Foodies from out of town need rec for intimate dinner
Will be in NYC in August for a few weeks with my boyfriend. In exchange for going to Eleven Madison Park (my #1 pick) he would like to dine somewhere smaller with a more intimate atmosphere and service. Any recs? We are both huge foodies willing to spend $200-300 for dinner and a bottle of wine. We're 25 years old and will travel anywhere in Manhattan. Also although we are young the restaurant doesn't have to be skewed towards a younger crowd, just good food. Any cuisine aside form Asian/Indian fusion... We eat (and love) it all.
Also I know there are approx. a million threads about visiting NYC, but if anyone wants to shout out their "must eat at" restos I'd definitely appreciate it and take note. We're here for 3 weeks so I've compiling quiet the list from previous threads.
Thanks in advance!
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Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
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jacquelines
Jul 10, 2010 05:53 PM
Morandi, Minetta Tavern, Peasant, Prune or Tocqueville
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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012Morandi
211 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014›17 Replies-
re: jacquelines
Thanks everyone! Degustation sounds perfect. Prune looks good too though! I'll try to add it to the list as well.
I followed some of your posts Kathryn and went down the veritable rabbit hole of visiting NYC restaurant requests (3 Week Chowfest with a213b being my fav) . Here's the short list I'm working on and a lot more questions. Help????
Bagels: Ess a Bagel, Bagel Bob’s
Burgers : Minetta Tavern, Corner bistro, Shake Shack (anything in between Minetta and Shake Shack quality wise someone would recommend?)
Indian: Spicy Mina or Southern Spice (both in Queens)
Italiano: A di La (Brooklyn), Locanda Verde, Scarpetta
Pastrami: Katz
Pizza; Motorino, Artichoke (square slice), and Di Fara (also thinking about Keste, Franny's and Lucali's, thoughts?)
Ramen: Ippudo, Menachnko-tei
Steak : Keens (is there somewhere else I should be considering?)
Tapas: TxikitoSome more questions..:
1.) How does everyone feel about Devi now? I know it was going through a transition phase a little while ago, but I love Indian spices/flavors.
2.) My bf also loved Scott Bryan when he was at Veritas… thoughts on Apiary?
3.) Is Gramercy Tavern a must? I was thinking of dining Tavern Side.
4.) Anyone have a recommendation for French or French inspired. My list seems a little Italian skewed right now.
5.) Thoughts on the Momofuku empire.. If you had to pick one would you go to Noodle or Ssam ? Or skip the whole venture?
6.) Other amazing places I'm completely overlooking.... ?!Also ass I side note I wish I could do more lunches. I would be at Jean Georges in a heartbeat, but alas I will be in the financial district M-F and unable to get away. that being said I'm limited to week nights and weekends although I am willing to go out any night of the week.
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Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003Bagel Bob's
51 University Pl, New York, NY 10003Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012Veritas
43 East 20th St., New York, NY 10003Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003-
re: steffibell
thew
Jul 10, 2010 08:30 PM
there are many good burgers between the fast food of shake shack, and the indulgence of minetta or db bistro.
stand on 12th street is fun with a cool vibe. nice milkshakes, including several of the adult variety. and deep fried pickles.
finegan's wake on the upper east side is a local irish pub, does a great burger. there are many like this all over NYC. unknown gems.
#3 - i love gramercy tavern. eaten more in the dining room than the tavern, never disappointed in either.
#5 - for old old old school french there's Le Veau D'or, a place that is an a stasis field that prevents it from leaving the early 60's. great traditional. FOr a cheap meal there's le sans culotte's in the east 50's. it's a prix fixe place - the first course is a nice mix of crudites and sausages and pate. the entrees are not blow you socks off, but i have affection for the place just the same. there's some good bistro's and brasseries scattered about the city as well. (lately i've been eating at the b.cafe, because it's around the corner from me - but it's belgian)
#5- I'm a big fan of Ssam. big fan. only went to noodle bar once, and nothing was wrong with it, but i haven't been back either.
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re: steffibell
daffyduck
Jul 10, 2010 08:48 PM
Bagels: looks fine
Burgers : "Shake Shack (anything in between Minetta and Shake Shack quality wise someone would recommend?)" I like BLT Burger for something in between. Though I wouldn't really waste a meal on a burger in NYC.
Indian: Spicy Mina or Southern Spice (both in Queens) If you're willingly to go to Queens I think Delhi Heights (sublime chicken makhani) is better than Spicy Mina. I never tried Southern Spice.
Italiano: looks fine
Pastrami: Katz, I would also stop by Russ and Daughters for various herring, lox, sablefish, etc. My favorite item there is the super heebster sandwich.
Pizza; I tried all the ones you mentioned except Lucali and Franny's and I think I like Keste the most especially their truffle spread pie.
Ramen: looks fine
Steak : Keens (is there somewhere else I should be considering?) Striphouse? Peter Luger? Though I wouldn't waste a dinner on steak if my time was limited in ny.
Tapas: I like Casa Mono
1. I believe I read Devi just switched chefs and the feedback right now isnt good.
2. I never tried so I can't comment.
3. I never tried.
4. How much do you want to spend? If you're willingly to spend $ I would say Le Bernadin. If not I liked Balthazar I have had a few mediocre dishes there like (roasted chicken (28$) and the duck shepard's pie.
5. You could do Noodle Bar and that will take care of ramen for your list. I would avoid Milk Bar, but some people love it.
6. I think it's great you're willingly to go to the Outer Boros (Queens\Brooklyn), I think you should try some of the various ethnic foods out there. I don't particularly know Brooklyn well but there are many gems. The outer boros will have more information you can search by neighborhoods, my favorite food neighborhoods are Jackson heights\Elmhurst (Thai, Indian, Latin), Flushing (Chinese, Korean), and Astoria (Greek). I can't help you much with brooklyn. =\-----
Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010BLT Burger
470 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011-
re: daffyduck
If the OP is going to Ippudo, then skip all other ramen joints. Momofuku Noodle Bar isn't known for their ramen, despite the name. In fact, it gets rather poor reviews on this board for the noodles.
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Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003
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re: steffibell
Bagels: Russ & Daughters. First-rate!
Burgers: Blue Smoke and Shake Shack (both owned by Danny Meyer) use the same meat supplier (La Frieda) as Minetta. Blue Smokes burgers are much thicker than Shake Shack's. It's excellent and not nearly as expensive as Minetta's.
Italian: Our favorite right now is Maialino.
Maialino photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157623676374010/
Pastrami: Sarge's
See photos of Sarge's pastrami sandwich here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157623033383475/
Pizza: Co.
Co. photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622373026991/
Re: Questions
1.) I've always liked Devi a lot, but with the departure of Chef Hemant Mathur (opening his own restaurant in the fall), I am staying away until I hear reports from others whose opinions I trust about the status of the food.
2.) We have been longtime fans of Veritas and, like you, loved Scott Bryan's food (though I adore current Chef Gregory Pugin's French cuisine even more!) We have been to Apiary. The food Bryan is cooking there is more rustic than his cuisine at Veritas but still excellent. You can see photos of our meal + a link to an in-depth review here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157614544486731/
3.) I'm not a fan of Gramercy Tavern's Dining Room as I've never had a meal there that impressed me. In fact, my most disappointing meal of 2009 took place there. I do, however, like the food in the Tavern Room. Since they don't take reservations, and we never put up with long waits for a table at any restaurant no matter how great the food might be, we've always gone there late in the evening (after 10 o'clock) when we've been seated immediately.
Tavern Room photos with commentary here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622253360361/
4.) French is our favorite cuisine, and there are endless possibilities that could fill that gap in your dining itinerary, A bistro I highly recommend right now is La Mangeoire. A few months ago, 4-star Chef Christian Delouvrier took over the kitchen, and the food he is putting out is, needless to say, wonderfully prepared and seriously delicious.
La Mangeoire photos and commentary here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...
5.) We've been to Ssam Bar once for the Bo Ssam and Noodle Bar once for the special fried chicken dinner. They normally do not take reservations, but they do for these special dinners, so we were willing to try them. The food was fine but for me nothing to rave about. The noise level is so deafening, especially at Ssam Bar, that I will never set foot in either place again. We've also been to Ma Peche once for lunch. Again, the food was fine, but they don't serve dessert as part of the lunch or dinner meal (if you want some, you have to get that at the Milk Bar upstairs) Ridiculous! I hate what they've done to the space (gorgeous when it was Town), and the X-shaped communal table is idiotic. They have started to take limited reservations. I doubt we'll be back anytime soon.
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re: RGR
I'm probably in the minority, but I rather liked the spare room, subdued lighting, and moderate noise levels at Ma Peche. The corner tables can be intimate. The seating is more comfortable and the service a lot more solicituous than the downtown Momofuku locations.
The food is wonderful, definitely in the same league as Ssam Bar, with a lighter touch (though I haven't tried the Beef Seven Ways). The restaurant does serve a cheese course, and you can go to the Modern Bar Room afterwards (3 blocks south) for amazing desserts if the Milk Bar isn't your thing.
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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019-
re: fm1963
The fact that Ma Peche serves a cheese course doesn't mitigate the fact that there is no dessert served at the table. Chang does it because people let him get away with it. Anyone else would be laughed at and/or serverely criticized. If I'm going to have my dessert in the Modern's Bar Room, I'd just as soon make it easy on myself and have my entire meal there. I like the food there far better anyway.
Btw, it doesn't take much to make seating more comfortable than those hard backless benches at Ssam Bar and Noodle Bar (and, I gather, at Ko, which we've never been to). I guess Chang figured that was one thing he couldn't get away with with a Midtown dining crowd. As for the decor, as one wag quipped on another food forum, "Town felt like a glamorous subterranean space; Ma Peche feels like a basement."
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re: steffibell
> Bagels: Ess a Bagel, Bagel Bob’s
You might want to read this:
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/10/serious-eats-finds-new-yorks-best-bagel-1.htmlThat said, I 2nd the Russ & Daughters recommendations.
> Burgers : Minetta Tavern, Corner bistro, Shake Shack (anything in between Minetta and Shake Shack quality wise someone would recommend?
)I second what RGR said about Blue Smoke. See also:
http://aht.seriouseats.com/tags/NYC> Italiano: A di La (Brooklyn), Locanda Verde, Scarpetta
Note that you can dine at the bar for both of these. They're pretty popular restaurants.
> Pizza; Motorino, Artichoke (square slice), and Di Fara (also thinking about Keste, Franny's and Lucali's, thoughts?
)Go to Di Fara and skip Artichoke. Only go to Artichoke if you can't get to Di Fara (check their Facebook page for operating hours -- I think they're on vacation right now). Go to Keste if you want a less smoky, more soft Naples style pie or if you love burrata which they have fresh starting on Thursdays every week until they run out. Go to Motorino if you like a more well-done, fluffy, puffy crust that isn't as heavy. It's a little too similar if you go to both. Haven't been to Lucali. Love Franny's but I don't go to Franny's just for the pizza, I got for the house made terrine, lovely crostini (I think they have a pancetta with RAMP butter one), the pastas, the gelato. I mean, the pie is good but I don't go out of my way just to have the pie. Co. aka Company, recommended by RGR, is hit or miss: I've found the crust to be subpar when the proprietor is not around: too flat, not puffy, missing that lovely internal chew you want in pizza. I'd say that the others are much more consistent.
> Ramen: Ippudo, Menachnko-tei
If you get to Ippudo, skip all others.
> Tapas: Txikito
If you can't get in, go to El Quinto Pino, their sister restaurant (set up more like a bar with food though). Both are really great, though. I also like Boqueria and Casa Mono although I think the level of cooking just a tiny bit less at Boqueria.
Casa Mono is great too but their portions are huge in comparison to others (raciones vs tapas) and it's more an "interpretation" of Spanish good, whereas Boqueria, Txikito, and El Quinto Pino are more authentically Spanish with Txikito being the most Basque of them all. That said, Casa Mono for weekend lunch with all the windows open and a glass of cava? Heaven.
Oh, and if you find yourself in Soho, go to Despana for a sandwich made to order (the stuff in the window is all premade) with their brand of chorizo (they make it in Queens) or morcilla. So good! They usually have samples up front, too.
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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002Despana
408 Broome St, New York, NY 10013Bagel Bob's
51 University Pl, New York, NY 10003Casa Mono
52 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012El Quinto Pino
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016Boqueria
53 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003Scarpetta
355 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003 -
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re: gutsofsteel
There are many, however, on this board, who find SHO to be remarkable -- especially for the price. OP said she would be stuck in the FD at lunchtime and, given its proximity and the fact that I (and others) have enjoyed it very much -- it may be worth OP's time. The lunch prix fixe right now, at $24, is a steal.
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i have not been there since they re-opened after a fire but no nyc restaurant is more romantic and intimate than annisa in my opinion. i am not a huge fan of their food...this is not better than 11 madison or bouley...but the space is serene, the service is fantastic, and its a restaurant that just works.
quick must eats:
dell'anima for sweetbreads and pasta (pasta is insane there!)
minetta tavern for meat
keens for steak
ushiwakamaru for sushi
ippudo for ramen
keste for pizza
black market for burger (new favorite)
shake shack for quick burger
blue ribbon bakery for lots of options
westville for casual breakfast -
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Does anything in this thread strike your fancy?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/719071Does the $100-150pp include also tax and trip? Or just food and wine?
Perhaps you could post what places you're compiling onto your list; that will give us more clues as to your personal preferences.
