208469 Fri Mar 12 13:56:42 -0800 2004 4 18 Manhattan 0 1110494 New York Magazine and the New York Times have both recently reviewed Riigo and Asiate. The Times liked Riingo but not Asiate. New York Magazine liked Asiate but not Riingo. Does anyone have general thoughts on these restaurants or the tastes, preferences, or biases of these publications? Fri Mar 12 13:56:42 -0800 2004 0 Adam 1 1110519 I subscribe to NY Mag and the Times. In general, I find Adam Platt's reviews in NYM to be accurate - although he occasionally waxes a bit too poetic about foie gras and the like. Almost always, though, I find myself agreeing with his assessments of food, service & decor. The Times is another story, entirely. I find the reviews to be too over-the-top for me. The high-end restaurants with famous chefs are often given too much credit, simply because of who they are. And it seems to be all about connections --- if you used to work for David Burke, your food must be great. Those kinds of assumptions infuriate me. I haven't been to either Asiate or Riingo. I would love to have a drink at Asiate, for the view, but I don't see myself eating at either place for a while. I'd like them both to settle into their personalities & then I'll see what 'hounds and other foodie friends think. Fri Mar 12 14:34:02 -0800 2004 1110494 0 Steph 2 1110521 In my opinion, the Times review of Asiate was an outlier. So far from a reasonable assessment of the restaurant that it can be safely overlooked. I suspect it was no coincidence that it marked Hesser's debut, although there's no point speculating as to her motives. Fri Mar 12 14:36:55 -0800 2004 1110519 0 Wilfrid 2 1110627 steph just as an fyi if you want to check out ASIATE and the view just go in for breakfast. thats what we did soon after it opened. it was wonderfully relaxing. great service, relatively inexpensive. fairly standard usa breakfast choices tho, which surprised me i thought we might have some asian fusion breakfast dishes in the mix but no. Fri Mar 12 22:16:26 -0800 2004 1110519 0 mrnyc 3 1110797 That's a great idea! My friends & I are always looking for a nice new brunch place and I hear the view is unbeatable. On a clear Sunday, Asiate might fit the bill perfectly. Thanks for the suggestion. Mon Mar 15 11:52:28 -0800 2004 1110627 0 Steph