Torontonian coming to NYC - criticize/advise my restaurant itinerary !

[miketoronto]

Have about 3 1/2 to 4 days. I'm not trying to get everything in (I'll be back), but would really appreciate your thoughts to see if I've covered my bases. Staying in LES with friends.

Thursday
Lunch - Porchetta, Artichoke, or Motorino?
Dinner - Torrisi or Spotted Pig

Friday
Breakfast - Clinton St.
Late Lunch - Jean Georges
Late Dinner - 11 Madison Park

Saturday
Breakfast - Russ and Daughters
Lunch - Momofuku (which one is best for Saturday lunch? Just want some pork buns)
Dinner - Torrisi or Spotted Pig

Sunday
Breakfast - Prune
Lunch - Katz's

Please feel free to criticize. :)

Thanks everyone, appreciate any advice.

-----
Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014

Porchetta
110 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[miketoronto]

Right on. Thanks everyone for their advice, think I got the itinerary ironed out.

Not going to Clinton on the Friday, I think JG and EMP in one day will do just fine! Ippudo for ramen and pork buns over momofuku, maybe I'll just sneak into milk bar and get some dessert.

cheers.

-----
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[kathryn]

I think Motorino is a great choice for lunch. Try the brussel sprouts pie or spicy soppressata.

Keste is good too but personally I found their dough too wet. Just different styles.

-----
Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[miketoronto]

Hey Sam, thanks for the info.

Either way, Ippudo sounds like the right spot, maybe I'll just run into Milk bar, get some crack pie, and call it a day.

-----
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[sam1]

my take:
thursday lunch...i think porchetta sucks...dry, small, pricey and not good. artichoke is not a place to sit down and eat so id suggest you go to keste in the west village for their amazing pies. the best pizza in nyc in my opinion. get the signature pie.

thursday dinner...torrisi hands down. spotted pig sucks. too crowded, lame crowd, salty food, long wait.

friday...great calls across the board...enjoy an amazing food day.

sat...id swap momofuku for ippudo hands down...they accept reservations in person. get the akamaru ramen with extra pork belly and pork buns...thank me later.

sat dinner...minetta tavern would be a good option here. amazing meat mecca.

sun...good calls...

[Notorious P.I.G.]

I would second the pork buns and Ramen at Ippudo idea. Ramen in Toronto is nonexistent.

[miketoronto]

My friends told me lines are longer at Ippudo, but you can do resos in person ?

-----
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[gutsofsteel]

Ippudo is big, the lines go fast - plus you can go at an offpeak time.

But let's face it - going to popular places on a weekend that don't take reservations is going to mean waits, and sometimes long ones. Personally, I wouldn't do it. Try to do your reservation meals on the weekend instead.

-----
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[thew]

if you opt for ippudo take their number, then go for a drink ( i usually opt for angels share) then call a few minutes before the time they said youll be ready. they will tell you how long - you tell them youll be there soon and thats that

[Notorious P.I.G.]

If I go at a peak time I usually just put my name down, go wander around for awhile (go eat other things) then come back. They aren't that busy during off times either.

[kathryn]

So if I walked into Ippudo and asked for a table for two next Friday, they'd let me reserve?

Minetta is very difficult to get into for dinner. OP might want to get there early and sit at the bar.

-----
Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[sam1]

no kathryn, theyll accept in-person reservations for the same day only. i can go at 1pm and reserve for 2 at 8pm and they will usually honor it. ive waited less than 5 minutes every time.

[gutsofsteel]

Why go to Jean Georges and EMP on the same day?

-----
Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

[miketoronto]

casualties of cramming. We're not going to eat too much at Jean Georges, just wanted to go for the lunch deal.

-----
Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

[kathryn]

Clinton St Baking Co is very filling. You may not even be hungry by the time your JG reservation rolls around.

[Nancy S.]

I agree. Too much of sameness for one day. After JG, EMP might not feel so special (to justify the cost). Can you go to JG on Thursday for lunch?

[thew]

milk bar is attached to ssam. if you want a full lunch go to ssam. if you just want to grab a bun and go, milk bar (note milk bar has no seats - all standing)

[gutsofsteel]

Instead of Russ & Daughers, go to Barney Greengrass for breakfast - there are tables and service there. R&D is a takeout counter.

Lunch at all of the Momofukus on a Saturday will be a mob scene with a wait. The trendy places that don't take reservations will involve long waits and crowded conditions on a Saturday.

Don't bother with Torrisi - try Maialino, and you can make a reservation there.

-----
Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[miketoronto]

Yeah, I'm expecting to wait on Saturday.... Think we'll go to Spotted Pig or Torrisi (or Maialino) early for dinner to hopefully avoid too much craziness.

How long is an average wait for Milk Bar in the East Village for Sat lunch? Those pork buns and crack pie look like they're worth the wait.

-----
Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

[gutsofsteel]

Do you want to do anything else on Saturday besides wait in lines and eat?

[miketoronto]

haha yes. Maybe I'll need a plan B.

[kathryn]

I'd recommend dropping in at Milk Bar during working hours. Daytime is much more chill overall, weekdays even more so. Maybe a quick pre or post lunch snack?

For Spotted Pig, try lunchtime to avoid the crowds. I like sitting upstairs in the day.

[kathryn]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a huge line at Ssam for lunch. Only Noodle Bar.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Looks like a good time my friend.

Thursday lunch - out of the three my personal preference is for Motorino but have you also considered Keste? I would personally do Keste above all but that's just me.

I don't do breakfast too much and if it where me I would go to Russ and Daughters every day but I hear good things about Clinton St. and definitely Prune.

For pork buns I usually just go to Milk Bar in the East Village which is closest to you to scarf one down quicktime.

[kathryn]

Agreed--get pork buns from Milk Bar any time as a snack. East Village or Midtown location.