dinner during passover

[emily]

I'm going out for dinner with a friend next week. She keeps passover and I don't. Any suggestions as to where we can both be happy? We're looking to be low-key.

[Steph]

You can go anywhere, as long as she doesn't eat the bread or drink beer.

By "low-key," do you mean "inexpensive"?

[mikemorg]

that is not accurate at all. it depends how observant her friend is. if she strictly observes, then she will only eat in a restaurant that has converted their kitchen to a kosher-for-passover kitchen.

if this is the case, emily, my experience is that most kosher restaurants in the city close rather than bother switching over. but for some reason i remember village crown on 3rd ave. and 11th street as being open in the past.

this might be a better topic for the kosher board.

[eeee]

If your friend isn't strictly kosher and just avoids "tref," then any Atkins-obsessed restaurant should do. Compass has a low-carb menu and Ola is known for it as well. Another option would be to go to an Italian restaurant like Lupa or the many Italian places in the EV, where she can enjoy a plate of cheese and cold cuts (bresaola, air dried beef, would work.)

[RGR]

According to their web site, Compass is no longer offering the low carb menu.

Link: http://www.compassrestaurant.com/menu...

[emily]

She won't eat bread. And low-key means we don't need to be eating at Jean-Georges.

[Steph]

That's what I thought you meant. I was about to apologize for being vague in my first response.

You want to avoid pasta, bread, rice and beer. Maybe try craft, where you can both mix-and-match to make your own meal.

If your friend is craving "traditional" Passover-type entrees, try a place that serves braised short ribs or lamb . . . Jane is a good choice (plus, in past years, Jane has used matzo in some of its cooking, during Passover) - 100 West Houston. Also, Lupa has wonderful braised meat entrees.

[RGR]

You can go to pretty much any restaurant, and your friend can just avoid the bread and not order pasta. (Sephardic Jews do eat rice during Passover.) However, you might want to consider going to Lattanzi for their special Passover menu (not kosher). $45 seems pretty reasonable for what they are offering.

Link: http://www.lattanziristorante.com/doc...

[Nina W.]

In that case, you can go anywhere. She can eat anything she wants, just no bread. If she's slightly more observant, she can also avoid pasta, beer, crackers, rice (if Ashkenazi), etc.

[RGR]

You need to explain a few things so that we can give you appropriate suggestions.

First, what do you mean by "she keeps Passover"? Will she eat only in a restaurant that is kosher and has a kosher for Passover menu? Also, what do you mean by "low key"? And, finally, what is your price range?