Brunch - New York City

Originally Posted by pickpackpockpuck

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I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa ... Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.

+1, actually. I ate there two months ago and I still enjoyed the food. It's not high end by any means, but this isn't the point. Compared to it's peers in price and style, I do view Mesa Grill favorably. It's also the type of place that I am much more inclined to grab a seat at the bar, order some food and a bunch of drinks, and then just relax with some good company.

Originally Posted by pickpackpockpuck

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I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've been several times in the past year and the food has been consistently very good. It's not on par with some of the finer restaurants in NYC, but then it's not trying to be. It's a casual, comfortable place that falls somewhere between your average NYC restaurant (La Esquina or some place like that) and a high-end dining experience. Maybe if you're going all out for dinner I would say save the cash and go to Le Bernardin, but for lunch or brunch it's definitely worth it. Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.
In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

Originally Posted by pickpackpockpuck

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I get the impression that's the conventional wisdom these days. People think he's overexposed and overrated. But I've never had anything but a great meal at Mesa. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've been several times in the past year and the food has been consistently very good. It's not on par with some of the finer restaurants in NYC, but then it's not trying to be. It's a casual, comfortable place that falls somewhere between your average NYC restaurant (La Esquina or some place like that) and a high-end dining experience. Maybe if you're going all out for dinner I would say save the cash and go to Le Bernardin, but for lunch or brunch it's definitely worth it. Given a choice between Mesa and peers like Rosa Mexicano or Dos Caminos, I'll usually choose Mesa.
In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

We complained about it to someone who appeared to the manager. He said that he was sorry, and that he had told his staff to quit doing that. Apparently, this was a common practice (mistake) at Mesa. lol.

Originally Posted by lim's

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In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

well there's your problem. Nobody likes the brunch or "restaurant week" crowd, it's to their financial advantage to get you in and then out. And of course the food is so-so at restaurant week - it's the surplus salmon and skirt steak that is meant to cost the chef as little as possible in food and staff costs (and this is pretty much required since restaurant week diners don't bring much cash in for a restaurant as they rarely drink much either).

Yeah, that would be extremely annoying. I've never had it happen to me, fortunately. In fact service has always been exceptional when I've gone. Maybe the place just appeals to me in a totally subjective way. I mentioned Mesa to my fiance the other day and she reminded me that she wasn't thrilled with her food the last time we went (which was in August, I believe). I had forgotten about that. I'm willing to admit it's completely possible that I don't have the most discerning palate, and as long as food is above a certain minimum quality level, I think it's all good. I just like to eat. I'm a hungry bastard.

Originally Posted by lim's

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In the past five years, I dined there two years in a row during restaurant week and brunch on another occasion. The food was so-so, but the service was not very good. For example, the waiters started to clear the table, without asking, before all of us finished eating. That has never happened to me at a restaurant on any level...not even Denny's.

We complained about it to someone who appeared to the manager. He said that he was sorry, and that he had told his staff to quit doing that. Apparently, this was a common practice (mistake) at Mesa. lol.

Originally Posted by gomestar

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well there's your problem. Nobody likes the brunch or "restaurant week" crowd, it's to their financial advantage to get you in and then out. And of course the food is so-so at restaurant week - it's the surplus salmon and skirt steak that is meant to cost the chef as little as possible in food and staff costs (and this is pretty much required since restaurant week diners don't bring much cash in for a restaurant as they rarely drink much either).

I haven't had problems for lunch during restaurant week at other established restaurants. Even though lunch is $24, it's not much less than the a la carte during a regular week. And, why would brunch be a problem?

Has anyone tried Resto's Brunch? I just came back from having lunch and the Brunch menu looks legit.

Also, Can anyone suggest a place in LES that serves a surpisingly good brunch? Freemans + Schillers + Essex House on weekends are way too crowded.

Hi There


There is a really amayzing bagel place waround west 40th street between 5 and 6th, cant remember the name of it but sooo delicious! Highly reccomended!

Best wishes

Originally Posted by JSC4President

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What are you favorite places to have brunch? It seems like i have been going to Prune and ABC Kitchen lately. Need some new places to check out. Would appreciate suggestions. Thanks
le bilboquet merkato bagatelle oak room i tre merli revel cipriani downtown lavo v.d.m.

Originally Posted by AvariceBespoke

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le bilboquet
merkato
bagatelle
oak room
i tre merli
revel
cipriani downtown
lavo
v.d.m.

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

Originally Posted by cchen

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Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I’m a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we’re big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There’s one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don’t know. We’ve been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I’m taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I’m a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there’s a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I’m done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

Originally Posted by cchen

Click to expand...

Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

That's hilarious, especially more so when I first read it from Sifton describing the atmosphere at LAVO.

Originally Posted by cchen

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Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I'm a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.

Me and my team, we're big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There's one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don't know. We've been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?

Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I'm taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.

Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I'm a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!

Finally, if there's a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I'm done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?

lol

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Originally Posted by cchen

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stuff

haha hilarious

Cafe Carlyle
Balthazar on Spring Street
Pastis in the MePa
Bouchon at the TWC
Sarabeth's in the UWS
Cafe Gitane at the Jane
Gemma at The Bowery
Penelope on Lex