Spends Rent on Food's Profile
Cosette... Closed?
Just getting my feet back under me from being out of town for awhile, walked by Cosette yesterday only to find it was... no longer Cosette. It is something else.
I don't recall the name of the new place but it is still french, anyone know anything about what happened? Is it a name change & makeover or is my favorite NYC bistro gone forever?
Cheese Steak besides Carl's in Murray Hill/Gramercy/Kips Bay/Flatiron?
99 Miles to Philly on 13th & 3rd is great. I love carl's but I've recently found myself craving 99MTP, it's a smaller steak but I think more closely resembles what I'm used to from South Philly than Carls.
99MTP does a finer chop of the steaks, and they are not stingy on the cheese like Carls can be.
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99 Miles to Philly
94 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
The Smith recs
The Jalepeno cheddar grits are phenomenal I like them best with the short ribs or the burger.
Lively, but somewhat quiet dinner?
Perry St. or possibly Hearth. I've not been to hearth, but friend who has described it as good for conversation and the food excellent. Maybe other CH'rs who have been to Hearth could give you a view.
Boqueria or Casa Mono?
Casa mono has much better food, with portions that are larger than tapas (called Racions), and they take reservations. Boqueria does not take reservations. Both can get jam packed, but I agree that Boqueria edges casa mono in ambiance.
High/Low Dining - does anyone else do this?
We did the same thing after one meal at le bernardin- ended up at grays papaya to satisfy our hunger.
The Bar Room at the Modern Review
Somehow I completely missed this review the first time around. I'm glad someone bumped it.
It's a great read, and I too had a similar issue with service on our most recent visit in June. From when we sat down until our plates were cleared after the main course, service was impeccable. However as soon as we were ready for dessert, we couldn't find our server anywhere. It took 15 minutes to get dessert menus, 10 minutes to find him again to order dessert, then another 10 minutes to find him to get the check.
We didn't say anything because we'd never experienced this on prior visits, but it seems like it's become some sort of bizzarre pattern. We're due to go back again next month, (where I will definitely be ordering the lamb chops) and if we experience the service issue again I'm definitely bringing it up with the manager.
Thanks again for the great review SR.
Advice for special dinner in Manhattan
While I love prune, I'm not sure I'd put it into the caliber of restaurants you're visiting. It's a much more relaxed vibe, in a much more 'cozy' atmosphere.
That said, the staff are really frendly, and the food is excellent. I have read several comments that it is going downhill, but I had the chance to visit prune on five separate occaisions this summer and found it to be consistently great.
If you end up going, I'd recommend the anchovies, bone marrow and sweetbreads. While the mains are great, you can very easily make a great meal from the appetizers.
Need suggestion for christening after party
We had eaten there in the past as well but it came under new ownership about 18 months ago, we went and found it to be much better... which was why we decided to have the party there. That was about 11 months ago, and we've been back a few times since and found the home-made pasta to be fresh and not overly-sauced. Each time we've been there we've found if you stick to the simple stuff it's actually quite good, the more adventurous dishes can be more hit and miss.
Don't get me wrong, I would definitely not put it in the same class as iTrulli, but I think the OP would have difficulty doing this at iTrulli within their budget.
Need suggestion for christening after party
We actually had our son's post-christening party at Salute (39th and Madison). Although proximity to the church was a huge determining factor, it ended up being a very good choice. As you, our budget was about $40 pp. and we had about 50 people. They closed off half the restaurant for us, and served chicken paillard and home made tagatelle.
I know it never gets mentioned on these boards, but Salute ended up being perfect for our needs.
Steakhouse for BF's Birthday - Primehouse, Quality Meats, Old Homestead?
I would honestly skip primehouse, I've found it to be second-rate at best. I've been to quality meats several times and each time the steak has been good, not great, but the sides were excellent.
I have had some of the best steaks of my life at old homestead, and would recommend that. Although it's been a few years since I've been and have heard reports of inconsistency. But for my money, if choosing between the three, then I would always pick OH.
If you both have not been to lugers, you may want to make that your next stop. otherwise Old Homestead.
Best cheap eats near NYU Med Center?
Good food at modest prices can be had at:
- Waterfront Ale House (32nd & 2nd) for better than average pub fare.
- Lamazou for sandwiches on 27th &3rd
- Cosette for a small french bistro on 33rd and 3rd.
- Saravannas on 24th and lex for indian.
- Rare on 37th & Lex for burgers
- I heartily second Sarges for all your deli/ diner meals.
- I like Da Ciro on 33rd & lex for pizza, it's more of an italian restaurant that also does good pizza.
- Librettos is a good slice joint on 36th & 3rd.
- Ethos for greek food on 3rd between 33&34
- There are a couple neighborhood sit-down restaurants that get mixed reviews on these boards. They won't knock your socks off, but you can still get a good meal at Trattoria Alba 34th between 2&3 , El Parador 34 between 1&2, and Casaville 2nd ave between 34&35.
Is it possible to get a bone-in strip (In California it's called a New York steak) for 2 or more people?
BLT Steak does it too. As does porter house.
Best fried clams in New England
My longtime favorite place for fried clams is Arthur & Pats in Marshfield. Lightly battered fresh sweet ipswich clams. So good that adding tartar sauce detracts from them.
I could eat 200 of them, and then promptly pass out, completely happy.
Just moved to Gramercy and the grocery stores are no good!
Simple answer. No there's nothing 'close' to you. But TJ's and whole foods aren't exactly 'Far' I live 10 blocks farther away and frequent both. And don't forget the Farmer's market in Union Square is the best in the city, they're open MWF&Sat.
This neighborhood is lacking a high quality, all-in-one grocery store since they took out the Garden of eden on 3rd ave.
What we're left with is a selection of specialty shops that are pretty far apart:
Todaro on 31 & 2nd has a good selection of gourmet foods. As does Lamazou (mostly cheeses, cured meats, and italian pantry items) at 27th and 3rd.
Isn't there a fresh fish place next to the gramercy meat market on 21st and 2nd? Never been but I've heard good things. In the opposite direction there is wild edibles for the freshest, and most expensive ($10 per crabcake?!?!?!?!) seafood nearby.
prune: downhill alert?
Yussdove, that is shocking... expecially since I've always visited prune specifically because of the care they put into each dish. My last trip was about six weeks ago, I had the anchovies which were delicious as always. For my main, I had two appetizers, the sweetbreads and bone marrow. Everything was carefully contstructed, and cooked to perfection. remember remarking how great it was that little restaurants like Prune can consistently put out such good food.
So while not to take away from your recent bad experience, I can't say that I've noticed a trend.
Affordable, fresh spices - where do you shop?
We usually get our spices from either Kalustyans (as mentioned above) or at Penzey's spices in the grand central market. Penzey's also has a strong delivery service either online: http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html or via catalog/ phone in.
We've always been happy with the quality from Penzey's.
Cheesesteaks
You been to 99 Miles to Philly? they do theirs on Amoroso's. I think the steak is great at 99mtp, but agree with you on those dry oily hot peppers "The destroyers". Can't find them anywhere.
I grew up in Mass and went to school in Phlly. Being the Masshole I am I went around telling everyone "It's called a STEAK AND CHEESE, not a Cheesteak." Don't worry I figured it all out eventually. I don't even touch cheesteaks outside of Philly unless we're talking Carls or 99 Miles to Philly.
Good eats on upper west side
We went to the UWS outpost of Fatty crab about two weeks ago and had a phenomenal meal. The Pork Bun, Crab, and Fatty Cue (not always on the menu but usually available) are all excellent.
discrete reasonably priced dining (twist on private dining thread)
Prune might work for this. It's not super-cheap, but it is small and out of the way. Excellent food, great vibe. I've actually eaten there next to a B-list celeb who enjoyed her meal completely uninterruped.
But I have to agree with other posters here. I've never seen a celeb who has had their dinner interruped by others in the restaurant. In fact I've seen the opposite... where a B/C lister makes eye contact with people on the way out to see if they are recognized. It's hilarious.
Brunch: Mom is meeting boyfriend
If you don't mind travelling, we like the brunch at Artisanal.
But The Smith is currently my favorite Brunch spot. It can get a little loud though.
Planning Meals for New York in December: La Grenouille, Craft, Jean Georges.. so many to pick from and not too many days!
Just to throw my opinion into the ring here.
You should definitely go to La Genouille.
It's on your original list of must try's and I think you will thoroughly enjoy it any night of the week. It is one of the last old guard french restaurants left, and while that in itself shouldn't be the determining factor, the service and food are impeccable and are worth the visit.
With so many great restaurants to choose from, you'll have to come back frequently to get to all of them. So start with the ones that you want to go to, your list is great, and you will not be disappointed.
But really, you should go to La Grenouille. It's from another era, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Resto Review
Thanks for posting, I usually like resto, and go there every two to three months, but on my last visit I had a truely wierd experience.
The gentleman who waited on us was aloof as he handed out the menus. Gave us an unabashed hard sell on the large format beers, and was downright condescending (sighed, shook his head, and said 'ok then' as he walked back to the bar) when we didn't order one of their imported bottles or large formats. I was so taken aback that I blurted out "then why do you have leffe on tap if you don't want people to drink it?"
It just went from bad to worse. We were going to share some plates (appetizers, chacuterie, and mains) and he informed us that "No you can't do it that way" because everything comes out at a set time and the chef would be upset. I didn't even understand what this meant. He said that appetizers needed to come out separate from mains... Again I was surprised because I've done that in the past and no problems. The whole thing was really wierd. I was ready to ask for a new server/ let this guy have it, but my dining companion convinced me to just roll with it.
The food there is very good (I love the tete de couchon) and the service is usually great, (relaxed, informal, friendly) I'm not sure where they got the guy who waited on us (I've never seen him there before) but he is really bad at what he does.
So I've stayed away the past few months. Anyone else run into this?
Night out without a baby
Yerba Buena would be ideal for a fun night out without the little one. We've been there twice with another couple who also have children, and we thorougly enjoy it. It's loud enough and busy enough to make you feel like you are in a hip young place. But the quailty of the food definitely separates Yerba Buena from many other 'trendy' places.
YB also has a varied selection of house specialty cocktails, which are delicious and very potent. A couple of those and you'll feel like you're 25 again.
We've only been to the EV location which is very small, but the new one on Perry St is supposed to be a little more spacious.
We love, and highly recommend the short ribs, Lechon, and ribeye.
which of these would you choose for guys dinner near penn station?
Have to agree with Simon. Keens Pub room is a great place to meet with a bunch of guys, with much less expensive options than the main dining room.
dinner near south st seaport?
I walked by Bridge Cafe for the first time ever last week and was curious about it. What's it like?
Need a good, resonably prices ROmANTIC restaurant with decent sized portions, please help!
If you could answer three questions we can give you much better direction:
1. Any cuisine preferences? Is there anything to stay away from?
2. Could you be more specific on your budget? What is the most you would like to pay including/ excluding alcohol.
3. Are you looking to venture out into the city, or do you want to stay around the theater district?
Casa Mono-Feh
That sounds like a very bad night out. While I've had some very good meals there, it's been about six months now, and I can only hope you got them on an off night.
As one who hates eating food that was hot about 5 minutes ago, the timing issue is the one that bothers me most about your experience because it's such a clear sign of staff not paying attention.
Thanks for letting us know, I'd be interested to hear from others who have been there in the past few months to see if this was a bad night or if your experience represents a downward trend in the quality of food and service.
Your 10 favorite Manhattan restaurants?
Looks like I missed this thread the first time around:
Casa Mono
Prune
EMP
Per Se
La Grenouille
Blue Ribbon
Artisanal
The Modern
Wolfgangs
Sarges
Although I did have a rediculous meal (in a good way) at Fatty Crab UWS last week. It was one of my meals of the year. Just phenomenal, but I've only eaten there once... and feel I need to do more "research" before it can crack my top 10.
What's the last restaurant you ate at?
Brunch at The Smith yesterday... again. I ordered a double order of the jalepeno grits to have for breakfast today. I want them again tomorrow.
