big foodie head w/a dec birthday
need to find an offbeat, romantic (more for me) and not too stiff restaurant for boyfriend's birthday in dec. yes, dec. i want to wow him, which is hard to do, so i'm starting early.
nothing too modern, like 'modern' or stuffy like chanterelle or tocqueville. nothing 'hip' or 'hot.' he took me to gascogne for my birthday, which was perfect for me, romantic, moderately priced, elegant yet cozy.
since we're both ny'ers, just about every place has been visited, except many of the $$$$.
some notes: he loves feijoada, prefers game or fish selections, knows nearly every little hole in the wall in the city, foie gras is a favorite dish, creamy dishes and pasta are not, anthony bourdain is a favorite, mario batali is not, many portuguese, brazilian, himalayan, spanish, croatian and italian restaurants in queens are favorites. he likes spicy food too, indian, pakistani and thai.
i would love some type of private dinner with wine pairing (loves cotes du rhone and reds overall), but don't know where? budget is somewhat modest at about $200 give or take. he doesn't like flashy, showy places, just good, creative, solid food. please help!!!!!!! and thank you.
-
-
-
re: kobetobiko
gottasay
Aug 28, 2007 09:24 AM
kobetobiko, clearly i was not suggesting la esquina for foie gras. i was not replying to jdream, my comment merely fell below his.
La Esquina is cozy and understated and a consistent favorite. Been to several birthday celebrations there and they always get it right.
-
-
-
-
-
How about Veritas or Fleur de Sel? While they are not ethnic food that you have mentioned above, they are great fine dining without an attitude - just New American/ French cuisines done right. They won't give you a scene, nor will they give your stuffy feeling. Most importantly, both places serve up some delicious foie gras dishes, with seafood and meat for selection. "Spicy" is not available, but "tasty" will always be present.
3 course prix-fixe around $80, so with wine it will be over $200, but not much. Both should suit your bf who "doesn't like flashy, showy places, just good, creative, solid food".
No matter where you end up, I hope you have a wonderful dinner with your bf!
›2 Replies-
re: kobetobiko
vvvindaloo
Aug 27, 2007 08:25 PM
I second Fleur de Sel as an option (as well as Telepan, recommended above)- it's a great unpretentious, fun birthday restaurant for a couple. I think the atmosphere at Veritas may be a bit too "modern", according to the OP's description.
-
re: kobetobiko
Although Veritas has always been a favorite of ours, at this point, I would hesitate to recommend it since Scott Bryan will be leaving shortly to become chef at a new restaurant. There has been no announcement about who will be replacing him, so until we know and I have had the opportunity to try that chef's cuisine, Veritas is off my rec list.
Fleur de Sel being another one of our favs, I endorse that recommendation. It's certainly one of the best places for delicious, creative modern French cuisine. We recently had a superb tasting dinner there. But there are lots of wonderful dishes on the $76 3-course prix-fixe menu. Care would have to be exercised when choosing wine in order to stay around the $200 budget. Service is always pleasant and professional, so I'm sure the staff will be helpful regarding wine selections. The small space has an intimate feel, decor that combines contemporary and rustic elements, perfect lighting, and a conversation-friendly noise level. For a bit of added romance, the best table, in my view, is the one for two in front of the window.
-
-
agent99712
Aug 27, 2007 06:53 PM
telepan was a consideration, especially considering the fois gras choices and the pork 4 way spanish style!
-
vvvindaloo
Aug 27, 2007 06:23 PM
Why don't you look into Telepan? They always have at least one dish with fois gras, and some game and fish on the menu. It's modern but definitely not cold, and its popular, but not "trendy". They also have a wonderful wine list. I would call them both creative and solid, and a good value. You could do the 4-course tasting menu w/wine pairings for $200 (not incl. tip).
http://www.telepan-ny.com/default.htm
