Keithstg

I know of nowhere else in America where a chef of his talent and stature provides an almost four hour 12 course meal within a few feet of 15-25 diners who are free to come up and allow him to become part of their experience.

I need a little help, folks.

So you don't have a dietary restriction at all and it comes down to a matter of taste and taste only? It seems that you on one post are telling vegetarians to essentially shut up and stay away and then on the other make special requests that far exceed simply asking for "sauce on the side". It's this mentality that is annoying. People in the majority not caring or thinking about the minority and dismissing them with terms like self-select. That because of someone’s moral, religious or health views differs from the majority that they should just suck it up and be happy with what they're given. I wonder how many of you here with that attitude have a dietary restriction that limits what you can eat at the vast majority of restaurants to 1 choice and some to zero? It's easy to say the minority doesn't matter when you're in the majority and your choices aren't the ones being affected. I also don't really get why there's so much emotion on the majority side since what's being talked about wouldn't actually have any baring on you.

How difficult is it to raise a dietary issue beforehand, inquire about options, and then dine accordingly? Seems to me that this approach would solve two purposes -inform the restaurant management that a segment of their customers had particular restrictions (and thereby demonstrate a market for entrees, apps, etc. targeted to that market), and diminish the chance for diner dissapointment. It's not about "sucking it up", or "taking what you're given", as was so eloquently put, but more about working with the restaurant to affect a better outcome. In many cases a call or question ahead of time, or during the meal, can help resolve things better than complaining after the fact, or griping on the internet will.

(edit: to fix grammar)

You self-selected into a tiny minority (5%) and found a minority -- 2941, Asia Nora and Komi -- of fancy restaurants, probably about 5%, that serve your needs. So what's the problem? My thoughts run mainly to  "You made your bed, now lie in it".

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?

Jean-Jorges is great - you can also get into either the bar or the Nougataine room if you want a more casual experience at the flagship restaurant. You could also head to the "mall" across the street for drinks in Per Se's lounge either before or after the meal...

Of the "big" 4 stars in NYC, I would take J-G after Per Se, but before most of the others (haven't been to Masa yet).

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

Jaleo or Zaytinya spring to mind, if we're sticking to the same level of dining.

Not having had the pleasure of being to Palena yet, though, I can only conjecture that we're talking a difference in orders of magnitude when we're talking about the size of the individual courses in question.

Well, for those Zin lovers who may have been following the Turley thread elsewhere on the board, Turley's petite syrah is pretty fantastic, albeit a cult wine and really hard to find even at its $85 tag! 

Chacun a son gout!

For some of us, Corner Bistro was a neighborhood haunt.  We were welcoming to visitors, including those you refer to as "bridge and tunnel" types.

Either way, both belong among the notable burgers to be had in NYC.

Corner Bistro gets hype, yes, but I still like it.  Plus, I don't know that J.G. Melon justifies a trek to the Upper East Side.  I used to live nearby, but otherwise, I can't see myself making the trip.

That is truly bizzare!!  You're already eating the chicken and the server insists on cutting it up for you despite your protests? How inexpicable.

I was in the bar at Palena last night as well - in a booth with my wife and in-laws. The chicken was, as always, perfect, and the gnocchi were loved by all. We did have a bit of a wierd service moment - the server (whom I did not know), came over to our table and insisted on cutting our chicken for us. He then proceeded to do just that, ignoring the fact that we were already eating said birds, and were quite happy to cut them ourselves. Fortunately, he did stop when he was asked to, repeatedly. If only he were doing this while on a Segway...

Anyway, another memorable evening at Palena, albeit one with a bizzare service issue. One of these days I'll bring myself to try something other than the gnocchi and the chicken.

Totonno's is in Coney Island.

http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2004/01/totonno_pizzeri.php

I still much prefer the New Haven pies.

New Haven pies vs. Totonno's is another matter.

I still think Totonno's up on the east side is pretty darn good pizza because it isn't a perfect pie. Its a lighter less doughy crust.

then shoot over to JG melons for a nightcap.

O tempo o mores!

Disabilities and are one thing and of course require understanding and accomodation, but otherwise there is no excuse for any form of adult transportation--be it Segway, skateboard, bicycle or pogostick--to be allowed in a restaurant. Period.

Hartford; West Hartford

I had a good dinner once* at Lemongrass in West Hartford. Looked like there might have been other good places in that general area. The chicken Panang curry I had was better than anything I can recall having around here. My usual request of 'extra spicy' proved to be unnessesary and indeed likely ill-advised in retrospect!

Lemongrass
7 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
860-233-4405

*I only went once. I didn't go multiple times and have but one good meal

Also in the "thereabouts" category is TemptAsian -- on Little River just west of Landmark/395.  Same shopping center as Hee Been.  Great Chinese food (see other thread).

And, of course, I'll also vouch for Mediterranean Cafe (shish tawook for $4.50 is one of the best deals in town) and Cafe Monti (I lived within walking distance for several years -- rumor has it that one can bring his/her own wine too...).

Draft selection was pretty crummy - Bud and Bud Lite (might have been Miller), Heineken and some sort of Argonaut Amber with a funny name. That one hasn't been in stock on any of my three visits, so I can't comment on it and maybe there's something else (i was last there in early Dec).

I have only been to Lightfoot once, and it was several years ago.  I found that the food was rather convoluted.  Each dish had far too many components, and it was only on my first visit to Colvin Run that I found a restaurant that surpassed them in this vice.  To make matters worse, they stacked the food and created a garish spectacle of consumables.  From what I remember the food was OK, but there were too many elements to get any of them done well.  Simplicity and restraint were not buzz words around the kitchen.

Again, it has been several years so things might have changed.

Do not freeze them! pack them in an airtight container with a slightly, very slightly damp paper towel. Put them in the fridge they'll last till the 26th, but everyday they lose a little potency. bon chance

Thanks again for the storage advice!

My wife surprised me tonight with a Christmas gift of two small white truffles. Unfortunately, they arrived after we had eaten dinner. As we are leaving tomorrow for the holidays - I was wondering how long the truffles would keep in the refrigerator. Will they last until the 26th?

Any response would be appreciated - thanks!

I think I read somewhere they plan to open more than one.

I live in NOVA (tysons) and want to cook a standing rib roast (12 people) for boxing day. Anyone know where to purchase a nice one at a reasonable price? I was thinking CostCo. What should I ask for?

Has anyone been back to Aria relatively recently? My husband's employer has booked it for their holiday party (last-minute substitution - it was originally booked at Ortanique), and I'm wondering if the food is worth trying to make small talk with scary strangers.

If a few months ago counts as recently, I've been to Aria recently. While I can emphatize with the holiday party situation (ours was originally booked at Ortanique as well, but was swithced to Sonoma - much better!), I would say avoid, avoid, avoid Aria.

I had overcooked fettucine with a flat, canned-tasting, uninspired meat ragu, and my co-worker had one of the most oily pizzas I have ever seen. Needless to say, we don't plan on returning.

Hopefully it's gotten better since then....