foodboy

So, what deli was it?

Not to go on a tangent, but I'm surprised you found attitude at Katz's and not at Serendipity. Their frozen hot chocolate is amazing, but what a bunch of jerks running that place! I remember one of their waiters was trying to get down the stairs and yelled to the customers ahead of him to hurry up. (Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen).

I believe it's a "young garlic" soup, with delicately fried frog legs on the side. Whatever it is, it's one of the best things I've ever eaten. Don't think sopa de ajo. This is a more opaque, velvety-textrued soup. You can dip the frog legs in it. I also had a beef dish with bone marrow and black truffle custard on the side. I don't remember all the details, but it was great, too. Usually, at top-flight restaurants, I am more impressed by fish preparations than beef. This was a definite exception. For dessert, my fiance and I each had a different "sampler." You pick a theme (chocolate, citrus, etc) , and they give you four mini desserts in that theme. Together, we tasted 8 different desserts. I wasn't crazy about this approach. I think I would have preferred one or two desserts in larger portions. If you don't count dessert, this may have been the best dinner I ever had.

The best block overall (not just for restaurants) is 20th St. between Park and Broadway: Gramercy Tavern Patria Teddy Roosevelt's Birthplace Location of the first Ramones Rehearsal Veritas (though I've never been there) A reasonably-priced hooker named "Cheetah"

Been to Luger's twice and I just don't get the hype! I wonder if the waiters can differentiate the best steaks from the others and if they give the best ones to regular customers, VIP's, etc? Any waiter who gets a sufficient eyeball of me would conclude that I'm a piss-on gerbil of little or no influence. The best steak I ever tasted was a strip steak at Eddie's in Great Falls, Montana a few months ago. Flavor and texture unlike anything I've ever had. I wish I had made more of an effort to find out where their steaks come from.

Wow! That place was serving wings as far back as the late 70's/early 80's (maybe earlier, for all I know). It's the first place I ever had them. I was only 7 or 8 at the time. As for the Menendez brothers, when did they own the place?

Thanks for the replies, but I already booked at Grill 73 in Bernardsville. I hope I don't regret it. I will consider the other places for future meals. As for Cafe Cucina, I've never eaten there, but I've been drinking there every Christmas Eve for the past 6 or 7 years.

I want to celebrate a birthday this Saturday night with a party of seven. Birthday boy on the Adkins diet, so no pasta, carbs, etc. Also, no Japanese. Otherwise, looking for excellent food above all else. Should be casual dress, but pricey is OK. Needs to be within half-hour of Somerville. Any advice? Thanks... P.S. Origin is already booked for the evening.

How is the weekend brunch at 11 Madison Park?

I think it's awesome. I actually enjoy it more than I've enjoyed dessert at places like Jean Georges and Bouley. As for other great chocolate desserts, about 4 years ago, the chocolate souffle at La Caravelle was excellent.

Thank you all for your feedback. I'm looking forward to the trip!

Foodwise, (more so than service or atmosphere) what are the very best restaurants on these two islands? I would like a place that really emphasizes local ingredients and, possibly, Hawaiian or Pacific cooking.

A few years back, we brought my Grandpa to a now-closed restaurant in Tribeca for his birthday. Something he ordered was not prepared to his liking, so he complained to the waiter. The waiter killed him. We never went back.

Should I expect the quality of the meat (or preparation) to differ based on whether I order steak for 2, 3, 4, etc?

Nothing wrong with the foie gras with dried fruit puree, either.