Stopped by on Monday.
Very comfortable space and friendly staff.
about a dozen bar spaces were full at around 7:30.
Tried a few items.
- Sausage and chicken gumbo. an excellent rendition. smoky flavor. quite spicy
- watermelon radish salad (actually watermelon, radish and onion). really fresh and bright tasting
- buttermilk fried pickles. large plate of a variety of veggies. The cucumbers were sweeter, bread and butter style, but the other veggies -- carrots, onions, peppers, seemed like were brined in a different, not sweet brine (and i liked them better). the breading was very light (almost tempura like)
- chicken liver deviled eggs (3 halves) rich tasting. liver was not heavy handed
- fried chicken with bacon mac and cheese and kale. good fried chicken, though the gravy made the chicken crust less crispy. very large portion of mac an cheese. kale was a nice surprise -- very lightly cooked rather than heavily sauteed.
large beer selection, no liquor. i was interested in wine. wine list was inexpensive, but fairly limited. about a 1/2 dozen each red and white, all available by the glass or bottle. glasses range around $7-9.

Interesting menu, though on the heavy side, the kale and watermelon salad were a light, bright and pleasant surprise.

Thanks for all the info. I'll report back on my experience and if I track down the resto...somewhere near Pl. Victor Hugo in Courbevoie...

I'll admit, it was a business lunch, where I was offered not alternatives.
"alller retour", I believe, from some searching is how to refer to this seared preparation.

On my last trip to Paris I had a wonderful lunch in La Defense of steak tartare, frites and salad.
The steak tartar was in the shape of a hamburger patty and had been slightly seared. I think it is called aller-retour.

Can anyone recommend a place to get this in Paris, ideally in or near the Marais?

That's a reasonable question, but I've had good luck. Perhaps the fact that you are specifying sashimi means that you are really going to be tasting it?

When dining at an inexpensive sushi place, I've devised a question that works well. I ask the waiter to ask the sushi chef to recommend his favorite choice for sashimi that night. That usually results in good, fresh fish. (because of course if you ask what is fresh, the response will be that its all fresh).

I have had excellent meals at Muse, Fluke and Tallulah. The Mooring is also solid, though maybe not as creative.
If you time it right, the roof deck at Muse offers a great sunset view. They'll let you take drinks from the bar up to the roof. The dining room is the only real formal dining room of your list.
Castle Hill is good for the view. Pick brunch or afternoon cocktails.
Never been to TSK.
41 North is fun in the evenings, though it can get crowded. It is a nice place to go for late afternoon glass of wine and a snack.
Agree with others that Black Pearl is a fun place for lunch. You will likely have to wait for a table if you hit it at peak lunchtime.

The menu is available online

Stopped by for a drink last night.
They have combined the spaces of the former bar and restaurant into one large room.
Although they have kept the beautiful architectural details, they have lighten the space considerably. There are now 3 entrances, much more light from the street, lightened up the wood paneling etc. I'm sure there will be some folks who will miss the coziness of the old space, but I found it to be attractive and comfortable.
The bar is much larger, stretching front to back, with sizable bar chairs , so you will not be crowded against the person next to you. The old bar area still has many seating areas for cocktails and the back half is set up for dining.
A new wood fired grill dominates the bar and produces flatbreads -- with toppings ordered off the menu, and as a cracker served with your drinks. The cracker snack is tasty, but a bit of a small snack compared to the nuts they used to bring you. As a menu item, it is a nice option for a light app with your cocktail. There were also charcuterie plates as a good snack option. As for the rest of the menu, it seems like they just slightly brightened up the old menu. There was a good looking beet salad, hearth roasted lobster seemed appealing. Many expected standards available as well -- burger, steak, lamb chop roast chicken. (menu is online)
The martini-styled cocktails are as large as ever and are still served with 1/2 of the drink in a carafe on the side. The only change is a more contemporary ice bucket. Wines by the glass are mostly in the $10-15 range.
Staff was extremely attentive. Referencing a recent thread, this IS definitely a place you can have a drink and not be pressured into eating dinner at the bar.
I'll definitely be back to try the food from the wood fired grill.

Salamander was also victim to the perfect storm. Plan to open an upscale restaurant right as the economy tanks, plus open several months late so you are already behind in your payments.
Too bad because nothing has replaced the Satay Bar at Salamanders.

Have not had dinner yet, but have stopped in for excellent cocktails and also a very good brunch, though a somewhat limited list of breakfast items . Omelet and scrambled eggs both very well made.
Bloody Mary was a contemporary spin (which was unexpected) using more of a tomato water, rather than tomato juice. it was quite refreshing.

Columbus Cafe - restaurant is completely empty. No sign.

Lobster Pizza at Scampo and Towne
Also - very creative lobster pizza at Market

Estragon - High Top communal tables
Post 390 - High top tables downstairs

I haven't tried it, but the Go Fish web site indicates you can order online

Yes, I've called Whole Foods looking for pork belly and been told no several times. I ended up buying some from the Butcher Shop in the South End, more expensive i'm sure, but I was desperate.

I also agree. I searched Brussels for mussels that I liked as well as Central Kitchen's Mussels from Brussels.

I think you are referring to Nantucket Wild Gourmet and Smokehouse. If so, it is very good. They have a store in Chatham MA. I sometimes see it at Foodies in the South End. They often have a guy selling it (and giving tastes) at the SOWA market on Harrison ave in the South End on Sundays.

Estragon is definitely a short walk.
Stephie's on Tremont has a private room.
South End Buttery is divided up into several small rooms, so it will be pretty quiet - they can advise how to seat 12.
note - last time I was at Stella's it was really loud.

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South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

Tremont Cafe
418 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

I had a very similar requirement with a group of friends. Bokx 109 works out very well. it is easy to get to and has parking. I wouldn't compare the food to top Boston restaurants, but everyone in our crowd was happy and returned for a subsequent gathering. On my visits it had a fairly lively atmosphere.

You read my mind Madrid. Love East Coast Grill, but it will not be special to a southerner.

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East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

when you mentioned offal, I thought of KO Prime. Although thought of as a steak place, the steaks are much more interesting than other places in Boston and they have many other options. http://www.koprimeboston.com/files/me...

That said, I'd second previous suggesting for Market. (also noting that sometimes the food is much more interesting in delivery than the description on the menu).

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KO Prime
90 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108

I have a group of 15 people going to an event on a Friday night at the Wolfsonian.
We'll be somewhat dressed up and are looking for a fun place for cocktails and heavy apps. (basically a light dinner).
Ideally some place that does not require reservations for bar/lounge area that is likely not to be to crowded around 7:00 pm.

Anyone been to any of the restaurants in the newly renovated Hatachana Complex (old train station), just north of Jaffa?

Drove by it yesterday and it was definitely open. Quite a few outdoor tables, but no one was eating outside, so the must not yet be seating out there.

Thanks to all. We did go to DNA and the my husband and I loved the offal and the less adventurous in our group found great options as well. Will post more details later.

Thanks Maximilien - had that on a list from one of your previous posts!

Thanks for that info!

I'll admin, "organs" is not quite the exact term (and I"m dying to go to DNA!).
Current menu on web site includes
- veal heart tartare
- piglet liver parfait
- sweetbread in Agro Doce
- pressed foie gras
- spagetti that includes goat liver
- "a kind of offal kebab"
- pork blood farfalle with piglet kidney carbonara

I'll see what type of arm twisting i can do with they naysayers...

Long weekend in Montreal. Had reservations Sat night at DNA and discovered that a couple of folks in my group thought the focus on organ cuts was a bit to challenging.
Now, with 7 people, I'm not having luck at getting a reservation. Joe Beef and Au Pied de Cochon, my next choices, are totally booked. Sounds like I need to set my sights a bit lower.

Any suggestions for good food where I have a better shot at getting a reservation at a great place that is not in such high demand?
- since we are a group of 7, tiny restaurants are probably not likely to have room with such late notice
- NOT interested in traditional ethnic restaurants
- willing to take a cab so location within Montreal not an issue.

Thanks!

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Joe Beef
2491 Rue Notre-Dame W, Montreal, QC H3J1N6, CA