Saturday lunch reco needed for both serious foodie and picky eater

[stack_c]

I'm desperately trying to find a place for a Saturday lunch that will please both a serious foodie visiting from London and a picky eater. Picky eater doesn't necessarily have restrictions on certain foods but needs simple preparation (has intense fear of dishes with too many ingredients or ingredients he can't pronounce) - there are no price restrictions or certain neighborhood we need to stick to. Cuisines that would be acceptable would include Ameircan (both traditional and nouveau), Italian, French, European, Seafood. Thanks in advance!

[kathryn]

Do you specifically require a lunch menu or brunch menu? When is this meal?

For picky eaters I typically recommend Southern, BBQ, burgers, steakhouse, or a farm to table restaurant. But since it's the weekend, many will be serving a brunch menu, or won't be open at all.

How about Blue Ribbon Bakery, ABC Kitchen, Blue Smoke, or Maialino?

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Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

Blue Smoke
116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010

ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003

[FoodExpression]

Diner or Roebling Tea Room in Williamsburg Brooklyn, better yet Franks Prime Meats...best food in NYC is here and with ingredient driven menus reign supreme. Great original "cocktail" bars in the area too.

[stack_c]

thanks everyone...unfortunately, lunch is for this Saturday and the majority of the above recco's are all booked up. We decided to go with Union Square Cafe....perhaps a little "outdated" in the foodie scene but it was one of the only places that fit our requirements and had availability at such late notice.

[FoodExpression]

boooo.....you can still do brooklyn...

[RGR]

I think that's actually a very good choice. We had lunch there recently after not have been for a few years, and the food was excellent. To me, deliciousness is never outdated!

USC photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157626286667925/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[stack_c]

Hello RGR (fellow NJ Chow!)
YES! I saw your post regarding your recent meal @ USC and it solidified my decision to make the reservation. Hoping we have as equally as good as an experience

[RGR]

Hey, stack_c!

Always great to see a fellow NJ Hound on the Manhattan board. :)

To be honest, we've had mixed experiences at USC previously. However, the deliciousness of the food at this lunch blew us away! The kitchen seems to be hitting on all cylinders right now, so I feel quite certain that you will have a good experience.

Enjoy and please report back!

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[nmprisons]

I would have suggested Craft, but it is not open for lunch.

Perhaps Le Bernardin works, instead.

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Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

[H Manning]

Le Bernardin isn't open for lunch on Saturday, but maybe Jean Georges? There are a few fairly straightforward items on the menu like the tuna ribbons, scallops, parmesan chicken, and the beef tenderloin.

Tocqueville, Bouley, Minetta Tavern, or Cafe Boulud might also work.

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Cafe Boulud
20 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021

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

Tocqueville
1 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

Bouley
163 Duane St, New York, NY 10013