Going back to NYC in a few weeks. Lunch/Dinner Recs?

[Eustace]

Here's what I was thinking tentatively:

Friday lunch: Katz's
Friday dinner: Ssam Bar
Saturday lunch: Gaia
Saturday dinner: Le Bernadin
Sunday lunch: Grimaldi's
Sunday dinner: Awash (wife wants Ethiopian one night)


Is Le Bernadin worth it? Any place you would go instead? Anyone know a better Ethiopian place?

 

[mgm9128]

Le Bernardin is worth it.

 

[Eustace]

Figured. It's the only splurge meal of the trip. Now I just have to score some resos.

 

[mackmittonz]

If you're unsure about Le Bernardin try to get there for lunch (not available on Sat or Sun though.) You get to still get top notch fish at a much more reasonable price and the lunch menu isn't a total departure from what's available during dinner.

 

[JayJay]



Le Bernardin is worth it.

+1. I had dinner there in December. Really good.

 

[poorsod]

I find the lunch menus of these places good value for the money. Unless you really want the tasting menu, consider going to Le Bernadin for its prix fixe lunch on Friday. An alternative is the Bouley lunch on Friday. Also consider Jean Georges which serves lunch on Saturdays - most other fancy restaurants do not.

You can go to Katz's at any time. Somehow I often find myself in that area late at night.

I find Ssam Bar ok but not great.

If you want to slurge, consider Blue Hill at Stone Barns - I have been there 5-6 times, most recently 1.5 weeks ago, and it is great. Don't bother with the Stone Barns in the Village, it is not the same.

 

[itsstillmatt]

What is that place GDL and SField love so much? Waxman's place? I would probably hit that up.

 

[Eustace]

Barbuto? Haven't heard much about it but it'd be an option for Friday night.

Daniel or Le Bernadin? Both look good.

 

[ehkay]

I think you're more likely to have a good meal/experience at Le Bernardin.

 

[gomestar]



What is that place GDL and SField love so much? Waxman's place? I would probably hit that up.

Barbuto. Really, really great.

 

[ehkay]



I find Ssam Bar ok but not great.
.

I think you're right. Ssam bar was a very good to excellent restaurant, both in terms of the cooking they were doing, and the quality/price aspect from early 2008-2010 (around when they added the full bar.) The food can still be very good, but it's much less consistent, and much more expensive. It's not a bad choice by any means, but you may want to think about other options.

 

[gdl203]

I'd skip Ssam unless you're a large group and going for the pork with a reservation. Wait is long on a Friday night (expect 1 hour) and this more often than not leads to disappointment IME.

I do enjoy lunch at Ssam though, particularly the duck over rice.

I don't know Gaia or Awash but Le Bernardin and Barbuto will be great. Barbuto is a much more enjoyable setting than LB IMO

 

[Eustace]

Thanks, G. I will probably skip it. Any other spots you recommend instead of LB? Maybe we'll do Barbuto Friday and something else Saturday. Buddakan any good?

 

[gdl203]

Haven't been to Budakkan in a long long time but the vibe is a bit douchy, especially on weekends. Food was great back then, don't know now.

If you're in the mood for paella, Socarrat in Nolita will really hit the spot - also get the pan con tomate. If you're looking to replace Ssam with another Asian option, you'll get better recommendations from others here than me.

A place I absolutely love everything about, from outstanding food to perfect ambiance and decor is Sorella in the LES

 

[akatsuki]



Here's what I was thinking tentatively:
Friday lunch: Katz's
Friday dinner: Ssam Bar
Saturday lunch: Gaia
Saturday dinner: Le Bernadin
Sunday lunch: Grimaldi's
Sunday dinner: Awash (wife wants Ethiopian one night)
Is Le Bernadin worth it? Any place you would go instead? Anyone know a better Ethiopian place?

Katz's is a tourist trap mostly - I'd probably skip it
Ssam bar - I find Chang's cooking over the top without any subtlety whatsoever - but probably worth it once
Gaia - no opinion
Le Bernadin - sure.
Grimaldis - Heresy I know, but I like Lombardi's better personally.
Awash - no opinion.

As for Blue Hill, it is completely dependent on season, and I think California does the local food thing better anyway. I always like Il Buco on Bond street. Or depending on where you are from, you could try one of the higher end, more foreign restaurants which are pretty rare in the US - Jung Sik, Hakkasan, Tamarind, etc. If you are willing to venture out to North Brooklyn, Isa is pretty good as is Dressler. In Park Slope, Beer Table is fun as is the Bagel Hole for a real bagel (unlike pretty much every crappy bagel place left in Manhattan).