Tom Collichio

[kimpee]

Will be In NYC Memorial Day week. Curious on trying out Tom Collichio's restaurant. After all, he is the big kahuna in Top Chef. So which is really worth to try among all his restauants: Craft, Craftbar, Collichio & Sons, or 'Wichcraft? Need opinions please. Thanks!

[kimpee]

Ooops, I knew there was a double consonant there somewhere. Price wise, if it's a little expensive but it's well worth it then it's ok. Unless it's insanely expensive, otherwise if say Craft & Craftbar being the former more expensive but the value of the whole experience is worth more compared to Craftbar, then it's fine. What's in the menu not to miss?

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Craftbar
900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

[Wilfrid]

Craft is proportionally better than Craftbar as the higher prices would suggest. If you want to eat the style of food that made Colicchio's name (now that Gramercy Tavern has changed course), these are your best choices.

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Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

[gutsofsteel]

You left out Riverpark. I haven't been yet. but of those you listed above, no question about it - choose Craft.

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Craft
43 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003

Riverpark
450 E 29th St, New York, NY 10016

[kathryn]

2nd Craft. And it's "Colicchio," by the way.

[small h]

I had an excellent dinner at Riverpark and would recommend it highly, but Tom Colicchio isn't the chef there; Sisha Ortúzar is. If that makes a difference to the OP.

[gutsofsteel]

He's not the chef at Craft or Craftbar either. He has a whole lot of restaurants....there is a chef other than himself at every one of them.

[small h]

On the Craft website, Colicchio is listed as chef/owner of Craft and Craftbar. On Riverpark's website, he's listed as restaurateur.

[gutsofsteel]

Damon Wise is listed as chef at Craft.

You really think Colicchio can be at all his restaurants where he is "chef" with any frequency? You think he actually cooks with any regularity in the restaurants at this point?

[small h]

No, nor did I say or even imply that. But if I were interested in eating at a restaurant because of his influence on the menu, I'd choose one that listed him as its chef. The same way I'd pay more attention to a movie directed by Quentin Tarantino than to one "presented" by him.

[chocokitty]

Each of his restaurants have a different price point and atmosphere. Craft being his flagship, so to speak; down to 'wichcraft is mainly a (expensive) sandwich joint.

How much are you thinking of spending per person? How elegant or casual of an atmosphere do you want to go? (Though most of his formal restaurants err on the elegant-casual side.)

For photos of my Restaurant Week lunch at Colicchio & Sons' Tap Room back on February:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellokitty893112/sets/72157625897355335/

Tina
http://thewanderingeater.com/

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Colicchio & Sons
85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011