Please recommend a restaurant in NYC that meets my ridiculous criteria

[Douglas]

So I'm going to be in the City on Saturday night; big family outing. Will be 7 of us - Mom&Dad, wife plus me plus (2-year-old) baby, and my brother plus his gf.

I'd like to get us to a decent but not exorbitantly priced restaurant to enjoy some real food, as Baltimore is a cultural backwater. Not looking for too fancy or crazy, just well-executed real food, perhaps with some kind of a creative (but not too creative) twist. Pops is not one who needs or wants to be particularly challenged, and he is not going to be impressed with molecular gastronomy or a lot of to-do.

I'd love to try Momofuku but I don't think it's any good for baby on account of the noise and crowds. Otherwise though it sounds like the kind of thing I'd be looking for.

So here are the ridiculous criteria:

- Have to be able to seat 7 on a Saturday with no wait or at least where I can get a reservation this late in the game. Not looking for a prime time rezzo though - 6:30 is going to be dinner time most likely.

- Mid-price or even value price.

- Kid-friendly. She's good at restaurants, sits well, eats well, but is going to drop some **** and may have some fussy moments.

- Not overly challenging. Looking for well-executed food that isn't totally experimental or over the top.

- Scene is not required. In fact, it's probably the opposite of what I'm looking for.

Any steering you can give is greatly appreciated.

 

[ter1413]

wow...any food preferences??

 

[gomestar]

LES Momofuku stuff is likely not the best as you suggested, but what about their Ma Peche restaurant in Midtown?

 

[gomestar]

Aldea and Tocqueville also come to mind

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by ter1413

wow...any food preferences??

not particularly. i guess I'm leaning towards "American" cuisine, or french-based, without being completely froggy. Asian-influenced is good, as the parents are into that.

thanks gome, ma peche looks like a great suggestion. in fact, looks damned near spot-on. will google the other two.

 

[gomestar]

also, Bar Boulud and DBGB

 

[poorsod]

The arroz con pato at Nuela is

The dish was named one of the best 10 dishes in 2010 by NYTimes. The place doesn't seem too crowded.

 

[changy]

Check out telepan, its my go-to last minute place. never crowded, the pre fixe is great food at great value

 

[Huntsman]

Oh man, am I gonna get beat up for this. Back in the day my standby restaurant (that is, straight up American influenced French cuisine) was a place called Rive Gauche, but they're gone. These days, it is <ducking> Les Halles. I think it would fit. Google for the menu, but I'm always happy (plus I can have a glass of d'Yquem).

~ H

 

[Axelman 17]

As much as I love Aldea and Tocqueville, I would not think they meet the value proposition. Based on what is currently available on open table for 7 people, I would suggest:

Apiary (6pm)
Hundred Acres (6:30pm)
A Voce Columbus Circle (6pm)
Perbacco (6pm)
Landmarc Tribeca (6:30pm)

I wouldnt say any of these are super challenging culinarily but they all have good food and cover a wide range of locations depending on where you want to go. I would say Apiary is the most culinarily nuanced.

 

[Concordia]

Is the Union Square Cafe too crazy on Saturdays? The sort of high-end bistro that has something for everyone. Although it's mid-price only if you're used to living in NYC.

 

[mintyfresh]

Blue Ribbon Brasserie - I haven't had too trouble getting larger group reservations in the past. http://www.yelp.com/biz/blue-ribbon-...n%20Restaurant

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by Axelman 17

As much as I love Aldea and Tocqueville, I would not think they meet the value proposition. Based on what is currently available on open table for 7 people, I would suggest:

Apiary (6pm)
A Voce Columbus Circle (6pm)

to be honest, I have no idea what Tocqueville runs. Aldea is only slightly more than Apiary ($2-3 more per entree it seems) but is, IMO, well worth the extra few bucks. Having said that, Apiary is a good suggested. I ate there with Manton and a few others not long ago and we quite enjoyed the food. Would eat there again.

 

[changy]

O and Landmarc colombus circle. On weekends, that place is a dog run for babies.

 

[gdl203]

I wouldn't take my 2 year-olds to most (if not all) of the places mentioned here. Maybe yours is particularly well behaved though... Hundred Acres is the only exception, it's family friendly. Food is fine but nothing to write home about.