Visiting from LA! (Never posted on the NY boards before... kinda nervous!) :)

[queen jord]

Hi yall - this LA hound needs your expertise!

I'm starting to make reservations for my trip to NY in early April. My boyfriend and I will be in the city for three nights - one night we're meeting friends at Otto so we need two other reservations, one for a Monday night and one for a Wednesday night.

We are staying in Union Square but will cab or subway anywhere. I'd like to keep both meals under $150 total each night - just food (we don't drink.)

I'd prefer non-Italian recs - would love upscale Asian but not sushi, Greek, American, Tapas, or anything exciting!

Barring that - thoughts on any of the following would be appreciated: Tertulia, Flex Mussels, John Dory Oyster Bar, Alta, Co-op, The Dutch, Marc Forgione, Fatty Cue?

Sorry for all the info! Any help is greatly appreciated!

[queen jord]

hi again!

i know in my OP i asked for non-italian recs - but plans have changed and we may want a delicious italian feast anyway! do you guys have any recs for me?

(liked scarpetta but now there's one in la, did NOT have a good meal at osteria morini, and have been to the batali restaurants in vegas many times and love them - are there any that are different?! we're also planning on going to eataly for lunch one day...)

thank you!

[kathryn]

It might be tough getting into anywhere at a decent time. I would call up Locanda Verde to see what times they have left. Or try them for lunch, as an alternative to Scarpetta/Babbo/etc.

For Eataly, I'd suggest a weekday lunch, as it is going to be less crowded. Only Manzo and the rooftop beer garden take reservations. The rest are first come, first served.

[queen jord]

kathryn - based on your reservation i called and got a prime time reservation at locandra verde! very excited.

do you - or anyone else - have recs on what to order? what are your favorites there?

thank you!

[kathryn]

Locanda Verde's signature dishes include the sheep's milk ricotta, blue crab crostini, the lamb meatball sliders, My Grandmother's ravioli, the orecchiette, the fire-roasted chicken for two, the porchetta sandwich, and the maple budino. Though it is hard to remember to save room for dessert. The sheep's milk ricotta is pretty filling due to the bread it comes with, which is in addition to the standard bread basket, if I recall correctly.

[Simon]

Welcome :)

While not necessary, it might help some NYC Chowhounds to know your fav LA places, as many of us are either bi-coastal or have lived there before...(full disclosure: i lived in Los Feliz and Santa Monica Cyn, and my fav LA places are Dan Tana's, Caffe Delfini, The Reel Inn, Zankou Chicken, Ivy At the Shore, and various Mexican places that serve slow-cooked goat :)

I haven't been to Txikito, but have heard great things, and i love the suckling pig at Tia Pol, so i'm guessing the Txikito version is similarly yummy, based on reports here...i like Tertulia, though i sometimes feel the menu is more limited than Tia Pol, just my opinion...

i only went to The Dutch once, and i had a mediocre impression of the place...i think there's better food in NYC...

Kin Shop (a quasi-Thai place in the West Village) might be up your alley...

Balthazar for late-afternoon or late-night oysters and salads and burgers

Will add more places as i think of them...

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Balthazar
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Kin Shop
469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Tertulia
359 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[queen jord]

thanks for all the responses so far! thanks to you guys i checked out txikito - i made a reservation for wednesday night.

now for monday - im considering the dutch, fatty cue, or fatty crab. thoughts on those?

if it helps, in los angeles my favorite restaurant is animal, hands down. and some restaurants in new york that ive been to and enjoyed are pippa, abc kitchen, balaboosta, perilla, kin shop, momofuko noodle shop.... on my last trip i went to osteria morini but was not a fan.

thanks!

[kathryn]

Are you thinking Fatty Crab West Village or Upper West Side? Only the UWS location takes reservations.

It may be tough to get into The Dutch, I'd call ASAP if you want to go there. There's also a The Dutch restaurant in Miami now, if that matters to you.

I think Fatty Cue is excellent and would be a good choice:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/808104

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Fatty Crab
643 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Fatty Crab
2170 Broadway, New York, NY 10024

The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

[queen jord]

thanks everyone for your help! i made a reservation at fatty cue for monday night.

any recommendations of what to order there - or at otto on the following night?

[kathryn]

The menu has changed quite a bit as its now spring, but previous favorites at Fatty Cue include the lamb shoulder, beef brisket, and deep fried bacon.

At Otto, try the seasonal vegetable sides, escarole and sunchoke salad, carbonara, bucatini, and olive oil coppetta.

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Otto
1 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

[loratliff]

Fatty Cue is excellent.

We've been eating there at least once a week as of late. Our recent favorites include the tripe, the apple and cheddar salad, and the brisket (served with buns and gouda for making your own sliders!). The buttermilk pappardelle pasta with goat is amazing too. I love the duck laab, which is one of their classics, but my boyfriend finds it too spicy so be aware if you're not a fan of spice.

As for cocktails, the Chupacabra that Kathryn mentions in the post she linked to above is great, and I also have liked the Moo Fashioned and the 37th Chamber recently. The Fatty Riesling on their wine list is excellent with the food and worth a try.

If you like Animal, I'd consider lunch at The Breslin or the Spotted Pig. Same chef as the John Dory and the Breslin is also in the Ace Hotel, but I think the food is better at both. Dory is excellent, but it's all small plates and they add up fast. Both do not take dinner reservations and are notorious for long waits.

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

The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

[Bkeats]

If you would like to try upscale Asian I will suggest Ma Peche. I'm a big fan of Chang's restos in general, but Ma Peche is a particular favorite. Since you don't drink, I think the budget will easily fit.

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Ma Peche
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

$75pp = $58pp before tax/tip, sound about right?

You can't make reservations at Tertulia for only 2 people, only for big groups. I don't think the wait on a Monday or Wednesday for 2 will be too bad if you go early. Maybe 30-60 minutes. For an alternative choice, try Txikito instead.

Or at John Dory unless you're a big group (or you're staying at the Ace Hotel where the John Dory is located). Maybe try it for lunch one day.

I'd skip Alta.

For the Dutch, you may not be able to get a decent reservation time for early April, I'd call ASAP or save this for lunch, too.

Definitely try Fatty Cue, I don't believe there's anything like it in LA.

Haven't been to Co-Op or Flex Mussels.

Here's my favorite NYC places list that I posted for another LA hound yesterday:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8383...

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Alta
64 W 10th St, New York, NY 10011

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

The John Dory Oyster Bar
1196 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

Fatty 'Cue
50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

[sam1]

i love LA's food scene and live right by union square so here's my thoughts:

stick to places and food that you can't find in LA.

For your two dinners...here are some ideas:

-minetta tavern...call now for the best table. otherwise, expect a 1 hour wait for a table or 2 seats at the bar. minetta is packed but for good reason...its a meat mecca. amazing veal chop, cote de boeuf for 2, souffle...it's all excellent. great vibe...expensive but if you're not drinking, $150 is doable.

-txikito...chelsea...great tapas restaurant. lots of octopus and pork, great scene, good service...very authentic but modern. across the street, have a glass of wine at el quinto pino if you have to wait for a table. same owners...great place.

-id seriously consider going to brooklyn one night for dinner. before i get yelled at by moderators, you should go to vinegar hill house. its something you wouldnt find in LA with great food. you have to order the pork chop though. place gets packed...no reservations.

tertulia is a lame version of txikito in my opinion...all hype and little substance...in terms of tapas quality. its popular but more hype than real. flex mussels is not a destination spot but its fine for a local dinner. alta is a nice restaurant but i never enjoyed the food quite like other tapas places. the dutch is very hype-y, very much filled with out of towners...yet i liked my meal there. havent been back.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Alta
64 W 10th St, New York, NY 10011

El Quinto Pino
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Flex Mussels
154 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011

The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Tertulia
359 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[queen jord]

@sam1 - txikto sounds great! what do you reccommend there? whats the atmosphere like?

[kathryn]

Minetta Tavern takes reservations on OpenTable now. You'll probably have to dine very early or very late (but you'd probably get the same "5:30pm or 10:30pm" response even if you called, they save the "good" tables for VIPs).

At Txikito, don't miss the suckling pig, arraultza (sofrito/chorizo/quail egg) pintxo, croquettas, fried padron peppers, or fries w/spicy cod roe mayo. And also don't ignore the specials board. I've had a good variety of items from there, such as a bacon wrapped trout, housemade chistorra sausage, mushroom carpaccio, seasonal vegetables with a runny egg, etc. They take reservations via phone.

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Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001