hubies's Profile
Hounds to the Rescue?
Thanks all, this was very helpful and I will use the OpenTable idea for sure. Just wanted the names of some other places in my pocket. I am dealing with 20-somethings who will grace me with their presence for dinner on my dime but at the last minute if they don't find something better to do.
Hounds to the Rescue?
Two weeks out from this Saturday 12/17 I began calling restaurants for a reservation. I know, I know, its NYC but the trip is a last minute thing. It just occured to me to ask for help. We are staying at a hotel on Rivington Street between E. Houston and Delancy. No reservations to be had at Emilio's Balloto, Babbo, Nolita House or Locanda Verde. They all had some limited open seating but I don't want to drag my party of 3 (maybe 5 or 6) around to all of those places at 7pm and not get in any.
I was generally thinking Italian but not completely adverse to another cuisine. Can anyone recommend a restaurant in the SoHo or Nolita or NYU area where you think I can get a reservation but the food would be great?
Cape Cod near the bike path
Reporting back. We started in Harwich I believe and the Sparrow was a great spot for a refreshing drink, actually in both directions. Guapo had some of the best fish tacos I have ever had- so fresh and the lime sauce was delicious. We rode into Wellfleet and found Mac's on the pier for lunch- although getting there on a bike was worth your life. It was fun to sit in the sand and eat fried clam bellies and lobster rolls.
Cape Cod near the bike path
I am heading to Cape Cod in August and will be spending a day riding the bike path. Any suggestions for snacking and lunch nearby the path, where biking attire would be appropriate?
Roberto's or Persimmon for dinner in Bristol?
Had a great experience at Persimmon last fall. In response to my niece's request for "the plainest thing on the menu" they brought her a bowl of pasta with bolognese sauce that was not on the menu. I was visiting this week and she is still talking about it. During this visit my husband and I ate at the Hourglass Brasserie. It was only us and another couple in the restaurant on a Thursday night. The chef sent out all sorts of little items to try gratis, like a shot of fresh cuke juice/berry juice combo. My fish and his veal were both super. Lots of little dots of various flavors on my plate. The chef likes to do 'foam' and my fish was accompanied by a garlic foam that was weird but not unpleasant. The service was perfect. We would go back there as well.
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Hourglass Brasserie
382 Thames Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Bristol, RI
Will be taking out some relatives for dinner in or near Bristol RI. I have read great things about Persimmon, but I am the foodie, they are not. How dressed up would dinner there be? Do you have any other suggestions for a great dinner in that area, maybe something more low-key? One diner would be incredibly fussy and afraid of trying new things. (deep sigh. . .)
Cookbooks you shouldn't have purchased...which books just didn't work for you?
Any book by Martha Stewart. Generally overly complex and not that tasty when I was done. Not all, but most. Ditto Williams Sonoma; just not that tasty.
Dinner at the Hall of Fame, Springfield MA
I tried this restaurant last month despite the Hounds warning me away and was suitably disappointed. It was very overpriced for what we got, nothing was that great and despite telling the waiter we were passing through and needed to get back on the road, I had to keep on flagging him down. Not a repeat.
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Onyx Fusion Bar & Restaurant
1150 West Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01107
CIA disappointment
I had always wanted to go to the CIA and finally had the chance a few weeks ago while visiting Bard College. What a disappointment. We went to the Italian restaurant- they had no record of our online reservation or that of another visitor, but they did get both of us seated. I understand that the restaurant is run by the students but I expected more based on their reputation. The service was inattentive. I got a classic tomato-bread soup that was tasty but lukewarm despite the warning that the bowl was hot. My daughter's pasta was too salty. She got a porkchop that was cooked well and I got swordfish also cooked well but it was just sitting on the plate with no sauce and nothing else to recommend it. The meal was rather boring. We wrote a lukewarm review (just like the soup) but did not want to make anyone fail. The students serving us were graduating in 7 weeks which was a little concerning. . .
On the other had, we were sent to Gigi's and Terrapin in Rhinebeck by the college staff. We had a great dinner at Gigi's with great service. I got a simple pizza well done but my daughter got a beef special that was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Lunch at Terrapin was great too with a good menu making it hard to choose. Rhinebeck Bagels also put on a great breakfast sandwich or hamburger lunch.
near Holiday Inn Omaha
OK, so upon my return, I can see why nobody responded to my question; nothing in sight including sidewalks! So we were there for the national finals of our high school son's academic team competition. We took the kids out to dinner at Gorat's- the Hound that described the place as 'old school' was right on- classic steak house, all included, nothing a la carte and nobody besides us under 75 (early seating). Our waitress was completely lovely and attentive, steak was good, baked potato good, salad good. High school kids loved it. Waitress said Warren Buffet was there the week prior.
We also went to the Market section. Upstream was completely disapointing; food was ordinary and they served one of our teens the wrong salad. She was supposed to get ceasar and all of a sudden I noticed she was picking all of these red peppers out and realized it was the wrong salad. By the time it was corrected, we were done and she ate alone.
Brewburgers was a wow and a belly buster. The Sacramento burger with the crusty cheese was unbelievable and the garlic fries beyond words. We were so full for so long that when we ended our day in the Old Market area we could only enjoy the french bistro place (La Buvette?) right near the parking lot that served basically wine, bread, butter, cheese, a simple sandwich etc. It was completely perfect for a very light supper and we enjoyed sitting on the sidewalk watching the world walk by.
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Brewburgers
4629 S 108th St, Omaha, NE 68137
near Holiday Inn Omaha
Is there anything (any food, price, atmosphere) to recommend within walking distance of the Holiday Inn Convention Center Omaha, located at 3321 S. 72d Street?
Nizza or Bocca di Bacco? and Barnard College
What would you choose for an early dinner this week?
I narrowed it to these over Il Punto, Carbone, Trattoria Trecolori, and Cascina.
Where would you recommend for lunch after a tour of Barnard College/Columbia?
Chilean rec?
We are coming to NYC December 29th and 30th with three teens; one is our Chilean exchange student. We are staying far out at the Embassy Suites in the financial district due to the deal we got and taking the kids to see the Rockettes at 8pm Tuesday night and a 2pm show of Wicked Wednesday. At some point in the stay we have to take a late morning tour of Barnard College. So we will be on the subway a bit, but I would like to limit that as much as possible versus more walking and seeing the sites. Our exchange student wants to see the Empire State building, we'll do Rock Center and the store windows, try to get to Central Park, and we'll probably pop into the Museum of Natural History since we have free admission tickets.
All kids are great eaters, adventurous, no problem. Money is no object, although we don't need an a la carte steak house either. So my research on the board so far for the two dinners is putting me on 9th looking at Uncle Nick's, Hell's Kitchen, or one of the Italian restaurants (Il Punto, Carbone, Trattoria Trecolori, Esca, Bocca di Bucco, Nizza?) I would like imput on that plan, and then can a Hound recommend an authentic Chilean restaurant (my stab at empanadas did not go that well)? Or a place with a very interesting vibe that the kids would think is a hoot. Thanks again, you guys have never let me down on any trip to date!
Reporting back- College Park and Georgetown
Just returned from my nephew's wedding in College Park MD. Since I was with a non-adventurous crowd, 10 of us ended up at the Calvert House Inn in Riverdale. The food was solid, nothing special, and the crab cake pretty good. The steak eaters indicated their steaks were good. The service was very professional.
In Georgetown we ate at the Tacklebox for lunch- Nearly $100 for the four of us, but the lobster rolls were exactly as they should be and the strawberry tea and lemonade were delish. Like the option of grilled asparagus as a side. Very pleasant interior- feel like you left Georgetown. We followed up around the corner with a Georgetown cupcake- the ones at Red Velvet were better. My vanilla cupcake was so fragile I could barely get it out of the wrapper and into my mouth. But I did. . . ;-o
Seeking recommendations College Park area
Nephew getting married 8/09 in College Park MD. Family members arriving the Friday before and need a restaurant that can accommodate a larger group (about 20?) for those not invited to the rehearsal dinner. Not crazy expensive, not crazy far away- maybe Silver Spring? I am not sure the group will want to travel to DC, sadly. Very open to something different, maybe a crab place, or Indian finger food or something fun?
Review and Thanks!
Thanks Hounds for your recommendations, especially nikinik- had a marvelous time in NOLA last week. After arrival had oysters at Acme- loved the grilled with the garlic butter and romano. Dinner at Stella! was delish. Out of the 7 course tasting menu keep thinking about how they added smoky bacon and chocolate as a garnish to a simple butternut squash soup. The combo was incredible and I will try this at home. Even in small amounts, the paired wine was too much and we had headaches in the morning!
Never thought I would say this about fried dough- but a beignet and chickory coffee at Cafe DuMonde with the breeze coming off the Mississippi was such a delightful experience that we had both our breakfasts there.
In a league of her own- Willie Mae's fried chicken. The best ever. All these foodies huddled on the sidewalk while they slammed the door and told us to wait- priceless.
Brightsen's was another lovely experience. The wait staff seemed genuinely friendly but not too much so. Had the seafood platter- the best was the creamy, moist jalepeno cornbread with chunks of crawfish. The fish filet with shrimp was nothing special, though.
Totally bummed that we ran out of time and stomach to try more places.
Need help, arriving next week
Arriving in NOLA on a Tuesday and driving out Thursday morning. Have wanted to go for decades, read every post on this board, and am becoming paralyzed by all the choices. Help! We want a quintessential NOLA experience- by that I mean not just great food but food I can't get anywhere else. $ no object. Dives or elegant ok. We are staying in the French Quarter, will have a car, but don't want to drive too far to get somewhere. We are starting with the cocktail tour at 4pm on Tuesday. So we need a great dinner spot, three meals on Wednesday (or snacking all day?) and breakie before we drive out.
Galtoire's? up or down?
Cochon, Stella!, Cuvee, Elizabeth's????
Cafe Du Monde or Commander's Palace?
What about a tasting menu? Who has the best?
Thanks!
New Cupcake Store
Awesome. The vanilla cupcake was fantastic- loaded with vanilla bean. My H had the key lime with coconut frosting. We were told that the red velvet ones were the biggest seller. The word I would use was fresh!
