Restaurants near JW Marriott Marquis in Miami?

My husband is accompanying me on a 2 night business trip to Miami at the end of next week. Any suggestions on where we should eat Wed and Thurs nite? We enjoy Cuban food, and most other cuisine with exception of sushi or steakhouse. We won't have a car. Suggestions?

Thank you in advance..

lacontessa in Miami - Ft. Lauderdale

Monday market/breakfast and sit-down lunch?

We will have a long layover in London at Heathrow on our way to Botswana on a Monday in early July, so were planning to travel into London to do some light sightseeing and have breakfast and lunch. Any suggestions of budget-moderate places to eat? We need milk-free (hubbie) and wheat-free (me) options so tasting menus and regular bakery/coffee shops probably won't work for us. We enjoyed Harwood Arms the last time we visited London. Since we will be traveling with very limited luggage, lunch needs to be a place that will accept casual attire.

For the light sight seeing was thinking of a London Walks tour, one of the foodie self-guided tours outlined in the Guardian, a lunch-time concert, and/or visiting a museum.

For the breakfast, was wondering about picking it up at a market, or along the way of one of the self-guided tours outlined in the Guardian. Open to your suggestions.

Thanks so much.

lacontessa in U.K./Ireland

Restaurants near Atlanta airport?

HI--we are staying at the Marriott Gateway hotel near the airport for a stopover (couldn't get those frequent flier tickets to work otherwise) on our way to Turks and Caicos on December 23. Any suggestions for budget-moderate priced dinner that can access via Marta, walk or short cab ride? We were considering Pecan, Feed Store, Barbecue Kitchen but are open to other suggestions (got discount coupons from restaurant.com for Pecan and Feed Store just in case--were $2 each).

Thanks so much.

lacontessa in Atlanta

Outstanding restaurant near the Atlanta Airport? Help!

Stevie--where did you end up eating?

lacontessa in Atlanta

Oh No! Forgot to make reservations downtown!

With so much effort going in to planning a meeting in Chicago this week, I completely forgot to make any reservations for meals. And, we are arriving this afternoon. I didn't realize that so many of the restaurants are closed on Sunday night.

We are staying at the Seneca Hotel, and the meeting is at Northwestern University medical school and surrounding buildings. Can you help me plan for dinner for 2-4 people for Sunday (tonight) and Monday, lunch for Monday and Tuesday?

Budget ideally less than $24 per person for dinner, with gluten-free options (no pizza, pasta, sandwiches). We would like to stay downtown, or have short commute for meals. Thanks so much.

lacontessa in Chicago Area

Need help planning budget/moderate 4 nites in Montreal

Hi--it looks like Lawrence is closed for the next few weeks due to holiday. Several folks recommended Kazu so that sounds like a good one to check out while we are going to the museum.

-----
Kazu
1862 Sainte-Catherine St W, Montreal, QC H3H 1M1, CA

lacontessa in Quebec (including Montreal)

Need help planning budget/moderate 4 nites in Montreal

Thanks so much for the suggestions, especially informing us about the lack of good food options at the festival. Sounds like we will be taking a walk down to chinatown when ready to eat (unless get to market earlier in day to pick up picnic).

Any suggestions for:
2) weekday breakfast near Hotel de la Montagne (where we are staying) or Sheraton Centre (conference hotel)

8) weekday diner/burger/ethnic fun places for hubbie to grab breakfast or lunch by himself (he already has Schwartz's on his list)

Other suggestions for 1-7 also gratefully accepted.

lacontessa in Quebec (including Montreal)

Need help planning budget/moderate 4 nites in Montreal

Convinced hubbie to join me in Montreal for 4 nites the end of this month while I attend a conference. Problem is that we already had planned 3 weeks in Europe this summer so need to keep costs down.

Any suggestions for:
1) dinner near Museum of Fine Arts on Wed nite
2) weekday breakfast near Hotel de la Montagne (where we are staying) or Sheraton Centre (conference hotel)
3) business lunch near Sheraton Centre
4) dinner options (L'Express is definitely on my list, loved it several years ago)
5) breakfast/brunch on Saturday
6) food at or near Jazz Festival on Saturday
7) dinner near (or on way to) good free fireworks view on Saturday nite
8) weekday diner/burger/ethnic fun places for hubbie to grab breakfast or lunch by himself (he already has Schwartz's on his list)

We know we want to visit Atwater and Jean Talon markets but they are a bit far to grab breakfast or lunch while I am attending the conference, so I may have to wait until Friday afternoon & Saturday morning.

We do have some dietary restrictions (me--no wheat, hubbie--no milk products) which means no pizza/pasta/sandwiches/bagels for me, and no pizza for hubbie.

Thanks so much.

lacontessa in Quebec (including Montreal)

Prenzlauer, Berlin

Thanks so much Linguafood. Not raw meat or fish, or American food. Prefer budget to moderate priced with gluten free and dairy free options (e.g., no restaurants serving only pizza or pasta). Other than that--are open to lots of choices--Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, French, German, etc. Renger-Patzsch may be our splurge meal. Love markets.

lacontessa in Europe

Prenzlauer, Berlin

Hi Linguafood--I did search for amyzan and did not see a report. I already searched for Prenzlauer Berg and Berlin.

lacontessa in Europe

Prenzlauer, Berlin

Amyzan--trying to find your Berlin report. Can you please point me to it? We will be staying in the same area in early August. Thanks.

lacontessa in Europe

Breakfast & Dinner near Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin?

Planning our first trip to Berlin ( 5 nights in early August), and would appreciate some help. Berlin tourist sites seem really spread out, so to save $ for eating and other fun activities (smile), we decided to go with Priceline name your own price hotel in East Berlin. The hotel we got is the Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin (Storkower Strasse 162, 10407). Right around the corner is a S-sub,U-sub,tram, and bus hub (Alexanderplatz in about 10 minutes). The hotel breakfast is pricey (12 euros each?) so will likely want to eat out at least some days. There is a supermarket nearby which also can use.

Any suggestions for breakfast or dinner near our hotel, in Prenzlauer Berg, and/or at least not too far away on public transportation?

Thanks so much.

lacontessa in Europe

Prague - trip report

Yes please do share your suggestions. We will be staying 4 nights in Prague in early August.

lacontessa in Europe

Advice for visit

I found that Bar at the Modern was extremely helpful in sorting out our dietary restrictions (gluten for me, milk products for my husband). The waiter had a cheat sheet which he referred to help us decide which dishes to order. If you wife is gluten-free, please plan on taking her to Tu-lu's (first choice) and/or Babycakes (second choice) for gluten-free treats.

-----
The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

lacontessa in Manhattan

Inspire me New York

I agree. Few people there when we stopped by and we thought it was pricey. What got to me though was the first ingredient in their barbeque sauce for sale at the entrance was corn syrup!

lacontessa in Manhattan

Please fill in holes for late March weekend for six

Yep. Smile. You are a "giant" on this board and appreciate your suggestions.

lacontessa in Manhattan

Please fill in holes for late March weekend for six

Thanks for the reply RGR. Yes, have modified your LES tour to include Babycakes (gluten and dairy free options for hubbie and I). You mentioned in earlier postings that you are making changes to your tour? Is that ready to share?

I checked Maialino and it does not take online reservations for more than 4 people. Not sure whether call it would be a different story? Hmm. Manzo looks more expensive than both Locanda Verde and Maialino. Am trying to have our other meals be less expensive/fancy than the Bar at the Modern and Bouley's.

-----
Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Manzo
200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

lacontessa in Manhattan

Please fill in holes for late March weekend for six

Thanks so much. I can't count. We have made four reservations: bouley's locanda verde, bar at the modern, toloache.

lacontessa in Manhattan

Please fill in holes for late March weekend for six

My husband so enjoyed his visit to NYC late January (thanks to your great suggestions) that he has invited his two friends and their wives to join us the last weekend in March. Most are not planners, and, the folks from Florida don't want to stand in line and prefer making reservations. This is the first time that we have traveled together so really need your help. We want this to go well and we already know that have some food issues (me--gluten, hubbie--milk products), as well as a wide variety of food preferences represented. Our friends want Italian, and "ethnic." I love French, and the ladies liked the idea of both Bouley's and Bar at the Modern. The guys prefer more casual places.

We have made three reservations (Bouley's, Locanda Verde, Tolache) and really welcome your suggestions. We will be staying at the Wyndham near Penn Station.

It has taken us several weeks of email and phone discussions to get this far. You will love this--my hubbie said "not French" and then I pointed out to him that the wonderful place that he enjoyed so much the end of January--Bar at the Modern--is Alsatian French. Our friends from Florida have heard of it, so that is definitely on our list.

The ladies have overcome the guys anxiety about Bouley's and Bar at the Modern but we now need more casual, less expensive places so they don't grump too much. The guys wouldn't mind food trucks, diners etc. but as I said, one of the wives doesn't want to stand in line and they are from Florida so the weather will seem cold to them.My husband hates crowds so don't know whether Eataly is even something to consider.

After checking several of your earlier suggestions for italian pre-theater (some wouldn't reserve for a party of six, some wouldn't take any reservations, some got so-so reviews or were too expensive etc.), we decided to fit Italian into another meal

Here is our tentative itineary:

Thursday
2:30 pm lunch at Bouley's
Pick up soup/salad at Whole Foods or similar?
Broadway musical tickets at 8 pm

Friday
100th anniversary of Shirtwaist Factory fire in Greenwich Village?
Walk/shop Bleecker Street?
1:30 pm lunch at Locanda Verde (Del Posto lunch is unavailable)
Free museum hours 4-8 pm
8 pm dinner at Bar at the Modern

Saturday
Visit Ellis Island?
5:30 pm dinner at Tolache
Broadway shows at 8 pm

Sunday
Self-guided walking tour in LES

So, we need breakfast suggestions for Friday & Sat, suggestions for Italian for Friday or Saturday (is Locanda Verde worth traveling to after Greenwich Village?), suggestions for picnic stuff we can take to Ellis Island (buy along Bleecker street the day before?). If Chinese, where would you recommend in Manhattan? Our friends are not interested in going to the suburbs.

Thanks so much.

-----
Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Eataly
200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

lacontessa in Manhattan

Bakeries on Lower East Side

Babycakes for "healthy" donuts that are surprisingly good (gluten and dairy free, sweetened with agave).

-----
Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

lacontessa in Manhattan

Comments on self-guided Gluten-free walking tour of LWE?

I tried several of the rice puddings at this shop dedicated to rice pudding. The caramel with salted nut topping seemed to me the best combination of the bunch. Unfortunately, it definitely did not meet my memories of warm rice pudding with caramel sauce from Paris. Many are a weird color, and all are served cold and are very thick (word gloppy comes to mind). Hint: let the pudding warm up to room temperature--it really improves the flavor. Would I return? If desperate for rice pudding then maybe, but, there has to be better rice pudding in the city.

-----
Rice to Riches
37 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

lacontessa in Manhattan

Good Italian near theater with gluten-free options?

Haven't received a reply so perhaps this is too tough a question. Searching some gluten-free websites, it looks like Bistango is a favorite. How does that compare with Trattoria Trecolori (where probably can't have pasta)? Thanks

-----
Trattoria Trecolori
254 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Bistango
415 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

lacontessa in Manhattan

Retaurant list. In town for a week and a half. Suggestions? Comments?

Hi--the lunch is now $45

lacontessa in Manhattan

Weekday Lunch - Finally have the opportunity and want to take advantage!

Never been to Bouley's so can't tell. It was frustrating since it changed just this week--checked earlier this week and it still was the same price. Checked last night and it is now $45.

lacontessa in Manhattan

Review of 2 gluten-free bakeries

For those who need to watch their diet, definitely check out Tu-Lu's and Babycakes. Have been gluten-free for 3.5 years so visiting these tiny bakeries was a real treat. I loaded up on a wide selection to try at home at both bakeries--and definitely looked like a kid in a candy store. Both stores have tiny areas so that you can start chowing down before you even leave the store, and sell drinks to accompany your treats. They are both so tiny, that you can observe treats being prepared. I asked which of the items that I could freeze to eat later at home. Still have one pumpkin bread in the freezer--so definitely will be back.

Tu-Lu's
The brownie was absolutely decadent and reminded me what brownies (with wheat) used to taste like. They have tiny samples of stuff to try. The mini red velvet cake cupcake was moist and the cream cheese frosting was absolutely yummy. The breakfast muffins and cinnamon coffee cake were also good. Cookies and cupcakes were definitely better than at Babycakes. Babycakes' frosting was just plain gross. Note that some of these items contain dairy. They offer paninis with gluten-free bread if you want to make a meal of it. The staff were very nice and patient, answering all of my questions.

Babycakes
Definitely try the donuts. YUM. Most of the items are sweetened with agave, and are soy and dairy free. The frosting on the cupcakes was just plain gross, and the cupcakes were not as moist as tu-lu's. Staff ignored us initially (even though there was no one else there) and were not very nice.

-----
Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Tu-Lu's
338 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003

lacontessa in Manhattan

Good Italian near theater with gluten-free options?

My husband so enjoyed our last visit to NYC late January (thanks to your suggestions), he invited his two best friends and their wives to join us when we return late March. In our last visit, we very much enjoyed our meals at Bar at the Modern and Cafe Mogador, and I loved the two gluten-free bakeries Tu-Lu (brownies!, red velvet cupcakes!) and Babycakes (donuts!).

Now, need to come up with good Italian options for our Italian friend from Philadelphia for a Thursday night, pre-theater. We will be going to the theater at Shubert Theater (225 West 44th Street) and The Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway). And, we are staying near Penn Station.

Checking out previous posts, I see Orso, Etcetera Etcetera, Trattoria Trecolori recommended. I have eaten pre-theater at Etcetera Etcetera before, but, the last time (maybe three years ago?) it was just so-so. Our friends were recommended Carmine's but would like a place that all of us can enjoy which means some place with good gluten-free options, and affordable prices.

Can you help us?

-----
Babycakes
248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

Cafe Mogador
101 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

Trattoria Trecolori
254 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Orso
322 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

Etcetera Etcetera
352 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

Tu-Lu's
338 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003

lacontessa in Manhattan

Weekday Lunch - Finally have the opportunity and want to take advantage!

Bouley just changed their fixed price lunch this week. It is now $45. We tried Jean-George for Saturday lunch and much preferred our restaurant week dinner at the bar at the modern. How was your lunch? Where did you decide to go?

lacontessa in Manhattan

Bar at the Modern--best dishes?

Warm lamb and goat cheese terrine, and salmon were fabulous

lacontessa in Manhattan

Tulane grad finally returning--and only one dinner to plan!

Given the cold (just as cold as in DC today!), we wanted a place a short distance from our hotel, the Monteleone. Arnaud's was the perfect fit. My colleague had never been to New Orleans and didn't want to dress up so we headed on over to the jazz bar at Arnaud's. We enjoyed both our meal and the music. The cover charge for the music (banjo, bass, clarinet) was $4 each, and they seated us away from the music so we could talk. Since we wanted to enjoy dessert, we just ordered entrees and two vegetable sides. I definitely would not order the souffle potatoes again, they were hard and greasy. The sauteed baby vegetables were tasy but a rather small plate to share. I had the tender Chicken Pontalba with brabant potatoes, and much preferred the darker of the two sauces (marchand de vin) which they brought more of when I asked. The bread was served warm with butter, nice and crusty on the outside. My colleague ordered the Pompano David which came grilled with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs, and served with a cheesecloth wrapped lemon half. We nicely ended our meal with bananas foster. In addition to the flames from the rum and banana liquer, the waiter made sparks with cinnamon and sugar mixture that he sprinkled on--I never knew cinnamon does that. The meeting planners had ordered bread pudding and some chocolate dessert for tonight at Brennans so this was my one chance at getting a flambee dessert. With two teas, and one ginger ale, the meal without tip was a little under $100 for the two of us. The location is great for those staying at the Monteleon and for those with limited time in the city, a nice night out.

-----
Arnaud's Restaurant
813 Rue Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

lacontessa in New Orleans