dhammer53's Profile
Tocqueville. Forgot to dot the i and cross the t
Our second visit in 3 months.
This time, Tocqueville forgot to dot the i's and cross the t's. The waiter (captain) came over and asked if our drinks needed a refill. We said yes. Then, we waited, and waited for the drinks to come. Eventually I finally caught his attention inquiring about the drinks. Another few minutes passed, the wrong drinks were brought to the table! I ordered the wine pairing with my dinner. The first and second wine were brought to the table prior to the course that it was paired to. When my dessert arrived, I sat there waiting for my wine pairing. I waited patiently. Eventually I was able to catch someones eye and asked for the waiter/captain. I had to prompt him for my drink! I was disappointed with the service.
A note to the general manager met with a Sorry this happened. We'll do better next time.
In a place where food and service is king, I was disappointed.
-----
Tocqueville
1 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
River City Grill
This was our second trip back in two months. Delicious food. Good value. $15 corkage to BYO. I have to say that the service was a little slow this visit. To start, my wife ordered a salad, and I ordered the crabcake. We both enjoyed the glazed salmon. We shared the apple/ice cream concoction which was good, but not great. Next time I'll be adventurous and try the chocolate cake.
-----
River City Grill
6 South Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533
Five Guys Westport
Five Guys is like In 'N Out in California. A pleasant diversion from BK and McD every so often. If you ever fly through Washington - Dulles (IAD) airport, you can sample their food at the dreaded - A - gates. FYI, they also do a decent breakfast. Their 'gimmick'? Everything is fresh. Wouldn't it be nice if the others guys used the same gimmick?
What's the skinny on Walter's Hot Dogs?
If Walters sold Hebrew Nationals split, then they'd have the perfect hotdog. Until then, eaters at Walters are there for 'old times sake'. It's a pass.
Napa Recommendations
Frogs Leap?? I'm a regular on the Parker boards and Wine Berserkers board, and I don't recall any mention of Frogs Leap. Just for fun, I 'searched' the name on www.cellartracker.com
I checked on their Zin and Cab Sauv. Both are forgetable, with rating in the mid-80's. In case you don't know, Cellartracker is where posters report on their wine tastings, just like CH's report on food.
Ginban Brings Excellent Asian Fusion to Mamaroneck
Went for lunch the other day. I was skeptical of another Asian fusion place. The menu has the typical offering, plus atypical offerings. We were pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality, as I always go to these places with low expectations.
We shared edamame (tastes the same everywhere). The tuna 'pizza' was delicious. Same for the Cali roll and spicy tuna roll. The Kiss Kiss roll contained some lobster and tuna. Can't wait to go back.
The variety of unusual combinations on the menu make this place a must.
New Sandwich joint in White Plains, MELT, anyone try?
I went back for breakfast last week (reported above). This time I took a friend that was in from LA. My friend and the owner were talking about LA. Seems he came from LA. Ah. No wonder the unique 'concept'.
Looks like larger quarters are on the horizon, same for additional locations.
Today I ordered the pastrami. As any New Yorker will tell you, pastrami and corned beef are things you stay away from unless you're at Katz's deli. After hearing how the pastrami is prepared here, I just had to order it... but with what topping? The cuban was recommended. Ok. I'll try the cuban (fresh homemade pickles , dijon mustard and cheese. Great flavor, but next time I'm ordering the perfectly red, and delicious pastrami, without any of the toppings. Why ruin perfection.
I'm a little concerned about my multiple positive posts here. I'd hate to 'ruin' a good thing. From now on, no more sharing. Looks like the word is out.
Juicy Sushi in White Plains
Between this and Melt, White Plains may be on to something.
River City Grille _ Irvington NY
Returned almost a year to the day for Round 2.
This time we sat in the quieter back of the restaurant.
My wife had the 'garden' salad, and the rest of the party (3) ordered the caesar salad. Just the right amount of dressing and crunch. The cheese looked like a couple of thin slices of sweet muenster cheese (minor point). The taste was what I expected, but I would have liked something more traditional looking.
I enjoyed the mustard glazed salmon over mashed potatoes.
My wife had the mixed fish grill.
My cousin had the scallops, and her husband enjoyed the shrimp over angelhair pasta.
We shared the ice cream sundae.
I promise not to wait a year to return. RCG did not disappoint.
One last thing, they're offering 15% of their wine list.
For Captain Lawrence beer fans, they offer 2 styles on tap.
New Sandwich joint in White Plains, MELT, anyone try?
For a change of pace, I ordered the grilled salmon (with mushrooms and onions) today for lunch. Another winner!
I just may put them to the test by ordering a burger later this week.
New Sandwich joint in White Plains, MELT, anyone try?
Same for me. Had lunch twice. Finally had a breakfast sandwich to die for this morning. The freshly grated cheese (think the type you see them put on at a pizza place) is mixed in with the eggs. It had a nice stringy consistency, not to mention tasty.
Today, I took my daughter for lunch. I had the pizza. Please cut the pizza all the way through. I needed a knife to cut it when I got back home. I wish the crust was a little bit crustier. It didn't have a crunch when I bit into it. The crust was soft. To look at the pizza, the crust looked better than it tasted. Oh well. I'll stick to the delicious sandwiches instead of pizza.
My daughter had the Greek salad. Her only suggestion is that she wished some of the larger pieces were cut up a little bit. She's the salad expert, not me.
MELT is going to put a lot of people out of business. Cheap and delicious!!
New Sandwich joint in White Plains, MELT, anyone try?
Just came back after having lunch at Melt.
Salads $5. Sandwiches between $5 and $8. Pick the size, pick the main, then choose the toppings from a list of combos. I had the pulled pork sandwich. Very moist! I watched as some of the other sandwiches were prepared. Everything looked good. Even the eggs/cheese combo (at $2.50) looked good, in a way they I haven't seen this prepared before.
Dare I say gourmet at a price. Looks like this place is a winner (for a change). My sandwich was delicious. I'm glad I'm home doing work next week!!
Friendly staff. The Chef reminded me of Phillip at the Iron Horse.
Road Trip Suggesions - NYC to Buffalo
I discovered Binghams by accident several years ago. Nothing fancy, but good food and great pies. Also check out Dinosaur BBQ in downtown Rochester.
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza near White Plains?
Have to agree. Chicago is a mere 750 miles from White Plains.
Thanksgiving Reds
A Carlisle Zin.
A good pinot noir.
And for goodness sakes, any champagne.
White Plains: Hito Asian Bistro & Sushi
Did take-out last weekend. This time, the Pad Thai tasted like cardboard.
Thanksgiving Desserts in Westchester
With so much cake on the table, anything you bring has to be spectacular. I suggest bringing a good dessert wine.
Can I reach X20 in Yonkers by train from Manhattan? (plus menu recommendations?)
Report...
I've been reading about X2O ever since they opened. I was anxious to give this special occassion place a try. http://www.xaviars.com/yonkers/index.html
Can't really figure out what makes X2O a special occassion place. In the NY Metro area, you're going to pay $125 - $175 for one of those 'special' dinners.
I made reservations throught www.opentable.com If you're not using them to make reservations, you're missing out on $ rebates; not to mention it cost you zero.
We arrived at 6:45 for a 7:00 reservation on Wednesday. This place is spacious and beautiful. It's located on the Hudson River in Yonkers NY.
My wife really isn't a big drinker. Since she prefers white, I let that dictate dinner. Their wine list is online. Corkage is $25.
I ordered a bottle of Bianco, Vare 500 from Napa Valley 2005 for $35. Nice golden color. A little heavier than a pinot blanc, but lighter than a chard. This was perfect with our dinner choices.
Before I begin, with all the hype about this place, I was worried about non-delivery. Even for this cynical New Yorker, I only had one thing to complain about.
To begin
I usually will order beets when I see them on the menu, but this time I wanted to see what Peter (who was cooking) could do.
The Lobster Crepe with Mascarpone and Chives
Sauce American with Star Anise and Tiny Salad
...had loads of soft, sweet lobster in it. I was surprised by the amount of lobster. This was no 'tasting' if you know what I mean. Delicious!! This was served warm. The folded over crepe was about 2" x 3".
Shaved Fennel and Arugula Salad looked and tasted great, according to my wife.
Mains
Miso Glazed Chinook Salmon
Ten Vegetable Lomein and Sake with Warm Cucumber
... had to be the best salmon I've ever eaten in a restaurant. It was prepared perfectly, with such a wonderful taste I couldn't possibly describe.
Ahi Tuna Served Rare
Puffed Rice and Dried Seaweed
Yuzu Butter & Caramelized Soy
Chinese Broccoli & Baby Bok Choy
My wife really enjoyed this. Served rare, with a hint of sear.
While I enjoyed her tuna, the salmon is the way to go.
Throughout dinner, our water glasses were constantly refilled.
We were offered another round of bread. It was curious that they didn't serve olive oil with the bread.
Speaking about service... Ok. Let's see. A nice welcome upon arrival. A greeting from the asst manager, and later from the General Manager. Of course Peter made the rounds. Our waiter and assorted busboys (I hate that word, especially in such a nice place) were just about perfect.
The only thing was that there was too much time between the courses. So much so that I was antsy. I thought it would take forever to get the check. Now granted, they didn't rush us, but still, it's a negative.
Saving the best for last
After driving the waiter crazy, asking lots of questions about half of what was being offered (he was very gracious, and had plenty of knowledgeable answers) we decided to share ...
Peach Sabayon served with a scoop of peach sorbet. The sabayon was creamy, rich, and smooth, with plenty of peach flavor.
We passed on coffee.
Total for 2 was $133, not counting the tip. Can't wait to return.
White Plains: Hito Asian Bistro & Sushi
My family (of 4) went to Hito on Friday night.
Free parking is a plus. BYO (no corkage) is a plus (until they get their liquor license).
I have to say that for a plain looking, nothing special, I wouldn't go there for an occassion place, the food was surprisingly good... and cheap. Average of $16 per person. That was with just one appetizer, and no drinks.
My wife ordered the Udon. She was expecting the soup version, but received the noodle-only version instead.
I ordered the Pad Thai. I use this dish as my 'base dish' when trying new Thai places. It was just as good as Sripraphai.
My son ordered the sweet potato roll and the Chanukah roll. Stupid name, good roll!
My daughter had the combo, 3 roll deal.
For the price, you can't beat this place. The only thing I didn't like was the menu. A page of Chinese, a page of sushi, a page of Thai, if you know what I mean.
At 6:00, Hito was 25% full. I hope they make it. The food was good. I'll be back.
River City Grille _ Irvington NY
We went to the River City Grill tonight. It's located in the old Benny's place on Rt 9, just south of Main St.
FYI, BYO = $15. They have a nice wine list, that's reasonably priced.
RCG is a small, quiet, and pretty place. Think soft golden walls, with a soft rainbow of colors on the booths. We had dinner in the front room. They also have a rear room, plus bar area.
We started with salads. Both were a healthy size.
My friend seemed to enjoy his gazpacho.
I ordered the seared sea scallops over a tomato risotto. Four healthy sized, moist and firm scallops were very tasty.
My friend enjoyed the mushroom ravoli.
Both wives ordered the tuna.
Just before the entrees were to arrive, the host/manager/owner came over to our table to talk to the wives. 'There's a problem with your tuna'. He went on to say that the chef over-cooked it. It was medium well, instead of rare. The problem was that they ran out of tuna, so couldn't replace it. He was going to replace it with something else, but asked us to taste the tuna anyway, just in case we liked it. If not, not a problem. I appreciated that the restaurant was 'pro-active' about this. As it turns out, the tuna was over-cooked.
My wife ordered the sea scallops (like me), and my friends wife ordered the very tasty crab cakes.
We were comped dessert which I thought was a nice gesture.
Tax and tip for 2 was $105.
I'd go back to River City Grille again, but since they're so nice, I'll head back a little sooner, rather than later.
Lunch on the drive from Buffalo to Ithaca?
Stop at Dinosaur BBQ in downtown Rochester. For NY BBQ, it's pretty good.
Sal's Pizza, Mamaroneck
Sal's in very good for Westchester. I don't know how someone upthread can compare Sal's to Racanellis?
Recently, I've been lucky enough to enjoy a slice or 2 at DiFara's and L&B in Brooklyn; and, Gino's on Cross Bay Blvd in Queens. Sal's doesn't hold a candle to 'real' pizza.
Mima Vinoteca - Irvington, NY
Mima had a table at the Food and Wine festival last weekend in Tarrytown. They sampled a simple pasta that was, you should pardon the expression, Delish.
Also, they charge $20 for corkage if you BYO. That's waved if you buy a bottle of their wine list.
They were very nice, and seemed eager to please. Can't wait to go for dinner.
Help! Moving from bklyn to Little Neck/Great Neck
Is TJK Cafe a diner or a restaurant?
Must have been a diner at one time, but today, it's a casual restaurant, with no pretension. While not a fancy place, our party enjoyed the food. Cost for 2 = $81.
My wife wnjoyed the salmon, ribs for me, our friends did the seared tuna and Chilean sea bass (at a $31 price).
The prices were higher than I expected.based on how the website looks.
If you BYO, they charge $3 a glass. So 2 people = $6. and 4 people with 4 glasses = $12. I'd say this places is BYO friendly. The food was good too. I'd go back.
Help! Moving from bklyn to Little Neck/Great Neck
Is TJK Cafe a diner or a restaurant? A friend of mine, usually with good taste, recommended this place.
Backal's named one of 10 best Westchester restaurants?
I'll start with the Sunday morning funny.
Just after the table was cleared of the main brunch course, I was expecting a dessert menu. A few minutes go by, and the waiter brings to the table what looked like 1 dessert menu! You can imagine my shock when it was the bill!
We all looked at each other and laughed. Nice way to save a few bucks. I did mention this to the manager on the way out.
Now for the review. Eight of us arrived at 12:30 for brunch/lunch.
Pretty room. Fireplace going. We sat in the dining room as you enter.
My nephew decided to order the pizza as an appetizer. It was thin crust. I looked forward to tasting it; but after one bite, I put it down. This tasted more like a local slice of greasy pizza, then a 'speciality' pizza.
I enjoyed the hugh burger, that came with fries and carmelized onions on a brioche bun. Some of our group ordered the eggs/bacon/french toast combo. The bacon was tasty. My son enjoyed the crab cake sandwich. My nephew enjoyed the pasta with meat sauce combo. Forget the name.
My wife wasn't happy with the Turkish breakfast which consisted of hummus, pita slices, and other related items. Very small portion.
I ordered a New Zealand beer on tap, which was flat. The replaced Stella was just fine.
I thought they had a decent, but small and affordable wine list. Reds from the $40's, and whites form the $30's and up. Half-bottles available.
I'd go back for the burger; and maybe to try dessert next time.
The service was painfully slow today. Thank goodness that didn't charge us the 20% service for our large party.
JF, a good brunch place for the 4 of us to head to.
dh
Tap house in Tuckahoe
Four of us ate here last night and enjoyed it to the 9's. I'm not going to brag about the delicious food because I want to keep this place under the radar screen.
Corkage $20. They have a 'friendly' wine list.
Good, fast food near Javits Center
Mark,
The guy in the food cart at 35th street, just across the street from Javits, has the best fast food around. Try the chicken gyro. That's what I had for lunch today, and for many years of doing shows. I'll probably get a sandwich tomorrow. :)
Urgent help needed with 2005 Bordeaux futures!
Sake,
A little late, I know.
When the 2005 went on sale, I bought several bottles. This was the first time I bought futures. No harm in dabbling in a few bottles; as it's a good way to get your feet wet.
I did buy the Giscours at Zachy's for about $60. The list in your link had this for $88. So either the price went up or, the store in your link is way over-priced.
