Thanks, Jon1856, I'll try to track down Ritz F&b mgmt. Fourunder: Floor manager had come to table to apologize after takes 1 and 2 and was wholly ineffectual. I admit that by take 3 I was frustrated but after having gone up the usual chain it seemed it was appropriate to bring to chef's attention, after all that is why they have the open kitchen.

A new concept by the BLT chain has arrived in White Plains. Under the name of BLT Steak the BLT empire has now perfected a new concept: BLT Inept. Dinner last night at BLT Steak was a disaster worthy of posting in the hopes that the BLT management team takes notice and makes repairs. I searched the web and couldnt find an email address for customer service or anything similar on the BLT website so I have to resort to a post to get word to them.

Dinner for two, intended to be cocktail, two shared appetizers, a shared steak and a side of sautéed spinach. Simple, not difficult at all. From the large menu board over the kitchen window we tried to choose between two salad offerings. The "Ginger Marinated Tomatoes, Burrata and Arugula salad" or the "Beets, Gorgonzola and Apples salad". We asked our waiter and he said both were his favorite but that he preferred the tomato salad so we ordered it and the adventure began.

Take 1: Salad arrives, three small squares of hard cheese sat atop a salad with tomatoes, olives and watermelon. Summoned waiter who told us that was what we ordered. Pointed out absence of burrata and arugula and presence of olives and watermelon and he said that the salad with marinated tomatoes and burrata was no longer on the menu and this was the seasonal tomato salad. We pointed to the menu board where the salad we ordered was clearly present and reminded him of our conversation and he apologized. Not in the mood for olives and watermelon we asked for the beet, Gorgonzola, apple salad instead.

Take 2: Salad arrives. No gorgonzola in sight. Waiter says it is under the beets. We toss the salad and still no gorgonzola appears. More apologies and salad removed with promise to fix it.

Take 3: Salad arrives. nice mound of beets, chunks of cheese and white shredded items on top. A few bites in it becomes apparent that the shredded items on top are endive and red onion and NOT apples as promised. I go to kitchen window and ask for chef. Young guy in street clothes claims to be "a chef" and that "the chef" is not in the kitchen tonight. He comes to table and says that the shredded stuff is apples. We explain it is not and that we certainly know the difference between apples and endive and the salad is taken away. We decline an offer of a 4th try.

Manager came over and apologized, offered us some free side dishes. We decline. They bring our steak and spinach. They also bring sides of carrots and gratin potatoes. When we finish steak and ask for check they dont bring check but bring several desserts. We thank them but decline desserts and ask for check again. Check comes. No adjustments made to check for the troubles, no comped cocktail, nada.

Now I am not looking for a free meal and am happy to pay for what I eat but this experience at a restaurant with the professional caliber of BLT Steak was unbelievably poor. Bringing me food I dont want and multiple apologies is hardly the way to make up for incredibly inept service by a kitchen. It seemed like an Applebee's adventure instead of BLT treatment.

If you want confused kitchen and amateurish front end service at Manhattan prices, BLT is the place to go in White Plains. As for steak, I'll be back to Morton's.

They have their act together. Service was helpful and friendly, guided us on how many dishes to order and kept us from overordering. Cocktails surprisingly good. The 323 was rosemary infused hendricks gin with balsamic reduction, basil oil and fresh squeezed clementine juice. It looked like gutter runoff - a murky brown - but was quite tasty. Truffled egg toast was great though surprisingly tough to cut through with a knife, spaghetti pomodoro was also superb (not as firey as Lupas similar dish and with more garlic). Spedini were perfect, octopus was charred and juicy without any of the toughness or rubbery feel that is often the result of grilling. The pairing of the octopus with fennel was inspired. Beet salad with hazelnuts and mint was also simple and well executed. Nutella pannini for dessert were simple toasted mini sandwiches of nutella. No pretense, just simple and straightforward execution. Clearly a keeper in a neighborhood that needs more of them.

I know that drill I often travel with non-seafood eaters. One good choice is Arnaud's. It is a classic FQ spot, about 100 years old and capable of very good cooking - even if the menu hasnt changed in 20 years. They always have speckled trout meuniere and one or more forms of pompano on the menu and depending how the fish are running they often have redfish too. The key, both at Arnaud's and elsewhere, is to specify to the waiter that you do not want shellfish becuase most places will take a piece of fish and grill, saute or fry it and then dump a handful of crabmeat on it or douse it in a crawfish studded sauce.

Going to Little Giant tonite. Any suggestions on favorites, dont bothers, must haves, etc?

L'Impero is close, being in Tudor City, propped above 41st Street between 1st and 2d Ave. It is quiet, elegant, killer food (must try baby goat) and unknown to many. On a bright spring day the location is enchanting. It is pricey, but not exceptionally so. Tables are nicely spaced so you can do business there and not feel everyone is eavesdropping.

I just tried a new East Williamsburg place that has only been open a week: Il Passatore on Bushwick Ave at the corner of Metropolitan. It is a charming cozy Italian with a menu from the Romagna region (Adriatic coast). I met the owner, host, headwaiter, etc. who is named Christian and comes from that region bringing his family recipes with him. I've only been once so far, but the standouts are clearly the pastas which are all made in-house. The gnocchi slayed me. They were sold as gnocchi in a sage and butter sauce. What I wasn’t expecting was the lightness and melt-in-your-mouth quality of the gnocchi. I asked how they did it and was told that there was no potato flour in them, they were made solely out of ricotta and spinach. They were so good we ordered a second plate. We also ate the Tagliolini with smoked salmon and cream sauce which was superb, rich and smoky with large chunks of smoked salmon, and the Pappardelle with lamb ragu. One of the regional specialties is the Piadina, a soft hot charcoal grilled flatbread with fillings. We ordered the piadina formaggio e rucola. The flatbread is simple and plain and exceedingly thin, with two sheets stuffed with fresh arugula and spread with a soft white cheese. Drizzled with olive oil and balsamic these made for a nice appetizer. On the salad front we had the beets, orange and baby spinach salad and the arugula, pears and parmesan cheese salad. Both were first rate. Large wide shavings of parmesan mixed with the thick sliced pears and sharp arugula was my favorite. My entrée was the very tasty and tender Veal Cutlet Milanese which was pounded flat and breaded, served with salted roasted potato wedges. We shared desserts, a hot flourless chocolate cake, a tiramisu and a panna cotta. All three were excellent, the chocolate cake was notably good. The restaurant has no wine, beer or liquor license so we brought our own wine. They told me the licenses are in the works, and there is a small bar in the front of the room so I assume byob will no longer be an option after a while. The atmosphere was charming. Dark hardwood floors, old exposed brick walls with niches, simple metal hanging light fixtures and a deep rust colored red paint on the walls. The tables were all full, which shocked me for a place that had only been open for a week. Prices were very reasonable, with the piadina and salads at $6, the pastas at $8 and the entrée at $14. I took the L train from Union Square to Graham Ave and walked 2 blocks. The meal was definitely worth the trek to Brooklyn. I'll be back.

Am going to Telepan for dinner this week. Any standout menu suggestions? Any duds to avoid? This board has raved over the foie gras donuts but I'd be interested in suggestions either positive or negative. Thanks hounds.

The hands down best goat in the city is the slow roasted baby goat at L'Impero in Tudor City. It was an instant permanent item on the menu from their first week open. I have not been to L'Impero since chef Scott Conant left recently so you might check with them when you call to make a reservation.

I go to one of 3 places when I am at MSG. If I want a heavy meal I go to Keen's Chop House (best leg of mutton in town) for good steaks and chops (36 between 6th & 5th). Otherwise I go to Koreatown and go to KangSuh (on 32d just east of Broadway on south side of street) or WanJo (same block of 32d - betw Bway and 5th on north side of street). Both Korean joints are open 24/7 and have bbq grills built into the tables.

Not to rain on your parade but I went to PA Summer last week for lunch and was underwhelmed by the food and surprised by the friendly but inept service. In short the food was either bland or too heavily doused in their sauces. The green and yellow bean salad was close to tasteless. Caprese ravioli were quite interesting, stuffed as they were with tomato, mozzerella and basil. Here the sauce killed it though. A yellow tomato coulis turned out to be an electric orange (think the color of the ING ads) with a swath of balsamic vinegar reduction, imparting a strong acidic flavor which totally eliminated the taste of the ravioli and its caprese surprise inside. The tuna medallions were dull lumps of seared tuna sitting in a thick gluey bland aioli. The lobster salad on a bed of avocado was fine but overwhelmed by the avocado bed which was a slab of mashed avocado 3 inches wide, 6 inches long and a half inch deep. I never thought you could have too much avocado but I stand corrected. Sides included spiced lacqured carrots which were just baby carrots with a glaze tossed with mini marshmallows. French fries were fine, thick square cut in a wooden box with three odd sauces for dipping, including one which was a dead ringer for Hellman's tartar sauce. The service was friendly, but relatively clueless. Almost as if they took well meaning staff from a diner in Queens and put them on the floor of the restaruant. Dishes were described as amazing and awesome, the aioli was described as "kinda like a cream sauce". My favorite though was a description of the Chicken and Waffles sandwich: "Its a very common dish out West, you know, like in Tennessee." The only saving grace was the pastry chef. The semolina rolls studded with corn kernels were addictive as was the rest of the bread basket and the desserts were first rate. Goat cheese crepes with fresh rasberries layered with cookies ala Napolean was superb. A chocolate ganache with mint foam was a pleasant mix of tastes and textures and the ubiquitous Chocolate Cube (a standby from Park Ave Cafe) was as good as it always had been. In short, the food disappointed but I'd go back again for dessert.

pasties? you mean those things that strippers wear? are they edible?

Im coming to town for a wedding this weekend, staying in a hotel downtown. Where to go for a great meal the one night I am free? Not too concerned about price (used to paying NYC prices) just want something good. If it authentically local food/cooking, thats a bonus. Hook me up Hoosiers.

Best bet is Serendipity, 225 E. 60th St. (bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves.) just outside your area. From there it is just a short walk to Dylan's Candy Bar, a nice treat if they deserve it after lunch and if you are brave enough to sugar them up. Other great spot w/ kids (though the line can be long so go off prime hours) is the Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park (23rd and Madison). If you need to be more midtown, try PJ Clarkes at corner of 55 and 3rd. PJ is 100+ year old pub with good burgers. They will like the urinals, best in the city. Always a hit with the 9 to 13 year old boy crowd.

they claimed it was automatically done by their computer. no apology. they reran my credit card and reduced it to 20%. Hard to think it was a mistake. My guess is their cash register is programmed to put in 22% as the default and they just steal 2% more on every large party they serve.

Had a group of 12 from work out for drinks and appetizers at Le Colonial. Bill came. Menu said gratuity of 20% included for large parties. When I looked at the bill I realized the tip included was too high. Turns out they had included 22% and claimed it was a computer malfunction. You wouldnt think that at $12/drink they would need to rip you off for an extra couple of percent. Sleazebags like this should not be patronized.

thanks Hounds, you will make me a hero to my 12th grade son. I'll hit one of these places and report back.

The private room at Remy is a great spot for a party that size. If you work with the restaurant you may be able to get close to that price point.

I am search of the ubiquitous deep fried twinkie. I have heard there are places that serve this but havent been able to find one. Does anyone know where I can go for this delicacy?

Casimir; Prune, Elephant

Sweltering heat of the weekend and Yankees beating Boston got me thinking about hot dogs. Who has the best in town? NY Mag just reviewed 2 new places: Willies Dawgs in Park Slope and PDT in the east village. Other notables are Dogs on Park, Nathans in Coney Island, all the versions of Grey's Papaya and the Chicago Dog at the Shake Shack. So, Chowhounds, where to go in NYC for the best dog and why?

Meeting someone for dinner tonite who is coming in from Grand Central and will need to return there so am trying to keep travel limited. Hot a beautiful out so want to eat outdoors. Thinking Bread Bar at Tabla or Avra on 48th. Any other suggestions?

Well that explains it. I took my daughter there Wednesday night after a performance at the Joyce and found the A/C off, the place swelteringly hot and the food subpar. I guess they were in the midst of shutting down and whoever was worried about food quality was already gone. Shame, it was always a Bright spot in Chelsea.

I had dinner for 10 there 2 weeks ago for jazzfest. very good steaks, simple preparatins, expertly cooked. Dont miss the German potatoes. Also, ask for sauteed onions with brown sugar as a topper to put on your steaks. If looking for steaks in this seafood town, this is the spot.

thanks, I'll try it when there and let you know how it is. I like hole in the wall authentic local food. What is local detroit food. Last time I was there it was bratwurst but I think the old poles have died/moved out. Have heard arab food is good. Are there hookah bars?

cibo is a good choice too.

Many choices: Different range of places:

Nice place which is quiet relaxing where you can unwind, top wine and superb italian - Limpero in Tudor City, walk up 42nd East of 2nd and go up large stone staircases on either side of street before you get to 1st ave. Cost will be $50 or more depending what you order. Worth the splurge.

Boi - beautiful vietnamese on 44th betw 2d & 3rd - if you order carefully you can avoid seafood. try the salad w. steak. This is a place nice enough to take a friend and prices will be under your $30 budget.

Mee Noodle Shop - corner 2d & 49th. cramped crowded fast moving chinese noodle soup shop. Always full of UN staffers who know value and eat noodle soup w. hacked chicken, duck etc. for $7 including tea and fortune cookie.

Is there any worthwhile place to eat in Detroit? Money no object, avoiding ptomaine is key.

Go to Maremma, great choice for an NYU student