tommy

you really can't be suggesting that the law be applied on a case-by-case basis, can you? edit for clarity: case-by-case as in "the guy who runs it smokes", so smoking is allowed.

it should be noted that there are some excellent restaurants attached to these "bars" that you're using as examples. i'd think they are the exception. edit: i see you concede that. again, they are the exceptions. as far as non-smoking bars, using "bars" in the way that many people clearly use the word "bars", no, i don't recall any. maybe there were one or two. somewhere. on a different note, i've spoken to a few bar owners who have all told me they've seen a decline in business since the ban. have you all spoken to bar owners?

can't there be two shows whose focuses (foci?) might overlap? there wouldn't be much on TV if that wasn't the case.

had a less-than-stellar meal here recently. high and lowlights: service was painfully slow. it took what seemed like 20 minutes for a server to come over. all i wanted was to sit down and have a glass of prosecco, however the heavens were conspiring against me. foie gras and short ribs - foie gras was burnt and dry. i didn't even finish it, and i'm a foie gras *freak*. the short ribs (rib) were charred as well, and not in any type of sauce (although they were presumably cooked in a sauce). this left the meat dry, and the outside was practically inedible as it was so hard and dry. the 2 reductions (one sweet, one meat-based) were very good, and a nice idea wtih the foie gras/beef combo. the sweetbread dish was very good, if not a bit skimpy. grilled octopus salad was a highlight again. the dish is just great. cod was a bit too subtle for my friend. it was nicely cooked, but i agreed that the flavors just weren't assertive enough. an overpriced bottle of burgundy (they only offer 2 or 3), 3 glasses of prosecco, and it was about 210 after tip. i expect a bit more at that price point. i think i'll be more tempted to go to the village green the next time i'm in the mood for a meal like that. edit: one more thing that really gets me: after we decided what we were going to have, orchestrating the meal as we were planning on sharing, and basing the wine decision partly on the dishes, we were informed at the time of ordering that they were out of one of the dishes that we wanted. i don't know why managers don't understand that this is completely unacceptable, and, why they don't drill that fact into the staffs' head. although i have a feeling that poor and clueless management is behind just about every service blunder from McDonalds on up. another edit: it occurs to me that the glasses of prosecco were about half pours. that's not very nice. and they don't have armagnac, nor did anyone seem to know what it was.

very bizarre indeed. given that i had consulted with the sommelier from go on orchestrating the different wines we were drinking, even odder. the bottle, iirc, was from rhone at about 85 dollars or so. as luck might not have it, i had even thought twice about the bottle, and was going to refuse it and order another. obviously that didn't happen. i didn't detect anything from the sommelier that might suggest that he knew he messed up. on top of that, our server seemed a bit inexperienced. so, while the food got high marks in my book, the service really fell flat. i'll chalk it up to an off night, but at $370, those mistakes just should not happen.

had a first and very good meal at veritas a few weeks ago, on lreda's recommendation . a couple of things stuck out: - excellent sweetbreads. best i've ever had. - i was presented with a dish i didn't order. it took me a longish time to hunt down anyone in the small room, and finally flagged the sommelier. he rushed off to find the server. it was her fault, as far as we could figure out, but i accepted the dish, as i figured it was bound to be good. it was - a bottle of wine was presented to me *after* being opened. i've never, ever, ever, had this happen unless the place totally sucked. i don't characterize Veritas as "totally sucking". i was at a loss, but accepted the bottle and moved on. i was left with a strange, dirty feeling after 400 dollars.

i stopped following this thread a few days ago, but rest assured, i'm going to talk to my husband tonite about all of this and get back to you all.

Some relevant excerpts for posterity: wow. those stats sure say something.

update: the Brass Rail is no longer offering a tasting menu. the dolts in hoboken simply weren't ordering it enough. The Village Green in Ridgewood, however, is offering 3 different tastings, at least for the time being. i hope they stick to this approach.

for the brunch, should we be expecting a wide range of foods that aren't normally available? or is it the buffet/lots of little bites aspect that you think might make it exceptional.

i'm very much looking forward to a report.

oddly, i found myself in JC the other night, and a friend had mentioned how great this place was and how we should go. but it didn't fit into our plans. however, this clinches it.

i think we need to get to the bottom of this.

i have no idea what was there before, and it's bothering me. i'm always bothered by this type of thing. i spent the better part of my life living in hoboken, and every month some new place would pop up, and i'd beat myself up trying to remember what was previously there. wierd how that works. as far as the atmosphere, i wish they would have stepped it up a bit. it comes across as a fast food place, with a steam table and everything.

cecil sometimes brings out little gifts for the table. they're always delicious and unique, and it's one of my favorite parts of the meal. it finally occured to me that perhaps these items are available, even though they're clearly not on the menu. the answer, i think, is sunday dim sum. at least that's what cecil suggested. has anyone had dim sum at C46? sounds like it might be a good thing.

i called last week and they weren't delivering yet. i hope they sort that out, as i'm very unlikely to actually go there to eat. the atmosphere strikes me as kind of cold and sterile. thanks for the report. i've been curious about this place.

rosie, you're one of the youngest people i know. and yeah, i prefer a young, energetic atmosphere. i'm like a hippie or something, but in the 2000's instead of the 60's. you can't trust the man, or anyone over 30.

any word on this place? i was considering giving the bar a shot.

getting the feeling it wasn't actually tuna? me too. but my experience has been the same as yours.

Village Green is indeed closed on sunday and open on monday. i like this, as it gives me a monday option. had the 7 course tasting tonight. a pretty damned good meal, with a few short-comings. however, i won't bother getting into anything, as they're still getting on their feet and i don't think it would be fair. i will say that the kitchen is showing great promise. that said, i'm with rosie with thinking that it's best to give the place a few weeks. from what i understand, they might even be a bit overwhelmed with the enthusiasm they're receiving from both old and new customers. i'll no doubt return hundreds of times over the next year or so. give or take. i should note that we were presented with an envelope thanking us for visiting them during their re-opening period. two coupons were inside: one for 20% off, and another for 10% off, ostensibly for a "friend" that we might turn on to the restaurant. that's mighty good business right there if you ask me. as usual, a distinctly older crowd was filling the tables tonite. i have a feeling the median age might change soon. at least i hope so, as the secret should be getting out if i can help it.

so can we assume that this stuff is just silly for the most part? aside from the nice wood burning ovens? i saw mario talking about this the other night (or maybe it was someone else), and they mentioned Naples 45, which i have been to countless time for horrible meals, but never for pizza. now i want to go back for pizza. not sure if it's worth the chance, though, regardless of what the VPN has to say.

i gotta say, prasantrin, the skin turned out way crispier than i ever though, and way faster than i expected. it was so rendered already that it was just a thin piece of fat/skin, and fried up very quickly. this is a really tasty dish. however, i couldn't help but think it was more of the same as i continued eating it. i'd be interested in it's ever "cut" with a veggie side, or anything other than rice. it is quite acidic, which i generally like, but it got a little much after a while. or maybe i just ate too much. thanks for all of the help. i'm looking forward to learning more about this stuff.

so i cooked it last night. and i'll eat it tonite. i have a question about the frying step: the skin is definitely flabby from being boiled for an hour. is this going to crisp up at all? even dry chicken skin takes at least 10 minutes to crisp up nicely. or should i not expect a crispy skin.

latour.

i think that most people don't think of roasting veggies. and even less think to eat cauliflower in any form other than raw and on salads. as we've all seen here on egullet, roasting turns even the nastiest and most boring of vegetables into something special.