613996 Wed Apr 22 06:22:59 -0700 2009 19 18 Manhattan 0 4617513 ..in a rather casual atmosphere where I can just run in without reservations? Ever since hitting the 10 course tasting menu at Degustation last month I've had an insane craving for sweetbreads. Wed Apr 22 06:22:59 -0700 2009 277411 Slob 1 4617574 Babbo (if you sit at the bar) Casa Mono (if you go at non-peak hours) The Bar at Eleven Madison Park. See this: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/602217?tag=search_results;results_list Wed Apr 22 06:44:57 -0700 2009 4617513 54254 kobetobiko 2 4617630 Kobetobiko: Your link has my mouth watering!! The sweetbreads at Prune are fabulous. http://www.prunerestaurant.com/ Wed Apr 22 07:04:27 -0700 2009 4617574 130779 Hurner 2 4621465 Babbo's version of sweetbreads are excellent but a little unusual. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/503809 Thu Apr 23 08:41:17 -0700 2009 4617574 10936 kathryn 3 4622085 Enthusiastically seconded. Thu Apr 23 11:07:32 -0700 2009 4621465 19118 Jorel 1 4618115 Craftbar and EMP Wed Apr 22 09:10:34 -0700 2009 4617513 124622 Spiritchaser 2 4621890 Second EMP www.thelunchbelle.com Thu Apr 23 10:16:34 -0700 2009 4618115 110996 LeahBaila 1 4618353 I love the one at Peasant Wed Apr 22 10:23:37 -0700 2009 4617513 58535 banjolinana 1 4618407 This one's easy: Casa Mono by a longshot. Wed Apr 22 10:38:46 -0700 2009 4617513 203536 Spends Rent on Food 2 4619367 I thought the sweetbreads at Degustation were a lot better than Casa Mono's, though in a way the comparison is unfair, because it's been a few years since I've been to Casa Mono. Wed Apr 22 14:49:38 -0700 2009 4618407 17058 Pan 3 4620515 I actually preferred the sweetbreads at Casa Mono to Degustation's in terms of flavor. The time that I had the sweetbreads at Degustation the coating was too thick and overpowered the sweetbreads flavor. I adored their presentation though. Casa Mono's version is a bit salty for some people, but with some alcohol I was fine with it. Wed Apr 22 22:37:27 -0700 2009 4619367 54254 kobetobiko 4 4620633 I recall that the sweetbreads at Casa Mono felt very fatty to me. Undoubtedly, they were just as fatty at Degustation, but I was tasting a wonderful sauce and feeling a good texture. So maybe it's precisely because I tasted the fatty sweetbreads less that I felt their treatment of sweetbreads was perhaps the best I had had! Thu Apr 23 01:09:35 -0700 2009 4620515 17058 Pan 4 4631036 I just had the sweetbreads at Casa Mono yesterday and I had Degustation's a few weeks ago and I think the breading on the Casa Mono version was a bit too thick (a bit like fried chicken) and the filling/breading ratio seemed out of whack. And the nuts were nice but not essential to the dish. I think I prefer Degustation's version that I had a few weeks ago (sauteed I think? with a hot pepper sauce that I loved but you might not like it if it you are sensitive to spicy sauces) more than CM's but I liked Babbo's version the most. Not that any of them have BAD versions, of course. They're all delicious, just on different levels. Sun Apr 26 19:10:16 -0700 2009 4620515 10936 kathryn 1 4618582 Thanks for all the great replies. If you have had the sweetbreads at Degustation, how do you think your suggestions compare? Is it fairly easy to eat at the places mentioned without booking a table ahead of time? I'm going on another food tour, and I'd prefer not to go for a full meal. I just want the best sweetbreads, then to scoot on to the next stop. Wed Apr 22 11:29:47 -0700 2009 4617513 277411 Slob 2 4620520 Slob, I preferred the sweetbreads at the 3 places that I mentioned to Degustation, but that's really a personal taste. Some people like it grilled, others like it pan-seared, roasted, fried, so it really depends. Babbo (bar), EMP (bar), and the Tavern room at Gramercy Tavern do not take reservation, and for Casa Mono, you don't need reservation if you go at lunch or afternoon as it is usually not that crowded (just avoid dinner time which will be mobbed). I don't see why you can't order just the sweetbreads at those places. Momofuku Noodle Bar also has fried sweetbreards served in a small bucket. It's not my favorite version, but it works for your "eat-and-go" strategy. Wed Apr 22 22:41:49 -0700 2009 4618582 54254 kobetobiko 3 4620960 Thanks for the tips, kobe. Do you know if the bar at EMP is open late? I can't find much info on the bar. Most info available is about the main restaurant. I'd like to hit the bar at EMP for some sweetbreads and that foie gras toast you mentioned in your previous post. Thu Apr 23 06:33:53 -0700 2009 4620520 277411 Slob 4 4621067 It depends on how you define late. I've been there for drinks until about 10:30 or so. I'd recommend calling them, they're over-the-top helpful. Thu Apr 23 07:15:03 -0700 2009 4620960 203536 Spends Rent on Food 3 4621513 If I recall correctly, you can also dine at the bar itself inside the Tavern Room at Gramercy Tavern. For the bar at EMP, the bar menu at lunch is the same as the regular lunch menu, but after 2ish, they switch over to an a la carte menu that is a mix of lunch items, dinner items, and items to share, so I would double check before you go that you can order the dishes you want. Momofuku Noodle Bar no longer has the fried sweetbreads on the menu, unfortunately. Thu Apr 23 08:50:14 -0700 2009 4620520 10936 kathryn 4 4621649 Agree with kathryn that you should definitely call EMP first to see if they still have the same items on the menu. Thu Apr 23 09:23:36 -0700 2009 4621513 54254 kobetobiko 1 4623371 Picholine has a great sweetbread dish that you can order at the bar from their Menu d'Economie for $15. Just walk in. Thu Apr 23 16:44:27 -0700 2009 4617513 126803 rrems