Steve R.

Realizing we'd be overlapping in Miami for one night, me and the missus got together with Rich and his missus for dinner at Michy's last week. We really loved the place and the 1/2 orders are definitely the way to go. Four of us getting 9 half plates more than sufficed and the sweetbreads order was excellent. The truffled polenta w/egg (see above post by Rich) was still (or back?) on the menu so we got 2 half orders of that and it was a major winner. Got to admit though... after a week in Miami, eating around, I thought the most outstanding place was Talula. We wound up going twice. But I'd go back to Michy's easily as well. Very nice.

We were there last week and I enjoyed our meal at "Seven Fish", a nice corner place a couple of blocks off Duval (Elizabeth and Olivia?). Pretty assertive flavors though, so it may not be for everyone. The use of mango in my penne worked well, as did thyme in with a seafood dish. Very nice room with a decent wine list and a New England charm to it. Reasonable prices and a quiet, reserved crowd.

I greatly prefer the room at Hearth as well. Even though the Insieme menu is more wide ranging, I also think that the food is a bit better at Hearth.

Well, you said "preferably" on the high end requirement, so I'll second EMP but add Hearth and Devi, which are both very nice but a notch or two under "high end" in NYC. In both cases, I'd advise having a little discussion with them and asking them to cook for you. At Hearth that'll mean a couple of extra courses of menu items (probably nothing off the menu). At Devi it can mean almost anything, especially if Suvir is around... some of it might be dishes not on the menu but that they're trying from his "American Masala" cookbook (or whatever he'll be working on by May).

This is quite true, but once you've taken into consideration the travel costs in time and money, the prices at CB just don't seem all that much higher. Lunch specials for assortments of dim sum (I think there's a large and a small one) are under $20, including soup...tea is expensive, however, at about $6 a pot. ← Agreed, if you live in Manhattan. Although, as Sneakeater said, it's more a time consideration than a $$ consideration since the N train gets to World Tong pretty easily. Of course, your (unwritten) assumption that most diners at CB's dim sum are from Manhattan may not be correct and World Tong may actually be closer to many of us from the farmlands. Or, more concisely, a lot of us live in Bklyn to begin with.

Well said. Although I'm with Pan in not being willing to pay CB's prices for dim sum, I really do appreciate that there are just about no places that manage inventive quality at reasonable prices and the alternative, especially in Manhattan's C-town, is low cost mediocre fare. However, they do pop up for brief periods and, over the years, I've been able to catch places as new chefs try to get a foothold in NYC by starting with a local C-town place. I remember Mandarin Court on Mott as being one such place a good 15 years ago and it lasted less than a year at that quality level. The one exception is World Tong in Brooklyn. It remains a solid quality (not so much in high end ingredients as in preparation and execution) at low end prices. Take your wife's family there & they'll be fine.

Welcome to egullet and thanks for a great first post. I can't believe you're only 16. (I'm jealous - I didn't realize my love for food until considerably later.) ← Hell, when I was 16, I would have gone just for the champagne. Another reason I focused on Japanese and Korean food, at that time in the city, they never carded.... ← At 16, I had similar emotions about a restaurant with a similarly short 5 letter, 2 word name: Wo Hop.

Entirely on purpose. The current owners bought Detour Bar to make a restaurant. The pace of doing so might seem slow to those that dont know them but there've been reasons. And now it's finally a restaurant. I'm not into cocktails (as Sneak and Jesikka know) but the Jala-pina that Rob designed for Centrico is still on my summer drinking list & I dont mind the Gotham at all for the winter. Eating there on the average of once/week for at least 6 months now (including last night), I think "bar" is the secondary aspect of the place, with cocktail lounge not really even on their minds for a close 3rd. But, if you want a well crafted cocktail, talk to Rob & ask him to make it. He can and will.

But, back in Brooklyn, Teresa's thrives.

A bunch of us spent noon-2pm on Sunday in the newish Roosevelt Mall (small, 8 stall place around the corner from Fu Ran aka Waterfront and 1/2 block from S&T) checking out the food. By and large, as interesting as Golden, but much more open & well lit. Posts on CH about it. I miss the J&L Mall but the food at Golden and now Roosevelt will fill the void. As an aside, I've grown to like Fu Ran better than just about all the other Flushing places, with Little Pepper right behind and S&T in third.

So far, the best cumin lamb that I've had, believe it or not, is at the Bay Ridge Bklyn place (on 5th between 87-88th Sts).

So, 4 of us went last night (sorry you couldnt join us, Daniel) and had a good meal. Probably a B, maybe B+. This was certainly better than a recent meal on 9th Ave in Chelsea, which I would have rated C. The lamb with cumin was well done... not dried out but certainly dry, meaning no grease or any liquid. Very nice taste to it. The dan dan noodles were the only thing I thought 9th Ave does better (as do most places)... they were not very silky &, while okay, nothing to write home about. Eh. The cold cucumbers were very good, cut into larger pieces than most others do. Refreshing, with good spicing. Pork belly was, as usual, well prepared and the fish with Napa cabbage was similarly good. Although it looked like it would be fire-y with a full crust of peppers, it wasnt. As a matter of fact, my major impression of this meal was that they managed very well to serve food that had spice that was integrated into the taste of the dish but wasnt the main aspect of the dish. This often isnt the case when heavily spiced food is ordered... the "hot" can easily outweigh the fish or the pork in too many places. We ordered the tea smoked duck as well & it was very smoked... I liked it but it was heavy on the smoke.... the opposite of what I liked about the other dishes. Overall, I continue to think that this place is someplace to keep on the rotation when in the mood for Szech. food and, overall, better than 9th Ave's food (which can be downright mediocre). But I've liked the place on 2nd Ave in the 50s better and certainly think that, if travel isnt a major concern, the Bay Ridge Szech. place (5th Ave and 88th St) is better as well, right up there with Flushing's Little Pepper and Spicy & Tasty.

We'll be in Orleans 9/8-16, probably around the same time as you're in P'town. Not that we're the masters of fine dining, spending most of our NYC dining out at moderately priced (Hearth, not Bouley) or lower (sometimes waaaay lower) places, but the Cape has just never been exceptional upscale dining experiences for us so we tend toward the pleasant moderately priced places with decent wine lists. That being said, I know it's a little far (ok, a lot far) for you, but we'll no doubt be eating at Red Pheasant once or twice, as we've always found it one of the Cape's most welcoming. Havent been in a couple of years, but it's been a steady go to place over the past 15 years for us. Just sayin'. Let me know if you strike gold. We'll be driving to P'town for a day or so... hopefully the Portuguese bakery is still there.

I'd second the recommendation that you dont dismiss going back to Flushing if you havent been to Spicy and Tasty, Little Pepper and Fu Run. Or the stalls in the remaining "Mall". However, if you're dead set on something else, there are other places close to the tennis. Last week (after going to the Quals.), I went down Roosevelt Ave to the 70s. This put me past all the Latin American trucks, taco places, fruit stands, juice places, etc. that are mostly great. Then it got me to some of the Phillipines places, a couple of Indian/Pakistanian places and finally to the Sripraphai neighborhood. Tonite I'm picking up my wife after tennis (she's not working & I am, damn it) and going to Seva, a nice, small Indian restaurant on 30th Ave (Astoria, but a ways from Ali's). Zabb Thai also has a branch around the corner and there are other Greek, Latin and even E.European places around. I'd also recommend going to the small Italian enclave in Corona, where you can find both The Lemon King ices place, some small groceries and Parkside Restaurant, an old school red sauce place.

Overall, the knock out room, view and general ambience goes a long way in overcoming what is now only good food, uninspired, from a competent kitchen. We still go a couple of times a year but made the mistake, last month, of going the week after an excellent meal at Eleven Madison Park. It paled in comparison, even at 2/3rds the price. Still has a very nice wine list and gracious service. They need a new, motivated up and coming chef to take over the kitchen.

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb here. Ginny and I accidentally found a place 6 months or so ago that was brand new (then) and showed great promise. Lots of fresh seafood. However, as it's now 6 months later, I have no idea if this will still be good or a complete bust so let the buyer beware. East Market Restaurant, with an official address of 75-85 East Broadway, but its actually upstairs, with an entrance from an internal alleyway between E.Bdway and Henry, Market St and Forsyth St. A block away from the E. Broadway Mall. Soba: are those pictures from our dim sum together at World Tong? Nice shots. No durian.

I think Hemsin, at it's prime, was better than Taci's (in Bklyn, on Coney Island Ave off Ave P). However, Taci's is close enough that it may well be the best alternative now that Hemsin is gone. Sahara, a couple of blocks down Coney Is. Ave (off Ave T), is a much more festive, bustling place but is no longer worth much food-wise. I'd advise some exploration of this area, since there are quite a few small, new Turkish places around and even a couple of larger ones that I havent been and look interesting (on Emmons Ave by Loehman's and around Kings Hiway and Coney Is. Ave).

Unless something's changed in the last week or two, the folks at Eleven Madison Park told me that they intended to have Van Winkle bourbon drinks again in their courtyard. Last year, I spent as much time there as anywhere.

Unfortunately, your experience is par for course. The place was good its first year and had lofty ambitions but it's exactly like you experienced most, if not all, of the time these past several years. I don't know why anyone even thinks of going. Much better food in the surrounding areas.

Pan's correct. Best dim sum is World Tong in Bensonhurst by far. There's no real Chinese restaurant community around there though (although Villabate Italian Bakery is only 10 blocks up on 18th Ave & makes it all worthwhile) so if you're looking for the general ambience, the Chinatown is 8th Ave in the 50s... decent dim sum, nothing to write home about. Lots of Cantonese fresh pulled noodle soup places and street vendors. Get to Brighton Beach Ave and walk around. Russian places for lunch including the markets that have tables/chairs to eat what you buy. Get to DiFara's on Ave J for pizza. Walk down Coney Island Ave to the Pakistanian neighborhood as well. Then up to Nostrand Ave for West Indian foods. Plenty of dinner places in Park Slope. If you're coming several weeks from now and are here on a weekend day, hit the Red Hook ballfields for Mexican, Central and S. American foods.

We've been there a # of times over the years, although not recently (that's 2 years in Steve R lingo). Throw in a couple of "functions" there, including a grad school alumni event with a kitchen tour, and I guess we have a feel for the place. All told, good to very good meals have been had. Best adventure (disclosure -- this was over 10 years ago): 8 of us descended on them and had a very good (two and a half Bruni stars?) meal over the course of several hours. Lots of conversation, time flying. Dessert course was taking unusually long to come out. First, our server said "almost ready", then someone else said "I'll check with the kitchen", then... well, you get the idea & 45 minutes went by. Finally, we all got sick of talking to each other and focused on the waiter, who basically shrugged "I dunno" and got the manager/supervisor, an "over 50" well dressed guy, who looked like a stern dean of students and had a nice french accent. "I'll check". Well, you could hear the not so elegant yelling from the kitchen and then, in a recomposed state, he returned and eloquently stated "the kitchen informs me that they 'ran out of chocolate' and didnt quite know how to tell you so they just stalled and hid". He gave us a very nice smile too. So... without any chocolate desserts, we got comped something or other in the liquid department & went on our way, knowing we had a story to tell which, obviously, I'm still getting mileage out of.

To add to your DUMBO recs, Hecho is a very nice small plate Mexican place in a room that's a coffee shop by day. Worth a visit. I hate Grimaldi's.... I think it's been running on reputation for years, since the family sold it (might be 10 years by now). But the lines are out the door and the tour bus trade keeps pouring in. I'd go 15 minutes in the other direction for Lucali's any day (Henry and 1st). Incredible pizza and calzone made by an upcoming craftsman.

I can walk to Junior's. I work at MetroTech Center. I haven't ruled out Atlantic Av., Steve; I just want to change things up. But what kind of food is at Waterfront Ale House? That's on Atlantic between what and what? I really prefer not to spend more than $25 including tip most of the time, occasionally up to $35. I'll have to feel very self-indulgent or celebratory to treat myself to a $60 solo dinner after work. agentmule, I haven't been to Queen in a long time. How late are they open and what would dinner cost? I remember the place being kind of pricey but good a few years ago. ← Waterfront Ale House (used to be Pete's) is a burger bar place between Clinton and Henry but it has lots of beer on tap and surprisingly good food. Pulled pork, burgers, salads, sandwiches and even entrees, all in your price range. Pretty famous in those parts. You can also stay within budget at Downtown Atlantic, which is a slightly upscale Waterfront. Better entrees, not as good burgers and beer selection though. Nicky's is the banh mi sandwich place on Atlantic... nice. There's also a relatively inexpensive "Soul Spot" (only 1-2 tables, mostly take out) on Atlantic but I wasnt impressed with the food the one time I ate there. Queen is a $40-60pp place. Good Italian food in a "you gotta be kidding me" room (plastic flowers and all). But the food is as good as you'll get... it's a business lunch place for the politicos and lawyers for 50 years that's now gotten itself a respectable dinner business thanks to the influx of young 'uns moving in to the neighborhood. Well worth a visit for the food.

The recommendations already given are good ones but I hope you realize the price range they represent. A good dinner at Henry's End (my favorite place) is $60-70pp, but we're talking game menu and a very solid domestic wine list. Well worth it. There's a French place at the same price range next door and, although the food is good, I think it overpriced. Jack the Horse (Hicks St) comes in at around $40pp and most of my friends like it more than I do. Noodle Pudding is excellent and you can spend $25-60pp depending on what you feel like ordering. There's now a wine bar on the corner of Cranberry and Henry that has a good buzz but I havent been yet. Same with the trendy pizza place, Oven. Fascati is above average NY pizza by the slice. The Thai place is long gone. That's Henry. Tutt Cafe is on Hicks, almost across from Jack the Horse... it's not bad for laid back Middle Eastern. I'm assuming you've ruled out Atlantic, since it's in the wrong direction from the subway? You already know Yemen Cafe, since we ate there together a couple of years ago. The Waterfront Ale House, Fountain and Waterfalls are all there as well. In the other direction on Atlantic, Nicky's is now going strong and Downtown Atlantic is pretty solid home cooking. Both are actually close to trains. The places on Montegue change with the seasons and I can go thru the names of the current residents for you but, suffice it to say that the general level has not even inched up over the years. Very mediocre cast of characters. Walking the extra 5 blocks in either direction yields vastly better food.

I know you'll be right there, but dont waste the calories/capacity on Yonah S's knishes. Eat more pastrami at Katz' or add something to your Russ order. You didnt specify where you're thinking of going but, if you come to Brooklyn for pizza, skip Grimaldi's (one of the places with a reputation that's undeserved for 10 years or more). If you're serious, go to DiFara's. But you probably know that. In Manhattan, go to Devi. Not that it's cheap (Ssam Bar range) but it's quite an innovative take on Indian food. Good fried chicken to boot. For Cantonese, NY Noodletown in C'town (end of Bowery, near the Manhattan Bridge & Canal St) is still the best. For a quick but very nice lunch soup & some hacked chicken, pork &/or duck, I've been going to Chiou Chow (or something like that spelling) on Mott, a block north of Canal, for over 20 years. Simple and very good... and cheap. You probably wont listen to this but there's a family run Ghanan place in Harlem (W113 & Douglass) that's worth a visit. Called Florence's, it's so inexpensive that you should overorder by a bit, expecting to not like some of it. All my other ethnic places are in Queens or Brooklyn and you said Manhattan so...