...more recent posts
I hadn't been in a long time, but Saturday night was another fine meal at Prune. I love this place. Okay, there is a little too much butter for me on some dishes, but that's personal and if you know how to order right (whole grilled fish) it isn't a problem. The food is very simple and straight forward in a way that is apparently hard for most chefs to accomplish. You might call it no ego food.
It still doesn't have an air conditioner, although it looks like they are putting one in. And while you'd think that would be unbearable, it's actually not that bad. The fans are blasting. The very happy crowd is packed in but not complaining. And the chef Gabrielle is seducing everyone in sight from her lovely open kitchen. Great atmosphere, great food, great time. I've had to extend my definition of the LES to include 1st street so that this restaurant is in my neighborhood.
Finally had a look at Marja Samson's new Chibitini at 63 Clinton Street. This place makes the other tiny places on the block look spacious. Sake and dumplings, although I arrived too late for the later. The dark velvety red interior feels like a 23rd century take on the Victorian era. Looks great I think. And the maybe 12 other people that could fit inside seemed to agree. Classiest joint on the block I'd say.
Marja is the owner of the Kitchen Club as well as the small Chibi's bar next door. This one takes the small sake bar to its miniaturized extreme, but that is fine with me as long as I can get a seat. Looking forward to learning more about sake.
Suenos = Dreams, 311W17th St, i will still look for a dream of a Mexican reatarant, so far Itzocan Cafe is still close-ist.....didnt go to Pampero(sp?) which was called 2* by W Grimes, the place is part owed by the only ok Maya restaurant......
OK, no one’s mentioned The Restaurant. Inquiring minds want to know what the real people think...
Finally, a rave.
I had a very good easy dinner at Molyvos after snacks at Periyali after wine at Tavern after a long lunch at Fleur de Sel.....I had better post some of my "off" meals to get some credit-ability (hint hint), I am get-in too rahrah
thanks to Rachael for the Fleur de Sel tip, we rocked there for with our 9 course lunch menu the last (pre-dessert) course was up there with wd~50 food, the rest was 2*/3*......3* overall
2003 Top Eats
The Countdown to Ten Best
Globe All
Passadis Del Pep (Barcelona) 4*
Varoulko (Athens) 4*
Slanted Door (SF) 3*
Carballeira (Lleida, Spain) 3*
Uglesich's (New Orleans) 3*
#9 Park (Boston) 3*
El Torreone (Torrisellas, Spain) 2*
Asados Nazareno (Roa, Spain) 2*
Frankie & Johnny's (New Orleans) 2*
O Loutros Fish Taverna (Thessaloniki, Greece) 2*
Botafumeiro (Barcelona) 2*
Loc All
wd50 4*
Kai 4*
Al Di La 3*
Wallse 3*
Locanda Vini Olii 3*
Fleur de Sel 3*
66 3*
Cafe Boulud 2*
Annisa 2*
Grand Sichuan Int Midtown 2*
Tasting Room 2*
Hangawi 2*
Kebab Cafe 2*
Itzocan Cafe 2*
Il Gattopardo 2*
The Minnow 2*
Lupa 2*
We went to Locanda after a long time, we were completely blown away again, I still stand by my belief that between Al Di La and Locanda there is no better Italian food in all of NY metro...3*
Steak at Sur in Brooklyn is not bad.....
Kai was GREAT again last night and Sir Wylie sent me out a new yummy shrimp dish at wd~50 for the after Kai party....
A good place for lunch in Palo Alto.
A good place for seafood in Moss Landing (north of Monterey).
Cape Cod: If Brax Landing in Harwichport only served me Dayboat Cod with cold slaw, and a side on Monomoy Island clams fried I would give this place 2* but the other food makes it 1*, I am going back for the before mentioned 3 items every time I visit the Cape.....Villa Roma in West Harwich 1*....Sunday School serves only ice cream treats but gets 2*, this stuff is right on, we eat it every nite for dessert, Harwichport.....
We went to #9 Park in Boston (best meal to us in Boston, Radius years ago is now 2nd place), they were super kind and sent us some extra food, we loved it, the lamb dish was fantastic, many other delights, yum yum on the deserts, fantastic on the wine front....3*
Last nite went to Manducatti's for the first time in 6-7 months for dinner, we had a home-run nebbiolo blowout, all cheap all in purrfecto condition.......tonight we went to the restaurant in the Times today, Anh, have to say from the first round this is some yummy Vietnamese, best I have tasted in NYC.....
Grimes at Morrells
great pre-Lucinda/Neil show meal at Annisa was fantastic...2*
Well meal #9 at WD50 with a fun group, love that food....July brings phase one of my diet, I am only doing one bizz meal a week, my doctor said my blood is great, prostate great, liver i dont know how great, but the cholesteral needs some work.....i think i will go to Locanda forst time in a while, need another Kai meal bad, shit the list of the places to try is insane long, need to retaste Atalier (sp?), Tasting Room again with wife-e etc.....October is major diet time, but i need many meals at French Laundry NY also too....hum