Meredith380
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Posts posted by Meredith380
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Good show tonight. Cliff seemed legitimately regretful as to how it went down, as did Marcel, but hell if I woke up pinned to the ground, unable to move, I would have handled it way worse than Marcel did.
I'm looking forward to Hawaii.
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I saw the restaurant week dinner menu for Del Frisco steakhouse the other day. It had three choices for each course - the mains were a petite filet, a porkchop, and scallops - each came with a side item. I have never eaten there, but it looks like it would be a nice choice - especially after the crowds leave if an event is happening at The Garden that night.
Do you mean Nick and Stef's? I didn't see Del Frisco's participating.
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Thanks Nathan, that feed back is helpful. I can't do an early bird seating because of work and commuting, although I hope to try Perry St. in general.
Megu appeals to me most, although I know my dining companion isn't big into Japanese, we'll see.
I've tried calling Nougatine and Aquavita to see if they've determined their menus but they haven't. I can't bring myself to make an Open Table res. anywhere and break it if the menu won't work for my friend, so I'm pretty much waiting around. I don't mind dining late though.
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true. but most of the good ones do.
but the basic problem here is that the OP is set on doing a RW dinner. very few of the even halfway decent restaurants bother to offer a RW dinner.
I guess if any steakhouses do it that might be the way to go (FG once gave advice of this sort as well)
I'm not set on a RW dinner so much as set on spending 35$ for a three course meal. If you can refer me to restaurants that supposedly offer the same value with a better product, by all means, your suggestions would be appreciated.
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virtually none of the good restaurants offer a RW dinner. sorry.
Perry Street offers a fabulous $25 lunch 7 days a week. RW is the one time I would not go for it. (it'll be filled with all the people who wouldn't eat there otherwise...even though the price is the same the other 51 weeks of the year).
the same is true of most of the RW restaurants.
RW isn't gauche, it's just a joke. cause the same deals (or sometimes better ones) are offered year round.
If anything it's rather disingenuous for restaurants to offer it.
Honestly, I'm not looking to be wowed, or even impressed. I'm looking to be fed, and fed cheaply. If I wanted to indulge in a meal, I would and have, but I'm not going out with foodies so I'm looking for the 'best of the worst', if you will. Factor in ambiance to my requirements too, if I like the scene and the service, then I will be inclined to return and order appropriately. Hell, I may not even choose the 'restaurant week menu' but am looking for a place with a decent one for the rest of my party, if that exsists. Last summer I ate at Roy's during RW and enjoyed it.
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I'm going to Manhattan for restaurant week with a friend, so I'm looking for any guidance as to the best places to go to for restaurant week-- and for dinner no less. The lunch options are obviously better, but unless I eat alone (hmm, I may just do that and then join in for the dinner,maybe EMP for lunch), I'm set on doing a dinner.
Let me preface-- I realize there are about 50 other options on any restaurant's menu I'd most likely rather be eating and I know my server will be annoyed, as will most likely the chef, but humor me here. I'm staying on the UES and would prefer not to travel but am willing to for the right menu, if it's out there. And I refuse to believe out of all the participating restaurants, there isn't a hidden gem or few out there.
Thanks in advance!
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Also, if they were really trying to mess with the restaurant, I'd guess they'd cancel more than one table at a time and that Meredith's original post would have noted that the reservation was cancelled an hour before service in order to maximize the pain.
Maybe not, for at least two reasons.
First, they really don't have anything against the particular restaurant. (they could even be a regular customer?) These people have a crusading mentality. The point is getting publicity and parlaying that into disportionate political clout, not educating restaurantuers.
And, you don't want to be too obvious.
SB (knows a few things about making trouble)
"These people..." You talked to the woman?
She (they?) didn't try to generate any publicity. Which, of course, would involve getting obvious. Which you say they don't want to do. Which means that there's no political clout, because politicians rarely respondto the subtle.
And no co-conspirators. And no reports of multiple monkeywrenching -- no multiple contacts of this restaurant or scattered, systematic contacts of others.
Is this the "lone vegan" theory?
The customer was not a regular, it was her first time, at least in 2 1/2 years at our restaurant, or any of our restaurants (I checked).
She did cancel her reservation with only 24 hours to go. I don't think it's a conspirary theory thing, I think it was a woman bloated (excuse the term) with self righteousness at her 'cause du jour'. Okay that sounded ruder than I wanted it to.
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I did bring this to the attention of the owners, and explained what the guest said and how I responded. He was satisfied with the situation. He feels strongly against the proposed ban and is active in preventing legislation that would ban foie gras.
It was a new experience to have a guest display moral outrage regarding our right to determine our menu as we see fit. You'd never have a vegetarian or vegan call up and lecture on serving meat (or maybe you would, now that I mentioned it, I'll have it happen tomorrow!).
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To me the woman was looking to provoke an opinion from me, by questioning if I know how ducks are fed in order to produce foie gras. I didn't bite, because I didn't want to debate with a guest, not to mention engage in a debate she was obviously looking for and ready to attack on. Probably was an activist.
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If this thread picks up steam I give it but a few days until the eventual flamefests and locking.
So with all due respect, she has every right to call and speak her mind. And to call her uneducated is a bit of a stretch. She at least knows what foie is and its production process, which is much more than the vast majority of the dining public. What I think of her viewpoint, however, goes without saying.
Good point Bryan. I guess I figured to label her as being uneducated simply because my working in the establishment should be a green light to my knowing how foie is produced and the controversy surrounding it. She asked to speak to a manager, and I am one, so to question me seemed...okay, more so leading than uneducated.
And I agree she was goading, however she did have a reservation, made weeks prior (thanks to computers, I can tell this much-- I can also note her aversion to animals that are fed....)
And you're right she does have every right to speak her mind. But lecturing me was pretty pointless.
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Working in fine dining in New Jersey (where they are currently attempting to establish laws banning foie gras production and sales, don't get me started), I was shocked to receive a call from a guest attempting to cancel her reservation but wanting to speak to a manager the other day.
I took the call and she claimed that I should know, and should share with the chef and owners that she would be canceling her reservation after reading the menu online because we served foie gras. I stayed silent. She then asked me if I knew how the ducks were fed, and I responded that of course I did. She then told me how "it would soon be illegal to serve foie" and her "conscious wouldn't allow her to dine in places that serve it" and did I realize "places like yours will be stopped soon". I went slightly out of bounds when I said I realized the laws that were attempting to be passed, hoped for the sake of dining they would not be, bit my tounge and refrained from asking what she thought about the veal, lamb or hell even chicken that we served and ended the call without sympathy.
I was somewhat dumbfounded and then laughed it off. Honestly, I haven't even tried foie gras (it honestly freaks me out, organ meat just bugs me) but I certainly believe in the right of choice. I also think this woman will have a hell of a time trying to find a fine dining, 3 star NY Times meal in my state in an establishment that does not have foie on the menu.
Has anyone else experienced this... uneducated stubborness? (that's the nicest way I can think of wording it).
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I had dinner at Ora recently and could not have been more impressed.
I started with the Ecudorinan Shrimp which were perfectly matched with fingerling potatoes, and sampled the Mezzuna (I think that's what it was called ) salad.
My friend's short ribs were amazing, the fusion of flavors that were presented were mindboggling, the same with my perfectly seared scallop entree.
The desserts were great, particularly the banana based dessert that included what I believe was fresh ginger, chocolate and so good that I somewhat rudely interrupted a neighboring table and told them they had to order it. They thanked me for my interuption once getting their dessert.
The Falivene brothers, particularly Jeffrey who seems to work the FOH, could not have been more gracious. Morristown needs more restaurants where the owners genuinely care about the quality of their food over feeding the masses. I look forward to returning.
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But the enforcement here in NYC has changed because of the issues that have resulted from the summer. I think we are going to see more and more enforcement where it didn't exist before.
You see, this is where you lose me.
Because underage people from New Jersey out on a bender drink themselves comatose in megaclubs and then find themselves raped, murdered and dumped in a garbage can, the police or inspectors are going to start keeping close watch on people eating with their parents in quiet, not to say somnolent, restaurants?
Seems to me that the police and inspectors are going to start paying a lot of attention to megaclubs. Why would they divert their resources to an area that has nothing to do with the problems they're trying to solve?
(In any event, all this speculation -- on my part as much as yours -- is worthless. I think your post about the warning is kind of the point here. If anyone gets a warning like that, then of course things will change. But if not . . . .)
Ah let's blame it on Jersey, I see how this is!
Is this the thread of sterotypes?That said, do I think the server was completely wrong in how he handled the situation? Absolutely. You make that decision as a server the moment an alcoholic beverage is ordered as to whether you want to card someone or not. You don't back track.
However, I'd never blame any server who refuses to serve a minor, even if they did so at an inappropriate time. That's their livelyhood on the line. I would have reflected his gauche moment in my tip.
This "in a fine dining environment, they look the other way" attitude is out of line to me. They look the other way EVERYWHERE IN NYC. I spent my 16th birthday drinking pitchers of beer in Houlihans in midtown.
To me, the law is the law. If you can evade it, cool. If a server refuses service, too bad, but it's their right. It's not worth being outraged over. You can drink underage anywhere in any place, whether it's Manhattan, Florida, PA, or, godforbid, NJ.
-- you reserve the right to try to drink but are certainly not entitled no matter what you're paying for your dining experience. -
What about Morristown?
There's a lot of new business venture possibilites, with the condo/apartment building in the former Epsteins location. Headquarter's Plaza. Pine Street.
I may be biased because I live there and all...but it is a good market for a place like Amazin Hotdog. I've raved to all my friends but have yet to get them out to Verona.
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Japanese - Sushi Lounge, great sushi, interesting rolls, but can get pricey. For great sushi/sashimi that is also a great price point try Aji Japanese Fusion on Speedwell in Morris Plains.
Thai - Andamann Sea Recipes is my favorite
New American - George and Martha Tavern on Morris. Great burgers, and other choices for lunch.
Pizza - Suvio's but no delivery
Indian - Moghuls on the lunch buffet. Dinner is al a carte and unless you go with a few people, you can't get to sample as much as you can on the buffet.
I agree with all of these choices. George and Martha's is shy of a week old and I really enjoy the bar there.
Also, I enjoy Ora, next to the Community Theatre. Interesting flavors and dishes, and it's BYOB. Pazzo Pazzo is nice, particularly in the summer when you can dine outside.
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These might be obvious and passe but why not present the salsas in various vegetables/ fruits that they are derived from, ie: in an avocado, tomato, onion or pepper? That's the best I can come up with and it's trite I know. Good luck!
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The Side Bar at the Famished Frog in Morristown allows smoking.
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That's a pretty harsh and sterotypical view of hostesses.
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I always chalked up the post- church crowd to generally be an "amateur crowd". Depending on where I was working at the time. Holidays now tend to bring out the amateurs. The ones who gasp at the prices, cannot believe they have to PAY FOR SODA REFILLS and that gratuity is automatic. Oh and they never have credit cards, which are a requirement for a reservation.
And then, on the occasion that they do book the reservations, they call 500 times, lost about 35 miles away because they didn't listen to your directions in the first place, and ignore you when you reiterate them for the 4th time.
Nahhhh I'm not bitter!
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The Melting Pot website with details ... ... looks like something which was in fashion some time ago (the website indicates 30 years!!) ... here in Atlanta, there are 3 Melting Pots but I sincerely doubt that I'd revisit that concept ... I can't make much of a meal from melted cheese for dipping one's bread ... I know, they serve other things but ...
...We had a restaurant here called The Magic Pan, if memory serves me correctly ... and they served all types of crepes, different fillings... now it has gone ... another historical moment in dining ...
See I missed the whole fondue fad (too young), so the idea of dipping meats into cheese just screams to me. Magic Pan looks fun too. Yum! Granted, I'm not watching calories so cheese (particularly when paired with meat) is just a must try. Believe me when the Melting Pot in my area opens I'll give a full report.
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Good point. It's hard to discriminate a fad from a long term success, particularly when a chain is involved.
But good to know the food was enjoyable. If they had locations in the Northeast, I'd try it out. The current "old fad born again" chain up here is "The Melting Pot" (www.meltingpot.com) and I plan on trying the location when it opens close to me.
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Two questions; first, what is a beige broth and how rapidly is this company expanding. Interesting concept but seems to be based on a fad that could be rapidly changing.
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I haven't been to 973 although their prices look high and the ambiance looks low, particularly given the destination (a strip mall). No where to go for an nice after dinner drink. Although there is now a Dunkin Donuts there.
Andaman's is closed Monday's unfortunately, I love their food and get take out there regularly. Although it's awkward to walk through the restaurant to get to the cashier.
I've heard horror stories about the food at the Grasshopper. Multiple reports of food poisioning from people who work in the industry. I can barely tolerate the place for a beer, it's over packed, the staff gets rude about letting people in the "back door" after 10 and that parking lot freaks me out so badly that I hate walking around the building to go in the front. When I do get bullied into going there, I have 911 on speed dial and have seen about 10 arrests there. And I've lived in town all my life. I'd rather walk into Danny's Pub. And that says a lot.
Sorry for the tangent. Where did you wind up going tonight?
PrimeTime Tables
in New York: Dining
Posted · Edited by Meredith380 (log)
I'm a member as well, and as a reservations manager for three restaurants, this is very interesting.
It makes sense, say, if you're a personal assistant and need to secure a reservation. Of if you want to show off for Valentine's Day, in particular.
Otherwise, it rubs me wrong. What if those tables don't sell? You don't get that walk in business in most places. It just seems dirty. To each their own, but I don't buy scalped tickets and I still managed to go to 3 Mets playoff games. If you want something enough, you plan for it.
In Manhattan, there are tons of options avaliable and to bother to pay for a reservation to me just screams busch league. Not that the demand isn't there, it is, but to me, it's tacky. Who wants to go in as Mr. Joe Smith as your alias and not build a respectable relationship with the establishment? Only a rookie diner would accept that.