238300 Wed Jul 10 18:33:50 -0700 2002 7 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1263662 I'm writing an article featuring unusual dishware from NYC's restaurants. Does anyone out there recollect any extra fabulous dishware, glassware, or silverware from a Manhattan, Qns, or Brklyn restaurant? Something out of the ordinary, extra beautiful, or super kitschy?? Any insider tips would be great! Thanks!! Wed Jul 10 18:33:50 -0700 2002 0 givemethedish 1 1263672 Hi, maybe the owners of Fish's Eddy (889 B'way, 420-9020) can give you some leads? Juniors in Brooklyn sold (sells?) special egg cream glasses with "fill lines" for U-bet, milk and seltzer (they were--are?--also at Restoration Hardware, but maybe without the Juniors logo). Sounds like an interesting topic--good luck! Thu Jul 11 08:55:20 -0700 2002 1263662 0 Loeb 1 1263673 I think that the owner of Taka (sushi place in G. Village - near the 1/9) makes her own dishes. Thu Jul 11 09:26:24 -0700 2002 1263662 0 ultbil 1 1263681 March on 59th Street uses beautiful and intricate China for many of their courses. Aquavit uses the plate as an important part of a dish's presentation -- for example, for one dish (can't remember which) they use a piece of thick glass that I think is intended as a window pane. Thu Jul 11 11:14:44 -0700 2002 1263662 0 B. Taylor 1 1263708 Vespa on Northern Boulevard in Little Neck uses mismatched china, odds and ends that I enjoy seeing on the table. You and your tablemates might be served desserts on four or five different patterned dishes. It's a cute, quirky little restaurant. Even their menu is unique. It's printed on a folded 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper that includes little excerpts of articles from Italian newspapers. and, most important, the food is delicious. It's one of my very favorite Italian restaurants. There's also a Vespa in Manhattan but I've never visited that one. Thu Jul 11 20:00:40 -0700 2002 1263662 0 AnnMcL 2 1263787 just going back over old messages I missed while away. This place (VESPA) sounds interesting. Anyone else out there ever try it - how does it rate against the multitude of Italian places in Little Neck on Northern Blvd. for both taste and price (the ambiance sounds funky and fun) Location - is it east or west of Scobee's? Mon Jul 15 12:28:03 -0700 2002 1263708 0 tigerwoman 3 1263802 Vespa is a wonderful little Italian 'bistro' type place run by a young couple. The food is really good, not particularly huge portions and a bit on the expensive side, but its a nice treat. I've not tried La Grotta yet, but word has is that the food is good there too. There's another Italian restaurant diagonally across from Scobee (the name escapes me for the moment) that is also very good, but I like the intimacy of Vespa. You'll need to make reservations as its only small, say around 20 or so tables. Its on Northern Blvd going East just past the Great Neck border on the right hand side. Mon Jul 15 14:36:01 -0700 2002 1263787 0 Charlieboy 4 1265167 Here's an update for you 2 years after the latest post on Vespa bistro. Vespa is still well-worth visiting for dinner; especially if you have a few bucks to blow and are sick of the surrounding good, but same-old same-old Italian you find around here. The atmoshphere is a split personality - the front room is warm, curvy and candle-lit yellow, with somewhat close-knit but cozey tables. It sports a funky bar as you walk in, a friendly bartender (wow!), and La Dolce Vita, Roman Holiday and other cool Italian movie posters scattered about, but not in a tacky way. If you're looking to be transported to bohemian Rome for an hour or so, Vespa is an option. But take one step down into one of the two other connected side-by-side dining rooms and all of a sudden Vespa is a darker, goth, clubby Italian joint with blown up photos of 50's Hollywood icons on scooters. The nicely done present Halloween decorations really add to this, especially if you're looking for something festive, in an understated, bohemian, cool way. We've been seated in both back rooms both times and strangely, we liked them both. We feel like we're out late even though we're not, or even like we're out in the city. And we don't feel jealous of not being in the front room, as you normally would at other places. Larger cooler bar in this "back" room as well. Now, more good news is that the Italian food is kind of nouveau and different and delicious, but if you are on a budget, you have to pick wisely, as the entries range from $14 up into the high $30s for the veal chops etc. This kept my family on the pasta dishes for the night which were actually probably more tasty and notable than the other stuff. The kids had a great gnocchi with a homemade fresh red tomato sauce. My black linguini with a red (not cream) Lobster sauce was also fresh and yummy and even had a bit of lobster in the shell alongside it. And my wife had a delicious pasta with peas and mushrooms and carbonara if I remember correctly. I have to mention that we tried a couple of very tasty salads - all good, but a bit pricey. And the grilled aritichoke appetizer was absolutely delicious. Wines by the glass and margarita martinis rounded out the meal (don't worry - the kids had OJ). My only negative is for a cool bohemian place, the rather higher bill suddenly reminded me I was old again (old enough to try to afford this place). But service was funny and attentive and friendly all the way up to when they disappeared right before the check (why does that always happen everywhere?) And the young Italian owner-or-manager was friendly, warm, and has the Vespa vibe and service under control. Overall - very worth it and we're going back for more soon. Fri Oct 22 23:33:39 -0700 2004 1263802 0 donnyp