simetrias's Profile
Suddenly in Manhattan for Thanksgiving!
The menu at 10 Downing looks interesting.
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10 Downing
10 Downing Street, New York, NY 10014
Big changes at Eleven Madison Park: who will report on them?
Oh, I see the work has been done! Sorry not to be au courrant....
Big changes at Eleven Madison Park: who will report on them?
Just got an e-mail from EMP announcing a whole new menu concept, space redesign, and so on. Hoping RGR and others who go to EMP regularly will report in....
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Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Reviews of lesser known places on Hudson St?
Pepe Verde is overpriced take-out style Italian-- pizzeria quality food. Go to Faico's on Bleeker in the WV and grab some of their homemade zitti, meatballs, eggplant parm, etc. Cheaper and better! On Hudson people like The New French, Le Pain Quotidien, and Alexandra's. I myself love the Chicken Tawook (sp?) at Hudson Falafel!
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Hudson Falafel
516 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
The New French
522 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
75th Birthday Dinner for 8
I hosted a 75th birthday dinner for ten at Tocqueville, and it was perfect. You can order a la carte. Service is outstanding, the room is elegant and quiet, and I have only been unhappy there once in my dozens of visits (they forgot to put in my entree and I was left waiting almost 30 minutes!). But that was the exception in a long list of successes, including the birthday dinner!
Pre Theatre Dinner Saturday August 21st
I'm a huge fan of the pre-theatre at Tocqueville, which is an easy cab ride to the theatre (or subway if you are comfortable with that). In the theatre district (or near), I am also a fan of the DB Bistro Moderne prix fixe (sometimes you have to ask to see that menu, but they always have it). It can get loud in there, though. Another option is to eat at the Bar Room of the Modern at MOMA. Always a good meal (don't know how late they are open but good for post, too).
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DB Bistro Moderne
55 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Thank you lunch: Tocqueville or... ?
Going with RGR on this one. It's such a great meal, and then you can sit outside just about anywhere for coffee or a drink later on.
breakfast place in West / Greenwich Village?
Ha, you must be staying in my building! Lots of people like breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien on Hudson.
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Le Pain Quotidien
550 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Pre-theatre?
My experiences w dbBistro for the pre-theatre have always been good, though it can be loud in there.
Celebratory Dinner - 4 Options
Wow, we all await your chowhound report of the celebration!
Celebratory Dinner - 4 Options
RGR, are you engaged *again*? LOL.
RGR wrote: Best wishes on our engagement!
Sweet little Brazilian place, good for tapas (Casa, W Village)
I've passed this place a million times and always thought it was so cute-- and on one of the most quaint corners in my nabe. Needed a tapas place with some Spanish friends one night and we landed there. All the small plates were yummy, the wine was reasonably priced, the space comfortable and fun, and all was good. We spend a little over $100 for four of us for tapas, a decent price. Haven't had the entrees, but if you need a bite, and want some special food, Casa will do it.
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Casa
72 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
Dinner near Grand Central
Resto seems a little bland to many ppl. I'd head to Fonda del Sol right outside GCT and get tapas for the group. If you don't order tons you stay within budget.
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Resto
111 East 29th Street, New York, NY 10016
Been to Annisa since the reopening?
Apparently no one could help you in advance, but we're hoping you'll post a report and tell us what was good.... I used to dine there often.
Sashimi Grade Diver Scallops - where to buy at a reasonable price?
Citarella has scallops IN THE SHELL. Now you can get more fresh than that... open em up, clean all the disgusting guts, and there you have a scallop as fresh as a clam!
A True Literary Cafe Anywhere in New York??
Ultimate irony: the closest to this fantasy is Starbucks. Try the ones on lower Broadway.
NYC FOODIE AT A LOSS...
Ditto RGR on Jardin Bistro. Bar Artisinal is ALWAYS packed-- at least with drinkers-- and it is noisy-crazy in there. I know, because my business uses the hotel it is attached to for our clients, and I am there at all hours.
Ten minutes.... walking? cab? I know it is probably out of your price range, but I just took a group to Scalini Fedeli (have been many times). he $68 3 course prix fixe is fabulous, you can sit all night, and it is quiet and elegant. The old old (old?) Bouley Space on Duane at Hudson. It's a 10 min walk from Canal and Varick, at least the way I walk. ;-)
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Scalini Fedeli
165 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013
Casual place for a group of 6 (book club), Between 14th and Bleecker?
Las Ramblas is a tiny, high stool bar type place. Delightful for what it is, but NOT for a book club! I would think one of the old cafes would serve you better... Vivaldi, (Morton? can;t remember) btwn Bleeker and w. 4th. Of Loup Cafe which has food, drinks, and is often half empty.
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Las Ramblas
170 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014
Rec for dinner for 18 pple - need not be private room
Try La Fonda del Sol near Grand Central. They'll set up for you in the main dining room or give you the back area which is private or semi private. Great food, fun, and the raucus atmosphere from the bar area with the tapas menu carries over but doesn't disturb.
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La Fonda del Sol
200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Mas (Farmhouse) -- Question
Ask for a corner table in the "inside" room-- I had one, and it was very private.
Very impressed with Scalini Fedeli
Thanks for the detailed review! I've always been a fan of Scalini Fedeli-- it's the old-old (old?) Bouley space, and the food and service have always been outstanding. Tables spaced far apart for quiet conversation, too. Last time I went the meal was prix fixe ($65 or so?) Still the same?
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Scalini Fedeli
165 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013
trip of a lifetime, want to get the food right!
RGR, do you ever dine at home? LOL. Jealous.
Had to laugh when Lucy Browne's (corner Clarkson & Varick) closed... what's next?
Brothers was in that location and seemed to do ok. Then something else came and went in a hurry, followed by Steake Frites, which was ok. Lucy Browne's was a big ole mess of mishmosh, poorly served, and deserved to die a quick death. But right across the way is Downing St, with a host of successful restaurants (Blue Ribbon, Mas, Ditch Plains, etc). Why can't something succeed on the corner of Clarkson and Varick? Granted, the tunnel traffic on weekends is unpleasant. And across the street are cheap take out places. But still.
What would you put in there? Me? A branch of Murrays Bagels. That place is way too crowded and no where to sit. Seems wildly popular. And this nabe has a lunch crowd because of all the business on Varick south of Houston.
Tocqueville came through for the big birthday celebration
Can't wait to read your report!!
Tocqueville came through for the big birthday celebration
It's good to have at least one amazing restaurant you can count on when you entertain others. One reason I like Toqueville is it is so intimate. EMP can feel a bit cavernous (though I like being seated up and to the right in the cove there!).
Time to get back to EMP for me, espec for lunch, deal of the decade.
Private room in special restaurant for 40th celebration
I know someone who did a big private dinner at Le Bernardin and was very, very happy with it. But you have to appreciate fish.
Tocqueville came through for the big birthday celebration
On Sat, I took ten people to a birthday celebration dinner. I love Tocqueville, and since there were kids involved, I asked for an early reservation and to eat upstairs (like private dining). We ordered from the pretheater menu, and everything was perfect, from the amuse to the desserts. Many of us had oysters for first course; others had the squash soup or one of the delicious salad choices. There were several vegetarians and they were thrilled with the tofu pot au feu and the risotto w veggies. The artic char and skate were also fab. For dessert, some had ice creams/sorbets, others had the chocolate cake, and one person had the banana soufle, which she loved.
Service: perfect, as always. Wine pairings, just right. It was not only an elegant and yummie dinner that pleased adults and kids, it was also reasonably priced. So I felt doubly thrilled to treat everyone. They did a cute birthday cake, too.
I guess if Eleven Madison Park is RGR's go to place, Tocqueville is mine. Back next week for business. But I have to say, it made a real difference to have such a smooth experience for a family event, which, as you all know, can be worse than business when it comes to pleasing people.
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Tocqueville
1 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
I found real churros at Despan~a!
Did you read the NYTimes article about churros (frozen) imported from Spain? They have them at Depsan~a on Broome street. A bag cost $14 and I think there were like 20-25 churros. Threw those babies in a hot oven, sprinkled sugar on them, made some real hot chocolate spanish-style, and also served some food I got at Despan~a-- tortilla, jamon serrano, queso manchego, tarta de santiago, chorizo frito. It was a memorable brunch.
Nearby alternative to Perilla?
10 downing fts the bill. Or Mas, if you want to spend more.
