Late June Itinerary-Recommendations/Suggestions/Tips Wanted

[lhenry]

We will be visiting New York again this summer, and would love it if people could provide their opinions on the restaurants we are going to.

Day 1: Basso 56, Boulud Sud

Day 2: BG-Bergdorf Goodman, Marea

Day 3: Norma's, and Light Dinner at Shake Shack Madison Square Park

Day 4: Eleven Madison Park, Nougatine at Jean Georges

Day 5: The Little Owl, A Voce Columbus

Would appreciate feedback on my selections

Thanks,
Lane

[lhenry]

I was reading some other posts, and someone suggested Landmarc for Brunch, is this good? I've been to both locations for dinner and loved it.

[lhenry]

So now that Bergdorf's is out, what is a good replacement in the UES?

[kathryn]

Could you provide more context as to how you arrived at this list?

What are your preferences? Tastes, favorite cuisines, budget? Any other constraints?

You got a lot of good recommendations here, can you explain why you didn't like some of them?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/851417

I'd replace BG with something like Ma Peche or Bar Room at the Modern if you need to be by 5th Ave.

I don't think Norma's is very good at all. I much prefer brunch elsewhere.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/852222

Why A Voce over Babbo, Scarpetta, Locanda Verde, etc?

No pizza, bagels, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Greek, etc?

There are also a lot of great restaurants not on OpenTable, don't restrict yourselves unnecessarily. However, EMP books up fast. Do you already have a reservation?

[lhenry]

All of these restaurants were picked based on how our day was going to be like, like Norma's was picked because we are seeing broadway that day (Where else to go in that area for brunch?), The Little Owl because we will be shopping downtown that day, etc. However, BG-Bergorf Goodman was picked because my mother has never been and she's always wanted to go, but would love suggestions in the same price range in the UES as that is were we will be that day. We are open to any type of cuisine not too picky. I did think about Babbo but it is sort of out of the way as to where we are saying (Jumeirah Essex House) and won't be doing anything in that area. The previous posts were helpful in changing my itinerary, and took their opinions up on changing Virgil's and Serefina pizza.

[kathryn]

Day 2: BG is not UES, more Midtown/5th Avenue. Higher than 59th is UES.

Ma Peche and Bar Room at the Modern are both a few blocks away from BG.

Day 3, brunch near the west 50s:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/836958
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/607948

Also have a backup plan in case it is raining as Shake Shack MSP has no covered areas.

Day 4: instead of Nougatine, maybe one of these Asian restaurants?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8064...

Day 5: Babbo serves lunch now, Tuesday through Saturday. You could swap in Babbo here. Then do something like Seasonal or Danji for dinner.

[lhenry]

I know that the UES is past 59th, but we would've made a trip to go there. Could you give me any recommendations for restaurants in the UES in the same price range. Would swapping Nougatine for Ma Peche be advisable? I was pretty set on Nougatine. Is Babbo better than The Little Owl? If not I can exchange it with A Voce. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Sneakeater]

Babbo and The Little Owl are so different it's hard to compare them.

Babbo is one of the best (if not THE best) Italian restaurants in New York and probably the whole country.

The Little Owl is an excellent casual spot.

The Little Owl is great, but it doesn't even aspire to being as good as Babbo. It's not nearly in the same class. OTOH, if a great casual spot is what you want, it's hard to do much better than The Little Owl.

[lhenry]

I think I'll replace A Voce with Babbo then. Thanks Skeakeater!

[Sneakeater]

If you can get a reservation at Babbo (quite a task), you should TOTALLY swap it in for A Voce.

ETA -- If you're staying at the Essex House, you might also want to consider Marea. I don't like it nearly as much as many other people -- but those other people will tell you that it's also in the running for best Italian restaurant in New York. AND it's right down the street from your hotel. (AND it's slightly easier to get a reservation there than at Babbo.)

[Sneakeater]

But, if you're lucky enough to score a reservation at Babbo, I'd say its location away from your hotel is an affirmative advantage. As the Village is a much nicer and more interesting area than Midtown, IMO.

[lhenry]

I already have Marea on the list, but would Babbo and Marea be too much?

[Sneakeater]

Depends on how much you like Italian food. But I'll tell you what: if you were planning on both A Voce and Marea, then you were going to have that much Italian anyway, and swapping Babbo in for A Voce STILL makes more sense. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing A Voce has going for it is proximity to your hotel. But that's why God invented subways.

(I also have to put in my usual obligatory plug for Minetta Tavern, which I consider the most enjoyable and characteristically New York restaurant in the City at the moment. Not that you can get a reservation there any more than at Babbo.)

[lhenry]

Okay I'll try to make reservations at Babbo, thanks so much for your suggestions! Also, would exchanging Nougatine for my peche be good too?

[lhenry]

Ma peche

[BrettLove]

Second Katherine; Norma's is not very good. I tried The Modern-Bar Room & Ma Peche on two recent trips to NYC, and thought each had wonderful food, but thought TM-BR was more solid "across the board" (slightly more professional service, "refined" cuisine - and I'm NOT saying that Ma Peche isn't "refined", people, just an adjective for comparison's sake!). Both are fairly loud, however. Where I was alone (and not specifically in search of "quiet time"), no big deal... but it was loud enough at each that you would've had to raise your voice to talk to someone who wasn't directly next to you.

[lhenry]

Thanks for the suggestions but I'm looking for something in the UES.

[BrettLove]

I thought I saw you say something about swapping Nougatine for Ma Peche...

[BrettLove]

...and could've sworn you said you were going to Norma's.

[lhenry]

Oh sorry about that! I forgot I said that! So I should swap Nougatine for The Modern-Bar Room? But I don't see where I said Norma's was a must? Thanks

P.S. Does The Modern-Bar Room allow kids?

[loratliff]

Ma Peche is definitely more "edgy" and contemporary than the Bar Room, so it really depends on the crowd. Ma Peche is definitely louder.

I agree with skipping the restaurant at Bergdorf. Have a drink at the bar there to take in the lovely view if you must, but don't eat there.