daisy17

This is really all you need to know.

Is it ever. Alchemist (aka Toby Maloney), whose exquisite libations we have enjoyed at Milk & Honey, Freeman's and Flatiron Lounge, just started a new thread here on the Heartland board about his new cocktail bar, The Violet Hour, which is opening in Chicago this week. Only 793 miles away.

And Maury (of City Bakery) honed his craft by apprenticing at patisseries in Paris . . .

There is likely to be a wait at Spotted Pig, but it can be a fun wait. Both the downstairs and upstairs bars are fully entertaining. It's definitely a hip spot with solid food. Little Owl is always booked. Prune puts out fantastic food, but I wouldn't put it in the fun/guys night out category. It's tiny and therefore on the more sedate side. Doesn't mean you shouldn't go. For a place with a little more energy - a fairly easy reservation to come by - you might consider Chinatown Brasserie. It's not amazing by any stretch, but it's satisfying, and not crazy expensive. Very close to all the cocktail places also. I just thought of another place I like to go to with a group of friends - Parea, in Flatiron. The chef just left and I haven't been since, but the food used to be very well prepared, and it's got a good vibe as well. More upscale but not expensive, lots of dishes made to share. Did you check out Morandi's menu? I really enjoyed my last meal there.

Alchemist, we know that you're working 22 hours a day opening the best bar Chicago's ever seen, but I really expected more from you. System D, Nasty Bits, Tony Bourdain - "The ability to think fast, to adapt, to improvise when in danger of falling "in the weeds" or dans la merde . . . " Or, as one French chef put it, MacGyver.

Spotted Pig? Close to Little Branch and Employees Only for cocktails. Fits all the requirements! Freeman's? (excellent cocktails too) Momofuku Ssam? I ate at the bar at Morandi on a friday a couple of weeks ago and the bar area was packed when we left. I don't know if that counts as "fun and happening" but the food was pretty good too. How to decide where to go for a cocktail downtown: If you're in the East Village or LES, Death & Co. or M&H If you're in the West Village, LB or EO. If you're in the middle, Pegu.

Maury is the owner and the person you should talk to.

If you want outdoor rooftop with an amazing view (and amazing prices) you can go to the top of the Peninsula Hotel on 5th Ave/55th St.

Campbell Apartment is a cool space, but I was there twice very recently, and concluded that they really do not know what they're doing. Blank stares when I asked for more simple. I'd go to the Modern, Alto or London Bar. Oh, or Town. (I've actually had more success off the menu at the Modern than on . . . .) Edited to add: there used to be real talent behind the bar at Alto - i'm not sure if that's still the case

Similarities: deliciousness, copious amounts of pork, beautifully prepared seasonal vegetables. Don't put yourself through having to choose. Go to both. Both have stool seating, but Noodle Bar does not have any tables and I therefore wouldn't recommend going with more than one or two other people max.

I had the gnocchi with crab and truffles at August last night. It was insanely good.

Full report to come, but thank you all so much for your recommendations. I simply do not have enough time in this beautiful city, but so far have hit Tujaques for garlicky chicken bon femme (the waiter was very impressed when I went off "menu" for it) and a divine Sazerac, Johnny's for a po boy that was so gigantic that I had to give half to the guys at the next table, Cafe du Monde for beignets and an iced cafe au lait, and Southern Candymakers for pralines to cart home to New York. (All this and I arrived late yesterday afternoon and have simultaneously been attending a style-cramping conference.) Am hoping to dine at the bar at August tonight. Thank you again. If you can figure out a way to show me the rest of your recommendations on a map I can try to get to the rest before I leave tomorrow.

Baldoria is REALLY good. Especially the meatballs and veal milanese.

Well, I can't condone vodka in a gimlet (although before I was properly educated I was known to drink them from time to time) but if you go that route, or you bring the gin, you can bring a small bottle of pomegranate molasses and make pomegranate gimlets. Easy and delicious and good for people who don't know they like gin yet (or who drink vodka and red bull).

Don't need to be, I just love good food . . . .

I've always really enjoyed Bellavitae on my many visits, especially the starters and pastas. And it's not terribly expensive. Their olive oil does rock, and its for sale.

Thanks, these are perfect. Funny you should mention cocktails - just the other day I said that I was going to have to drink sazeracs in New Orleans. Any other places I should hit for cocktails? Also, any thoughts on another good dinner spot where I can dine at the bar alone? Should August be on my list? Bayona?

I used to really like the food at La Paella (paella and tapas) but I haven't been there in years.

Any idea what their delivery zone is? I'm on 52 between 8th and 9th, may be a bit west for them. ← I thought they didn't deliver . . . .

Will be in town on business for three days next week. Am looking for the can't-be-missed, quintessential, best of New Orleans food experiences that can be had fairly easily in/near the French Quarter. What do I have to have? Won't have too much time for major dinners, and was planning to dine at the bar at August one night unless steered in another direction. Many thanks in advance.

Made it out to Woodside at 6pm on Saturday, and we (4) were sat immediately. When we left about an hour and a quarter later the place was packed. Am pleased to say that the food was as good as I remember it being last year (soooo much better than my seriously disappointing visit in January) - papaya salad, green curry with baby eggplant, soy sauce noodles, and tom kha gai which always makes me happy. Had to order the pork leg with mustard greens after hearing it mentioned so much upthread. Damn. Really amazing dish. I would have been happy to have that one all to myself. More importantly, I redeemed myself in the eyes of the friend who I talked Sripraphai up to for weeks but who wasn't at all impressed on our last trip. I do have a reputation to uphold . . . .

thanks. would you say it has a good fun vibe??

Has anyone been for dinner recently? Need a fun spot with good food for dinner next week . . .

I'll admit that I'm biased because I hate beets, but this sounds like laziness to me. It calls to mind "Soul of a Chef" where Ruhlman describes the dozens of dishes Keller puts out on any given night at the French Laundry, none of them replicating any ingredients other than herbs. But the opposite.