Lola007

BDT and FF are in a completely different price point, so that could have been in a consideration.

Actually, based on my experience at Tonic today, FF is more reasonably priced (at least for lunch). Our mediocre salads at Tonic were $15. I've had sandwiches and soups at FF for less. My impression was that Tonic was chosen solely on the basis of its location. I didn't care for it as it was very noisy, the food wasn't anything special for the price, and service wasn't good (we saw our server twice --once to take our order and then to deliver the food. Had to find someone else to straighten out order mix-ups and bring the check).

It's plain American food. The more complicated it sounds, the less likely it is to be successful. Salads were ok. Thin crust pizzas are ok. Club, BLT, and Cubano sandwiches are ok.

Specifically, however, avoid the burgers. Dense and tasteless.

Thanks, Daniel. I'll definitely steer clear of the burgers I somehow think Blue Duck or Founding Farmers would have been a better choice for this lunch, but will try to keep an open mind.

You probably will not find Ray's prices matched in NYC, but Keens Steakhouse is a personal favorite. I have been there dressed in some fairly ratty attire after a longer day of tavern-hopping, and they raised no eyebrows. I am sure you will be better dressed and in better condition.

I second the recommendation for Keens. Just had dinner there last week, in fact. It's a fabulous old school NYC steakhouse experience, service is great (none of the attitude you'll find at Lugers), and the food (go for the porterhouse) is excellent.

P.S. Lugers is definitely worth experiencing (I love the bacon appetizer), but given the occasion (and a group event), I'd go with Keens.

Wasn't this one year to the day of Fiamma closing?

I only wish there was some way that Fabio could return here where he is justly appreciated. I wish him the absolute best!

I believe Fiamma closed on January 14, 2009. Such a shame. I had some really memorable dinners there, including an awesome birthday celebration for an Italian friend, Fiamma la romana.

You really need help.... Oh well, chalk one more up for the felines and add another photo to:

this.

"I am a cat and I'll sleep where I want."

Help! I need quick feedback on the following restaurants. We'll be going to one on a Saturday night.

Il Mulino ($$$$)

Ko (fat chance)

Perry Street

Peasant

Allen & Delancey

Strip House

Also, Joe's Shanghai or Nice Green Bo for soup dumplings? What about ramen suggestions that aren't Ippodu? Finally, looking for suggestions for Palena-esque restaurant near Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn.

Of the restaurants mentioned, I've been to Il Mulino and more recently to Peasant. I really enjoyed Peasant as the food reminded me of some of some of the dishes I ate in Florence. We had great service, but then again, we were there on a weeknight and not a week-end when it's usually packed.

Another recommendation--though not on your list--is Pylos (Greek restaurant in the East Village) I had dinner there last Friday and it was phenomenal. Great ambiance, comfort food, and wine list (if you like Greek wine, that is). Will post more about Pylos later. Hope you have a great time. .

P.S. For ramen, I like Ippudo and also Ramen Setagaya. I don't like Momofuku Noodle bar at all. I once had an extremely salty ramen there that was absolutely inedible.

I forgot who linked this, but their new website just launched: Voltaggio brothers.

This is AWESOME. Thanks, goodeats. I've just signed up to join the site, and Bryan and Michael have automatically become my first "friends".

Last night La Chaumiere was jam-packed and bustling, with an older, neighborhood crowd having arrived from their townhomes in Georgetown, mobbing the place, and enjoying some of the best classical French cooking in Washington, DC.

This was the best meal I've ever had at La Chaumiere, a restaurant that has been inexplicably forgotten by the mainstream press, with a kitchen that is firing on all cylinders right now. La Chaumiere may currently be the most underrated restaurant in the entire Washington, DC area.

I completely agree about La Chaumiere being under rated. I've eaten there dozens of times over the years mostly with out-of-town relatives who love the ambiance, and have had consistently excellent experiences. Most recently, I was there for a business lunch yesterday. The place was completely packed, which I was happy to see. My client had the pumpkin soup, steak minute with pommes frites, and the chocolate soufflee. I had the same thing except for the soup (I had the French onion soup). It was a fabulous, leisurely meal with the soufflee being the highlight. I highly recommend La Chaumiere to anyone who appreciates classic French cuisine at a reasonable price. Am pleased to see that it's on the list for January Restaurant Week.

Peep Jousting

I haven't done peep jousting since I was in college. Love it.

Has anyone tried the jumbo Korean Shingo pears from TJ's? I was tempted to pick up a package the other day, but hesitated...Was also wondering where else I might find them...Thanks in advance.

I picked up a package last weekend. They were delicious--crunchy, sweet, and incredibly juicy!

EDIT: Warning: Those HUGE Korean Shingo pears seem to be highly addictive...

No more chocolate-covered caramels with sea salt anywhere. Can't be ordered, so the item is sold out for the holidays already in this region.

No pecans in any TJ either.

I bought a few boxes at the downtown TJ's last weekend. However, I was disappointed. IMHO, the caramels aren't chewy or thick enough. I also don't like the dead sea salt on top or even the chocolate. I much prefer fleur de sel caramels. I really do like TJ's round box of fleur de sel caramels (not covered in chocolate, I know). Most recently, the best fleur de sel caramels I've had are the individually wrapped ones in the big jar at Dean & DeLuca. To me, they have the right balance of salt, butter, and chewiness.

St. Martin

My vote is for St. Martin.

+1. Grand Case in St. Martin has many excellent restaurants and what I consider to be among the best French restaurants outside of France. I've also enjoyed a few French restaurants in Marigot (St. Martin) as well. The French side of the island also has some amazing beaches. And if you stay in St. Martin, you can easily take a day trip to St. Barth's and/or Anguilla.

Helen Thomas, the incredible dean of the White House press corps, eats here just about every night. Enough said.

I simply don't believe this.

(The only time I've seen Helen Thomas at a restaurant, btw, was at Bombay Club.)

I know that Helen used to dine there pretty often, but don't believe that she eats there almost every night either. Years ago (over 10) when I used to go to Mama Ayesha's fairly regularly, I did see her having dinner there on two occasions. Anyway, even if she did eat there every night, it wouldn't influence my opinion (or motivate me to go there more often). Now if we were talking about NBC's Brian Wiliams (who I once saw at Bistro Bis), that would be a different story.

I find the family-style service a bit awkward. For example, my dining companion ordered a salad as an appetizer. It arrived beautifully composed, and was sat beside her. She had to clumsily fork-and-spoon it over to the plate she was supposed to eat it off. I mean, the family style works for the side dishes, but why take a nicely composed dish like a salad and then ask the customer to move it over to another plate? It's clearly not meant to share. Also, one person in my party of four got an appetizer (the sweetbreads) set right before him, not served family style.

I know what you mean. Every dinner entree and side dish that my dining companions and I have ordered have been served family style. I haven't had salads there, but I agree it would be odd to have an appetizer salad served that way. BDT should do something about this. I know that some people hesitate going there for business dinners precisely because they don't feel comfortable with the family style presentation of dishes. I myself am a fan of BDT's food and ambiance, but think they should look into the issue.

The thread on what wine to serve with traditional Lasagne alla Bolognese got me craving lasagne. I would make it at home, but my kids aren't wild about it. What restaurants have got the best traditional lasagne in town? Dino for sure, but are there any lunch options?

Sorriso in Cleveland Park has a very good traditional lasagne (and excellent pasta dishes, in general). But I believe it's only open for lunch on Saturdays.

A friend of mine is spending Christmas in Sedona, and she asked me for restaurant recommendations. I've got nothing! Anyone have any thoughts for her? All levels of price and food are great ... Thanks!

It's been a few years since I visited, but I do recall that the Yavapai Restaurant at the Enchantment resort was outstanding. Maybe the best part is the incredible view of Boynton Canyon--where your friend should go horseback riding if he/she likes to ride.

http://www.enchantmentresort.com/sedona-restaurants

No, but I realllllly recommend taking the morning Pink Jeep tour. Seriously... it looks like tourist crap but it's great.

+1. The Pink Jeep tour is worth doing.

I love the iced coffee and cappuccino here. They're pretty much on par with the coffee drinks I've had at Abraco in NYC. Chinatown Coffee would be my regular go-to coffee place if it were closer to where I work/live.

I had my first Vapiano experience yesterday. Went to the 18th & M location for lunch with a friend, and we both thought the food was mediocre and overpriced. We both had a pasta dish. Mine was ricotta and spinach ravioli with sauce. Add a diet coke, and the total came to $14.50. Expensive for what it is. The pasta was good, but the sauce was watery and tasted worse than Ragu IMHO. Definitely it wasn't worth the price. Another thing we disliked was the ordering system and the gimmicky card thing. I really disliked the whole vibe of this place.

Has anyone tried the jumbo Korean Shingo pears from TJ's? I was tempted to pick up a package the other day, but hesitated...Was also wondering where else I might find them...Thanks in advance.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner at 1789. Of course, none of us ordered the traditional turkey dinner! Pumpkin gnocchi, chestnut soup; braised beef short ribs with parsnip puree was heaven on a plate; rack of lamb with roasted yukon gold potatoes, cooked perfectly; apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream, gingerbread with molten chocolate. A delicious cabernet sauvignon. Service was acceptable, if not stellar; it was a holiday, after all. While not a traditional Thanksgiving meal, it was a lovely autumn meal. The evening began on kind of a weird note; as our table was not ready, we were invited to wait downstairs in The Tombs, along with a few other folks who were also waiting on their tables. The last time I was in the Tombs was 1981! And it's still the same! Still smells the same! Oddly, they were playing Christmas carols down there. The host brought our cocktails down and I begged him, "Please tell me they're not playing Xmas carols upstairs!" I just couldn't abide Thanksgiving dinner with Xmas carols. He assured me that classical music was playing upstairs, and it was. I would gladly return to 1789 for a Thanksgiving meal.

foodtrip, I'm glad to hear that you had a good Thanksgiving experience at 1789. I spent the holiday there a few years ago and also thoroughly enjoyed it as well. I'm not sure why I don't go there more often--maybe because I end up at either the Tabard Inn or Blue Duck Tavern, which are also cozy with reliable food and service. And that is TOO funny about the Tombs! I was in college the last time I was there...many moons ago.

Anguilla has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches I've ever seen. I took a day trip over there from St. Martin a few years ago and visited the Cuisinart resort. I took a tour and had lunch at the outdoor restaurant. The resort has its own hyrdoponic farm, so the menu features salads and veggies grown there. It was good, but not outstanding IMHO. http://www.cuisinartresort.com/view.php?catID=22&pID=234.

But I did enjoy the beautiful surroundings as the Cuisinart Resort and Spa, which is modelled after Mykonos, Greece. I can't recommend any other places in Anguilla, but if you have the chance, take the ferry over to St. Martin (port of Marigot). Then take a cab to Grand Case where you'll find many excellent restaurants (especially French--in my opinion, this is the place to find the most authentic French restaurants outside of France) I also tend to think there is more to see and do on St. Martin as opposed to Anguilla (except for the resorts and beaches)--my opinion, based on my experince, of course. There are some nice shops in Marigot and gambling/casinos on the Dutch side (although I tend to avoid the Dutch side; there is a significant difference between the French and Dutch sides). There's a butterfly farm on the French side of the island (la Ferme des Papillons). And if you have the time, take another ferry or quick flight over to St. Barth's.

Anguilla is known for its gourmet dining.

That may be. I can only go on what I personally experienced. FYI, Grand Case in St. Martin is also known around the world for gourmet dining. When I visited Anguilla a few years back, friends of mine were building a house there and were of the opinion that the restaurants in Grand Case far surpassed those of Anguilla. They've lived on both islands for over 15 years (and one of them is a chef who trained in France), so I trusted their recommendations.

Caribou is the only place that seems to know how to make a decent iced coffee around here.

I like Caribou Coffee's iced coffee. I also recommend Chinatown Coffee Company's iced coffee and especially their cappuccino.

I highly recommend Harry and David's fruit-of-the-month club. I especially enjoyed the pears and cherries.

http://www.harryanddavid.com/gifts/store/gift__10455_10002_shop-gifts-by-type_fruit-of-the-month-club-gifts?storeId=10455&mpe_id=23748&cm_sp=footerbanner-_-fb3-_-fsdfomc&intv_id=25745&evtype=CpgnClick&catalogId=10002&ddkey=http:ClickInfo

P.S. Harry and David's offers 3-,6-, 9-, and 12-month options.

P.P.S. And don't forget to order some Moose Munch.

One poorly traveled local (me) gets to go to Anguilla to accompany his wife on her business "retreat". I am desperately looking for any restaurant recommendations as well as any fun "to do" stuff. I have exhausted most of my options for info and nobody I know (seemingly) has ever been there. I'm turning to you all...anyone been? Any help would be gladly appreciated.

Anguilla has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches I've ever seen. I took a day trip over there from St. Martin a few years ago and visited the Cuisinart resort. I took a tour and had lunch at the outdoor restaurant. The resort has its own hyrdoponic farm, so the menu features salads and veggies grown there. It was good, but not outstanding IMHO. http://www.cuisinartresort.com/view.php?catID=22&pID=234.

But I did enjoy the beautiful surroundings as the Cuisinart Resort and Spa, which is modelled after Mykonos, Greece. I can't recommend any other places in Anguilla, but if you have the chance, take the ferry over to St. Martin (port of Marigot). Then take a cab to Grand Case where you'll find many excellent restaurants (especially French--in my opinion, this is the place to find the most authentic French restaurants outside of France) I also tend to think there is more to see and do on St. Martin as opposed to Anguilla (except for the resorts and beaches)--my opinion, based on my experince, of course. There are some nice shops in Marigot and gambling/casinos on the Dutch side (although I tend to avoid the Dutch side; there is a significant difference between the French and Dutch sides). There's a butterfly farm on the French side of the island (la Ferme des Papillons). And if you have the time, take another ferry or quick flight over to St. Barth's.

Hot chocolate spiked with Bailey's Irish Cream. I was going to make it with Frangelico instead of Bailey's, but I couldn't (and still can't) get the damn bottle open!