Nancy and other NY City dwellers

L Sass

L Sass

Cathlete
I'm coming to New York! DH has a meeting there the weekend of March 17-19 and I get to go with him instead of keeping my monsters. We're staying at a place called the University Club (he THINKS that's the name - left all of his info at the office - so I can verify that tomorrow) but I need your best recommendations on great restaurants that we could get reservations at only 1 month out. I know it's only one short weekend, but HEY - works for me!

Thanks!

Lorrie
 
LOL--I'm so provincial: I hardly ever get up the energy to get out of my own neighborhood! But one of the people in my office has a spouse who entertains clients at fancy restaurants, so I will ask on Tuesday. Are you going to try to see a show or anything while you're here?
 
Thanks Bunbun! No shows - I think we'll just walk and shop and eat and well - you know - play. I cannot wait! My kids are 7, 4 and 2 so 3 days with just my DH will be pure bliss!

Lorrie
 
Hey, good for you Lorrie! I agree with Bunbun that you should see a show. There are so many highly-rated shows around now. What kind of food and what kind of neighborhood are you looking for? One month is fine for most restaurants. Let me have the info re: the University Club. I think my firm had it's holiday party there this year.

In case it helps, the most popular restaurants in New York City are:

1. Gramercy Tavern (sooooo beautiful- I only got to go there once but it was to die for)
2. Union Square Cafe (have been there many times and you can't go wrong)
3. Babbo (I hear it's the best Italian in NYC, but I've never been able to get a reservation)
4. Daniel
5. Le Bernardin (A fish-lovers haven)

But there are lots of others! Among city dwellers, the most sought-after restaurants are the ones in the Time Warner building like Masa, Per Se, Cafe Grey and Asiate. But one month is probably not enough time to reserve there.

HTH,

-Nancy
 
Hey Nancy, how about that facinating Indian place you went too a few days ago? The one with the silk pillows and women who only aim to please.
 
Robin,
That was an out-of-the-way off-the-beaten-path little pearl of a vegetarian find (and the best meal I've ever had for $22.95). However, it is not the quintessential NY experience, which I think is what Lorrie may be looking for, as it sounds like she rarely gets here. Since it will be just her and her DH, I'm going to put together a list of "most romantic" restaurants. I'm really enjoying this! :D

-Nancy
 
My pleasure, Lorrie! I'll have a list of most romantic restaurants in NYC by tonight or tomorrow. :D

I'm excited for you!!
-Nancy
 
Cafe des Artistes? Never been there; probably misspelling it, but it's supposed to be very romantic.

Oh, and for my own curiosity: What was the Indian place? our favorite Indian restaurant in our neighborhood closed, and we have been trying unsuccessfully to find another place we like.
 
Oh, Bunbun, if you don't mind sitting cross-legged, you have got to try Vatan. It's on 29th and 3rd. The website is vatanny.com. A totally unique experience.

They don't have menus, they just bring out about 20 different mini dishes for a fixed price of $22.95 per person. You sit like a king and queen in your own little booth surrounded by pillows while they fawn over you and worry about your happiness. Most importantly, the (vegetarian) food is great. They will adjust the spiceness to your liking.

Two important points: Go VERY hungry and wear stretch pants so you can sit cross-legged. But definitely GO. :9

-Nancy
 
And yes, Bunbun, I agree that Cafe Des Artistes is very romantic. Great choice!

This annoying work computer made me double post !@#$%^&*((
 
Ooh! Looks good, Nancy. Will definitely have to try it. We went to an all-you-can eat Turkish place today that was great. They have a belly dancer on Friday nights

http://turkuazrestaurant.com/

Crummy web page; good restaurant. Don't know anything that's particularly romantic, though. La Cote Basque, Le Bernandin, or Le Cirque, if you've got money to burn and love French food.
 
Looks good, Bunbun. You know, with all this talk about food I just called DH and asked if he wanted to go out for Indian tonight. I have now officially decided that my lean years are behind me. I'm just too darned interested in food to care anymore. Sigh.

-Nancy
 
Nancy, Bunbun, others ever heard of or been to these?

Applewood
Craft
Blue Hill
Aquavit
Pure Food and Wine??????

Lorrie
 
Hi. Last year my boss took our department to Craft. Everyone else loved it except me--not enough choice of food for me and too greasy overall, even the roasted veggies that I ordered. Then again, I am *really* fussy when it comes to food. Even when I go out for a special dinner, I don't want greasy, high-fat stuff--tends to make me feel sick to my stomach. So, if you're at all like that, I would avoid Craft! If not, the food is supposed to be great!

Haven't gone to the other ones, though I pass Pure Food and Wine at lunch sometimes. Don't know what the food is like--seems like a small place.
 
Oh, gosh, I've been dying to go to Craft!! It's supposed to be a foodie's paradise. I've been trying to get DH to take me for my birthday for years, but he never seems to be able to get a reservation.

I went to Pure Food and Wine recently and was not impressed. Nothing is cooked, everything is raw, and I found the food to be rather heavy. But if you're VERY into veganism, it could be a good choice.

Never been to Aquavit, but it sounds absolutely lovely!

Applewood is in Brooklyn, so unless you were planning to go there for some particular reason, I would forget it. Your weekend is too short to shlep to Park Slope.

Never heard of Blue Hill until you mentioned it, but it sounds quite nice.

Let us know what you decide! :D
-Nancy
 
Found a review of Blue Hill:

"This may be the best low-profile restaurant in town. Dan Barber is a master of the gentle arts of poaching and braising, and much of his best material—pasture-raised turkeys, non-stressed Berkshire hogs—comes from the biodynamic farm and restaurant he and his brother run at an old Rockefeller complex upstate called Stone Barns. Although not as extreme or innovative as Craft, Blue Hill is the city’s other seminal Greenmarket haven, so expect a certain amount of hushed reverence here, a certain amount of ecstatic whispering about the quality of the summer peas. — Adam Platt
Extra

Pre-Fixe Menu: Five courses, $68
Recommended Dishes

Poached duck, $28; braised and roasted grass-fed lamb, $32"

Sounds delightful!

-Nancy
 
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