Jonathan

from what i have read about quince; it cannot be even put in the same sentence as dino or notti when talking about its food quality. i am looking forward to going there when i head to sf. as for chez panisse, i believe the cafe upstairs is not as difficult to get into. and thirdly, campton place's chef of two or so years (daniel humm) has left and is in nyc at 11 madison park. the new chef is melissa perillo, i think.

i belive its a kebab place; i cant remember the name. but i've been.

here are details of my whole nyc trip.... just want to report back in on my trip to nyc. thank you all for your reccommendations..... saturday (cold as a mofo)-walked around the city for awhile, then while heading back to our hotel, realized we were close to Daniel's Bagels. stopped in for a snack, and the bagels did not disappoint. delicious, chewy but tender. after resting back at the hotel we went to blue hill for a late dinner. the place was very charming. the food had some highs (the mushroom salad, the parsnip soup amuse bouche, the slow poached egg) and some lows (the lamb and pork entrees, the roasted pineapple dessert). but all in all a delightful meal. for drinks we went to the pegu club, where the drinks did not disappoint. and after champagne, a bottle of wine, chartreuse, a negroni and a gin, gin, mule, it was time for sleep. sunday-wife and i woke up and got bagels at murrays in the billage and brought them to my sister-in-laws. ate bagels and then walked around the village. headed to lupa for a late lunch. excellent charcuterie plate and pastas. felt the wine values were top notch. the restaurant has a feel that is even better than the glowing reviews people gave me. the only downers were the sweetbread main course and the meyer lemon gelato. next time i go back it will be all charcuterie and pastas (the bavette with caci and pepe and the special pork raviolis, MMMMMMMMMMMMMM). after some more walking, headed to the upstairs of the spotted pig for people watching and some beers. Great spot. just a great spot. and even at 4 o'clock, it was starting to fill up. by 5, it was packed. afterwards, we took PANS advice and instead of momofuku, we headed to chinatown for the best named restaurant in NYC, New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe. After dropping decent chunks of money at blue hill and lupa, my wife and i were floored at our $23 dollar check and the gluttonous feast that we had. My wife loves little dumplings and packaged things, so that is why i took her out for dumplings. and we filled up on juicy pork buns, spicy wontons, wonton soup and the honey glazed pork shoulder. great meal, great value. great recommendation monday-more bagels at Daniels, then off to the LES for my annual pilgrimage to Katz's. still doesnt disappoint, even as my mind and stomach builds it up every year. Pastrami on rye. the only way to go. that and a dr. browns black cherry soda. my wife ate part of my sandwich, so neither one of us were too stuffed. so we walked around the east village, enjoying the last moments of our first weekend away since our honeymoon. and anticipating our final meal in nyc for awhile. and that was 6th streets Little India. Amazing, delicous food for just an amazing bargain. An appetizer of meat filled samosas, naan bread, a stewed beef entree (that comes with mounds of rice and lentil soup) for like $12. TRhe restaurant i, believe, was called Sonali. Anyways, in a ity that often gets a bad rap for being expensive. you can definately eat well at the ethnic joints for cheaper than you could in Washington, DC. Also, Lupa, constitutes a real bargain, and is a total gem. Blue Hill, while charming, had a few too many misses for me to return there when given the so many choices of restaurants in NYC. thanks again. jonathan

i just got back from a weekend in nyc, and Lupa is a great place. such a cool spot. great feel. the charcuterie, pastas and mini caraffes of wines were awesome. the mains were good (saltimboca) to not good(sweetbreads). but we didnt try them all. if you go, get reservations. it was super busy even at 2.30 on a sunday.

www.purseporter.com my wife has it and uses it and loves it. servers always comment on it. tried sneaking it into the chat but got it in too late.

deciding not to go with a full scale blowout.... we are deciding between wd-50, blue hill, gramercy tavern, jojo and cafe gray. anyone been to any of those?

we arent sh=ure where we're staying. but we will go anywhere in nyc for a meal, i guess. thanks for the suggestions. so far. keep em coming.... anyone have opiniions on jean-georges, blue hill, hearth?

my wife and i are coming up for a quick weekend from the DC area. a little background. i am a professional cook at a nice restaurant in washington, dc. and i love food. my wife also loves dining out. we havent done much fine dining out in nyc, since we havent been there in awhile. looking for some suggestions from you guys/gals. looking for one nice meal out ($200/person max) one cheaper meal out (like lupa or prune) and one place we just cant miss (bagels or pizza or the momofuku dumpling place, my wife is a sucker for dumplings). some places i had in mind were ouest, grammercy tavern, wd-50, lupa, etc.) thanks in advance. jonathan

i'm sorry don, but i have to disagree with you here. there are soooo many colorado kitchens out there all throughout the country. to say it is "one of the most important restaurants in the US" is total hyperbole. its a decent neighborhood restaurant in a neighborhood that craved a decent restaurant. nothing more.

so the difference between palena and obelisk on the weekends for 5 courses is $3. i'd say the fresh homeade fig bread that comes with the cheese course is worth the extra $3.

though they dont seat the bar at lunch.

i have to say, i am somewhat disappointed that Komi went with white tablecloths.... i always liked the fact that you could get such great food in a less formal environment, and i do think white tablecloths make a place look more formal regardless of everything else. nonetheless. looking forward to my next meal there.

heading up to philly presidents day weekend and wanted to have a nice dinner. had thought to settle on marigoild's kitchen or django, until i finished reading the thread. anyone have other recommendations?

i opted for fried oysters and gumbo at johnny's.

i am hungry for a good stew or daube today for lunch. its cold out and it seems like a soothing/hearty way to deal with my hunger and the weather. help me.

where is it located?

you cant be serious.

anyone know a decent lunch spot in or near college park to grab some lunch? thanks.....

i hear bernard is in florida...or at least he was around new years. still on the boat with francise devalliers, formerly of lavandou.

well, that odd blend of chinese and thai fare provided one of the best lunch deals i have ever had. $8 for a choice of maybe 10 dishes, including panang curry or general tso chicken. and this comes with rice and three side dishes. i had hot and sour soup a salad and a spicy tuna roll (i paid a bit extra to have that susbstituted in for the california roll. all of the food was good. not earth shattering. but kotubuki was closed on monday. and that was there. and for $8; it was tasty. BAMBU

Its an asian restaurant on MacArthur Blvd. in the Palisades. They serve chinese and have a sushi bar; and even have some thai food. I have been twice, when Kotubuki was closed and i was starving. WHAT THE HECK IS ITS NAME?!?!?!

lamb shanks with preserved lemon and olives served atop a mash of yellow split peas and apricots.

good choice; as chef scott conant seems to be a real rising star in the nyc culinary scene; now that the big guys are spreading themselves too thin.

Remembering a friend for life 25 years after he was taken from us all...

was it open at all this week?