mcporkbun's Profile
Le Bernardin and a pregnant wife
Agreed. We went recently for my birthday. I'm pregnant with a shellfish allergy and we did a tasting menu, but not the biggest one. They let me choose my replacement course(s). I don't even like seafood, especially this pregnancy, and I loved our meal!
What's better value at le bernadin - prix fixe lunch or the tasting menu?
I've been fortunate to have done the chef's tasting menu for my birthday dinner last week and lunch two months ago. I thought that lunch was the better value ... but I also don't tend to overindulge at lunch like I do at dinner. And of course at dinner, especially during the holidays, the room is so pretty. Some of our favorite dishes are available at both dinner and lunch.
-----
Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019
Locanda Verde - 3x in 4 nights
So I have had a crush on Andrew Carmellini's food since A Voce. And Locanda Verde just happens to be a block away from my place. Well, we ended up going three times in the first four days it was open. Clearly, this is a positive review!
Favorite appetizers include the shrimp with peppery tomato sauce (so big! so sweet! almost like langoustines!) and sheeps milk ricotta (smaller portion, but also cheaper than it was at A Voce). "Gabagoul" is super tender and addictive.
Of the pastas, the lamb amatriciana is amazing -- slightly spicy but very rich with a hint of mint. Malfatti with pesto is really good too and I don't even really love pesto. Robiola ravioli with mushroom is juicy and light. The only pasta which seemed a little bland was the fettucini verde, but we ordered that on the second night after opening. Pasta dishes were not huge, but all very tender and well sauced.
Of the secondi, the broccoli rabe sausage and porchetta are my current favorites. Chicken for two is lovely for Sunday night supper,, but we had leftovers when we ordered it for three people.
Finally, Karen Demasco's desserts are great end to the meal. The fantasia for two is really, again, portioned for three with lots of fruit but you have to dig to get to the super tender coconut cake. The lemon tart and chocolate tarte are good. Surprisingly, my favorite thing was the bing cherries soaked in syrup -- not too sweet or sugary, rather like biting into a perfect half cherry with every bite.
I was hesitant to post this rave review because I want to be able to walk into the restaurant. However, I'm due with our first baby in the next week and so am happy to share the love as I'll be in lockdown mode soon.
The Harrison- Best dishes?
Pork chop with side of Orzo with truffle oil and broccoli rabe. The chicken is really good too (even if you don't normally order chicken when in a restaurant).
Upstairs at Bouley - what to order?
I love upstairs at bouley -- it's my favorite in the neighborhood for casual and delicious food. My husband the sushi snob gets a few pieces of sushi every time just to satisfy his craving without my having to commit to a fully raw meal. It's better or on par with the sushi we've had at nobu.
My favorites are the tofu, cod, and chicken liver. My husband loves the calamari salad and the raw fish salads. Least successful dishes for me include the chicken sandwich with worcestershire sauce and any of the italian dishes. Desserts are hit or miss, but the tea and coffee are both very good!
My Evening at Momofuko Ko last night
Finally went last night and had similar menu to johannabanana. While the two and a half hours went by really quickly, I wanted to like Ko more than I actually did. Given the choice at any David Chang restaurant, I'd much rather go to Ssam bar.
Favorite dishes were the biscuit at the beginning, the foie and lychee (of course). The double fried short ribs just barely missed as the meat was incredibly tender, but the sauce lacked punch. It was served with grilled ramps which I found too bitter, and pureed chive which wasn't salty enough.
Service was as expected. The chefs were focused on plating and cooking and the waitstaff was on top of it with wine pourings. Nothing over the top, but I prefer quiet service.
Soho/nolita comfort food?
I like the meatloaf and mac and cheese at cafeteria. But really really like it at Delicatessen, the new place opened by the same guys at Prince and Lafayette. Love their cookies and milk dessert too.
Has anyone been to Matsugen recently?
I live around the corner so have been there a few times. Usually the duck and scallions soba is my go-to, but last week I had the lunch special with the mushroom soba. I prefer the duck and scallions soba.
Lunch and breakfast suggestions in SoHo?
Delicatessen got a new chef recently and is kind of a fun scene for breakfast and lunch. It's open earlier than other places!
Best Brunch (Updated For 2009)
Thank you so much for posting this list! Fabulous taste and so many of my favorites.
Some additional feedback:
- Back Forty's donuts range from really really really good to Un-believable. Take it from a pregnant lady who has been on a donut kick for 6 months. They are made fresh with different special flavors for each day. My favorite so far is the meyer lemon. And I don't even live near the East Village. The waffle and fried chicken is a little dry. even with tabasco all over. Biscuits and Gravy are all different yummy ballgame though.
Other good bloody mary's include those at Upstairs at Bouley, Odeon, and Ditch Plains.
Churros at Tia Pol used to be amazing but haven't been there since the change in chefs.
Last Night's Top Chef Made Me Crave Creole/Cajun
Wow. I haven't been there for years. I used to love in the pre-2000 years, but my last trip there in 2001 was only ok. Have you been there recently?
Desperately seeking mexican food in N. Tribeca. Pregnant.
Amendment to my earlier post. I have now become a convert to The Bigger Place. Order their chipotle sauce on the side ($2.50) and everything tastes better! Also for some reason the entrees that come with mexican salad seem tastier (e.g. quesadilla's).
Your favorite underrated slice?
I used to live on 23rd between 7th and 8th -- between two pizza 33 locations! Love their margherita slice but also their regular.
I also like Ben's on spring street for a regular slice. Great snack in that part of town ... though recently I've been swinging over to Grandaisy for a totally different type of "pizza."
Best Liver (and onions? w/ bacon?)
Upstairs at Bouley makes a yummy yummy savory huge appetizer version. Also, I like the Back Forty version which is more like a liver mousse.
Epic Cheese Fries :: Snuffer's Style
Seriously? I didn't realize Outback did their fries this way ... or do you have to order them with cheese etc?
EMP, Gotham Bar and Grill, or Cafe Boulud?
Really? I found the EMP tasting menu more than enough food -- you'll want to try all of the bread (more than once!)! I've never been overwhelmed by Gotham -- though my last dinner there was a few years ago. Last time I was at Cafe Boulud was over 5 years ago so can't compare.
Who Do You Think Makes The Best Caramels/Chocolates in NYC?
For chocolates in general, I love Maison du Chocolat. For fun flavored chocolates, I like Jacque Torres. For caramels (sea salt), I prefer the ones at Chocolate Bar. However i'm a dark chocolate fanatic and generally don't like the milk chocolates and white chocolates.
After dinner at Landmarc (DT), where to go for drinks?
Totally agree! We live around the corner and these are our staples. The Bar at Macao Trading co for a scene. B Flat for no (or really quiet) scene.
Desperately seeking mexican food in N. Tribeca. Pregnant.
Brownie - where were you on Saturday night when I dragged my husband to Pinche?! I enjoyed the fish taco's but everything else was ok. Funny how great (pregnant) minds think alike. I am starting to get a little acid reflux but it's nothing compared to how good the hot sauce feels. Thank you so much for the rec!
The search for great FISH TACOS continues...please help!
Just had the fish tacos at Pinche. They are decent, breaded fish tacos. Up there with mercadito's for me. I put La Esquina's at a close second.
Odeon or Raoul's?
Odeon is a great local place. The steak au poivre and steak frites are great, but the scene is very much geared towards families (before 8pm) and wall street broker/local tribeca late night.
What about a steak place? Landmarc is delicious and the cotton candy (not on the menu) is always a treat. My husband swears by the sides at The Strip House, though the decor might be a bit risque for a 15-year old.
Desperately seeking mexican food in N. Tribeca. Pregnant.
Thanks! I always thought it was one of those sketchy chinese owned mexican places, but will give it a try today.
Where do you recommend one orders Thanksgiving pies?
My friends who order a City Bakery Heritage Farms turkey every year swear by Wichcraft's pumpkin pie. I ordered an apple crumb one this year. $27.
I used to buy Little Pie Company's pies but found that the filling was a little too sweet for my taste, the pastry a little tasteless.
best spicy soups?
Second hot and sour at Grand Sichuan, especially chelsea location.
Hot and Sour at Szechuan Gourmet kicks ass also.
Desperately seeking mexican food in N. Tribeca. Pregnant.
I am pregnant. I need mexican food ... bad. But unfortunately I think I'm @#$@ out of luck. Really I think I'm mainly craving hot sauce spiciness. Any chowhounders have suggestions for me? I'm willing to walk or pick up, but obviously appreciate delivery as it's getting cold!
Here's where I've turned in my desperation:
Delivery:
- Mary-Ann's. I shunned this place when I lived in the East Village, but unfortunately, I think it's the best we have in the area!
- The Bigger Place. I want to like this place, really I do. It's been 5 orders now that have been unsatisfying.
- Centrico. Overpriced, depressing.
To date, Burritoville was my best, sad but true, option. Now even that has been taken from me!
Pick up:
- La Esquina. but only when I'm in the mood to put on skinny jeans.
Please, please help!
Barritt's Ginger Beer - Where can I find it?
B-Flat in Tribeca makes a killer dark and stormy which has much bite as those which I've had in Bermuda. I am pretty sure that they don't make their own ginger beer, but use a very specific kind. The rum they use is also something special.
staying in tribeca (duane st.hotel)-1 night, where to dine??
The Odeon has been around forever, but it's still got that bright light big city 80s feel. Beautiful bar, great neighborhood people watching after 9pm. Before 7pm, there is a $20 special of appetizer and brasserie entree (it's the best deal in town) Tribeca is pretty quiet though on Friday nights so if you really want to go out for good hipster/gayish people watching go up to Chelsea. Or even walk up (15 minutes) to Delicatessen, the new place from owners of Cafeteria. Good looking fashion crowd scene, decent food.
Where to Eat Next?
I went to Bar Blanc a few weeks ago before Cesar Ramirez left. The whole meal was very meh from beginning to end. I remember eating a tasteless meat. The fish was better. Our friends who dined us agreed -- they had thought meh the first time but wanted to try again before making a final determination. Also the room was very ... spare.
Best red velvet cake?--not cupcake!
Rack and Soul on the upper upper west side. And they deliver too!
Convivio report
Wow. I love italian food, but hate going uptown for it. However last night I went to Convivio to meet a girlfriend who lives on the upper east side. The food was so good that I could have cared less about the location. We talked about fertility treatments while the ladies around us talked about menopause. It was that sort of night.
Wine selection by the glass was lovely and really really well-priced. Drinks looked interesting but we were here to focus on food (she's a recent french culinary institute grad. I'm food obsessed. we both eat out often). Service was on top of it but not too formal. Plating was gorgeous. Room looked like it belonged in a another city, but at least it wasn't stuffy or vegas-like.
We ordered the $59 prix fixe. What a deal!
- Olive bread to start was great, studded with large green olives. The olive oil was super fruity but light, very nice.
- My appetizer of pigs feet was Amazing and hearty, not at all what I expected. It was lots of garlic, carrots, celery, and onion with gorgeous small pieces of pigs foot that melted like tendon. Amazing.
- Her appetizer of cheese, figs and raisin bread was yummy but not sure that we would order it again since the same cheese is used in one of the pasta dishes to make a fondue.
- Of the two pastas that we chose, I loved my cacio and pepe more than the sea urchin cavetelli. I'm not a sea urchin fan, but the pasta itself was very light. The cacio and pepe lasagna stuffed with guanciale was like sex on a plate -- creamy and delicious.
- My friend's main course of grilled octopus was unfortunately not that great. The octopus itself was charred very well, the vegetables were perfectly cooked. It was just too heavy on the lime flavor from juice and maybe zest? We would have preferred this as an appetizer portion.
- My main dish was a special of veal braised in milk. Heaven! The veal meat was tender and came with juicy tendon as well. The sauce was brown and rich. The vegetables were similar to that of the octopus, but with a spicy, slightly lemon-y kick that cut through the milkiness of the veal and sauce.
- We ordered three desserts: (in order of our most favorite to least): Affogato, Mascarpone cheesecake and nectarine tart. The sorbets and gelato that came with each dessert were a revelation -- vanilla tasted so milky almost as if it had almond flavor. The nectarine tart was the only dissappointment as the pastry itself seemed a little dry and undercooked.
I know I'm gushing, but I really am excited to try more of Michael White's cooking. While there are lots of italian restaurants in the city, it's hard to find ones about which to get super excited. And worth the cab ride!
(though paging Andrew Carmellini: pls open something up soon ... please!)
