Stephen Starr Gift Card

[Bashful3]

Such choices! I received a $200 gift card to any Stephen Starr restaurant from some special people last night. When I read the names I knew I needed your help to choose--we've been to none! If it were just me, I'd pick Morimoto, but my husband doesn't "do" much fish in any form, so maybe that wouldn't be a good choice. Or would it?

Given that I love fish, but hubby doesn't; neither of us drink alcohol, which of these Starr places do you think we'd most enjoy: Tangerine, Alma de Cuba, Barclay Prime, Striped Bass, or Morimoto? What should we expect from each, in summer, 2008?

EAgerly anticipating your reply!

[amycakes]

Buddakan is my favorite (agree with rabidog on the edamame ravioli) with Alma de Cuba as 2nd choice (I like the dijon salmon). Continental is good but not great (I do like brunch there), did not like El Vez at all (photo booth is cute, though), and was underwhelmed at Tangerine. I did eat at Jones once, but can't remember what I ate so I guess it was not so memorable. The tasting menu at Morimoto is great but that involves fish. Never been to Barclay Prime. I'll jump on the bandwagon encouraging you to try Parc...you know, we're all just waiting for your review :)

[coolgeek]

I've got a gift card that I misplaced for some time and found later. It says on the back that it expires after a year. Anybody know if they enforce that?

[Bigley9]

I'd call

[gsElsbeth]

We were in this position at Christmas ($225 in gift cards) and opted for Tangerine -- had a great meal with one cocktail and one glass of wine, 2 apps, 2 entrees and 1 dessert and have enough left over to (almost) do a second outing. (we paid the tip to keep the second card for $100 available). Would definitely go back to Tangerine (which is as mentioned gorgeous).

[Hungryin theBurbs]

If it isn't just limited to the current restaurants, I'd hold out for a couple weeks and check out Parc, the new brasserrie on Rittenhouse Square. It is supposed to open next week and looks like a fun space with a pretty traditional Brasserie type menu.

I love Morimoto, but without eating fish or beef, I think the menu is pretty limited. I know people who love Tangerine, and it's small plates so you could get a number of different things to try. I've never been myself, though. I find El Vez to be fine, but fairly ordinary Mex/American food. Striped Bass just closed.

[Gorp512]

Parc's menu courtesy of Food and Drinq

Lunch

Fruits De Mer

Shrimp Cocktail -2 sauces $15
Little Neck Clams (1/2 Dozen) $12
Oysters (1/2 Dozen) $15
Lobster Cocktail M.P.
Plateau Petit Serves 2 to 4 $28
Plateau Grand Serves 6 to 8 $75

Salads
Mesclun $8 -mixed greens, sherry vinaigrette
Salade Lyonaisse $11 -frisee, lardons, poached egg
Beet Salad $12 - mache, leonora, walnut vinaigrette
Grilled Sardine Salad $14 -roasted tomato, arugula, parmesan
PARC Salad $14 -grilled shrimp, mixed greens, truffle-citrus vinaigrette

Appetizers
Onion Soup Gratinee $9
Summer Pea Soup $8 -parmesan, brioche croutons
Escargots $14 -hazelnut butter
Steak Tartare $15 -chopped filet, dijon, quail egg
Pate de Campagne $12 - cornichons, mustard, shaved fennel, grain mustard aioli
Gnocchi Parisienne $12 -summer vegetables, tapenade
Mixed Charcuterie $14 -prosciutto, saucisson, country pate
Tuna Carpaccio $14

Sandwiches
Croque Madame $12 -grilled ham and cheese, sauce mornay
PARC Burger
Chicken Club
Tuna Tartine $14 -shaved vegetables, tapenade
Pannini $14 -prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, basil

Entrees
Seared Organic Salmon$26 -English peas, fava beans, tomato
Trout Amandine $22
Moules Frites $22 -steamed mussels, pernod, pommes frites
Risotto
Steak Frites
Boeuf Bourguignon $22 -traditional beef stew, fresh pasta
Poulet Roti $23 -roasted chicken, pommes puree, sauce choron
Omelet aux fines herbs$10 -crème fraiche, pommes frites

DINNER

Fruits De Mer
Shrimp Cocktail -2 sauces $15
Little Neck Clams (1/2 Dozen) $12
Oysters (1/2 Dozen) $15
Lobster Cocktail M.P.
Plateau Petit Serves 2 to 4 $28
Plateau Grand Serves 6 to 8 $75

Salades
Mesclun $8 -mixed greens, sherry vinaigrette
Salade Lyonaisse $11 -frisee, lardons, poached egg
Beet Salad $12 - mache, leonora, walnut vinaigrette
Grilled Sardine Salad $14 -roasted tomato, arugula, parmesan
PARC Salad $14 -grilled shrimp, mixed greens, truffle-citrus vinaigrette

Appetizers
Onion Soup Gratinee $9
Summer Pea Soup $8 -parmesan, brioche croutons
Pissaladierre $10 -caramelized onion tart, goat cheese, nicoise olives
Escargot $14 -hazelnut butter
Chicken Liver Mousse $12 -onion confit, mesclun greens
Tomato Tarte $10
Brandade de Morue $12 -creamy salt cod, herb croutes
Steak Tartare $15 -chopped filet, dijon, quail egg
Pate de Campagne $12 - cornichons, mustard
Tuna Carpaccio $14 -shaved fennel, grain mustard aioli
Gnocchi Parisienne $12 -summer vegetables, tapenade
Mixed Charcuterie $14 -prosciutto, saucisson, country pate

Entrees
Trout Amandine $22 -pencil asparagus, lemon brown butter
Steak Frites $24 -hangar steak, watercress salad
Slow Roasted Cod $21 -fennel confit
Crispy Duck Confit $23 -fingerling potatoes, arugula salad
Summer Vegetable Risotto $16
Boeuf Bourguignon $22 -traditional beef stew, fresh pasta
Seared Organic Salmon $26 -English peas, fava beans, tomato
New York Strip $28 -seared spinach, roasted potatoes, maitre d’hotel butter
Skate Grenobloise $22 -brioche croutons, rapini, caper brown butter
Roasted Leg of Lamb $25 -creamy polenta
Sauteed Calves Liver $21 -shiitake, cippolini onions, marsala
Moules Frites $22 -steamed mussels, pernod, pommes frites
Berkshire Pork Chop $26 -herb spaetzel, mustard sauce
Housemade Ravioli $17 -tomato confit
Poulet Roti $23 -roasted chicken, pommes puree, sauce choron
PARC Burger $15 -pommes frites, gruyere, caramelized onions

Sides $8
Pommes Frites
Haricots Verts
Macaroni Gratin
Pencil Asparagus
Seared Spinach
Cauliflower Gratin

Plats du Jour
Monday: Lamb Stew $24
Tuesday: Braised Rabbit $26
Wednesday: Soft Shell Crabs $27
Thursday: Braised Short Ribs $23
Friday: Bouillabaisse $28
Saturday: Cote de Boeuf (for two)$65
Sunday: Coq Au Vin $22

[Bashful3]

An interesting menu: thanks so much, Gorp.

[Bashful3]

Park sounds interesting, Boogniah. What do you know about it? Yes, we could wait a couple of weeks. Easily.

[Boognish]

If you're willing to wait a few weeks, you may wish to consider Parc, Starr's latest offering on Rittenhouse Square.

[Gorp512]

I love Alma De Cuba.....alot. I vote for them.

[Bigley9]

I like them as well.My last visit they had no problem with us ordering a couple courses of appetizers and starters and salads and no entrees. Better yet, when it became obvious our eyes had a larger appetite than our stomachs, they cancelled our last course mid way through what then became our last course!

[Decker]

I would vote for Barclay Prime, hands down, if you plan on using the whole amount in one night. Even without alcohol, you can certainly spend $200 there and their steaks, apps, and sides are great. You could also spread it out over two nights with a stop at Buddakan and Alma de Cuba. You might go over a little bit, but again, without alcohol, you would be close.

[Bashful3]

That is something that didn't occur to me--that because we don't drink, the price points would be such that we might use this card for two different Starr places, and have two unusual dining experiences we might not have otherwise.

Can you give me an idea of what to expect at Alma de Cuba. Tangerine, or even El Vez? My husband isn't a huge meat eater either--I'm not sure either of us would truly appreciate BArclay Prime. We are adventuresome, other than not getting into super-spicy for me.

OUr priorities would be for great, invovative food, interesting atmosphere, but not at the price of being extremely noisy. We would be prepared to eat early in order to reduce the noise factor.

This is all new territory for me, but I knew we could depend upon fellow Chowhounds.

The Starr-virgins will report on their experiences of course!

[spyturtle008]

I am a vegetarian and don't do fish, so if I might be an indication of what your husband would enjoy, I'd suggest Morimoto's and El Vez. Morimoto's has a few vegetarian dishes, including a tofu dish that's made tableside that's absolutely lovely. You'll definitely have a much easier time there than he will, but if he knows what to expect going in I think he'll do fine. They also have some of the best desserts in the city, imo.

I really like El Vez, although I'm kind of in the minority in that group on this board. Good guacamoles (a number of different kinds to choose from), a few vegetarian entrees, excellent sides (don't skip the corn on the cob), and my favorite margaritas in the city (blood orange).

The Continental and Jones are also pretty casual, and I've enjoyed a few meals there as well.

(Eat early at all of these places if you want a quieter atmosphere -- all can get pretty noisy, excepting Morimoto's.)

[PattiCakes]

If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, I'd do El Vez or Buddakan. When you take alcohol out of the pricing mix, that means you could probably get 2 very nice dinners for two out of that gift card. OR you could go with another non-drinking couple -adventuous meals are always more fun with 4 or more. More opportunities to get differnt dishes & share!

I really liked Alma de Cuba, but must admit that I was heavily influenced by the mojitos. Barclay Prine is wonderful, but doesn't have enough pizazz for me if I'm doing something special. Jones & Continental are too "ordinary". I need that touch of funkiness too!

[rabidog]

i am right with you on the guac. you can't not love it. best guac in the neighborhood.

not being drinkers - el vez might be more annoying than fun. to me, it's pretty drink-centric (thus the elaborate bar in the center). plus a $200 card would likely be three dinners there, not one!

tangerine is gorgeous but i've only been for drinks.

i would go for buddakan. i have not been in awhile, but the edamame ravioli - so good. upstairs is quieter than down.

actually, i changed my mind - if it were me, personally, i'd hold out for parc. it's supposed to open on the 13th of july.

[saturninus]

El Vez is really just OK - from the drinks to the food. I wouldn't recommend. Also Stripped Bass will be closed.
It might be nice to check out Parc when it opens.

I would probably recommend The Continental, Barclay Prime, Buddakan and Alma de Cuba right now, although so many more are opening this year.

[DaisyM]

If you both enjoy great steak then Barclay Prime is a good choice. Also, consider Buddakan. They have a wide range of Asian influenced food and really fun desserts.