Nathan

there are strong stylistic similarities throughout the Meyer Empire. especially at the front of the house. much more so than say in the JG Empire. I could certainly envision a Broadway critic writing: Miss Saigon, as with the composer's previous hit, Les Miserables, features an emphasis on noise and crowd-pleasing over the top theatrics....despite the presence of a new librettist.

vivin: I still don't see what that has to do with selling newspapers.

"Hmm, is 205 sucking these days? I was there just three weeks ago (friend's after-gig party) and it seemed pretty good." It was raided...apparently its license is in jeopardy.

"His slap in the face to Gramercy Tavern provokes discussion and ultimately buzz." Among about 15 people on egullet and within the Meyer Empire.

"I will agree with you that you could imagine a hypothetical case where this was acceptable and coherent. I am suggesting that in this case, it is not." That's all I ever said.

"With that said being Michael Bauer awarded four stars to Humm before his departure. I could easily foresee Bruni reviewing Eleven Madison Park within a reasonable time." Of course. But do you really think that even one person was buying extra copies of the Times (or subscribing) every Wednesday for the unpredictable advent of a Bruni review of EMP?

"The problem then would be all those ridiculous two-stars Bruni was strewing about last year." That's an interesting point. You might be right. (Although I think the two stars for Little Owl, Sriphithai and S & T were justifiable)

"(PS -- I'm told the bolito misto cart is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (Only on weekends.) " I would go just for that.

"Overall, very good. My only wish would be for them to take credit cards, as we usually don't carry much cash." I believe they're supposed to get a credit card link next week. (I don't think they're refusing to take credit cards in a Milk & Honey style deliberately anachronistic kind of way).

"One must always be careful of a claim like "most discussed restaurants," as we tend to talk within a self-selected community, and may not realize what other people are talking about." This is very, very true. I'd say that online food communities are not immune from the rule (most often stated with political bloggers) that online enthusiasts always vastly overestimate their own influence.

"The respective ratings of The Modern and The Bar Room are incoherent even in light of that principle." Why? If The Modern sucks compared to other restaurants at its price point (I haven't eaten there so I don't know), then it is perfectly coherent. "The problem with this review is that it shortchanges Daniel Humm's achievement at EMP. EMP has been given a side-by-side review with a completely incomparable restaurant." This is a fair point. "I thought EMP was indeed very good in its previous incarnation. USC would probably get two stars if it were re-reviewed, which means "very good" according to the Times' definition." I thought EMP was quite underwhelming in the past. And I was by no means the only one. I'd be surprised if USC got more than a star. It doesn't deserve more than that either. The food is worse (or at least no better) than Little Owl (albeit in a much more comfortable room)...except for the tuna entree...and it charges three star prices. The menu hasn't changed in 20 years after all!

"I am sure there are those wondering in anticipation Bruni's next review of Gramercy Tavern and if his opinion has changed." eh...the few who are eagerly waiting in anticipation either already subscribe to the NY Times or read it online. The fact that it has extensive dining coverage may help the Times sell copies (though I think it more likely that like the Book Review its actually an economic loss), but the number of extra copies that Bruni may be able to sell by stirring up "extra buzz" is probably like three copies. Seriously, this makes no sense at all.

"I don't understand the necessity of the criticism of USC and Gramercy within the review." Well, he could review them instead...that'd be much worse. Cause they clearly don't deserve the stars they have. (I have a soft spot for the tuna entree at USC and the fresh bacon entree in the Tavern Room.....but by no means are these especially good restaurants right now -- certainly not in anything besides service.)

"The latter two are resting on their laurels, in my opinion. Maybe I am new to the high end in New York (relatively) and do not remember when these places were at their peak. But I just don't get the incessant beating of the Gramercy/USC drum in their present form." You are 100% correct. It's just nostalgia. They were good for their time...but no better. People just have fond memories of loving them in their heyday. Yes, the Tavern Room at Gramercy Tavern is a relative bargain...but it's not superlative....Bar Room blows it out of the water.

I don't understand some of the comments above, while others I agree with. But: "While I've no doubt Danny Meyer's crew are floating on air this morning, when the dust settles, they have to face the preposterous fact that the main dining room is at two stars while the bar is at three." There's nothing whatsoever inherently preposterous about that at all. If you think that the Bar Room is fabulous and bargain-priced (which it is) and the The Modern is mediocre and overpriced (I don't know)...then it is perfectly coherent to rank the Bar Room over The Modern. As I've said before, it's clear that some people here think price should never be taken into account. But you should state that presupposition explicitly, especially considering the Times guidelines specifically state that price is taken into consideration. "Seems to me what he lacks in food comprehension he more then makes up for in building anticipation and selling newspapers.....It is my impression it has been all about business to Bruni from the very beginning." This is incoherent, ludicrous and simply wrong. "Bruni's contempt for USHG -- for whatever reason he's annoyed by Danny Meyer's populist vision of fine dining -- can be seen in his earlier review of Eleven Madison Park." b.s. EMP before simply wasn't that good. It was never a three-star restaurant -- except for the room. It charged three star prices for two-star (on a good day) food. USC, of course, simply isn't very good at all. Bruni likes "populist" fine dining. That's obvious throughout his entire ouvre of reviews. And it's blatant with his three star review for Bar Room. EMP was simply bumped up a star because its simply better now...not as an "apology". I disagree with Bruni on all sorts of things...and I agree that he's no food expert (he knows more than most of us about Italian food...maybe more than any of us -- but that's it). But some of these critiques make no sense at all.

I know I've said this before but I'll say it again: Bruni's star ratings only make sense when you realize that he must weigh price heavily. (I'm not saying that makes them accurate -- that's a separate discussion -- but it does give most of them a consistent, albeit internal, logic.)

it'll probably reopen by then...but we'll see. Swicks...PM one of us when the time gets closer...might be able to make a call for you to M&H or the like on Thursday

ooops, thought he was coming like next week. yeah, he's got some time to play with.

wow. three stars to both. I love Bar Room but three seems high....on the other hand...the food is at a higher level than say Little Owl -- and it's not much more expensive. Throw in that you can get always get in as well as the stunning decor.... hmm...Bar Room is not at the level of Perry Street or EMP under Humm (I presume)....but it's also half PS' dinner price and even less than half of EMP's... he was harsh on GT, huh?

with a group that large you'll be much better off on Sunday night. very difficult to do on Saturday night -- at least anywhere halfway decent. you'd have a shot at La Nacional...or Momofuku Ssaam Bar...but I would call either of those now.

"Cocktails/Drinking....I would love another few recommendations of places, perhaps similar to Pegu and Death & Co? " Flatiron Lounge, Employees Only: both of them will have their majority of drinkers uninterested in the fine cocktails, unfortunately. Milk & Honey...get the number at Little Branch. Pravda's not the worst place in the world either. The Other Room or the Room for excellent beer and wine by the glass lists. " few pub recommendations for pints on St. patricks day?" Molly's, Spring Lounge... "One high-end lunch? JG? Gordon Ramsay? Some others?" JG certainly. if in the neighborhood, Perry Street. LB has a nice lunch as well. "Some relaxed lunch places, spotted pig?" The Spotted Pig is only relaxed at lunch. However, Perry Street is three blocks away (literally), very relaxed, the same price (or less -- seriously), and four times as good. "Some recs for dinner for a larger group, easy to get into, fun but not touristy? (was that general enough for you?) Will include non NYC people plus residents." What day of the week? can't even begin to answer without knowing that. edit: any night of the week La Nacional might be perfect for that.

I have a bottle of the Jade Edouard on the way...looking forward to washing away the taste of the Czech rotgut I had. problem is at over $140 a bottle after shipping, I think it's probably not worth wasting on a monkey gland or sazerac, right? just use absente or pernod?

"it happens - you and i can be just feet apart at nearby tables at the same restaurant on the same night and have very different experiences." agreed. and I've always eaten at the bar there (except for once)...which generally avoids most service issues. agree with the rest of your post as well.

I think he is. but that's me. the fact of the matter is, tables are a limited resources and not all diners who want to move can be accomodated. so, yes, it is better for the restaurant staff in a crowded restaurant to have some idea of the relative validity of competing claims for special treatment. the fact that he has had "lots" of service issues by his own admission should maybe prompt a self-appraisal in the mirror.

"oh, i don't know. on each of my 3 visits there, there were bad food & service mixups. so unless they got it together in the last few months, i'm not holding my breath." I've probably eaten there 15 times and never had an issue. "then again, by now they know him well at the Modern, which should take care of food/service glitches. and he's been cozying up to DM lately (blog Q&A, calls for quotes, etc.)" I fail to understand your point. He is certainly less likely to be recognized in a casual, high-traffic space like the Bar Room then in the Modern proper. but more importantly, I fail to see how any purported "cozying up to DM" would result in Bruni getting better service than otherwise. There is not a restaurant in NY that would not attempt to give Bruni perfect service and food...merely because he is the Times critic. Its really that simple. And, as the RTR episode evinces, he is not recognized as much as people think.