What to have at Craftbar?

[G3B]

Going there for lunch tomorrow for the first time and was hoping for both "must have" and "avoid" suggestions. TIA

[kodothedrum]

I agree. The pecorino romano "fondue" is sensational! Service is awful -- be prepared for slow service! I also agree the food can be over-salted.

[cynthiak]

I ate at Craftbar yesterday, for lunch. The orrechiette was VERY salty, and the brown sugar cake was VERY sugary. You are not the first one who has reported too salty dishes at Craftbar. Maybe they should screw on the cap to the salt shaker? :-)

[sixelagogo]

So i checked out craftbar for the first time this weekend and, judging from posts elsewhere on the board, i had an experience not unlike most people who have gone: mediocre food, pretty lame service. Chickpea fries were odd..good if you only eat one, way too much if you eat more than two. My striped bass with saffron sauce and couscous was way overcooked, by dude's hangersteak oversalted and basalmiced...skip the place if you can.

[Kanger]

I second the pecorino fondue and rice balls (arancini?), and also recommend the various bruschettas: the soft-cooked egg with anchovies and leeks is probably my favorite.

[JennS]

I was there for dinner last night. I'm not sure if the lunch menu is different, but we loved the pecorino romano "fondue" (basically baked cheese with honey and hazelnuts, served with toasted bread), the baby chicken and the veal meatballs.

[Lucia]

I don't think that there are necessarily must haves. Everything is good, but not great. That said, I also enjoyed the rice balls.

[Jenna28]

Go somewhere else.. When I went the stuff was really sup par. Not bad but in no way super tasty or worth what they were charging. I like Tom Colichio's stuff, but craftbar just isn't that great. Gramercy tavern is open in the afternoons, and that place is awesome. I have never had anything bad there - but my favorite is the fresh bacon or chicken liver crostini (appt.) also - great drinks and bartenders...

[jakew8]

Jenna, the OP doesn't want to hear "go somewhere else"--he/she wants to know how to make the best of a visit to Craftbar. Why don't you tell us what you had there that was "not bad" instead?

I like the veal meatballs but I'm not sure they're on the lunch menu.

besides, GT is more expensive and be realistic! You can't always just switch on a day's notice, especially if you're meeting people at a particular place.

[ESNY]

My favorites include as a starter the rice balls and the chickpea fries. The stuffed sage leaves are okay. The coppa and mozzarella sandwich is really good too.

The rest of the menu changes frequently so i'm not sure if you'll find the following items on the current menu: hanger steak, leg of lamb and a great pea soup with harissa oil. Those have been my favorites and some variation of the hanger steak seems to always been on the menu when i've gone.