Nathan

the "dressing up" thing is pretty context-dependent too. in my context, I dress up to "go out" on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (and often on other days too)...plus I'm often eating out straight from the office. so I'm "dressed up" anyway ... but not specifically for dinner...except insofar as dinner is part of a night out.

my friend had to stand for a bit...(he came later)...but I snagged a seat right away as people were leaving. you might have to wait a few moments but certainly not long. the place was full but I think they might have had some walk-in tables too on the later side.

yup. about 8:45. was joined later by an old friend who was in town on business (unfortunately a jack and coke orderer)

Finally got around to eating here last night at the bar. It's pretty, really pretty. competes with Allen & Delancey, Perry Street, The Modern, Graffiti and Park Avenue ____________ for the most aesthetically appealing restaurant to open in the last several years. In and of itself, that's enough to make it a fabulous date place. crowd was younger (median probably in the early 30's) and mostly neighborhood (on a Wednesday night anyway). Service was sharp and friendly. decent enough wine list. nothing of special interest. amuse was smoked trout on a mini-brioche. there's nothing inherently objectionable about that...just not sure why it's an amuse. app of sweetbreads with rabbit was almost superb. both the sweetbreads and the rabbit were cooked correctly. the rabbit was pounded flat and served as a bed for the sweetbreads. the textural contrast was terrific (gotta make sure you get both in every bite). alas, it needed salt. plating was nice...a couple of redundant sauces. lamb shoulder lasagna had a terrific presentation. served as a large molded disc. darn good dish. will return.

if it has to be one of those two, Town. (Telepan is a much different place.) but why those two? is it just about location? it looks like you're looking primarily at UWS places...why? that's a culinary black hole. an extra five minutes by cab opens up a lot of possibilities (the Modern to start).

I don't think we did at all! We said that it's "context-dependent"....in Manhattan it's actually cheaper to eat out than eat at home. that's the honest truth. we don't have kids, we work insane hours, our kitchens aren't designed for actual cooking, and groceries are insanely expensive...so even non-foodies eat out every night (or order delivery)....I was flabbergasted by this when I lived here.....(its actually really only the serious foodies who cook)

fwiw, even when dinner is a "special occasion" ... I never ever ever tell the restaurant. why? cause it marks you as an "amateur diner"...someone who only eats out on special occasions...unfair I know...but that's kind of the way they see it...at places like JG or Per Se, probably half their business is composed of "special occasion" diners...i.e. people who won't be regulars...you always want to be seen as a potential regular.

if the wait is long, you can leave your name and come back. if you are one person...the wait is usually no more than 15 minutes at any time. for two it can be 10-45 minutes on Friday or Saturday night at primetime 8:30-9...by 10 there are usually open seats. so after 10 for sure is easy...I imagine that earlybird hours (before 8) are good too.

Except that I -- and here in New York I'm hardly exceptional -- end up "celebrating my senses and sensuality" by having a very good restaurant cook dinner for me many nights a week. You don't HAVE to eat swill that neither you nor its preparer cares about, just because you don't feel like cooking. But that doesn't make it a "special occassion." ← true, although it is a function of a. discretionary income and b. critical restaurant mass (although if one lived next door to sripaphai...neither of those need necessarily apply....)

agreed on all of the above.

its awfully context-dependent... here in Manhattan, with the size of most people's kitchens, combined with most people working 50-80 hour work weeks, eating out (or getting delivery) for most (or for many people, all) meals is pretty much standard...its the most efficient use of time. plus, it's a pretty large component of most social lives (including non-foodies). since most people here don't have families and are single, cooking can be a pretty solitary endeavour (and thus also cost-ineffective). I know numerous people here whose refrigerators only contain beer and condiments (and most of them are female). when I lived elsewhere, the calculus was often different.

it sounds like Chinatown is out and frankly, a private room anywhere (as well as having a large group) is going to be pricy. maybe Craftbar?

Bar Room at the Modern is significantly better overall (individual dishes at Maze are excellent but too many others are mediocre). also consider the Monday Room...where six courses and five paired wines are $85...and it's probably better than either of the above.

if only one, Ssam Bar. but really, you should go to both.

last night an applejack old fashioned. maple syrup orange bitters peach bitters dash of orange flower water. darn tasty

I had it once. it was very good...if straightforward. it's good-sized but it's nothing like the bo ssam...it'd probably serve as the main course for 4.

you can fit 12 at a ssam table...it's just a little tight but doable...

second chinatown...or a bo ssam at ssam bar. pretty much every other restaurant will require a set menu. that's just the way it is.

a Last Word variation... 2 gin (Tanqueray) scant 1 St. Germain 1 Lillet Blanc 1 green Chartreuse 1 lemon juice. not as good as the real thing...but still darn tasty. not as sweet as it sounds (the Germain is really tamed in this drink)

http://www.slate.com/id/2182823/

Had a pretty good meal here the other night (upstairs). a fluke tartare special was very good. the "spicy" tuna tartare was boring (though my companion liked it)...and the "spicy" component was nonexistent (literally). New Zealand pink snapper in a salt-crust was exceptional. just great. though not cheap at $35 a pound....(a 2 pound fish is just enough for two people but by no means a massive amount of food). highly recommend this preparation. the sauces on the side are all good. stuffed artichokes were fine.

That doesn't seem right. There are neighborhoods with significantly higher rents that have coffee shops with free wifi and comfortable seating (see Grounded for a good example).

actually, my comment at the time was that Mesa Grill's two star rating was certainly outdated... which Bruni agreed with considering he demoted it...

well, I guess Chang has found one way to end the Mimi Sheraton school of criticism...just stop serving the burrito-style ssam....

did my third bo ssam last night....its amazing how well it works as the centerpiece to a large group meal. twas also good to meet some egulleteers in person...