Photos and reviews of Restaurants and Fine Inns from around the globe.
An excellent lunch special with Lori Mendorff Klugman. A very pleasant surprise! Faro and Gem salads were excellent. Carbonara was very nice : pasta cooked perfectly as was crispy pancetta, conservatively cheesed and nice egg yolk. This is one of the better Carbonara’s we had in the US. Cocktails and wine list not extensive but adequate. The gnocchi were disappointing and returned. We certainly would recommend and return. Food 8.5 , Service 8 and value 8.5. Btw: 2 course lunch is 32 dollars.
We had a lovely dinner with friend las night everything was great except the mains. :: at Ristoro del Cinghiale
The starters and bread were really amazing and had high hopes for the steak and ribs, Unforutnatly we received two orders of each. Round one was overcooked and round two was raw. The ribs were actually not eatable so tough you could even cut them. The strip side of the steak was tasteless. We did even try on round two because we were afraid. Manager was very nice about the problem because it was obvious. Hopefully they’ll do something about the grill person.
We had a great dinner with friends at Tocqueville. The Truffled Grits with an egg was outstanding !! Mushroom risotto was rich and creamy. I hear the fish was perfectly executed. The Short ribs were as tender as butter and tasted great. Deserts also outstanding. Wine list was large and focused towards the higher price points however there were some nice choices at reasonable prices. Corkage at 55 dollars a bottle is also an option with most NYC restaurants charging a 4X markup on wine bringing your own favorites is a good option. Service was friendly but could have used a bit more polishing. Food 9/10 Service 8.5/10 and value 8.5/10.
Tanoshi Sushi is our favorite casual sushi place in NYC. They have 3 defined seatings ay 6, 730 and 9. It’s only 95 for the Omakase menu which the only menu. They do offer a few special items at additional cost after the standard menu. They have a BYOB policy which is a very nice and cost saving feature. FOOD 9/10 Service 9/10 and Value 10/10.
Our first visit to the “New” Union Square Cafe…I wish it were still the old USC !! It has a very corporate vibe to it unlike the warmer local cafe of days past. They have insituted a non-tipping policy which has some advantges to the employees but certainly the extra wages are pasted along to the consumer in the pricing. We sat at the bar on a very slow afternoon and service was just OK, friendly but not very professional.
We had an excellent: Fritto Misto at 24 dollars:
Calamari, Oysters, Asparagus, Peppers.
We also tried 3 Pastas:(prices are for full orders, half and mid course sizes available):
Pappardelle 37 dollars
Cacciatore Ragu, Castelvetrano Olives, Pecorino Romano
Ricotta Gnocchi 33 dollars
Tomato Basil Passatina, Pecorino Daniel Romano
Tagliatelle 35 dollars
Snow Peas, Pea Leaves, Lemon Ricotta
All the pastas dishes were good but not nothing worthy of returning for. These are not Marea or Babbo level pastas.
Dessert: Stores Pavlova was sick in the best way !!!
Beverage Program is huge: they have a great selection of local beers and creative cocktail program as well. The house wine list is poor to say the least I couldn’t find a wine that I would drink at the 25 dollar a glass and below level. The wines and cocktails are designed to max out the profits per square foot. Certainly nice for a special occasion but the pricing would wear on you if you frequented the place.
The scores are Service 7/10, Food 7.5/10 and value 7/10.
Le Bernardin has been around the NYC dining scene for decades. It’s a seafood based restaurant with a meat and vegetable dish thrown in for those guest that come with the seafood lovers. If your not a seafood fan there are much better options at other resteraunts. Proper attire is required in the dining room (jackets for gentlemen). We had the Chef’s tasting menu at $225 dollars per head with the wine pairings for an additional $145 each. This does not include coffee which is $5 per cup, rather petty after ordering a $740 dollar meal.
Each and every course was plated beautifully and was of the highest quality available for the season. The salmon was farmed this time of year, personally I would rather have skip it and had something else wild had I noticed beforehand. The preparation was excellent however it was not flawless; the Dove Sole was overcooked. The wine pairings where very nice with familiar quality labels.
Le Bernardin is a special place that I would recomend to any seafood lover. The dining room is elegant and pace of service very relaxed so it’s perfect for couples.
Very authenic Northeastern Thai food on the LES in NYC. I was delighted by the flavors as well as the moderate prices of both food and wine….I would highly reccomend SOMTUM DER to anyone that enjoys Thai food.
We are big fans of Marea so we decided to try the Chef’s other retaraunt during restraint week. Once we got the food we really enjoyed our meal. The pasta was classic MW excellence ! The only problem with Morini is the hostess and coat check people. They seem to want to turn customers away at the door. We had a reservation and were greeted by a hostess throwing down a bar menu and say this is all we have now. When I was given a chance to speak and explained we have a reservation. She huffed off and returned several minutes later to seat us upstairs. Once seated the service was average however the food was very good. The appetizer: calamari alla piastra, creamy fregola, manila clams, spiced mollica was very unique and tasted excellent, we both wanted more. Our pasta course was riccioli: handmade pasta curls, carbonara, rock shrimp, pancetta, pecorino this was a typical Michael White fresh pasta dish we enjoyed the dishes however didn’t enjoy the pancetta. Dessert was a beautiful TORTA DI CIOCCOLATA;
chocolate cake, espresso mascarpone mousse, milk chocolate ganache. It tasted as good as it looks. We were both generally happy with the food and after being contacted by the management about the service issues, we will give it another try soon.
[flickrset id=”72157627019901464″ thumbnail=”square” overlay=”true” size=”medium”]
Hidden in an unmarked store front near the corner of Broome and Orchard streets is this jewel of a Mexican restaurant. This is not Tex-Mex but rather the real deal. They produce some of the freshest most authentic Mexican food, I’ve had outside of Mexico. Remember I’ve been to Mexico many times.; they don’t call me Juanpilot for nothing. The kitchen is tiny so the menu is limited but whatever is on it is great. I have introduced my friend Anatoli to this place and it has become his place of choice for lunch.
253 Broome Street
New York NY
[flickrset id=”72157622018746916″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”medium”]
It’s a NYC classic the food is amazing !! walk down the stairs and enter one of the City’s most famous Chinese restaurants. It won’t disappoint you. My favorites: Shrimp and Lobster sauce, Crab cantonese and Ribs
[flickrset id=”72157618642375741″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”medium”]
As the sign says “Voted NYC Best Pizza”. I won’t argue with them it is wonderful. Even the wood burning oven has received rave reviews from the other side of the pond.
http://www.forninopizza.com/index.html
[flickrset id=”72157603357433508″ thumbnail=”small”]
I have dined at the Union Square Cafe several times and have never been disappointed in anyway. The menu is always “Fresh” and creative. Service is friendly and professional.
When I heard one of my Flickr contacts was taking on a new position as Chef at ZUZU Ramen in Brooklyn NY, I knew I had to visit. I loaded up the car with four hardy eaters and set out to try everything on the menu.
The Amuse-Bouche of Tataki of Bonito Loin Pickled beet salad Chilled Tomato broth the chef really out did himself.
The first included:
I love pork so I was a very happy camper after eating these wonderful first courses.
The mains included:
We inhaled all the the mains; they were that good. I’d have to say the “Green Curry” is my favorite.
The house special desert was a refreshing ice cream dumpling.
I can’t wait to get back to ZUZU to see what Scratch has got in store for me next.