Most Polarizing Resturant

[princeofpork]

After being a participant on this board for about 2 years the is one thing you can always count on and thats differing opinions. However, I do not think there is a single eatery in all of NYC that is more polarizing than Shake Shack. "Its the best burger I ever had" or "One step above McDonald's"
Can you think of any other eatery in NYC that has a greater range of opinions.

[LeahBaila]

WD-50

[DarthEater]

Saigon Banh Mi.
Sushi Yasuda.

The Best. Period.

[Blumie]

Norma's.

[DoctortedNYC]

Bar Americaine
Craftsteak
Strip House
Spice Market
Del Posto

[KTinNYC]

Mesa Grill. There is a recent thread singing the praises of this place but I and lots of others think the Mesa is one step up from TGIF's

[NAtiveNewYorker]

Red Eye Grill. I love it. Great variety on the menu, nice interior, great location, and delicious food.

Many HATE it. ("Too touristy", etc.)

[cimui]

I like it, too. =)

[alc]

Rosa Mexicano.

[jdream]

Thought this might be an appropriate link...

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/429374

[jza1218]

I'm going to have to second Shake Shack.

I think that there is mixed feelings on Blue Smoke as well

[princeofpork]

I make better pulled pork than blue smoke

[cimui]

WD 50. Hands down. And maybe Per Se would come in a close second.

[princeofpork]

I have never read a bad review of Per Se on this board. Do they exist?

[cimui]

Yep. Loads of disappointed diners, here. I don't think anyone thinks the food is really terrible, but certainly many of us don't think it lives up to the hype or the price tag. I think there are French restaurants in the city that are as good if not better--and far less expensive.

[cimui]

Here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/348099

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/394539

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/219254

... just to list a few.

[kobetobiko]

While I think there are disappointed diners from Per Se, I think they are mostly not happy due to the high price relatively to what they got. I don't think I really anyone saying that the food was bad at Per Se. It was usually about not impressive and most often "not worth the price". I can completely understand that reaction as most people went to Per Se with such high expectation, so it would be hard to "wow" people above the "wow" that they expected.

Other more controversial fine-dining restaurants I recall are Bouley and Le Bernardin. And Craft as vvvindaloo mentioned above.

For the casual dining places, I remember Otto (mostly about service and mediocre pizza), Norma's brunch, Balthazar, Pastis, Mesa Grill and may be Falai (less mentioned but very mixed reviews)

[a_and_w]

Definitely WD-50.

[erin07nyc]

Babbo has more haters here than I'd expect...

[vvvindaloo]

Really? My impression is that Babbo is one of the most consistently praised restaurants on the Manhattan board, aside from a few people who have struck me more as "Batali haters" than dissatisfied Babbo customers. I do agree, though, that Babbo gets a lot of discussion here, and people have very strong opinions (positive and negative) on Batali (he may be the most-mentioned chef on here!)

[erin07nyc]

I think it's the hype that creates the disappointing experiences.

[vvvindaloo]

I am sure that hype is a big part of it-- I know that I would expect unflawed greatness from a restaurant that is so infamously difficult to get a table at, and with a chef so enviably successful and prominent.

[smokedgouda]

I wouldn't say Babbo, I would say Del Posto. People seem to love it or hate it. The hate is often linked to the prices, naturally.

[BaconBits]

Add Otto to the list of Batali's most polarizing restaurants.

[merrymc]

Including within the menu. Posters will rave about the gelato as being the best ever while simulatneously trashing the pizza as being worse than anything bought at a tourist trap deli in Times Square. (well, almost).

[ohny]

I'll add another vote for Otto being polarized.

[randumbposter]

momofuku. I personally hate their ramen (if you could call it that. That japanese sounding name is misleading too) and find their pork sandwiches tasty but not mindblowingly tasty, while others scream its the best place to eat in the city.

[Blumie]

All discussions of burgers, pizza and bbq seem particularly polarizing. Union Sq Cafe recently has generated quite a difference of opinions.

[vvvindaloo]

I've seen some pretty polar opposite reactions to Peter Luger's (I'm a fan), Craft (definitely not a fan), Bubby's (I've had very good and very bad experiences there) and Jackson Hole's burgers (I don't understand why some people hate it so much).

[ESNY]

I hate Jackson Hole because the burgers taste like steamed ground beef that is piled on a bun. More like a sloppy joe without seasoning and sauce than a burger. Not the way a burger should taste.

I think the most polarizing is Una Pizzeria Neapolitano. Some people absolutely love it and others think they get better pizza at Famous Rays at a 1/10th of the cost.