First time visiting NYC. Food planned but any edits?

[chas]

I also agree that you should not pass up on le bernardin if you have a reservation. It is stuffy and a bit dated but the fish is sublime.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by whiteslashasian

Interesting, I have a date to take my girlfriend out for a nice dinner in a few weeks, do you recommend the waxbuto?
Most definitely, if you can find a table. My biggest issue w Barbuto is that I can never get a reservation on a weekend night. This is not a fancy restaurant though - simple, good food with a strong emphasis on seasonal produce. Nothing impressive in the setting or service, if that's the kind of occasion where you'd need/want that.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by iammatt

You really like him, don't you.

I should also remind you that at least twice you have followed my preference/recommendation and said that I was right.


































VALIDATE ME

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by SField

I should also remind you that at least twice you have followed my preference/recommendation and said that I was right.
VALIDATE ME

Non offensive question but what are you looking for in a restaurant? I find that good service is often misunderstood and replaced by snobish service and it pissed me off.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Non offensive question but what are you looking for in a restaurant? I find that good service is often misunderstood and replaced by snobish service and it pissed me off.

It depends on the atmosphere to me. To me great service is serving what the customer wants. If someone is coming in with company or a date, don't interfere with the conversation. Pick your moments to wait on them. Be talkative if the customer would like it. Shut the **** up and be invisible, especially if they're paying through the nose for your food. I'm not a nazi about it but I really don't go to a restaurant to talk to a waiter or really anyone but the people I'm with. If I'm alone, that definitely changes, but then I usually eat at the bar.

The very best service to me is like mercury. It's amorphous and can exist in several forms. The best service brigades in the world can be gregarious with one table and a stunningly invisible presence at the table right next to it.

If I'm not paying much I don't expect much and honestly, I'm pretty easy to please. I do laugh at the giant pepper mills and waiters telling me what their name is, as if I give a ****, but mostly I'm there to eat and talk. The ones who let me do that without much interference on their part get a good tip.

 

[gomestar]

this thread inspired me, so teh gf and I will be having dinner at Le Bernardin the Saturday after next for her birthday.

 

[whiteslashasian]

Originally Posted by gomestar

this thread inspired me, so teh gf and I will be having dinner at Le Bernardin the Saturday after next for her birthday.

Nice, enjoy.

 

[ChicagoRon]

Originally Posted by gomestar

this thread inspired me, so teh gf and I will be having dinner at Le Bernardin the Saturday after next for her birthday.
Read my review in the "What did you eat last night" thread - I liked it, but it matters how you order... I think if you read that review it will give you an idea of the types of things to go for.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

Read my review in the "What did you eat last night" thread - I liked it, but it matters how you order... I think if you read that review it will give you an idea of the types of things to go for.

I remember this and will read it again. We might do the chef's menu, not sure yet.

 

[ChicagoRon]

That's probably a good way to go - unless you see something on the menu that you really, really want and isn't part of the chef's menu - but that's what got me into trouble

Also - I was so close to doing lunch @ 11 Madison Park today - I was in the building right before lunch, but didn't really have the time or want to spend $70 to eat alone.

 

[sygyzy]

Good discussion going. May swap Aldea to lunch, eliminate Ssam (maybe got here late night), and possibly sub in Soba Koh or Ippudo for Deugstation. Honestly, whatever I end up doing, I can't imagine going wrong. These are all top tiered places. I am stoked, I leave for NY Wednesday morning.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

That's probably a good way to go - unless you see something on the menu that you really, really want and isn't part of the chef's menu - but that's what got me into trouble

we both hate making decisions to the chef's menu is usually what we end up doing anyways.

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

Also - I was so close to doing lunch @ 11 Madison Park today - I was in the building right before lunch, but didn't really have the time or want to spend $70 to eat alone.
to me, the idea of a lunch alone at EMP sounds fantastic - just me, a fresh paper, and some wonderful food.

Or, alternatively, there is the bar at Aldea right down the street.

 

[CustomWorks]

Ippudo is OK, at best.

Ippudo in Tokyo, is a different animal, now that is truly amazing.

They just can't seem to replicate the noodles, soup base or pork in NYC.

 

[pickpackpockpuck]

I think that's definitely the way to approach it. Just go eat your ass off. Some of your meals will be better than others, but I doubt any will be bad.

Originally Posted by sygyzy

Good discussion going. May swap Aldea to lunch, eliminate Ssam (maybe got here late night), and possibly sub in Soba Koh or Ippudo for Deugstation. Honestly, whatever I end up doing, I can't imagine going wrong. These are all top tiered places. I am stoked, I leave for NY Wednesday morning.

 

[vinouspleasure]

Originally Posted by sygyzy

If so, please suggest alternatives. For example: Instead of eating at A, which has gone downhill since they changed the FOH manager, consider B.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Modern (The)
Bouley
Eleven Madison Park
Marea
Corton
Aldea
Momofuku Ssam
Degustation
Jean Georges

Yeah, I have some suggestions for your list. NY. As opposed to chicago, nyc is a great city for ethnic food. Swap out half your list (your choice), save about $1000, eat like a NYer and try some of these places:

thai: http://www.sripraphairestaurant.com/pressandreview.php
szechuan chinese: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/xiao-la-jiao/
http://szechuangourmetnyc.com/food-d...3VSgkJ5CYg2Q==

bbq: http://www.hillcountryny.com/
bbq and jazz: http://www.jazzstandard.net/red/index.html
street meat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/53rd_and_6th
pizza: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/lucali/