Sneakeater

I think the restaurant on Orchard St. with the awning that says "Heirloom" is Heirloom (Matthew Kenney's new vegetarian place).

Just for the record, I neither agree nor disagree with what Andrea Strong said in her Morimoto review. I've never eaten there. As for her reviews of places I have eaten, sometimes I agree and sometimes I disagree. Because unlike her, sometimes I don't like restaurants I eat in.

The average middle America tourists who stream into NYC 24/7?

I think she's completely undiscerning. I doubt she's hired for her criticism (as opposed to her writing and reporting.) Anyway, so what if she has a lot of jobs? A major media outlet used to employ Gene Shalit to be a film critic. Does that mean I had to respect him even though he was hopelessly middle-brow and apparently incapable of sophisticated informed judgment?

Probably wrong thread to ask this, but adamru, how did you get all these reservations for Morimoto? My friends and I always get the "booked straight through to March" routine.

One thing that's great about Karuma is the way all the chefs shout at each customer as they walk in. (I suppose that's some kind of sushi bar tradition.) Another notable thing is that, on the basis of overheard conversations, the night I was there I was the only non-Asian male sitting at the counter who is not a hedge-fund manager.

Yes. But I personally like Yasuda better. At Karuma (at least in my one experience there), it was much more about just the fish and less about the whole package (the accompanying soy and wasabi, etc.), which is what impressed both you and me so much about Yasuda. I found Karuma to be about one-third more expensive than Yasuda.

Actually this (along with the bolito misto cart) is the first thing I've heard that makes this place sound interesting to me. Do they still have the bolito misto cart? Nobody mentions it anymore.

Thing is, though, that it sounds like the experience is EXACTLY what Batali had hoped to deliver. Just from reading the restaurant's own publicity releases, what Fat Al described is EXACTLY what I would have expected. I'm not saying this to try to make myself sound smart. I'm only saying that this may be why people aren't going to this place in the first place: cuz it just sounds like a bad idea.

Don't you think the reasons people here haven't eaten there in droves are that time and money are finite resources, and Del Posto sounds like it's very expensive, not that comfortable, and not that interesting? Based on what you've read about Del Posto (not the reviews, but just the descriptions of the restaurant), would it be YOUR first choice for a high-priced dining destination (if, for example, you also haven't been to Gilt yet)?

Not nearly: some would even say a non-functional bathroom cost ADNY a fourth star.

I think you'll be perfectly comfortable without a tie just about anywhere. (I rarely wear a tie, and I never feel out of place.) It's surprising, but while New York is more stylish than many other places in the US, it's much less "dressy".

Hey wait. The Gilt thing wasn't in a "Diner's Journal" piece. It was in a "Critic's Notebook" piece. (I don't use smileys. But if I did, there'd be one here.)

We certainly agree about that. Which obviously is the important issue.

Sure hope Daniel saw that.

As for your concerns about the blog, though: 1. The "Diner's Journal" column has long (I don't know enough to be able to say "always") been used as a forum for the critic to "pre-review" restaurants he intends fully to review later. 2. If we take Bruni at his word, the "Diner's Journal" blog will expand his ability to discuss restaurants that wouldn't fit into the review schedule. That can only be a good thing. (Indeed, it could ameliorate the problems some of us -- by which I mean "me" -- have with the Star System.) 3. To the extent the "Diner's Journal" blog will have more topical "general interest" pieces, that would also be a good thing -- to the extent they don't queer the review process the way some think the "Del Posto" piece did. FWIW, I thought the "reservations" entry was extremely useful and interesting. 4. None of the foregoing should be taken as an endorcement of Frank Bruni as critic or writer. I am not a fan.

This is a complete side issue that has nothing to do with the more global concerns you advert to.

I apologize in advance for being argumentative about a triviality, but we're not expecting to get "his" views so much as a fair and accurate description and analysis of a restaurant. And don't you think he selects the quotes he uses in order to advance and illuminate the views "he" intends to present? It's not like he's just presenting an unadorned transcript of the dinner table conversation. I think that also responds to your objection about being subjected to the opinions of whoever he "happens" to bring along. It's not whoever he "happens" to bring along, but rather whoever he chooses to quote. I.e., he DECIDES which quotes to use, so they become part of HIS workproduct. (This really is a silly thing to argue about. Sorry.)

As my mother used to say when I asked her why there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day but no Children's Day . . . .

Yeah, but they all have those annoying popups ... poor choice of words for a romantic lover, I guess ... ← Thanks. That was the hardest I've ever laughed at an eGullet post.

I'm genuinely happy you see the difference between "nuts" and "a sucker". (Honest, non-sarcastic statement.) You're certainly right in your final sentence.

Of course you're right. But I tend to think of it as War.

Maybe I'm sour, but to me paying $1 more is, like, nuts.

I have to say that I know nothing about vintages and would be grateful for any information from people who do.

Oy. So now I have this expensive (and delicious) bottle I'm allergic to.