For his valedictory Sam Sifton answers What is Best in New York?
If it needed confirmation, tomorrow's -New York Times- magazine spoils Sifton's final restaurant review:
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/09/...
I realise we answer these questions every day on Chowhound, but I thought it might be fun (and helpful?) for punters to answer these questions themselves. Let's try to limit ourselves to the establishment name and a one sentence/phrase argument.
My nominations:
1. In Which to Eat Alone? ... Balthazar. Brasserie / bistro fare is my comfort food, and a man alone in the big city sometimes requires comforting.
2. To Have a Drink at the Bar? ... Maialino has a good selection of wines by the glass, the half-glass, and the quartino (flexibility is key), as well as interesting happy-hour snacks.
3. To Take My Parents for Their 50th Wedding Anniversary? ... Eleven Madison Park. Not quite 50th, but I plan to take my parents for their anniversary this autumn.
4. For Blowing the Mind of an Out-of-Town Guest? ... If they are from culinary suburbia, perhaps Momofuku Ssam Bar. If from socioeconomic suburbia, Red Rooster in Harlem.
5. Place Where I Can Be Discreet? ... A restaurant with private rooms!
6. For Vegetarians? ... There are people who eat only vegetables?
7. That's Not Actually in New York City? ... Not sure I understand this question or Sifton's answer, but I think l'Ambroisie the most beautiful restaurant in Paris. I'd quite like to visit Michel Bras.
8. Best Restaurant in New York? Period? ... Per Se for the technical accomplishment of their cuisine... but in my heart: Eleven Madison Park.
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Maialino
2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027
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Delucacheesemonger
Oct 12, 2011 08:54 AM
1. Balthazar
2. Apotheke
3. Pietro's, this is where they had their 50th.
4. Masa
5. l have never been discreet, sometimes to my regret.
6. Hangawi
7 Le Cinq, in Paris
8. Atelier de Robuchon-----
Pietro's
232 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012HanGawi
12 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022Apotheke
9 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019 -
sgordon
Oct 12, 2011 08:07 AM
1. In Which to Eat Alone? Ah Ping Snack Bar or Sushi Yasuda
2. To Have a Drink at the Bar? WD-50 or Vandaag
3. To Take My Parents for Their 50th Wedding Anniversary? Mom: EMP or Del Posto, Dad: Peter Luger's
4. For Blowing the Mind of an Out-of-Town Guest? Tehuitzingo
5. Place Where I Can Be Discreet? Tehuitzingo
6. For Vegetarians? Dirt Candy or Kajitsu
7. That's Not Actually in New York City? If that means "but somewhat nearby" - I dunno, Vetri in Philly. Louis' Lunch in New Haven. And BH@SB, of course.
8. Best Restaurant in New York? Period? 無
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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002Tehuitzingo
695 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036Sushi Yasuda
204 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011Ah Ping Snack Bar
2 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038Dirt Candy
430 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 -
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Winterpool
Oct 1, 2011 09:08 AM
For question 7 ('Not Actually in New York City'), Sifton chose McCrady's, in Charleston, SC. This answer does not compute with the Europhile snob in me, which is why I don't quite understand what SIfton meant by this question/answer.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/02/magazine/29mag-food-issue.html#/sifton
›1 Reply -
1. In Which to Eat Alone? ... 15 East. Just a man and his omakase sushi chef is the best personal solo dining experience.
2. To Have a Drink at the Bar? ... Keens. A pure bar experience.
3. To Take My Parents for Their 50th Wedding Anniversary? ... L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Wow, they'd be pretty old. Stronger flavors take priority over subtle combinations of flavors.
4. For Blowing the Mind of an Out-of-Town Guest? ... Masa. No matter where they come from, the price will blow their mind.
5. Place Where I Can Be Discreet? ... Not gonna say. Or else the girl I take there will know she's the mistress!
6. For Vegetarians? ... Kajitsu. Going there next week. Extremely inventive.
7. That's Not Actually in New York City? ... My guess is the question was going for NJ or LI or nearby upstate. In that case, Blue Hill Stone Barns, although my guess is Luger in LI would be good for the meat eaters.
8. Best Restaurant in New York? Period? ... Per Se for the established restaurant class. Eleven Madison Park for the still improving constantly class. Lincoln when you consider the sheer volume of customers http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/809840
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 1001915 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019Lincoln
142 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023›2 Replies-
re: fooder
princeofpork
Oct 1, 2011 02:17 PM
Your answer to #5 may be the best sentence written on CH in years.
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1. In Which to Eat Alone?
Fedora/Joseph Leonard/Jeffrey's, if only because their bartenders and servers are insanely nice and friendly.
Honorable mention to Otto, where the bartenders (Dennis!) there are also fantastic.
2. To Have a Drink at the Bar?
To me drink = cocktails and right now I'd do Fatty Cue because I love their cocktail list.
Peels & Vandaag are also excellent, as is EMP.
3. To Take My Parents for Their 50th Wedding Anniversary?
I can't answer this fairly because my parents only eat Chinese food! :(
4. For Blowing the Mind of an Out-of-Town Guest?
Takashi, WD-50 (unless they're from Chicago), Xi'an Famous Foods, Sripraphai (but only if they have crappy thai where they live), PDT/Crif Dogs, Babbo, or, really, anywhere in the Golden Mall.
5. Place Where I Can Be Discreet?
Kyo Ya's private room.
6. For Vegetarians?
Craft or Hearth.
7. That's Not Actually in New York City?
Alinea in Chicago or Asador Extebarri in Spain.
8. Best Restaurant in New York? Period?
(Not sure I can answer this because I've done JG, Le B, and EMP, but not Daniel and Per Se)
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009Otto
1 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003Craft
43 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009Please Don't Tell
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009Crif Dogs
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009Fedora
239 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014Xi'an Famous Foods
81 St. Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014Xi'an Famous Foods
88 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002Takashi
456 Hudson St, New York, NY 10011Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003Peels
325 Bowery, New York, NY 10003Jeffrey's Grocery
172 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014›1 Reply -
A lovely game:
1. In Which to Eat Alone: I almost always choose the Bar at Craft.
2. To Have a Drink at the Bar: Eleven Madison Park. Both the beer and cocktail lists are tops.
3. Parents' Anniversary: My parents are divorced and I just can't picture this one. But, I'd take my mom to Le Bernardin for her birthday and my dad to Keens.
4. Blowing the Mind of an Out-of-Town Guest: Depends on where they are from. I usually stick to bagels (Absolute), thai food (Ayada), Ssam Bar, or Katzs
5. For Discretion: I've never felt the need.
6. For Vegetarians: Kajitsu
7: Not Actually in NYC: I assume this means not in NYC, but close to it. I love spending the day at the farm on Stone Barns and then eating at BHSB. (sorry, RGR)
8: Best Restaurant in NYC Period: Per Se (but before the period, i would note that EMP is hot on its heals in many, many respects).
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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019Craft
43 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
