658640 Sun Oct 11 10:59:48 -0700 2009 29 18 Manhattan 0 5095102 I went to El Quinto Pino last night for one of my favorite snacks, the uni panini. Which is also one of my favorite phrases: three languages including an incorrect plural - whee! Anyway, it was awesome, as usual, but that modestly-sized sandwich ($15), along with half an order of abrigo cheese ($4.50) and a clara ($5) left me still hungry. Unwilling to part with much more of my hard-earned cash (and headed for the theater district anyway), I stopped off at 2 Bros. Pizza for a styrofoam clamshell full of spicy vegetable rice ($1). Problem solved. I think I have a new dining out strategy, maybe. Sun Oct 11 10:59:48 -0700 2009 13722 small h 1 5096736 a month ago, i had a hotdog from a street vendor after a dinner at JG. is that what you're referring to by high/low dining? Mon Oct 12 07:55:56 -0700 2009 5095102 1102327 tkm616 2 5096814 Yes - rounding out an expensive meal with an inexpensive one. Mon Oct 12 08:27:05 -0700 2009 5096736 13722 small h 1 5096835 This reminds me of a bf birthday dinner a couple of years ago when after Uncle Nick's he begged (!) for a street hotdog -- needless to say that on that occasion is was less than satisfying ending to what I hope would have been a nice dinner. Mon Oct 12 08:35:31 -0700 2009 5095102 14210 olia 2 5097084 I wouldn't consider Unlce Nick's "High" by any means. Mon Oct 12 09:54:28 -0700 2009 5096835 24925 chow_gal 3 5099265 didn't mean to imply that it is high, just that we hoped for a full meal there but had to supplement with a definite low (hot dog) Tue Oct 13 07:30:51 -0700 2009 5097084 14210 olia 1 5096871 Had dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Stopped for McDonalds on the way home as we were both still hungry. Not a good feeling after spending all that money. Mon Oct 12 08:50:49 -0700 2009 5095102 79984 princeofpork 2 5136992 So funny...had a VERY long lunch at Blue Hill Stone Barns and we wanted to stop on the way home for a big ice cream. Wed Oct 28 07:36:36 -0700 2009 5096871 134710 taboo 1 5097114 Reminds me of my dinner @ EMP, followed by a pizza delivery binge. :) www.thelunchbelle.com Mon Oct 12 10:04:40 -0700 2009 5095102 110996 LeahBaila 2 5097398 How many courses did you have at EMP? Im just curious because Im considering doing the 5 or 11 course menu, and I don't want to leave hungry! :) Mon Oct 12 11:51:05 -0700 2009 5097114 240564 eviemichael 3 5097410 Unless you're the type of person who can polish off a porterhouse by him or herself, I don't think you will be hungry after a 5 or 11 course dinner at EMP. They give you tons of stuff before your first course even comes (amuse-bouche, gougeres) and quite a bit of sweet treats after the last course. Mon Oct 12 11:55:02 -0700 2009 5097398 10763 Miss Needle 4 5097499 Well, then I guess I'm a big eater. Rarely do I go to a restaurant like EMP, so I'm not used to "tasting" portion sizes. I did the 5-course menu, BTW. www.thelunchbelle.com Mon Oct 12 12:27:55 -0700 2009 5097410 110996 LeahBaila 5 5097515 Pretty impressive! I do think all the courses and extras do add up after a while, especially considering I have a sweet tooth and have to try every single mignardise they offer (and their selection is huge). : ) Mon Oct 12 12:34:00 -0700 2009 5097499 10763 Miss Needle 1 5097141 An acquaintance took someone to Per Se for their bday for lunch. At around 5 or 6pm, he and I then went to Una Pizza. This should qualify though I am not sure in which order because the triple digits we spent at Una(no wine) might have been a worse value than the 4 figs he spent on lunch. Oh, and I really dug Una. Was the only place in Manhattan I ate pizza until that time. Price was just too much for bloody pizza. Boycotted from that point forward though all moot now. Why does anyone eat street dogs? It is not low eating, it just should not happen. Mon Oct 12 10:15:26 -0700 2009 5095102 239561 dietndesire 2 5097176 because street dogs are delicious. the dirty water, which has that hudson river-esque flavor, gives it that extra new york city character that you just can't get from oscar meyer weiners Mon Oct 12 10:30:28 -0700 2009 5097141 1102327 tkm616 3 5097206 Yep. Last time I had one was after lunch at Roberto Passon - the carbonara I ordered had cream in it, and I simply couldn't eat it (not because I'm a snob about carbonara with cream, but because I can't abide the aroma of warm cream). Mon Oct 12 10:39:54 -0700 2009 5097176 10985 MMRuth 1 5097350 A couple of years ago, at Le Bernardin, the food was sublime, but the portions, miniscule. We had pizza afterwards. Mon Oct 12 11:32:06 -0700 2009 5095102 1093353 fm1963 2 5098953 We did the same thing after one meal at le bernardin- ended up at grays papaya to satisfy our hunger. Tue Oct 13 04:52:52 -0700 2009 5097350 203536 Spends Rent on Food 3 5099067 It's not fine dining unless you leave hungry. Tue Oct 13 06:12:32 -0700 2009 5098953 10162 Bob Martinez 4 5099077 Hahhah! Amen to that. www.thelunchbelle.com Tue Oct 13 06:17:37 -0700 2009 5099067 110996 LeahBaila 4 5099087 That must be how the rich stay thin. Tue Oct 13 06:22:06 -0700 2009 5099067 13722 small h 1 5097416 I think I only did that once after a meal at Aureole. There were kids dining there and they received some french fries. Somehow that really affected me and I couldn't get it out of my head. I knew I wasn't going to be satisfied until I had some fries that night. So I stopped by at McDonalds on my way home. Mon Oct 12 11:57:26 -0700 2009 5095102 10763 Miss Needle 1 5097456 i live in the Lower East Side and here is my list of "low" places that i often hit to push myself over after "high" dining. i think it is worthy of mention that one of many reasons i recommend these places is because they stay open late. number 1 is by far the sophia slice at rosario on orchard & stanton. rosairo is always open until at least 2am and the garlicky sophia is always a delicious treat- $3 other places would include the lentil soup from bereket (the ONLY edible dish there) which is also $3. Crif dog is a good spot to hit late night. one of my favorite low priced top-offs though is a simple fresh bialy from kossar's. Mon Oct 12 12:12:17 -0700 2009 5095102 50017 El Tigre 2 5097529 I'm on the LES myself, and appreciate the Rosario's recommendation. I find myself at Rocket Joe's now and again - it wouldn't kill me to branch out a little. Mon Oct 12 12:36:54 -0700 2009 5097456 13722 small h 3 5097721 another LES staple for these kinds of top-offs is punjabi 1st and 1st Mon Oct 12 13:54:10 -0700 2009 5097529 50017 El Tigre 1 5097716 I did this recently after a dinner with Outstanding in the Field (my dinner was at a community garden on the LES). They had run out of food (some people took too much, or bad distribution of dishes down the table or something) and 5 of us at the table didn't get any of the main course. We (BF and I) went home and made a PB&J (no time to stop for a slice or dog as we were rushing to make a train at GC). Not what we wanted after spending $400 on dinner! I sent Outstanding in the Field a nicely worded letter about it (this is 2 months ago now) and never heard back. Mon Oct 12 13:53:21 -0700 2009 5095102 92993 piegirl74 1 5097937 Japanese food always has that effect on me. Within a few minutes of finishing, I'm always trying to figure out where I'm going to stop on my way home. Mon Oct 12 15:26:44 -0700 2009 5095102 1105140 Bone Thug n Hominy 1 5098644 I like doing this with dessert. It is not always completely a high-low, but nonetheless the desserts I pick are generally significantly less pricy than otherwise would have been. My favorite was the dessert truck when it was going full force (high concept but not in price!) but I also like to go for gelato in West Village or a crepe. Mon Oct 12 20:27:18 -0700 2009 5095102 77038 orthorunner 1 5136412 Can I get the panini from El Quinto Pino as takeout? Tue Oct 27 21:48:11 -0700 2009 5095102 10739 Negaduck 2 5136714 I don't see why not. It's served in a little wax paper sleeve - you could easily just pick it up and run with it. Wed Oct 28 05:14:34 -0700 2009 5136412 13722 small h