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
By Winterpool
on Oct 1, 2011 07:26 AM
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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 10019
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018
Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019
Craft
43 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003
Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
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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 10019
WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011
Hearth
403 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10009
Otto
1 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Craft
43 E. 19th St., New York, NY 10003
Kyo Ya
94 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
Please Don't Tell
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Crif Dogs
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Fedora
239 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014
Xi'an Famous Foods
81 St. Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014
Xi'an Famous Foods
88 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Takashi
456 Hudson St, New York, NY 10011
Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Peels
325 Bowery, New York, NY 10003
Jeffrey's Grocery
172 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10014
Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
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of everything you've ever said on this board, i found this comment to be the most insightful:
3. To Take My Parents for Their 50th Wedding Anniversary?
I can't answer this fairly because my parents only eat Chinese food! :(
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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 10019
15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Keens
72 West 36th St., New York, NY 10018
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022
Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019
Lincoln
142 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023
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Your answer to #5 may be the best sentence written on CH in years.
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does that include that request for recs near MSG for a group of kids on LSD? that ranks high in my memory, no pun intended.
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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
http://www.mccradysrestaurant.com/
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Having eaten there. It is very good, but is not close to a place like Alinea.
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What a surprise: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/811857
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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 10002
Tehuitzingo
695 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Sushi Yasuda
204 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017
Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Ah Ping Snack Bar
2 E Broadway, New York, NY 10038
Dirt Candy
430 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Kajitsu
414 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Vandaag
103 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
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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
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Pietro's
232 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017
Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
HanGawi
12 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
57 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022
Apotheke
9 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013
Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019
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