immediately deleted.

An other poster suggested, seriously, Lincoln. That post is allowed? Taking an infant to Lincoln? Because Lincoln is "kid friendly"?

I know "kid friendly" is like the third rail of discussions, but if some people are going to recommend taking infants to places like Per Se for dinner, at what point am I allowed to say that that is really not appropriate in my opinion?

If mods are going to delete posts that places are not appropriate, I think they should make a rule that there be absolutely no threads about "kid friendliness" of restaurants. You shouldn't ban one side of opinions.

It's like if I asked which upscale high-end restaurants would be appropriate for me to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. One poster recommends Per Se to me. Another says that that dress isn't appropriate for upscale places, and that post gets deleted.

I've heard good reports on Little Owl, and it's definitely small, but I think it would be impossible to get a table. It's trendy enough that you have to call weeks ahead of time for normal dining hours. Last minute, no way, unless you want to eat at 5:00 or 10:30...

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Little Owl
90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014

I should add that La Silhouette opened recently, which is very close to The Intrepid. I haven't eaten there yet, but from what I've seen, it looks good.

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La Silhouette
362 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

For lunch, they always have a mozzeralla special appetizer. I usually get the burratta (sp?), which is more than enough for two for an app...

For entree, I usually get some sort of pasta. I got the steak once, but I'm not a huge eater at lunch.

And I get a bottle of Barbi Brunello.

The venue and service are great, nice place to unwind. Check out the website:

http://www.lamasserianyc.com/new-york...

Hello,

I'd like to try all three of these restaurants, but I'm only able to go out for 1 lunch and 2 dinners.

Any advice on which of these 3 places would be the "lunch choice" and which would be the "dinner choices", and why?

Cost isn't an issue.

I'm leaning toward Dovetail and La Silhouette for dinner, just because they seem like more romantic venues.

Thanks in advance!

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Telepan
72 W. 69th Street, New York, NY 10023

La Silhouette
362 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

I like Masseria when I'm in that area for weekend lunch...Nice Italian place, not too far away.

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La Masseria
235 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036

Thanks for the suggestions!

By "early", I meant that we're getting there before Hamersley's opens, so that's why I'll have some time to kill elsewhere.

I checked out B&G Oysters, and that looks ideal. I can have a few oysters and some wine.

My wife and I are going to dinner at Hamersley's Bistro, but we're arriving about an hour early, and I don't know the neighborhood at all. (Never been there.)

Are there any good/nice places within reasonable walking distance where we could kill some time before dinner?

Ideally a fancy wine bar.

I'm coming from Back Bay, so the alternative is to have a drink someplace there first, but I'd rather not change locations unless I have to.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

Beach Chick: Thanks! Regarding kids, I just meant that I prefer places where it's least likely that there would be kids in the crowd.

Maybe I should reconsider SY Ranch...How would you compare dinner there against Tre Lune?

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Tre Lune
1151 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

glbtrtr, thanks very much for your detailed reply, and rundown of all the possible places!

So aside from the menu, what is Tre Lune like? That's why I was complaining about the lack of website, it's impossible to tell. Would it meet my criteria?

re: Downey's, I didn't mean to imply that I don't like to dress up, I do. I just assume that at most places these days, a jacket is overdressed, even with jeans.

And I'll agree to disagree with you about the decor, to each their own, but personally a restaurant's style and ambiance are almost as important to me as the food. I acknowledge that is my own personal bias, but what can I say.

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Tre Lune
1151 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

I'm visiting SB for the first time, and need one more place for dinner. I'm already dining at Bouchon and Julienne.

Criteria:
- Must have good/great service, ambience, and wine
- No hotel restaurants (sorry, Stonehouse)
- No asian, seafood only, or steakhouses
- Prefer Montecito first, SB second
- Adults only, not a place with kids/families
- Prefer California vibe: outdoor seating, cool crowd, fresh local food, local wine
- Don't care about price
- Don't care if a place is crowded and noisy
- Ideally I can wear a jacket and jeans and not look overdressed

Based on research, I'm leaning toward:

Tre Lune - (I'm freaked out they don't have a website, I don't get that. We're not in 1980 anymore.)
Wine Cask - (Seems like the safest bet)
Montecito Cafe - (They have a website with a text menu only, no pics at all. Again, I don't get it.)

Out of the question:

Ca Dario - I read too many user reviews that say they make you wait even with a reservation. That puts me into a rage.

Downey's - Decor looks really old-fashioned.

Any suggestions are appreciated! If you know of a hidden gem, let me know!

Thanks in advance...

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Wine Cask
813 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Bouchon
9 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Tre Lune
1151 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Stonehouse Restaurant
107 Sacramento St, Nevada City, CA 95959

My comment is that it looks like you've done a great job of sampling all sorts of places.

Great job, congratulations, and I hope you have an awesome visit to NYC!

I agree with all the posters who said to drop Daniel and add EMP.

Also, OpenTable is absolutely not accurate. I would recommend you not use it at all, just call the restaurants. Most of the time, there are tables and options available if you call that are not available on OpenTable.

My experience has been that hard liquor (and maybe all alcohol) is distributed by state. So if Pappy is available anywhere in Michigan, then any Michigan liquor store would be able to order it for you. If Pappy is not available in Michigan, then no Michigan store could order for you.

I know, because some wine and liquor is not available to me in Massachusetts, but it is available in NY.

Sherry-Lehmann is one of the biggest wine/spirit stores in NY. I would advise you to call them and ask them if these spirits are available in NY. If so, you can probably order them and pick them up there. (They can't ship hard liquor out of state.)

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Sherry-Lehmann
505 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

I always call during normal business hours, so if a place is open from 5:00 to 10:00, I'll call between 5:00 and 10:00.

I think the problem is that some restaurants try to make do with less staff, and don't want a hostess/waitress "wasting time" answering a ringing phone.

My point is that it's insane to not pick up the phone and take dinner reservations. I get the fact that they think it would easier to use Open Table, but as noted by other posters, Open Table is notoriously inaccurate. Tables may be available when Open Table says they aren't. And maybe Open Table says no "dining room" tables are available, but maybe I can reserve a bar table instead. I've heard both possibilities.

When I call to make a reservation, I'm offering the restaurant hundreds of dollars in business. I'm basically requesting that they take my money. To be greeted by a recording telling me to use OpenTable, or leave a voicemail that may be replied to 24 hours later, is crazy.

I think some of these places have completely lost sight of how to run a business. They are effectively discouraging people from patronizing them. I know, because I have given up at some of them, and moved on to restaurants who answer their phone live and take my reservation.

Right, I guess that's my point...OpenTable works great, except when it doesn't, and then you have to call anyway. And you don't know ahead of time for what places it is accurate, and for what places it is not accurate.

Given the cost of dinner at higher end places, and the bad economy, it's mind-boggling to me that restaurants are doing away with having a live person answering the phone during normal business hours.

Not appropriate for little kids, in my opinion...

I recommend Red Cat, it's one of my favorite places. Good food, friendly, great atmosphere.

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Red Cat
227 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011