tupac17616

Hmm. I can do the celebrity chef sighting and great food criteria: Momofuku Ssam Bar Go late. Chefs abound. Don't recall if the people have been beautiful each time I've visited, but the food damn sure has been.

I will be heading to Puerta Plata, DR for several days very soon, and I was wondering if there are any opportunites for great food/drink nearby that I should know about. Kind of a shot in the dark, but I figured if anyone would have a clue, it would be my fellow eGullet-ers! Thanks in advance for any and all help.

I used to be in the Peter Luger camp. But after an absolutely incredible burger on Valentine's Day, I now firmly side with The Spotted Pig.

I think he means "loafers" as in people sitting at their table too long after their meal lingering over coffee/conversation/etc.

I can't think of another restaurant in the city at which I'm more prone to have a second (or third, or...) dinner. Every time, just so solid. I now find myself craving this stuff while eating at other restaurants. Chang's cooking is like crack for me. I've got it bad. And yet I've still not been able to get a group together for that beautiful Bo Ssam. Tsk tsk.

Bruni's implication could not be further from the truth, as sneak and nathan have already suggested. Hell, last time I was there, it literally was about a 3 1/2 hour meal. And a damn good one, at that. ← Guess you can't believe everything you read in the papers these days. I gave up on the NYT in a lot of areas a long time ago - but if even the food reporting isn't credible - maybe I'll just save 400 bucks a year and use it to buy a swell pair of shoes. Robyn ← Sounds like a good plan to me.

Could've been the fact that neither of us ordered a secondo, but a meal last Sunday night at Falai was pretty phenomenal. We had: Bread -- Raisin, Onion-Rye, Baguette, Black Cabbage Amuse Bouche -- Sweet Potato Soup with Five Spice Creme Fraiche Buffalo Ricotta Flan -- pine nuts, wilted green salad, wild mushroom, smoked raisins Polenta Bianca -- chicken liver, dried dates and wild mushrooms 'vellutata' Fegato Grasso -- pan seared foie gras, braised lentils, marsala glazed chestnut, cauliflower mostarda Insalata di Funghi -- seared, pickled and pan fried wild mushrooms, morell dusted slow poached egg, sesame puff pastry, parmesan fonduta Tortelli -- 3 types, ricotta, butternut squash, pear tortelli, almond soup Passion Fruit Souffle -- with passion fruit reduction The items I ordered (the flan, the polenta, the tortelli and the souffle) were particularly good. The texture of the flan was flat out perfect, evidence of what was no doubt some very fresh ricotta. The flavors of the polenta dish worked remarkably well together, the rich chicken liver and the dried dates creating a very harmonious salty-sweet contrast, and the mushrooms adding an earthier element. The tortelli were clearly very fresh and cooked to a nice al dente. The almond soup provided an interesting "sauce" of sorts without at all masking or overwhelming the flavors of the three fillings. The souffle was wonderful, easily as good as the best I've ever had (at Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay, fwiw). I will be back sometime, for sure.

Tartine Bakery. I think that may have been the single best food stop I made in SF.

Bruni's implication could not be further from the truth, as sneak and nathan have already suggested. Hell, last time I was there, it literally was about a 3 1/2 hour meal. And a damn good one, at that.

wow jordan kahn is one talented dude last night a friend and i tried every dessert currently on the menu nine for nine bravo here's hoping bruni likes the place frankly it would be a tragedy for such artistry to not be properly recognized

What about a quick ride on the 7 train out to Sripraphai in Queens for some Thai food. You'd be hard pressed to spend even close to $30-40 on a meal there. Stick to what they do best (see eGullet thread) and you'll have a great meal.

The tripe at Al Di La is damn good

I've gotta agree with you, U.E. The "value" is not quite as evident as it once was, but doesn't seem entirely gone. There is still Kobe beef, for example, which carrries a $90 price tag a la carte. It's too bad they took off L'Oursin. I've always enjoyed that dish. With Le Caviar Oscietre, you're not missing much. It's pretty to look at, but nothing special flavor-wise. The langostine on the tasting menu currently is not offered a la carte (although I'm sure they'd sub the one with pesto, if you wanted. The scallop in seaweed butter is weak, IMO. Le Riz is also not that great. For dessert, I'd definitely sub in Le Marron or Le Sucre, for the chocolate-lover or the non-chocolate-lover, respectively. Can you tell me a bit more about the amadai and the tuna tartare? I've not yet had the chance to try either.

Just let me know when! ← Me too ← Me, three (or four, or whatever). Assuming, of course that we can actually get in the door now, after the two-star review.

i agree

Thank you. I could not agree more.

L'Atelier: The chestnut soup (La Chataigne) I'd also call a "must". I think they may be giving it as an amuse bouche now, but ask for a bowl. Quite good. Bouley: Definitely have the kitchen cook for you. Both rooms are, in my opinion, gorgeous. I don't think you can go wrong, but if forced to choose, red. In fact, I think that's my favorite dining room in the city. Babbo: If solo, or with one other person, I really like the seats at the end of the bar (toward the front of the restaurant). Some room to spread out. Nobody reaching around you for glasses of wine, bumping into your back, etc. Personally I prefer these spots to sitting at a table. The pasta tasting menu is a good deal, but I personally don't think it is made of the things that are most representative of why Babbo is a great restaurant. For antipasti, the grilled octopus and the lamb's tongue are nice. The Modern: If eating in the bar room, it seems the tarte flambee is the most recommended item I usually see here on eG. I'll recommend against the arctic char tartare if it's still on the menu. Bland and boring.

Walked in to the Spotted Pig last night with three friends. No wait for a table. First came the gnudi. Eh, nothing special. Then came the burger. Spectacular. Damn near perfect, in fact. By far the best burger I've ever had, which is one hell of a compliment for a food so ubiquitous. In consistency an issue at the Spotted Pig? An overwhelmed kitchen with an occasional off night? Couldn't tell ya. First time I've walked in the door when the wait hasn't been obscenely long, and thus my first time eating here, period. All I know is on this night, they were most definitely on. Better than Luger, Corner Bistro, Burger Joint, Shake Shack, I could keep going... Happy Valentines Day to me.

A la carte dinner at L'Atelier. Just don't the cocktails somewhere else before or after...

haven't been to prime (don't really plan on it), but fwiw, the lamb chops at blt steak are really nice

i really enjoy levain ruby et violette didn't do much for me i liked both jaques torres and city bakery milk and cookies was really mediocre i seem to remember a pretty good cookie at balthazar bakery the search continues...

Actually, Ramsay is at $80 for the 3-course prix fixe, $110 for the tasting menu — right in line with all of the others. ← Indeed. And the "carte blanche" tasting menu, if you will, is around $130.

1. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon -- My favorite restaurant in the city, hands down. Over the course of 10 or so visits, I've had the chance to sample it in different capacities: a 4 hour, 19-course tasting with a friend; a simple, 3-course dinner alone; stopping in for desserts and coffee with a group; the regular tasting menu; ordering a la carte; etc etc. Over the course of a few of their seasonal menu iterations, I've had basically every dish the restaurant has offered thus far. The reason I keep going back: consistency. From the food, to the service, to the atmosphere, I know exactly what to expect every single time. There is no pretense whatsoever. Great food. Great service. No BS. Oh, and a la carte all the way. Much more flexibility that way, and overall I find it's a better deal. And sitting at the counter is definitely the way to go. The regular seats are quite comfortable, but sitting at the counter you get the real L'Atelier experience. Wow, I'll move on now. I really tend to ramble about this place... 2. Masa -- While I think there is definitely some validity to DutchMuse's point that nobody he knows who has been there has gone back (I haven't either), Masa is most definitely an experience, and one I think is worth the outrageously high price tag. At least once. I know you've enjoyed Yasuda in the past. I think you'd enjoy Masa very much. 3. Eleven Madison Park -- I've not yet been, but given your criteria (and my knowledge of where you've been in NYC already), that would undoubtedly be my choice. I can hardly think of another restaurant about which I've read such glowing reviews over the past several months. Actually, I can't think of any. I am really looking forward to trying this place in the very near future. Other thoughts... Per Se: Would undoubtedly have been in my top 3, but I know you've been already. Can't say that I blame you, though. The thrill of trying a new place is a wonderful thing! Alain Ducasse: Would have likely been in my top 3 as well, but is no longer open as you know. I still think about that foie gras and tapioca ravioli. And the souffle. Mmm. Daniel: Might have suggested this as well, as I found the setting to be very comfortable, and the service very friendly. But I know you've been, and I seem to remember you feeling like you'd been "manhandled", so it sounds as if you and I may have had very different experiences! Gordon Ramsay: Granted, I've only been once. But we put ourselves completely at the disposal of the chefs in the kitchen, letting them create an off-the-menu tasting for us to show a wider range of their offerings. So we ended up with around 12 to 13 courses. While many of the high points of the meal were quite high (phenomenal souffle, for example), there were too many dishes that were merely good. A few dishes were far too one-dimensional, lacking contrast, and overall I felt they often struggled to acheive the right flavor balance (we thought many courses skewed too sweet or too salty). Can't really say I'd recommend this over the other places you seem to be considering. The Modern: I've not yet been to the main dining room (it's on the never-ending "list"), but I was not as impressed with the Bar Room as many other eG'ers seem to have been. Perhaps I deserve to give the place a second shot. Del Posto vs Babbo: Personally, I'd do Babbo. But, as I'm sure you know, they are two VERY different restaurants. Hardly even comparable, save for the fact that their pastas are often the most lauded dishes. Like slkinsey, I've not been disappointed by the secondi at Babbo. Yes, some of the pastas are stellar, but the secondi are no slouches. The osso buco in particular was outstanding, I thought. Also, I would not do the pasta tasting menu, personally. I generally find the choices that comprise that menu to be a bit boring and not necessarily representative of the flashes of brilliance that other choices on the pasta menu may contain. The pasta specials (I walked by and saw one with uni last week. mmm..) are often nice. Oh, and if you end up going to Del Posto, whatever you do, make sure you try the 6-year aged parmigiano-reggiano. Absolutely outstanding. Others: Picholine, Cru, Aquavit, Country -- places I've not yet been, but have heard enough good things about to be quite excited for whenever I finally do go. Sorry for the long post, U.E., but hopefully this is helps!

The Garden of Eden on Bway & 106th has 'em all the time

Just curious: why do you find Prune underappreciated? They've not exactly been struggling for business during the times I've been by.