Appetizing in Brooklyn

I'm hosting a brunch and am looking for a place near or a short drive from my neighborhood (Cobble Hill) to buy some appetizing -- tuna fish, egg salad, whitefish salad, salmon salad -- to go with bagels. Any recommendations? I've also been given a strong recommendation for Terrace Bagels for the bagels, so if you know that's a good place for appetizing, I'll be more than happy to make one stop for everything.

Thanks as always for any help.

Lynne

gold75 in Outer Boroughs

Driving from New York to Salem (and back)

I'm driving from NYC to Salem, MA and then back home. I'll be on 84 going north and likely 95 coming back.

Are there any good seafood restaurants to stop along the way as I'm driving? I'm willing to make slight (but probably not significant) detours along the way.

I really appreciate the help making my roadtrip delicious.

Lynne

gold75 in Southern New England

Driving from New York to Salem (and back)

Thanks for the suggestion. I was planning on taking I84 there and 95 back.

gold75 in Greater Boston Area

Driving from New York to Salem (and back)

I'm driving from NYC to Salem, MA and then back home. Are there any good seafood restaurants to stop along the way as I'm driving? I'm willing to make slight (but probably not significant) detours along the way.

I really appreciate the help making my roadtrip delicious.

Lynne

gold75 in Greater Boston Area

Relatively Inexpensive Group Dinner Near the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta

I'm looking to plan a dinner for about 10-12 people in walking distance from the Hyatt Regency (265 Peachtree) in Atlanta. Some place that has a good group atmosphere and isn't too expensive. And with yummy food. This is a group of folks coming in from other southern states (and I'm a NYer) so something that is a good representation of Atlanta would be great.

Thanks in advance for your help.

gold75 in General South Archive

Driving From Brooklyn to Plainfield, NH (Home Hill Inn)

A brief trip report:

Inn at Weathersfield for dinner: It was delicious and the staff was very friendly. We ate in the dining room. I had the special -- it was a veal dish with a sunny side egg on top. It was so incredibly tasty. My partner had the beef two ways, which he really enjoyed but found the portion too small (he is a big eater). The true star of the evening was a South American dish -- I think it was a take on a quesadilla or something similar (I apologize, my memory is failing me) that had such interesting ingredients. My salad wasn't special but good. Overall, I felt this was delicious and sophisticated food in a very warm setting. I highly recommend.

Simon Pearce for lunch: This lived up to the hype. The setting (winter time) was beautiful, the food delicious, and the experience memorable. I had the grilled salmon, which was oh so buttery (the fish and the sauce) and well seasoned. My partner had the cheddar cheese soup (how can you go wrong -- they didn't) and the Orecchiette, which was very tasty. We were both very pleased.

Home Hill Inn for breakfast: We had the continental breakfast that comes with our nights at the inn. It was simple -- pastries, local yogurt, cut up fruit, and quiche -- but very satisfying. The pastries in particular were excellent.

Home Hill Inn for dinner: This was disappointing but hopefully it's because it was a holiday meal. We learned from our waitress that they had 150 people scheduled for dinner and usually only do less than fifty. We had to wait an hour to be seated, which was ok for us because we could go up to our beautiful room and sit by the fire. I'm sorry to say that the food just wasn't that good. It was a set (and pricey) menu. I started with Oysters Rockefeller which were pretty tasteless. My duck main was the (partial) standout: it had a duck confit pastry that was very good -- flaky crust and flavorful duck -- but the sliced duck was tough (at least it was to me, as there were no more steak knives in the busy dining room) and did not have any memorable flavor. My partner's risotto was good and his filet mignon was fine. The desserts, however, were inedible. Our time at the Home Hill Inn was wonderful -- I wouldn't recommend the kitchen for dinner on a busy night.

Lunch at Umplby's -- we needed a place in Hanover and this was a good pick for sandwiches. It was very crowded and perfect for a quick and very casual bite.

gold75 in General New England Archive

Driving From Brooklyn to Plainfield, NH (Home Hill Inn)

Sounds like an excellent recommendation but for another trip!

gold75 in General New England Archive

Driving From Brooklyn to Plainfield, NH (Home Hill Inn)

Thanks all for the recommendations. We're going to go to Simon Pearce, Inn at Weathersfield (the recs on other parts of the board are strong), and Umplby's. At least that's the plan -- I will report back after the trip!

gold75 in General New England Archive

Driving From Brooklyn to Plainfield, NH (Home Hill Inn)

Hi, all. My partner and I are driving from Brooklyn to Plainfield, NH to stay at the Home Hill Inn. I'd love some help planning our meals.

Are there any restaurants that we should stop at on the way there or back? I know this is a broad question, but for those who have traveled around New England, I'd love to benefit from your finds.

What are the good restaurants in the vicinity (45 minutes) of the Home Hill Inn? For lunch or dinner?

Any bakeries or good places for snacks, cheese, etc.?

Thanks as always for your help.

Lynne

gold75 in General New England Archive

In Columbia, SC for 3 days. What's a hound to eat?

I definitely can relate to that outcome. Thanks so much for the recommendations! I will definitely (intend to) try them both.

gold75 in General South Archive

In Columbia, SC for 3 days. What's a hound to eat?

Plumtart -- i'm heading to Columbia next week. Did you write a trip report or any follow up of your weekend last month? My goals are similar to yours.

Thanks,
gold75

gold75 in General South Archive

Prix Fixe Menu for 15-20 people in New Orleans near Le Pavillon

Beyond walking distance is ok. I just realized many of our attendees will have a car.

gold75 in New Orleans

Prix Fixe Menu for 15-20 people in New Orleans near Le Pavillon

Tonto, thanks for getting back to me. I'd say around $30/person with tax and tip. Without drinks. My assistant received recommendations for Palace Café (3 courses, $30.00), Muriels Jackson Square (3 courses, $28.95), The Bon Ton Café (more expensive, not loving 3 courses for $48). What do you think?

gold75 in New Orleans

Prix Fixe Menu for 15-20 people in New Orleans near Le Pavillon

I would love your recommendations for the following scenario: I work for a nonprofit and we're hosting a conference in New Orleans in September. I would like to take 15-20 people out to dinner on a Thursday night. We are staying at Le Pavillon hotel, and it would be preferred to be within walking distance. I would like to keep costs down, but I'm a foodie, so I want it to be good. I thought a prix fixe would be a good idea because I'd know how much I'm spending upfront. Does this exist?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

gold75 in New Orleans

Marco's Coal Fired Pizzeria Denver Colorado

I don't think I was clear - I was trying to defend Marcos against those comparing it to longstanding NY pizza places, and I guess inartfully saying to give it a chance. I thought my pizza at Marcos was really delicious, although I would have liked a more well done crust. And it did taste very much like pizzas I've had at Totannos and Lucalis. I recommend!

gold75 in Mountain States

Marco's Coal Fired Pizzeria Denver Colorado

I live in Brooklyn and have been numerous times to Patsys, Grimaldis, Tototonnos (in Coney Island), DiFaras, and my new favorite Lucali's in Carroll Gardens, and ate at Marco's on Tuesday night. In my opinion, Marco's does not rise to the level of any of the above but it definitely has potential -- with the exception of Lucali's, those pizza places have been in business a long time. I had the regular neopolitan pizza and the sauce and cheese and crust were all tasty. The only thing it really lacked was a more well done crust. Now excuse the lifetime New Yorker in me, but what can one expect outside of the city? Just kidding (kind of ;).

gold75 in Mountain States

Dining in Denver

I just wanted to second Rioja. I was traveling for business, staying at The Curtis, and ate at the Rioja bar TWICE in one day. The food was completely spectacular. For lunch I had the house salad, which stood out because of the Medjool dates sliced in the salad. For my main, I had a special (squash blossoms filled with a tuna mousse and dressed with fresh watermelons), which was incredibly tasty and interesting. Desert was the carrot cake, which was a little dry, but I supplemented with more of the goat cheese biscuits and lavendar sourdough.

When it started raining that evening, I had the excuse I needed to go back to Rioja. Patrick the bartender again helped me to select an outstanding meal -- I started with the radish salad, had the artichoke tortelloni (which may be the single best pasta dish I have ever had) for my main, and finished off with the beignets. I must say that this was such a delicious meal, made even better by the reasonable prices.

gold75 in Southwest

Harbour Island

I've just returned from my trip to Harbour Island. The better food is definitely expensive, but unlike other locales, it's also consistently excellent.

We stayed at the Coral Sands Hotel for seven nights. Here is a brief rundown of our experience with the restaurants. Many thanks to lsmutko for her guidance. Also, I write this to the reader who has the money to splurge but generally wants to save where possible.

Breakfast -
- We ate at Arthur's ever day. Egg sandwiches, pancakes, yogurt, fresh fruit, and delicious cookies/cupcakes/pastries. We always took a loaf of fresh bread with us (the coconut bread and the raisin breads were wonderful) with us for snacking on the beach. I heard that there is a new bakery called Sugar Cane but it was too late in the vacation to try. Breakfast ran about $10 per person, which I'm not sure buys you coffee at the hotels. At hotels, a small breakfast will run $60.

Lunch
- We had sandwiches at Dunmore Deli once. They were good, not fabulous, but relatively inexpensive and had fresh vegetables and meats.
- Sip Sip was fantastic. The lobster quesadillas, hamburgers, tuna burgers, salads, etc. were delicious. This is expensive but was worth it to us. The setting is beautiful overlooking the beach and right next to our hotel. The drinks were great too. We went every day we could (they're closed Tues and Thurs).
- We had lunch at our hotel twice (Coral Sands). It also overlooks the baech and is good for burgers and salads. Also expensive.

Dinner
I would recommend spending the money on the expensive dinners and saving on breakfast and lunch.
- The Rockhouse. Our favorite. Expensive. Overlooks the harbour and is a beautiful place to watch the sun go down. The food was sophisticated. We especially enjoyed the pasta dishes and rum cake. The fish dishes contained tasty sauces and were cooked to perfection. The goat cheese mashed potatoes were insane. The drinks were delicious -- recommend a Tahitian Vanilla Rum drink. Only complaint was the service was a bit quick. We went for a birthday and they had a beautiful dessert presentation for the birthday boy. We returned after The Landing for another piece of rum cake.
- The Landing. From my research, this was the number one recommendation. We didn't love it as much as The Rockhouse. I had the goat cheese ravioli that was one of the most delicious meals on the island. Lobster and asparagus tempura was fine. Expensive.
- The Coral Sands. This was our second favorite. Expensive. The meals were sophisticated, multi-flavored dishes. We ate twice at this restaurant and hilights include a scallop tasting; pasta dishes; mahi mahi. I didn't love the chicken skewers.
- Ma Ruby's. Inexpensive. This was the restaurant where we decided to spend our money on dinners. The famous cheeseburger was a disappointment. The conch fingers and grouper fingers were greasy. A caesar salad with chicken was fine.
- Angela's starfish. Inexpensive. It was fine -- nothing special, nothing too bad. We didn't return, but would have for some basic fried chicken, fried fish, peas and rice.

Absolutely loved Harbour Island. I highly recommend.

gold75 in South & Central America & the Caribbean

Fun restaurant for Saturday lunch on Sunset Boulevard

I'm here in LA and I'm looking for a last minute fun place to eat on Sunset for lunch today. We'd love to sit outside and eat some great food. Type of food and cost are not as important as a great meal with an energetic atmoshpere.

Thanks!
Lynne

gold75 in Los Angeles Area

Harbour Island

Thanks so much. Very helpful.

gold75 in South & Central America & the Caribbean

Harbour Island

I'm heading to Harbour Island in June. I would love recommendations for

- cheap eats for breakfast, lunch, dinner
- a splurge or two for dinner
- any food that we must try

Thanks in advance!!

Lynne

gold75 in South & Central America & the Caribbean

Lively, tasty dinner for 10 in/near Clinton Hill?

I wanted to add a quick plug for Luz. Based on the recommendations of hounders, I tried Luz last Saturday night with a group of 6. Although they didn't exactly honor the reservation on time, everyone was so nice and the food was very tasty. It has an excellent vibe and I would highly recommend for a fun group night out.

I thought the arepa de queso was outstanding. We reordered them because they were so delicious (and vegetarian). My companions devoured the whole chicken (they said it was as moist as could be and very flavorful) and really enjoyed the shrimp ceviche and the both beef dishes on the menu.

The drinks are hit or miss. The mojitos were pretty good, the capirihna (sp) only got better with more sips. ;)

gold75 in Outer Boroughs

Early Breakfast in Cobble Hill or close by -- 9 am on Saturday

Thanks everyone. That's a great selection to choose from.

gold75 in Outer Boroughs

Early Breakfast in Cobble Hill or close by -- 9 am on Saturday

What's a good place for a tasty breakfast at 9 am on a Saturday in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Brooklyn Heights/Boerum Hill? Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

Lynne

gold75 in Outer Boroughs

Dinner at Clinton St Baking Co, Back Forty?

Thanks everyone! I would love to see a review of Back Forty if anyone goes!

gold75 in Manhattan

From NYC to Canaan, New York (Upper Hudson Valley Help Needed)

Philip Orchards was an incredible rec -- thank you! We were warned that it was too late in the season by the innkeepers and disuaded from others we met to even try, but Philip came through and we had a fabulous time.

Swoon was also great. My scallops were tasty but my sister's pasta dish (mushrooms, goat cheese, and pappardelle) was so delicious that I was seriously jealous during the whole meal. And I had almost ordered it! ;)

We also really enjoyed Our Daily Bread ... delicious soup.

Thanks again, chowhounders!

gold75 in General Tristate Archive

Dinner at Clinton St Baking Co, Back Forty?

Has anyone had dinner at Clinton Street Baking Company or Back Forty? The menus at both of these restaurants appeal to me for a small birthday dinner, but I'm not sure about either. For Clinton Street, I have heard wonderful things about brunch, but not dinner. And Back Forty doesn't take reservations, which makes me nervous with a party of 6. Any ideas for restaurants like these two in the same price range (entrees under $20) anywhere downtown? I'm trying for restaurants with a good variety, american, and organic or local ingredients is a plus.

Thank you!

Lynne

gold75 in Manhattan

From NYC to Canaan, New York (Upper Hudson Valley Help Needed)

Rrems-- thank you so much for your suggestions. So incredibly helpful!

Coll -- yes, we're at the silver maple but we're in one of the free standing structures (whew!). That's the only place they let you stay with the baby ... they must know of the thin walls!

Thanks to all.

gold75 in General Tristate Archive

From NYC to Canaan, New York (Upper Hudson Valley Help Needed)

Thank you so much for your advice. It is greatly appreciated.

gold75 in General Tristate Archive