Per Se vs. Eleven Madison Park - Page 15

I guess you can't beat the couple that sit next to us at Bras.
He, in his mid 40s or so, western, wore some pinkish fleece long sleeve t-shirt, jeans and boat shoes. She, probably coming from Africa in her mid 30s, wore a matching pink fleece long sleeve t-shirt, some pants and asics sneakers. Backpack under the table. So far so good. The man took off his boat shoes and sat barefeet for a couple of courses. Not only did they put their ellbows on the table in between the courses, they did it while eating - actually they put their arm parallel to their body on the table, leaned closely to the plate, then shuffled the food from the plates into their mouths (approximate distance 5 inches). It was disturbing. And funny, somewhat.

the dichotomy of people at Bras is quite interesting.

 

I've always liked this place and probably would have gone on my first week back, but this video is making me rethink that. If only my Ukrainian peasant grandmother had known that she could have charged a bloody fortune for grinding food at the table.

 

Maybe I'm just too grumpy for restaurants these days, but all I want is some decent food and the Greta Garbo treatment.

 

Lunch at the Slanted Door yesterday wasn't great - food or service. Company was good. Little expensive.

Dinner at R&G last night was great - food and the chinese waiters know how to get in and out without disturbing your dinner or conversation.

 

lefty

Fair enough guys. I am just saying was a good restaurant and still is a good restaurant, regardless of the theatrics. I was at Aldea the night after and the guy spent 10 minutes talking about pourover coffee as he served a neighbor. I admit I egged him on by asking questions and giving him ideas about technique etc, but I also heard him give a lengthy spiel to a stranger 20 minutes earlier. The pourover included the use of a scale, timer, Buono kettle, etc. All of this impresses me because I think tea and coffee service is lacking in high-end restaurants, but this might come off as theatrical to others. I guess this stuff doesn't bother me as much.

R&G is great. I'm sad I missed it.

I think I am too old for American haute dining these days. I really don't like stories, or shows, or explanations. The only tableside presentation I like is carving a bird, and most American restaurants who do it don't do it right. The last thing I want is to get a lecture every time I eat.

And don't get me fucking started on tickets.

this would bring back childhood memories of my family dinner table, and I think memory is an element that restaurants are really trying to harness and incorporate these days.

But everyone wants a spiel about how clambakes are popular on Long Island, delivered by someone that just moved to Brooklyn from Wisconsin.

"here is a sampling of boudin blanc and boudin noir. Sausage fests are popular and inevitable at Style Forum events."

Food wasn't impressive (pretty flat monotone flavors for each dish) but the view/setting are pretty nice. I wasn't shocked by the price tag, but only because I was charged nearly $50 in the morning for a bowl of granola & yogurt, espresso and fruit juice at my hotel...

"Flat monotone flavour in a nice setting."  The meal or SanFo?

 

lefty

Why did you pay to go to a restaurant and video them making your carrots? That would seem to really detract from the experience, it's not like you'll keep that video for more than a year, and the video will be about as interesting to other people as the average wedding video.

I am going back next month. I will record the entire evening on my iPhone and post here for in-depth analysis.

See if they'll wager a bottle of d'Yquem on the outcome of the game of three card monte.

You should probably get a miners helmet with a video. Iphones are too inconspicuous for the true restaurant show aficionado. Also, a boom mike.

I used to avoid this, but don't really care about the elbow rule anymore.