Jane A.'s Profile
Drinks and good grub near the Omni Berkshire (21 East 52nd Street) in March
The crepes at La Bonne Soupe are so-so. I would order something else. I haven't been a fan of Benoit - but I can't quite say why - perhaps at that price I want something more. Not French, but Korean, there's a little place at 40 W. 56th bet 5th & 6th called Chom Chom that I've enjoyed http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/chom-chom/ and the price is right.
Lunch at Petrossian?
I invited friends there for brunch a year or more ago and the experience was only deeply embarrassing. They couldn't get the food out of the kitchen, and then the order was wrong. The Maitre D' handled the whole thing badly - lots of excuses, but not an extra drink or anything remotely gracious. By then it probably would't have mattered anyway. The waiter just disappeared. It was the first time in 30 years that I left zero tip and wrote the reason on the credit card slip. Frankly, they should have let us go without a charge at all. I swore I'd never go back and I haven't.
Drinks and good grub near the Omni Berkshire (21 East 52nd Street) in March
Europa Café isn't a service restaurant - it's a take-out place. The one at 53rd & Lex has lots of seating. Pain Quotidien has a limited breakfast menu (no toast, for example), although I do like their boiled egg with which I get a side of smoked salmon. I would expect the breakfast at Burger Heaven, as well as PrimeBurger, to be as good as a diner. The publishing crowd used to hang out at Michaels.
For a $20+ breakfast, there's also Sarabeth's on 59th bet 5th & 6th: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/sarabeths-central-park-south/menu
Drinks and good grub near the Omni Berkshire (21 East 52nd Street) in March
The nearest coffee shop/diner that I know about is the Palace, on the S. side of 57th St. between Park & Lexington. Also, Burger Heaven at 9 E. 53rd, bet. 5th & Madison is open for breakfast.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/palace/menu
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/burger-heaven-3/menu
Restaurants With Piano
Jim - By the time you recite all that, your entrée's gone cold!
Sunday in NY-lunch before plane to Europe-Upper East Side
Yes, I've been to Café d'Alsace and find it passably good. It's not a destination restaurant by any means - more of a neighborhood standby - a step or two up from a diner. It's part of a chain which includes Marseilles, and my favorite, Nice Matin, which are both on the West Side. If you're looking for a brunch place in the east 80's, I think it should do. Checking most restaurant reviews, I find they tend to be quite variable - partly because restaurants can have off nights and marginal personnel, and partly because of patrons with unrealistic expectations.
Restaurants With Piano
La Mediterranée: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/la-mediterranee/
Sunday in NY-lunch before plane to Europe-Upper East Side
You might try brunch at Café D'Alsace: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/cafe-dalsace/
Josephina and Sushi a Go Go turning into what?
It's going to be a "The Smith". It's part of a chain. There's one in my neighborhood: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/the-smith-2/
I regret the event since I did eat at the one near me and find that they have (what is for me) a very heavy hand with the pepper and hot sauce. And it is very noisy. This may work for the young crowd around Lincoln Center, but a whole lot of the LC audience will likely pass them by after one try.
Where's the best place to buy bitters?
I'm very fond of Ramazzotti Amaro (Ramazzotti brand of Amaro= bitters). It has orange overtones, or perhaps they are undertones.
I got it locally, but the store may have ordered it for me. Call your local liquor store to ask what they have it stock.
Lox and Bagel recommendations in Midtown?
If you don't mind wandering on a nice day, try Tal Bagels on First Ave, bet 53rd & 54th (W side of Ave). Wonderful thin sliced nova (I prefer nova to lox) and all sorts of cream cheese mixes. I like Lite Scallion. They'll toast the bagel, scoop the bagel, as you wish. And all kinds of fresh bagels. BTW, I've never been a fan of Ess-a-Bagel's bagels, but that's just me.
Best places for a big Thanksgiving crowd
Check the boards to see who has done Tday dinner in the past. You have plenty of time to go and check the space and speak to manages now in preparation.
Tight Brits Tucked Near Sutton Place
Panda at 54th & 1st is the local go-to for Chinese. Taksim (Turkish) on 2nd Ave. between 54th & 55th, and Angelo's Pizza are all local and well-priced.
Midtown grocery stores?
There's a nice market on 6th Avenue at 55th Street: Klein Market, on the east side of the avenue. Good produce and product lines and some takeout. I use it and don't even live in that neighborhood.
Woodbury Commons Breakfast?
It looks like my standby from long ago, Thyme to Eat, is no more. Has anyone been up there lately and found someplace with cooked to order breakfast, or at least something reasonably decent?
Elderly parents - dinner recs?
A lot of the dishes at Marseille may have too much of a 'kick of heat' for them.
pre-theater near 59th and 10th?
There's a Greek restaurant (Greek Kitchen) right on the corner of 58th & 10th.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/greek-kitchen/
I've enjoyed it when I've eaten there - they've renovated since I ate there last - was at the theater this week, and the restaurant is looking good. Enjoy COSI -
What are some good restaurants for solo diners?
And if you don't like the table you are offered, politely say that you'd rather sit somewhere else. If that doesn't work (a rare thing), then head to another restaurant. There are plenty that will be happy for your business and even happier to welcome you as a regular.
Drinks and good grub near the Omni Berkshire (21 East 52nd Street) in March
Are you coming in late? Or around dinner time? You have many more options if it's before, say, 9:30. You can head west to 6th & 7th Avenues as well as east toward 2nd & 3rd. If a french wine bar will do the trick (although you probably have plenty in Montreal), Le Bateau Ivre is at 230 East 51st, bet 2nd & 3rd, and is open very late. Here's the menu: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/le-bateau-ivre/menu
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Le Bateau Ivre
230 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022
Good place to dine after the theater, solo
Blue Fin - 47th & B'way
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Blue Fin
1567 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
2 weeks on business - need good solo places!
Fabulous report - thank you. I'll remember the Coffee and Donuts - a great tip.
lunch at a wine bar in the 50's to 60's -east side
Le Bateau Ivre - on East 51st St.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/le-bateau-ivre/
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Le Bateau Ivre
230 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022
Best Lebanese NYC
I live near Al Bustan as well and I never see anyone in there so I'm reticent to try it. What's the deal?
Headed to Nairobi from NYC. Looking for food/drink business gift suggestions...
I missed the news about Steuben - very sad.
Headed to Nairobi from NYC. Looking for food/drink business gift suggestions...
Uniquely American means Steuben Glass or Nambé Metalwork. Neither is food, nor perishable. I'd go for the Steuben - one of the small animals - maybe an African one.
Headed to Nairobi from NYC. Looking for food/drink business gift suggestions...
If you're gifting expensive knives, send them ahead to your hotel via DSL or some other shipper. They can't go in carry on luggage and are likely to get stolen from checked luggage. Stunning bar glasses might do the trick.
nyc with 11 year old boy who is glued to the food channel
While some of these suggestions are excellent, I would also give the kid a budget, this website, and also menupages.com (where he can search by ingredients and dishes) and perhaps also directions about neighborhoods you prefer, and let him participate in the preparation of a list of possibilities which you can then explore and discuss together. He might find it a lot of fun and the two of you might enjoy the activity enormously.
Brasserie vs Landmarc...
If the menus work for you, then between the two, I prefer Landmarc because it's above ground and if lucky, you can get a table with a nice view of the park.
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Landmarc
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
It's my wife's 50th but she doesn't like Lamb's Brains
Check out the menu at La Masseria (235 W 48th). We had an excellent meal there recently and enjoyed the service and the space.
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La Masseria
235 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036
New Year Resolution: Solo dining!
lulumoolah- I don't know what neighborhood you're in, perhaps it's mainly families, but I've never had or seen a problem with single dining anywhere in midtown - 40s to 60s, east and west, and in the middle.
