tommy

Dinner at Lupa is even better than lunch at Lupa. plotters' "proofs" are notoriously questionable.

"The two of us were seated at a fully set table for four on which sat a menu in a gold picture frame. The other two place settings remained, causing the busboy to try to pour water and serve bread to our phantom guests." hehehe.

no no. smoking can help you pick up chicks. as long as they're smoking. dancing with a cigarette, however, is touristical and looks silly at best.

i'm having steak with "the boys." we'll probably have a good beer buzz on by the time we show up, and i don't doubt that cigars will be lit beforehand. 115 is a little beyond my modest price range, all things considered. and i don't have no kinda time to let a CDP open up. give me jam, and give it to me fast and furious. but i'll certainly consider your recs if i return again, under more civilized circumstances. thanks!

i appreciate the input. but i'm going to old homestead this time. it is what it is. i'm just hoping for some advice on how to order. the wine list includes a zin that i'll probably order, as it's generally a crowd pleaser, in my crowd at least. looking foward to lugers some day.

it'sa nice place to visit. they have a tasting room, but i'm not sure how that's all set up. it always seems like i'm bothering the help when i'm there. they aren't very friendly, as rosie said. they have some NY wines, which is why i stop in. they are *not* cheap.

tourist.

that seems like quite a leap of faith.

good point. but i like bud long necks. a lot.

so many factors are important, but for me, a friendly and comfortable visit sticks in my mind. this starts at the reservationist, and ends at the host or hostess offering a simple "good night," or "thanks for joining us." along the same lines, i can't say enough about how important a warm greeting is at a restaurant (generally, of course, by the host/ess). it sets the tone for the rest of the evening.

Perhaps. Nick#1 said something in what i thought was was an innocent post. Tommy had to turn it to BS. easy there captain. i'm friends with nick and i'm sure he took it the "right" way. and that is to say, i was busting his balls. not my problem if you're too sensitive. i thought we cleared this up a while ago? and i can assure anyone who can't figure it out: i know how to "take it." warm regards, tommy

see, told you so macrosan.

that'll do. pinot noir, as you know, even in the sancerre style of wine making, is generally a food friendly grape, producing food friendly wines. you also can't get hurt with bubbles. bubbles go with everything.

it might be smart to start a new thread for general etiquette discussion.

if it's gotta be wine, i would suggest a general purpose crowd pleasing food friendly wine. unoaked sauvignon blanc from the US or new zealand, chenin blanc, or sancerre.

agreed. "the half-stand thing" is a good way of describing what i do, and that's pretty funny. more of a gesture/acknowledgment than an actual full-on "stand."

that place in montclair by any chance? wherever it is, they'll most likely make margaritas for you if you bring da booze. margaritas just seem to go with most "mexican" food, both from a flavor perspective and because they're both so darned festive. you might want to pinpoint what type of food we're talking about though. if it's cheese laden burritos as opposed to grilled meats, the suggestions will be much different.

i think i stand when a woman approaches or leaves the table in any semi-formal to formal situation.

you're assuming we'll care about this at that point.

i don't know if people care about "getting rid of" or "changing" the rule as much as they just want to just go on ignoring the rule. obviously the rule isn't working because no one* knows the rule. and if people don't know the rule, following the rule will seem rude, which is part of the reason the rule is in place in the first place. it's a poorly excuted, but obviously logical, rule. * hyperbole, obviously.

that's muh girl. actually, i usually just go right on through, assuming the door was stationary. we need to get the word out that it's ok and appropriate to start eating while one person is in the restroom. i'm serious. i don't want to eat cold food, nor do i want my company to eat cold food. shall i send up a bat signal?

i know what frenched means, but i suppose i'm not sure i've ever seen a piece of rib meat with the bone extended far out from the cut. sounds like fun. i'm all for handle-like appendages.

the ribsteak is somehow "french." so, of course.

bloody hell, a bad *and* misspelled pun . and, it's 11.30 am in NYC. someone has to have seen this by now and has some comments. jeesh.

wow, that was a bad pun. i'm planning a trip to the old homestead soon. i've searched egullet and found a few comments here an there. i was hoping to get some advice on how to order. i see their menu is posted here. the rib steak looks interesting. perhaps someone can explain what this would "look like," as it's a french cut. it's good to know that all plates will be appropriately garnished. thoughts on sides? wines?