Gabriel's - Disappointing Dinner

[G3B]

Went there pre-Lincoln Center last night and really was not crazy about it. So hard to find a good restaurant in that area before a performance. We keep on trying new places and have not hit upon the favorite yet. Have been to Josies, Fiorello, Pincholine, Sushi Go and O'Neals in the nabe.

We had the beef carpaccio, special app to start which was fine, nothing special. The papparedelle with roasted quail and shitake mushrooms was completely bland and devoid of any taste. There were bones in the pasta and it was certainly, not worth the price. The one dessert we had was good, a scoop of blood orange sorbet and pomengrante sorbet. Blood orange was excellent. Tables were cramped and service was extremely fast. We did not even tell them we were pre-theater. 6 pm reservations and we were done by 7pm. Prices were not inexpensive and certainly not worth what we received. Will definitely not be back, the question is where to go before Lincoln Center?

[LilianNY]

Same experience for our party of 4 at Gabriel's. Love Telepan but have to plan ahead for a reservation. Fiorello's was fine last time we went. A bit noisy though. And Columbus Ave has some smaller Italian restaurants in the high 60's that are fine.

[G3B]

Can you tell me which Italian restaurants in the high 60's? Thanks.

[RGR]

Hey, G3B,

I don't see Telepan on your list. We finally had a pre-concert dinner there for the first time last week. Though I did have an issue with a lamb dish that was not hot enough, overall, I thought the food was creative (without being way out) and delicious. Excellent service and exceedingly pleasing ambiance, i.e., understated elegant decor and very comfortable noise level.

http://www.telepan-nyc.com

Also not on your list is Compass. Though it's been a while since we've had a pre-performance dinner there, I've always found the cuisine to be excellent. Neil Annis has returned to run the kitchen, and that's definitely a positive. Good service and very attractive, comfortable atmospherics.

http://www.compassrestaurant.com

[G3B]

RGR you always come up with the best suggestions. I have been to both Telepan and Compass, just forgot to put them on the list. Telepan I love and was just there last weekend. Compass has been quite some time and I have to remember that one to go again. Thanks.

[bronwen]

Personally I love Picholine but think it best for a leisurely dinner, not a theater one.

[idia]

I tend to agree that the Lincoln Center area is light on really fine restaurants. We too have been to all of your above and yet we keep going back to Shun Lee, the best of the lot for us.
Have you been to Nick & Tony's? I had one uninspiring meal there.
Worth another chance?