Shellygirl

I think it would be a challege to avoid sharing (with this particular company). I am also a meat-freak. But, I will be sure to order a dish off of the veggie menu, thanks!

How crazy is that?? I wish they wrote back and said which they picked and how it ended up!! Oh, well...

Just made the reservations for Devi! Thanks everyone! Now, if I'm not being too much of a pain, just a few dish recommendations (so I can prove we've made the right decision!)...

Thank you everyone! Oakapple, I certainly don't object to fusion or Danny Meyer. I just feared what Raji eluded to, that minus a few dishes, Tabla's menu could represent so many other types of fusion. I must (shamefully) admit that I had a small agenda when creating this thread. Although it is my birthday, and I want to go to Devi, my date has been more than pushing for Tabla. And sneaker, you hit the nail on the head. I suppose, for the Tabla supporters, I just need a little bit more convincing. A major worry was that the quality of Devi has dipped a bit. Has anybody been there recently?

I'm thinking Indian for my birthday. I suppose I would prefer more traditional, but has anybody been to Tabla? Does it try to reach too far? What about Bread Bar? Has Devi stayed consistent? I'd take any other suggestions as well. Thanks!

I think they tried that, but the ceiling was too low and the floor too high. ← Well, there is always car-side-to-go, like Applebee's!! That seems to be a successful program. I could just see Love bringing out the occasional foie gras shooter to some eager B&Ter waiting in his Volvo.

Perhaps if LD made some sort of drive-thru it would prove more popular! The customers wouldn't have to look at the decor, and poor service would be expected!

I completely agree that location was not the determining issue with Lonesome Dove, but the very poor reviews it received. Platt's review had barely mentioned the food, but was consumed with a wilting cactus. I felt it was an obvious attack on either Tim Love personally, or "his" kind. It is unfortunate. I greatly enjoyed the food. I visited Texas in the fall, and found that this Tex Fusion food is becoming quite popular. Its ashame that the one place in NY (that I know of) which is attempting this sort of food is meeting such criticism.

If you're not into cramped spaces, definitely knock little owl off your list.

Believe it or not, Thursday night is Celeb night at Nobu 57. Went there over the summer and was inundated. I was later told that Thursday is sushi day for the rich and famous. Not sure if that fad has changed since the summer, but I suppose its worth a shot!

If what you are looking for is to re-live the good ole days: when mom and dad would take you out to the best seafood place they knew (probably for a birthday or anniversary). You would sit in a huge wooden booth with cracked leather while an enormous fish tank glowed above your head. The cute 19 year old waitress would flirt with your father, and your mother would order glasses of water or more bread to get her away from the table as quick as possible. Your order was the stuffed shrimp, mom the mussles, and dad would order whatever fish came with the head still attached. If this is what you are wishing to recreate, then I would have to suggest Sammys on CI.

Not sure about the crab cakes, but I went to JPs recently and was able to try the stuffed lobster. The stuffing was genuine crab meat and really great. I would definitely call and make sure they make stuffed shrimp though, and specify that you don't want it fried! If not, I would try Sammy's (very nostalgic) and Lobster Box.

in a partially-cash based business...that's very massageable... ← Nobody knows that more than me, but their food and liquor supplies are required to release their records as well. And with the amount of supply-side audits that have been going on lately, I don't think their is going to be as much fudging as usual! ← well, they've asserted that 45-50% of their receipts are from food. if they can prove that ..... one would think it would be a strong argument in their favor (I suspect that many high end restaurants are at less than that due to wine revenues) ← If they can prove 45-50% they should be fine...

in a partially-cash based business...that's very massageable... ← Nobody knows that more than me, but their food and liquor supplies are required to release their records as well. And with the amount of supply-side audits that have been going on lately, I don't think their is going to be as much fudging as usual!

I think that the quality of food (or the amount of press that the food receives) is irrelevant. The board is interested in numbers. They are going to look at the establishment's sales and compare the percentage of revenue from food as opposed to liquor/alcohol. And basically, say goodbye to Death & Co.