|
Unfortunately now popular, Bateau Ivre is a lovely French restaurant in Midtown East. Cuisine is very French - escargots, salade nicoise, foie gras, magret de canard, etc.
The place is tiny, but...
Unfortunately now popular, Bateau Ivre is a lovely French restaurant in Midtown East. Cuisine is very French - escargots, salade nicoise, foie gras, magret de canard, etc.
The place is tiny, but lovely. Though small, the bar is a great place to enjoy a bottle of wine and people-watch while you're awaiting your table, or even if you just came for a drink.
Seating is a bit cozy, but comfortable, service is excellent and so is the food. Price is reasonable/average for French, and the ambience is wonderful.
Hide
|
|
Petite Abeille is a Belgian cafe chain around the city, and it's worth a visit.
I've been to the one in Tribeca several times and have an excellent experience every time. Waiters are very...
Petite Abeille is a Belgian cafe chain around the city, and it's worth a visit.
I've been to the one in Tribeca several times and have an excellent experience every time. Waiters are very attentive, seem to know their food if you ask for a recommendation, and they have excellent daily specials - usually a fish with potatoes and vegetables so you'll eat hearty, and have sampled all the major food groups!
Every fish dish I have had here is excellent. Mussels are also great as is the salad nicoise, and the omelettes which change day-to-day.
In nice weather, outdoor seating is a must. Otherwise, inside is very bright and cheery - just make sure to arrive early for lunch as the place is usually full before 1pm during the week.
Hide
|
|
Odeon has been around for quite sometime - a corner restaurant/brasserie in Tribeca leaning towards French. They've got your typical croque monsieur, french onion soup, and goat cheese salad and...
Odeon has been around for quite sometime - a corner restaurant/brasserie in Tribeca leaning towards French. They've got your typical croque monsieur, french onion soup, and goat cheese salad and steak frites and the place feels like a French bistro, but there are also fish and chicken dishes, and a list of vegetable side dishes.
This is definitely a pleasant place to spend an extended lunch with a good friend, but don't go if you're on a budget. The average lunch entree will cost you about $18 and the steak goes as high as $32!
If you're in the neighborhood, take a look, the food is actually pretty good.
Hide
|
|
The Upright Citizens Brigade on West 26th Street is a small theater where one can study improv, or perform it!
Last night, we saw a performance of "Surprise Party" with Greg & Lou. For $5 a...
The Upright Citizens Brigade on West 26th Street is a small theater where one can study improv, or perform it!
Last night, we saw a performance of "Surprise Party" with Greg & Lou. For $5 a seat, I didn't expect much, and thought if it stinks, I can easily leave the theater.
It was located one flight below street level and was a much larger theater than I expected. Seats were movie-theater style , on a slant so all could see the stage, and though over-used, not too bad on the comfort level! My $5 was getting me a pretty good deal.
Then the performance started - it was funny, no, it was hysterical, and great acting! These two guys each take on multiple personas and characters, all of them equally strong, and interesting, and very DIFFERENT. They were believable, funny as hell to watch, and very creative. I was so impressed I stayed for a second show that I didn't know my ticket allowed me. It wasn't quite as good, but it had its definite moments and was pretty darn funny, and hey, the guys stripped naked at the end, so I can't complain! :-)
Surprise Party is on again August 10th and 17th - visit www.ubctheater.com for reservations.
Hide
|
|
Sushi Twist
Category:
Food & Dining
66 Madison Avenue (between 27th and 28th Streets)
New York, New York 10001
(212) 213-2682
Last night, desperate for sushi, my husband and I stumbled into Sushi Twist, on Madison between 27th and 28th. www.sushitwist.com
It's location and small window front make it easy to pass it by,...
Last night, desperate for sushi, my husband and I stumbled into Sushi Twist, on Madison between 27th and 28th. www.sushitwist.com
It's location and small window front make it easy to pass it by, but you should try to find it if you're in the mood for sushi (and aren't looking for a bargain.)
The lighting was low, the interior very pleasant, upscale feeling. The seat cushions are made of some very funky fabric that you have to check out, think I want some in my apartment!
We tried some of their cold sake, the last one on the carafe list, for $15. (Again, don't expect a bargain here.) It was cloudy, which initially worried us, but ended up being DELICIOUS. Very smooth taste and served in almost a flower-vase looking carafe with a large black cork, and they even brought us a bowl of ice to keep the sake cold!
For dinner we tried one of their sushi mixed rolls with shrimp tempura, tobiko (mini caviar), eel and avocado. It was perfect! I had a piece of Uni (sea urchin) and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was more uni than rice - it was the equivalent of at LEAST 2 pieces of Uni at most other restaurants I've tried, and VERY fresh. (Though we still had a tough time swallowing the $10 it cost.)
All-in-all we had a very pleasant meal, service was EXCELLENT, and would definitely return....maybe on payday!
Hide
|
|
The name itself has made me curious about this restaurant for years. I used to work with a lot of British colleagues, and had the fortune to eat curry in London, which is a completely different...
The name itself has made me curious about this restaurant for years. I used to work with a lot of British colleagues, and had the fortune to eat curry in London, which is a completely different experience than Indian food in the US. All my colleagues talked about Curry in a Hurry, and last night, I finally went.
The restaurant is VERY unassuming and low key - downstairs is a take out area, and it's not till you enter that you realize a staircase in the back leads upstairs.
When you get there, it's completely surreal. A TV mounted on the wall shows a classic "Bollywood" movie with colorful costumes and lots of dancing, and subtitles - last night they said things like, "oh, darling, your anklets, they are worth millions, your necklace, it is worth millions, but your heart is priceless" as a male suitor wooed his bride...
It's NOT fancy, some tables were eating off cafeteria-style trays, so I first thought it was a buffet. There were a lot of Indian people eating there, which gave me a good feel. Unfortunately, there was no AC, just some fans, so it was a bit hot.
We ordered a chicken and a lamb dish - Chicken Tikka Masala, and Lamb Saag. Each came with either rice or bread, so we got one of each. We were invited to the salad bar - a bucket of shredded lettuce with tomatoes, and very low budget - could not find the dressing, just various chutneys, but hey, salad was fine.
Then the waiter brought us some appetizers, on the house - samosa and various other fried veggies and meats. Yum, but BOY did they pack a wallop. I was glad we ordered our food mild, because I could see this place MEANT it when they said spicy.
Our dinner arrived on our already crowded table, then fresh plates, rice, bread. We liked the chicken better than the lamb, though both were great. (Lamb was cut in pieces and served on the bone). We didn't finish the lamb, and the server came over, very concerned, asked us if we didn't like it, should he make another for us or would we prefer a chicken dish instead? We protested and said we were just full and took it home, can't wait to eat it for lunch! We noted that even though the chicken was not spicy, it was packed with spices unlike any other Indian food in the city where mild often means devoid of flavor, or drowned in cream sauce.
You do have to get over the fact that the dining area is not that appealing, apart from that, wow, this place was GREAT, and all that food for $20? I'm going back!
Hide
|
|
This restaurant is so fun - waiters wear Lederhosen, you feel like you're in a German Beer Hall (definitely order beer when you go!) and the food is all shnitzel and the like!
Atmosphere is...
This restaurant is so fun - waiters wear Lederhosen, you feel like you're in a German Beer Hall (definitely order beer when you go!) and the food is all shnitzel and the like!
Atmosphere is really fun, everyone is jovial, the waiters alone will crack you up.
Only thing is - menu is pretty limited, and the food is pretty heavy - save this for a cold winter night!
Hide
|
|
This is THE place to come if you want great Chinese food. It is one of the few Chinese restaurants where I have seen many Chinese families dining on the UES. That says a lot to me - if it's good...
This is THE place to come if you want great Chinese food. It is one of the few Chinese restaurants where I have seen many Chinese families dining on the UES. That says a lot to me - if it's good enough for them, it must be good, and authentic.
They have an array of dishes you won't see in most other restaurants - above and beyond the normal dishes (though they have those, too, even if you don't see them printed on the menu, just ask.)
Service is great, decor is amiable, you will have a great meal.
Hide
|
|
Pig Heaven has been around forever, well, at least like 15 or 20 years. Says a lot for the place.
The thing is, you do seem to get different service depending on whether or not you're a regular....
Pig Heaven has been around forever, well, at least like 15 or 20 years. Says a lot for the place.
The thing is, you do seem to get different service depending on whether or not you're a regular. I am not, so they always want to seat me in the front of the restaurant. This stinks because you're by the bar, or, when they have music, by the entertainment, and it's so loud you can't hear a thing.
Sitting in the back room is MUCH better, totally different atmosphere.
Service is fair - you have to ask for more water, or more duck sauce, no one seems to notice when you run out. (At least up front.) I once asked for extra hoisin sauce, and the waiter told me to finish what he gave me and then he would give me more! When I ran out, he was nowhere to be found, so I guess they are stingy with Hoisin.
Food is so-so. It's not bad, but I've had way better elsewhere.
Hide
|
|
Lili's is a great Chinese on the Upper East side. (Though, they now have sushi - I wouldn't eat sushi in a Chinese place, but I've seen other people eat it and it looks pretty good!)
Prices are...
Lili's is a great Chinese on the Upper East side. (Though, they now have sushi - I wouldn't eat sushi in a Chinese place, but I've seen other people eat it and it looks pretty good!)
Prices are the best part, they are normal. Wonton soup is excellent and they offer dishes with meat and a plethora of veggies so you feel you're being health conscious! (And you can order sauces on the side.)
This is a great place to eat if you're running to a movie - service is quick, you can be in and out within 45 minutes.
Hide
|