CH has been a big help for me on this trip. Especially with “little questions” like May Day and where to eat near the apt (Marais). I only know a little French, mainly from Rosetta Stone. We got around just fine with basic words. I.e. I have a reservation at 800 or sorry I am late or hello!

Day 1: Chez Dumonet. This one came on and off the list, mainly because of reports on other sites about “bad” service. But, in the end, I decided I wanted a great dinner on our first night in Paris. We were not disappointed! We were seated in the back, as usual. There was a nice couple from Toronto we chatted with a bit. Plus a French couple and a single diner. The wine list was shockingly pricey. I asked the waiter and he suggested the cheapest….Started off with the Foie Gras. I had never really had foie gras before… and I am ruined forever. Seriously, any foie gras we had in Paris after this paled in comparison (and I tried to order it whenever I could.) Then duck confit and the beef bourgogne. If just comparing entrees, this was by far our best meal in Paris. I have had duck many places, never this good. So crispy and juicy. The Bourgogne was not mine, but I stole a few bites; and was reported to me bite by bite. Even the buttered noodles were delicious. We had the soufflé for dessert. I wasn’t wowed by it. But, maybe because I like chocolate more? As for service…It kind of sucked. But I think it sucked for everyone. I have okay French, enough to say I have a reservations, ask for a menu, more wine and the check etc. There were only 2 waiters and 1 sub-waiter. They seemed harried and rushed. They didn’t have time to translate the menu etc. This was the worst service we had during our time in Paris, but I don’t think it was because we were American.
Would I come back here, knowing the service was questionable? Heck ya! The food is that good.

Day 2: May Day, so a little limited. Eggs & Co for lunch. I LOVED this place. It was a little expensive, but my friend claimed the eggs were “the best she has ever had.” We had fresh OJ, café americain, eggs benedict, the BEST potatoes, pancake, fruit and salad. It’s a little funky and small, so get reservations. They are helpful with English but it may be best to know a little French here.
Le Reminet for dinner. What I loved about this place was the atmosphere. The area is great and we loved the walk home. We sat in the “cave” and had the nicest server. She was learning English and we both enjoyed practicing English/French. The menu also had French/English. Yet, I found the menu a little confounding; I could never quite identify what exactly we ordered. For instance, Bavarois d’avocat et de chèvre frais “soft avocado and goatcheese cake” ended up being almost like a terrine of avocado and a separate little tower of goat cheese. Then there was various scattered sauces on the plate. Maybe something was lost in the translation? Entrees were okay, not bad but not outstanding. The potato mille-feuille was burnt on my chicken, almost inedible…We had cheese for dessert, outstanding selection and the waiter was knowledgeable about each. I would not make a special trip, but it was nice because of the area.

Day 3: Breizh Café. We had a very long day, so not sure this is an objective view.

We got the French menu at first (which I am always proud of), and the English menu for dessert :-( The crepes are outstanding. Very flavorful. I was still hungry after one crepe. But another crepe was too…much. I was still hungry but “riched” out by the cheese, egg etc. The dessert crepe was a highlight. I would suggest here for a “light” dinner/lunch or dessert. But not after a full day of sightseeing when you are starving. My friend still talks about the cider…

Day 4: La Regalade St. Honoree: What I liked about this place (among many things) was the ability to make a reservation via e-mail. Plus, what great service (see below). When you are seated you immediately get a Terrine/pate and pickles. This is my friend’s favorite part of the whole trip. Seriously, she still talks about that terrine. We received a menu in English ☹ ? and the server was not bothered by explaining the specials. Everything was market based—white asparagus or avocado/asparagus soup. Rice pudding is well known. Mmmmm, caramel.
The service here is the best we had in Paris. There were 3 servers on the floor, they seemed to work together. They smiled a lot. We never went without a glass of wine or a coffee. Our plates didn’t sit forever.

Day 5: Cafes des Musees. My FAVORITE meal of the whole trip. The service was not great, but I never felt ignored. We sat in the front area, right in front of the kitchen! I think others dislike this area, but I viewed it like the chef’s seat. All night I got to watch how the kitchen worked. Best seat in the house…Best Entrecoute of Boef I have ever had….I asked for the Daphinoise potatoes instead of the frites. YUM! I did not find the beef fatty or gristlely. It was cooked to a medium (as the waiter suggested). It’s hard to explain why this place is so great, but I cannot wait to return.

We obviously ate other places, but these were the highlights.
We also took a food tour: http://parisbymouth.com/paris-food-ta...
I post on CH a bit, so hope I don’t look biased. We took the Marais food tour and it was well worth the money. We went places I never would’ve gone and I learned a lot about the markets (i.e. AOC of chickens
)Thanks for all the great suggestions. I already miss Paris.

Thanks John! We had no problems in the end :-) Had a late lunch at Eggs & Co and dinner at La Tartine.
Eggs & Co is a little expensive, but one of our favorite lunches. My friend declared the eggs "the best she has ever had!" (And we eat a lot of eggs). Small, cramped space with very good service. Eggs, potato, salad, pancake, fruit, coffee, fresh OJ all included. A fun area to visit and wander around in.
We really enjoyed Le Reminet. It gets mixed reviews here. We were seated in the cellar, which I liked. A little cooler and quainter. Our waiter worked with my poor French but was willing to use her English if needed. Everything was fresh, light and delicious. 40% off by booking on fourchette.com. And then a pleasant walk home by Notre Dame.

Thanks for all the great advise. Tour d'Argent seemed nice, but a bit trop cher! We settled on Cafe des Musees. Great advice, very near our apt. (Didn't even have to grovel for a resa!)
It seems to be a chowhound fave so I'm sure we'll have a great time. I'll report back after.

We are currently in Paris (!) and staying near the St. Paul station (Marais). So far we have had great food: Chez Dumonet, Le Reminet, Breizh cafe, Eggs & Co and a picnic at Verseilles. Tonight we are going to La Regalade St. Honoree.
But I'm stuck for tomorrow night. We were planning on Chez L'ami Jean but wondering if there's something a bit closer to St. Paul station and Notre Dame. 10-15 minute walk. Is there anything chow worthy on Ile St. Louis or Ile de la Cite?
I'll be sure to post a report when we get home in a few days!

Great report! It has made me put Chez L'ami Jean back on my list.
Did you end up going to Dans Les Landes? I know that was on your list of possibilities. Why did you pick Pottoka instead.
Thanks for such a good report of your trip.
Sara

Thanks for all the great advice! I've made reservations for Le Reminet and Dans Les Landes. Can't wait. I'll be sure to report back....I think we might try Angelina for an early breakfast (before 11!) instead of Le Fumoir. I'll be sure to report back.

OMG. How did you manage Frenchie reservations? I've been watching their website etc and all dates are always grayed out.
I just checked Fourchette.com, and no luck.
I've given up on them for Dans les Landes for our May Trip.

http://www.lafourchette.com/Restauran...

On another note, we booked a Marais food tour with Paris by Mouth for May. I thought I was being silly for booking so far ahead. It's already sold out!

We will be visiting in early spring and have never to Paris before. I have some college French and have been using Rosetta Stone. (Which I think helps, but still panic if asked a question in French...)

We are arriving from London and staying in the Marais, near the St Paul train stop. Our first night we are meeting a friend at Le Pixel (just across Pont Neuf) and then heading off on our own for dinner. After dinner we hope to take a Seine cruise leaving off of Ile de La Citie.

Initially I thought Le Reminet, but not sure now after reading reviews on CH. Cafe Procope is well reviewed in guide books but doesn't seem to do well on Yelp/TA.

I have a pretty good feel for the other days:
--May Day--leaving up in the air b/c of the holiday. Les Deux magots or Eggs & Co? Dinner (depending on what's open) Dans Les Landes? Cafes Musees? La Tartine (near apt)
--Thurs--Breizh cafe after a long day at Verseille
--Le Fumoir before the Louvre. Breaks at Willi's wine bar and Angelina. Les Regalades for dinner.
--Maris "Food by Mouth" wine tour. Already booked. (only 1 ticket left!) Chez Dumonet for dinner.

I would love any comments on our other days. But wonder if we should be going somewhere other than Reminet or Procope our first night...

Thanks!
Sara

As I suspected, doesn't sound like there is much around there. I liked the advice below, Terroirs is in walking distance but not sure about the timing. Maybe hit Westminster Abbey early, lunch then the tour of Parliament. Many of the others (thanks Shivaun) are pretty far away, but I will add to my list for other nights.

Happy New Year!
We are planning on visiting Westminster Abbey and then a tour of Parliament after. I am having a hard time finding some place to go for lunch that is walking distance in the area. We would either go for breakfast/early lunch beforehand or stop for something between the Church and Parliament.
I know the Cinnamon Club is near, but we plan to have Indian later in the week. Inn the Park seems to be an option, but I don't seen that it's well reviewed by CH'ers.

Thanks!
Sara

Thanks to this site, so far I have plans to visit:
Tapas Brindisa, Copita or Golden Union Fish first night (depending on mood)
Opera Tavern
Les Deux Salons for brunch before an afternoon concert at St. Martin in the Fields
Gordon's Wine Bar then maybe Lupita (close to hotel)
Lunch at St. Pauls
Cafe Spice Namaste (Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London)

If you live in the area, I would definitely check it out! As I said in my review, I would probably go back. The charcuterie/cheese board is a good choice. Perhaps going the entree route would be better? I agree with Cassoulet, one of the best parts of our dinner were two amuse-bouches. Hopefully they get added to the menu!

Thought I'd report on our stay. We ate at Fromviandoux and Boynton-McKay, as suggested.

Boynton-McKay was great. Just steps for our hotel (Lord Camden Inn). It was surprisingly busy for an early Sunday but we were greeted right away and seated in a few minutes. I like not having to struggle to get a seat. The whole process is a little confusing. You order at the back counter, self-serve coffee in the front, get juices out of the cooler on the side, and then pay as you leave. The food was outstanding and varied. Be warned though--onions in the hashers. (I hate onions). Great coffee, great pastries in the front. Thanks for the recommendation!
Fromviandoux was a little more "meh". Here's my review from TA:
I found this restaurant to have highs and lows. We started off with cocktails from the speciality cocktail list. This is one of our favorite things to enjoy while looking over the menu. One was a "seasonal" with sage and dewar's. It tasted like a Band-Aid (try it--you'll agree). The Washingtonier was on the "hearty" list and was sweet and like a party drink and at the same time really limey. None were conducive to a pre-dinner aperitif.
The cheeses are great. You can't go wrong here. The presentation is excellent. All of your cheese and charcuterie and sides are all artfully placed on a large rectangle plate for sharing. Specialty breads are brought on the sides which were excellent. The pistachio pate was pretty standard. (they were out of the chicken liver mousse we wanted) Overall, the highlight of the meal.
We decided to try a few "smaller" plates to share. They are small. The pork belly with hash and cabbage was outstanding, as was a salad of beets and winter carrots. The Duck bacon wrapped scallop was, well, kind of gross. The scallop was not prepared well and chewy. Absolutely no sear. The Duck bacon had little flavor and only added more chewy. The parsnip and a sweet jelly was overwhelming and, well, too sweet. These were small and expensive. (In their defense, our server did describe the "smaller" options as being smaller compared to other options.)
The dessert was better. Another patron (who LOVED the place and lived in Camden) suggested the ricotta doughnuts. They were great--almost like a beignet. There was a pot de creme that was light and tasty. But then was a sorbet/compote like mixture with sage (?) that had a weird texture and was much too sweet for the light, airy doughnuts and mild pot de creme. It was kind of odd to have it on the plate.
Service was a little awkward at times but still pleasant and timely.
Would I return, probably. The restaurant is a cool concept. But I would be *very* careful in my choices in the future.

Sara

Well, we have reservations at Fromviandoux--can't wait.
Our plan was to have brunch at Home Kitchen Cafe in Rockland and then visit a few of the lighthouses. I just discovered that they are closed for renovation!
Looks like Boynton-McKay will suit us just fine. Right next to the Inn and then we will head down to Rockland for Lighthouse viewing.

This is our first trip to Paris and our first full day will be on May 1st. I am quite sure we will still be able to find lots to do and see. (Thinking of a Fat Tire bike tour, Notre Dame and/or Cimetière du Père Lachaise.) But it's my understanding most shops and restaurants close for this holiday.

Of course I am worried what we are going to eat! :-)

We are staying in the Marais close to the Seine. Other places I have looked at eating include Josephine Chez Dumonet, Le Regalade, Chez Paul, La Tartine (maybe they will be open?), Breizh Cafe. This is all *very* preliminary and will change. Just including so you can get an idea of what we like to eat.
Should I be worried about May Day eats? Any suggestions?
Thanks!
SaraPA

Again, thanks for more good advice! Kennington Lane looks like a great place for a down and dirty breakfast before starting the day!
Although today I discovered the wonders of the bus system. I'm not sure why I never really considered it before. There's around 5 or 6 lines that stop right in front of our hotel! From what I read, they are a pretty good mode of getting around.

Thanks for the advice. I'm not opposed to transferring lines, just trying to avoid after a long day of touring :-) We have no problem getting around NYC, for instance, sometimes just get tired waiting for trains. (I know, what a problem to have, right?)
There are a lot of restaurants I am considering off of the Victoria line--Hawksmoor, Opera Tavern, Belgo. Just looking to see if I was missing anything. And already I think Copita and Brunswick House cafe are great options!

We are visiting London for the first time in April. Unfortunately, Priceline put us on the South side of the Thames. The closest tube station is Vauxhall, about 1/2 mile away.
There seems to be a dirth of food right around our hotel (Chino Latino seems to be the only game in town).
After a day of touring, I don't want to have to navigate a tube or bus transfer. One night we will be at the Ceremony of the Keys and a friend has suggested drinks at the Dickens Inn or Draft House and dinner at Cafe Spice Namaste.
Beyond that, I am hoping to stay near the Victoria line. It seems that would put us mainly in the Mayfair area. Wild Honey seems to come recommended. Not interested in Automat (I can eat that at home). Burger and Lobster might be on the list. Bubbledogs also seems to have some hype, although I worry about no reservations at both places. Veeraswamy seems expensive and not well reviewed here (plus we are thinking of Cafe Spice Namaste one night). Golden Union for fish and chips?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. We eat anything, but prefer someone more casual places. (ie no ties required).
Sara

I had no idea that Cleveland was so eclectic until I started researching. Thanks for all the great advice! SOHO looks just like our kind of spot, although I haven't ruled out Washington Place or Fire Food & Drink. Just not sure if we want to make the drive out only to go right back downtown.
I think we might end up at GHT. We have Roast here in Detroit so I'm familiar with Symon. GHT has a few bad reviews on TA and Yelp, but seems to be quite like on CH. I trust this forum so much more. And I like the "more casual" comment!
Thanks. Always appreciate more advice and I'll be sure to check back in and let you know where we end up.

Thanks for the advice. I think Francine Bistro will suit us just fine. We can easily walk from the Inn. Fromviandoux also peaks my interest. Will have to check out the fall menus and make my decision based on that :-)
I guess next year we'll have to spend the night in Rockland :-)
I agree, @opinionatedchef, the fries at DuckFat at to. die. for. We still talk about them.

Still looking for a brunch recommendation. Maybe something in Belfast or Bucksport? Does such a thing even exist? One of my *favorite* places in Maine is the A-one diner in Gardiner. So I suppose it's possible.

Sara

We are visiting family in Bangor for Thanksgiving and will sneak away one night. We will spend Sat night at Lord Camden Inn and fly out of Bangor on Sun afternoon.

I'm having a hard time figuring out what is open during the winter months. We are looking for a nice dinner Sat night in Camden/Rockland and brunch on Sunday in between Camden/Rockland and Bangor.

I'd prefer to stay in Camden for dinner so I can drink with dinner. But I'd be willing to drive to Rockland for a great dinner. Prefer brunch over breakfast on Sunday, but breakfast is fine, too.

Anyone have suggestions? It seems a lot of the recs (ie Primo) close for the season.

Thanks.

Sara

Hello. I'll be in CLE for a concert at the Quicken Loans Arena and staying at the Hyatt Regency at the Arcarde. We will go to the concert Sat night and the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame on Sunday.

For dinner we are thinking about Lola or Greenhouse Tavern. Looks like we can walk to dinner, hotel, and arena without a problem. Any opinions between the two?

Not sure about brunch. Would like to not have to drive to far, but Lucky's Cafe seems to be well liked on this board. I hear the Ritz has brunch, but $47 might be a bit pricey. We do, however, prefer a restaurant we can have a bloody mary. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Sara

Here is a quick review of a recent trip to Seattle. These are the reviews I posted on Tripadvisor. Most of the places we went we read about on Chowhound. Thanks for a great trip!

Spinasse:
The was one of the best and unique dining experiences I have had in some time. Spinasse comes highly rated in most discussions of restaurants in Seattle. 
Definitely make a reservation—it is a smallish place and seems to fill up fast. BUT, when you get there ask if you can be seated at the counter. It is first come first served. I wish we would have asked! The rustic kitchens are at the back of the restaurant. If you sit at the counter, you have a birds-eye view of the kitchen preparing everything. Almost like a private chef’s table without the extra expense!
I am not very familiar with Italian wine and our server was quick to make a suggestion and to give us a few tastes. Service was efficient and jovial.
The menu is limited and I think changes frequently, depending what’s in season. Definitely get the pasta. We shared a full sage pasta and ½ order of ravioli and they were delicious and so unlike anything I’ve had anywhere else. You can watch the chef roll out the pasta and hand cut it. We also had the maple roasted carrot (which were like candy) and a broccoli special. We had an appetizer of chicory salad and rabbit that was quite flavorful. This was more than enough food for 2 people and I thought the overall cost was a bargain.
Lastly, the restaurant is in a great area of Seattle. We had a beer at Elysian before dinner then walked over the Tavern Law for an after dinner nightcap.
Will definitely return if in Seattle again.

Hitchcock:
We were visiting Seattle and wanted a good reason to take a ferry somewhere. Dinner on Bainbridge Island seemed like a perfect excuse. It is a 10 minute walk from the Ferry. Lots of window shopping along the way, so no reason to rush…It is a smallish restaurant, so definitely make reservations. There was a table outside, so we asked to be moved. It was much cooler and there was great people watching as the sun set.
The wine list is short, but with a few local wineries and with multiple price points. There are large and small plates, so a little something for whatever you are in the mood for. We ordered multiple small plates. I still think about the pardon peppers, some sweet, some spicy with the delicious crunchy salt. The cauliflower special with an odd savory sauce was not very successful, but the only clunker of the night. We had two charcuterie—a country pate with delicious stone ground mustard and pork belly terrine with blue cheese and stone fruit jam. Now I’m thinking about the terrine—different, unique and delicious. We finished with two different cheeses, one local once from France. Both had unique accompaniments (pine nut brittle, wildflower honey). Both were outstanding and we wished we had more. Sadly, I can remember what we had for dessert, but remember we enjoyed it. Probably too much Lillet 
I am surprised by all the comments on service. We found our service to be efficient and knowledgeable. The owner/chef even brought out our cheeses to explain them. He even offered to condense our charcuterie onto one plate when he saw that our table was overflowing with plates. This is not a FAST restaurant, plan on spending some time and enjoying the food.

Bar del Corso:
What a great neighborhood restaurant! We stopped by on our way back into Seattle from hiking at Mt. Rainier. Parking was plentiful on the street. I was a little nervous about not being able to make a reservation on a Sat night. It WAS very busy, but we were able to be seated right away at the bar. We thought this was great! We sat right in front of the main chef and watched him make all the plates for the night (except for the pizza). He chatted with us, answered a few questions and handed us all our meals, almost immediately after assembling them. It was like our own personal chef’s table!
It is a busy, crowded and loud restaurant. Initially we waited for the bartender to help us, but once she acknowledged us service was efficient and pleasant. It has 4-5 pizzas and then a number of seasonal small plates. We shared the risotto and the meatballs. They were delicious! Not heavy at all with lots of flavor. The pizza may not please everyone—very thin crust so it got a little soggy in the middle. We thought it was great—very flavorful. We kept seeing a dessert come in and out of the oven all night and determined we wanted to have whatever it was. It was a polenta cake, which I was initially a little concerned about. (corn? For dessert). It was by far the.best.dessert I have ever had. Warm and gooey with a sweet flavor and fresh berries. I thought the cost for all this was a downright steal. Definitely check this place out

Misc:
We also hit a few other restaurants.
Etta’s Seafood for brunch was great. We sat outside and enjoyed the people watching as people came on went from the Market. The crab eggs benedict was great, but the real hit was the apple monkey bread muffin.
Brave Horse Tavern was a little overrated, IMHO. The burgers were just okay. A little dry AND greasy all at the same time. However, I would definitely frequent this place to sit at the bar, have a few beers and a snack (pretzel). The atmosphere was great. We actually enjoyed our burger from Dick’s Drive Inn much more!
Portage Bay Café for breakfast was a good recommendation. French toast was yummy and there is a fruit bar with lots of fresh fruit, toppings (nuts, coconut) and whipped cream.
Chinook’s at Fisherman’s wharf was just okay. The cod was fresh, but greasy. Clam chowder was a hit. But couldn’t beat the view.

Thanks for the report! How formal was Seastar? We are staying at the Pan Pacific and need a nearby restaurant one night. It's after a long day of hiking so concerned we might be too casual...

What great advise! I was just now redoing our itinerary to take this route. I found a great driving tour that follows your advise above:
http://www.visitrainier.com/pg/drivin...
Looks like there are a number of places to eat in Enumclaw. Will research.

Gizmo, I looked at Blueacre but wasn't sure if it fit my "casual" need for the night. We will be eating after a looong day at Mt. Rainer. What do you think?

We are staying at the Pan Pacific. One day (a saturday in Sept) we plan on a long daytrip to Mt. Rainier. Will probably enter the park at Nisqually entrance.

Any places along the way to stop for breakfast/lunch? We want to get up and get going in the morning, and stop along the way. (I hope to have breakfast at Portage Bay on the day we leave)

We will return tired and hungry, probably on a Saturday. Looking for a casual place to dine that also accepts reservations. We will have a car. Other nights we are looking at Brave Horse Tavern, Serious Pie or Quinn's, when we won't mind having to wait for a table. Already have plans for Tavern Law one night. Thought about Steelhead diner, but seems to get mixed reviews...Any suggestions along those lines?

As always, love CH.

Sara

Seeing a show at the Meijer Gardens and will spend the night. Looking for a spot for breakfast Mon late morning. We are staying near the airport and will spend the afternoon at the zoo. Already have plans to hit Founders and Hopcat (mmmmm Red ryePA). Any suggestions are appreciated!

Sara

A quick note to report back about our trip.
Flat Rock Bakery was a GREAT recommendation. We had a salad and one of the pizzas. It was more than enough for two to share. The town was also great--we stopped in a few shops. The drive from GSP airport to Flat Rock was scenic.
We had dinner at Curate and Cucina24. Both of which I could highly recommend. Curate was as others have said on this board. The only flat note was dessert. Cucina gets mixed reviews on this board, but we had a great time. The wine list is all Italian and a bit expensive. Service was a bit casual (our waiter kept saying "boom!") but attentive. We liked all our courses and found Wall St nice to visit.
We tried to go to LAB, but some how ended up next door at Southern. By the time we realized the mistake, we had already ordered beers. Would not recommend Southern.
Sunny Pointe, as expected, probably was our favorite meal. Only had to wait about 15 minutes for 2 on a busy Sat morning. Had lunch at Corner Kitchen on the way to Biltmore and it was just okay. Brunch at The Grove Park Inn was decadent, if a bit expensive.
Thanks again for all the great recommendation.

Looking for Sunday brunch with a disabled family member who is gluten free. She lives near the Grove Park Inn. To make everything easier, I'm looking for a place that will be easy to get in with a wheelchair and with close parking. Buffets (ie the Grove Park Inn) would be difficult. Prefer reservations.

I was thinking of Stoney Knob. Or Honey Tupelo South (reservations), but it's a little out of our way.

Any other place we should consider?

Sara

Thanks for all the great replies! Some are a little too far south for this trip, but definitely next time.

Anyone have experience with Grant Park Grille? Or Cipriani Dolci in GCC? A friend mentioned these but I can't tell from reviews if okay for brunch. I think my Mom would like the atmosphere of both.

We are heading to NYC first weekend of June. Mom has never been to NYC. She isn't super fancy, but always loves it when we take her out to fancier places when she visits with us.

My big hurdle right now is Sunday brunch. I always like to have a reservation from brunch--I find the waits to be interminable in Manhattan at this time. My plan was Sara Beth CP, but they are already booked for brunch. We are staying near Penn Station and plan to visit Grand Central Station, NYC Library, Rockefeller, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Central Park on Sunday. (Or at least as much as our legs will carry us). My plan was to start from GC and work north, but I suppose we could start at CP and go south. So looking at UES and MidTown Eastish. Any advice for a brunch that won't break the bank (ie Norma's is too expensive)? AND takes reservations? I looked at Marseille, but it's a little too far west.

We are also planning on Toloache for dinner before seeing Wicked. And Chinatown Brasserie one night. My mom has never had dim sum and figured this would be an "easy" entry. A friend recommended Buddakan, but it seemed a bit trendy for my Mom.

Thanks.
Sara