Thanks for the help! Glad to know it does exist.

Hi Hounds,
Since Mario Batali has become increasingly sympathetic to the vegetarian camp, I'm looking for an update on Babbo's vegetarian policy. I had one of the best meals of my life there, eating everything from lamb's tongue to sweetbreads and tripe but I hope to take my boyfriend there and he only eats kosher meat so is effectively vegetarian, as far as Babbo is concerned. He really wants to experience their pasta after hearing me rave. I found an old post about a vegetarian pasta tasting menu that they are willing to do if given advanced notice. Does anyone have any information on this and how to request it?

If that does not exist is there a place where I could find more information on the seemingly vegetarian pasta dishes they currently offer? I don't see recipes for them posted on the site. I'm specifically thinking of the goat cheese tortelloni with fennel pollen, the maccheroni alla chitarra (the mullet roe is not a problem), the garganelli with funghi or the sweet potato lune.

Any help is much appreciated!

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Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

oh it's a new post! I was just responding to an old string. Thanks I'll look into them

I was planning to use Steven Herman for a small dinner party in December and was really intrigued and excited about the menu. Until my boyfriend did a little research and discovered that Herman has a new certification because he was serving non-glatt meat as Glatt. This comes from a Rabbi in Bridgeport.
Can anyone confirm or deny this? We absolutely cannot use him if this is the case.

Bobo is beautiful but completely overpriced and underwhelming in the food department. They change chefs constantly. They can't get it right. I don't recommend it!

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Bobo
181 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014

I was going to suggest Counter myself! Best one I've had.

Azuri Cafe makes an awesome boreka. It's a tiny place with huge flavor and freshness. Don't let the mean owner get ya down, it's part of the fun

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Azuri Cafe
465 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

I don't know Diablo Royale but what about Cabrito?
http://www.cabritonyc.com/

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Diablo Royale
189 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014

Cabrito
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

What about Cookshop or Bottino?

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Bottino
246 10th Ave, New York, NY 10001

I agree about Choptank. The food was really lackluster and our waitress had a strange attitude.

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Choptank
310 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Scarpetta and Cookshop are great ideas. That's a shame about Red Cat, would've been one of my top suggestions.

Other ideas are Trestle on Tenth, Bottino, Aldea and Klee Brasserie.

http://www.StrumErika.com

Try Macondo, 'Inoteca, Pipa or Crispo. I second Alta.

Unless you rent the whole space I'm not sure how socarrat could work for a large group.

http://www.StrumErika.com

Momoya would be only sushi suggestion in inexpensive price range. Also:

Blossom--vegetarian
Boqueria- tapas
Soccarat- paella
Co.- pizza
Crema- Mexican
Periyali-- Greek

http://www.StrumErika.com

We dined at Solo last night for Valentine's Day and had Eli's tasting menu. I'll be doing a full report soon but we were incredibly disappointed.
1) some courses were practically inedible. the arctic char was not fresh at all. The pineapple was a poor flavor combination with it. the rice krispies in the hamachi dish were silly and added nothing positive to the dish.
2) it really was NOT a tasting menu for many reasons. the first two courses were insultingly meager. I order carpaccio all the time and a sliver of arctic char does not make a course on a tasting menu. It was more like an amuse-bouche. Though the fish was so gross I couldn't finish that one slice anyway. The chicken and steak 3rd and fourth courses were much larger and out of place with the rest of the dishes. The meal had no synergy. Plus, why serve hot buffalo chicken with jalapeno in the middle of a tasting menu? It blew out our palates!
3) The steak course with the collard greens was insultingly unrefined. I get that Eli is from the South but the regular menu at Solo is far more creative than that. This was basically slices of steak, slathered in BBQ sauce on top of some limp collard greens. Nothing 'molecular gastronomy' or even elegant about it.

I've been to Solo twice and had far better meals than Eli's menu. I wish we had stuck with the regular food. Unfortunately he was the only reason we chose to go there on V-Day.

Is this seriously Eli's best? Either he's dumbing his cooking down for an audience he may unfairly judge as less sophisticated, or he's just incompetent.

http://www.StrumErika.com

Not sure on availability at all, but I think Apiary fits the big perfectly. It's in the East Village in a fun area, great food quality and low prices in comparison. It's kind of upscale American. Plus it's a design-y space. I guess they wouldn't be ordering wine but the sommelier, Brett Feore, is a very cool guy! They should talk to him regardless.

http://www.StrumErika.com

I'm not bored with Momo, I was disappointed last time. I want her to have a good experience. I've heard many other places are better. If Ippudo really does a veg option, that would be great to know. Is that a definite?

You're right, small h, it doesn't absolutely have to be ramen. Based on what I read just now about menchanko noodles (slightly thicker than ramen?) sounds like they fit the bill!

Thanks very much! I'll suggest that.

I have a friend coming to town next weekend and she really wants to try some good noodles. Problem is, she only eats fish and most of the best places serve pork-based ramen only (Ippudo, Ramen Setagaya). I know momofuku has a ginger/scallion ramen but I've been nonplused by momo as of late, and want to try somewhere new. Looks like Souen and Minca have vegetarian options. Are these any good? Any better suggestions?

Thanks much!

Aside from my awesome cote de boeuf, On my visit my cousin had the NY strip which she felt was overly salty. I liked it but I understood the feeling. Maybe the hyper-salting goes beyond the fries?

Cote de Boeuf is definitely the way to go! The tuna carpaccio is also excellent. I was disappointed in the cocktails there and would recommend sticking to wine/beer. Generally loved it though!

http://www.StrumErika.com

Enjoy Allegretti! I loved it too, though they've changed the menu since. I hope it's still as good, I heard a mixed review from a friend.

OK thanks. There seems to be a big kosher grocery store in Denver called East Side Kosher Deli, which I think will be perfect. I'm wondering if there's anything more local though since Denver is about an hour and a half away. Maybe at least a vegetarian option?

I am possibly planning a trip skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado and am wondering what kind of kosher options are there. If not an actual kosher restaurant, maybe something vegan? I think Breckenridge is about an hour from Denver so if there are some options there that are good to know about, that would be great. We will have a house there and spending Shabbat so a grocery store with Kosher meat would be ideal.

Thanks!

I'm so sorry to hear that you were disappointed, since I enjoyed my two visits there so much. I don't know what it once was, but I would put it up there with some of the freshest affordable sushi in the city. I ordered pretty differently but really enjoyed the jewel box.

Kuma Inn, Asian tapas. no corkage fee

How about Seven?

http://sevenbarandgrill.com/home.html

There is also a new Latin American place called Crudo in the area, though I've never been.

What about Mollie's on 3rd ave in the low 20s? Too far?

I visited a couple of weeks ago and had a nice time. They have a very diverse wine selection and little satisfying bites like a duck banh mi, cheese plates and quirky dessert options like an ice cream sandwich and s'mores. The owner was very warm though the room is a bit sterile. It was a different vibe than my favorite wine bars which have more of a warm cozy feel. I live even further West than Ardesia so I'm happy to have it there but I don't know if I'll rush back.

http://www.StrumErika.com

As a carnivore who has been to both Pure, Candle 79 and Candle Cafe I would recommend Candle 79. I love all three but I think if the carnivore is averse, they'll find Candle 79 far more filling and meaty than Pure. And if they aren't open minded (though maybe they are), they might not appreciate everything that goes into the raw food prep at Pure and scoff at the high prices.

I like Counter too, re:smokeandapancake's comment but Pure/Candle are in a different league for me. I'm dying to check out Dirt Candy!

http://www.StrumErika.com