SnowWhite's Profile
Any Menus with Soft Shell Crabs?
Ah ha! The answer I was looking for!
So let's just omit the Chinatown restaurants - or are the crabs at Oriental Garden truly fresh?
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Oriental Garden
14 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
Any Menus with Soft Shell Crabs?
I love soft shell crab season (and it's the main reason I came to this site today), but can't you get a spider roll any time of the year from any sushi place in town? And my local sushi favorite (Udo on Avenue B) has soft shell crab as an appetizer year 'round. Are these not as "real"?
I had Tipsy Parson's soft shell crab last year - and it was fantastic. Definitely a step up from plain fried soft shell crabs found elsewhere. Why do they only have them for a month when the sushi places (and most restaurants in Chinatown) have them all year?
So which soft shell crabs are we looking for? Gussied up crabs like Tipsy's & Union Square or plain old fried salt & pepper soft shell crabs found everywhere? How 'bout the best bang for your buck?!?!
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Tipsy Parson
156 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Celebration dinner: Le Cirque or WD-50?
If you're 33 - wd-50 is THE place - take your parents to Le Cirque! And as long as you appreciate the construction and process of making the food - you'll have a ball! I recently went there for an anniversary and it was out of this world - at lease we appreciated it! But at $540 or so for 2 with chef's tasting & wine pairings - it ain't cheap - but it's fun! One of the best meals EVER.
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Le Cirque
151 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
Which restaurant will be the least douche-y on a Saturday night?
Wow! Thank you all for your blunt and honest answers! Looks like we're all on the same page! I was worried I was gonna get pummeled for using the D-word! LOL!
Which restaurant will be the least douche-y on a Saturday night?
As usual ... takin' a friend out for his birthday which happens to sadly fall on a Saturday night this year ... amateur night! I try to keep my dining out experiences limited to Sundays thru Thursday. Alas ... we're going on on a Saturday .... which is best & least overrun with people I moved to this city to avoid?
Aldea
Apizz
The Orchard
Recette
Locanda VERde
Bar Blanc
Or any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
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Apizz
217 Eldridge St., New York, NY 10002
Aldea
31 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011
Recette
328 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
We got soft shell crabs yet, or what?
Had a great one at Tipsy Parson's last week!
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Tipsy Parson
156 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Paella festival reports?
There was a paella festival at the Water Taxi Beach in Queens yesterday .... did anyone attend?
Restaurant w/room for private party for 13-year olds ...
these are both great suggestions!!!! Thank you!!! And if you have any other ideas, I'll still welcome them ......
Restaurant w/room for private party for 13-year olds ...
I am helping a friend look for a place to hold a bar mitzvah party for 30 13-year olds (no parents) in a restaurant or some other venue where they would have food other than pizza. I checked Zagat for "private rooms" and it lists things like Nobu & Tavern on the Green (out of the price range!).
Anyone know of a place in Manhattan that would fit the bill? Some place casual, someone recommended Señor Swanky's on the Upper West Side ... anyone know of other places that could hold a party like that?
Best Ice Cream Place Greenwich village or Soho?
Hey - does anyone know about the church that serves ice cream on 11th Street between Avenues A & B? I can't remember the name but it's under the big neon "JESUS SAVES" sign and all their ice cream is homemade AND the concept of the place is to giving kids a place to work and to help keep them off the street. And the razzle dazzle - vanilla ice cream with white chocolate and fresh raspberries is TO DIE FOR. And their cookies & cream - oh MY. And it's DIRT CHEAP - I think they do 2- or 3-dollar pints on Tuesdays. And they are SUPER nice. Jesus DOES save! :)
name of the rest. w/Christmas lights galore near 30th & east side?
Oh my gosh - that was quick! THANK YOU!!!! I'm goin' tonight! Don't care too much about the food .... looks like fun!
name of the rest. w/Christmas lights galore near 30th & east side?
Isn't there some german restaurant in Murray Hill that is covered in Christmas lights .... they're up year 'round (I think), but was in the mood to try it tonight ... any idea what I'm talking about??
Lupa-A Bad Time
And how everyone just loooooooooooooves Babbo is beyond me. I went there a few years ago for my anniversary. The bar was JAM packed and people were pushing their way through the entrance. Is that "fun" for people? One of the best restaurants in the city shouldn't feel like walking into a cattle holding pen. It was awful. We were seated at a lovely table upstairs ... but the food ... eh .... whatever. We did a wine pairing and had all the usual suspects (veal cheek ravioli) ... all fine but nothing spectacular. But the worst part: waking up hours later, dying of thirst from the overly generous amount of SALT in the dishes. Yuck. That experience alone made me never want to go to another Batali venture ever again. Luckily, I managed to have a good time at Bar Jamon (despite their initial cold greeting). Anyway ... don't get me started!
good swedish food?
I've found the most authentic homecooking for Swedish is Ulreka's (?) ... is it still there? Somewhere around 57th Street & Lexington, I think. I did a CitySearch for it and couldn't find it. Anyone know what I'm talking about? -
HA - I'M STUPID. I should read more closely!! Ulrika's CLOSED? SAD!!!!!
Chinatown Soft Shell Crabs besides Noodletown
After reading this today, I ran down to Viet Hong on Mulberry and had their "salt & pepper soft shell crabs" - DELICIOUS!!!! I started with an appetizer of skewered grilled beef, flecked with seasame seeds - served with a dipping sauce - fantastic. And the soft shell crabs - four hearty guys all fried up - served with a side of dipping sauce - salt, pepper & lemon juice from what I could tell. It was all heavenly. Plus - two glasses of wine ... total bill: $29.75. I'm definately going back.
after getting recs here, I went to one sixtyblue ... and it blew. :(
Hey there,
Maybe I was setting myself up for disappointment ... I dunno. But after obsessing and obsessing on where to take some friends out for dinner for a very special occassion ... I decided to go on your recommendations and make reservations for one sixtyblue last week. I came in from New York City and wanted to take friends out ... I wanted it to be special. There was nothing special but the price tag!
First of all .... our waiter. Gooooood god. He was relentless. As soon as we sat down, he goes into his pitch on cheese. Well, first we were offered water. Then .... cheese. Immediately. We weren't even given a chance to look at the menu. He immediately started yapping on and on about cheese. For the record - he told us the goat cheese was his favorite - THREE TIMES.
I said, "Do you start with cheese here?"
"Yes, most people do," he replied.
"Well, I like to start with a cocktail." was my response.
It was utterly idiotic. The guy was on autopilot. The second he slapped down the menus he was going on and on about cheeses. Note to him: give people a minute to relax before you bombard them with your sales pitch!!!!!! He was like a robot reciting his favorite cheeses ... quickly and awkwardly. And we hadn't even been sitting for 5 minutes!
After getting our drinks .... he was RELENTLESS in getting us to order. He came about five times, asking us if we were ready. I finally said, "NO." Has this guy ever been out to eat himself?!?!?!?!?! LEAVE US ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES TO CATCH UP!!! GEEESH!!!!! We were not that late either (our reservation was for 8:30 p.m. and we were on time!)
The food ... it was okay. Nothing special, really. The two cheeses (!!!) we had were decent ..... soft cheeses. Cheese, cheese, cheese.
I had the Peekytoe crab salad and my friends the caesar salads (a sign I should've just taken them someplace cheaper). All were okay. I had the lamb ... good. My friends - a steak and the risotto .... both good. Not great. Not stellar. Just decent. And a side of fingerling potatotes which were probably my favorite. Whoopie.
All in all ... it was a nice night out in Chicago. I drove by Black Bird on the way over and was glad I hadn't chosen there. Atmosphere is just as important to me ... and the place looked PACKED and way too bright. (What IS it with Chicago restaurants and their need to keep everything so horribly lit and bright?!?!?!?!?!) If it weren't for my waiter, I probably wouldn't be as upset ... but this guy made things UNPLEASANT. Even my friends were irritated with him.
Maybe this was because we were the last ones sat - not late, considering it was 8:30 ... but doesn't anyone eat out after 9 p.m. in Chicago?? Is it because I'm a New York snob? I don't think so!!
I also happened to go out to the Fronterra Grill the following night - after seeing Bayless on Oprah, of all things ... catering her party. I stopped by at 5 p.m. that night and put our name on the list for 7 p.m. ... and we had a GREAT time there .... imagine: that restaurant was featured on OPRAH that day ... and our waiter DID NOT RUSH US! You'd think they would've tried to turn the table as quickly as possible since they were up to a two hour wait when we arrived for our reservation ... but they did not. They were nice and HUMAN ... at least our waiter was! (But the same should be said about the lighting there - why do they keep it so bright????)
So thank you for your advice ... I took a risk and maybe I could just blame my bad time on the waiter. I hope he someday gets a clue!
Spring vs. Blackbird vs. one sixtyblue
Great! I'm sticking with onesixtyblue ... i've become obsessed! Thanks for all your help. I finally chose one sixtyblue ... but then I met a woman last night who swears by Spring. But I researched and researched and I'm sticking with my gutt instinct! thanks for alllllllllllllllllllllllll your help! I'll let you know how it goes! oh - and the woman on the phone at one sixtyblue was extremely nice .... that alone makes me want to go there. Thanks again!
Spring vs. Blackbird vs. one sixtyblue
A special occassion ... most comfortable with the best food? I just can't decide!!!!!
Okay, last time - Boka or One SixtyBlue?
Well this all makes me feel good about my choice - HOWEVER .... I just met someone who told me Spring is the absolute must-go-to restaurant in Chicago. Either that .... or Blackbird! Oh no!!!
So now .... Blackbird OR Spring????????? or should I stick with my original plan ....... ?
Okay, last time - Boka or One SixtyBlue?
Dinner for a special occassion .... celebrating a friend's marriage ... just a few days before the wedding ... where should we go?
Rec's for a friendly special occassion? MK?
I certainly don't want THAT. I prefer a laidback, cool vibe without people "trying" .... I'm thinking more East Village laidback and less Meatpacking District meathead attitude.
Rec's for a friendly special occassion? MK?
My GOODNESS! You Chicagoland Chowhounds are NICE! Thank you!!!! I shall investigate Black Bird ... it sounds like you all know what kind of place I'm looking for! I can't thank you enough! Hopefully, the happy couple will be impressed with my Chicago insider knowledge! Thanks!!!!!
And now that I'm looking ..... I'm further confused because of all the great options!!!! At least I got something to chose from! Thank you!
One more question: are any of these places "hipper" than others? But something sceney without being snobby - nothing worse than an aloof waitress!! And which do you think has the best atmosphere? I'm all for great food ... but I also like me some good lighting and comfortable surroundings ...
Rec's for a friendly special occassion? MK?
I'm a New Yorker in town soon for a wedding. I want to take the bride & groom out for dinner a few days before the big day. I am the best friend of the bride and want to take her and her fiance out for a "nice" meal. I don't have Charlie Trotter money or time ... but is MK semi-reasonable and appropriate? These aren't foodie people, but I want to take them some place "different" from their norm. I want a place with a touch of New York class without the pretention ... or the price! Is that possible? How much would I end up spending at MK? I also saw people mention Alinea ... but that looks super fancy and epic. I just want something that isn't spaghetti oriented - it seems like that's all we ever eat when we're in Chicago! Any ideas for a memorable, relaxed yet proper meal? ANY feedback will be GREATLY appreicated!
Nice lunch on West 14th Street
I have always loved Markt ... never expecting sensational service ... as they say, it is what it is. And what it is now ... is closed. And I am VERY sad about that. Another lot going CONDO!
Late night East Village for large group?
You should've gone to Mo' Pitkins House of Satisfaction on Avenue A & 3rd Street. Did you? The food's pretty good, it's nearby, it's good for large groups like yours and it's FILLED with theatre types getting their kiki on.
Boiled peanuts anywhere in NYC???
Thanks! I guess I could've just done a search on "boiled" or "bald" (as you southerners DO say in Georgia) here and found the answers. I guess I'm not alone in this quest!
Cheers!
Anyone been to Mai House on Franklin Street?
I read that Bao 111's chef is over there with Drew Nieporant (sp?).
Any early reviews?
Boiled peanuts anywhere in NYC???
I was down in Savannah, GA recently and discovered boiled peanuts. Is there anywhere to get them in New York City? Or are there ways of making your own? Finding raw, unroasted peanuts is the challenge. Any ideas?
