194259 Sat Mar 23 16:19:26 -0800 2002 4 18 Manhattan 0 1036861 Has anyone been to this place on Bleecker St. lately. I thought they were all fusiony when they opened but now I noticed they're new takeout menu looks pretty traditional. They've got 50% off lunch takeout deals, and executive lunch box deals and I'm wondering if it's worth eating. Thanks, Frank Sat Mar 23 16:19:26 -0800 2002 0 iron frank 1 1036925 Yes, they've changed their menu, and it certainly isn't as interesting anymore. And last time I went, about a month ago, half the group ordered fish that we smelled yards before it got to the table. It was absolutely rancid--all of it no matter what we ordered--salmon, shrimp, and scallops. None of us touched it and to the restaurant's credit, they whisked it away and didn't charge us. I'm amazed, however, that they served it in the first place. Definite downhill alert. Try nearby Mirchi instead. Mon Mar 25 08:12:15 -0800 2002 1036861 0 chowbabe 2 1036939 I think the reason for the change is that one of the partners pulled out around a year ago. He was the one who had all the "celeb" friends/contacts. Don't know why the food would suffer so, he wasn't the chef. Mon Mar 25 10:53:30 -0800 2002 1036925 0 Michele Cindy 2 1037084 Yep, bigtime downhill alert! I was a big fan when they first opened. Beautiful place, great service and good food. Now it's a disaster. Uninteresting and boring food, or is that the same thing.. Even so, we stopped in for the brunch buffet about a month ago. The place was unkempt, the choices were very limited, horrible and cold. Wed Mar 27 09:25:28 -0800 2002 1036925 0 glenn 1 1036929 Granted, I was never a huge fan of this place, but they've certainly changed their menu for the worse, and, the last time I went there, the butter quotient in my food knocked me off kilter for the rest of the evening. The sparse number of patrons is all you need to see to tell you that you ought to turn around and head back out the door. Mon Mar 25 09:43:33 -0800 2002 1036861 0 deb-in-billyburg